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Featured here are some favorite science and science-related activities, ideas, helpful web sites, and recipes which are being shared by "A Head Start on Science" workshop participants and others interested in science for young children. Suggestions are shown as submitted, with occasional minor editing.
PLEASE NOTE: Our project has not been able to field test these submissions, and those who try them must understand that we cannot guarantee their effectiveness or their safety. With this understanding, you are welcome to use a and submit favorite "science for young children" activities, ideas, web sites, or recipes to us for possible addition to the On-Line Share-a-Thon. Our motto is: "Steal the best (activities and ideas), and invent the rest!"
Submitted by Maria Huerta
Bassett USD
06/25/2007
Procedure: The teacher will talk to the students about how the pond was built for them by a former teacher (Mr. Duke) so that they may use it as an outside learning science classroom. The teacher will also talk to the children about what kinds of animals and plants they will see at the pond.
Goal: The goal is to visit "Mr. Duke's Pond" for a total of 30 minutes where the children will have a chance at hands on experience as they walk around the pond and its surroundings. The children will see: Catfish, Coil Snails, Crawfish, Turtles, Crabs and other types of smaller fish. They will also be able to see Dragonflies, Bumble Bees, ground insects, different types of birds and butterflies. Children will have a chance to feed the fish and turtles and will also learn about different types of plants native to California streams.
Objective: The objective of this lesson is to encourage children to develop a "Sense of Wonder," by answering the children's questions and asking them questions about what they see. Sample questions the children can be asked are "What color were the turtles in the large pond?" and "How many fish did you see?" Children can also develop their senses by looking for different animals, listening for the different birds and sometimes frogs or toads, smelling the different types of plants, and touching the different types of plants and rocks. The children will also develop language by talking about what they have seen, comparing, investigating, and predicting what they think will happen with the environment. The children will practice math concept when they talk about how many animals they saw. They will also use small and large motor skills as they navigate through the pond and look at the foliage.
Follow up Activity: Children are asked to draw something that represents what they have seen at the pond. They will be encouraged to talk about their drawings or collage.
Materials Needed: Blank drawing paper, colored construction and tissue paper, crayons, glue sticks, and pencils. Teachers may also supply colored sand, beads, yarn, and other crafting materials.
Age of Children: The children who participate in this exercise are from age 3 to age 5 and the exercise is age appropriate according to California School Standards.
Submitted by Esther Hernandez
LBUSD Head Start
06/28/2007
Ingredients:
- 3 rolls of toilet paper
- 1 bar of soap, shredded (scented or unscented)
- 1/2 cup of borax
Directions: Unroll the toilet paper and soak in a large tub of cold water for 2 days, so that the paper becomes soft and liquefied. After that time, drain the water and add the remaining ingredients.
Submitted by Maria Balderas
Foundation
06/28/2007
Materials:
- bowl
- spoon
- water
- soil
- sand
- plaster of paris
Directions: Mix all ingredients by adding water as needed. Shape the dough. Let it dry and you have a "rock."
Submitted by Doe Ryti
Palmdale USD
08/07/2007
Purpose: To enable children to observe and describe bubbles and their "rainbow" colors.
Objectives: To have children observe-
- a visible light spectrum
- white light can be broken into a "rainbow" spectrum of colors
- reflected light can be separated into rainbow colors, a process known as "Interference"
- As bubbles get thinner, the colors become more reddish.
Resource Materials:
- Bubble recipe: 4 cups water, 1/2 cup liquid dishwashing detergent; 1/2 cup corn syrup or glycerin (optional, but adding it makes larger and longer-lasting bubbles)
- If possible, prepare 2-3 days in advance
Activities and Procedures:
- Take children outside in a sunny day
- Discuss which colors we see in a rainbow and what colors we might see in a bubble
- Break children into pairs, one bubble blower each and one observer with a clipboard to document observations; Later, switch roles
- The observer will document the colors s/he sees in the bubbles
- At subsequent circle, reports and shown and discussed.
Tying It Together: Discuss the importance of color as well as how it is important to each individual. Discuss each person's color preferences.
Vocabulary: Spectrum, Rainbow
Art Connection: Easel paper with paints of all the rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet ("ROY G BIV").
Family Connection: In afternoon or early morning, have children use a hose with sprayer to create a rainbow/spectrum, or re-create these activities at home with family members.
Literature Connection: The Bubble Factory by Tomie dePaola (Grosset & Dunlap, 1996)
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