Scientific experiments in early childhood education: activities planned by pre-service teachers

Autores

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22600/1518-8795.ienci/2026v31n1p58

Palavras-chave:

Early Childhood Education, Experiment, Teacher Education, Planning, Science Education

Resumo

There is evidence that teachers rarely implement scientific experiments in the early childhood education (ECE) classroom. Part of the problem lies in initial teacher education. This paper proposes alternatives to improve pre-service ECE teachers' knowledge of science teaching, based on their difficulties in planning scientific experiments. Methodologically, this is a qualitative study that inductively analyses the planning of an experiment presented by a sample of 97 pre-service ECE teachers. The results describe the activities before, during and after the planned experiment. The discussion addresses popular experiments that can lead to conceptual distortions, more adequate experiments, and considerations that can improve ECE teacher education.

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Publicado

2026-03-02

Como Citar

Tovar-Gálvez, J. C. (2026). Scientific experiments in early childhood education: activities planned by pre-service teachers. Investigações Em Ensino De Ciências, 31(1), 58-77. https://doi.org/10.22600/1518-8795.ienci/2026v31n1p58