The Best Nest

The boys each a bag and we headed outside on a bush walk to observe birds and to collect materials for their bird's nests. The boys collected, grass, soft paper, string, leaves, yarn, leaves, and thin twigs.

This activity provided such a wonderful opportunity for language development. The boys talked lots about why they chose certain materials e.g "This big piece of bark I'm putting in will protect the eggs from the wind and rain." "I chose these twigs because they look like the tree that a nest could be in, that way a vulture will think it is a normal tree, it's hibernating."

Rolling eggs with play dough is great for fine-motor skill development.

Making a Bird Nest

Materials Needed:

• Brown Play dough, Clay or shredded string


• Outdoor materials- collected by your child on your walk


• Toothpick (to write their name and date underneath) if you use clay


• bags


• Play dough

Preschoolers are natural scientists. This morning I decided we would have a day learning about bird, nests and habitats. I gave the boys each a bag and we headed outside on a bush walk to observe birds and to collect materials for their bird's nests. The boys collected, grass, soft paper, string, leaves, yarn, leaves, and thin twigs.

Once back home I gave the boys some brown shredded paper string I had picked up from the discount store in the craft section (you could also use play dough or clay prepared the night before) The brown shredded string will represent the mud for this craft. I showed the boys how to shape the string into a bowl-like configuration. Next, they used their fists to push the center of the "nest" in, and gently pull the sides up. With a preschool craft, it is always best if each work of art is different so I went with the shape that they made for their nest! Then I had the boys use the outdoor materials they collected to stick into the string. Then the boys used some play dough to roll some eggs to put inside their nest. This was a wonderful activity rich in language development as well as science. The boys are so proud of their nests and will definitely take pride of place on our Easter shelf!

Erupting Volcano

This would have to be one of the most enjoyable science experiments you can do with your kids!

Making a mock volcano is not a difficult task, but is very messy, because this volcano will actually erupt when mixing baking soda and vinegar together. Since this is a messy project, wearing old clothes is necessary as well as working on a pile of old newspapers. Working outside would be even better!

What do you need:

vinegar

baking soda

food coloring

2 litre empty plastic drink bottle

funnel

baking pan

sand

glue

dish (Cheap throw away ones are the best)

soap

warm water

Instructions:

1. To make the volcano cone: Pour glue into the tray, making sure most of it is in the center. Glue the bottle in the center of the aluminum tray.


2. Using your hands, cover the entire surface of the bottle with glue.


3. Pour sand into the tray so your volcano looks like it’s on a beach. Be careful not to get sand inside the bottle.


4. Use food coloring to make it look like it is on an island. You might want to add some water or glue to the sand, to make it stickier.


5. When finished, let it dry for about an hour.


6. To create lava: Add some red and yellow food coloring to your ½ cup of vinegar.


7. Using a funnel, fill the bottle halfway through with warm water.


8. Add a squirt or two of soap to your bottle.


9. Slowly pour the vinegar into your cone.


10. To make your volcano erupt: Place 2 teaspoons of baking soda onto a tissue.


11. Twist up the tissue so it looks like a little pouch.


12. Strap on your goggles to protect your eyes from the eruption.


13. Drop the pouches into the volcano and watch it explode!

BLOW ME AWAY!

Children are fascinated by bubbles. Babies will watch them float and burst in the air, and older children love to blow and play with them.Soap suds aren't just for dishwashing! Blow away your family and friends with this cool science experiment.

What do you need:

• dish soap


• water


• corn syrup


• wire


• string


• straws


• measuring cup


• large bowl

DIRECTIONS
1. To make bubble solution: Take 1 cup for dish soap and add it to your mixing bowl. Add 3 cups of water, 1/2 cup of corn syrup and mix everything together.
2. Use a spool of wire or a hanger, and have an adult cut off about 8 inches for you. Take your piece of wire and make a loop with it at one end.
3. Twist your loop around six times to securely wrap the wire in place. Once your loop is in place you can form it into other shapes! Test it out.
4. Now, try making a bubble window. You'll need 2 straws and a long piece of string, about 12 inches long. Thread your string through both straws and then tie off the sting. Dip into bubble solution and try it out!
5. Now, take some of your bubble solution and put it on your cookie sheet. Dip your straw into the bubble solution and then hold it just above your cookie sheet. Blow into your straw until you have blown a bubble dome. Try to blow as many as you can!

The Tiny Seed

I love the colourful collage illustrations used in Eric Carle's books! This story tells the fascinating story of the life cycle of a flower in terms of the adventures of a tiny seed. Master 4 loved listening to the journey whilst Master 2 took great delight in finding the seed on each page as it went through its journey. After reading our story we decided to paint some flowers and put seeds in the middle. I had a whole lot of seeds in the cupboard that we got out and looked at and even tasted!!

I had been promising the boys all weekend that they could paint the spare pots I had in my cupboard, so today was the day!Painting clay pots is the perfect activity for a sunny afternoon, suitable for any age group and skill level, as seen with Master 2 and Master 4 busy at work, allowing creativity and imagination to run wild. Painted flower pots brighten up balconies and windowsill and make the perfect personalised gift.The boys decided today that they would paint these pots for their nanny who has been away for a few days. I find Terra-cotta clay pots or ceramic pots are the best types of flower pots for painting. Terra-cotta will actually absorb a little of the paint, so give your little one lots of paint.

Alternative ideas for painting clay pots

• Stick scraps of material on top of your painted flower pot for a textured appearance.
• Instead of painting clay pots, cover them in coloured tissue paper, glue down well, then spray with varnish.
• Tie a bright ribbon round the top of your painted clay pot and fix in place with a little glue if giving it as a gift.
• Cut out pictures from magazines and glue them onto your painted flower pot for a collage effect.

From Cow To Ice Cream

What an eventful day we had..."The process of milk from the cow to the bottle and everything in between!" We spent the day at the beautiful Maleney Dairy where we did a tour that was just perfect for young children. We spent the beginning of the tour in the baby animal pen to pat the baby goat and calf. Master 2 and Master 4 were so excited as they also had the opportunity to feed the cows and goats out of bottles. We were then shown how hand milking is done using their cow 'Sweetpea'. We then headed to the milking sheds where the boys were able to put their thumbs in the suctions cups to feel the suction of the milking machines and the highlight of the tour... having a ride on the milking turntable!! (Why does everything always come back to trains with my boys!)
We then went to the factory so see where the milk is processed and bottled and finally put into the trucks for delivery. Again of course anything that involves large, moving vehicles in the boy's eyes is a winner. We had a lovely end to the tour with some taste testing of the very popular yogurt! (Yummy) As you know I'm all about hands-on experience for young children, and what better way for children to understand how milk gets from a cow into their ice-cream or milkshakes than experiencing it first hand. On our drive home Master 4 was very keen to go over the days events and to point out as many foods he could think of that contained milk. I knew I had the book "From Cow to Ice Cream" at home and that it was a wonderful opportunity to make home made ice-cream with the boys for afternoon tea. (and a Sunday treat!!)
http://www.malenydairies.com/

Milk can become homemade ice cream in five minutes by using a bag! This homemade, creamy treat is a delight for kids and adults alike.

What you'll need:
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup milk or half & half
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons rock salt
1 pint-size plastic food storage bag (e.g., Ziploc)
1 gallon-size plastic food storage bag
Ice cubes

How to make it:
Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag.
Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and seal it.
Place the small bag inside the large one, and seal it again carefully.
Shake until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes.
Wipe off the top of the small bag, then open it carefully. Enjoy!

Tips:
A 1/2 cup milk will make about 1 scoop of ice cream, so double the recipe if you want more. But don't increase the proportions more that that - a large amount might be too big for kids to pick up because the ice itself is heavy.

Flavour combinations are almost limitless. Don't be afraid to add your favourite fruits or nuts! Below are some suggestions for flavour variation that we use in our house!

Toasted Coconut

Add ½ cup lightly toasted shredded coconut.

Optional: add ¼ teaspoon almond extract.

Peppermint

Add ¼ cup crushed peppermint crisp or aero bar.

Optional: add a few drops red food coloring and/or 1/8 teaspoon mint extract.

Peanut Brittle

Add ½ cup crushed peanut brittle.

Mint Chocolate Chip

Add ¼ teaspoon mint extract and ¼ cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips (or shaved chocolate). Optional: add a few drops of green food coloring.

Cookies And Cream

Add ½ cup (about 8) crumbled chocolate cookies.

Chocolate Chip, Coconut, and Strawberry
Add 1/2 cup shredded coconut, 1/2 bag of milk chocolate chips, and frozen/fresh strawberries.

Art with Salt and Ice

After a recent visit to Seaworld, Master 4 has been very interested in Polar Bears. As many of the stories we read have Polar bears living in Arctic conditions he had many questions on the trip home as to why the environment as Sea World wasn't made correctly for the Polar Bear?? Ahh the minds of a 4 year old. Needless to say this has taken us on a bit of an ice journey this weekend with some fun science based learning.


This activity allows children to create their own colourful ice sculpture by using rock salt and food coloring on a solid block of ice. The entire activity is like a mini-science lesson because it teaches kids the physical reaction of salt on ice.


It's great for teaching problem-solving and encouraging kids to be persistent. In addition, it teaches them the concept of solids transforming to liquids. It also promotes hand-eye coordination and allows kids to use their fine motor skills. And finally, it encourages language development, because children are excited by what they see happening and want to talk about it. This is an open-ended activity, so there’s really no right or wrong way to do this project. Kids will not feel anxious about whether they are “doing it right.” It’s really great for building kids’ self-esteem.


What you need:
Cardboard milk carton
Water
Rock salt
Eye droppers
Food coloring

• First, fill half of the cardboard milk carton with water and allow it to freeze overnight into a solid block of ice. You can do this activity outdoors or indoors, but if you do it inside, you’ll first want to cover your table with plastic. For kids around four or five years old, you can encourage their problem-solving skills by bringing the cartons of solid ice out onto a table and telling the kids, “OK, we are doing this activity, but it’s up to you to figure out how to get the ice out.” If they give up and say, “We can’t do it,” then encourage them to be persistent and work together on how they might be able to accomplish it. Two or three year-olds won’t have developed the motor skills to be able to take the ice out of the cartons by themselves, so you’ll need to assist them. Once the block of ice is out of the container, take the blocks of ice and stand it upright in a pan or plastic container (to capture the water from the ice block as it melts). Talk to your child about the chemical reaction that ice has when salt is sprinkled on it. Allow your child to sprinkle rock salt onto the top of the block of ice.


• Next, let them choose different colours to squeeze onto the tops of their block of ice with eye-droppers. The food colouring will run through the cracks that the salt makes in the ice and will create a really beautiful ice sculpture. For younger kids, handling the eye-dropper will be a challenge, so they should be shown how to use one and encouraged to keep trying until they succeed. Encourage your child to discuss what they see happening when they add food colouring to their ice sculpture. Remember that an ice sculpture is only temporary. You may want to take a digital photo of each sculpture before it melts away.

Celery Science Fun..

I love the opportunity to do science based activities with Master 4 as I love the way their little minds start thinking and the questions begin! While we were shopping today Master 4 asked if we could get some celery... "What would you like it for?" I asked. "Not sure mummy but I know we will think of something to do with it!" Ah the minds of four year old. As I'm busy trying to unpack the groceries (with a VERY helpful 2 year old sampling all that he can!) Master 4 asks if I'm quiet because I'm busy thinking about what he and I can do with the celery when his little brother has his nap!! Sp this is what we did with the celery!

What you need:

Drinking glass, big enough to hold celery upright
Food coloring
Water
Spoon
Fresh celery stalks

1. Fill the glass of water about 1/2 full with water. Add 8 to 10 drops of food coloring to the water. Although you can use any color, the darker colors will show better. Mix carefully with a spoon.
2. Trim the ends off several stalks of celery at a slight angle. Leave the leafy ends on the celery. Put the trimmed celery into the glass of colored water. Set out of the way in a safe place.
3. Check the celery hourly. The celery will begin showing colored streaks running up the stalk.
4. Ask your children what they think have happened. Point out the little red marks on the leaves. Take the celery out of the glass. On a cutting board, use a knife and cut across the celery stalk. Notice that the strings of the celery are colored and the outer edge of the stalk has little colored dots.
5. Explain that the water is absorbed or sucked up by a plant. It travels up the stalk and then into the leaves.

* Another good example to use is white carnations.

Making A Rainbow from Your Milk...

We made rainbows today. This is a great activity to do with the kids, helping them to see that when colors are mixed, they make something new.





What you need:
Milk or water – If you don’t feel comfortable drinking milk with food coloring, you can use milk that’s past it’s date OR you can use water for this too. I just like how the milk makes the colors show up so bright. Food coloring – red, yellow, blue clear drinking glasses stir stick We lined up our glasses in a row, making it easy to see all the colors in the order of a rainbow. Then we poured our milk into each glass, about half way full. I then started by putting one drop of food coloring into the cups.

1. We did the red first (which made pink, but I only wanted to use one drop of color, you could use more).
2. Then we skipped one glass and did the yellow next. We went back to the one in the middle and dropped in one red and one yellow drop of food coloring. Using our stir stick, we mixed them together. We now had Orange!
3. Then we continued on down the line. Yellow and blue for green...
4. ... blue and red for purple.
5. Once you see your rainbow, show the kids what would happen if you mixed all the colors together and Brown milk will appear.

Spectacular Science for Toddlers...

Kids Science Experiments and Science Projects are full of fun, easy and exciting hands-on experiments that will help you answer a lot of questions asked by your children. These simple, safe and easy to follow science experiments and science projects can be achieved with everyday materials and recycled items found around your house. Help make learning fun and easy by trying some of these science experiments with your kid's. Always have fun with your science experiments and don’t worry if your experiments don’t come out as you would expect – some of the greatest scientific discoveries have been made by mistake. Science is all around us in our daily living and the more you experiment with science and observe; the more fascinated you will become in finding answers.

Rainbow Toast

slice of bread
Milk
Food Coloring (2-3 small bowls)
Pastry brush or new paint brush
Fork or Spoon for stirring.
Toaster

1. Pour milk into each of the bowls.
2. Add 1-2 drops of food colouring to the milk in each of the bowls. Stir the dye into the milk.
3. Put the bread, milk paint and brush in front of your toddler.
4. Let him or her paint on the bread with the “milk paint”. Flip the bread over for more fun.(You can toast if preferred)

Colour Blast

a bowl

milk
food colouring (four different colours)
detergent

cotton bud

1. Fill the bowl with milk
2. Add one drop of each food colour to the milk (in towards the centre is best)

3. Let your toddler dip the cotton tip into detergent, then hold the detergent covered tip into the centre of the colours....The colours swirl and zoom around the bowl forming new colours.

Freeze tempera mixed with water in Popsicle moulds and then paint with "paintsicles" on watercolor paper. A dish of salt and a small bowl of water with a dropper helped create beautiful textures. Wetting the paper first with a brush or droppers full of water help the frozen paint slide across the paper. Dipping the end in salt for a minute helped speed up the melting process creating thicker paint, more vibrant colors and a grainy texture. Stamping the ends resulted in rings while sliding on dry paper made scratchy lines.

Bubble Trouble!

Wow! This book is great! So rich in language, rhyme, alliteration, cadence, and vocabulary! Margaret Mahy's fun, upbeat poetry is accompanied by Polly Dunbar's whimsical watercolor and cut paper art work. Bubble Trouble is a bright star in the world of read-alouds . . . but practice first!

Master 4 had a great time painting on the bubble wrap (after we had popped lots of other sheets!) using lots of vibrant colours. Turn the bubble wrap over and press down hard, lift it off the paper slowly to reveal a great looking pattern. We have recently been to a Bee show so master 4 was quick to point out that the pattern made by the painted bubble wrap resembles honeycomb! Mmm think this could be leading somewhere....