RT Journal Article
T1 See, move, wonder: supporting young children with low science capital to learn from science museum objects
A1 Naomi Haywood
YR 2025
VO 
IS Spring 2025
K1 early years
K1 education
K1 embodied cognition
K1 gestural knowledge
K1 play
K1 science capital
K1 Science Museum
K1 science museums
K1 science skills
K1 STEM learning
AB Museum visits by school groups contribute towards life-long science engagement. This is likely to be particularly true for young children who have low science capital. There is only limited research on how museums can support low science capital school groups to engage and learn, particularly in object-rich galleries. The current research addresses this gap. It considers how a simple resource supports playful learning in two object-rich galleries. The resource invites children to find objects and interact with the objects through observation, movement and wondering. Some 92 children (4–7 years) and 15 adults in seven school groups were observed using the resource and then subsequently interviewed. Findings show that encouraging children to search for objects, move in relation to objects and wonder about objects supports learning. Movement and gestures were central to how children experienced the objects as these embodied forms of cognition did not require specific understanding or vocabulary. These findings show that museums can support low science capital young children to learn from objects through a focus on bodily experiences. The theoretical implications of these findings include the value of embodied cognition theory in supporting object engagement and learning, particularly for young children with low science capital.
NO Early years foundation stage
NO The Move2Learn project international collaboration includes the following members: Frost Science, The University of Edinburgh, Glasgow Science Centre, Illinois University, Children’s Museum Indianapolis, e Centre, Knowledge Lab UCL, Science Museum Group, Learning Through Landscapes, Science Centre (Ithaca, NY).
NO For more information, see Park Green Mill Double Dialled Longcase Clock
NO For more information, see Spinning Mule
NO For more information, see Silver fox locomotive plaque
NO For more information, see Britannia statue
NO For more information, see Beefburger packet in presentation case
NO See, Think, Wonder
NO All names have been anonymised. 
PB The Science Museum Group
SN 2054-5770
LA eng
DO 10.15180/252305
UL https://journal.sciencemuseum.ac.uk/article/see-move-wonder-supporting-young-children-with-low-science-capital-to-learn-from-science-museum-objects/
WT Science Museum Group Journal
OL 30