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Kindergarten
Curiosity:
Can
This Be Science?
For
Science Council Conference, October 17, 1997
Use children's natural curiosity
and interests to create a metamorphosis in your classroom.
A metamorphosis refers to real changes:
eggs hatching, seeds sprouting, a classroom pet dying.
Real experiences, exploration and learning changing the child
- that's the metamorphosis we, as teachers, are searching for.
Each year, we get a new group of
children with a wide range of interests and development. One year, you may get a group that is inventive and
construction oriented. Another
year, you may have a group of naturalists, or environmentalists, or
geologists, or paleontologists, botanists, marine biologists,
meteorologists, and so on. But
the children don't come into your class neatly identified for you.
The best part of the job is introducing topics until the
momentum is sparked. Imagination
soars, ideas fly, projects develop, and activity is sustained.
Learning is high.
I'd like to share some of the
projects that I have completed with various children, with various
classes. Some things
are ongoing, some are specific to only one child, or one group of
children.
Ongoing Centers/Science Activities:
1.
Manipulatives
-
Animals - mini, farm, wild jungle, Canadian
-
Dinosaurs - mini, large models
-
Rocks - collected from everywhere I go
(classification,
sorting, identifying, characteristics,…)
2.
Blocks
- Hollow blocks, unit blocks, planks, cardboard blocks, mega blocks,
small blocks, bricks, …
a.
discovery
of fulcrum, propulsion, force
b.
discovery
of making an arch, bracing a foundation, supporting weight and
pressure
c.
inclines,
speed, resistance, angles
3.
Recyling
Center
-
Recycle - plastics, papers, metals, glass
-
Reuse - corks, ribbon, felt pen lids, wrapping
paper, yarn
-
Reduce - use placemats, bring own cups from home
-
Recover - business paper supplies, old
microwave, garage sale items (books, toys, baby/doll materials)
4.
Snack/Kindercooking
a.
senses
b.
qualities
of natural substances - vegetables, grains, turkeys
c.
coverings
d.
seeds
e.
change
of state
5.
Pets
-
observing
-
caring for - needs, attention
-
senses
-
natural functions - input and output, giving
birth, dying
-
planned and unplanned pets
-
compost worms
6.
Sand
and Water Tables
a.
Wet
sand - holds form, hard to clean - sticky, supports weight, does not
sift or pour, changes with exposure to air - evaporation of water
b.
Dry
sand - pours, sifts, runs/does not maintain form, covers, stays the
same
c.
Water
- pours, siphons, soaks into clothing, splashes, can be different
temperatures, does not hold shape, is different with soap, holds
coloring - solvent
d.
funnels,
measuring, estimating, tubes, shapes, molding, pressure, …
7.
Woodworking
a.
simple
tools - vice grips, screws, hammers, nails, wrench, pliers, chisels,
hand drill, saw, level
b.
physics
- equal and opposite forces
c.
density
- easier to pound nails into cardboards and Styrofoam rather than
into slats
8.
Recess/Playground/Gym
a.
simple
machines
b.
forces
- gravity, friction, air resistance
Ongoing Interest Areas:
1.
Pond Study - early spring, wade into cool pond water and
collect a clump of frog's eggs
a.
observe changes
b.
magnifying glasses - identify species
c.
replenish water frequently
d.
be on guard for predatory species
e.
no fingers/hands in water - pollution
f.
fish food can feed them, but plant/vegetation best
2.
Insects - all year round - spiders, ants, flies, ladybugs,
mosquitoes
a.
models
b.
photos from calendars
c.
excellent wildlife magazines and books
3.
Winter - all year round -
a.
qualities
of snow - fresh, packed, melting
b.
snowflakes
c.
change
of state - bring into water table
d.
freezing
water for snow castle
e.
breathe
shows
f.
frost
g.
birds
and animal needs
h.
affecting
humans
Special Interests:
1.
Building an airplane
a.
fasteners
b.
wheels
c.
angles
d.
shape of nose, wings, rudders
e.
experimentation with paper models
f.
flight fascination and expertise
2.
Dinosaurs
a.
November through May
b.
Indepth research and study
c.
Table, floor models, murals, casting
d.
Internalization through dramatization and fine arts
3.
Bridges
a.
Field trip
b.
Replication and experimentation
4.
Forest
a.
hills - easier going up or down?
Harder to go down, requires more skill and muscle control.
Easier to go up, can control speed and muscle exertion.
b.
Trees - noticing aspects of trees - sap, leaves, bark, moss,
fungus, holes, roots; predicting reasons
c.
Bonding, new perspectives, senses
d.
Follow-up observation and research
e.
Collections of forest treasure
5.
Embryology
a.
chick, duck, goose eggs - fertilized, sources
b.
incubator - start timing so chicks will hatch on Wednesday
c.
teachable moment, can hatch in hand for children/parents to
watch
d.
observation, experience, care
e.
differences - wings, feet, beak, personality, eating
patterns, preference for dry/wet land, size proportion
f.
wobbly goose, biggest but youngest of flock, soon becomes
voice for poultry
g.
sad yet undeniable facts of life.
W questions? How?
6.
River
a.
Pocahontas - river; Franklin - river
b.
Field trip - walk, experience
c.
Spontaneous throwing rocks, sticks into river and discovery
of current, of travel, of flow in one direction, of turbulence,
senses
7.
Birds
a.
Bird
feeders
b.
Observation
c.
Nests
d.
Flight
differences
e.
Feathers
f.
Owls
- Raptor Centre
-
pellets
-
mice, rodents, dinner
9.
Planting
a.
usual planting for spring flowers - Marigolds
b.
sprouts
c.
Jack and the beanstalk
d.
Flower Gardens - bedding plants, rock garden, bulbs
10.
Ships and the
Sea
a.
October through May
b.
Ship-building, flotation, buoyancy
c.
Riggings, pulleys, suspensions
d.
Masts - vertical height - and support needed
e.
Telescopes, periscopes
f.
Compass
g.
Wind
h.
Sea Life - shells
Animals
- fish, octopus, squid
Communities
- sharks, lobsters, fish, whales, north, tropical
i. Internalization
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