Early Childhood Education focusing on Science and Education for Sustainability
This course provides theories on children’s learning in science. It covers concepts and theories relating to science phenomena and sustainable development.
The course has an exploratory, project-oriented approach. Pedagogical documentation is used as a tool for recording children’s questions and actions, and for planning, analysing, and evaluating teaching activities related to the topics of the course. The significance of the teaching environment and material for children’s exploration is at focus and aesthetic forms of expression are used to understand, communicate and create knowledge.
The course is offered for international exchange students, students from the Program in Early Childhood Education as well as students who have applied for the course as a free standing (single subject) course.
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Course structure
The course is offered spring and autumn semesters.
Study pace: Full time studies, 100%.
The course consists of two modules:
- Early Childhood Educational Perspective on Science and Education for Sustainability and
- Subject Learning and Teaching on Science and Education for Sustainability.
Modules
The following topics are covered in the course module Early Childhood Educational Perspective on Science and Education for Sustainability (8 credits):
- scientific exploration in preschools using project-based work, aesthetic forms of expression and outdoor teaching activities;
- sustainable development from the perspective of early childhood education;
- the teaching environment and the significance of materials for children’s scientific exploration and meaning-making;
- pedagogical documentation as a tool for highlighting children’s thoughts and ideas about scientific phenomena and sustainable development;
- communicating science and sustainability by means of aesthetic expressions, play and digital tools.
The following topics are covered in the course module Subject Learning and Teaching on Science and Education for Sustainability (4 credits):
- basic scientific and technological terminology, models and theories, with a special focus on ecology, natural cycles and sustainable development;
- basic terminology concerning chemical processes and physical phenomena;
- learning for sustainable development and different forms of participation;
- outdoor didactic approaches with focus on science.
Teaching format
Instruction is given in the form of lectures, seminars, supervision sessions, laboratory work, and excursions, as well as via the learning and collaboration platform Athena.
Specified teaching sessions are mandatory. Absence must be compensated for as described in the study guide.
Study Guide
The Study Guide for the course will be published at the latest one month prior to the course start.
Course literature valid from the spring semester 2024 (197 Kb)
Study Guide UB313F ECE focusing on Science and Education for Sustainability_ Spring_2025 (328 Kb)
Study Guide autumn semester 2025 (to be published at the latest one month prior to the course start)
Study Guide spring semester 2026 (to be published at the latest one month prior to the course start)
Assessment
Forms of examination
- The course module Early Childhood Educational Perspective on Science and Education for Sustainability is examined on the basis of an individual paper focusing (grading A-F) and an oral group presentation (grading G-U).
- The course module Subject learning and teaching in Science and Education for Sustainability is examined on the basis of an individual reflection on seminars (grading G-U).
In order to pass the course, students must at least receive grade E or G on all examinations, complete all assignments as per the course description (study guide) and complete all obligatory attendance.
For details and deadlines regarding examinations please see the study guide for the relevant semester.
Next opportunity for re-examination
The next opportunity for re-examination is April 22nd.
The assignment is handed in via the course page in Athena in the re-examination folder under resources.The folder will open April 15th and the deadline to hand in the re-examination is April 22nd.
Students that were enrolled before the spring semester 2025 need to email the course administrator at the latest April 8th. This is necessary in order to get access to the Athena page in time for the re-examination.
Examiner
Spring semester 2025:Emilie Moberg
Autumn semester 2025:
Spring semester 2026:
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Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.The course is offered the following periods
Spring semester 2025 January 20th until March 11th
Schedule - Preliminary until one month prior to course start
Autumn semester 2025 September 1st until October 20th
Schedule - To be published at the latest one month prior to the course start
Spring semester 2026: Date to be published here
Schedule - To be published at the latest one month prior to the course start
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Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.The course literature will be published at the latest two months prior to the course start.
Due to technical issues, the course literature list that is valid from the spring semester 2024, that you can see below may look strange. A correctly formated version is available above under the headline "Course structure" next to the study guide. The course literature list is also available via the study platform Athena.
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Course reports
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More information
Combine courses to study a full semester
Please note that it is possible to combine with the two following courses in order to study a full semester (30 ECTS) focusing on science, technology, education for sustainable development, mathematics and explorative learning in the context of early childhood education.
Early Childhood Education: Explorative Learning, 6 credits (ECTS)
Early Childhood Education Focusing on Mathematics and Technology, 12 credits (ECTS)
How to apply
Application - a Step by Step Guide
It is important that you docucment your eligibility and language proficiency in your application. You can find more information at universityadmissions.se:
Documenting English proficiency
Exchange students
Please note that exchange students apply according to a separate routine.
Anmälan till kursen för dig som läser Förskollärarprogrammet (LFÖRY)
Studenter inom Förskollärarprogrammet som vill läsa den engelska terminen anmäler sig till kursen/kurserna via institutionen. Informationsmöte om detta hålls i anslutning till undervisning under termin två.
Studying at Stockholm University
New student at Stockholm University
Welcome activities for new students
Directions
Please note that the lectures/seminars will take place at serveral different areas of the Stockholm University campus. Please take the time to check directions before the lectures.
In most cases you have lectures at the Department of Child and Youth Studies. See directions to the Department of Child and Youth Studies.
You will also have a few lectures at the Department of Teaching and Learning.
See directions to the Department of Teaching and Learning -
Meet us
Meet our students
Meet the exchange student Nagomi Sugiyama from Japan
Nagomi was studying courses in Early Childhood Education during the fall semester 2020 at the Department of Child and Youth Studies.
Nagomi SugiyamaMy experiences as an exchange student at the Department of Child and Youth Studies
The exchange student Deborah Suter from Switzerland was studying courses in Early Childhood Education during fall semester 2018 at The Department of Child and Youth Studies. Read about her experiences.
Photo: Deborah Suter. -
Contact
If you have questions regarding the content of the course please contact the teacher responsible for the course.
If you have administrative questions regarding admissions, registration, registration of grades, the learning and collaboration platform Athena etc. please contact the course administrator.
Course leder and examiner: Emilie Moberg, email: emilie.moberg@buv.su.se
Course administrator: Malin Håkansson, e-mail: malin.hakansson@buv.su.se
