Water and Hydrology
- Water is a necessary part of everyday life. Giving baby a bath is one of the first interactions a caregiver will have with their child.
- Water is also one of the few chemicals that people may easily observe in the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.
Science Center -- Instead of offering a craft at the end of your toddler or preschool storytimes, try one of these ideas:
- *Water Feature: Add an aquarium, fish bowl, water fountain, or some plants that grown in water for the children to observe.
- Will it Float?: Lay out a tarp and place a plastic tub with 2"-3" of water in it on the tarp. You want enough water that there is a definite difference between sinking and floating, but not enough that the water will overflow during the experiment. Have a selection of items for the children to test -- crayons without wrappers, plastic toys, rocks, corks, utensils, ice cubes, paper, etc. Let the children experiment with what sinks and what floats. Older children may want to keep a record of what they think the object will do, versus what it actually did. Replace the water frequently to keep it clean.
- *Bubbles: Purchase a bubble machine, or a simple bottle of bubble solution and allow the children to chase and pop the bubbles. This may be done inside or outside.
*The Goldfish Song, by the Laurie Berkner Band. (You will need to click over to youtube to watch this video as the permissions do not let it play on another site. Sorry!) GREATEST. SONG. EVER. This recording is a little bit different than the one I have, but the kids LOVE it. I have a rug we use as the rock, or if I'm in a home, we use a couch. And then when we swim, we run all around the room and its pretty much the greatest thing ever.
Fun to Do Together
Parachute Activity
What You Need
Parachute or large fabric tablecloth
What You Do
Parachute Activity
What You Need
Parachute or large fabric tablecloth
What You Do
- Caregivers and children all stand or sit and hold the edge of the parachute and sing the "My Bathtub" song, raising and lowering the parachute each time you sing "bathtub," "splash," or "splashing."
- Alternatively, caregivers stand and hold the edge of the parachute and children sit underneath.
- You can also place a stuffed animal on top of the parachute for the children and caregivers to toss around!
- It's okay if the raising and lowering becomes an enthusiastic tidal wave, just encourage caregivers to keep an eye on their little ones!
My Bathtub (sung to the tune of "My Bonnie")
My bathtub is so full of water
My bathtub is waiting for me
My bathtub is so full of water
So splash in my bathtub with me!
Slashing! Splashing!
Splash in my bathtub with me, with me!
Splashing! Splashing!
Oh, splash in my bathtub with me!
My bathtub is so full of water
My bathtub is waiting for me
My bathtub is so full of water
So splash in my bathtub with me!
Slashing! Splashing!
Splash in my bathtub with me, with me!
Splashing! Splashing!
Oh, splash in my bathtub with me!
DIY Lava Lamp (preschool and up)
What You Need
Empty clear plastic bottle with caps (16oz, label removed)
Black permanent marker
Funnels
Vegetable Oil in original bottle or in pitchers
Water in pitchers
Food Coloring
Effervescent antacid tablets
Plastic table cloth or tarp
Prepare Ahead
Cover the work surface with the tablecloth. Make a horizontal line 3" from the bottom of the bottom of the bottle and another 5" from the bottom. Break the antacid tablets in half and place one half at each place, along with one bottle. Place the funnels, oil, water, and good coloring within easy reach of each place.
What You Do
- Show children how to fit the funnel into the top of the bottle. With the help of a caregiver, ask children to pour the oil into the bottle up to the lower line (3").
- Once they're done, ask them to slowly pour the water into the bottle so the liquid rises to the higher line (5"). The water is heavier than the oil, so it will pass through the oil and sink to the bottom. Explain to them what is happening and why.
- Take the funnel out.
- After the water settles, ask them to put three drops of the food coloring into the bottle. The food coloring will also pass through the oil, mixing in with the water.
- Once the color has blended into the water, ask them to drop the half tablet of antacid into the bottle. The water will roil and bubble, sending colored blobs up into the oil. Because the colored water is heavier, it will want to sink back to the bottom. The effervescent tablet will push the water back up, causing a bubbling, magical storm in the bottle, reminiscent of a lava lamp. The process will continue until the tablet has completely dissolved.
- If children are taking their bottles home, give them lids to screw on tightly AFTER the tablets have dissolved. WARNING!: Putting a lid on while the tablets are effervescing will cause the bottles to explode.
Mysterious Ice (may also be offered as Take Home Activity)
What You Need
Ice Cube Trays
Small plastic objects that fit in the tray
Water
Freezer
Big bowls or buckets
Warm water
Cups
Old toothbrushes or other "excavation" implements
Prepare Ahead
Place one or two items into each compartment of the ice cube tray. Fill each compartment about 1/2 full with water and place the tray in the freezer. Let the water freeze completely. Parts of the items will be sticking up out of the ice. Fill the remainder of the tray with water and place it back in the freezer to solidify. (Note: If you fill the tray to the top on the first freeze, some items may float to the surface and reveal what's in the ice.)
What You Do
What You Need
Ice Cube Trays
Small plastic objects that fit in the tray
Water
Freezer
Big bowls or buckets
Warm water
Cups
Old toothbrushes or other "excavation" implements
Prepare Ahead
Place one or two items into each compartment of the ice cube tray. Fill each compartment about 1/2 full with water and place the tray in the freezer. Let the water freeze completely. Parts of the items will be sticking up out of the ice. Fill the remainder of the tray with water and place it back in the freezer to solidify. (Note: If you fill the tray to the top on the first freeze, some items may float to the surface and reveal what's in the ice.)
What You Do
- Once they are frozen solid, empty the ice cubes into a big bowl or bucket.
- Fill some cups with warm water. Give each child a toothbrush or other excavation implement and allow them to uncover their finds. They may try scrubbing the ice with warm water and the toothbrush, dropping the ice into the warm water, pouring water over the ice in the bowl, or maybe they will discover their own method. (Children may want to stick the ice into their mouths. Just be careful they don't choke on the toys.)
- Take the bowl outside and try setting the ice cubes on warm pavement.
- Encourage children to guess what is in the ice before it melts. Can they see a color or shape in the ice to help them figure it out? You'd be surprised how simple things like buttons, bottle caps, small toys, and large beads become exciting discoveries!
Take Home Activity: Water Painting
What You Need
Plastic cup or bowl
2 small paintbrushes
Water
Concrete, brick, stone, or other paved surface
What You Do
Demonstrate for your child how to hold the brush, dip it in the water, and "paint" on the concrete. Encourage them to pick up their own brush and try it for themselves. Try painting their name, saying each letter as you paint it. Paint simple pictures, like clouds or flowers and ask your child to guess what it is. Ask your child to paint a picture and have them tell you about what they are painting. How quickly the pictures disappear (evaporate) depends on how sunny and dry the weather is.
(This is suggested as a take home activity in the manual, but I think it would make an excellent activity for the end of any toddler or preschool program!)
What You Need
Plastic cup or bowl
2 small paintbrushes
Water
Concrete, brick, stone, or other paved surface
What You Do
Demonstrate for your child how to hold the brush, dip it in the water, and "paint" on the concrete. Encourage them to pick up their own brush and try it for themselves. Try painting their name, saying each letter as you paint it. Paint simple pictures, like clouds or flowers and ask your child to guess what it is. Ask your child to paint a picture and have them tell you about what they are painting. How quickly the pictures disappear (evaporate) depends on how sunny and dry the weather is.
(This is suggested as a take home activity in the manual, but I think it would make an excellent activity for the end of any toddler or preschool program!)
From the Web
Water Displacement
Submarine Science
Water Bottle Fountain
Elephant Toothpaste
Foamerators (excellent for school-aged kids, teens, and even adults, too!)
Kid in a Bubble
Ice Art
Water Displacement
Submarine Science
Water Bottle Fountain
Elephant Toothpaste
Foamerators (excellent for school-aged kids, teens, and even adults, too!)
Kid in a Bubble
Ice Art