What is a science? Science is the process of learning about the natural world through observation and experimentation.

Can children be scientists? Absolutely!!

Much of a child’s day is spent trying to make sense of the world around them.  It’s always best to help them find the answer vs. telling them the answer. As they work through the process of finding the answer they are using early scientific skills.

Everyday children are filled with questions. As teachers we try to set up their environment in a way that it encourages their natural curiosity. Whether it’s playing with water in the sensory tub, observing what floats and sinks, using magnets to see what they will pick up, or observing ice on the playground and identifying the items frozen inside, children are using scientific skills of observing, communicating, classifying, measuring, inferring, and predicting.

With these things in mind, we will be using this next week to focus on encouraging the little scientist in the children. Since Ground Hog Day is Tuesday, we will be starting our week talking about light and shadows. Shadows outside, shadows inside, what makes a shadow?

Colors are a natural part of our world. What happens when colors mix? Through some hands on experiences we will find out how secondary colors are made.

As adults we know what happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar. For a child this is an amazing experience. They will have the opportunity to try this out first hand.

We all love eating bread and butter. But where does it come from and how is it made? The children will have a chance to make their own “bread in a bag” and butter from whipping cream to enjoy for snack.

What makes popcorn pop? We have a great book explaining this in a way that children will understand as well as we will use our 5 senses to experience fresh popped popcorn. We will also see a little magic as we make popcorn dance in a jar of liquid.

Cooking & baking utilize scientific and math skills that many of us don’t think about. From measuring and mixing to the changes that happen when the ingredients are heated, it is pretty amazing. Children always love having the opportunity to eat something they had a hand in creating. To emphasize the changes that happen when something bakes we will be making magical cinnamon rolls. The recipe will come home for you to try as a family.