Science

Earth and Space Science Activities

· Rocks

· Seasons

· Dig through dirt. Draw and label what you see.

· Discussing different kinds of weather and the apparel for different types of weather

· Talking about things in the sky

· Investigating the characteristics of snow

· Exploring air: movement made by a fan, use paper bags, balloons, pinwheels, whistles, parachute, etc.

· Discussing fog, sun and rain

· Classifying rocks by size, shape, color, density and hardness (students can scrape them, drop vinegar on them, weighing them, etc.).Making simple maps of the school property that show all the different surface coverings

· Compare sand and soil

Life Science Activities

· Grow grass or a plant, observe on a regular basis

· Use a magnifying glass to look at different objects. Draw what is seen.

· Sort, measure, count seashells

· Observing animals and plants

· 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

· Class gardens

· Hatching eggs

· Collecting natural materials

· Discuss insects and how they protect themselves

· 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

· Talking about the roles of family members

· Discussing various community helpers

· Discussing things students can do now that he couldn't do when he was younger and the things they can do when they get older

· Discussing uses of plants for food, clothing and shelter

· Discussing the cycle of a tree and its uses

· Caring for plants and exploring their growth

· Discussing the different tastes of food (sour, sweet, bitter, salty, etc.)

· Preparing vegetables and fruits for eating

· Discussing and making butter, ice cream, soup, pudding, jello and applesauce

Physical Science Activities

· Magnets

· Ramps

· Light: Does light shine through _____? (have a number of different objects and a flash light to test them).

· Glurch and Oobleck (requires an adult)

· Playing with water; floating and sinking, moving objects, etc.

· Blowing bubbles

· Gears, clamps and vices

· Creating elevators

· Weighing objects

· Physical changes of water

· Sound vibrations

· Paper airplanes

· Manipulating clay

· Moving toys with or without wheels

· Blowing activities using straws (blowing a cotton ball across the table, blow painting, etc.)

· Rolling balls

· Listening to sounds of the city

· Observing machines at work

· Familiarizing students with gravity

· Performing simple experiments

· Siphoning from one container to another

· Washing and drying doll clothes

· Investigating water (evaporation, cleaning things, changes things, in different forms and purposes it serves).

· Observing reflections in water.

· Freezing ice and watching it melt

· Providing dishes of things that look alike but are different (salt, refined sugar, powdered sugar, soap flakes, flour, corn starch, starch, baking powder, etc.) and discussing the uses of each

· Feeling various textures (fabrics, screen, wood, glass, metal, sandpaper, egg shells, rocks, nails, etc.).

· Smelling various odors

Activities to Practice Skills

· Sort and classify items

· Use a balance

· Read thermometers

· Measure different things (example popcorn) using different tools

· Use a magnifying glass to examine different objects. Draw and write about what you see.