Five Senses Science Activities for Junior Primary

Junior primary education is for kindergarten through third grade, usually for children from 5 to 8 years old. However, students as old as 11 years of age have also been a student in junior primary grades. Science activities taught in these classes are very basic, as the children are still acquainting themselves with the world around them. Young children take delight in exploring their five senses of sound, sight, taste, touch and smell. Science activities for the five senses are educational experiments for young children to enjoy and share with others.

1. Guess That Sound

   • Instruct the child to sit down in a chair. Stand behind him and stomp your feet. Instruct the child to identify what made the sound he just heard. Allow him to try several guesses until guessing correctly or provide the answer if he can't guess. Do other things that make a sound behind the child, such as clap your hands, blow on a whistle, tear a piece of paper and ring a bell. Ask him if he can identify that sound.

   What's That Smell?

   • Cover the child's eyes with a blindfold. Place a number of items under her nose to smell, such as a plate of chocolate chip cookies, scented bar of soap or a flower. Instruct her to sniff the item and try to guess what she is smelling. Use items which don't have a scent, such as a glass cup, DVD case or a metal spoon; discuss how you can smell some things and not other things.

   Name That Drink!

   • Pour a variety of liquids into a dark-colored sports bottle, making sure the color of the liquid is not visible. Choose liquids such as regular milk, chocolate milk, apple juice, orange juice and water. Instruct the child to drink from each one and guess what the liquid is that he is tasting. Ask him if the liquid tastes sweet, bland or tangy. Instruct the child to combine the liquids, such as water with the apple juice or chocolate milk with the regular milk, to see how the drinks taste different.

   Mystery Bag Game

   • Fill a dark-colored small plastic bag with a handful of assorted items. Use items such as marbles, small rocks, sugar, dry cereal and small erasers. Instruct the child to feel each bag with his hands. Ask him "is it hard or is it soft?" After he answers correctly, instruct him to carefully feel the bag to see if he can guess what is in each one. Ask the child for ideas for things to put into bags and after placing those items in the bag, to guess if the bag would feel hard or soft.

   Can You Find It?

   • Show an item, such as a teddy bear or book, to the child then instruct the child to close his eyes. Place the item somewhere in the room where it is visible. Instruct the child to open his eyes and use his sight to find the item. Once the item is found, either repeat the activity and place the item in another location or use another item. Children can take turns "hiding" the item within sight somewhere in the room.

Read More

Science Activities for 5 Year Olds

With the push for older students to pass standardized tests in math and reading, science is often neglected at all grade levels. However, kindergarten is the perfect age for students to begin learning about science, because 5-year-olds are naturally interested in science. They are constantly observing their world and asking questions about it.

1. Significance

   • As 5-year-olds observe, explore and experiment, they will begin to adapt and change their thinking about why things happen. Teaching young students about science will help them to ask questions, make predictions, and investigate and experiment to find answers. As their knowledge of science grows, young students will become more confident thinkers.

   Features

   • Kindergarten science activities should give students experience with observing, communicating, classifying, sorting and finding patterns. Provide your students with hands-on, discovery-based activities where they can use their five senses to observe and gather information. Have materials available so they can record their observations through pictures or words. Science instruction should encourage creative thinking, questioning, investigating and problem solving.

   Types

   • Kindergartners should have the chance to experiment with the scientific process as well as begin to learn about the three main types of science. They will learn about earth science as they study weather, rocks, sand and soil. Learning about plants and animals will introduce them to life science. They will use physical science as they observe and compare the properties of objects. These studies will give 5-year-olds a foundation to build on.

   Materials

   • Introduce your kindergarten students to science tools and materials. Hand lenses can be used to observe such objects as insects, seeds and leaves. Balance scales can be used to compare weights as your students discover and learn about different objects. Introduce your students to other science materials such as safety goggles, beakers and magnets. One way to let your students work with these materials is to set up a discovery center with science tools. The center can also include rocks, leaves and shells. Change the items periodically so that there is always something new to discover.

   Benefits

   • The hands-on approach to learning will keep your students motivated and excited about learning. They will be deeper thinkers and have a better understanding of the world around them. By teaching science you will also be teaching math and reading skills. Students learn math as they measure, sort, compare and find patterns. Reading and writing skills are reinforced through the sharing of nonfiction books, reading charts and recording data and observations.

Read More

Science Activities for 3 to 5 Year Olds

Science is a hands-on based activity for 3- to 5-year-olds. Preschoolers aren't ready to sit down and memorize concepts. Encourage activities that promote a basic understanding of the world around them with activities that teach the basics in an enjoyable way. They will think they are playing when actually they are learning.

1. Plants

   • Help preschoolers create a replica of a seed's life cycle. Use eggshell halves, paper cups or small plastic pots to plant the seeds in. Help the children fill the cup with potting soil. Explain how the soil gives the seed the food it needs to grow.

     Help each child plant seeds in her cup. Choose seeds that grow easily and quickly such as lettuce or sunflowers. Place the cups in a sunny window and explain how the seeds need sunlight to grow strong and healthy. Water the plants as necessary.

     Let the children watch as the seeds grow. Point out that the leaves always reach for the sunshine and that is how the seed knows which way to grow. If planting an edible, such as lettuce harvest the leaves for a classroom snack once the plants are big enough.

   Seasons

   • Help your 3- to 5-year-olds understand the four different seasons. Make a seasonal tree to display at home or in the classroom. Create the tree trunk and branches from brown paper. Hang on a wall to display.

     For autumn, have the kids make paper leaves in fall colors. Take a nature walk through the neighborhood and collect fallen seeds, pods, pine cones and leaves. Tape them to the tree branches with the leaves the kids made. Explain that fall is when most trees and plants shed their leaves and seeds and get ready to sleep through winter. Cover how daytime gets shorter and it's time to start wearing sweaters and warmer clothing.

     In winter, remove all the leaves and seeds from the tree. Leave it bare and explain the tree is sleeping for the winter. Explain how plants, when it's cold outside, are saving their energy for spring. Explain that winter is when it is cold and that night lasts much longer than daytime.

     For spring, collect fallen flowers from trees and new leaves. Create flowers and leaves from construction paper. Tape them to the tree and tell the children that the plants wake up in the spring. Trees need new leaves to collect sunlight so they can be strong enough to make new seeds during the summer. The day is getting longer and the weather is warmer.

     In summer, place green full-size leaves on the tree. Explain that the tree is collecting plenty of strength from the sun and the dirt to make more seeds and fruit in the fall. Summer is a time for shorts and playing outside during the longer days.

   Bugs

   • Many preschoolers are enthralled with insects and bugs. Raise butterflies with the children to study the insect's life cycle. Purchase a caterpillar from an educational supply store. Keep in a tank with twigs, leaves and anything else the supplier advises for the particular type of caterpillar. Explain how all butterflies start out as caterpillars.

     When the caterpillar forms its chrysalis explain to the children the caterpillar is now ready to become a butterfly.When it is done it will break free of the chrysalis and be something beautiful and new. Once the butterflies emerge let the children set them free and explain the butterflies now need to find food so they can go out and make more caterpillars.

Read More

Wii Games for 3- to 5-Year-Olds

• Wii games create a playful way for young children to be introduced to video games and interact with colorful new worlds. The design of many Wii games makes them enjoyable and easy to learn for the whole family, even the youngest members. Several Wii games make excellent choices for children aged 3 to 5 because of their simplicity and range of options.

Wii Fit Plus

• Wii Fit Plus has dozens of games and exercises that the entire family can enjoy, including young children. With some initial help from their parents, 3- to 5-year-olds can quickly learn how to play several of the games themselves.

  Soccer has kids "hit" soccer balls with their heads while ducking to miss panda bears and shoes that are flung at them. Kids can throw snowballs at their parents' and siblings' Wii characters and take a Wii dog for a run. Many of the yoga and strength exercises are also simple enough for toddlers--and fun and challenging as they encourage children to move their bodies.

Wii Sports Resort

• With an island background, Wii Sports Resort has several games played on the beach and in the water. Golf and table tennis are easy games for young children to start with, and 3- to 5-year-olds will also enjoy "throwing" a Frisbee for a dog to catch.

  Children experienced with Wii games may want to take on more challenging games such as swordplay, where they swordfight another Wii character. With Wii Sports Resort, children can play against a computer character or another family member.

Wii Mario Kart

• Wii Mario Kart is specifically designed for younger children. Children choose from a selection of characters, such as Mario or a princess. Next, they choose a kart to race in, then the race itself. Each race starts easy and progresses to more difficult levels, while remaining fun, exciting and short enough to keep a young child's attention.

  First-time players in this age range may need some help keeping their kart moving in the right direction. But with some practice, children even as young as 3 will become pros at maneuvering their karts while shooting turtles and avoiding goblins along the course.

Read More

Wii Games for Young Kids

• Young kids need to be fully engaged. It is almost a necessity to avoid "world-weariness." Fortunately, a string of Wii games were created specifically for young kids. The right balance of thought-provoking, lively graphics, relatable characters and story plot allows young kids to explore the video gaming world and not only be amused, but enlightened.

Exploration

• Developed after the "Go, Diego, Go" television show, Wii "Go Diego Safari Rescue" is specially designed to guide young kids on an adventure across Africa with Diego. When a magician mixes up the animals, participants must help Diego overturn the magician's actions. Using the Wii remote, Diego will swim across a jungle river, climb a ladder and use a magic drum. Diego rewards participants with virtual stamps to place in an African Safari book. Young players learn animal facts and race against one another with rubber rafts, gliders and on elephants in this exploratory game.

Imagination

• The interactive "Wii Storybook Workshop" features stories from around the world, sing-alongs and games geared for young kids. This Wii game enhances storytelling with the option to augment a book character's voice, place favorite Mii's into a storytelling or record readings to replay afterward. Other features include the Play and Learn mode, where young participants learn shapes, numbers and rhythm. Participants earn rewards with virtual stickers and mark their progress on favorites such as Little Red Riding Hood and The Golden Goose. Storybook Workshop is geared for preschool kids.

Action Packed

• "Super Mario Galaxy" takes kids on a space adventure. Mario travels across the galaxy from planet to planet in search of Power Stars. With over 40 different galaxies to discover, young players use the Nunchuk joystick or Wii remote to move Mario through the galaxy or point and drag objects. Mario meets challenges that include rolling a ball through a hazardous garden and floating in a bubble over a poisonous swamp. This Wii game allows players to work together collecting stars or defeating enemies to rescue Princess Peach. Play "Super Mario Galaxy" with one to two players. Suitable for ages 8 and up.

Melodious

• "Wii Music" familiarizes young kids with instruments by allowing them to play and make free-form style music. Coined a "musical playground," players do not need to press a specific button. With the Wii remote or Nunchuck, kids shake and move as they imitate the selected instrument or conduct an orchestra. Participants play instruments with one of four simple motions including strumming and drumming. An optional save video allows kids to save up to 30 different musical performances. Young kids can play "Wii Music" with one to four players. Ages 5 five and up will find "Wii Music" delightful and entertaining.

Read More

Kids' Lawn Games

• Sunshine and a soft place to play beckon kids outdoors to play a host of games. Running games, hiding games and games with balls or discs engage and sometimes challenge children. Since most lawn games require more than one player, children learn important socializing skills and the value of sportsmanship while soaking up the fresh air.

Fox Hunt

• The only thing needed to play Fox Hunt is a handkerchief, tissue or piece of cloth, and lots of energy. According to Youthwork-practice.com, the game starts with players standing in a circle, facing each other. One child plays the fox, carrying the handkerchief while walking around the outside of the circle. The other players can't turn to watch him. The fox drops the cloth behind one of the children, who picks up the cloth and chases the fox around the circle, trying to tag him before he reaches the empty spot in the circle. If tagged, the fox must try again. However, if he successfully reaches the empty spot, the other child becomes the lazy egg and must stand in the middle of the circle until another player takes his place. A new fox is chosen and the game begins again.

Flying Disc Baseball

• Play a Frisbee version of baseball.

  Kids can play a safer backyard version of baseball by using a flying disc, like a Frisbee. One player stands at home plate to be the "batter," another serves as "pitcher" and the rest are positioned around the bases and in the field. The pitcher throws the disc to the "batter," who catches it and throws it to any player on the field. The batter then makes a run for first base and more, if she can make it. She is "out" if the player in the field catches the disc. If the disc isn't caught, the field player must throw it to a base player before the batter reaches that base; otherwise, the batter is safe. Each player takes a turn at bat.

Bean Bag Games

• Tossing around bean bags makes a simple, but entertaining lawn game. Play bean bag toss with inexpensive bean bags and a cardboard box with holes cut in it. Players try to toss their bean bags into the holes, keeping score or just entertaining themselves. Add a variation to the game by forming teams. Line up the teams and have the kids pass the bean bags to the next one in line. The winning team has the most players who get the bean bag in the holes.

Croquet

• 

  Played on a lawn court, croquet keeps kids in motion and gives them opportunities to use tactical thinking and practice hand-eye coordination. Each player uses a mallet and a wooden ball. Kids must drive their balls across the grass and through strategically placed wickets, following a course to a stake at the end. The first player or team to reach the final stake wins.

Crabwalk

• A crabwalk race leads to hilarity as kids collapse on the lawn as they try walking on all fours with their stomachs facing up. Youthwork-practice.com suggests dividing the kids into teams and having a relay race.

Read More