SCIENCE Understanding the World Around Us

Polar Bear, Polar Bear n Clap your hands and stomp your feet after each of the Polar Bear’s tricks. n Preparation: Bear shaped bottle; yellow, blue, red, food coloring; magic cleaner; water.

Children have a natural interest about the world around them and Children act as scientists as they question their surroundings.

Science is BEST LEARNED THROUGH: n Experiences of the senses: –eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and touch n First hand experiences n Simple experiments n Unplanned discoveries n Observations n Predictions n Exciting discussions –Effective questioning transformation

Effective Questioning n CLOSED-ENDED QUESTIONS: –Single answer or Yes/No answers What color is it? What shape is it? Do you like to look at the fish? n OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS: –Promotes discussion - requires decision-making skills ** What are you observing? How could you group these? What happens when you ….? ** What do you think will happen if…. What can you do to make that happen? How does it look the same or different than it did yesterday? ** How did you do that? I wonder how _______ works? What can you change to make ______ work/happen out? When did this happen? What happened afterward? ** I don’t know either. Let’s see if we can find out

THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS? n Observe: notice, wonder explore. n Ask questions n Create a hypothesis n Predict outcome n Perform experiment n Analyze results n Evaluate hypothesis

The SCIENCE AREA n Allow the child to explore the world around them through hands on, activities, displays, and simple science experiments. n Place it near a window and away from active play n Have a table set up where a variety of materials are available for the child to examine with his/her senses. real and plastic animals magnifying glasses Sorting containers Balance scale Building materials MicroscopesglobePicturesPlantsLeaves SeedsRocksinsectsSeashellswater

Sensory Table -Provide children opportunities to explore using their senses. -Sensory tables should be located near a sink for quick clean up. -Contain water wheels, funnels, plastic beakers, cups etc.

GAK n 1/8c (2Tbl) Glue n 1/8 c (2Tbl) –Liquid Starch –a little less than this amount so it is not gooey. n 1 drop food coloring n Combine in a bag and mix until all absorbed.

CHEMISTRY n Suspension: Chemical reaction: Chemical change:

CHEMISTRY n 1. Suspension –**Fireworks in a Glass n 2. Chemical reaction –**Volcano n 3. Chemical change –Shiny Penny –Dinosaur Egg: –Ice cube and salt –Oobleck Video

FLUBBER / Real Silly Putty In a zip lock bag, place 1 tablespoon Elmer's glue, 1 tablespoon water and 2 drops of food coloring Mix well. In a container mix 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon Borax. After the glue, water and food coloring have been mixed, add 1 tablespoon of the borax mixture. Close Ziploc and mix well. The result is a very, very close resemblance to the real silly putty.

PHYSICAL n Balance n Weight and Size n Movements n Gravity n Water: Sink or Float n Magnets n Machines: wheels, gears, lever, etc.

PHYSICAL n Conductor/Insulator –Ice cubes on a metal baking sheet vs. ice cubes on a piece of cardboard, which melts faster? –**Electricity Static on hair with balloons. –Crayon Melt on a hot plate n Balance –**Does air have weight? 2 balloons and a ruler. –**Dominoes falling in a chain reaction n Weight and Size –**Lift a bottle with a stick n Gravity –Drop various objects to see how they fall n Water: –Test Sink or Float –**Scuba Diver or **Dancing raisins n Magnets –**Dancing Socks n Machines: –wheels, gears, lever (nutcracker)

BIOLOGY n Living and non-living things n Animals n Habitats and Diets

BIOLOGY Studying Living and non-living things n Animals –Care of pets –Habitats and Diets –Seashells, pet fish, watch tad poles develop, hatch chickens. n Your Human Body –Our 5 senses **Smelling jars, tasting table, sound cans, touch gel bags, hearing. n Germs and Bacteria –**Germy Hands (2 volunteers for this) n Non-living things –Does it breath? Does it move on its own?

BOTANY n Plants n Germination n Photosynthesis n Purpose of plants: food, building, clothing, etc.

BOTANY n Plants and trees –**Do leaves breath? Place a leaf in a glass of water and watch as bubbles form on the leaf. –Matching leaves with the tree. n Germination –Sprout seed in plastic bag –Grass Head Guys. Grow grass in a stocking and potting soil. n Photosynthesis –**Carnation /Celery in colored water –Place one plant in sun, one plant in dark.

ASTROLOGY- METEOROLOGY n Sun n Light and Dark: Shadows n Stars n Weather

ASTROLOGY- METEOROGY n Sun, Moon and Stars –Make a sundial, sun prints on paper. –Shapes, chart phases of the moon n Light and Dark –Shadow tracing –Outdoors with the sun, indoors with the flashlight. n The water cycle –Make a cloud in a jar. n Weather –Tornado in a bottle. –**Thunder in a brown bag n Season changes

ECOLOGY n Conservation n Recycling n Erosion n Care of the Environment –Worms in soil