It is almost back-to-school time and you just realized that you never even mentioned the word science this entire summer. Or maybe you are a preschool mom and looking for some new ideas. Or maybe, you are like me and don’t have a scientific bone in your body.
Whatever the reason, we all need to be able to introduce the world of science to our preschoolers or keep our children’s minds open to scientific study. Children, by nature, are curious individuals. Hence the reason we daily look to knock ourselves out because we have been asked “why" for the 50th time. Why not give them something educational to ask why about.
Last week I attended a conference for teachers. Knowing that I always hated science in school and not wanting to pass that on to my own kids, I decided to sign up for a science workshop. I imagined it as something in which I would sit with that blank stare, (you know the one you get when you ask your kids to put up their toys), imagining all of the things I should be spending my time doing instead of regretting being at a conference.
However, I was pleasantly surprised. The amazing things that parents and teachers alike can do with preschoolers and elementary students to teach or open their horizons to science amazed me. I got excited. So what do I do? I am sharing my newfound knowledge of this science world with all of you-free of charge, of course. I thought I would list some simple experiments that you can do at home rather easily to get your child’s mind churning.
Volcano Explosion
Ok, this is first for a reason. I loved this. It is awesome, messy and fun. It completely delighted my five year old as well as my thirty year old (husband). Who doesn’t love blowing stuff up. This is the simplest activity to do that I have seen in a long time. You start with a carbonated beverage. We chose the off brand red drink because lava is red, right? You then take a tube of Mentos and drop it into the two-liter. The result is awesome! Soda will shoot out the top at unprecedented heights. So if you would like to see what it looks like, just Google the words Mentos and Diet Coke and a wealth of videos will come up. Or you can visit http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=432784471612579163
Lava Lamp Blob
This is something that even toddlers will enjoy. You take a empty water bottle or some cool coke bottle test tubes and fill it 3/4 full of vegetable oil. Then fill the remainder with a little water. The water will sink. Then add a Fizzy Bath tablet (any color-blue, red) and put the lid on. The bath tablet will form to the water and look like a blob. You can shake it, turn it upside down, etc. The color will float back and forth. Children love staring at their creation.
Float or Sink
Probably the easiest experiment, and kids will enjoy adding their own stuff to conclude whether something sinks or floats. But for fun, take a can of Diet Coke and a can of Coke and drop it in a see through container filled with water. Watch as the Diet Coke floats!
Solar System
There are so many things on the market to teach kids about space or planets. Most are reasonably priced. There are glow in the dark stars and planets. There are lights that spin around in an orbit, inflatable planets or planets in the shape of balls. The important thing is not teaching a preschooler all of the planets, light years or what orbits are. The important thing is just to expose them so that by the time they make it into school they have developed a love for science.
Hot and cold
Fill up bowls of hot and cold water. Let the children feel the differences. Leave one hand in each bowl for three minutes. Then put both hands immediately in a room-temperature bowl. Your children will not be able to tell the temperature of the third bowl. One hand adapted to the hot water, so it will feel the third bowl as cold and vice versa for the cold hand.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
In a baby food jar, allow your child to combine different amounts of baking soda and vinegar in an open concept environment. It causes bubbles in the jar.
Racing Raisins
Fill some clear glasses with an equal amount of water. Drop one to two raisins in each glass. The raisins will sink to the bottom, pause and then quickly rise to the top.
The great thing about science is that there are so many ways to experience it with your kids. Go for a nature walk, stare at the clouds, play in the rain, measure the rain, feel the wind, etc. The great thing about science is just to ignite the five senses. Anything can be a science project. Even blowing bubbles to a toddler is considered a science experiment.
For those interested in buying the latest science crazes, my suggestion is to visit www.SteveSpanglerScience.com. You can buy anything from awesome, non-breakable test tubes to wind tubes to magnets to giggle sticks to roomerangs. Check it out for some great Science fun or just grab stuff from around the house. Enjoy exploring the unknown!
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