Children love to explore and collect rocks when they find them. Rocks are all so unique and therefore children will spend a lot of time comparing the rocks that they find. Here are two videos that will help explain rocks to children:
MINERALS:
ACTIVITIES: *Rock or Mineral Classroom Book Ask the children to brainstorm some questions that they have about rocks and minerals and have some additional questions that they can find the answer to. With assistance, children will research a rock or mineral and make a book page about it. All of the pages will be put together to make a book about rocks or minerals Examples:
This lesson is a great way for children to learn about different landforms in an interesting way.
To begin the lesson, each child will learn about a different landform. Once they have researched the landform, they will draw it on a piece of paper.
This video could be useful to help children learn about landforms
This is my drawing of a cape:
*It may also be helpful for the children to add some words that explain the landform on the drawing*
Once all of the children have drawn their landform, they can be displayed in a place so all of the students can see them.
Finally, challenge the children to draw a dinosaur using as many landforms as they can. They can do this individually or in small groups on a large paper (like the example below).
The children can share their dinosaurs and explain what landforms they included.
Another Example:
Books About Landforms: Books About Dinosaurs:
Related Activities: *Classroom Landform Book *Making Landforms Sensory Bins *Clay/Play Dough Landforms or Dinosaurs
Although it seems like an abstract idea to learn about the planets it is important for children to learn about the Earth that they live on. Children will very quickly become interested in learning about the other planets and how the solar system work as a whole.
Enjoy this rap about the solar system!
Lesson Idea: Make your own Plant
Description: Children will use the art materials provided to create their own planet. Ask the children to share details about what life on their planet is like.
Example-My Planet ("Michelle's World"):
I used silver sharpies, black paper, scissors, tape, and a large ball to make my planet. I used the sharpie to draw "continents" on the paper then I cut them out and tape them on the ball. For this activity children can have access to all of the art materials to build their planet anyway they would like.
I named my planet Michelle's World because all of the continents are shaped like and consist of only things that I love. The continents on my planet are Ice Cream Factory, Giraffeland, Water Country, Bumpin' Beats, and Weight World
Each continent consists of things related to the shape and name of the continent. For example, Girraffeland has millions of giraffes. Humans can live on all continents and can easily and very cheaply travel from continent to another. I placed "Weight World" in between "Ice Cream Factory" and "Water Country" so people could conveniently get their beach bodies in check after eating unbelievable amounts of ice cream.
Making potions is a great way for children to make scientific discoveries as they learn how different things interact when they are mixed in a super exciting way!
What you will need:
Household materials that children can mix to make potions
Test Tubes
Stir Sticks
Apron
Gloves
Glasses
*Safety Tip: Ensure that all materials that you use are safe. Read the labels!*
Children will make potions in test tubes and name them. Encourage children to write down the ingredients that they used so they can share their potion and make it again if they want. Allow the children to share their potions with their friends. Ask them to think about what their potion will do.
Children could also take pictures of their potions and record the reactions in order to create a book,
Here are some of the potions that we created:
Sunrise: Ingredients:
Baking Soda
Food coloring
White Vinegar
Baby Oil
Anti-Acid
Mellow Yellow: Ingredients:
Baby Oil
Food Coloring
Shaving Cream
Sea World
Ingredients:
Daily Fiber
White Vinegar
Ice Cream Salt
Denture Cleaner
Mr. B
Ingredients:
White Vinegar
Baking Soda
Salt
Ice Cream Salt
Denture Cleaner
We discovered that baking soda and vinegar made a chemical reaction, so we added baking soda and vinegar to all of our potions at the end.
You might think of bubbles as something simple that will keep children occupied for a few minutes. However, just like with anything else, children will quickly become very curious about bubbles, which can lead to great scientific discoveries.
When children come up with questions about bubbles, it is important that you support their inquiries and help them discover the answers.
How do you make the most bubbles?
How do you make the biggest bubbles?
Are bubbles always round?
There are so many amazing things that you can do with bubbles!
