Simply put, science is the study of the physical world:

• physical properties of materials and objects
• living things
• earth and the environment

Social Studies is the study of people:

• how they live today and in the past
• how they work, get along with others, solve problems
• how they shape and are shaped by their surroundings

In The Creative Curriculum^® for Preschool, "studies" are an effective way for children to learn science and social studies content while developing skills in literacy, math, the arts, and technology. Studies support children's wonderful ability to become totally engaged in topics and activities that interest them, and they gently challenge children to extend their thinking to ever higher levels. Studies are meaningful to children because they provide opportunities to gain information through direct observation and experimentation and then to link new ideas to what they already know. Studies help children learn content.

This is what you do to engage children in a study:

• select a good topic
• learn about the content that can be addressed
• identify related investigations that will interest your children
• plan ways to introduce the topic, guide learning, and document children's understandings

The Creative Curriculum^® Study Starters: A Step-by-Step Guide to Project-Based Investigations in Science and Social Studies

Are you ready to engage your children with in-depth studies? The Creative Curriculum Study Starters are designed with you in mind. This valuable science and social studies resource is a series of step-by-step guides that help you implement investigative, project-based learning in your classroom.

Study Starters begin with topics that children want to explore and help you identify children's questions, learn background information and vocabulary, organize and plan the environment, facilitate investigations, incorporate content skills and knowledge, and involve families. Most important, Study Starters lead you to look at your own children and community to develop a study that is unique and customized for the children you teach. Download "Balls," the first Study Starter, for free to get a head start using studies in your classroom.

The Creative Curriculum^® Study Starters are available on a wide variety of topics:

Volume 1:

• Balls (free pdf)
• Boxes
• Rocks
• Ants
• Clothes
• Flowers
• Buildings
• Study Starters Volume 1 Complete Set: Each complete set includes a Teacher's Guide that describes how Study Starters are organized and how to use them.

Volume 2:

• Chairs
• Wheels
• Water pipes
• Exercise
• Trash & Garbage
• Shadows
• Study Starters Volume 2 Complete Set: Each complete set includes a Teacher's Guide that describes  how Study Starters are organized and how to use them.

Additional Resources

• The Creative Curriculum^® Study Starters Teacher's Guide (pdf)
• Selecting Good Study Topics Handout (pdf)
• The Creative Curriculum^® Study Starters Concept and Content Grid (pdf)