Parent Resources

Science Matters: Tips for the Busy Parent: http://www.nsta.org/sciencematters/tips.aspx 

7 Ways to Foster Creativity in Your Kids:  http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/raising_happiness/post/7_ways_to_foster_creativity_in_your_kids 

9 Ways to Support Your Child's Creativity: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/03/13/9-ways-to-support-your-childs-creativity/

Developing Critical Thinking Skills in Children: /http://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources/e-family-news/2014-developing-critical-thinking-skills-in-children/

Teaching Critical Thinking: http://www.parentingscience.com/teaching-critical-thinking.html

Tips for Exploring Science with Children:  http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/science/tips/exploring-science/

Rainbow Paper

Materials

Black construction paper
Clear nail polish
A bowl of water

PA Common Core Standard:


For this activity, the second graders at Drexel Neumann Academy watched as a rainbow appeared when the floating piece of paper with clear nail polish on the top was submerged into water.

Egg Drop Experiment

Standard and Objectives:

3.1c.4: Form clear explanations based on observations  

Students will be able to make predictions

Students will be able to test out their predictions through experiment

Students will be able to conclude if there predictions were correct or incorrect

Materials Needed:

6 blocks

A dozen eggs (more or less depending on the number of students)

Styrofoam cups

Ziploc bags

Dixon cups

Half of an egg carton container

Paper bag

Procedures:

First, we asked the children if they know what the word predictions means. Use a kid friendly definition to explain the concept of a prediction.

Next, we showed the children the materials we brought in. We asked them to predict what materials will help protect the egg if it is knocked over in that on the blocks. We divided the materials into what they thought would protect the egg and what they thought would crack the eggs.

Then, we had the children perform the experiment, putting the egg in the different materials and knocking it off the block tower. We went back to check off if our predictions were right or not. (To make this more fun, you can go on youtube and play Humpty Dumpty while dropping the egg each time)

Finally, we discussed why certain materials helped the egg and why certain materials didn’t protect the egg. Also, go over the word predictions again and discuss if our predictions were correct or incorrect.

Our students were very excited and engaged with this experiment, they really enjoyed seeing if the eggs was going to crack or not.

PECT Review Links

Links for PECT Review

http://mrtrost.com/pect-review/  

https://quizlet.com/71972144/pect-prek-4-module-3-math-science-health-flash-cards/

https://quizlet.com/18155788/module-3-cells-flash-cards/

https://quizlet.com/54404218/vocab-words-4-science-module-3-flash-cards/

https://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/pect-pre-k-4/deck/6973937

https://www.pa.nesinc.com/CONTENT/HTML_FRAG/STUDYGUIDE/Study_Guide_006007008_SRI.htm#obj3

Balloon Reaction

Materials
1 Water bottle
Baking soda
Vinegar 
Balloon
Funnel
Measuring spoons

For this activity, students observed that when baking soda and vinegar react in a water bottle that is enclosed by a balloon, the balloon will inflate.

First, the students placed the balloon at the tip of the funnel. Next, they measured 4 teaspoons of baking soda into the funnel with the attached balloon. Next, the students measured 4 teaspoons of vinegar and added that to the water bottle. Then, I removed the balloon from the funnel and helped to attach it to the water bottle(making sure I did not pour the baking soda in just yet) and allowed the student to make the reaction. The result was a slightly inflated balloon above the water bottle.


The amount of baking soda and vinegar added to the balloon and water bottle is to the teacher's discretion. During the C.L.A.R.E. program at DNA, I started by using 4 teaspoons of baking soda and vinegar, but added a little more to other students bottles to see if the balloon would get bigger. The results were positive. Adding more vinegar rather than baking soda caused greater inflation of the balloon.

Kelsey and I also found similar results as Erike when we tried this experiment with the kindergartners. The first attempt, we didn't put enough vinegar in, and the balloon did not expand much. We concluded that we needed more vinegar, and added an extra teaspoon of of vinegar. 

Skittles Dissolving Experiment

Materials

Small clear bowl or dish
Skittles
Water

For this experiment, I first had each of the students make a prediction as to what they thought would happen to the Skittles. Next, I allowed each student to choose his or her own Skittle and asked them to drop it into the bowl at the same time. Then, they watched as the colors slowly began to dissolve off the Skittle. (I added a little more water after the Skittles were placed in to speed up the process). Finally, the students drew a picture of what they saw and wrote a few sentences to explain their drawings. 

The longer the Skittles stayed in the bowl to dissolve, the more changes occurred.

Here are some of the observations from the students at Drexel Neumann Academy:

Teaching The Life Cycle of a Pumpkin

 Materials

1 orange plate or orange pumpkin made from construction paper
green yarn
life cycle cutouts
crayons/colored pencils/markers for coloring cutouts
scissors
hole-punch
stapler or glue

For this activity, I had the students create their own pumpkin life cycle diorama.

Pictured above is writing completed by a second grade student from Drexel Neumann Academy and her life-cycle diorama during the C.L.A.R.E. program. 


Here are links to the life cycle cutouts and pumpkin paper:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxpJZu02STmwb0JidEhndEljMVk/view?usp=sharing 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxpJZu02STmwRWxWTVJ6eXNESVk/view?usp=sharing