Undervisning om kemi-och fysik relaterade vardagsfenomen i förskolan: Samverkan med ett skolområde kring kompetensutveckling och forskning.

The study investigates model-based teaching and learning about chemical processes and physical phenomena related to sustainability in social issues and children's everyday lives. The research questions are: 1. What factors are described as being crucial for a longitudinal development of knowledge, self-esteem and attitudes among management and staff regarding physics and chemistry teaching in kindergartens? 2. In what qualitatively different ways can the communication established between kindergarten teachers and children related to a learning object in kindergarten be described, with and without the support of digital tools?

The results of the project indicate it was crucial to have a real need for improved teaching of science in kindergartens. All staff working with the children had to participate, and management involvement was important. The project combined theory and practical exercises in collaboration with the university and led to positive effects. The ability of kindergarten teachers to communicate with the children, understand their thoughts, use adapted language and be aware of sub-goals in their learning were essential factors. The authors of the report believe long-term projects like this can be of great help to teachers and kindergartens in improving the quality of children's learning.

The kindergarten sector in a medium-sized municipality in Skåne, Sweden, initiated a collaboration with researchers at Kristianstad University on teaching science subjects in kindergartens. In the project, researchers worked together with kindergarten coordinators, developers and all employees at the kindergartens in the municipality. The researchers used surveys, reflection protocols and focus group interviews, at two points in time, where 140 employees in the kindergartens were interviewed. Video recordings were also made of the kindergarten teachers' work in children's groups on four occasions.

Fridberg, M., Jonsson, A., Redfors, A., & Thulin, S. (2021). “Undervisning om kemi-och fysik relaterade vardagsfenomen i förskolan: Samverkan med ett skolområde kring kompetensutveckling och forskning”. Rapport. Högskolan Kristianstad.