![Children listening wearing paper elephant ears in Horton Senses Something Small NanoDays activity](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/splashy_hero_large/public/2020-12/hero%20Long%20programs%20Horton%20Hears%20Something%20Small%20NanoDays%202011%2020110402GH_134.jpg?h=1116cd87&itok=VfSt1ADe)
Early Learners
Young children are natural scientists. Educators can encourage scientific behaviors in children ages 0-5 by recognizing natural scientific tendencies and engaging them in developmentally appropriate ways. Approach activities as opportunities for children to investigate their world. Exposure to a scientific phenomenon, concept, or skill is very valuable for a young child, but you shouldn’t expect mastery or be too focused on very specific learning goals. You are providing the stepping-stones to later scientific understanding and skills.
Tips for Interacting with Young Learners
STEM Activities for Young Learners
![Facilitator and young learner squeeze colored water into a dish](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/exsci_space_20191008_1133.jpg?h=af3b1fc5&itok=_iEP1HCn)
Exploring Science Practices: Early Explorations
![Facilitator and Learner use a block with a rover image to transport astronauts](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-10/ExSci_Space_20200908_0143%20Story%20Blocks.jpg?h=4c7240b8&itok=AOU7zznV)
Exploring the Solar System: Story Blocks
![Group of learners participating and enjoying the Hide and Seek Moon activity](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/ExSci_Space_20180929_1134.jpg?h=fd382550&itok=eAF5Dzbs)
Exploring the Solar System: Hide and Seek Moon
![Young learner places blocks in scale while facilitator watches](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-10/ExSci_Space_20200826_0127%20Measure%20Up.jpg?h=8971a0d3&itok=jNO1N7Sq)
Exploring Science Practices: Measure Up
![Exploring Earth: Bear’s Shadow activity image of a mother and girl holding a flashlight representing the sun](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/bs1-L.jpg?h=a31ffb6c&itok=HFqAc0XZ)
Exploring Earth: Bear’s Shadow
![Young girl stacks large blocks with images on them](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/8887/puzzleblocks.jpg?h=155e127a&itok=v3T6FRj-)
Build a Giant Puzzle!
![Exploring Materials - Thin Films activity components including signs, activity materials and guides.](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/rainbow_film_kit_materials.jpg?h=7025d824&itok=xEHGGVVK)
Exploring Materials - Thin Films
![An adult and child, both smiling, sit close together at a table as the child points to an image on the Wavetown illustration.](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2023-03/radio_20221027_0692_0.jpg?h=5f33a3b8&itok=1Erpi7lt)
Radio Futures: I Spy Radio
Storytime and Read-Aloud Books
![Learner colors paper elephant ears](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/11119/20110402gh_150_horton_crop.jpg?h=5f970a87&itok=nRkAsUqF)
Horton Hears a Who! Storytime
![A family pays attention to a the story of "Horton Senses Something Small"](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/6434/horton.jpg?h=6fd717d6&itok=HxcHXLQJ)
Horton Senses Something Small
![Book cover from the Break Moon Book featuring an illustration of of a family at a dinner table eating fruit](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/asp_breakfast_moon_lowres_page_01.jpg?itok=COFUqU2X)
Breakfast Moon picture book
!["How Small is Nano?" with five images of various cells and a ruler just below](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/about/How_Small_is_Nano.png?h=370c9e7d&itok=2DIctLsZ)
How Small Is Nano? Book and Poster
![Image showing an illustration of a Mars rover](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/about/Rover.png?itok=CqQxsPg9)
Is That Robot Real? children's book and poster
![Cover to a book called Alice in Nanoland featuring a girl with blonde hair, a green shirt and purple skirt](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/5526/screen_shot_2010-12-17_at_12.41.48_pm.png?itok=B5Dx0Wcq)
Alice In NanoLand
![](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/frank200_text-image_3_0.jpg?h=d318f057&itok=ilvGeEP8)
Books, Reading, and Storytelling
Early Learner Earth and Space Activities
More Resources
- Collaborative for Early Science Learning resources
Resources to support museums partnering with local Head Start programs to provide teacher professional development and family engagement focusing on early childhood science. Resources also include a collection of activity guides.
http://www.sciencenter.org/resources-for-museums - The STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education (STEMI2E2)
Resources for STEM learning opportunities for young children with disabilities
https://stemie.fpg.unc.edu/resources