The Creative Thinking - Science Exposure program in Israel is an innovative program to teach scientific concepts to very young children via fun activities and the creation of scientific toys.

1. Dr. Edith Manny-Ikan, Ravit Efrati
2September
014
The Henrietta Szold Institute
The Creative Thinking
(CT) Program
Main Evaluation Findings

2. In a nutshell….
“The children come from a weak
background… hard working families.
They do not participate in enrichment
activities beyond preschool...
This program allows them to be exposed
to new content they'll never reach otherwise
and they really need it”
(Teacher 5, Second Year)
The Henrietta Szold Institute – The National Institute for Research in Behavioral Sciences

3. Program
Level
•Program
Implementation
•Program
Sustainability
Research Topics
Child Level
•Responses
•Contribution
(engagement,
curiosity, dialogue)
Teacher Level
•Attitude
• Integration and
Implementation
Community
Level
•Parents’
cooperation and
attitudes
The Henrietta Szold Institute – The National Institute for Research in Behavioral Sciences

4. Research Tools
Observations
Teacher
Training (n=2)
Preschools (n=8)
Questionnaires
Teachers (n=25)
Parents (n=332)
Interviews
Teachers (n=8)
CT Program Facilitators
(n=2)
Developmental Teacher
Assistants (n=2)
Program Managers (n=2)
The Henrietta Szold Institute – The National Institute for Research in Behavioral Sciences

5. Satisfying Aspects of the CT
program
Preschool Teachers (N=25)
Overall satisfaction
Children's enjoyment
Facilitator's attitude
Variety of content
Guidance given by the facilitator
Adjustment to religious values
Adjustment to childrens' age
4%
8%
13%
13%
17%
100%
100%
96%
92%
88%
87%
83%
Moderately agree Highly agree
The Henrietta Szold Institute – The National Institute for Research in Behavioral Sciences

6. The Impact of the Program on the Children
Preschool Teachers (N=25)
Exposure to scientific topics
Enjoyment from scientific topics
Acquisition of scientific concepts
Fostering creative thinking
Fostering interest and curiosity in scientific phenomena
Ability to link scientific phenomena to everyday life
Comprehension of scientific laws and principles
8%
8%
9%
13%
17%
4%
4%
21%
29%
92%
92%
91%
87%
83%
75%
67%
Slightly agree Moderatly agree Highly agree
The Henrietta Szold Institute – The National Institute for Research in Behavioral Sciences

7. The Impact of the Program on the Children
Parents (N= 290)
Enjoyment from scientific topics
Exposure to scientific topics
Fostering interest and curiosity in scientific
phenomena
Acquisition of scientific concepts
Comprehension of scientific laws and principles
Ability to link scientific phenomena to everyday life
7%
8%
8%
10%
7%
10%
14%
15%
19%
18%
22%
26%
79%
77%
73%
72%
72%
64%
Slightly agree Moderatly agree Highly agree
The Henrietta Szold Institute – The National Institute for Research in Behavioral Sciences

8. The Impact of the Program on the Parents
72% participated in 2 workshops
74% received ideas for activities to do at home and 58%
tried them
94% were highly satisfied with the workshops
95% would like to participate in future workshops
The Henrietta Szold Institute – The National Institute for Research in Behavioral Sciences

9. The Contribution of the Training Workshops
Preschool Teachers (N=25)
Experiental experience
Teaches preparation of sceintific products
Clear and understandable
Provides new knowledge
Provides new skills
Interesting
Gives ideas for further activity
Gives ideas for implementation with religious values
Prepares teachers for future implementation
4%
4%
4%
4%
8%
8%
4%
17%
20%
20%
28%
36%
50%
100%
100%
92%
79%
76%
72%
72%
56%
46%
Slightly agree Moderatly agree Highly agree
The Henrietta Szold Institute – The National Institute for Research in Behavioral Sciences

10. Areas for Improvement
Preschool Teachers
Using a variety of teaching methods
during the CT activity
Distribution of information sheets
to parents after each activity
Adapting the content and
explanations to the children's age
Creating a repository of learning
materials and activities
Using a variety of teaching methods
in the training sessions
Parents
Increasing the cooperation with
parents
Increasing the frequency of the CT
activity in the preschools
Increased emphasis on acquisition of
scientific concepts and their
connection to everyday life
Adapting the content and
explanations to the children's age
The Henrietta Szold Institute – The National Institute for Research in Behavioral Sciences

11. Recommendations
Improvement of training sessions (new implementation
ideas, peer learning) in order to maintain sustainability
Improvement of teacher involvement (experiencing teaching
CT activities in the preschool)
Adjustment of preschool activities (teaching suitable content
according to children's age, more emphasis on understanding
of scientific concepts and their connection to everyday life)
The Henrietta Szold Institute – The National Institute for Research in Behavioral Sciences

12. The Henrietta Szold Institute – The National Institute for Research in Behavioral Sciences