A great, quick, fun and festive activity that throws in a little science are gravity snakes. You can read more about gravity and balance in my previous post. I have seen these in a ton of locations, but the idea is that when balanced, the pull of gravity will pull the “snake” down creating a ... Read More about Gravity Snakes
We are buzzing through our final unit in science...and I do mean buzzing through. Pass is in just 12 days! Of course our final unit would have to be earth materials which is pretty blah...BUT...I am trying to turn drab into fab. I thought that a song to Cher Lloyd's "Want You Back" and some food would be the ticket to grabbing my kiddos attention when trying to teach them about rocks and minerals. Let me tell you...total buy in! Plus I won some cool points with the song. Glad third graders think I am cool...ya know? ;) We began by discussing how rocks are created. To demonstrate, we made rock krispie treats. We mixed several "minerals", added heat...and we had rock! During our observation, the students recorded how the rock was formed. Once we had this basic concept mastered, along with the three observable properties of minerals, we moved on to the three types of rocks. Yes, yes...all of this in just one hour. I told you...buzzing through. My BFF {YouTube} found me this fabulous video which demonstrates how to create the three types of rocks with food. Yes...his apron says kiss the geologist! :) The kids loved him. After each of his demonstrations, we tried making the rocks too. The students recorded observations, and created definitions to describe the process that each rock goes through. Once the students could consistently define and describe each type of rock, we feasted...on rocks, of course! Best way ever to teach rocks and minerals. The kids have this nailed. Now...moving on to soil types tomorrow. Okay 12 days to get it ALL in. Send some energy my way! :) Have a great night, friends!
This week we've been talking about herbivore vs carnivore in respect to dinosaurs. Today we enjoyed a herbivore snack of twigs, leaves, fruits and veggie.
This science activity about gravity requires only household items and teaches preschoolers all about the most basic of forces: gravity.
This is a great activity I saw all over on Pinterest---the Metamorphic Snickers Bar. You start with a Snickers Bar, representing a sedimentary rock. (You can see distinct layers, as well as inclusions like fossils.) Put the "rock" in a ziploc bag and add intense heat and pressure. I had the children put a book on top of the bag (to distribute the pressure more evenly) and count to 30. Your sedimentary rock has metamorphosed into a metamorphic rock! You can see the mineral components are basically the same, but they look totally different. This new "rock" exhibits foliation! And now you can eat it; yum! Seb's drawing of his two "rocks" Here's another way to demonstrate foliation and metamorphosis (via The Happy Scientist. As I've said before, his site is so great. He explains all this stuff way better than I do. Well worth the subscription price!). Make a bunch of different minerals and sediment by rolling little balls out of a few different colors of playdough. (I had each boy roll out several balls of one color, and then they traded around so everyone had some balls of each color.) Group several balls together and add some gentle pressure, to make these minerals and sediments stay together in a consolidated "sedimentary rock." You can cut your rock gently in half with a butter knife to see how it looks in cross section. Now press down on your sedimentary rock to simulate the heat and pressure created deep inside the earth. Cut the rock in half again. Now you can see foliation of the minerals! You can metamorphose the rock again to see more foliation and marbling! (Some metamorphic rocks metamorphose again into a new rock when even more pressure is added to them.)
Teaching rocks and minerals in science is engaging and motivating with this simple science experiment! Check out this activity!
This science activity about gravity requires only household items and teaches preschoolers all about the most basic of forces: gravity.
Fun and easy gravity experiment with first graders! My class had a blast!
This science activity about gravity requires only household items and teaches preschoolers all about the most basic of forces: gravity.
Learn about plate tectonics using an orange. This hands on activity is a great introduction to plat boundaries and tectonics for kids
These earthquake safety videos will help your family know what to do when an earthquake occurs.
This Egg Inertia (Amazing Egg) Science Experiment is so cool!!
Montessori Science for Kids Animal Sort Activity & Printables, food chain, Hands on Activities for Preschool & Kindergarten, Omnivore, Herbivore, Carnivore
In this windmill model science project, you will build a windmill to learn about wheel-and-axle machines and how these simple machines are used to do work.
Enjoy hands-on rock cycle activities using crayons and cookies! Science has never been more fun!
Find out how to create a toy that seems to defy gravity-- a cool balance trick and neat science experiment.
Earthquake models vary from complex to easy to make. If you're working with kids, you can make a fun and easy earthquake model out of gelatin. Best of all, the kids will have fun eating it afterward.
Kids will have fun learning about wedges and screws with this fun,hands on Wedges & Screws Simple Machines Lesson. Perfect for elementary age kids.
What is inertia? Investigate Newton's First Law Of Motion in this amusing egg drop experiment.
Step-by-step guide on how to make paper parachute, with science experiment ideas to learn gravity and air resistance physics. STEM fun for all ages.
After reading The Cat in the Hat, we played with balancing as we learned about the center of gravity.
Are you looking for a STEM activity to learn more about different types of bridges, then grab some straws to design and build a weight bearing straw bridge.
