The post Lego STEM Activities for Young Engineers appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>The short description is that STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education. It is a hands-on way of exploring different science and math concepts while solving problems. STEM education promotes critical thinking, problem solving, and thinking outside of the box.
Windmill STEM Challenge from Steam Powered Family is such a cool investigation of wind power. Using the wind to help make work easier is at the root of this challenge. Using Lego pieces to build an elevator that can be lifted by a windmill is a great way to use Legos to experiment.
LEGO Coding Activities for Kids from Little Bins for Little Hands is a look into binary code. Using Legos to explore codes is such a fun activity.
This LEGO Zip Line from Little Bins for Little Hands is an awesome way to explore speed and angles. They also have a Lego Volcano activity and a Lego Maze that both look like so much fun.
LEGO Ice Rescue from The Science Kiddo doesn’t use Lego bricks, but it uses a Lego shaped mold to conduct a cool science experiment. This experiment is a great way to focus on the freezing point and the how salt and water react.
Build a LEGO Balloon Powered Car from Teach Beside Me. This challenge is a fun way to experiment with wind power. It will provide hours of fun racing cars.
Make a LEGO Duplo Paint Machine from Stir The Wonder. They show you piece by piece how to create it. Making your own painting machine is so cool.
Three Pigs LEGO STEM Engineering from JDaniel4’s Mom is a fun way to extend this popular story. Using specific criteria to build each house is quite a challenge. Having your house fit the pigs and not get blown down by the Big Bad Wolf is a great activity for children of all ages.
Learn How to Build a LEGO Balance Scale from Mombrite is a fun thing to challenge kids. Then using the scale to compare different weights is the perfect way to end this STEM challenge.
Learn how to build a LEGO Glyph STEM from Inspiration Laboratories. A glyph is an image that represents other things, kind of like a code. Each color and shape represents something different.
Turn Lego Cars into Doodle Cars from Adventure In A Box. Using Legos and a wheel and axle to make art is a powerful experience.
Create Coffee Filter LEGO Parachutes from Hunny I’m Home DIY. Have races with the Lego men from high places.
How To Build a DIY Fidget Spinner from Creative Green Living is so cool! Fidget spinners are still a great time and now you can create one with Legos.
Build a fidget cube from Lemon Lime Adventures. They give you a great example of how to build it piece by piece with step-by-step instructions.
Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls shows you how to make these awesome Lego spinning tops. I love experimenting with tops. How long can yours spin? For extra fun, test out how they spin on different surfaces such as cardboard, tile, aluminum foil, etc.
Make a Lego Wrecking Ball from The Lego Librarian. I know a lot of kids that would love to build this and then use it to knock down towers.
Make a Lego Catapult like they did at Little Bins for Little Hands. It is so much fun to launch different things and see how far they can go.
So which one of these lego activities are you going to try first?
The post Lego STEM Activities for Young Engineers appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>The post Groundhog Day Coloring Pages for Kids (free printable) appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>When I was younger I didn’t really understand what Groundhog Day was all about. I just knew we celebrated it and people were usually mad about more weeks of Winter or cheering for an early Spring. Coloring these Groundhog coloring pages together gives you a chance to start talking about what this holiday is all about and what it means when the groundhog sees his shadow or doesn’t. It is a great way to talk and connect with your child.
Groundhog Day is on February 2nd. People come to Pennsylvania every year to see if the groundhog will see his shadow. If it’s a sunny day and Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, then there will be six more weeks of Winter. If it’s a cloudy day and he doesn’t see his shadow, then warmer temperatures are on their way with an early Spring. Studies have shown that there isn’t really a correlation between his shadow and the weather, but it is still a fun tradition that we look forward to.
The free Groundhog Day coloring pages include 8 different designs. What can you do with these free printables?
Which adorable Groundhog Day coloring sheet will you start with first?
Looking for more Groundhog Day activities for kids? Check out this awesome collection of Groundhog Day activities and crafts. They are the perfect way to sneak in more learning fun.
The post Groundhog Day Coloring Pages for Kids (free printable) appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>The post Free Hanukkah Coloring Pages for Kids appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>Hanukkah is a jewish holiday. The Hanukkah celebration is an eight-day holiday that involves lighting of the Menorah. A prayer and blessing is offered during each lighting. Children of all ages enjoy the special meals, songs, games, and gifts that are a part of the holiday season.
The free printables include images of:
Eight pages are included in the free download. Staple these printable pages together to make your own coloring book. These fun coloring pages are a great addition to have available for kids at a party or gathering. They are a fun activity for the whole family.
These Happy Hanukkah coloring pages are a great way to practice many different skills:
Make Dreidel Brownies to have a delicious treat!
Make a Children’s Hanukkah Menorah. This is an awesome craft that can be made with a few simple materials. It is a treasured keepsake.
The post Free Hanukkah Coloring Pages for Kids appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>The post Sight Words Q Tip Painting Printables appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>With this activity, children will develop hand-eye coordination and strengthen hand muscles while reading and spelling words. This printable set is a great addition to a literacy center. Not to mention, it’s such an easy activity. Children will have so much fun making words by using different colors of tempera paint.
I have yet to meet a child who doesn’t enjoy color. Bring out the child’s artistic side by allowing them to make rainbow words in numerous ways.
Here are a few ways to enjoy this fun activity:
What can you do with the words after you have painted them and the paint has dried? There are so many creative ways to throw in word practice without children even realizing they’re also learning. As we all know, children absolutely love to play hide-and-seek.
So, why not incorporate some activities that involve the same concept?
All too often children are spending so much time indoors on electronics or doing schoolwork. Gross motor skills are extremely important for a child’s development. It benefits their ability to dance, run, walk, reach, and balance. Next time you’re outdoors or in the gymnasium, throw in a gross motor activity that goes hand in hand with these sight words. This undoubtedly is going to benefit the children as they’re learning both motor and literacy skills.
Here are some great ways to combine gross motor skills and sight words together:
Fine motor play is a great activity for children to take part in on a regular basis. Strengthening fine motor skills benefits children in numerous ways. They use these skills to eat with utensils, to write with pens, pencils, and crayons, to button and zip their clothing, and more. Adding sight words allows them to work on both fine motor and literacy skills at the same time.
Here are some simple ways to combine fine motor skills and sight words together:
Sensory play is a creative way for children to stimulate their senses while also learning. There are multiple ways to offer sensory play in the classroom. For instance, water play, sand play, and shaving cream are all fun ways to trigger a child’s senses.
Here are some fun ways to combine sensory play and sight words together:
There are so many other ways to enjoy this q-tip painting sight word activity. Here are some other ideas you may want to incorporate into your daily learning:
Regardless of the sight word activities you choose to take part in, each offers a fantastic way to sneak in word practice! Learning sight words is such an important aspect of a child’s reading career. Sight words are simply words that children know by sight without having to sound them out.
However, to give more context, Scholastic.com reads, “When you see lists of sight words, what you are usually seeing are lists of high frequency words or Dolch Words. Edward William Dolch first compiled the full list and broke it down into five levels for children to learn by sight. They are a list of 220 words that are used so often in print that together they make up an estimated 75% of all words used in books. Some of the words cannot be decoded using conventional strategies so memorizing them until they are known by sight is beneficial.”
To add to this fact, many sight words go against traditional phonetic conventions our children learn. Therefore, memorizing these words by sight is an easier process than even attempting to sound them out. In the end, offering children creative ways to learn sight words is not only fun, but it pays off because it gives them more time to focus on learning harder words. Not to mention, with sight words making up three quarters of the words we read in books, children are going to recognize the majority of words in whatever they are reading.
The post Sight Words Q Tip Painting Printables appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>The post Color Your Own Halloween Bookmarks (Free Printable) appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>Children love funny pumpkins, little black cats, and spooky ghosts. These bookmarks are made with friendly characters that will bring Halloween joy to your little one’s life.
Coloring is always a favorite activity for younger kids. These Halloween coloring bookmarks would make great party favors for your child’s class party this year. Print these bookmarks out on regular printer paper or card stock and cut them to fit your packaging, whether you use small treat bags or boxes. Then, add some bonus items to your party favors like candy and crayons.
Nearly all parents and educators encourage reading at both school and home. With these party favors, children will now have their very own bookmarks to hold their place in the books they are reading. Adding a fun twist like this helps encourage better reading habits.
Fall festivals are loved by people of all ages, both young and old. If you’re hosting, volunteering, or working a fall festival this year, these themed bookmarks would make a great activity.
Setup a DIY Coloring Bookmarks station to draw people in. One of the best parts about these printable bookmarks is that they do not have to actually be used as bookmarks. It is a great idea to let people know the multiple ways they can be used. Children may want to color them, cut them out, and use them as characters to play with. Others may want to simply use them as coloring sheets for a calming activity.
During the fall season, many communities come together to host Halloween parties and other events. Whether it is a church or a business, you’re sure to find several community activities happening near you. These Halloween printables are truly a great way to offer originality and cut down on costs if you’re offering your services or assistance during these events.
The friendly characters on these bookmarks are a huge plus as they are not frightening for small children. We all know a child or two who has unfortunately been frightened during the spooky season. Fright and fear are a huge part of Halloween, but focusing on the feelings and emotions of children should be an everyday occurrence. Pair it with a Halloween word search so that you have an activity for all ages.
Candy, candy, candy! That’s what trick-or-treating is all about, right? Children are going home with so much candy, why not throw in a little something different this year? These printables are a great way for children to take home their very own Halloween friends bookmarks.
It may take a little more effort than the simplicity of purchasing candy. But, taking the time to print these adorable bookmarks, on regular printer paper or card stock, is such an effective way to push past Halloween tradition and throw in a bit of originality.
Coloring is often the first step in a child’s creative journey. Using their imagination, and their own creative instincts, is one of the best ways for a child to express themselves.
Spending time with your child helps boost their confidence and builds your parent/child relationship. During this season of cool weather and pumpkin everything, take the time to enjoy being a kid again while making memories with your own kids.
Carve pumpkins, visit a corn maze, or take part in these vampire, black cat, and ghost bookmarks. Despite the character you choose, enjoy making memories with your little ones this season with these free Halloween printable bookmarks.
Looking for more free Halloween printables for kids? You have come to the right place.
Download these free Halloween Dot to Dots. Connect the dots to reveal the Halloween image and then color it in.
Print the free Halloween counting puzzles for an independent activity for your toddler or preschooler.
Print this Halloween counting game to practice counting and number recognition together.
Get creative and strengthen literacy skills with these free Halloween Story Cards.
These Halloween Science experiments for kids are a super fun way to celebrate this holiday and make learning fun.
More Halloween activities for toddlers and preschoolers to make your month of October full of learning.
Strengthen fine motor skills and scissor skills with this Halloween scissors practice idea or download these free Halloween cut and paste printables.
The post Color Your Own Halloween Bookmarks (Free Printable) appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>The post Free Christmas Coordinate Graphing Worksheets appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>In 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade students will begin to graph ordered pairs on a coordinate plane. They will work with whole numbers first and then extend the coordinate grid to include negative numbers. Have fun with these graphing activities with a Christmas twist.
Connect each of the end points in the printable worksheet to find what Christmas themed picture appears. There are 8 different Christmas worksheets in this free download. An answer key is also included.
Many math students ask themselves or ask their teacher, “Why do we need to know how to do this?” The answer is simple. Many careers and hobbies use this skill so it is important to learn it. The good news is that once you learn this skill, you will remember it forever. So let’s take a look at careers that use graphing on coordinate planes.
There are so many jobs that use this skill so why not learn it today in a fun way. Plot the points and reveal a fun picture. Color the picture when it is complete. Look at the points before you start graphing. Do you have a prediction of what the picture will be when the graphing is complete? How fast can you graph the points? Have a graphing race or time yourself.
Whether you homeschool, teach a math class in a public school, or need a fun activity for a Math class Christmas party, these Christmas coordinate graphing worksheets are just what you need to make learning fun.
The post Free Christmas Coordinate Graphing Worksheets appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>The post Great Books about Space for Kids appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>Many kids know about the 1969 Apollo 11 mission and Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Buzzù Aldrin’s moon landing. But few know the behind the scenes events that occurred during the U.S. and Soviet Union space race. Or how about the fascinating story of the Mercury 13ù women pilots, who fought prejudice, sabotage, and jealousy in the 1960s to help light the way for the first American female astronauts?
Now kids can experience these stories through picture books, graphic novels, and highly enjoyable nonfiction books. They can gain a more complete picture of the fascinating history that shaped today’s space programs. These highly informative texts make excellent books for libraries.
From colorful picture books to informative nonfiction books, here are some great options to ignite young readers’ curiosity about the solar system and outer space.
Do you want your young child to have a glimpse of what the universe looks like at night? This book has incredible photos and simple text which is perfect to introduce young readers to the night sky, planets, and more.
This story is about the young Chris Hadfield who overcame his fear of the dark and became an astronaut who went to space. It is beautifully illustrated and tells a relevant life-lesson as an inspiring story.
It tells the story of Margaret Hamilton, a computer scientist, who played a crucial role in the Apollo 11 mission of 1969. The colorful illustrations make this an inspiring book for young readers to learn about the importance of hard work and ingenuity.
This adaptation for young readers of the book that inspired the movie with the same title is the powerful story of four African American female mathematicians who made significant contributions to the space industry at NASA. African American astronaut Katherine Johnson features in this book since she helped launch America’s first manned spacecraft.
This book tells the story of Neil Armstrong, who was the first person to walk on the moon. It features illustrations, unpublished family photos, and accounts from Armstrong himself. It is a captivating read with interesting facts.
This is part of the popular Magic School Bus series, and follows Ms. Frizzle and her class on a journey to outer space. This book is an enjoyable way to learn about the solar system and space exploration.
This book offers an in-depth and factual account of the Apollo 11 mission that brought the first humans to the moon in 1969. It includes photos and contemporary newspaper clippings that offer a window into the experience of the event.
This book takes readers on an exciting journey through space. It explains complex astronomical topics with detailed illustrations that are engaging and can be thoroughly enjoyed by children.
This book is a comprehensive guide to space with pictures and interesting facts like how a rocket works, and what living in zero gravity feels like. It is perfect for older children who want to learn more about the space program.
Suitable for kids who love fiction, this book is authored by the world-renowned physicist, Stephen Hawking, and his daughter Lucy. This is an exciting adventure that includes scientific facts about the universe.
This board book is part of The Magic School Bus Rides Again series, and it follows Ms. Frizzle and her class on another educational adventure. It is highly recommended for younger readers who love learning about space in a fun way.
This book is a picture book that follows three alien friends who are always getting into mischief on their journey across space. It is a fun story that can educate young readers through the exciting adventures of the three little aliens.
Only Room for Two follows two children on their journey to the moon. As others ask to join, the challenge is how to include them when there doesn’t seem to be enough room. This is an adventurous story of friendship with an emphasis on the value of teamwork and including others. Also, check out our FREE Only Room for Two printables.
There are numerous books about space for kids on the market with varying content and levels of depth in their explanations. We hope you are inspired by this list of some of the best books according to age groups and topics of interest.
From picture books for young children and young reader’s non-fiction books to middle-grade fiction, you’re sure to find the perfect book about space for your child. Start exploring space with your young one today!
The post Great Books about Space for Kids appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>The post 8 Awesome Books about Respect for Kids appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>One of the easiest ways to teach respect is to give it. Kids are great copycats. But more than that, when you value them, as well as other people, they are likely to respect you for that. If you expect things to always go your way without listening to other possibilities, you aren’t likely to get respect from the kids (or anyone else, for that matter). If you never listen to the kids, expect to lose their respect, instead of gaining it.
Teach kids to respect people and objects by discussing their special qualities. Have them imagine what it would be like without those people and items and how they should treat them in order to keep them around longer.
Have the kids write down or draw what’s discussed. This helps them remember it and also gives them something to reference later. If they are too small to do this, try drawing special pictures of people and things for them. Next to them, draw pictures of respectful actions. For instance, you might draw a library book with a shelf or a library card with a wallet. Place the charts you and the kids make in a visible location.
You can’t simply tell the kids to have respect. It has to be an action they are familiar with. If no one around them shows it, they have nothing to learn from. Point out real-life examples for them. You can say things like Aunt Lottie is so respectful of Uncle Jim. She doesn’t like that color, but she knows it’s his favorite, so she wore it for him today. Judy always puts her books back on the shelf when she’s dine reading them, so they stay nice. A hands-on approach gives them examples to show the benefits of respecting others.
Teaching kids how and why to care about the feelings of others is also an important part of respect. When they can feel and understand people on a deeper level, respecting them will come much easier. This should be taught early on. Kids need to know the effects their actions have on people, as well as items. When things they do make someone happy, sad, or angry, be sure they know. Prompt them to think of things they may have done differently to get the opposite result and which options are better and why.
If you lend an ear when kids have things they discuss, they will be more likely to respect and good manners on your thoughts on things too. But if you shun them when they want to speak, they will also do the same. Let them know you understand and care about their thought processes and their opinions. When people understand them, they are more likely to understand other people. They don’t have to get their way every time. But they should sometimes and they should also know that you care, whether the end result is what they want or not.
Respect is an essential value that helps build strong relationships and fosters a culture of civility in society. It is crucial to teach young children about respect from a young age to encourage them to grow up as responsible, thoughtful, and compassionate individuals. And what better way to teach them than through children’s books? In this article, we will explore some of the best children’s books about respect that impart valuable lessons in a fun and engaging way. (affiliate links)
The Recess Queen is a perfect story for young kids to learn about respect, manners, and conflict resolution. It tells the story of Mean Jean, who rules the playground without any regard for personal space or the feelings of others. However, the arrival of a new kid, Katie Sue, brings a new perspective to the playground. She teaches Mean Jean the importance of being kind to others and how to make new friends. Beautifully illustrated, this adorable book captures the importance of mutual respect in everyday situations.
The Big Umbrella focuses on the concept of respect through accepting others, regardless of their differences. The book’s main character is a big umbrella that welcomes everyone who needs shelter, ranging from tiny elephants to talking trees. The vivid illustrations and cute story encourage young readers to embrace diversity and express gratitude for the good things in life. It leaves the reader with the lesson that there is always room to include others.
Only Room for Two follows two children on their journey to the moon. As they make their way, other children ask to join. The challenge is how to include others when you already have a plan and only so much room. This is an adventurous story of friendship with an emphasis on the value of teamwork and including others.
A Rainbow of Friends helps young readers explore different types of respect. It teaches them the importance of treating others with kindness, regardless of their appearance, culture, or beliefs. The book includes a comprehensive list of children from various backgrounds and cultures, which serves as an excellent starting point for discussions on diversity, inclusivity, and mutual respect.
Do Unto Otters is a fun way for young kids to understand the golden rule of treating others as they would like to be treated. The book introduces young readers to Mr. Rabbit, who learns how to become a good neighbor when he gets new otter neighbors. With catchy rhymes, colorful illustrations, and hilarious scenarios, this book helps children respect others and understand the consequences of thoughtless behavior.
What if Everybody Did That? has a fun and lighthearted approach to teach young readers about the power of positive choices and behavior. The book asks a series of questions such as “What if everybody broke the rules?” or “What if everybody littered?” to teach children the importance of being respectful of others and taking responsibility for their actions.
I am a Booger, Treat Me with Respect uses humor to teach young children the concept of respecting others. It follows the story of a booger named Boogie, who faces disrespect from his peers, but learns to demand respect from others. The book uses a relatable main character and a catchy title to make learning about respect fun and memorable.
The Way I Act is an excellent book that explores different character traits that make up respectful behavior. It encourages children to reflect on their behavior and how it makes others feel. The book has vibrant illustrations and uses rhyme as a tool to engage young readers in the learning process.
Teaching respect to young children is an important issue that must be addressed at an early age. Using children’s favorite books about respect, parents and teachers can tap into these young minds and instill positive behaviors that will help create a better world in the best ways possible. These books can serve as a great tool for teaching children respect, social skills, and conflict resolution while having fun.
The post 8 Awesome Books about Respect for Kids appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>The post Shadow Activities and Experiments for Kids appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>Here are a few things you need to know about shadows. Light travels in straight lines. If something is blocking the light source, that creates a shadow. Depending on which direction the light is coming from changes where the shadow is.
Go on a shadow hunt and look for different shapes made by shadows. Can you find a square or rectangle? What about a shadow shape of a circle? Draw the shapes on a piece of paper and cross them off as you find them. Are shadows always black? Have you seen any colored shadows?
This is a fun activity for young kids and older kids too. Go outside and stand in the sun. Have someone else trace your shadow with sidewalk chalk. Make a silly pose and trace it. Trace two shadows and make it look like they are holding hands. Color in the shadows with chalk or make your own chalk paint to turn the shadows into shadow art on cement.
A fun shadow experiment is to make a sundial. Why not make a human sundial! Go outside and stand in the same spot during different times of the day. Stand in that spot and trace your shadow in the morning.
Trace your shadow from that spot in the afternoon and then again in the evening. Try this experiment for several days in a row. Record the results and look for patterns.
There are a few ways to try shadow drawing. First, you can put an object on a piece of paper in the sun and then trace its shadow. This is similar to what you are doing when your shadow is being traced in the above activity. It can be on a smaller scale or more detailed scale.
Start simple with a tower of building blocks. These are easy to stack and the straight, simple lines of the shadow will be easy to trace.
Then, try other items like toys or characters from your playroom. Trace the toy shadow like they did at Rookie Parenting. You can also make and set up a pipe cleaner figurine like they did Science Sparks. Then, trace its shadow.
Go big with large shadow art like they did at Creative by Nature Art. Buy a large roll of paper and take it with you on a hike. (affiliate link) Set it up to find a cool design. Trace its shadow and then bring it home to color or paint. What a cool piece of family art to design together and display at home.
You can also try this inside with an overhead projector. Put a piece of white paper on the wall where the projector shines. Use painters tape to secure it. This will not damage your wall or paint. Set transparent objects on the overhead projector. Create a design and trace it on the paper. This idea from Racheous includes light play and shadow art.
You can make your own puppet theater out of a box and wax paper. This tutorial is from my book, Adventure Girls! I love how simple and doable this project is and it provides hours of pretend play and storytelling.
You can make your own shadow puppets on a black piece of paper glued onto a craft stick or you can download these printable shadow puppets from Adventure in a Box.
Make puppets that are your own characters. What are their names? Then, make up a story for your puppets. What is a problem that they run into? How do they solve it?
What about playing with shadows inside with a flashlight? Remember making fun hand puppets into different animals in front of a flashlight when you were younger? You can arrange your hands to make different animals and show them on a wall or sidewalk with the sun or any light indoors. What a creative way to explore light and shadows!
Moon Child Adventures makes shadows with toilet paper tubes and calls them toilet paper tube projectors. Use a toilet paper tube, plastic wrap, and a sticker. Then, shine a flashlight on the end of the tube in a dark room. You will see the shadow on the wall. That’s because the sticker is blocking the light coming from a flashlight. Remember, light travels in a straight line. I love how this activity uses what you have on hand and the possibilities are endless with different themed stickers.
I remember making a silhouette piece of art in elementary school. Teachers are still doing this activity and parents are still loving it. Have your students or children stand in between the overhead projector light and the piece of paper on a wall. Trace the shadow of their face or silhouette. Or try the brilliant idea from Little Learners to have them stand in between the light and the paper and take picture of their silhouette instead of tracing it. What a cool shadow art experience!
Will the groundhog see its shadow? This tradition comes from a Dutch superstition that if the groundhog comes out of its hole and sees its shadow, that it will go back in and there will be 6 more weeks of Winter. If it doesn’t see its shadow, Spring will be arriving early that year. This yearly event is a great way to start the discussion of shadows. Check out these Groundhog Day Activities and Crafts.
As you experiment with shadows and create shadow art, add these books about shadows for kids to your reading list. I love how books (fiction or nonfiction) draw children in and make them think about different things and draw conclusions.
(affiliate links)
The Black Rabbit by Philippa Leathers
Rabbit has a huge black rabbit chasing him. This is a funny book about shadows and friendships.
My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson
An entire family explores their shadow in this fun book!
Groundhog’s Runaway Shadow by David Biedrzycki
A groundhog’s shadow runs away and goes crazy. This is a funny story that is a great read while experimenting with shadows and also before Groundhog Day.
Oscar and the Moth: A Book about Light and Dark by Geoff Waring
This book introduces core Science concepts such as light and dark in a fun way.
Have fun learning with these awesome shadow activities for kids!
The post Shadow Activities and Experiments for Kids appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>The post Fun and Simple Preschool Magnet Experiments appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>Experimenting with magnets is so much fun and can be as simple as an open ended exploration. If you aren’t sure where to start, here are some preschool magnet experiments that kids will love.
Our favorite magnet activity for young children is to experiment with a magnet and small items to see what is magnetic and what is not. This old favorite is great fun and the possibilities are endless as young kids explore this concept.
(affiliate links)
Use the magnet wand or a strong magnet to see which items are magnetic and which items are not. Sort the everyday items onto the Magnetic Recording Sheet.
Combine magnetic marbles and a magnetic wand with this free printable. Get the marbles from one side of the maze to the other. This is a fun challenge that you can try with the wand below the maze or above it to guide the magnetic marble.
Use a paper plate and magnatiles to make a miniature maze. Then try to move and tilt the paper plate to get a non magnetic marble through the maze. This is so much fun and young kids will love to make these mazes over and over again. You could also use the bottom of a box to make the maze.
With a string and magnet play with this pendulum to experiment with so many Science concepts. How close does the magnet need to be to pick up objects? What angle should the pendulum be swung at to successfully grab the items?
Check out how to make slime magnetic with a few simple ingredients. You do need a special magnet for this experiment.
Here are a few quick and easy experiments with iron filings to try if you have those on hand. You can buy iron filings HERE.
Magnetic sensory bottles are a great way for young children to experiment in a mess free way. This is a fun activity for toddlers or a great idea to put in a Science center.
Here are a few things you should know about magnets that you can share your knowledge about as your kids discover them through experimenting.
Children of all ages love to try easy magnet experiments! There are so many great ideas here, which one will you try first?
The post Fun and Simple Preschool Magnet Experiments appeared first on The Activity Mom.
]]>