An examination of the grade two STEM science program

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to critically examine the STEM Science Program in Grade Two so as to determine the extent to which the learning activities contained in the program provide a good match for Grade Two children. -- A review of the literature revealed that a prevailing theory of child development is that of Jean Piaget. One science program in particular, the British Science 5/13 Program, used Piaget's stages as the basis for its selection of activities. -- It was established that the Grade Two population, a majority of whom are 7 by December 31 and probably 7½ or older by the end of Grade Two, are either at the preoperational stage, or a transitional stage between preoperational and concrete operational thought, or the early concrete operational stage. -- Activities from the Grade Two STEM Science Program were enumerated and found to be 270. Random sampling was then carried out to select 25 percent (68) of these activities for analysis. Each of these activities was examined in terms of what is required of the child, and this in turn, was analyzed in light of the capabilities of the pre-operational, early concrete operations child. In this manner it was possible to label an activity as being suitable or unsuitable for children at the Grade Two level. -- The study revealed that 44.1 percent of the activities contained in the sample were more suitable for children operating at the later concrete operations and formal operations stages of development than for those at the pre-operational and early concrete operations stages and were, therefore, unsuitable for most Grade Two children. Based on these findings, recommendations were made for further research and for the provision of supplementary or alternate programs for Grade Two Science.