Children are constantly having experimentation with different liquids.
They are aware that tomato sauce is a liquid, lemonade is a liquid and Sam had observed that his ice block (when melted) changed to a liquid. Children are also aware that liquids do have similar physical properties - they are runny!
This science experiment links with essential skills such as "problem solving".
"children enquire, carry out research, and develop and test ideas and solutions, as they explore and make sense of their world" (MoE, 1996).
With their prior knowledge the children predicted and made assumptions about the properties of water, and observed floating and sinking and what was heavy and what was light.
They are aware that tomato sauce is a liquid, lemonade is a liquid and Sam had observed that his ice block (when melted) changed to a liquid. Children are also aware that liquids do have similar physical properties - they are runny!
This science experiment links with essential skills such as "problem solving".
"children enquire, carry out research, and develop and test ideas and solutions, as they explore and make sense of their world" (MoE, 1996).
With their prior knowledge the children predicted and made assumptions about the properties of water, and observed floating and sinking and what was heavy and what was light.
They also made new discoveries such as... despite how hard they shook the jar, the oil and water just didn't want to mix, rather like they were allergic to each other!
The children were also surprised that the plastic object they put in the jar did not sink straight away, but sank eventually about half an hour later
. Another head scratcher was why the dye only coloured the water and not the oil?
Another valuable skill is "communication" "where children convey and receive information and ideas with increasing purpose, accuracy and confidence (MoE, 1996). The children in pre-school one have a developing vocabulary which assists them in asking questions, and expressing their ideas and prior knowledge.
Our experiment with liquids also linked the children with the essential learning area of maths, when they measured with increasing accuracy 1/2 a jar of water and then added oil until the jar was 3/4 full! Well done guys!
Your children are developing a "perception of themselves as "explorers" - competent, confident learners who ask questions and make discoveries (MoE, 1996) growing in an environment which fosters thinking and reasoning.
Simone Taylor 12 Sept 2010
Our experiment with liquids also linked the children with the essential learning area of maths, when they measured with increasing accuracy 1/2 a jar of water and then added oil until the jar was 3/4 full! Well done guys!
Your children are developing a "perception of themselves as "explorers" - competent, confident learners who ask questions and make discoveries (MoE, 1996) growing in an environment which fosters thinking and reasoning.
Simone Taylor 12 Sept 2010
Kia ora Simone
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post you have here and an insight into their thinking as well has been inspiring. Keep up the good work!