Third Edition
Judy Harris Helm, Lilian G. Katz
Publication Date: May 14, 2016
Pages: 176
Series: Early Childhood Education Series
Now in its Third Edition, Young Investigators provides an introduction to the project approach with step-by-step guidance for conducting meaningful investigations with young children. The authors have expanded their bestseller to include two new chapters— How Projects Can Connect Children with Nature and Project Investigations as STEM Experiences—and to provide more help to teachers of the youngest children (toddlers) and older children (2nd grade). The new edition also shows teachers how to use standards in the topic selection process and identifies activities and experiences that will help children grasp key concepts and skills. Throughout the text, readers listen to teachers’ concerns, witness how they find solutions to challenges, and experience how excited children become during project work. This book is appropriate for those new to using the Project Approach, as well as for teachers who already have experience with implementing the Project Approach.
Book Features:
Judy Harris Helm heads her own educational consulting and training company, Best Practices, Inc., in Brimfield, Illinois. Her books include Becoming Young Thinkers: Deep Project Work in the Classroom; The Power of Projects: Meeting Contemporary Challenges in Early Childhood Classrooms—Strategies and Solutions; and Windows on Learning: Documenting Young Children's Work, Second Edition. Lilian G. Katz is past president of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and professor emerita at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
"Everything you could possibly need to start a project is covered in this book, so start investigating!"
—Association for Childhood Education International (of first edition)
"As an elementary school principal and former teacher educator, I highly recommend this book. It is an essential professional development tool for promoting effective teaching and learning. The content of the book centralizes authentic, student-driven project work that leads to positive outcomes for elementary and early childhood students."
—Tricia DeGraff, Principal, Academy for Integrated Arts
Praise for Previous Editions:
“Everything you could possibly need to start a project is covered in this book, so start investigating!”
—Association for Childhood Education International
“A readable and extremely valuable book…includes a planning journal with step-by-step guidance for doing a first project with young children.”
—Child Care Plus
“Along with tips on how to get started and successfully carry out this approach, readers will find methodologies for maintaining curricular standards and utilizing technology.”
—ENC Focus
“This practical book is full of good ideas for teachers developing investigative projects with the youngest children. A powerful resource, it combines sound educational theory with many ways to support and document learning.”
—Sylvia C. Chard, University of Alberta, Canada
“In this beautifully written book, the reader takes a journey, discovering the many answers to the why, what, and how questions about the project approach. In addition to providing the essential how-to guidebook for projects, Helm and Katz address today’s burning issues—standards, evaluation, special populations, and relation to the larger curriculum.”
—Sue Bredekamp, Council for Professional Recognition
Professors: Request an Exam Copy
Print copies available for US orders only. For orders outside the US, see our international distributors.