The winter season provides plentiful opportunities for both indoor and outdoor exploration. The young scientists have been taking part in many sensory-based experiences these past few months. From discovering the sensations of icy cold snow to experimenting with various states of matter, the preschool, kindergarten, and first graders have been deeply engaged in scientific inquiry.
In first grade, the students discovered that everything around them is made of matter, which can come in three forms – solids, liquids, and gases. They skillfully categorized objects into one of the three states and made connections between what they learned and what they knew from observing, for example, ice changes from a solid into a liquid state. The children were introduced to the scientific method and followed the steps of the scientific method as they conducted experiments. They were excited to discover that they could pick up ice using only a string and some salt.
In kindergarten, the children have been learning about light. Light surrounds us and comes from various sources, both natural and artificial. They learned about the properties of materials and that some materials let light pass through, while others do not. Therefore, materials can be considered transparent, translucent, or opaque. Using flashlights, the children had a blast experimenting with light and shadows.
In preschool, while the children have been keeping warm inside, they have been presented with opportunities to experience winter sensory play. The children learned that animals make tracks in the snow and each animal’s track is unique. They used a chilly baking soda and cornstarch mixture to explore animal tracks using stampers. As well, the preschoolers had a chance to use many of their senses when they were presented with a bin full of cold snow from outside. They made snowballs, melted the snow in their hands, used paint to mix colors in the snow, and listened to the crunching of the snow as they manipulated it with their hands and tools.
It has been a joyful and industrious winter!