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Tagged with 'Science'

DIY Snowman Sensory Bottle!

Who doesn’t love a good snow globe? Each one is a spellbinding combination of swirling, swishing liquid, and falling glitter that is perfect for sensory play. As mesmerizing as they are, did you know that snow globes are actually an experiment regarding the scientific principle of viscosity?

Let’s apply the standard of viscosity by creating a Snowman Snow Globe. We’ll put it together and then explain why it works.

You will need the following:

  • A water bottle (a clear glass water bottle was used here)
  • Clear glue
  • Tap water
  • Glitter
  • Black tape for the snowman’s top hat
  • Markers, paper, and pipe cleaners to make the snowman face
  • Craft items for the “floaters” inside the globe, like snowflakes, stars, buttons, or jingle bells

First, let’s get our snow globe looking like a snowman. Using a sharpie marker, draw on the eyes and buttons.

Second, you can draw on the carrot nose, but we used leftover orange sticky craft paper here.

Next, select a pipe cleaner to tie around under his carrot nose for a little scarf.

The man needs a top hat, right? Wrap the cap in black tape for his hat.

Now that he’s dressed and ready to go, squirt the clear glue into the bottle. We added more glue to one of our bottles. Will more thick glue make the glitter move slower or faster?

Next, sprinkle in your glitter and drop in the items that will float.

Now it’s time to watch the snow fly!

So what does viscosity mean for the snow globe?

The viscosity of a fluid is its relative “thickness.” Think of glue or maple syrup. Both are thick and slow. Viscosity is measured by its resistance to a stress factor. In the case of our snow globe, the stress is the water and shaking motion. Compared to the water, it is much thicker, slowing the fall of our glitter, snowflakes, and jingle bells.

 

 

The snow globe we made with less glue moved the objects much faster through itself. Less viscosity = easier movement of objects. 

 

Stay warm this winter!

DIY Snowman Sensory Bottle!

Who doesn’t love a good snow globe? Each one is a spellbinding combination of swirling, swishing liquid, and falling glitter that is perfect for sensory play. As mesmerizing as they are, did you know that snow globes are actually an experiment regarding the scientific principle of viscosity?

Let’s apply the standard of viscosity by creating a Snowman Snow Globe. We’ll put it together and then explain why it works.

You will need the following:

  • A water bottle (a clear glass water bottle was used here)
  • Clear glue
  • Tap water
  • Glitter
  • Black tape for the snowman’s top hat
  • Markers, paper, and pipe cleaners to make the snowman face
  • Craft items for the “floaters” inside the globe, like snowflakes, stars, buttons, or jingle bells

First, let’s get our snow globe looking like a snowman. Using a sharpie marker, draw on the eyes and buttons.

Second, you can draw on the carrot nose, but we used leftover orange sticky craft paper here.

Next, select a pipe cleaner to tie around under his carrot nose for a little scarf.

The man needs a top hat, right? Wrap the cap in black tape for his hat.

Now that he’s dressed and ready to go, squirt the clear glue into the bottle. We added more glue to one of our bottles. Will more thick glue make the glitter move slower or faster?

Next, sprinkle in your glitter and drop in the items that will float.

Now it’s time to watch the snow fly!

So what does viscosity mean for the snow globe?

The viscosity of a fluid is its relative “thickness.” Think of glue or maple syrup. Both are thick and slow. Viscosity is measured by its resistance to a stress factor. In the case of our snow globe, the stress is the water and shaking motion. Compared to the water, it is much thicker, slowing the fall of our glitter, snowflakes, and jingle bells.

 

 

The snow globe we made with less glue moved the objects much faster through itself. Less viscosity = easier movement of objects. 

 

Stay warm this winter!

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Snow Cone Sensory Bin

Snow has to be one of the best and most exciting sensory bases for play. Have you ever thought to scoop some up and bring it inside for a fun hands-on setup? It makes prep a breeze and is sure to engage your little ones. For this activity, we decided to use some snow from the yard to make pretend snow cones. It led to so much sensory exploration and engaging conversation.

Materials needed:

The Set Up

Grab a big bowl of snow from outside and set it up somewhere a little more warm and cozy. To prepare the colored water simply fill each test tube nearly all the way to the top and add two drops of each color food coloring. My 3 year old chose red, pink, purple, blue, green, and yellow. I asked her to help mix the color in, which she really enjoyed doing. We put the test tubes out along with the snow, droppers, fine motor toys, and bowls and cups. It is also a good idea to have a small towel on hand as it can get a little wet and messy.

How the Activity Works

My daughter has always loved sensory set-ups, and this one didn’t disappoint. She got straight to work scooping up the snow and transferring it to one of the bowls ready to make her first snow cone. She thought it was so fun that the Handy Scoopers and Squeezy Tweezers made perfect little snowballs!

As she added the scoops of snow she used the tools to mash up the snow a little and was constantly talking about what flavors she was going to add. She opted for lots of red for her first one and told me that it was going to be a very strawberry flavor! She used the Jumbo Eyedroppers to squirt the colored water onto the snow. I always love watching as the color spreads across the snow. She kept adding squirts of color until she was happy with her first yummy snow cone.

She enjoyed making many more, using the different sized cups and bowls. We added in some numeracy by counting how many scoops of snow and how many squirts of colored water were needed for each snow cone she made. We even speculated how much each one would cost to buy…her suggestion of $37 seemed a little steep!

After a while, she started to experiment with mixing the colors to make new ‘flavors’. The colors spread through the snow to make new colors which she thought was so cool to watch. She spent lots of time debating what these new flavors would be called!

Throughout this entire activity, she was working her fine motor skills hard, as well as building her sensory confidence. The snow offered such a unique sensory base and there was the added bonus that as time went on the snow started to melt which completely changed the consistency of her creations. By the end of the activity, she was enjoying a slushy rainbow mess… so much sensory fun! Do you ever bring snow inside for play? What are your favorite activities to use it for?

Snow Cone Sensory Bin

Snow has to be one of the best and most exciting sensory bases for play. Have you ever thought to scoop some up and bring it inside for a fun hands-on setup? It makes prep a breeze and is sure to engage your little ones. For this activity, we decided to use some snow from the yard to make pretend snow cones. It led to so much sensory exploration and engaging conversation.

Materials needed:

The Set Up

Grab a big bowl of snow from outside and set it up somewhere a little more warm and cozy. To prepare the colored water simply fill each test tube nearly all the way to the top and add two drops of each color food coloring. My 3 year old chose red, pink, purple, blue, green, and yellow. I asked her to help mix the color in, which she really enjoyed doing. We put the test tubes out along with the snow, droppers, fine motor toys, and bowls and cups. It is also a good idea to have a small towel on hand as it can get a little wet and messy.

How the Activity Works

My daughter has always loved sensory set-ups, and this one didn’t disappoint. She got straight to work scooping up the snow and transferring it to one of the bowls ready to make her first snow cone. She thought it was so fun that the Handy Scoopers and Squeezy Tweezers made perfect little snowballs!

As she added the scoops of snow she used the tools to mash up the snow a little and was constantly talking about what flavors she was going to add. She opted for lots of red for her first one and told me that it was going to be a very strawberry flavor! She used the Jumbo Eyedroppers to squirt the colored water onto the snow. I always love watching as the color spreads across the snow. She kept adding squirts of color until she was happy with her first yummy snow cone.

She enjoyed making many more, using the different sized cups and bowls. We added in some numeracy by counting how many scoops of snow and how many squirts of colored water were needed for each snow cone she made. We even speculated how much each one would cost to buy…her suggestion of $37 seemed a little steep!

After a while, she started to experiment with mixing the colors to make new ‘flavors’. The colors spread through the snow to make new colors which she thought was so cool to watch. She spent lots of time debating what these new flavors would be called!

Throughout this entire activity, she was working her fine motor skills hard, as well as building her sensory confidence. The snow offered such a unique sensory base and there was the added bonus that as time went on the snow started to melt which completely changed the consistency of her creations. By the end of the activity, she was enjoying a slushy rainbow mess… so much sensory fun! Do you ever bring snow inside for play? What are your favorite activities to use it for?

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Christmas Chemistry: Holiday Fizzing Trees!

This time of year bursts with discovery and wonder, so why not make the most of it? Take a break from the hustle and bustle to enjoy this simple chemistry experiment that features everyone’s favorite scientific ingredients: vinegar and baking soda.


Kids never tire of seeing this classic base and solid reaction. No matter the shape it takes, watching those bubbles grow will always make your little chemist erupt with excitement. Here we make little “evergreens” to demonstrate this scientific standard of chemical reactions.

Supplies to make your trees:

  • Baking soda
  • Food coloring
  • A splash of water
  • Paper plates
  • Vinegar
  • Glitter
  • Eyedropper or pipette
  • Bowl, spoon, and tray

First, pour 2 to 2 ½ cups of baking soda into the bowl. Feel free to scale these portions for the number of trees you want to make.

Next, add green food coloring and a splash of water.

Stir the mixture well. Add glitter for added sparkle. The mixture should be crumbly but should be able to pack tightly (similar to kinetic sand). The last thing you want it to be is soupy or clumpy.

Grab a white paper plate, and cut it in half.

Twist the plate into a cone shape. Tape the sides to keep the form.

Then pack the baking soda mixture into the cones. Be sure to pack it tightly—level off the top. 

Make another round of snow-capped trees without food coloring. Add confetti for a special reveal.

Place all the cones on a cookie sheet and keep them in the freezer for at least six hours.

When your chemists are ready, pull your trees from the freezer. Grab a pie plate or dish with sides high enough to contain the liquid but low enough for your kids to see the reaction up close.

Pour the vinegar into a cup and add a little green food coloring. Your trees will be a bit more brilliant green if you add food coloring to the vinegar.

Carefully unwrap your trees from the paper plate cone over the pie plate, so any crumbles are caught.

Create your “forest” on the pie plate. Then using the eyedropper or pipette, drip the vinegar over the trees. The fizzing begin immediately!

The vinegar reveals the hidden snowflakes and glitter.

Once the forest is melted down, grab a spoon and stir it up. It was decided that the mess look liked soup the Grinch would like.

Repeat with other trees – the excitement level remains the same for each melting, fizzy tree! Happy holidays!

Christmas Chemistry: Holiday Fizzing Trees!

This time of year bursts with discovery and wonder, so why not make the most of it? Take a break from the hustle and bustle to enjoy this simple chemistry experiment that features everyone’s favorite scientific ingredients: vinegar and baking soda.


Kids never tire of seeing this classic base and solid reaction. No matter the shape it takes, watching those bubbles grow will always make your little chemist erupt with excitement. Here we make little “evergreens” to demonstrate this scientific standard of chemical reactions.

Supplies to make your trees:

  • Baking soda
  • Food coloring
  • A splash of water
  • Paper plates
  • Vinegar
  • Glitter
  • Eyedropper or pipette
  • Bowl, spoon, and tray

First, pour 2 to 2 ½ cups of baking soda into the bowl. Feel free to scale these portions for the number of trees you want to make.

Next, add green food coloring and a splash of water.

Stir the mixture well. Add glitter for added sparkle. The mixture should be crumbly but should be able to pack tightly (similar to kinetic sand). The last thing you want it to be is soupy or clumpy.

Grab a white paper plate, and cut it in half.

Twist the plate into a cone shape. Tape the sides to keep the form.

Then pack the baking soda mixture into the cones. Be sure to pack it tightly—level off the top. 

Make another round of snow-capped trees without food coloring. Add confetti for a special reveal.

Place all the cones on a cookie sheet and keep them in the freezer for at least six hours.

When your chemists are ready, pull your trees from the freezer. Grab a pie plate or dish with sides high enough to contain the liquid but low enough for your kids to see the reaction up close.

Pour the vinegar into a cup and add a little green food coloring. Your trees will be a bit more brilliant green if you add food coloring to the vinegar.

Carefully unwrap your trees from the paper plate cone over the pie plate, so any crumbles are caught.

Create your “forest” on the pie plate. Then using the eyedropper or pipette, drip the vinegar over the trees. The fizzing begin immediately!

The vinegar reveals the hidden snowflakes and glitter.

Once the forest is melted down, grab a spoon and stir it up. It was decided that the mess look liked soup the Grinch would like.

Repeat with other trees – the excitement level remains the same for each melting, fizzy tree! Happy holidays!

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The Great Pumpkin Experiment

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The shelves are bursting with candy corn confections this time of year. The mellocreme pumpkin is a treat made of honey and sugar, simply ripe with scientific possibilities. Grab your little goblins for this ghoulish experiment: dissolve candy pumpkins in different liquids. Stand back to watch the magic! This is an experiment of testing hypotheses. What does your little scientist think will happen in each liquid? Will the pumpkins float? Sink? Dissolve? Stay intact? What happens if you add a little heat? Let’s find out!

Supplies:

  • Candy corn pumpkins
  • Clear glasses
  • Water, warm and cold
  • Vinegar
  • Vegetable oil
  • Milk
  • Microwave
  • Timer

1. Label your clear glasses for each liquid. Fill your glasses about half full.
2. Drop in each pumpkin. Observe for any immediate reaction. Grab your timer and begin to measure your observations in five-minute increments.

3. 5 Minutes: There was lots of bubbling in the warm water and little difference to the other liquids.

4. 10 Minutes: The cold water and vinegar liquids began to turn orange as the sugar “skin” of the pumpkin began to shed, but not much change for the pumpkin in milk.

5. 15 minutes: The cold water, warm water, and vinegar pumpkins all began to shed their “skin,” providing a spooky element to the experiment!

6. 30 Minutes: At last! The theory that the pumpkins might float comes true as the pumpkin’s sugar skin lifts it to the top of the glass. This might provide giggles, as your experiment now looks a little haunted. Who invited the ghost?

8. To add a little interest, put the oil pumpkin in the microwave for 20 seconds. You’ll find it will bubble and then wholly flatten out.

9. Have an adult fish the flattened pumpkin out. You will find it is very pliable and is almost plastic-like in consistency. Your little scientists might be taken aback that this is, in fact, something we can eat!

Findings

The milk broke down the sugary pumpkin over time by dissolving it. The warm water made the reaction slightly faster, but the two water temperatures and the vinegar broke down the candy first, creating sugar “ghosts” from the outer coating. And while the oil had little effect on the pumpkin when resting in the liquid, adding the heat made the natural reaction occur. It was decided that time was the fundamental factor in this experiment: the more time the pumpkins sat in the liquids, the more chances to observe!

The Great Pumpkin Experiment

Join our email list for more free activities!

The shelves are bursting with candy corn confections this time of year. The mellocreme pumpkin is a treat made of honey and sugar, simply ripe with scientific possibilities. Grab your little goblins for this ghoulish experiment: dissolve candy pumpkins in different liquids. Stand back to watch the magic! This is an experiment of testing hypotheses. What does your little scientist think will happen in each liquid? Will the pumpkins float? Sink? Dissolve? Stay intact? What happens if you add a little heat? Let’s find out!

Supplies:

  • Candy corn pumpkins
  • Clear glasses
  • Water, warm and cold
  • Vinegar
  • Vegetable oil
  • Milk
  • Microwave
  • Timer

1. Label your clear glasses for each liquid. Fill your glasses about half full.
2. Drop in each pumpkin. Observe for any immediate reaction. Grab your timer and begin to measure your observations in five-minute increments.

3. 5 Minutes: There was lots of bubbling in the warm water and little difference to the other liquids.

4. 10 Minutes: The cold water and vinegar liquids began to turn orange as the sugar “skin” of the pumpkin began to shed, but not much change for the pumpkin in milk.

5. 15 minutes: The cold water, warm water, and vinegar pumpkins all began to shed their “skin,” providing a spooky element to the experiment!

6. 30 Minutes: At last! The theory that the pumpkins might float comes true as the pumpkin’s sugar skin lifts it to the top of the glass. This might provide giggles, as your experiment now looks a little haunted. Who invited the ghost?

8. To add a little interest, put the oil pumpkin in the microwave for 20 seconds. You’ll find it will bubble and then wholly flatten out.

9. Have an adult fish the flattened pumpkin out. You will find it is very pliable and is almost plastic-like in consistency. Your little scientists might be taken aback that this is, in fact, something we can eat!

Findings

The milk broke down the sugary pumpkin over time by dissolving it. The warm water made the reaction slightly faster, but the two water temperatures and the vinegar broke down the candy first, creating sugar “ghosts” from the outer coating. And while the oil had little effect on the pumpkin when resting in the liquid, adding the heat made the natural reaction occur. It was decided that time was the fundamental factor in this experiment: the more time the pumpkins sat in the liquids, the more chances to observe!

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Be Cold & Flu Season Ready: DIY Hand Sanitizer!

The chill in the air! The crunch of the leaves! The sights and sounds of autumn are here! Everything is cozy and crisp and wonderful, and…ACHOO!

As the first sneeze of the season rings through your house, it can only mean one thing: cold and flu season is upon us. Let’s prepare together by making a cost-effective, all-natural hand sanitizer to keep those nasty germs at bay.

This easy activity opens up discussions on practicing healthy habits during this germ-filled time of year. Here are a few reminders:

Wash or sanitize hands whenever possible

Germs are everywhere – there’s no way around it. But sanitizing or washing hands is the best way to prevent them from spreading. Rub in sanitizer to the palms and back of hands, and teach little ones to wash hands with soap for as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

Clean areas children touch frequently.

Wipe down doorknobs, toys, railings, electronic tablets, remote controls, etc., with disinfectant. You obviously can’t chase after your children with a Clorox wipe every moment, but staying on top of cleaning surfaces makes a huge difference in germ transfers.

Scrub down that bathroom

A hygienic bathroom during cold and flu seasons is a must. Top-to-bottom care is essential in this busy hub in your home. The toilet handle, the sink, and the floor should enjoy frequent cleanings. And don’t forget to wash hand towels…and then rewash them.

Teach the beloved “vampire” to sneeze and cough

This one comes with some practice, but teaching kids to sneeze or cough in the elbow crook is a huge step in preventing the spreading of germs. If you stick with it, you will notice that the “vampire” move quickly becomes a knee-jerk reaction.

Lastly, call your little ones in sick.

If your child has a temperature or isn’t acting like him or herself, keep them home. No one knows your child better than you, so it’s best to err on caution if something seems off.

To make your own hand sanitizer, you will need: 

  • 8 ounces Aloe Vera gel
  • One tablespoon witch hazel
  • ¼ teaspoon tea tree oil
  • ¼ teaspoon Vitamin E oil
  • Essential oils, a variety of scents
  • Travel-sized spray bottles 

First, decide which essential oils you’d like to use. Four scents were chosen here, and we were creative in decorating each spray bottle with labels. If it’s going to be attached to you all during cold and flu season, you might as well make it nice-looking. 

Fill a measuring cup with 8 ounces of Aloe Vera gel. Aloe Vera’s job is to serve as the base of the sanitizer and to be very gentle on the skin. 

Next, add the active ingredients. Begin with the witch hazel, adding one tablespoon. Witch hazel is a natural cleanser that protects against infection.

Alcohol can be used in its place, but witch hazel is far less drying. 

Add ¼ tablespoon of tea tree oil. When it is in 0.5-1.0% concentration form, tea tree oil is powerful in killing most bacteria and is potent when preventing infection. (The other thing that is powerful about tea tree oil is its scent. The kids might not love how strong it is, but once the essential oils are added to the hand sanitizer mixture, the odor dissipates). 

For extra moisture, add Vitamin E oil. A common complaint about store-bought sanitizers is how drying they can be, mainly applied for days (and months). Vitamin E and aloe make this homemade version easier on the kids’ hands. And it is thick! 

Lastly, add the essential oil for scent. The overwhelming favorite in this house was peppermint. Pour into your cutely made spray bottles. Stash them away in the kids’ backpacks, lunch boxes, cup holders of their car seats, or anywhere in between! Best of luck this cold and flu season! 

Be Cold & Flu Season Ready: DIY Hand Sanitizer!

The chill in the air! The crunch of the leaves! The sights and sounds of autumn are here! Everything is cozy and crisp and wonderful, and…ACHOO!

As the first sneeze of the season rings through your house, it can only mean one thing: cold and flu season is upon us. Let’s prepare together by making a cost-effective, all-natural hand sanitizer to keep those nasty germs at bay.

This easy activity opens up discussions on practicing healthy habits during this germ-filled time of year. Here are a few reminders:

Wash or sanitize hands whenever possible

Germs are everywhere – there’s no way around it. But sanitizing or washing hands is the best way to prevent them from spreading. Rub in sanitizer to the palms and back of hands, and teach little ones to wash hands with soap for as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

Clean areas children touch frequently.

Wipe down doorknobs, toys, railings, electronic tablets, remote controls, etc., with disinfectant. You obviously can’t chase after your children with a Clorox wipe every moment, but staying on top of cleaning surfaces makes a huge difference in germ transfers.

Scrub down that bathroom

A hygienic bathroom during cold and flu seasons is a must. Top-to-bottom care is essential in this busy hub in your home. The toilet handle, the sink, and the floor should enjoy frequent cleanings. And don’t forget to wash hand towels…and then rewash them.

Teach the beloved “vampire” to sneeze and cough

This one comes with some practice, but teaching kids to sneeze or cough in the elbow crook is a huge step in preventing the spreading of germs. If you stick with it, you will notice that the “vampire” move quickly becomes a knee-jerk reaction.

Lastly, call your little ones in sick.

If your child has a temperature or isn’t acting like him or herself, keep them home. No one knows your child better than you, so it’s best to err on caution if something seems off.

To make your own hand sanitizer, you will need: 

  • 8 ounces Aloe Vera gel
  • One tablespoon witch hazel
  • ¼ teaspoon tea tree oil
  • ¼ teaspoon Vitamin E oil
  • Essential oils, a variety of scents
  • Travel-sized spray bottles 

First, decide which essential oils you’d like to use. Four scents were chosen here, and we were creative in decorating each spray bottle with labels. If it’s going to be attached to you all during cold and flu season, you might as well make it nice-looking. 

Fill a measuring cup with 8 ounces of Aloe Vera gel. Aloe Vera’s job is to serve as the base of the sanitizer and to be very gentle on the skin. 

Next, add the active ingredients. Begin with the witch hazel, adding one tablespoon. Witch hazel is a natural cleanser that protects against infection.

Alcohol can be used in its place, but witch hazel is far less drying. 

Add ¼ tablespoon of tea tree oil. When it is in 0.5-1.0% concentration form, tea tree oil is powerful in killing most bacteria and is potent when preventing infection. (The other thing that is powerful about tea tree oil is its scent. The kids might not love how strong it is, but once the essential oils are added to the hand sanitizer mixture, the odor dissipates). 

For extra moisture, add Vitamin E oil. A common complaint about store-bought sanitizers is how drying they can be, mainly applied for days (and months). Vitamin E and aloe make this homemade version easier on the kids’ hands. And it is thick! 

Lastly, add the essential oil for scent. The overwhelming favorite in this house was peppermint. Pour into your cutely made spray bottles. Stash them away in the kids’ backpacks, lunch boxes, cup holders of their car seats, or anywhere in between! Best of luck this cold and flu season! 

READ MORE

5 Tools for Your Fall Discovery Table

Are you excited about the fall? Cooler weather, changing colors, and leaves and seeds on the ground make for a great time to get outside and explore nature. Bring a nature inside and set up a discovery table. Today I’m sharing five tools for your fall discovery table. These items will help your little scientists make observations and use real science tools in the process.

5 Tools to Add:

1. Sensory Tubes: Sensory Tubes are a fantastic way to let children observe things through sight and/or smell. They are especially handy for items that you don’t necessarily want the children to touch (sticky pine cones, for example). I added different nature items to the sensory tubes and then also placed items on the tray that can be touched and explored. The focus in this particular discovery table is comparing seeds and leaves. I chose a seed pod, leaves, pine cones, and pine needles. 

Questions to ask:

  • What do you notice about the different leaves? (colors, shape, size) 
  • What time of year do trees like sycamore and maple lose all of their leaves? (fall/autumn) 
  • Pine cones and pine needles come from evergreen trees. They lose their needles a little at a time; not all at once. Compare the green pine needles to the brown ones. What do you think the difference is? (time – the green needles fell more recently than the brown needles, the brown needles are older/drier) 

2. Magnifying Glass: A magnifying glass is perfect for looking at objects more closely. Lay a magnifying glass next to a few nature objects and encourage your child to explore. Here I’ve used walnuts, bark, and pine cones.  

Observations to make: 

  • What do you notice about the different kinds of bark? (color, texture, etc.) 
  • Look at the inside of the walnut. Compare it to the outside. 
  • How is the small pine cone similar to the large pine cone? (look at the cone scales, or seed scales) 

3. Tweezers: Tweezers are a tool worth using for multiple reasons. Your child can take things apart like these sycamore seeds to observe the insides more closely. (Combine the tweezers with the magnifying glass.) Tweezers also work on fine motor skills and hand strengthening. Encourage your child to pick things up with the tweezers. Move things from one side of the tray to the next.  

4. Tape Measure or Ruler

Measuring is a science and math skill that is important to practice. Once you’ve taught your child how to use a ruler or tape measure properly, set them off to compare the sizes of different nature items. We used the tape measure and ruler. My kids love finding the objects on the card and then measuring them. Taking the tape measure outside on your next nature walk would also be fun. Measure the distance between trees or the length of a large rock. The possibilities are endless. 

5. Balance: My favorite addition to the fall discovery table is a balance. We used the Three Bear Family® Beginner's Balance Set (similar item shown). The set comes with caterpillars and leaves in different sizes and weights. I placed the leaves next to the balance and added in some nature items (pinecone, walnuts, acorns, etc.). Encourage your child to explore the balance. Talk to her about how the scale works. When the items on each side weighh the same, the balance will be in the middle. The heavier side will be lower than the lighter side. 

Questions to ask: 

  • How many leaves will it take to balance a walnut? 
  • Which is heavier: a pine cone or an acorn? 
  • Which weighs less: a hickory nut or three orange leaves? 

Final Tips for your Fall Discovery Table

Setting up a fall discovery table is excellent for various age groups. The goal is to let children make observations and explore the nature items. It’s a good idea to show your child how to use the tools first and then let them explore freely. They can ask questions to you and learn more about the items through books or additional resources you provide. What’s your favorite part about fall? 

5 Tools for Your Fall Discovery Table

Are you excited about the fall? Cooler weather, changing colors, and leaves and seeds on the ground make for a great time to get outside and explore nature. Bring a nature inside and set up a discovery table. Today I’m sharing five tools for your fall discovery table. These items will help your little scientists make observations and use real science tools in the process.

5 Tools to Add:

1. Sensory Tubes: Sensory Tubes are a fantastic way to let children observe things through sight and/or smell. They are especially handy for items that you don’t necessarily want the children to touch (sticky pine cones, for example). I added different nature items to the sensory tubes and then also placed items on the tray that can be touched and explored. The focus in this particular discovery table is comparing seeds and leaves. I chose a seed pod, leaves, pine cones, and pine needles. 

Questions to ask:

  • What do you notice about the different leaves? (colors, shape, size) 
  • What time of year do trees like sycamore and maple lose all of their leaves? (fall/autumn) 
  • Pine cones and pine needles come from evergreen trees. They lose their needles a little at a time; not all at once. Compare the green pine needles to the brown ones. What do you think the difference is? (time – the green needles fell more recently than the brown needles, the brown needles are older/drier) 

2. Magnifying Glass: A magnifying glass is perfect for looking at objects more closely. Lay a magnifying glass next to a few nature objects and encourage your child to explore. Here I’ve used walnuts, bark, and pine cones.  

Observations to make: 

  • What do you notice about the different kinds of bark? (color, texture, etc.) 
  • Look at the inside of the walnut. Compare it to the outside. 
  • How is the small pine cone similar to the large pine cone? (look at the cone scales, or seed scales) 

3. Tweezers: Tweezers are a tool worth using for multiple reasons. Your child can take things apart like these sycamore seeds to observe the insides more closely. (Combine the tweezers with the magnifying glass.) Tweezers also work on fine motor skills and hand strengthening. Encourage your child to pick things up with the tweezers. Move things from one side of the tray to the next.  

4. Tape Measure or Ruler

Measuring is a science and math skill that is important to practice. Once you’ve taught your child how to use a ruler or tape measure properly, set them off to compare the sizes of different nature items. We used the tape measure and ruler. My kids love finding the objects on the card and then measuring them. Taking the tape measure outside on your next nature walk would also be fun. Measure the distance between trees or the length of a large rock. The possibilities are endless. 

5. Balance: My favorite addition to the fall discovery table is a balance. We used the Three Bear Family® Beginner's Balance Set (similar item shown). The set comes with caterpillars and leaves in different sizes and weights. I placed the leaves next to the balance and added in some nature items (pinecone, walnuts, acorns, etc.). Encourage your child to explore the balance. Talk to her about how the scale works. When the items on each side weighh the same, the balance will be in the middle. The heavier side will be lower than the lighter side. 

Questions to ask: 

  • How many leaves will it take to balance a walnut? 
  • Which is heavier: a pine cone or an acorn? 
  • Which weighs less: a hickory nut or three orange leaves? 

Final Tips for your Fall Discovery Table

Setting up a fall discovery table is excellent for various age groups. The goal is to let children make observations and explore the nature items. It’s a good idea to show your child how to use the tools first and then let them explore freely. They can ask questions to you and learn more about the items through books or additional resources you provide. What’s your favorite part about fall? 

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Exploring Fall

Fall officially started on September 22. Look outside and think about what changes have made? Its colder outside, the leaves have started changing color and are falling. It is also starting to get darker outside earlier in the evening. I have an activity that will help kick off Fall, with talking about all the wonderful fall objects and other fun, fall activities.   

What you will need:

  • Discovery Acorns (or something similar to put your objects in)   
  • Apple (I used an apple-shaped counter)   
  • Pumpkin object (I used pumpkin erasers)   
  • Cinnamon object (I used a cinnamon stick)   
  • Hot Chocolate (I used chocolate chips)   
  • Leaves (I used some fake leaves)   
  • Bon Fire/Smores (I used marshmallows)   
  • Halloween (I used a bunch of fake spiders)    
  • Fall Walks (I used a pinecone)   
  • Thanksgiving (I used a felt Turkey)   
  • List - What are you thankful for?   

Once you have filled your acorns you can share with your children. Have them talk to you about why these items remind them of Fall and what they think of. You can extend this activity for little ones and have them draw the fall item and write the name of it, and, for older kids, you can have them write down a sentence or two about the contents of the Acorn.

Exploring Fall

Fall officially started on September 22. Look outside and think about what changes have made? Its colder outside, the leaves have started changing color and are falling. It is also starting to get darker outside earlier in the evening. I have an activity that will help kick off Fall, with talking about all the wonderful fall objects and other fun, fall activities.   

What you will need:

  • Discovery Acorns (or something similar to put your objects in)   
  • Apple (I used an apple-shaped counter)   
  • Pumpkin object (I used pumpkin erasers)   
  • Cinnamon object (I used a cinnamon stick)   
  • Hot Chocolate (I used chocolate chips)   
  • Leaves (I used some fake leaves)   
  • Bon Fire/Smores (I used marshmallows)   
  • Halloween (I used a bunch of fake spiders)    
  • Fall Walks (I used a pinecone)   
  • Thanksgiving (I used a felt Turkey)   
  • List - What are you thankful for?   

Once you have filled your acorns you can share with your children. Have them talk to you about why these items remind them of Fall and what they think of. You can extend this activity for little ones and have them draw the fall item and write the name of it, and, for older kids, you can have them write down a sentence or two about the contents of the Acorn.

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