science
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Spice Painting
Historically, spices were often used to create paints because many of them have very distinct colors. Making your own spice paints is a great way to explore spices and their scents at the same time! All that you have to do is mix a good amount of a single spice with a small amount of water until the paint is the consistency that you want. You can also add a little cornstarch to make your paints go a little farther. Here are some spices to try and the colors that they will make: Paprika = Orange Turmeric = Mustard Yellow Saffron = Bright Yellow Parsley = Green Cinnamon = Brown…
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Pie Filling Taste Test
I know that there are very strong opinions about using food for preschool activities, and I understand both sides of the argument. Personally, I believe that food is something that brings us together. It is a powerful way to open children’s minds to new experiences, and to introduce them to cultural experiences. I am especially partial to taste-tests as science and social studies activities because it gives me the opportunity to expose children to something that they may not ever encounter at home. I’ve been known to taste test fruits and vegetables, in order to introduce new foods and encourage children to be open to trying new things. This particular…
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20 ways to explore pumpkins
Pumpkin exploration is synonymous with Halloween in preschool. But if you’re ready to try something other than painting pumpkins and sending them home, then check out this list! Carve pumpkins Explore the insides in the sensory table Separate the seeds and bake them Compare the insides to canned pumpkin Explore pumpkins of different shapes and sizes Look at a variety of different colored pumpkins See what items you can stick into the outside of the pumpkin Look at the insides of different types of pumpkins See if your pumpkins will roll down a ramp Measure your pumpkins with a piece of yarn Use the tops of your carved pumpkins as…
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Friday Freebie – Pumpkin Science
Happy Friday! Just in case I haven’t shared enough autumn science ideas with you this week, here’s another one. This Pumpkin Science set includes printables to support your class’ pumpkin exploration. Go download your set from All Things Preschool, and have a wonderful weekend!
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Autumn Science Experiments
Are you looking for some science experiments to help get your students excited about autumn?! I’ve rounded up a few that are guaranteed to get them asking questions and exploring new concepts. Leaf Science Vanishing Ghosts Pumpkin Seed Growing Apple Science Indian Corn Sprouting
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Science center ideas for the whole year
When I’m visiting preschool classrooms, the science center is usually the one center that seems the most neglected. There might be a toy microscope, a few dried up leaves, and some plastic bugs – those are all science staples. I always loved coming up with new ideas for my science center, so I thought that I’d share just in case you find yourself in need of inspiration. These are ideas that can be used year-round, and I hope that they will breathe new life into your science center! A collection of seashells and starfish, books about the ocean, photos of ocean habitats, and plastic ocean animals. Soil samples in clear…
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Acorn Science
Acorns are great for autumn inquiries because they naturally lead to a variety of questions, such as; Why do the acorns fall off the tree? If we plant an acorn, will it grow? What would it grow into? What is inside of an acorn? Do any animals eat acorns besides squirrels? These questions can lead to wonderful investigations about autumn, hibernation, and plant life. If you’re looking for some additional science activities to do with acorns you can easily adapt year-round favorites to help your students understand acorns better. You could: See if acorns sink or float, and then explore the same question with other types of nuts Talk about…
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15 Things preschoolers can observe in the fall
Autumn gives us plenty of examples to explore changes in our world. Here are 15 different things that you can use to practice observation skills with preschoolers: Leaves changing colors Leaves falling off trees Leaves on other plants (Are they falling off too? Is it just trees that lose their leaves?) Trees that are not changing colors (Why do some trees change colors while others do not?) Bugs (What are they doing? Is this different from what they do at other times of the year?) Squirrels Other animals (What animals do you see? What are they doing?) The temperature Weather patterns The clothing you are all wearing (Is it different…
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Flashlight Play
If you’re looking for some fun activities that children will love, that incorporate science, and that may be just a little different than your typical preschool activities then flashlights might be just what you need. First things first, you’ll need enough flashlights for multiple children to use at once. There are a few ways to gather these; ask your families to bring in flash lights from their homes, visit the local hardware store and ask for a donation, or order a set from Oriental Trading. Once you’ve got your flashlights think about how you want to use them. Can you make your classroom dark enough for them to work well?…
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Try a Baby Food Taste Test
On Monday I shared some of my favorite items to add to your doll-themed dramatic play center. If you really want to start a great conversation, why not try a baby food taste test?! This is a great way to get your preschoolers talking about the textures of different foods, and to compare and contrast the purees with the solid foods. While it hasn’t been all that long since most of your preschoolers were eating baby food regularly, they’ll never believe you when you tell them this. It’s a good idea to start with foods that they are going to be willing to try – fruits are generally a safe…
