The goal of early childhood science education is to enable children to investigate
phenomena so they can construct their own valid conceptualizations�to learn
how to do science. The process-oriented inquiry method of teaching science is a
constructivist way of making this possible. Preservice teachers must construct
their own understandings of constructivist science teaching, and the only way they
can do it is to try it for themselves. Faculty of early childhood science education
courses can ensure this by making the process-oriented inquiry integral to their
teaching.