Gardens and Seeds

Every month Funshine Express includes a cute book that relates to the theme.
Today we talked about seeds and planting gardens.
Today I read:
 Little Seeds  by Charles Ghigna (Funshine provided)
Round the Garden by Omri Glaser
One Bean by Anne Rockwell
In the Garden with Van Gogh by Julie Merberg
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney


Then we made these cute little garden models.  Seeds are planted first. (represented by the first row.)
Then green plants spring up (second row.)

The last row of mature plants is represented by flowers.

 

We put real seeds in wet paper towels.

Next week we will check them sprouting and then plant them in dirt.

Funshine Express has such a well rounded curriculum!

Weather Theme: Clouds

We have been talking about weather - and specifically the water cycle.

(*It might be a bit complex for the gang- but we did some large movement activities to understand it.)

Here is a great diagram from the U.S Gov 

I simplified it a-lot.

 

It's one thing to "talk" about it. Another- to actually see-it-happen!

 

I know I usually share a craft that Funshine Express supplied in their monthly curriculum kit- but today, I was so impressed with their simple-fun Science suggestion!

Create a cloud in a jar.
How cool is that? It is hard to see... but this really works! (Hot water in the jar-- trapping the steam by having ice on top.)

 

 

We painted also- with cotton balls... clouds.

But by far... the science experiment stole the show today!

 

 

 

Here is a good image- from Enchanted learning website-

 

*I just focused on the idea of : Evaporation- Condensation- precipitation (rain/snow) Accumulation.
We started sitting- with our arms out... pretending we were water in the ocean.
Then we evaporated... (standing up)
then we  "condensed" (got close together)
then we rained or represented Precipiation... by wiggling our fingers as we "rained" and we sat down.

I am always amazed at how brilliant and smart these little ones are!
Will they remember the words? maybe not... but do they understand the concept- YOU BET!

Ice Science Experiment

I know I usually post the cute crafts and hand-outs from Funshine Express- but today I want to share a simple- yet educational experiment.

I love that many of the supplies and activities suggested by Funshine Express are things I already have on hand!

Today they suggested putting ice in containers. (They suggested for this experiment three containers- all three with ice, one with salt added, one with sand added and one with only ice.)

We explored the idea of : Why do snow plows lay down sand on the roads or salt, and why people put salt on icy sidewalks.? Then kept an eye on the jars to see what would happen!

Very clever experiment!
I love all the thoughtful activities that Funshine Express includes in their monthly curriculum guide.

Okay- okay... I have to share a cute craft Funshine Express provided. It  was such a thoughtful ice burg craft.

 

I Googled and found pictures of Ice burgs.

The kids were able to see that often we only see the tip of the ice burg!

Painting with a mixture of karo syrup and glue- makes a cool texture on paper.

 

(The blue tissue paper represents the ocean water.)

Pumpkin Activities!

We  talked about pumpkins today.
Funshine Express has so many great activities and suggestions for this theme.
 Here are few pictures-
 I read a book called Pumpkin Pumpkin, that talks about the growing cycle of pumpkins to introduce our activity. Funshine had a great suggestion in their Curriculum Guide for science exploration: exploring a pumpkin.  You might think that is really basic. Maybe not even worth it's time as an activity/ or mess.

As I was cutting the top off, I asked, "What do you think is inside?" One little girl, sincerely  asked hopeful "Candy?"
 Other kids quickly jumped in, "NOOooooo SEEDS!"

Everyone agreed candy would be awesome. But it made me realize-- you really can't skip the base of the basics with these little ones. Especially in this day and age - where more things are virtual and less and less is actually hands on learning... with real objects.

 

Everyone got to reach in and grab a handful of seeds/pulp goo.

Then each child counted how many seeds were in their handful.

Then we grafted our results.

 

We then did the "Pumpkin Patch" craft supplied in my Funshine Express monthly curriculum kit.

 

Funshine had the words for a cute song, "I'm a little pumpkin" (sung to I'm a little tea pot) and even a Movers and shakers idea for our wiggle time using smaller pumpkins.

 

Another fun day at preschool.