Wow, this is fun! Making Science Fun and Exciting Mike Longoria, Ph.D. Early Childhood Consultant Storage Containers: - milk cartoons - cereal boxes - shoe boxes - sturdy plastic bags Science Center Display Containers: - aluminum pie pans - styrofoam trays - plastic containers - egg cartoon - aquarium - terrarium Equipment: - sponges - funnels - tweezers - magnets - timers - scale - balance - pitchers - magnify glass - straws - eye dropper Science Center (cont.) Natural material: - rocks - feathers - plants - insects - seashells - pine cones - seeds - leaves - twigs Observing characteristics, movement and feeding of various animals and insects Imitating sounds made by various animals Learning the names of animal babies Discussing ways we care for animals and the way they help us Watching and feeding birds and observing bird nests Learning about the different parts of the body and the functions they play Discussing different kinds of weather and the apparel for different types of weather Talking about things in the sky Discussing fog, sun and rain Compare sand and soil.. Investigating the characteristics of snow Classifying rocks by size, shape, color, density and hardness Playing with water; floating and sinking, moving objects, etc. Blowing bubbles Weighing objects Physical changes of water Floating and sinking in water Freezing ice and watching it melt Discovering the uses of magnet Blowing activities using straws 1
Observing animals and plants Discussing uses of plants for food, clothing and shelter Observing ant farms, spider webs, other animal homes Providing care for class pets Collecting and observing tadpoles Life cycles of the butterfly Examine textures found in natural items Sprouting sweet potatoes, carrot tops, orange seeds, etc. Seed collections Caring for plants and exploring their growth Preparing vegetables and fruits for eating Discussing the different tastes of food (sour, sweet, bitter, salty, etc.) Discussing and making butter, ice cream, soup, pudding, and jell-o Music and movement are powerful tools for enhancing learning and promoting longer retention. Music and movement enable young children to learn about science concepts and principles appropriately and in a meaningful and relevant approach. Science: Itsy Bitsy Spider The Itsy Bitsy Spider Arachnids versus insects (6 and 8 legs; 2 and 3 body parts) Went up the water spout Web (catches their prey) Down came the rain and washed the spider out Rain comes from clouds (Precipitation from condensation) Out came the sun and dried up all the rain Sun dries the rain (Heat causes evaporation) 2
Create a spider web using yarn I I C E E Water Cycle Clouds release the water rain (precipitation) Water is collected in lakes, rivers, etc. (accumulation) Water goes up to the sky (evaporation) Forms clouds (condensation) Share the science found in books Many books provide connections to science and math, unfortunately many teachers do not or are unable to make the connection. 3
Get children excited by playing the role of scientist dress them like scientist and go look for ants. goggles container Tweezers zip-lock I saw a little duck waddle, waddle, waddle. I told the duck to stop, stop, stop. And he wagged his tail tail, tail. And he flapped his wings, wings, wings! What can we do with feathers? Hold a feather in each hand I saw a little duck swim, swim, swim (stretch neck out & in) I told the duck to stop, stop, stop. And he wagged his tail tail, tail. And he flapped his wings, wings, wings! Find seeds Seeds, seeds, seeds! Plant seeds Eat seeds Sort seeds 4
Sing and chant songs Dig a little hole Plant a little seed Pour a little water And pull a little weed Here's a little seed in the dark, dark ground. Out comes the warm sun, yellow and round. Down comes the rain, wet and slow. Up comes the little seed, grow, grow, grow! Teach what you know Roots Leaves Celery Flower If you like animals, start there. Did You Feed My Cow? Did you feed my cow? What did you feed it? Did you milk her good? Did you milk her like you should? How did you milk her? Did my cow get sick? Was she covered with ticks? How did she die? Did the buzzards come? How did they come? (repeat) Corn and hay. (repeat) Squish, squish, squish. (repeat) No, No, No (repeat) (repeat) Flap, flap, flap (repeat) 5
Math Measurement: Pour milk into different containers 1 cup = half pint 2 cups = 1 pint Use a latex glove filled with milk to replicate udders. Introduce farmer and discuss their role in Society and introduce the process it follows from cow to home. (milk cow, pasteurize, package, Wal-Mart, and home) 2 pints = 1 quart 4 quarts = 1 gallon Science Math Measurement: Pour milk into different containers 1 cup = half pint 2 cups = 1 pint Science experiment: Use milk, Dawn detergent, and food coloring Decomposition: Place bananas out for a week to see decomposition 2 pints = 1 quart 4 quarts = 1 gallon Static Electricity Sheep have wool. Wool can produce static electricity. Attract and Repel: Use static from balloon to pickup cheerios 6
Remember most important, have FUN! - Keynotes - Staff Development - Workshops Mike Longoria, Ph.D. Early Childhood Consultant www.drmike.info 7