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Celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year with some live music! The kids will love crafting these simple instruments, opening up discussion about the holiday and its origins. It is a common misconception that Cinco de Mayo is celebrated as Mexico’s independence day. In Mexican culture, May 5 actually marks the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over the French forces of Napoleon III in 1862, at the Battle of Puebla. In fact, the residents of the state of Puebla are really the ones who celebrate the holiday the most – even more than the rest of Mexico. They party with traditional Mexican food, dancers, and mariachi music. These wonderful sounds of celebration inspired us to make some homemade instruments. According to the Brain and Creativity Institute at University of Southern California, music experiences in childhood can actually accelerate brain development, particularly in language and reading skills. Down the road, learning a musical instrumental at an early age can actually improve mathematical learning and increase SAT scores. Sounds good to us, so let’s get musical! Here’s what you’ll need to make you own little Cinco de Mayo band.
Festive
Tambourine
What You'll Need:
2 paper or plastic plates
Decorations (stickers, markers, or paint)
Ribbon
Hole Punch
Craft Jingle Bells
Scissors
Using your paint or stickers, decorate the outside of your tambourine. Be colorful and creative!
Next, match the plates up so the bottom part of the plate faces out. Punch 5-6 holes around the plate’s circumference, making sure your bottom and top plates match up.
Cut the ribbon as long as you’d like. Longer ribbons always seem to add more drama! Then lace the ribbon through the jingle bells.
Loop your ribbon around the holes punched in the plates, securing it with a double knot.
Shake away! These small bells make a joyful sound!
Beating Drum
What You'll Need:
Clean Tin Can (be aware of sharp edges!)
Baloon
White Duct Tape
Decorative Tape
Two #2 Pencils
Scissors
First, cut the balloon at the base of the “stem”. You’ll need lots of balloon material to cover the wide opening of the can.
Stretch the balloon over the tin can. Tape the perimeter.
Then finish the whole can with the white tape, and add decorative tape if you so choose.
Shaky Maracas
What You'll Need:
Plastic Easter Eggs
Plastic Spoons
Dry Rice
White Duct Tape
Decorative Tape
Scissors
Fill the plastic eggs with about 2-3 pinches of rice. Filling them too full will not allow for the fullest sound: less is more.
Close the eggs and stick some tape around them immediately. If these crack open, you’ll have a big mess.
Next, situate two of the spoons to “cup” the eggs on either side. Wrap the tape around the spoon. Follow the spoons’ handles down with tape, as well as the top of the egg.
Add some decorative tape or stickers of your liking.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year with some live music! The kids will love crafting these simple instruments, opening up discussion about the holiday and its origins. It is a common misconception that Cinco de Mayo is celebrated as Mexico’s independence day. In Mexican culture, May 5 actually marks the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over the French forces of Napoleon III in 1862, at the Battle of Puebla. In fact, the residents of the state of Puebla are really the ones who celebrate the holiday the most – even more than the rest of Mexico. They party with traditional Mexican food, dancers, and mariachi music. These wonderful sounds of celebration inspired us to make some homemade instruments. According to the Brain and Creativity Institute at University of Southern California, music experiences in childhood can actually accelerate brain development, particularly in language and reading skills. Down the road, learning a musical instrumental at an early age can actually improve mathematical learning and increase SAT scores. Sounds good to us, so let’s get musical! Here’s what you’ll need to make you own little Cinco de Mayo band.
Festive
Tambourine
What You'll Need:
2 paper or plastic plates
Decorations (stickers, markers, or paint)
Ribbon
Hole Punch
Craft Jingle Bells
Scissors
Using your paint or stickers, decorate the outside of your tambourine. Be colorful and creative!
Next, match the plates up so the bottom part of the plate faces out. Punch 5-6 holes around the plate’s circumference, making sure your bottom and top plates match up.
Cut the ribbon as long as you’d like. Longer ribbons always seem to add more drama! Then lace the ribbon through the jingle bells.
Loop your ribbon around the holes punched in the plates, securing it with a double knot.
Shake away! These small bells make a joyful sound!
Beating Drum
What You'll Need:
Clean Tin Can (be aware of sharp edges!)
Baloon
White Duct Tape
Decorative Tape
Two #2 Pencils
Scissors
First, cut the balloon at the base of the “stem”. You’ll need lots of balloon material to cover the wide opening of the can.
Stretch the balloon over the tin can. Tape the perimeter.
Then finish the whole can with the white tape, and add decorative tape if you so choose.
Shaky Maracas
What You'll Need:
Plastic Easter Eggs
Plastic Spoons
Dry Rice
White Duct Tape
Decorative Tape
Scissors
Fill the plastic eggs with about 2-3 pinches of rice. Filling them too full will not allow for the fullest sound: less is more.
Close the eggs and stick some tape around them immediately. If these crack open, you’ll have a big mess.
Next, situate two of the spoons to “cup” the eggs on either side. Wrap the tape around the spoon. Follow the spoons’ handles down with tape, as well as the top of the egg.
Add some decorative tape or stickers of your liking.
As a mom at home, hosting my son’s class party, and as a teacher, I LOVE weaving elements of STEM into holiday activities and parties. Valentine’s day is the perfect opportunity to engage your kiddos in sweet and simple hands-on science activities disguised as seasonal fun. Keep reading for easy-to-do, engaging activities that are sure to please even Cupid himself!
The key to each of these suggested activities is that they are super simple and most likely can be created with materials you already have in your home or classroom, or can be purchased at any discount or dollar store. Also, these activities are super flexible. You’ll see in the examples below that most of the activities have alternative ingredients or process steps. This is your FREE PASS because basically, you can’t mess these up, and you and your kids will love every minute!
LOVE POTION #9
Experiment with and observe buoyancy and states of matter by seeing how different types of Valentine’s Day candy react with carbonated liquids! This love potion will leave heads spinning and hearts pounding!
MATERIALS:
Alka-Seltzer original and water, clear soda (i.e. Sprite), or club soda (plain)
Clear cups
Valentine’s Day candy (Conversation Hearts, heart-shaped Red Hots, sprinkles, etc.)
DIRECTIONS:
Set out one clear cup.
Drop candy pieces into the cup (one type of candy per each cup.)
If you are using Alka Seltzer and water, fill the cup with water and drop it into a tablet. If you are using soda of some sort, fill the cup with the soda.
Watch to see if/when candy pieces float, bounce, and dance inside the cup.
You may need to add more carbonated liquid to see if that changes activity inside of the cup.
Make notes, write observations, and draw conclusions.
NOTES:
Keep extra Alka-Seltzer tablets and/or soda on hand to add if candies do not bounce/float. If using Alka-Seltzer, use minimal water at first and add water as necessary.
CANDY COATED CRUSH
Candy is a fabulous ingredient for science experiments, and we all know Valentine’s Day has candy a plenty. Try some of these instant options for Valentine’s Day candy light refraction and solubility experiments that are crowd-pleasers, but simple to set up and execute.
MATERIALS:
Assorted Valentine’s Day candy (Suggested: clear red heart suckers, Conversation Hearts, heart-shaped Red Hots)
Clear cups
Water
Flashlight (optional)
THAT’S IT!
ACTIVITY #1 (LIGHT REFRACTION) DIRECTIONS:
Place a sucker in an EMPTY clear cup.
Draw how the sucker looks in the empty cup.
Place a sucker in a half-full clear glass of water.
Draw how the sucker looks in the water-filled cup.
You may want to also try shining a flashlight through and around the candy in the water to test and document the changes (if any) in light refraction with the addition of the flashlight.
Make notes, write observations, and draw conclusions.
ACTIVITY #2 (SOLUBILITY) DIRECTIONS:
Set out one cup for each type of candy you’re using.
Fill each cup ½ to ¾ full with water.
Place one type of candy in each cup.
Check on the status of each cup/candy each 30-60 minutes.
Make notes, write observations, and draw conclusions.
POP ROCKS PUPPY LOVE
These crazy little candies are as great for science experiments as they are for eating! You can use the Pop Rocks and soda as substitutes for baking soda and vinegar in the experiment listed above, or try something totally new using the directions below, courtesy of Steve Spangler Science!
MATERIALS:
Pop Rocks (try to find multiple flavors; Valentine’s Day versions are available)
Balloons (I’m going to use HEART-SHAPED balloons for Valentine’s Day flair!)
Funnel
2 16 oz. bottles of soda (the greater soda variety, the better)
DIRECTIONS:
For a full demonstration of this amazing experiment in chemical reactions from Steve Spangler Science, click the image below to watch an informational video.
I can’t wait to see how much my Cupid Kiddos love these sweetheart STEM Valentine’s Day challenges! Try them out at home or in the classroom and comment to let us know sweet and simple Valentine’s Day STEM activity was your favorite!
As a mom at home, hosting my son’s class party, and as a teacher, I LOVE weaving elements of STEM into holiday activities and parties. Valentine’s day is the perfect opportunity to engage your kiddos in sweet and simple hands-on science activities disguised as seasonal fun. Keep reading for easy-to-do, engaging activities that are sure to please even Cupid himself!
The key to each of these suggested activities is that they are super simple and most likely can be created with materials you already have in your home or classroom, or can be purchased at any discount or dollar store. Also, these activities are super flexible. You’ll see in the examples below that most of the activities have alternative ingredients or process steps. This is your FREE PASS because basically, you can’t mess these up, and you and your kids will love every minute!
LOVE POTION #9
Experiment with and observe buoyancy and states of matter by seeing how different types of Valentine’s Day candy react with carbonated liquids! This love potion will leave heads spinning and hearts pounding!
MATERIALS:
Alka-Seltzer original and water, clear soda (i.e. Sprite), or club soda (plain)
Clear cups
Valentine’s Day candy (Conversation Hearts, heart-shaped Red Hots, sprinkles, etc.)
DIRECTIONS:
Set out one clear cup.
Drop candy pieces into the cup (one type of candy per each cup.)
If you are using Alka Seltzer and water, fill the cup with water and drop it into a tablet. If you are using soda of some sort, fill the cup with the soda.
Watch to see if/when candy pieces float, bounce, and dance inside the cup.
You may need to add more carbonated liquid to see if that changes activity inside of the cup.
Make notes, write observations, and draw conclusions.
NOTES:
Keep extra Alka-Seltzer tablets and/or soda on hand to add if candies do not bounce/float. If using Alka-Seltzer, use minimal water at first and add water as necessary.
CANDY COATED CRUSH
Candy is a fabulous ingredient for science experiments, and we all know Valentine’s Day has candy a plenty. Try some of these instant options for Valentine’s Day candy light refraction and solubility experiments that are crowd-pleasers, but simple to set up and execute.
MATERIALS:
Assorted Valentine’s Day candy (Suggested: clear red heart suckers, Conversation Hearts, heart-shaped Red Hots)
Clear cups
Water
Flashlight (optional)
THAT’S IT!
ACTIVITY #1 (LIGHT REFRACTION) DIRECTIONS:
Place a sucker in an EMPTY clear cup.
Draw how the sucker looks in the empty cup.
Place a sucker in a half-full clear glass of water.
Draw how the sucker looks in the water-filled cup.
You may want to also try shining a flashlight through and around the candy in the water to test and document the changes (if any) in light refraction with the addition of the flashlight.
Make notes, write observations, and draw conclusions.
ACTIVITY #2 (SOLUBILITY) DIRECTIONS:
Set out one cup for each type of candy you’re using.
Fill each cup ½ to ¾ full with water.
Place one type of candy in each cup.
Check on the status of each cup/candy each 30-60 minutes.
Make notes, write observations, and draw conclusions.
POP ROCKS PUPPY LOVE
These crazy little candies are as great for science experiments as they are for eating! You can use the Pop Rocks and soda as substitutes for baking soda and vinegar in the experiment listed above, or try something totally new using the directions below, courtesy of Steve Spangler Science!
MATERIALS:
Pop Rocks (try to find multiple flavors; Valentine’s Day versions are available)
Balloons (I’m going to use HEART-SHAPED balloons for Valentine’s Day flair!)
Funnel
2 16 oz. bottles of soda (the greater soda variety, the better)
DIRECTIONS:
For a full demonstration of this amazing experiment in chemical reactions from Steve Spangler Science, click the image below to watch an informational video.
I can’t wait to see how much my Cupid Kiddos love these sweetheart STEM Valentine’s Day challenges! Try them out at home or in the classroom and comment to let us know sweet and simple Valentine’s Day STEM activity was your favorite!
Keep kids entertained this winter with these adorable penguin friends. From their waddle to their formal attire, they are undoubtedly entertaining to observe and explore. Create your own little penguins with this simple, non-toxic dough. Add Learning Resources’ Penguins on Ice to the mix for added activities and learning fun!
For this cute penguin craft, you will need:
Room temperature butter
Light corn syrup
Powdered sugar
Salt
Food coloring of your choice
Feel free to add sprinkles for the eyes or their cold-weather accessories
Roll out some wax paper on a flat surface to make the dough.
Add one teaspoon of butter to a bowl. This is no time to substitute – you will need the fat from the butter to make the dough come together. Margarine will not work.
Add one tablespoon of light corn syrup. Not only will the corn syrup provide moisture, but it will also prevent the crystallization of the powdered sugar you will add in a few steps.
Add 1/8 teaspoon of salt.
Using a fork, mash the salt, corn syrup, and butter together.
Next, measure out a cup of powdered sugar. Carefully add the sugar to the mixture, spoonful by spoonful, mixing it the entire time you go.
Grab the dough out of the bowl and begin to knead it with your hands. Form it into a ball.
Separate the dough into two parts. One part will remain white, while the other will get the food coloring treatment.
Separate one of the halves again. You can use any food coloring you like for the flippers and head. Black or blue works perfectly. Then choose any color for the penguins’ accessories. Red was used here
A drop of food coloring will go a long way with this dough. Work it through. Once you’ve completed one color, make sure you wash your hands for the next color!
Then, squeeze a little dough off to make a beak with some orange food coloring. No orange? What two colors should you combine to make the shade?
Roll the white dough into a ball for the penguin’s body. Then roll the black or blue dough into a smaller shape for its head.
Fashion some flippers and a beak, and perhaps use sprinkles for the penguin’s eyes.
This dough can get soft fast, so after we created our little black-and-white friends, we stuck them in the refrigerator. The kids figured the penguins felt pretty at home in the cold!
All this penguin talk made them want to break out Penguins on Ice, one of their favorite math games from Learning Resources.
This cool game helps the kids understand math patterns and sorting. There are little icebergs that the penguins stand on, which can form grids in groups of ten.
The kids challenge each other by lining up the penguins in order. Taking away penguins or adding them reinforces basic math skills. Hours of fun!
Keep kids entertained this winter with these adorable penguin friends. From their waddle to their formal attire, they are undoubtedly entertaining to observe and explore. Create your own little penguins with this simple, non-toxic dough. Add Learning Resources’ Penguins on Ice to the mix for added activities and learning fun!
For this cute penguin craft, you will need:
Room temperature butter
Light corn syrup
Powdered sugar
Salt
Food coloring of your choice
Feel free to add sprinkles for the eyes or their cold-weather accessories
Roll out some wax paper on a flat surface to make the dough.
Add one teaspoon of butter to a bowl. This is no time to substitute – you will need the fat from the butter to make the dough come together. Margarine will not work.
Add one tablespoon of light corn syrup. Not only will the corn syrup provide moisture, but it will also prevent the crystallization of the powdered sugar you will add in a few steps.
Add 1/8 teaspoon of salt.
Using a fork, mash the salt, corn syrup, and butter together.
Next, measure out a cup of powdered sugar. Carefully add the sugar to the mixture, spoonful by spoonful, mixing it the entire time you go.
Grab the dough out of the bowl and begin to knead it with your hands. Form it into a ball.
Separate the dough into two parts. One part will remain white, while the other will get the food coloring treatment.
Separate one of the halves again. You can use any food coloring you like for the flippers and head. Black or blue works perfectly. Then choose any color for the penguins’ accessories. Red was used here
A drop of food coloring will go a long way with this dough. Work it through. Once you’ve completed one color, make sure you wash your hands for the next color!
Then, squeeze a little dough off to make a beak with some orange food coloring. No orange? What two colors should you combine to make the shade?
Roll the white dough into a ball for the penguin’s body. Then roll the black or blue dough into a smaller shape for its head.
Fashion some flippers and a beak, and perhaps use sprinkles for the penguin’s eyes.
This dough can get soft fast, so after we created our little black-and-white friends, we stuck them in the refrigerator. The kids figured the penguins felt pretty at home in the cold!
All this penguin talk made them want to break out Penguins on Ice, one of their favorite math games from Learning Resources.
This cool game helps the kids understand math patterns and sorting. There are little icebergs that the penguins stand on, which can form grids in groups of ten.
The kids challenge each other by lining up the penguins in order. Taking away penguins or adding them reinforces basic math skills. Hours of fun!
Ever wondered what to do with those fun puffy peanuts you get in packages? We were inspired by prekinders.com to set up this melting snowmen activity, but we added an extra STEM twist by using some of our favorite Learning Resources scientific tools and turning it into an investigation.
Tray along with one large bowl and three small bowls
Water
Permanent markers (we used acrylic paint markers, but Sharpies will also work)
The Set Up
I love using these simple lunch trays from Dollar Tree for little investigations like this. I put out the tools, small bowls (two filled with water), and the large bowl on the tray. This helps to keep the materials neatly organized and gives the child a defined workspace. To turn the packing peanuts into little snowmen I used acrylic paint markers to draw on the eyes, nose, scarf, and buttons. They turned out pretty cute! I then put the snowmen in the third bowl on the tray.
How the Activity Works
I invited my 3 yr old to come and have a look at what was on the tray. Her first reaction was to fuss over how cute and little the snowmen were! She was very intrigued by them. I then asked a very simple question to start the investigation. I asked her whether she thought that adding water to the snowmen would make them melt or not. She went back and forth on her answer, at one point wondering if they might actually float on the water. She finally decided that she thought they would melt.
It was time to find out if she was right. She took her first snowman and put it in the big bowl. She then used the dropper to gradually add water. She got so excited when the snowman began to melt! It started as little holes but soon enough the markings were floating in the water and the snowman was a pile of mush!
I encouraged her to use the magnifying glass to take a closer look at the snowman, and I asked her to describe what she could see. Even though she is only 3, I think it is such a great opportunity to encourage her to develop fundamental scientific language through play activities like this. She was also exploring lots of great sensory vocabulary as well.
She proceeded to add more of the snowmen to the bowl, also adding more and more water each time. She enjoyed using the Jumbo Tweezers to try and pick up parts of the snowmen. She kept apologizing to them each time they fell apart in her grasp!
This was a great activity for working her fine motor skills, as well as her sensory exploration. She was constantly using the tools to transfer the water and pick up the melted snowmen. Strengthening those little hand muscles through hands-on learning like this is such a great way to prepare your child for writing, without them even realizing it.
She spent ages at the end trying to salvage tiny parts of the snowmen, pouring water from bowl to bowl. Transfer activities have always appealed to her, but the added intrigue of the melting snowmen gave this a really fun scientific twist. We are looking forward to doing it again but next time I will ask her to try and draw her own little snowmen as well.
Ever wondered what to do with those fun puffy peanuts you get in packages? We were inspired by prekinders.com to set up this melting snowmen activity, but we added an extra STEM twist by using some of our favorite Learning Resources scientific tools and turning it into an investigation.
Tray along with one large bowl and three small bowls
Water
Permanent markers (we used acrylic paint markers, but Sharpies will also work)
The Set Up
I love using these simple lunch trays from Dollar Tree for little investigations like this. I put out the tools, small bowls (two filled with water), and the large bowl on the tray. This helps to keep the materials neatly organized and gives the child a defined workspace. To turn the packing peanuts into little snowmen I used acrylic paint markers to draw on the eyes, nose, scarf, and buttons. They turned out pretty cute! I then put the snowmen in the third bowl on the tray.
How the Activity Works
I invited my 3 yr old to come and have a look at what was on the tray. Her first reaction was to fuss over how cute and little the snowmen were! She was very intrigued by them. I then asked a very simple question to start the investigation. I asked her whether she thought that adding water to the snowmen would make them melt or not. She went back and forth on her answer, at one point wondering if they might actually float on the water. She finally decided that she thought they would melt.
It was time to find out if she was right. She took her first snowman and put it in the big bowl. She then used the dropper to gradually add water. She got so excited when the snowman began to melt! It started as little holes but soon enough the markings were floating in the water and the snowman was a pile of mush!
I encouraged her to use the magnifying glass to take a closer look at the snowman, and I asked her to describe what she could see. Even though she is only 3, I think it is such a great opportunity to encourage her to develop fundamental scientific language through play activities like this. She was also exploring lots of great sensory vocabulary as well.
She proceeded to add more of the snowmen to the bowl, also adding more and more water each time. She enjoyed using the Jumbo Tweezers to try and pick up parts of the snowmen. She kept apologizing to them each time they fell apart in her grasp!
This was a great activity for working her fine motor skills, as well as her sensory exploration. She was constantly using the tools to transfer the water and pick up the melted snowmen. Strengthening those little hand muscles through hands-on learning like this is such a great way to prepare your child for writing, without them even realizing it.
She spent ages at the end trying to salvage tiny parts of the snowmen, pouring water from bowl to bowl. Transfer activities have always appealed to her, but the added intrigue of the melting snowmen gave this a really fun scientific twist. We are looking forward to doing it again but next time I will ask her to try and draw her own little snowmen as well.
Hooray! The holidays are here! Time for snuggly sweaters, snowy sleigh rides, hot apple cider, and… STEM? Yes! Winter break is a great time to slip in some STEM learning and the Learning Resources Playground Engineering & Design Building Set is a great way to do it!
First, a quick refresher on STEM.
STEM is simply a nationwide push to put more emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math in schools, to better prepare our kids for careers in these fields in the future. By exploring these subjects at home, in a playful, low-stress way, you’ll ignite your kids’ curiosity, fuel creative thinking, and problem-solving, and inspire confidence that will carry through to school and support what your kids are learning there.
So, what are you waiting for?
Pour a cup of cocoa, call the kids to the table, and get ready to build your own polar playground!
Open the box, and you’ll find lots of packaged parts and pieces, as well as a set of double-sided instruction cards and a little workbook. Start by unpacking all the pieces in groups and checking out the different playground equipment you and your kids can engineer! You’ll find posts, platforms, gears, connectors, and more – everything you’ll need to design your own simple machines!
Next, choose a card and review the pieces you’ll need to build that structure. Work together to gather them and set them aside. Then follow the photos on the cards to assemble the structure, piece by piece. Once it’s finished, test it out by placing one of the included figures inside.
Now, flip the card to find a building challenge related to that structure. This is a great time to introduce the engineering design process – you know, ask, imagine, plan, create, and improve. Let your little one take the lead on solving the problems on the back of each card – you’ll be impressed with their creative solutions!
Take your time building the different playground pieces. Talk about the process and share some of the science behind the fun. Gravity draws the figure down the inclined slide. Momentum keeps the merry-go-round spinning. You get the idea.
When you’re done with building fun, it’s time to get creative with some playground pretend play! Your kids will love walking the included figures through the playground and helping them try out each piece of equipment.
In fact, there are lots of playful ways to help your kids love learning and develop the skills they need for success. Work a holiday-themed puzzle, dissolve a candy cane, freeze and melt colored ice cubes… There are always ways to learn where you play – especially during the holidays!
Hooray! The holidays are here! Time for snuggly sweaters, snowy sleigh rides, hot apple cider, and… STEM? Yes! Winter break is a great time to slip in some STEM learning and the Learning Resources Playground Engineering & Design Building Set is a great way to do it!
First, a quick refresher on STEM.
STEM is simply a nationwide push to put more emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math in schools, to better prepare our kids for careers in these fields in the future. By exploring these subjects at home, in a playful, low-stress way, you’ll ignite your kids’ curiosity, fuel creative thinking, and problem-solving, and inspire confidence that will carry through to school and support what your kids are learning there.
So, what are you waiting for?
Pour a cup of cocoa, call the kids to the table, and get ready to build your own polar playground!
Open the box, and you’ll find lots of packaged parts and pieces, as well as a set of double-sided instruction cards and a little workbook. Start by unpacking all the pieces in groups and checking out the different playground equipment you and your kids can engineer! You’ll find posts, platforms, gears, connectors, and more – everything you’ll need to design your own simple machines!
Next, choose a card and review the pieces you’ll need to build that structure. Work together to gather them and set them aside. Then follow the photos on the cards to assemble the structure, piece by piece. Once it’s finished, test it out by placing one of the included figures inside.
Now, flip the card to find a building challenge related to that structure. This is a great time to introduce the engineering design process – you know, ask, imagine, plan, create, and improve. Let your little one take the lead on solving the problems on the back of each card – you’ll be impressed with their creative solutions!
Take your time building the different playground pieces. Talk about the process and share some of the science behind the fun. Gravity draws the figure down the inclined slide. Momentum keeps the merry-go-round spinning. You get the idea.
When you’re done with building fun, it’s time to get creative with some playground pretend play! Your kids will love walking the included figures through the playground and helping them try out each piece of equipment.
In fact, there are lots of playful ways to help your kids love learning and develop the skills they need for success. Work a holiday-themed puzzle, dissolve a candy cane, freeze and melt colored ice cubes… There are always ways to learn where you play – especially during the holidays!
The kids’ table is THE place to be this holiday. Allow time for the adults to enjoy seconds at the big table by breaking out some STEM fun with the kids. Mini marshmallow and gumdrop structures are this holiday’s time enhancer–and it couldn’t be easier!
Simple setup + simple materials = BIG scientific impact
You will need:
Lots of toothpicks
Gumdrops
Mini marshmallows
Without realizing it, your kids (and kid guests) will begin to think like engineers who are facing a two-part challenge:
What to make?
How to improve on what you’ve already made?
Begin by challenging kids to create simple structures, like shapes. Try octagons, triangles, ladders, etc. Will these serve as building blocks to something more three-dimensional?
Without the children realizing it, building these gumdrops and marshmallow shapes is a unique way to practice fine motor skills. Dexterity, grasp, and coordination are necessary to construct up, up, up – no matter the age!
Next, watch kids as they critically examine how to improve upon what they’ve already created. What step is needed to take it (literally) to the next level?
What about the structural composition of the connectors? As the kids begin to build, are the marshmallows easier to stab with the toothpick? Which seems to keep your three-dimensional shapes in place better?
As they build, remind children that failure is definitely an option, here. That your shape may shift and your tower may topple! The attempt to rebuild by lessons from their first misstep is just as important of a takeaway.
Lastly–and most delightful to watch as parents–might be the natural drive for table collaboration. “If we attach our structures together, it will be even bigger and better and more interesting!
The possibilities are endless (and so are the fun and laughs!).
The kids’ table is THE place to be this holiday. Allow time for the adults to enjoy seconds at the big table by breaking out some STEM fun with the kids. Mini marshmallow and gumdrop structures are this holiday’s time enhancer–and it couldn’t be easier!
Simple setup + simple materials = BIG scientific impact
You will need:
Lots of toothpicks
Gumdrops
Mini marshmallows
Without realizing it, your kids (and kid guests) will begin to think like engineers who are facing a two-part challenge:
What to make?
How to improve on what you’ve already made?
Begin by challenging kids to create simple structures, like shapes. Try octagons, triangles, ladders, etc. Will these serve as building blocks to something more three-dimensional?
Without the children realizing it, building these gumdrops and marshmallow shapes is a unique way to practice fine motor skills. Dexterity, grasp, and coordination are necessary to construct up, up, up – no matter the age!
Next, watch kids as they critically examine how to improve upon what they’ve already created. What step is needed to take it (literally) to the next level?
What about the structural composition of the connectors? As the kids begin to build, are the marshmallows easier to stab with the toothpick? Which seems to keep your three-dimensional shapes in place better?
As they build, remind children that failure is definitely an option, here. That your shape may shift and your tower may topple! The attempt to rebuild by lessons from their first misstep is just as important of a takeaway.
Lastly–and most delightful to watch as parents–might be the natural drive for table collaboration. “If we attach our structures together, it will be even bigger and better and more interesting!
The possibilities are endless (and so are the fun and laughs!).
Whether you live in a climate where blizzards are common, or those little white flakes are rarely in your forecast, snow and all it entails is a holiday dream for all little minds.
Whether you live in a climate where blizzards are common, or those little white flakes are rarely in your forecast, snow and all it entails is a holiday dream for all little minds.
Your holiday guests will be delighted as they arrive to your doorstep on a cold night greeted by these frosty, glowing lanterns. Oh what fun it will be when they learn your little scientists created the evening’s entryway décor!
It goes without saying that these lanterns work best in freezing temperatures. Should you choose to use them to light your holiday table, make sure to place them in a bowl for when they begin to melt!
This experiment involves the change of matter from a liquid to a solid (and eventually back to a liquid).
You will need:
• Plastic red cups
• Smaller plastic cups that can fit inside
• Decorations - glitter pipe cleaners, craft pom poms, glitter, pine sprigs, etc.
• Water
• Tape
• Food coloring
• Candles (battery-operated is probably best)
Grab one of your red cups, and twist pipe cleaners up the length of the cup. This part requires some engineering inspiration and small hands. How do you get them to stay up? If you choose, add some craft pom poms. Working on the pom poms to stay suspended in the pipe cleaners also creates a unique challenge. Think!
Next, pull out a long piece of tape and attach it to one side of the cup near the lip. The tape will be the important piece that will hold down the second cup, so it doesn’t float. Basically, have the tape ready before you pour in the water.
Fill the cup about half full with water. Add a few drops of food coloring if you would like at this time.
Place the smaller cup into the bigger, red cup. Pour your water in between the two cups, so it fills until about a half inch below the rim. You’ll want to push down on the smaller cup the entire time because the goal is to have the two rims even with each other.
Secure your second cup in place with the tape.
Place in the freezer overnight.
When you are ready to place your lanterns out for all to enjoy, remove them from the fridge and give yourself about 5 minutes. This is the perfect time to discuss the scientific changes you observe.
• The water is now frozen.
• The frozen water has pushed the small cup up.
• The frozen water has perhaps even changed the shape of the outer cup.
Remove the inner cup with a little tug and turn the red cup upside down to shake out the ice lantern. Time is not on your side handling the frozen lanterns, as they will melt quickly.
Showcase them with a battery-operated candle any place around the house where you’d like to wow your guests!
Your holiday guests will be delighted as they arrive to your doorstep on a cold night greeted by these frosty, glowing lanterns. Oh what fun it will be when they learn your little scientists created the evening’s entryway décor!
It goes without saying that these lanterns work best in freezing temperatures. Should you choose to use them to light your holiday table, make sure to place them in a bowl for when they begin to melt!
This experiment involves the change of matter from a liquid to a solid (and eventually back to a liquid).
You will need:
• Plastic red cups
• Smaller plastic cups that can fit inside
• Decorations - glitter pipe cleaners, craft pom poms, glitter, pine sprigs, etc.
• Water
• Tape
• Food coloring
• Candles (battery-operated is probably best)
Grab one of your red cups, and twist pipe cleaners up the length of the cup. This part requires some engineering inspiration and small hands. How do you get them to stay up? If you choose, add some craft pom poms. Working on the pom poms to stay suspended in the pipe cleaners also creates a unique challenge. Think!
Next, pull out a long piece of tape and attach it to one side of the cup near the lip. The tape will be the important piece that will hold down the second cup, so it doesn’t float. Basically, have the tape ready before you pour in the water.
Fill the cup about half full with water. Add a few drops of food coloring if you would like at this time.
Place the smaller cup into the bigger, red cup. Pour your water in between the two cups, so it fills until about a half inch below the rim. You’ll want to push down on the smaller cup the entire time because the goal is to have the two rims even with each other.
Secure your second cup in place with the tape.
Place in the freezer overnight.
When you are ready to place your lanterns out for all to enjoy, remove them from the fridge and give yourself about 5 minutes. This is the perfect time to discuss the scientific changes you observe.
• The water is now frozen.
• The frozen water has pushed the small cup up.
• The frozen water has perhaps even changed the shape of the outer cup.
Remove the inner cup with a little tug and turn the red cup upside down to shake out the ice lantern. Time is not on your side handling the frozen lanterns, as they will melt quickly.
Showcase them with a battery-operated candle any place around the house where you’d like to wow your guests!
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MATERIALS:
NOTES:
Keep extra Alka-Seltzer tablets and/or soda on hand to add if candies do not bounce/float. If using Alka-Seltzer, use minimal water at first and add water as necessary.
MATERIALS:
MATERIALS:
