Encouraging Young Scientists: Science All Around Us

A report to the Please Touch Museum on the Science All Around Us Project, funded by the National Science Foundation. This project combines specially designed kits with teacher training to accomplish this goal to encourage a focus on science and mathematics in the teaching of three and four-year-old children. The authors present three in-depth stories of how the project was implemented at various schools. They then discuss research showing the kits had a substantial impact in classrooms, leading to a definitive increase in the use of science materials by children. Recommendations include continuing to improve professional development efforts to ensure that teachers can make the best possible use of the Science All Around Us materials and devoting significant resources toward involving parents in the project.