Exploring Folktales: Johnny Appleseed Grade Levels: 1–2, 3–5 Theme: Folktales • Author Study • Comparing Texts • Writing Objectives Students will: Read a classic folktale and learn about the American legend Johnny Appleseed Understand what makes a story a folktale Explore the work of author/illustrator Steven Kellogg Compare two different versions of the same story Practice…
Grade Level: Kindergarten Theme: Teamwork • Counting to 100 • Visualizing Large Numbers Objectives Students will: Understand the importance of working together Practice counting to 100 Visualize what 100 items look like Connect teamwork to the message in Swimmy by Leo Lioni Materials The book Swimmy by Leo Lionni 100 paper fish cut from white construction paper…
Topics: Engineering • Material Science • Forces This simple activity uses chocolate to help students understand why materials like concrete can be both very strong and surprisingly weak, depending on how force is applied. Objectives Students will: Compare compressional strength vs. tensile strength Observe how one material can behave differently under different forces Connect…
Topic: Heat • Air Pressure • Expansion & Contraction A simple bottle, hot water, and air pressure create a surprising little pop!—and kids love the mystery of why it happens. Objectives Students will: Observe how heated air expands Understand why warm air creates pressure Compare results using hot vs. cold water Connect sound to rapid…
Topic: Heat • Energy • Combustion • Science of Fire Safety Important: This activity uses a candle flame. An adult MUST supervise at all times. This can also be done as a teacher demonstration instead of a student lab. Learning Goals Students will understand: Why small pieces of wood catch fire faster than large ones…
Topic: Sound • Vibration • Air Pressure What Students Learn Sound happens when air vibrates. Changing the shape of a space (like your mouth) changes the sound it produces. This is similar to how real musical instruments work. Materials Just two things: Your hand Your mouth (Simple, safe, and no supplies needed!) Activity Steps 1….
Focus: Color recognition • States of matter • Weather basics Objectives Students will: Identify and name basic colors. Observe how temperature changes water from liquid to solid and back again. Discuss how rainbows form in nature. Materials Clear plastic or glass pitchers Spoons Water Food coloring Ice cube trays Books about rainbows and color (suggested):…
Topic: Surface tension, geometry in nature Overview In this activity, students investigate the fascinating geometric patterns created by bubbles. They’ll observe that bubbles always meet in groups of three and form equal angles—patterns that also appear in honeycombs and other natural structures. Materials Clear glass or plastic cup Milk (any kind) Drinking straw (Optional: cookies…
Science Focus: Light, color, diffraction, wave behavior Overview In this activity, students discover how white light can be split into a rainbow of colors using everyday objects: a CD, a hair, and a feather. They’ll see that light doesn’t always travel in straight lines—on a tiny scale, it bends and creates patterns. Objectives Students will:…
Science Focus: Gas release, nucleation sites, chemical reactions Objective Students will observe how carbon dioxide gas escapes from a carbonated beverage and learn how “nucleation sites” help gas escape rapidly. Materials 1 large (2-liter) bottle of carbonated soda (any brand) A clean, unused soda bottle cap Peppermint Lifesavers or similar mints with holes Thread or…