Sunday, May 12, 2013

Balloon science comparing gas, liquid and solids

We were making ice the other day for once of our science projects and Jake asked how the water turns to a solid. So I was explaining to him that water freeze when it is below 32 degrees, like when  it was winter outside and we placed our Fruit ice project outside and it froze.

So that got me thinking that it would be a great time to compare liquid, gas and solids. I saw this great experiment at Fit Kids Cludhouse using balloons. Fun and easy for a preschooler to understand the difference.


We took 3 balloons and filled them up with Gas, liquid and solids. Then we compared the 3 balloons. To fill the balloon with gas see our Bottle blowing balloon experiment. Then add water to 2 balloons. 1 water balloon place in the freeze overnight, that is how you get the solid.

Then compare the 3 balloons. What Jake said about each:

Gas....light weight, floats a little when you try to throw it, hard to break on the grown unless you stomp on it.

Liquid...heavier then the gas balloon, but lighter then the solid, when you throw it up it pops and water is everywhere, easy to squeeze

Solid...hard when you try to squeeze, when you throw it breaks to pieces, the heaviest of the 3 balloons.


The kids had the best time breaking the water and ice balloons.



We love science play and learning be sure to check out our Science Board



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Friday, May 10, 2013

Erupting Kool-Aid ice science and art

The kids love to explore and create. I froze 2 blocks of ice for them to play and experiment with since we have had some night days outside.

This is a simple and fun experiment project for kids of multiple ages. I filled 2 square containers up with water and placed int he freeze overnight.

Then just collected different materials for Jake and Cate to explore with. You can use whatever you want. Listed below are what we used.

Materials:
Ice block
Salt
Baking soda
Kool-aid packets
Spray bottles with vinegar
Baby oil
(all the materials can be bought at the Dollar Tree and are very inexpensive)




First the kids poured kool-aid and baking soda on the ice to see if it would bubble and fizz. It did. Then they mixed colors and explored. Poured salt in the block and Jake thought that was neat cause it held the color more on the ice.



After they explored a little I gave them paint brushes and they painted their ice and explored some more. I love how simple this project is and the kids sat still for over a hour doing this.


Great way to have fun on a hot day, along with enjoying science and art play.



We love to do all kinds of fun hands on play with Kool-Aid.

Below are some of our favorite hands on science play, be sure to check them out.






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Sunday, May 5, 2013

Cupcake play dough counting and number recognition

Play dough is one of our favorite things to do and the kids have been asking to play with it for the last couple of day so we took it out. I added a little fun twist to it for some learning time.

Jake and Cate love to pretend play like they are cooking, so I took out the cupcake liners and cupcake pans they made pretend cupcakes.

 We added candles to the cupcakes to sing Happy Birthday. After they put the candles in their cupcakes I had them count them and match the correct number to the candles.


Since Jake knows his numbers I did a little math with him.


After we did number recognition and some simple math, the kids wanted me to light the candles to sing and they blew them out.
Was too cute!!


Playing and counting fun


This was a fun and simple way to bring learning to play. The kids loved this.

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Friday, May 3, 2013

Handmade picture flowers in a pot

Every holiday we are always making fun keepsakes for meme, grandma and other special family members. Two years ago we made these special flower pots and placed baby pictures of the kids in them .

The are very easy to make. For the flower part we used cupcake holders and for the stem we used popsicle sticks. Then to hold the special picture flowers in the flower pot we used styrofoam. This craft is fun and easy for all ages. You can get all the supplies from the Dollar Store and have enough supplies to make several.



If you like to make handmade gifts for that special someone in your family or life be sure to check out the links below.





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Thursday, May 2, 2013

Ocean and lighthouse sensory play

The kids love imaginary play. We have had some hot days and are so ready for the beach. So I set up a fun sensory bin for them. They had a blast playing with it.

I used sand and jello for the ocean water. I love how real the water looks and Jake loved the feel of it.



To put this together was very simple. All you need is some ocean creatures, sand, and jello. I made the jello the night before and had Jake help and then it was ready the next day for them to play with.



This sensory play is great for the imagination, learning about different sea animals, and great hands on play as well.


Jake even dug in the sand and made little sand castles. After he was done playing we talked about the different animals that lived in the ocean.

Below are some other fun sensory bins we have done.





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Monday, April 29, 2013

5+ things to do with baking soda and conditioner

Sensory play is a fun way for your kids to explore and play.  We love to mix things together and experiment.

Below I put together some of the fun ways you can play and explore with 2 simple ingredients in your home. Then add 2 more ingredients to give it a different twist.






The fun started with mixing baking soda and hair conditioner together and we made some AWESOME snow play. This is a MUST TRY sensory play.




then with this awesome snow you can set up a fun sensory play for the kids.




Then you can have some glow play fun.






Then for all those Dinosaur lovers you can make some fun dino eggs.


and erupting mud dinosaur sensory bin.


One of our favorites Magic snowballs


Then a really fun imaginary play make your own ice cream shop.




You can also place it in molds and freeze it to make a fun fizzing science play.







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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Fizzing Shape Art

We are working on shapes with Cate and I saw this great idea using popsicle sticks from A, Bee, C preschool. So I added our own little twist to it.

This is a fun and easy way for kids to learn shapes. After we put the shapes together I had the kids sprinkle kool-aid baking soda inside to make shape art. After the shape was formed they sprayed their vinegar on the shape and had fizzing shape art.

Materials:
Kool-Aid packet
Baking soda
Vinegar
Foam or popsicle sticks (we used foam sticks bought from the Dollar Tree)








This is a fun way to tie learning in with art, plus it is a great fine motor skill for preschoolers. 

We love to add learning to our fun activities be sure to check out some other ways to below.




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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Rainbow science

I took the kids to the science center when we were in Florida and there was this really neat book that had some simple but fun experiments to do with the kids.

So in the Florida sunshine we tried it.

Materials:
Glass of water (filled 3/4)
White sheet of paper
Bright shining sun outside

Hold the glass of water up so the sun is shining through it, then placed the white paper in front of it and move the paper to an angel. Then you will see the rainbow on the paper. The kids were amazed. Have to admit I even thought it was really neat.




Jake and Cate are too young to understand why it happens, but for older kids you can explain that the rainbows form when the light is refracts when it passes through the glass of water. It happens just like real rainbows form when the sunlight refracts through raindrops.


If you like rainbows you might like these links below:






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Friday, April 26, 2013

Test tube science

Jake loves to make the Lava lamp we did last year. We have made it several times. So today I mixed the fun science up a little and we did in the test tubes we have.

Jake and Cate had a blast watching it bubble and fizz at the top of the test tube. You make them the same way you do the Lava lamp, but you just don't put the top on and it was pretty cool to watch.

Materials:
Test tubes
Cooking oil
Water
Alka seltzer
Food coloring








Be sure to check out our Science link for more science play and learning.

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