This project is designed to engage early childhood teachers and early childhood staff development efforts of Alaska in science education. Content and methodologies of science education will be taught within the framework of developmentally appropriate, emergent curriculum for young children. The initial staff development activity of the project is a four week summer institute. During the subsequent school year, mentoring, computer networking, and presentation of district and statewide inservices will support the summer instruction. The project will use the existing organization, instructional strategies, and staff of the successful Alaska Science Consortium and meld these with early childhood methodologies, leaders and networks. This project is appropriate for the Teacher Enhancement Program because of its systemic plan to enhance the science teaching of all teachers of elementary science in the district. Non-NSF cost-sharing is approximately 48% of the amount requested from NSF.
