“Once upon a time… a beach sand grain”: a bed-time story and scientific outreach activity for young children to increase sediment literacy
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Purpose Learning science in early years can cultivate children’s curiosity and enjoyment in exploring the world around them, laying the foundation for the progression of science learning and ultimately increasing science literacy. Here, we present an example of a tailored preschool scientific activity designed to enhance literacy about sediments and illustrate their importance to both humans and nature. Methods The activity centres around a captivating story detailing the journey of a sand grain from the mountains to the sea. This storytelling experience is enriched with hands-on observation of various sand grains, informative cards on key topics, and culminates in a creative colouring activity. Results To date, the activity has been repeated five times, engaging 110 children (from 2 to 10 years). It has yielded positive outcomes with both preschool and primary school students, as they were actively engaged in the story and delighted in handling and observing the magnified sand grains. Conclusions The activity was successfully implemented for preschool and primary school students, fostering engagement with the story and the sand samples. However, while the immediate engagement was evident, the impact on sediment literacy remains to be measured. Future structured evaluations are needed to assess the long-term effectiveness of such initiatives in enhancing sediment literacy among young learners.
Source: Journal of Soils and Sediments
Institutions: University of Lisbon, Instituto Dom Luiz, University of Algarve
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,690
OpenAlex ID: W4402799735