We all have many different science tools in our Science Center, but often what we are lacking is meaningful activities to use these tools with. I have pulled a few such tools and attempted to create something to do with them that illustrates their importance and usefulness.
Magnet Racer:
I actually saw this on a mommy blog, and HAD to make my own! Yes, it IS fun. And yes, I will let my students make some as well. I took a paper plate, drew a road on it (I was a little bored, so I added a beach and some mountains, etc, so the car would have something to crash into if I veered off course) and printed out a car picture from Google Images. I glued a button magnet on the car an on a popsicle stick (make sure they are the right polarity before gluing). You place the car on top of the plate, and use the popsicle stick on the bottom to "drive" the car around the track. Super. Fun.
Magnifying Glass Snowflake Match:
I printed out several Google Images of snowflake shapes, then made shrunken copies of them on the copier. Students look at the big flakes, then try to find the small ones using the magnifying glass to aid them.
Magnet Discovery Bottle:
This is just fun. I cut up several of the glittery metallic pipe cleaners and placed them in a tennis ball can. Using the magnet wand, students can observe them stacking up upon each other as they are drawn to the wand. Also. Super. Fun.
Shadows:
I die-cut several familiar shapes and glued them to popsicle sticks. Then I placed a flashlight in the bag with them, so that students can play with making shadows.
I actually saw this on a mommy blog, and HAD to make my own! Yes, it IS fun. And yes, I will let my students make some as well. I took a paper plate, drew a road on it (I was a little bored, so I added a beach and some mountains, etc, so the car would have something to crash into if I veered off course) and printed out a car picture from Google Images. I glued a button magnet on the car an on a popsicle stick (make sure they are the right polarity before gluing). You place the car on top of the plate, and use the popsicle stick on the bottom to "drive" the car around the track. Super. Fun.
Magnifying Glass Snowflake Match:
I printed out several Google Images of snowflake shapes, then made shrunken copies of them on the copier. Students look at the big flakes, then try to find the small ones using the magnifying glass to aid them.
Magnet Discovery Bottle:
This is just fun. I cut up several of the glittery metallic pipe cleaners and placed them in a tennis ball can. Using the magnet wand, students can observe them stacking up upon each other as they are drawn to the wand. Also. Super. Fun.
Shadows:
I die-cut several familiar shapes and glued them to popsicle sticks. Then I placed a flashlight in the bag with them, so that students can play with making shadows.
Pom-Pom Shooters:
These illustrate force and propulsion. But basically they are fun! Directions for making them can be found here.
Add some simple targets (on paper or 3D) and you can turn this activity into anything you like! Reinforce letters, numbers, etc with the targets.
These illustrate force and propulsion. But basically they are fun! Directions for making them can be found here.
Add some simple targets (on paper or 3D) and you can turn this activity into anything you like! Reinforce letters, numbers, etc with the targets.
Five Senses Match Up:
Touch- Fill balloons with various objects of different textures (beans, pony beads, rice, etc- 2 of each) and have students match up the like textures. Be sure to put a second balloon over the first to reinforce it. (llthd)
Sound- Like the balloons, but using plastic eggs. Fill them with items that make different sounds, and have students find the like eggs. To keep the eggs from popping open, cover them with a balloon. I did one set in one color, and the matches in another color, to help discern the matches. (It's harder than it looks!)
Smell (not pictured)- Same principle of matching as the above two examples. I bought several plastic salt/pepper shakers from the Dollar Tree, along with s few different liquid potpourri scents. I put cotton balls in the shakers that were scented with the potpourri, and students can sniff through the shaker holes and find the matches.
We discourage tasting of any and all toys on a regular basis. :)
Alternatively, you can skip the matching part and simply have the students explore the different sounds, smells, etc and describe them (for expanding vocabulary).
Touch- Fill balloons with various objects of different textures (beans, pony beads, rice, etc- 2 of each) and have students match up the like textures. Be sure to put a second balloon over the first to reinforce it. (llthd)
Sound- Like the balloons, but using plastic eggs. Fill them with items that make different sounds, and have students find the like eggs. To keep the eggs from popping open, cover them with a balloon. I did one set in one color, and the matches in another color, to help discern the matches. (It's harder than it looks!)
Smell (not pictured)- Same principle of matching as the above two examples. I bought several plastic salt/pepper shakers from the Dollar Tree, along with s few different liquid potpourri scents. I put cotton balls in the shakers that were scented with the potpourri, and students can sniff through the shaker holes and find the matches.
We discourage tasting of any and all toys on a regular basis. :)
Alternatively, you can skip the matching part and simply have the students explore the different sounds, smells, etc and describe them (for expanding vocabulary).