Science+Play+Resources

[|Practical Science for Preschoolers.ppt] =[|Sid the Science Kid - Growing Plants Actvity.doc] = =How do I start a vegetable garden with preschool aged children?= You can pretty much grow anything starting now except for lettuces and broccoli (they require cool temperatures and partial shade). Wen we did our garden in our center we pretty much planted the vegetables that the children were interested about, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers and grapes for example. The boys were more practical and the girls wanted pretty flowers. Growing vegetables and fruit with your class is particularly effective, as they may eat the end product of their hard work. At the same time you can teach your children about the effect of sun and water on plants, as well as allowing them to explore other parts of the outdoors, including insects and garden pests.

Read more: [|Gardening Ideas for Preschoolers | Garden Guides] [] You might also try melons or pumpkins in your zone. If you plant pumpkins now, you should have a fun harvest in time for Halloween (pumpkins take FOREVER so start early).

[|Michelle Obamas garden.doc]

Seeding Early Science

Why Not Start in Preschool? 

Preschool Pathways to Science (PrePS)

Book: Science is Simple

=How to Make a Sock Garden With Preschoolers= Read more: [|How to Make a Sock Garden With Preschoolers | eHow.com] []

**Bulletin Board: "Summer Garden"** Preschool teachers help young children create this summer bulletin board by Materials: Mural paper Paint Colorful Construction Paper Pom Poms Coffee Filters Clothes Pins Pipe Cleaners A snap shot of each child's face (if possible). Description: Hang mural paper along the wall. Paint grass and flower stems and, with a marker, draw a few ants, worms, and snakes. Cut out a flower shape (about the size of a coffee cup saucer) and let the children decorate it however they wish. Next, cut out a small picture of each child and place their face in the center of the flower and attach it to the wall on the flower stems. Now, the children take markers and decorate coffee filters. Teachers lightly spray the the filters to make a tie dye effect. Pinch the filters in the center and slide into a clothes pin. Slip a piece of pipe cleaner for the antennae. On green paper cut out leaf shapes (long and oval), draw the veins with a black marker and then ask the children to glue a line of colorful pom poms on them to represent a caterpillar. Now you have a caterpillar on a leaf! Cut out circles from black and red paper (about 3" in diameter) and cut the red circles in half to make lady bugs. Use a large black circle on the bottom, glue 2 red half circles on that (on each side for wings) and a small black circle (1" diameter) for the head. Finally, ask children to dip their fingers into black paint and make dots!! Take all of these things and attach them to your garden. It's beautiful! I did this project with my 18-27 month olds and got so-o-o- many compliments on how nice it looked! Comments: This is a wonderful way to brighten up your class room! You can make it in the Spring or Summer and leave it up for quite a long time!

( Sing to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell" ) Oh, if you are wearing shorts, If you are wearing shorts, You may walk out the door, If you are wearing shorts.
 * Summer Clothing **

Also include: stripes, sandals, tennis shoes, flowers, a sun dress, blue jeans, belt, barrettes, etc. Comments: This is fantastic for those hard transition times! During circle time encourage preschool children to make choices and observe their own words being written. Materials: Large sheet of paper, marker or pen. Description: During circle time ask each child, "What do you like about summer". The teacher writes down their ideas on the large sheet of paper. Once all the children have had a chance to share, the class turns their ideas into a song. Just sing, "What I like about Summer is...." Keep singing the sentence for all the children's ideas. This song can be used for all of the seasons or other ideas. What I like about Spring, Winter etc. Promote language skills as preschool children express their ideas and communicate feelings during the creation of this early childhood scrapbook Materials: Scrapbook, children's own contributions of drawings, paintings and verses, scissors, glue, and felt tipped pens. Description: Talk about summer flowers with the children. Encourage them to contribute to the conversation by describing colors, smells and so on that they associate with summer. Show them the scrapbook and explain that they are each going to add something which reminds them of summer, such as a drawing, a pressed flower or something they remember. Ask each child to contribute their idea or piece of work, sticking it into the scrapbook themselves if they want to. Provide plenty of support for younger children, offering suggestions or scribing for them. Give each child a label and ask them to think of a few words to describe their entry and write the words on the label (if they can). Prepare for your Summer picnic with this fingerplay Materials: Plates, napkins etc.
 * Literacy: What I Like About Summer **
 * Literacy: A Summer Scrapbook **
 * A Summer Fingerplay **

These are my sun glasses. (circle eyes with fingers) This is my great sun hat. (Hands over head) This is the way I fold my hands (Fold hands) And rest them, just like that. (Place hands into lap) Pack the paper plates and napkins. (Pretend to pack) Don't forget the food and drink: (Shake head no) Hot dogs, potato salad, cake, and lemonade pink. It's fun to go on a picnic. I simply cannot wait To eat and play, have fun all day,

This sunny fingerplay also introduces the concept of day and night.
 * Sunshine Fingerplay **

The sun makes the outside a warm place to play (arms above head in circle) It makes the flowers grow each day (holding up hands wiggling fingers) The sun hides its face during the night (cover face with hands) But during the daytime it shines - oh so bright (arms above head in circle)

Singing to the tune of **You Are My Sunshine** and improvising with these words:

Early in the morning the sun wakes up It shines up high - we have fun The sun shines bright all the day Then at night it goes away.