Create Your Own at-Home Science Kit

I recently added a science activity to my preschooler's learning schedule. So, what I did to get started: I created my own science kit (of course you can buy one but I wanted to use my teaching and home equipment that I already own to save some much needed $$$).

~ First off, you need to plan your science units or topics (i.e. what you will teach, how you will do it, what are some learning materials required to teach a science lesson, etc.)

~ Second, rummage through your daily use household cabinets for science supplies. 

Here is what we gathered for our science kit:

• Plastic measuring cup (beaker)
• Magnifying Glass (from the tool box)
• Eye droppers (from the medicine cabinet)
• Funnel (from the kitchen/baking cabinet)
• Tweezers (from my beauty bag :p)
• A thermos bottle (to use as a flask)
• Empty vials with lids in a spice rack (to use as a test tube)
• Container with drawers (from the craft room or a spare one)
• Plastic Measuring Spoons
• Plastic Measuring Cups
• Stir sticks and straws (for mixing)
• Food colors
• Inch tape
• A Journal (for drawing/writing observations)
• A thermometer
• Fridge Magnets
• Glue
• Popsicle sticks
• Masking tape

This is just a start-up kit but it will grow as we buy and add new things for our experiments. I keep my science equipment in a large plastic storage container. I also taped the supply list to the box and add a sticky to this list if we run out of something and it needs replacing. The most important supply on your list is the journal. Journaling is the epitome of all learning experiences! So, I recently went out and bought two types of science journals (both cost around 85 cents each).

© Everything Family Guide

© Everything Family Guide

I think for now we will use the plain/blank drawing journal, as my child is still learning to write but loves to draw. I might use the writing journal for learning and practicing new science vocabulary. Remember to thoroughly wash and sanitize everything before use. Overall, putting together a science kit is worth all your time!

Annie

Preschool Science Experiment - Creating Color #2

Objective: Identify colors in a variety of manufactured objects. Order a group of colored objects based on given a color criterion.

Before you begin the activity ask your child the science inquiry questions for him/her to get a better understanding of what they are about to do. Please hesitate to give any answers and let your child predict the answers. You can always revisit the questions at the end to clarify any misunderstandings.

Science Inquiry

• Look around you, do you notice how everything has a different color?
• What are some colors that you can see?
• What are manufactured items?
• How can we put/classify things in a group?

Science Vocabulary: colors, manufactured, organize, according, groups

Materials

• Colored Buckets/Bins/paper
• Toys

Procedure

Pre-activity: play "I Spy Colors" around your house a few times, to get your child familiar with colors.

1. Set up toys in a pile beside the various colored bins or paper. Spread out the bins in a row.

            © Everything Family Guide

2. Talk about or ask which colored bins/paper are available for the science activity.  Also discuss, how we can sort things into groups: by color, size, shapes, features/designs, natural/manufactured, etc.

3. Have your child sort the toys in colored groups by having him/her place the specified color toys in the corresponding bins or on the matching paper. Don't correct them yet and wait for them to finish sorting the toys.

            © Everything Family Guide

4. When they are finished, talk about what you did or found (results). Now you can help your child rectify any mistakes or misunderstandings. This would be a good time to revisit the science inquiry questions. You may also do a journal drawing entry about "what we did today for science".

How do you do your preschool science activities?

Annie