Category: Fun Science Activity (Page 7 of 112)

STEM Preschool Story Time Solar System Activities

solar-system-activitiesThis week for our Preschool STEM Story Time we investigated the solar system.

Because this is story time, I began and ended by reading books about space. First I read Nerdy Babies: Space by Emmy Kastner (to be reviewed here for Nonfiction Monday).

 

This was at just the right level, although they were put off by the “Nerdy Baby” branding.

At the end I read If You Were the Moon by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Jaime Kim

I love, love this particular title because it is so creative, but I hadn’t read it with children before. Surprisingly, I had one boy who didn’t want to buy into the moon doing all those things — such as helping keep the Earth from wobbling.  It was, however, an opportunity to encourage him to develop questions, which gives him a framework to find answers later on. We tend remember concepts best when we figure out the answers ourselves and some questions can take years or even decades to answer.

(Visit Laurie Purdie Salas’s website for downloadable teaching guides — long and short versions — and other goodies.)

STEM Activity Station 1. Contact paper solar system.

Remember the shape-sorting frames made out of clear contact paper from the math story time? It worked well to make a solar system story board to accompany the book.

Make a frame out of heavy paper about 36 inches long and ten inches wide. Back it with clear contact paper, with the sticky side against the frame.

Find a paper model of the solar system to print out. I used one from the Paxi Fun Book available from the European Space Agency. Glue the paper to card stock and cut out. Now the children can press the planets to the contact paper. They will stick, but can be removed and placed again and again.

if you have a bigger budget, there are commercially-available magnet solar system pieces that will stick to a white board.

Allow the children to figure out the identity of the different planets and what order they go in.

STEM Activity Station 2. Moon craters

Gather:

  • Detailed image of the moon with craters visible
  • Flour (ask for broken bags at the grocery store)
  • Powdered cocoa, buckwheat flour, or cornmeal
  • Unbreakable pan, such as cake pan
  • Marbles and/or rocks
  • Candy sprinkles (totally optional)
  • Plastic bin, newspaper or garbage bags to catch flour (optional)

Find a level surface, preferably outside or indoors where a bit of flour won’t cause a mess. Fill a large pan halfway with flour. If you want, you can also add a thin layer of candy sprinkles to represent other minerals present under the surface. Finally, gently add a thin layer of cocoa powder, buckwheat flour, or cornmeal for contrast. If indoors, place the pan into a bigger bin, or onto newspaper or garbage bags.

 

Have your kids drop various round objects into the flour. The results should be some interesting craters and splash patterns, which are the patterns of debris shot out of the crater with impact.

STEM Activity Station 3:  Rotation of planets

Gather:

  • Table of different planet rotation times (optional)
  • Tops to spin
  • Computer to show planet rotations (optional)

I did show a video of planet rotation. Wow, I wasn’t expecting how quickly the preschoolers gravitated to the open laptop. The younger generations have an affinity for things electronic, so be prepared if you decide to use it.

This was a popular station.

STEM Activity Station 4:  Phases of the Moon

Phases of the Moon is a favorite preschool activity. I chose to use the one suggested in the book The Moon Seems to Change (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) by Franklyn M. Branley and illustrated by Barbara & Ed Emberley.

This explanation of the phases of the moon incorporates a demonstration using an orange on a stick and a flashlight right in the text. I used a Styrofoam ball on a pencil.

Gather:

  • The Moon Seems to Change book
  • Images of phases of the moon, preferably for the current calendar month (optional because they are in the book)
  • Flashlight
  • Orange or Styrofoam ball
  • Stick or pencil

Notes:  The phases of the moon station required more time and attention than given. Maybe should use a simpler activity next time or plan on manning this station full time to guide the participants.

STEM Activity Station 5:  Straw rockets

How do we study space? Rockets are an important part of space exploration. Build and launch a simple straw rocket.

There are many straw rocket instructions on the internet. I made the soda-straw rockets from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Older children could make them on their own.

  • Paper rockets
  • Soda straws (make sure they get thrown out and don’t get used by multiple kids)
  • Nerf darts (optional, but easy)

As the instructions read, place the drinking straw into the open end of the rocket or Nerf dart and blow.

See instructions for making a straw rocket using a disposable pipette at Wrapped in Foil.

Notes:  This station was very popular. Consider adding stomp rockets.

 

More Ideas:

Also supplied coloring sheets of planets to color (just one source).

Deb Pilutti has a super fun solar system model to make.

space activity pinterest board

Visit our Pinterest Board for more solar system activity ideas.

Want to find more books to read? We have growing lists of children’s books at Science Books for Kids:

The Night Flower: #kidlit About Saguaros

After writing about saguaro flowers last week, I came across a lovely new children’s book about them, The Night Flower by Lara Hawthorne.

Lara Hawthorne is an illustrator so it is no surprise this book is an incredible visual treat. The first thing you notice is the stunning cover with a bold white saguaro flower standing out against the black background of night. The image above doesn’t do it justice because because many of the details are outlined with a metallic shiny gold. It has a luminescent 3-D effect. Check out the illustrations at her website.

Inside, the book starts with an informational paragraph about the saguaro cactus. From there gentle rhyming text takes the reader on a journey through one day and night in the desert. Along the way readers meet many different animals and learn about the role the saguaro plays in their lives.

You won’t want to skip the fully-illustrated back matter. Hawthorne describes the life cycle of the saguaro and names the parts of the plant. Next she asks “Did you spot…?” In a two page spread she shows the different creatures mentioned in the text, giving more information about each and challenging the reader to go back through the book to find them. She ends with a glossary of the scientific terms she used.

The Night Flower is a beautiful introduction to a unique plant and its habitat. It is perfect to accompany a unit on deserts or plants, or to prepare for a trip to Arizona. Poke around in a copy today!

Related:

See this previous post for hands-on activity suggestions related to saguaro cacti.

For more information, check out our growing list of children’s books about deserts at Science Books for Kids.

Age Range: 3 – 7 years
Publisher: Big Picture Press (March 12, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1536206164
ISBN-13: 978-1536206166

Disclosure:  This book was provided by our local library. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books. Note: this is a new link as of 10/2018.

STEM Friday #Kidlit We Dig Worms!

For STEM Friday we have the combined natural history comic and leveled reader for kids, We Dig Worms by Kevin McCloskey.

Kids of all ages are attracted to cartoons. The art helps tell the story and the humor makes it fun to read.

However, that doesn’t mean cartoon illustrations shouldn’t be taken seriously. This book has an underpinning of solid scientific facts. For example McCloskey shows the anatomy and life cycle of earthworms,

emphasizes the importance of earthworms in their natural habitat — as food for other animals, for their role in the decomposition of plant waste, and as aerators of the soil —

and includes discussions of earthworm behavior.

Earthworms are great!

On repeat readings, you will likely notice other details that make We Dig Worms a special experience. At the beginning of the book (end papers), a worm is coming out of its burrow. At the end, the worm goes back into its burrow. Also, the illustrations are done on paper grocery bags to emphasize the theme of recycling. There is a lot to observe and talk about.

As if that weren’t enough, in the back matter are tips and suggestions for parents and teachers on how to read comics with kids, with emphasis on going “for the shared pleasure.” Wonderful!

We Dig Worms is a resource that young readers will want to return to again and again. Pick up and enjoy a copy today!

Suggested activities to accompany the book

Looking for a project on earthworms? You might want to consider vermiculture (worm composting). Providing a safe habitat for worms, feeding them, and being able to observe them closely can lead to valuable learning. All it requires is a container, bedding (like shredded newspapers and paper bags), vegetable food scraps, and worms (available at bait shops and from worm farms).

See:

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: TOON Books (April 14, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1935179802
ISBN-13: 978-1935179801

Disclosure: This book and the copyrighted illustrations were provided by the author. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books. Note: this is a new link as of 10/2018.

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