​​Conductive chemistry learning: Work in progress submission for the development of a conductive chemistry kit

Early exposure to creative contexts to develop critical technological skills is a major contributor to transforming participation in STEM. Yet, in early childhood settings, critical technological design and advanced science content is nearly missing. Here, we discuss an ongoing research and design that investigates intergenerational practices and materials related to electricity and circuits and leverages them toward the design of a novel age-appropriate Conductive Chemistry kit. This kit will support children (age 3-6) and caring adults to learn the underlying chemistry of circuits and to critically explore technology by asking what electronics are made of, how they are made, what circuits are for, and who can create them. We merge the constructionist idea that learning happens best when people design personally meaningful projects with socio-material approaches to learning that materials associated with underrepresented groups can transform participation. The project will advance a scalable kit and knowledge about critical technology practices and advanced science learning in early childhood with implications for transforming early childhood education and chemistry education at large.