science
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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…
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Friday Freebie – Science Experiment
Happy Friday! That’s about all I have left in me this week, so thank goodness the weekend is here because I am so ready for it! I’ve shared all kinds of science experiments this week, and today’s freebie fits that theme too. This “What Dissolves” science experiment and recording sheet from Science for Kids is another very simple experiment that is perfect for helping children explore basic scientific principles. Go download your set and try it out with your students!
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Easy Science – Frozen Bubbles
I could’ve sworn that I’ve shared this activity before, but when I went back through the archives to look for the photos I couldn’t find the post anywhere – which means I need to share it with you! Have you ever attempted frozen bubbles?! This is an activity that I have put on my lesson plan every year since I started teaching, but the weather really has to cooperate, so I’ve only been able to try it once, but it worked like a charm! All it takes to make frozen bubbles are bubble solution and a very cold day. First, a note about the bubble solution. I’ve always loved Dawn…
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Easy Science – What will freeze?
This week is all about my love for simple science experiments. This time of year lends itself perfectly to all kinds of ice experiments because they are relevant – nature is certainly making ice, so why not explore it? One way to go beyond just exploring ice is to look at all kinds of everyday items – both liquid and solid – to see which ones will freeze and which ones will not. This experiment will give your students the opportunity to make hypotheses, you can ask them which items they think will freeze before attempting. Here are some items that you probably already have that you can experiment with:…
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Easy Science – Exploring Sugar Crystals
My Favorite science experiments are often the simplest, like the opportunity to get a close look at sugar crystals. These easy experiments are a first opportunity to ask questions and try new things with materials that are familiar and safe. Sugar offers a couple of opportunities. The first being the chance to explore crystals. If you place a small amount of sugar on top of a dark piece of construction paper or cardstock, it is easy to see each individual crystal with your bare eyes. This is also a great time to practice using a magnifying glass to get a better look. Some things that you can ask the children…
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An Easy Fall Science Center
Fall is the perfect time of year to explore science – there are so many changes happening! It’s also really easy to find natural materials to use in the classroom (check out this list and this list for ideas), but sometimes I struggle with how to contain all of those natural materials. No more worries, I’ve found the perfect solution: How awesome are these leaf-shaped containers from Oriental Trading (of course) ?! I filled mine with tree bark, grass, pebbles, twigs, some small red leaves, and one larger green leaf. The best thing about this set is that it includes 24 containers, so your students could help you find all…
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Friday Freebie – Cloud Hunt
Happy Friday – don’t you just love a short week, it seems to fly by! I’ve got a great freebie for you today, it fits right in with the cloud conversation that we’ve been having all week. This Cloud Hunt Bingo from Green Grubs Garden Club is AWESOME. The children are given different themes (i.e. find a cloud that looks like something from the ocean, find a cloud that looks like something that starts with a T, etc.) and then they have to see if they can write or draw the clouds that they see. I love that it’s a fun take on looking for shapes in the clouds, and…
