We really enjoy our Science studies together. This week we discussed density and why things sink or float. We started off the lesson by viewing the Sink or Float video on Brainpopjr.com, a new resource that I am reviewing for Heart of the Matter. My children seem to be enjoying the animated videos on their website that cover a variety of subjects and topics.
“Density is basically how much “stuff” is smashed into a particular area… or a comparison between an object’s mass and volume. So, the exact same volume of two liquids may actually have different masses, so they would have different densities. That’s why vegetable oil floats on top of water.” Steve Spangler, the science guy
Next, it was time for Pumpkin to do her first lab activity. This was a wonderful opportunity for the boys to help their sister in her homeschooling lessons using the Montessori Sink Or Float Activity Kit which they had previously done in the past.
Last year I attended a lecture at FPEA where we were encouraged to teach the Scientific Method to our kindergarten and elementary aged children, so before we continued with our other lab activities we had a brief review of the principals of the Scientific Method.
Other lab activities included:
Oil & Water mixing lab. Again, because I am teaching a preschooler and kindergarten age students I try to combine activities that not only teach to both age groups abilities, but also their interests. Here are the instructions:
1.) Using equal amounts of oil and water
2.) Ask the child what they think will happen when they shake the jar.
3.) Allow child to shake the jar and observe what happens.
4.) Set the jar aside and allow the child to observe what happens next!
Layered Liquids Experiment from the Science is fun website created by University of Wisconsin-Madison Chemistry Professor, Bassam Z. Shakhashiri. A video demonstration is available here on YouTube.
