Creating Opportunities through Classroom-Based Early Childhood Science

A partnership among a museum, public libraries, and Head Start produced Marvelous Explorations through Science and Stories (MESS), an early childhood curriculum enhancement designed to help teachers of young children create high quality learning experiences in science and increase parental involvement in children's learning. Parent involvement efforts included museum-based weekend programs, science programs at the Head Start centers, museum field trips, take-home resources, and book giveaways. Evidence gleaned from attendance records, parent ratings and surveys, home learning logs, structured parent interviews, parent focus groups, and teacher interviews revealed that each program was successful for those families who took part, but that participation was generally low. We discuss factors that contributed to program outcomes and suggest that strengthening science in early childhood classrooms may be one way to increase parental involvement outside of school.