Wondering if teaching about magnetism is appropriate for preschoolers, which chemistry activities can be safe for young children, what materials to provide for exploration of gravity, or how to raise butterflies?
This is a place to ask a question for other early childhood teachers to try to help answer. And for you to answer any questions posted by clicking on “Comment” below and adding your two cents, or more.
Thank you for doing science with young children,
Peggy
Related posts:
10 Comments
I think this is a great website! I’m interested in a great recipe for making bubble solution that let’s children create large bubbles using pipecleaners. Any suggestions for recipes or other bubble activities? http://kindercaring.blogspot.com/
Hi, Deanna! Here’s the recipe we use at Minnesota Children’s Museum, along with a few other ideas: • 1 cup dish soap (original Dawn® works well) • 12 cups water • Optional: 2 tablespoons glycerin (from a drugstore) Gently stir all ingredients together in a bucket. Let bubble solution sit overnight for best results. Experiment with strawberry baskets, slotted spoons and other objects as bubble wands. Or, use your hands! Form your hands into a triangle, dip them into bubble solution, and blow! Questions to extend children’s bubble play: • How many bubbles can you make in one minute? • What would happen if we made a really BIG bubble? Books to extend children’s bubble play: • The Unbelievable Bubble Book by John Cassidy • What is Round? by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
I’m in need of gross motor activities to keep students and teachers warm when we’re outside for an hour in the morning in winter… A tie-in to science concepts would be nice! The activity could be for a whole class or just a few children and a teacher.
This is a great website. It is an archive of questions with answers students from age 9 to 16 have asked in the past 30 years. It is an excellent resource for teachers and parents. The built in search engine makes it a great site for students to conduct reasearch. Engine brings up articles related to the word entered in the keyword search. Over 16,000 articles! It is great!
Check http://www.youaskandy.com a great resource for teachers, students and parents
A parent asked me to suggest a microscope for her 13 year old daughter. Does anyone have a suggestion?
Several teachers on the NSTA General Science email list for members said that they had been happy with a Brock microscope for ease and durability. I haven’t used that brand but, since I still remember watching a water flea give birth under a microscope when I was about 8 years old, I can definitely recommend having children use a microscope.
I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for a science lesson plan for 3rd graders on force and motion.
Is there a website that you use to get materials and/or resources?
Rachel—What the grade level standards you are focusing on? The March 2008 issue of Science and Children focused on Force and Motion. One recommended internet site is the Museum of Science’s page about simple machines, Inventor’s Toolbox: The Elements of Machines, at http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/InventorsToolbox.html
Kelli—the NSTA Reports has a Freebies for Science Teachers section, online at http://www.nsta.org/publications/freebies.aspx or in print when you join.