Science and Inquiry Regarding Living Things
Children are naturally inquisitive regarding the characteristics of living things, and how to categorize the world around them in terms of living and non-living and observe changes around them over time. These activities, which are based on the PA Department of Education Early Learning Standards, will assist your child in this area:
*Show your child some beans or peas. Are they living or non-living? How do you know? Try sprouting these beans/peas on a damp paper towel with your child and discuss the changes s/he observes daily. Did your child predict correctly? You might also consider placing some beans (lentils, mung beans, etc.) in a jar and covering with cheese cloth, held fast with a rubber band after soaking the beans for a day. Rinse the beans daily and store in a dark cupboard upside down in a bowl to catch any run-off moisture. In a few days, the sprouted beans can be added to a salad for a nutritious snack or meal!
*Point out changes that your child can observe: the family pet’s fur getting thicker or shedding due to weather changes, house plants or garden plants growing (use your digital camera to document, and allow your child to sketch the plant with your encouraging guidance to point out the leaves are round, thin, etc.)
*Sort objects by living and non-living in casual conversations. Is your doll living? Is the dog living? Is the chair living? Is the sunflower in the garden living?
*Sort natural objects by size, shape, texture (leaves, rocks, seeds, branches, nuts, etc.)
*Read books and point out the different names for adult and baby animals, perhaps during a zoo trip!
*Have your child sort through magazines and cut out pictures of plants and animals. Then place them in two piles: plant; animal
*Assist your child in observing similarities and difference in the same species (Yes; these are two cats. How are they different? The same?)
*Allow your child to care for a pet, if possible. Discuss what pets need to survive and be healthy. If a dog or cat is not possible, consider a fish, hermit crab, or other small creature that might not aggravate an allergy problem and would be easier to care for.
*Plant two pots of seeds with your child. Place one in the window and keep one in a dark area. Which one grows best? Water one; do not water the other. What are the requirements for plants to grow?
*Plant seeds indoors, or plant a garden! Allow your child to use gardening tools and teach him/her the appropriate use of a trowel, rake, spade. These experiences are enriching in many domains of intelligence!
*Visit nature centers, walk in our area arboretum, walk on the peninsula, use binoculars and guide books to identify trees, birds, flowers, shells.
*Give your child some special space to display collections of natural items.
*On a visit to the zoo, point out the natural habitat of each animal, and how the zoo works hard to make the ‘zoo home’ close to their natural home. Have a globe to identify where each specific animal comes from, and the distance from our Erie home.
*Show your child some beans or peas. Are they living or non-living? How do you know? Try sprouting these beans/peas on a damp paper towel with your child and discuss the changes s/he observes daily. Did your child predict correctly? You might also consider placing some beans (lentils, mung beans, etc.) in a jar and covering with cheese cloth, held fast with a rubber band after soaking the beans for a day. Rinse the beans daily and store in a dark cupboard upside down in a bowl to catch any run-off moisture. In a few days, the sprouted beans can be added to a salad for a nutritious snack or meal!
*Point out changes that your child can observe: the family pet’s fur getting thicker or shedding due to weather changes, house plants or garden plants growing (use your digital camera to document, and allow your child to sketch the plant with your encouraging guidance to point out the leaves are round, thin, etc.)
*Sort objects by living and non-living in casual conversations. Is your doll living? Is the dog living? Is the chair living? Is the sunflower in the garden living?
*Sort natural objects by size, shape, texture (leaves, rocks, seeds, branches, nuts, etc.)
*Read books and point out the different names for adult and baby animals, perhaps during a zoo trip!
*Have your child sort through magazines and cut out pictures of plants and animals. Then place them in two piles: plant; animal
*Assist your child in observing similarities and difference in the same species (Yes; these are two cats. How are they different? The same?)
*Allow your child to care for a pet, if possible. Discuss what pets need to survive and be healthy. If a dog or cat is not possible, consider a fish, hermit crab, or other small creature that might not aggravate an allergy problem and would be easier to care for.
*Plant two pots of seeds with your child. Place one in the window and keep one in a dark area. Which one grows best? Water one; do not water the other. What are the requirements for plants to grow?
*Plant seeds indoors, or plant a garden! Allow your child to use gardening tools and teach him/her the appropriate use of a trowel, rake, spade. These experiences are enriching in many domains of intelligence!
*Visit nature centers, walk in our area arboretum, walk on the peninsula, use binoculars and guide books to identify trees, birds, flowers, shells.
*Give your child some special space to display collections of natural items.
*On a visit to the zoo, point out the natural habitat of each animal, and how the zoo works hard to make the ‘zoo home’ close to their natural home. Have a globe to identify where each specific animal comes from, and the distance from our Erie home.
