How to Apply Bloom's Taxonomy for Preschool Science

Bloom's Taxonomy is a teaching strategy developed in 1956 by Benjamin Bloom outlining a series of learning categories, from remembering to creating; each category builds on the mastery of the previous one. The original six categories of Bloom's Taxonomy were revised slightly in 2000 to reflect 21st century relevance and now list Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating and Creating. Even though preschool students are emergent readers and writers, they can learn science through all the levels of Bloom's Taxonomy with a few simple read-alouds, well-chosen questions and hands-on activities.

Read aloud the information you want the students to learn during circle time. Simple picture books or short videos that tell about the life cycle of the butterfly or the seasons of the year are usually short and brightly illustrated to keep a preschooler's attention.

Help the students remember the basic information -- the first stage of Bloom's Taxonomy -- by repeating it and asking them to repeat it back to you. Have student list the stages of the butterfly cycle or the seasons of the year, for example. Describe a stage of the butterfly life cycle or characteristics of a season for the students to identify.

Ask students specific questions about the subject to increase understanding. In the butterfly example, show the students a picture of a caterpillar or find different stages of the butterfly life cycle in a butterfly garden and ask students to identify the stage and what stage will it become next. Instruct students to observe the weather to identify which season it is now and which season comes next.

Have students apply what they've learned. Put pictures of the butterfly life cycle in random order and have students re-order the pictures correctly. Have students draw accurate representations of the season of the year, demonstrating that the students can apply what they've learned.

Provide opportunities for the students to analyze the information. Present information on the life cycle of the moth and ask students to compare and contrast the moth and the butterfly cycle. Have students describe the similarities and differences in the landscape between different seasons.

Ask questions that allow students to evaluate the information and draw conclusions. Why do butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of plant leaves? Why are butterflies attracted to certain plants? Why do the tree leaves change colors in autumn? Why does it snow in winter?

Instruct students to create something new based on all of the information they explored in the lesson. Have students create a fictional story based on the life of a butterfly or design a butterfly garden. Instruct students to design a new tool for removing snow in the winter or all-season clothing.