Busy Mommy Media » Math and Science

Preschool Science Lesson – Egg Carton Butterflies

Rachel — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:37:01 +0000

The opportunity to explore the world around us is one of the best parts of childhood. I have rarely met a preschooler who doesn’t love exploring for bugs. My own kids will play with potato bugs for hours at a time and are thrilled to learn anything new about insects or butterflies. This simple preschool craft is a great opportunity to teach preschoolers the basic parts of an insect. While the scientific terms for each part of the insect may be a bit difficult for younger preschoolers, they can be introduced to the concept that an insect has three sections on it’s body.

Preschool Lesson Objective

Teach preschoolers that bugs can also be called insects.

Teach preschoolers that all insects have three body parts – the head, thorax, and the abdomen.

Help preschoolers understand that the eyes, antenna, and mouth is on the head of an insect.

Help preschoolers understand that the legs and wings are on the thorax of an insect.

Materials Needed

Empty egg carton
Paint
Paintbrushes
Pipe cleaners
Construction paper
Newspapers to protect work surface

Optional – Insect Lore Butterfly Garden Kit

Advance Preparation

Cut the empty egg carton into 3 segment pieces before this activity. If you are doing this with multiple preschoolers, cut one 3-piece egg carton for each preschooler. Styrofoam egg cartons would be easier to work with if you have them on hand but may not hold paint as well as cardboard egg cartons.

Preschool Craft Instructions

Ask preschoolers if they know what the word insect is. Explain that insect is another word for bug. Have preschoolers practice saying the word insect.

Give each preschooler an empty egg carton that has been cut into a 3 segmented piece. Tell preschoolers that all insects have three parts to their body. Have preschoolers touch the first segment in their egg carton and say the word “head”. Ask preschoolers what things they have on their head that might also be on an insect head. Tell preschoolers that an insect has eyes, antenna, and a mouth on it’s head.

Have preschoolers touch the middle section of their cut egg carton. Have preschoolers say the word thorax. Have preschoolers practice saying the word thorax. Explain that an insects legs and wings are connected to its thorax.

Have preschoolers touch the last section on their cut egg carton and say the word abdomen Tell preschoolers that they have an abdomen to and ask them to find the middle part of their body.

Have preschoolers paint their egg carton insects and allow them to dry.

Add legs and antenna to each insect. Be sure and add the antenna to the insect’s head and the legs to the thorax. You can stop at this point if you want to focus on insects. If you are doing this lesson as part of a butterfly preschool theme or to go along with a butterfly kit you’ll want to continue.

Have preschoolers fold a piece of construction paper in half and cut wings out. Wings can be taped or glued to the back or your insect to create a butterfly. The process is more important than the end result. Encourage preschoolers to be creative rather than try and create a perfect replica of butterfly wings. My preschooler had fun creating an entire series of wings so they could be changed to create a completely new butterfly.

Bringing Your Toys To Life With Webkinz Jr.

Stacey — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:56:42 +0000

Right after we adopted our Boxer puppy last Spring, my then 3 year-old daughter decided she needed to have her own puppy, too. Actually, two puppies. Imaginary puppies — Holly and Polly! I have no idea what kind of dog they are but they have been with us this entire last year. She loves to talk about Holly and Polly, how well they behave, what they like to eat, how big they are getting. Don’t get me wrong, she loves our Boxer to pieces…she just likes to have her own puppies that she’s in charge of, too!

Honestly, it never really occurred to me to buy my daughter her own stuffed puppies that she could pretend were Holly and Polly. After all, she has plenty of stuffed animals! But then I learned about Webkinz Jr.! Sure, I had heard of Webkinz from my nieces but thought my daughter was a bit too young for those. Now, with Webkinz Jr., she can join in on the fun her cousins are having but with an online experience tailored toward her age group (3-6yrs)!

WHAT ARE WEBKINZ JR?

Webkinz Jr. is a two part experience. First, they are these amazingly plush stuffed animals! I was amazed at how soft and snuggly they are! My daughters each received a puppy (one blue, one pink) from Webkinz Jr. and those puppies are toted around everywhere with us!!! They are also completely safe for even my 2 year old since they are free of any plastic eyes or noses that could potentially come loose. This made me like the Webkinz Jr. plushes even more! Oh, and they are available in the most adorable creatures — frog, elephant, bunnies, giraffe, bear, puppies, monkeys, and kitty.

Second, each Webkinz Jr. comes with an interactive online experience. I know a lot of parents are hesitant to allow their preschooler and early elementary age children to pay online. It can be a scary place! However, the Webkinz Jr. site has far exceeded my expectations! The site not only requires a parent to register for the child (which allows the parent to have control over different aspects of the online experience) but the page the child will be playing on is free of third party advertising and free of toolbars.

When you first register on WebkinzJr.com you will enter the code that came with your Webkinz Jr. plush and your child will have the opportunity to name their pet. This code brings your child’s new plush friend to life online. Now it is time for the fun! At your pet’s home your child can feed her, bathe her, play, or put her to bed. But the fun doesn’t end there! Your child can also take their pet for adventures around the virtual neighborhood!

Your child can take their pet to the post office to create postcards, to the grocery store to do some shopping, and even going on field trips to the fire station to learn all about fire fighters! My daughter’s favorite thing to do though is to take her puppy to the school where she gets to do all sorts of learning activities like math, creating machines, and color matching. Every part of the site offers some sort of fun and educational value to your child.

But your will also learn about responsibility! Much like a real pet, your child will need to make sure their virtual pet is being taken care of. Meters at the bottom of the screen let your child know if their pet is hungry, tired, bored, or just needs some attention.

MY THOUGHTS, AS A PARENT:

I really love the WebkinzJr.com experience! The plush animals are great and my daughters love playing and snuggling with them, but the online experience is really just amazing. The user interface is fun and easy to use and the games are easily customizable depending on the age/educational levels of your child. This makes the whole experience that much better because it’s not something your child will necessarily out-grow right away. It also means that if your child is more advanced at language skills than math skills, you can adjust those levels individually! You can also add animals to your child’s account each time get a new plush pet by entering in their Jr. Pet Code, found on the tag of the plush.

Overall, I would definitely recommend Webkinz Jr. if you have a child at the preschool age. They will love their new animal friend and that they get to bring their new friend to life online! Finally my daughter has a way to bring Holly and Polly to life!!!

*Disclaimer: I did receive two Webkinz Jr. plush pets from Webkinz so that I (and my daughters) could get a first hand experience with the product in order to bring you an accurate and personal review!

Make Your Own Recycled Paper

Rachel — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:26:44 +0000

My kids love to recycle but until recently, they really had no idea what happened to our paper after they put it in the recycling bin. This simple activity is a fun and interactive way to teach kids how to recycle paper and can be a good use for the extra newspaper you have laying around from couponing.

We decided to make use of my toddlers destructive streak earlier this week and recycle the book that he destroyed. I’m hoping we didn’t unintentionally encourage his book tearing habit but at least my kids learned how to recycle something we weren’t using anymore. Kids love learning how things really work but there are so few opportunities for kids to see and understand the full process of things that they do everyday.

What You Need

Paper to be recycled – this can be old newspaper, junk mail (just avoid the glossy kind), leftover tradeshow material (that’s a big one around our house after CES and now as we’re getting ready for Toy Fair), extra construction paper, etc.
A blender – Don’t worry about using your regular blender for this. The paper washes out easily and after you are done.
A window screen – If you have old screen material laying around this would work just fine but be sure and put masking tape around the edges to prevent sharp edges from hurting your kids while they do this activity. I bought a cheap adjustable window screen with a metal rim that worked well.
Optional: Flower seeds – These are a fun addition if you want to plant your paper after you are done use it and plant it in your yard to show the complete process of recycling.

What To Do

This project takes several days for kids to complete because you have to wait overnight for several steps to be complete.

Step 1 – Tear paper into squares that are about 1-2 inches wide. This does not have to be exact. You just want to start the process of breaking the paper down.

Step 2 – Soak the paper pieces overnight in a bowl of water.

Step 3 – Take the soaked paper out of the water and place it in the blender. Fill the blender halfway full with fresh water. Blend the paper and water mixture until you have something that is about the consistency of pureed soup. Add water as needed to thin it out.

Step 4 – Lay the window screen over the sink or have a child hold it over the sink and slowly pour the paper soup over the window screen, trying to pour it in an even layer. We found it helpful to start in the center and pour the mixture in a circular spiral moving out towards the edge until you make a very unappetizing paper pancake. Use your fingers or a spoon to even out any uneven places immediately after pouring. The paper begins to dry almost immediately once the water starts to drain and it becomes less workable as it dries. If you are adding flower seeds to your paper, add them at this point before the paper dries. You can either gently push the seeds into the top of the wet paper or put them on the paper and then use a tiny piece of paper mixture to “plant” the seed by laying it on top so the seed is not visible.

Step 5 – Lay the window screen with the paper mixture on a dry towel and leave to dry at least overnight. Change the towel throughout the day as needed if it becomes soaked through.

Variation – Add natural food coloring to create colored recycled paper to be used for preschool art projects or crafts for elementary school aged kids.

Your homemade recycled paper can be used as part of a preschool science lesson, as a homeschool science project, as an Earth Day project for kids, to send a unique birthday card to a friend, or as a special Valentines Day card.

What will you use your homemade recycled paper for?

Teaching Preschoolers Color Names

Rachel — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:27:24 +0000

Toddlers can generally begin recognizing colors around 18 months of age, but most children are closer to age 3 when they are able to consistently begin to label colors by their name. Teaching colors is often one of the first basic skills that parents try and teach.

Parents can begin teaching color names early in fun and playful ways that encourage learning without frustrating a young preschooler. This simple early preschool activity helps preschoolers learn the color names and practice basic matching skills, which is also an important early math skill.

Color Sorting Games

What You Need

Cookie Cutters in red, yellow, blue, and green
Sorting toys in red, yellow, blue, and green

What to Do

Lay out 4 colored cookie cutters for your young preschooler one at a time, saying each color name and encouraging your preschooler to repeat the name as you lay them down on the table. Give your preschooler a counting toy in each color, red, yellow, blue, and green, again saying the name of each color as you give it to your preschooler.

Show your preschooler how to match the counting toy to the cookie cutter of the same color by placing the counting toy inside the cookie cutter. Give your preschooler lots of praise each time they match a color correctly.

When your preschooler places a counting toy in a cookie cutter of a different color, be sure to stay positive. Ask your preschooler questions to encourage learning. You could say, “I see you have a blue toy. Is that the blue cookie cutter? No? Where is the blue cookie cutter?”

Giving Choices Between Color Names

Young preschoolers (ages 2 ½ and up) can benefit from learning experiences that are incorporated in their daily activities. Lunch time can be turned into learning experience by holding up two plates and asking your preschooler, “Do you want the red plate or the blue plate?”. Constantly giving children choices that incorporate color names helps them to learn to recognize the sounds of the color names and learn to associate them with their individual color. Take advantage of every opportunity to label color names throughout your day and encourage your preschooler to repeat the name or tell you what the color name is himself.

More Activities to Teach Preschoolers Color Names

Egg Carton Color Matching – This simple color matching game teaches valuable math skills and it is easy for preschoolers to make themselves. Preschoolers will learn the importance of recycling materials that may otherwise be thrown away

Magic School Bus Going Green Science Kit (Closed)

Becky — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:51:40 +0000

Congratulations Susan Mayer! Susan is the winner of the Magic School Bus Science Kit Giveaway!

My children and I recently had the opportunity to The Magic School Bus Going Green science kit courtesy of The Young Scientists Club. The kit is a collection of hands-on science experiments for intended for children ages 5-8. It arrives with most of the supplies necessary for each experiment. You will need to supply such things as newspaper and acetone, but most families may already have those items on hand without requiring an extra purchase.

If you need a great science activity to keep your kids occupied during their holiday break from school or a fun activity for homeschoolers, you will definitely want to check out The Young Scientists Club.

Adult Supervision

With this age group, all of the experiments should be adult supervised–both for the guidance but also for the safety of your young scientist. A few experiments, however, do require an adult to perform a few tasks, such as running the blender or using a hot stove. So parents, do plan on completing the experiments with your child.

Instruction Guide

The colorfully illustration instruction booklet is printed on thick, glossy paper similar to a high-quality magazine thereby allowing it to withstand the rigors of getting messy. It is set up similar to the Magic School Bus books with the characters talking in bubbles, notes, and illustrations.

Experiments Use the Scientific Method

There are twelve experiments in the Magic School Bus Going Green science kit. Some of the experiments build upon each other therefore some require the end result of a previous experiment. The amount of time required for each experiment varies from a few minutes to a few weeks so be sure to read the requirements and plan accordingly.

Each experiment is introduced by a Magic School Bus character, who gives an explanation of the experiment and shares some basic facts. Using the Scientific Method as an outline for experiments, each one begins with a question to be answered. The young scientist is then asked to make a hypothesis based on the information available.

Once you are ready to begin, there is a list of the materials necessary and an outline of the methods necessary to complete the experiment. Each experiment ends with a place to record the results of the experiment and for the young scientist to write down his conclusions based on the results.

Space is available in the instruction booklet to record all the information or you can have your young scientist(s) write on another sheet of paper or in a notebook.

Extending the Lessons

Three of my four children are beyond the target age for the Magic School Bus Go Green science kit, but they still enjoyed their experience. Homeschoolers can easily extend this kit by a more in-depth study of the science around each experiment and supplementing with field trips.

More Kits Available

The Young Scientists Club is not limited to Magic School Bus kits! Their catalog also includes Nature Series, The Scientist Series, Adventure Science Series, and more.

You can visit their website at The Young Scientists Club.

Enter to Win

Win your choice of the following kits from The Young Scientists Club – School Bus Going Green, Magic School Bus Diving into Slime, or Science on a Gardening Adventure. This giveaway is open to the U.S. and will end on December 30, 2009.

Enter the giveaway by commenting on this post.

Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules.

In compliance with the new FTC Guild lines, please note that this is a sponsored post. I was given a copy of the Magic School Bus Going Green science kit courtesy of The Young Scientists Club to test and review free of charge. However, I was not paid for the review and the opinions are my own.

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Candy Experiments

Rachel — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:43:55 +0000

Growing up, I remember going trick-or-treating with a pillow case and not coming home until it was full. What followed was days of serious sugar highs. As much fun as that was, as a mom, I want to save my kids from the same fate. Fortunately, my kids don’t really have much of a sweet tooth (except my 2 year old. I can claim that one.) so limiting candy isn’t much of a problem but my kids do feel like they can’t get rid of the picked over candy that is still in their trick-or-treat bags weeks after Halloween.

If you want a fun way to convince your kids to get rid of the leftover candy (that they really don’t like much anyway) check out Candy Experiments, a great website started by a mother of three who had a great idea when her daughter asked her, “What would happen if I put these Nerds in water?”

With winter upon us and the weather keeping us inside, today was the perfect day to get rid of the leftover Halloween candy. We’ve been going through the experiments listed on Candy Experiments and my kids have been coming up with their own ideas as we go. It has been so much to watch our candy stash disappear (slowly in a cup of water, quickly in the microwave) and watch my kids light up as they realize, “Hey, why can’t we microwave a starburst?”

Be forewarned though, sneaky little scientists may try and eat your experiments. . .

Preschool Germ Lesson – Why Hand Washing is Important

Rachel — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:18:15 +0000

Preschoolers understand the importance of hand washing when their hands are covered with something they can see like dirt or food, but preschoolers often have a hard time understanding why they need to wash their hands to get rid of germs that they can’t see. This simple preschool science lesson can help preschoolers understand why washing their hands can keep them healthy even when they can’t see the germs by transforming germs into something visible and teaching preschoolers how they spread.

What You Need

Chalk, colored sugar, or flour
A heavy rolling pin or a can
A cookie sheet
A black t-shirt

What To Do

Ask preschoolers if they know what germs are. Tell them that germs and viruses are too small to see but they can make us sick. Explain that germs can spread when we touch something that has germs on it and then touch our eyes, nose, or mouth.

Have preschoolers put the chalk on a cookie sheet and use a heavy rolling pin or a can to crush it into a powder. If using sugar, mix it with a small amount of food coloring or natural food dye such as spinach juice or beet juice.

Spread the crushed chalk or other material on the cookie sheet and have preschoolers coat their hands with the powder. This activity is most effective when done while wearing a black shirt so preschoolers can see the spread of germs. Have preschoolers walk around the house and shake hands or touch each other’s clothing and watch what happens to the “germs” that are on their hands.

Ask preschoolers why it is important that they wash their hands. Have preschoolers wash their hands with soap and water and watch the germs wash away. This lesson can be an important reminder to preschoolers to wash their hands. If preschoolers complain about having to wash their hands, simply remind them of this germ activity and ask them if they want to share their germs with their friends or wash their hands so they can stay healthy.

Preschool Dental Lesson – Why the Dentist Fills Cavities

Rachel — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:59:13 +0000

Preschoolers often have a hard time understanding why brushing their teeth and visiting the dentist is so important. Long term consequences are difficult for preschoolers to grasp so it helps to have a visual demonstration of what happens to their teeth if they don’t take care of them.

This simple preschool science activity helps preschoolers understand why dental health is so important. Preschoolers will understand this simple visual explanation of what cavities are and why it is important to brush their teeth well to prevent damage to their teeth.

What You Need

Kabob sticks (forks work if these are not available)

apples

A paper plate to store the apples on for a few days

What To Do

1 – What are Cavities? – Explain to preschooler that cavities are small holes that germs eat in their teeth if they are not cleaned. Brushing our teeth twice a day helps keep germs off of our teeth and prevent cavities. Tell preschoolers that when they have a cavity in their teeth, the dentist has to clean it out and fill it in with a special filling that stops the cavity from growing any bigger.

2 – Give each preschooler and apple and a kabob stick.

3 – Have preschoolers stick the kabob stick into their apple several times. Be sure and have the preschoolers do this slowly to avoid putting the kabob stick through their fingers.

4 – Ask preschoolers to describe what their apple looks like with the holes in it. Have them draw a picture of what their apple looks like right after poking holes in it.

5 – Let the apples sit on a paper plate for a few days. Have preschoolers observe it each day to look for any changes.

6 – After a few days, sit down with the preschoolers and talk about any changes that happened in the apple. Did the holes change color? Have preschoolers draw a picture of what their apple looks like after having holes in it for a few days.

7 – What do Cavities do to our Teeth? – Remind preschoolers that cavities are little holes that can grow in our own teeth if we do not brush them well. Ask preschoolers to talk about why they don’t want to get cavities in their teeth and why they think the dentist needs to fill them so they stop growing.

Sandbox Volcanoes – Summer Fun for Kids

Rachel — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:55:21 +0000

Summertime calls for simple, unstructured activities that provide kids with valuable learning experiences through exploration. There is something about the lazy days of summer that make some of the most basic activities so exciting. Simple and frugal summer fun can be created using basic items found around the house and a little bit of quality time with mom or dad. These super easy sandbox volcanoes will delight children of all ages and provide hours of fun (and peace for mom).

What You Need

Sandbox (or a plastic tub filled with sand)

Baking soda

Vinegar (distilled white vinegar is affordable and works wonderfully)

Plastic sand shovel (optional)

Sandbox Volcanoes Instructions

Sandboxes are the stuff great summer memories are made of. If you do not have a sand box, you can purchase a cheap plastic storage container and fill it with sand for a very cheap summer activity that will keep your kids busy for hours during summer vacation. Sandboxes are very affordable to build yourself if you are feeling handy. A good basic sandbox can be built using a piece of sturdy weed cloth, several pieces of wood (preferably manufactured wood or wood not treated with chemicals), and a piece of lattice to cover the sandbox and keep neighborhood cats away.

Show your child how to build a simple volcano out of sand. You can use a shovel if you want but bare hands work just fine. Show your child how to create a small indentation at the top of the volcano. Use the opportunity to talk with your child about volcanoes while you build. Preschoolers will enjoy talking about the basic structure and function of a volcano while school-aged children may be inspired to take a trip to the local library to learn more about volcanoes.

Use small plastic containers for your baking soda and vinegar. I like using cheap plastic measuring cups with a spout because they are easy for small hands and they pour nicely. Let your child pour the baking soda into the indentation at the top of the volcano. Ask him what he thinks will happen when you add the vinegar.

Have your child slowly pour the vinegar into the indentation with the baking soda and watch as the volcano explodes!

Note: Don’t be concerned about contaminating your sand with the baking soda and vinegar. If your sandbox is outside, any residue will eventually be washed away by the rain or the sprinklers in your yard. The baking soda will be left behind but it works into the sand quickly and you won’t even notice it. Both baking soda and vinegar are natural cleansers so you will actually be cleaning your sandbox while you play with your child, which is definitely a good thing, especially if several kids routinely play in your sand.

Runaway Snowball – Preschool Science Activity

Rachel — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:51:22 +0000

This is a great winter preschool science activity that uses a really cute poem. This poem is one that I used to use with my daycare children and it is such a fun way to teach about different states of matter. This activity requires very few materials but preschoolers love collecting a snowball and watching it melt. The next time you have a snowy day, take advantage of the snow to teach a basic preschool science lesson.

Supplies Needed

Blue Construction Paper
A Cookie Sheet with an Edge
Snow

Snowball Science Instructions

Type or print this poem on the bottom of a piece of blue construction paper:

I made myself a snowball,
As perfect as could be.
I thought I’d keep it as a pet,
And let it sleep with me.

I made it some pajamas,
And a pillow for it’s head.
But then last night it ran away,
But first.. it wet the bed.

Have preschoolers go outside and collect a handful of snow to make a snow ball. Bring the snowball inside and place it on the middle of the piece of construction paper. You may want to place the paper on a cookie sheet with an edge to prevent water from leaking onto the counter. Talk about what happens to snow when it gets warm. Ask each preschooler to guess what will happen if the snowball stays inside.

Leave the snowball on the piece of paper for several hours. Let the preschoolers watch as the snow melts and leaves a wet, darker colored spot on the piece of paper. Send the paper home with each preschooler to share with their family.

Activity Extension

Place an extra snowball in a bowl on the counter and let it melt. Preschoolers will be able to clearly see what happened to the snowball. Ask preschoolers to guess what will happen if you put the bowl of water in the freezer. Ask preschoolers to guess what will happen if you boil the water on the stove.

Place the bowl of melted snowball in the freezer and let preschoolers see what happens after it freezes. Fill a pot with some water and let preschoolers watch what happens to the water as it starts to boil.