The Impact of a Summer Institute on Inservice Early Childhood Teachers’ Knowledge of Earth and Space Science Concepts

This study investigated inservice PreK to Grade two teachers' knowledge of some earth and space science concepts before and after a short-term teacher institute. A one-group pre-test-post-test design was used in the current study. Earth science concepts targeted during the professional development included properties of rocks and soils, and the space science concepts included moon shapes and sequences and the cause of moon phases. After the instruction, participants better understood properties of rocks and soil and targeted lunar concepts. They also were able to draw observable moon phases and pattern of changes in phases. The results of the current study indicate that even a short-term professional development enhanced inservice teachers' knowledge of targeted concepts.