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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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3 www.curiositots.co.uk / [email protected]
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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www.curiositots.co.uk / [email protected] 4
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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5 www.curiositots.co.uk / [email protected]
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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www.curiositots.co.uk / [email protected] 6
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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7 www.curiositots.co.uk / [email protected]
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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www.curiositots.co.uk / [email protected] 8
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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9 www.curiositots.co.uk / [email protected]
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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www.curiositots.co.uk / [email protected] 10
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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11 www.curiositots.co.uk / [email protected]
May 2013