ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the key ideas about animals including humans that children in the Early Years context should develop and why these ideas are important and explores ideas about thematic contexts for children’s learning about animals. It suggests how practitioners can support children’s learning about animals through enquiries in science and design and technology. Themes of growth and change are often linked with transitions between stages of education to help support children with the emotional and cognitive challenges this can present. The chapter considers the scientific process skills needed to classify animals and undertake fieldwork, together with appropriate attitudes to be developed towards living things. It focuses on the scientific process skills needed to identify and classify animals, undertake fieldwork and develop appropriate attitudes towards living things. Social concerns about healthy lifestyles draw on scientific ideas about what humans need to stay alive and well and so it is important to begin to develop these ideas with young children.
