Preschool Science Experiments

Preschool Science Experiments

There is nothing more fascinating and fun than helping small children conduct preschool science experiments. Watching their delighted little faces as these experiments show them that there may be a bit of "magic," after all, is so entertaining. There are many safe and educational experiments that can be done with the preschooler. They are not overly involved or difficult either.

One such experiment involves some raisins and a glass of Seven Up or Sprite. It is aptly named The Dancing Raisins. You simply take a glass of still fizzing Seven Up or Sprite and let the children drop a few raisins in the soda. The raisins seem to take on a life of their own. They jump around on top of the soda, then seem to dive to the bottom of the glass, only to rise up again. Children love preschool science experiments such as this one.

Another experiment can be used to teach about the parts of plants. For this one, you will need a stalk of celery, 2 cups of water and some food coloring. Add the food coloring to the water. Slice the celery in half long ways and put each end into the water. Within about 10 minutes the food coloring has been absorbed into the celery, outlining the veins of the celery stalk. Children are extremely fascinated with this one.

Now, if you don't mind messy preschool science experiments, you can try this one. The children get to make their very own slime to play with. You will need to get some liquid starch and mix it with a bottle of Elmer's glue. Once it has mixed together, it starts to make a totally different substance. The children can dig their hands in and start to pull out the "globs" to play with.

An easy and fun experiment that teaches about density requires first getting a glass. Next, you will take food coloring and add it to different substances such as water, oil, and salt water. These will be added to the glass one at a time, layering as they go. The different colors help identify each substance. This is one of the more fascinating preschool science experiments, as their little eyes just get bigger and bigger while watching these substances NOT mix.

Preschool is such an easy age to teach scientific things. They are delighted and thrilled by the simplest things. Not only that, you become a magician in their eyes, so you might let them guess at what has occurred just a little bit longer before explaining it to them. Then they will get to feel special that they can make these things happen, too.

CLICKHERE TO DOWNLOAD PRESCHOOL GAMES,THEMES,CRAFTS AND CURRICULUM

How To Build A Reading Environment At Home For Your Child

How To Build A Reading Environment At Home For Your Child

We've all heard the importance of teaching our children to read while they are young. All of the shows on television for young children promote reading (Sesame Street, Between the Lions, Reading Is Fundamental). How many of you remember Captain Kangaroo? Even the Captain or Mr. Greenjeans, read stories to the children. For years we have been exposing children to reading through various television programs specifically for children. Yet, too many parents are not exposing their children to reading in the home.

The National Early Literacy Panel has outline several skills which predicate reading achievement. They are as follows:

Alphabetical Knowledge - knowledge of names and sounds associated with printed letters.

Phonological Awareness - detecting, manipulating or analyzing parts of words.

Rapid/Automatic Naming of Letters/Digits - naming a sequence of random letters or numbers.

Rapid/Automatic Naming of Objects/Colors - naming a sequence of random sets of pictures or objects.

Writing or Writing Name - writing letters in isolation or one's own name.

Phonological Memory - remembering spoken information for a short period of time.

If your child has these abilities then they show a strong development of literacy.

How does one help your child to develop these abilities? First, your home should reflect the use of reading and writing materials. Subscribe to some children's magazines. As your child grows, find those magazines that most interest them. Purchase small books that they can sit and learn to read. Young children will mimic what they have heard when rereading a book. Eventually, they will recognize the words and be able to read the book themselves.

Set up a corner of a room (does not have to be the child's room, could be the living room) with a bookshelf for your child's books and magazines. Make a daily event of reading books to one another. As you read, ask probing questions. What do you think will happen next? What is the name of the main character? Etc.

Many stores have writing pads for children. Some of these writing pads will illustrate how to write the letters of the alphabet and the numbers 0 to 9. Spend time with your child in writing letters and numbers. The more practice they have, the more skills they will develop. I have found books that are called "Everything You Need to Know for 1st Grade". These are written for grades kindergarten through I believe fifth grade. Check them out. Go to a bookstore and you will find even more grade level books to help your child get ahead in schools. I know there are many activity books written for preschool level.

The important thing in setting up a reading environment in your home is to have access to the materials everyday. The more you exposure your child to reading and writing, the more they will learn. Make it fun. Do hands on activities in which your child experiences the fun part of learning. Post your child's writings around the house (not just on the refrigerator). I even started a scrape book for my students when I taught Elementary. They loved that.

Anything you can do as a parent to prepare your child for his/her academic life, will help your child to do better in school. Remember that you are your child's first teacher. Be an active parent and participate in every aspect of your child's academic life.

CLICKHERE TO DOWNLOAD PRESCHOOL GAMES,THEMES,CRAFTS AND CURRICULUM