Young Children Can - and DO! - Enjoy Science The thought of teaching science to a preschooler can be intimidating. Don’t you need flasks, vials, microscopes, or other expensive products? Absolutely not! All you really need are some common household items or toys, and good questions.
long explanations, instead build their excitement by having them make predictions and then try out their theories.
Less explanation and more hands-on learning is the key to building a scientific mind. Additionally, stick to Preschoolers learn more by doing rather than being things they already know about and build on that, rather given information. Don’t dampen their curiosity with than starting from scratch. Now is a good time to experiment with snow or ice. Ask your child which will melt faster: an ice cube or snowball that is sitting out on a plate, one with a blanket over it, or one that the two of you pass back and forth to each other. Next, test out the hypothesis. Afterward, talk about what happened. Is that what your child thought would happen? If not, why does he or she think it happened the way it did? Use this time to introduce new vocabulary, such as temperature and friction. Everyday objects become science experiments and discoveries if you simply ask questions and work together to find the answers.
Students at Griswold Head Start enjoyed a fun experiment earlier this fall called “Pumpkin Explosion.” Using everyday objects, students discussed what they thought would happen (their hypothesis) as each ingredient was added. They used hydrogen peroxide, active yeast, dishwashing soap, warm water and food coloring to fill the pumpkin and create the “explosion” that was bigger than anyone predicted.
Book of the Month: The Real Mother Goose Don’t discount nursery rhymes as old fashioned or outdated. They help children discriminate speech sounds as well as build vocabulary. Nursery rhymes, like those found in The Real Mother Goose by Blanche Fisher Wright, teach kids rhyme and alliteration (which are like tongue twisters). Many of them are short and can be easily memorized to recite often. Some of the most popular nursery rhymes have even been turned into full length picture books.
Got email? As a new tool this year, all LCCAA Head Start families were provided with a free email address. This is used by your teacher, family service worker and other staff to share important information. It should be checked regularly. Contact your Family Service Worker if you need help!
