Early Science Matters

“Look, look, I made a rainbow!” exclaims three-year-old Evelyn to the rest of the group gathered around our clay table.

I look at her clay creation, which consists of a small orange arch supported by a yellow base decorated with gemstones, tree bark and Mardi Gras beads.

“It is a rainbow!” Noa responds gleefully. “I can make a rainbow too!”  

As Noa begins to fashion her rainbow, I extend the learning by mentioning that the shape is also called an arch.

“My grandma lives by the Arch!” Noa shouts.

Evelyn thinks she has seen the Arch too. And so begins our investigation of arches.

In the dynamic landscape of early childhood education, the role of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) is often overlooked. But, by integrating STEAM activities into clay play, you can pave the way for hours of fun and engaging exploration and discovery. 

Children are natural explorers, and clay engages their developing senses. Clay isn’t just a substance; it’s a material with transformative properties.

Through clay play, children become amateur scientists—observing changes in texture, shape and size. As they explore the possibilities of clay, they are thinking like scientists and engaging in the scientific method—posing questions, making hypotheses and testing their ideas through hands-on investigations.

Clay isn’t just a soft and pliable substance; it’s a tool for budding engineers. Through clay play, children learn about shapes, forms and spatial relationships.

As they mold and shape the clay, they experiment with building concepts as they develop a firsthand understanding of basic engineering principles. This hands-on exploration of form becomes a playful introduction to the world of structural design.

With nothing more than ideas and lumps of clay, children can embark on creative journeys that involve trial and error as they figure out how to turn their ideas into realities.

This interactive process fosters a growth mindset and the development of problem-solving skills, which are critical to the success of any STEAM endeavor.

Counting, measuring and comparing happen naturally during clay play. Whether children are dividing balls of clay into equal parts or estimating the size of their clay creations, they are gaining insights into mathematical concepts that will lay the foundation for later math learning.

By incorporating loose parts into clay play, children also learn about early engineering concepts such as balance, stability and form.

From buttons and beads to sticks and stones, loose parts enhance sensory engagement, foster the development of fine-motor skills and encourage children to think creatively as they transform these pieces into unique works of art.

In other words, clay play is a gateway to STEAM exploration.

As preschoolers and kindergarteners squish, mold and create with clay, they are not only engaging in artistic expression but laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning and a deep understanding of the interconnected world of STEAM.

So let the clay adventures begin!