Introduction
Children are natural-born scientists. They are naturally inquisitive and begin doing science from the moment of birth by observing and sorting out their world—perhaps even earlier. They play with their hands and feet and with their fingers and toes, with blankets and toys, and with just about anything near them. They look; they manipulate; they move things this way and that; they throw; and they chase. Their eyes go wide with excitement when they encounter something new. They exhibit natural curiosity about almost everything—what things are, how things work, and how things are related to each other. The teacher of early childhood science has a wonderfully rich palate with which to work.