Six Science Snippets - Summer 2013

7/28/2019 Six Science Snippets - Summer 2013

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www.curiositots.co.uk / [email protected] 1


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1 www.curiositots.co.uk / [email protected]

Welcome

Hi! Im Soozy - science teacher, mum of

two, and founder of CuriosiTots.

The aim of this booklet is to provide afew ideas of activities to try over the

summer with your children, and to give

you some ways to start them thinking

scientifically about what is happening.

Even someone with a good background in science can be

flummoxed when trying to explain things to a young child,since they are still lacking so much of the background

knowledge that we depend on. I hope that the questions I

have included with each activity will guide you to help your

child make observations and try to form conclusions about

what is happening. For the less scientifically literate parents,

I have also included a brief explanation of the science behindeach experiment.

The activities and associated questions are aimed at

ages 3-4 but can be enjoyed by older and younger

children too.

If you enjoy this booklet, why not think about joining a week-ly CuriosiTots class. For further information you can look on

the website below, or email [email protected] to enquire

about a free taster session.


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Painting with water1

You will need

A paintbrush largish is better

A pot of water

A sunny day

Somewhere to paint (patio, wall, garden shed etc)

The science

Water molecules in liquid form are held together by relatively strong

forces called hydrogen bonds. These are attractions between the

slightly positive hydrogen atoms and the slightly negative oxygen

atoms in H2O. For the water to evaporate, these bonds have to be

broken. This takes energy, which in this case is provided in the form of

heat from the sun. Therefore the water in the sunnier areas

evaporates quicker.

What to do

Get the kids painting with water. Artistically or just aiming for good

coverage, it doesnt matter. Try to get some in direct sun and some in

the shade. Then watch as the water evaporates and they can paint

again.

What to ask

Where has the water gone?

Do you think it goes faster in the sun or in the shade?

Why do you think that happens?

What is different about the sun and shade areas?


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2Make a model water

cycle

You will need

A large bowl

A mug or small glass

Water

Clingfilm

The science

In this experiment, the water in the bowl represents seas and lakes, the

condensation that forms on the clingfilm is the water vapour in clouds,

and water that collects in the mug represents rainfall. The model lacks

a way for the rain to return to the lakes and seas but remains a good

way to explain where rain comes from.

What to do

Place the mug or glass in the bottom of the bowl. Add water around the

outside of the glass to about 2/3 up its side. Mark the level of the

water on the side of the bowl. Cover tightly with clingfilm and secure

with string or elastic. Put the bowl in direct sunlight and come back

after 30 minutes.

What to ask

What has happened to the water level in the bowl?

Where has the water gone?

How has water got into the cup?

A sunny day

Marker pen or sticker

String / large elastic band


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Measuring shadows3

You will need

A stick or other long thin object

An area that gets the sun most of the day

Chalk or other method of marking length of shadow

Ruler or measuring tape

The science

Light travels in straight lines. A shadow is formed when the light is

unable to travel through an opaque object. As the sun rises, the angle

at which light is hitting your object changes. At midday when the sun is

almost directly overhead, the object does not block much light. Try

looking at your stick end-on to show that it looks much smaller.

What to do

Place your stick/doll/child somewhere that gets sun for most of the day.

Draw a line in chalk to show where the shadow lies. Measure it if you

like. Repeat every hour or two (with the object in the same place).

What to ask

What shape is the shadow?

How does the length of the shadow change?

When is the shadow the shortest?

Where is the shadow pointing and where is the sun?


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4Make a rainbow

You will need

A glass of water

Large piece of white paper

(or several placed together)

The science

White light is made up of all the colours in the spectrum. Each colour

has a slightly different wavelength. When the light goes from air into

water it bends and each wavelength bends a slightly different amount,

dispersing the colours. The bending effect can be seen by putting a

straw or spoon in a glass at water and looking at it at an angle.

What to do

1. Fill a glass to the top with water and place on a windowsill in bright

sunlight. A rainbow should appear in frontplace white paper to see it

better. You may need to fiddle and move the glass around.

2. The shiny side of a CD will show rainbow colours

3. Stand with your back to the sun and make a fine mist with a garden

hose or sprays.

What to ask

What colours can you see?

Where do you think the rainbow comes from?

When do rainbows happen normally?

Sunny windowsill

CD

Garden hose / mister

sprays


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Make a pinhole

viewer5

You will need

Clean, empty Pringles tube

Marker, ruler

Drawing pin

White tissue paper

What to do

Cut the tube into 2 pieces, about 2 inches

from the metal bottom end. Use the

drawing pin to make a hole in the middle

of the metal end. Carefully glue the tissue

paper to the clear lid.

Put the lid on the short piece of tube. Tape

the long piece back on top then wrap alu-

minium foil twice round the tube. Look

through the tube in bright light, cupping

your hands around the end of the tube to

keep it dark.

Tape

PVA glue

Aluminium foil

Craft knife

A sunny day

Long

section

Plastic lid

Short sec-

tion with

metal base


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The science

Light bounces off the object you are viewing in all different

directions. The pinhole lets through only a small portion of these light

rays, creating a sharp image. Rays from the top of the image mustslope down to go through the hole, and so hit the bottom of the screen,

creating an inverted image.

What to ask

What can you see?

What do you notice about it?

What happens if you move nearer to the object youre looking at?

Can you see better in bright or dim light?

Image

on

screen

Light rays

The diagram shows only the rays coming from the top and

bottom of the tree, but the same principle applies to each point on the

object. The eye works in a similar way, creating an

upside-down image on the retina which is then put the right way up by

the brain.


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6 Roll things down hills

You will need

A variety of objects that may or may not roll / slide

A hill or ramp

The science

This experiment is about the opposing forces of friction and gravity.

Gravity in this instance is pulling the objects towards the ground.

Friction may be between the object and the ramp, or internal friction

within the objects (eg car wheels sticking). The key ideas here are

that something is making the object move without a push, andsomething else is making it stop.

What to do

Your choice of objects will need to depend on the smoothness and

steepness of your hill or ramp. Toy cars, insides of toilet rolls,

plastic cups are all good for short smooth ramps. Grassy hills will

probably need heavier items.

Try to let your child experiment for a little and then encourage them

to make predictions.

What to ask

Do you think this will roll further / faster than the last thing?

Which is heavier? Which is smoother? Which is bouncier?

Do heavier things always go slower?

Is it fair if I throw this one but only drop this one?

Why do they fall down?

Why dont they keep on going forever?


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What is CuriosiTots?

CuriosiTots is a weekly class which will engage your childs inquisitive

nature. Original stories, role-play and simple experiments are combined to

introduce preschool children to the fundamentals of science. We develop

basic skills such as questioning, observation, numeracy, finding patterns

and making comparisons. The activities are designed to also develop

listening and communication skills, confidence, and social skills such as

taking turns.

Who is CuriosiTots for?

Most children will be ready to join a class between the age of 2 and 3. If

your child can sit and listen to a story for 5 minutes and can follow simple

instructions then they can enjoy and learn from CuriosiTots. If they are

constantly asking "WHY?" then you will benefit too!

Isn't age 2 a bit young to be learning science?

CuriosiTots isn't about learning facts and figures. It's about equipping

children with skills that will help them make sense of the world. Babies

start to categorise things and gain an understanding of cause and effect

before they are 1. Between 1 and 2 they learn that making different

choices can affect the outcome, and start to experiment with those

choices to find underlying principles. They can be helped to find these

rules about how the world works through structured activities and by

teaching vocabulary to help them express what they discover.

Where can I find out more?

Look on our website, or email us to book a free taster session.


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May 2013

Six Science Snippets - Summer 2013

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