DEVELOPING NATURAL SCIENCE COMPETENCES IN PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN USING THE EDUCATIONAL BOARD GAME "SEE-THINK. HISTORY OF THE WHEEL"

The educational board game "See-Think. History of the Wheel" ("Mato-Mąsto. Rato istorija" in Lithuanian) is an innovative tool designed to foster natural science competencies in preschool children. The game enhances children's curiosity, critical thinking, and collaborative skills by integrating play-based learning with scientific exploration. Grounded in pedagogical research, the game aligns with modern educational strategies emphasizing active, joyful, and meaningful learning experiences. The game includes two difficulty levels (I and II), ensuring adaptability to children’s developmental stages. Level I focuses on foundational concepts (e.g., plant identification, weather phenomena, materials), while Level II introduces more complex tasks (e.g., animal classification, continents, reasoning challenges). Visual aids, question cards, and sand timers facilitate an interactive and engaging experience. The gameplay follows three stages: rule introduction – Ensure clarity and set expectations; Gameplay – children solve tasks, earn points, and collaborate while reinforcing scientific knowledge. Reflection – Post-game discussions help consolidate learning through guided questions (e.g., "What did you learn?", "Which tasks were challenging?"). The game addresses key goals in early childhood education by merging play with structured learning. It supports holistic development, aligns with sustainability education, and can be adapted across diverse learning environments. Future applications could expand into digital formats or additional thematic modules (e.g., ecology, physics). "See-Think. History of the Wheel" exemplifies how play-based methodologies can effectively cultivate scientific curiosity and foundational skills in young learners. It is a valuable resource for educators seeking dynamic, child-centered approaches to natural science education. Keywords: educational game, natural science competence, preschool education, playful learning