Saturday, November 7, 2009

Science Experiment

I am preparing to have pre-school at my house this week, and the letter I am teaching is the letter I. So we are going to do a science experiment with ice cubes.

Description: A fun science experiment to see what container makes ice cubes melt the fastest/slowest.

Items Needed: Several different containers (at least enough for each person inolved), an ice cube for each container, a stop watch, and eager and excited young scientists.

Target Age: Pre-school, and Kindergarten age (but it could be adapted for older children)

We placed one ice cube in each container and start the timer. Have each person choose which ice cube they think will melt the fastest. Then check on them periodically to see how they are doing. This is a very juvenile experiment with a lot of variables that could change the outcome, but for pre-school children, it is just right. Also, you can do different variations of this same experiment--how many minutes does it take for an ice cube to melt, use several of the same container to see whose ice cube melts first, etc.

As for time contraints, it really varies depending on the type of containers you use and the size of your ice cubes. For us, the ice cube in the glass mug melted first, and it took 47 minutes.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Our Very Own Art Gallery

I found this idea while attending a game night at the house of one of my husband's co-workers. All it is, is a ribbon strung from one side of a wall to the other with clothes pins placed on the ribbon. So, now when my budding artists finish one of their masterpieces, they can hang it up for all to see. (The trick is limiting the amount of paper hung on each clothes pin.)