Kide Science: The Best Place for The Future Generations

Kide Science platform offers the most engaging model to break the mold and give teachers the confidence to teach science & inquiry-based lessons with play and stories to children aged 3-8. In 2013, the founder embarked on a five-year research journey that would irrevocably change how the team looks at early science education. At the University of Helsinki, the team hosted science clubs with over 1,000 children and turned the learnings into an engaging STEAM education model that meets children in an environment most natural to them: the imagination. At Kide Science, the team knows that children are active learners by nature. As a teacher or a parent, the clients are bound to know it, too. Because children have a strong tendency to explore and experiment, the pedagogy shifts science learning into imaginative science play.

As a society, the team needs the children to grow up understanding, evaluating, and producing scientific knowledge. Kide Science is here to help children become active producers of knowledge and meaning, helping them grow into the problem solvers and creative thinkers the future society needs. The little scientists adventuring in the story world of Supraland today are the future citizens facing up to the greatest existential threats of tomorrow. For young children, the natural way to produce meaning is through play – not sit down, be quiet, and absorb pre-ground knowledge. Kide Science has a unique approach to learning: it feels like playing! But what's essential to note is that the research behind it is a serious business. In fact, the research is the very reason the team is present. Kide Science's pedagogical model is based upon five years of academic research led by Ph.D. Vartiainen (2016), and further refined through additional research projects (e.g. Vartiainen & Kumpulainen (2020). The impact of Kide Science's approach is evident through four levels of research. 

Best curriculums Kide Science provides

Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP): Development and learning are dynamic processes. When children have an active role in finding out new things, the learning is more likely to stay with them for years to come. All domains of child development are important (physical, cognitive, social and emotional, linguistic development) It’s so easy to associate science only with cognitive development. Actually, it is so much more than that! Early science learning is all about curiosity, enthusiasm, sharing and celebrating the new findings together. During Kide inquiries, ideas don’t have to be scientifically accurate to be valued. The accuracy will develop little by little in time, along with conceptual understanding. Play promotes joyful learning that fosters skills and competences. It is essential for all children. The team use pretend play to boost the feeling of competence: when a child puts on a lab coat, they feel like a real scientist –a problem solver who can do anything. The team embraces the power of a child’s imagination, and uses it to challenge thinking beyond what they already know. It develops their identity as a competent STEAM learner. Development and learning vary by cultural contexts, experiences and individual differences. Luckily, as the lessons are play-based, all children can access the learning from their own point of view. The team also supports this individuality through activity-specific adaptation tips: there to help the teacher differentiate the lesson.

Next Generation Science Skills (NGSS): Beginning with "Asking Questions and Defining Problems," the clients’ program encourages students to develop a curious mindset, fostering their ability to inquire and identify problems. This sets the foundation for scientific exploration. Moving on to "Developing and Using Models," the clients’ program provides students with the tools to represent and understand complex scientific concepts. This skill not only aids in conceptualizing abstract ideas but also enhances their ability to communicate and collaborate effectively. The emphasis on "Planning and Carrying out Investigations" instills a hands-on approach, guiding students through the scientific method, promoting meticulous observation, and refining their investigative skills. As students’ progress, they engage in "Analyzing and Interpreting Data" and "Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking." The clients’ program bridges the gap between theory and application, encouraging students to analyze data critically and apply mathematical reasoning to draw meaningful conclusions. "Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions" challenges students to synthesize their understanding, fostering creativity and innovation. Finally, "Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information" completes the cycle by encouraging students to access, assess, and convey scientific knowledge effectively, reinforcing the importance of clear communication in the scientific community.

Common Core State Standards (CCSS): During Kide activities, children are active agents in their learning. The team encourages practical, hands-on learning to solve story-based problems –naturally developing the children’s independence. The teacher is simply the facilitator who joins in the play. The activities build up children’s conceptual understanding over time; practicing skills in different curriculum subjects. Children learn to present their knowledge and interpretations in different ways, especially in spoken form, as they report their solutions back to the story characters at the end of each lesson. They begin to use the vocabulary and display the different communication skills needed to share ideas with both their classmates, and also to the imaginary story characters. The stories introduce a problem at the start of each session. There are often suggestions of answers, and children are encouraged to be open minded and test to find out if these are in fact correct. Also, teachers are prompted with open questions to encourage critical thinking. When they present their learnings at the end of a session, they can do so because they have found the evidence out themselves. The lessons are actually screen-free. But of course, children can be encouraged to use technology to enhance the activities e.g. by photographing their ideas, or by recording videos to present their findings.

Sari Hurme-Mehtälä, Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder 

“Accelerate Learning is the new owner of Kide Science” 

“Kide Science impacts thousands of people around the world.”