Ideas needed- preschool/pk lessons

Betsy - posted on 09/18/2009

I try to incorporate science in whatever I'm teaching. I think at a young age it sparks curiosity which I love to see. I teach Kindergarten and set up learning stations twice a week that will be a review of what the curriculum is currently covering. However, I also try to slid in a little science also. For example our town recently had an event with Hot Air Balloons. The curriculum was covering numbers 1-7 so we made 7 balloons, then we colored them with "bleeding" tissue and discovered that when water is sprayed on the tissue it bleeds out onto paper and how the colors mixed. We also did two experiments using baking soda, vinegar a bottle and a balloon and made our own balloon "rise". We also talked about hot air and cold air, then made a plastic bag inflate using hot air. Later on in the year our school holds a Science Fair. My class usually enters a Science Fair project. One was "Do All Apples Have The Same Number of Seeds In Them?" They each had their own apple using several different types of apples and their job was to count the seeds. They made their guesses and we graphed each number and type of apple. Then we colored our science board using paint and some of the apples we didn't eat by dipping the apples in the paint. Hope that gives you a few ideas.

Pam - posted on 09/17/2009

Hi Cindy
If you try a website teacherspayteachers.com this might help you...
Its free and lots of things on it.
Thanks
Pam

Amy - posted on 09/16/2009

I taught Pre-K for 13 years and LOVED the LASTING LESSONS books. They were whole language and had a lot of good science and math ideas. They were all focused around several picture books for a particular theme.

www.LastingLessons.com (look for the "Lasting Lessons" tab on the left

Bek - posted on 09/05/2009

If you need a quick idea, you can bring a bannana to class at the beginning of the week. Keep the bannana in a container for the week until it rots. Then cut the bananna for the kids and let them use spoons to compare and contrast the rotten bananna with a fresh bannana.

Bek - posted on 09/05/2009

You can go to pbskids.org/sid. PBS has a kids' show called Sid the Science Kid. Each show teaches preschoolers science in a fun and friendly way. If you click on Parents & Teachers at the bottom of the page, it will take you to a resource page. I hope this site should help you tremendously.

Leta - posted on 09/05/2009

Check out the Sparklebox.com website they have lots of great ideas. All free too !!!!!!

Jessica - posted on 08/29/2009

check out stevespanglerscience.com He is a very energetic and brings the "wow" factor into science. There is tons of products you can order and he has most experiments on video. It is truly a great site and he offers great product too.

Robyn - posted on 08/29/2009

Hi am also a preschool teacher. SOme of the science area's we have had which have worked well with our 3-4 year olds: Magnet with things to test on; xrays of bones; display of different shells and natural materials; birds nests, small containers with cotton balls soaked in different smells e.g. essences, magnifying glasses with a variety of things to look at; seeds growing; containers with different things in them the children can shake and match with pictures, small sloped track which marbles can be run down, especially good if children can set up track in different ways, Old small appliances and screwdrivers/ pliers that children can use to take appart and discuss what is in side and how they may work, Area with plastic lifelike insect or dinosaurs, feel board (I used an artist board and ruled into about 9 sections and glued on a variety of materials and resources) to discuss texture and feel, enclosed small "water" or oil wheels. Baking soda, vinegar and small pottle to make volcanoes our children really loved the diet coke and mentos volcanoes!

Literacy area: Picture dictionary, children's name with a photo on a board with velco backing so children can remove and take to where ever they want to write, flashcards with common nouns children may want to try to write, lots of pencils,pens, scissors, tape etc

Maths: lego, blocks, things to count or sort or stack (I prefer natural resource such as shells), simple Origami books, clock, egg timer



Hope this is some help.

Susan - posted on 08/28/2009

I am a preschool teacher and I have been incorporating more and more science activities this summer and for the upcoming school year. I started last year with The Life Cycle of a Butter Fly, Sunflower and Watermelon. We do fun activties such as sink and float, where kids can make predictions, discuss the size and weight of objects, you can also do something with magnets. There is so many things, I would also suggest searching the web for preschool sciences themes.

Susan - posted on 08/28/2009

I am a preschool teacher and I have been incorporating more and more science activities this summer and for the upcoming school year. I started last year with The Life Cycle of a Butter Fly, Sunflower and Watermelon. We do fun activties such as sink and float, where kids can make predictions, discuss the size and weight of objects, you can also do something with magnets. There is so many things, I would also suggest searching the web for preschool sciences themes.