Science and Engineering in Early Childhood Education
Discover how to weave science and engineering into daily routines and play-based learning.
Applies to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Discover how to weave science and engineering into your daily routines and play-based learning. This course equips you with simple, engaging strategies to spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving, and build early STEAM skills—without needing to be a science expert.
Through hands-on activities, open-ended play, and meaningful conversations, you’ll learn how to turn everyday moments into exciting opportunities for discovery, helping young children understand their world while making your teaching more dynamic and joyful.
This course is offered in our online format and includes audio narration in most course sections:
Learning outcomes
After completing this course you will be able to:
- Explain how science and engineering concepts align with and differ from one another within the STEAM framework
- Identify how young children begin to explore and understand scientific concepts
- Describe how young children engage in foundational engineering thinking
Acceptance information
Accepted in all states (except Ohio) for continuing education requirements and for the CDA (click to view)
This course is accepted in:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio [awaiting approval by OCCRRA]
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, DC
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Topics covered
- Encouraging curiosity through hands-on science and engineering activities in everyday play
- Using the scientific method in simple, child-friendly ways (questions, predictions, observations, conclusions)
- Supporting cause-and-effect learning through play, stories, and real-life examples
- Exploring states of matter with fun, safe activities (melting ice, making foaming snowmen, etc.)
- Introducing the water cycle through hands-on experiments and observation of weather
- Designing activities around light, shadows, and reflections indoors and outdoors
- Using sand, water, and garden play to develop science thinking and observation skills
- Supporting early engineering skills through block play and construction activities
- Offering open-ended building materials to inspire creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork
- Teaching about force, motion, and energy through ramps, cars, and everyday objects
- Encouraging safe exploration of friction, gravity, and balance in play
- Introducing simple machines (levers, wheels & axles, pulleys, inclined planes, wedges, screws, gears) through age-appropriate play
- Using storytelling and books to connect science concepts to literacy
- Engaging families in science and engineering learning through shared projects and displays
- Building teacher confidence by treating “I don’t know” as a shared discovery opportunity
How Care Courses® Training Works: Details & Support
Click to view:
Course Details & Support
Prerequisites
- Language: Fluent reading and writing in the language of instruction (English or Spanish).
- Technology: Internet access and a web-enabled device (computer, smartphone, or tablet).
Access & Completion Deadline
- This training expires 12 months from the date of purchase.
- To receive a certificate of completion, you must successfully finish the course before the expiration date.
Learning Methods
- Read instructor-written material
- Watch videos
- Listen to audio segments
Assessments
- Multiple-choice quizzes
- Written assignments
Requirements for CEUs and Clock Hours
To earn CEUs and Clock Hours for a course, you must:
- Agree to and acknowledge our Honor Code & Policy
- Follow all instructions for written assignments
- Demonstrate comprehension of the course content
- Achieve the passing score specified in your course.
Quizzes and Assessments
- If your score falls below the passing mark, a trainer will review your work. If needed, you may be asked to speak with a trainer.
- You will have a second chance to retake any quiz or assessment.
- If you do not pass on your second attempt, contact us at info@carecourses.com. We will review your course and follow up directly.
- All quizzes are open book; all answers are found in the course material.
Certificates
- Official Care Courses certificates of completion record your clock hours and CEUs.
- Certificates are available in the My Courses area of your account.
- Please note: All course and certificate dates and times are on Eastern Time.
Getting Started
- See how our training works on the training process page.
- Watch our course navigation video for a quick tour of the online portal.
- Free Unlimited Assistance
- We’re here to help with training, billing, and technical support questions.
- Phone: 1-800-685-7610 (Mon–Fri, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern)
- Email: info@CareCourses.com or techsupport@CareCourses.com (days, evenings, and weekends)
About Care Courses
- Care Courses offers over 50 professional development courses and one non-credit training tutorial on the CDA process.
- All professional development courses include clock hours, CEUs, and an official online certificate of completion.
- (The free CDA tutorial does not offer clock hours or a certificate.)
Tuition & Bundles
- Course tuition entitles one person to receive the clock hours and CEUs granted upon successful completion.
- Bundle pricing covers tuition for all courses included in the bundle.
Policies & Requirements
