DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULUM FOR GEOSCIENCE CAMP FOR K-1 AT PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER

Early childhood education has far more impact and influence on a child’s potential to seek out a career in science or engineering than any other grade level. For young learners, science is an extension of their everyday world. Therefore providing appropriate guidance for children to explore sicnece in their everyday life is very important. To develop the K-1 geoscience field camp curriculum in this study, the existing teaching methodology and approaches practiced within the Pacific Science Center (PSC) are used as reference. The structure of the curriculum started with story time where it gives the kids a fun way to start the activity. Then, story time can be used as a way to introduce and explain geoscience concept to kids. Afterwards, the session begins with exploration to explain the concept and to engage with the activity in great detail. Exploration sessions can also segway into activities where kids started to work on the project, and the session ends with reflection where we try to conclude the activity. Activities session are usually a way to introduce discussion and curriculum. This study carried out for developing the above Geoscience Camp curriculum for K-1 requires a proper conceptualization of the specific basic knowledge on geoscience to be introduced to young age children, and innovative ideas to deliver them. While for adult learning, geoscience comprise of many sub-disciplines such as geology, geography, hydrology, meteorology, and other earth sciences, they can be introduced to young age children as a very practical but holistic view to see the earth as a living thing.