For this lesson you will need:
Pictures for Rhyming memory (see English)
Rhyming book of choice (ex: Cat in the Hat)
Pretzel sticks
3 paper grocery bags labeled ‘Solids’ ‘Liquids’ and ‘Gases’
Solids (examples: Cotton ball, marshmallow, block, toy, food)
Liquids: (Vinegar, water, oil, syrup food coloring)
2 cups,
2 bowls
Cooking pot
Ice cubes (Whole tray full, if possible)
Water
Balloon (deflated) A small ziploc bag would work as well.
Bread
Margarine
Hot Cocoa
Pitcher
Welcome Song: Today let’s sing it with our eyes closed!
To the tune of “I’m a Little Tea Pot”:
Mornin’ everybody
How are you?
It’s time for us to learn a little something new!
Turn around in circles
shout ‘HOORAY!’
Glad you’re here with us (clap) to (clap) day! (High five!)
Question of the Day: "Let's pretend like you could fill up a swimming pool with anything you wanted, to swim in. What would you choose?" (You may need to give them a few examples to get them thinking: spaghetti noodles, chocolate milk, etc.) Allow each child to share their answer. Share your answer with the children as well.
English: Rhyming words: Explain that today they will be getting some practice with rhyming words. Rhyming words are words that sound the same. Give them a few examples: Bear and Hair, Love and Dove, Hello and Jell-o….
Ask children if they can think of any words that rhyme.
Tell them to listen to you say some words. If the words rhyme, they will stand up. If they don’t rhyme they will stay seated.
Follow the example below and draw several pairs of rhyming pictures
Cut the pictures out to make several squares of roughly the same size and spread them onto the floor picture side down, for a matching game. Allow each child a turn to pick a card, and find the rhyming match to it. (Follow same rules as ‘Memory’)
Story: When all matches have been found, choose a book with rhyming words to read to the children. You won’t have to look too hard at your local library or even your own homes to find one of these.
Math: Remind children that the last number they learned was 27. Ask if they can guess what comes after the number 27. Give them some practice counting to the number 28 by presenting them with a bowl full of pretzel sticks. Have each child take a seat at the kitchen table. Tell them to count out 28 pretzel sticks (each), from the bowl and lay them in a row in front of them.
Ask what would happen to that number if each person ate 5 pretzel sticks?
Have them count out 5 pretzel sticks from their row, and eat them.
Have children recount the row of pretzels to see how many are left.
What will happen to that number if you eat 6 more pretzels?
Have children count 6 pretzels from their rows, and recount the pretzels in the row to see how many are left.
Explain that when you take things away from a number it is called subtracting! We’ll get lots of practice with this later on. Congratulate them on a counting (and munching) job well done. Allow them to make shapes and pictures with their remaining pretzel sticks…before they eat them.
Introduction to Topic: Put two cups,( one with an ice cube in it, and one filled with water), in front of the children. Have children take turns looking inside to observe. Ask them to tell you what is different about the things inside the cups.
Pour the contents of the cups into two separate bowls and have them observe the transfer (one flows while the other plops into the bowl). Allow them to touch the contents and describe the differences in how the two feel. Ask about the shape of each of the contents.
Explain that everything in this world comes in a different form, just like the water and ice come in different forms. They feel different, they look different, they move different and they are used for different things.
Today we’re going to learn about those different forms, which are called SOLIDS, LIQUIDS, and GASES.
Activity: Pull out 3 paper grocery bags: one labeled Solids, one labeled Liquids, and one labeled Gases.
Before preschool, fill the ‘Solids’ bag with various things you find around the house. This could include toys, cd’s, blocks, playdoh, money, marshmallows, etc. (be sure to include some hard and soft items.)
In the ‘Liquids’ bag, place a container of oil, a bottle of vinegar, a bottle of water, and a bottle of syrup.
Leave the ‘Gases’ bag empty.
*** Put the ‘Solids’ bag in your lap and have the children repeat the word ‘Solid’ after you. “Lots of things we see and use every day are solids. A solid is something that has a shape. (Pull out one of the items and discuss it’s shape) A solid is something that can be hard (pull out something hard) or soft,(pull out something soft). A solid can be big or little, thick or thin. You can hold something that is solid in your hands.”
Give children a chance to hold each of the solids you pull from the bag.
Explain that we use solids to play, to work, and often times to eat. Ask what their favorite solid to eat is.
*** Put the ‘Liquids’ bag on your lap and pull out the items one by one.
“These are called liquids. A liquid is something that is runny. It flows when you pour it. (Pour a little bit of water into a bowl to demonstrate) It does not have its own shape like a solid does. A liquid can be thick or thin. Some liquids flow slowly, and some liquids flow quickly. (Demonstrate the slow flowing motion by pouring syrup into the bowl)
We use liquids for cleaning, cooking, bathing, coloring (food coloring), painting and many times for drinking!. We must be careful that we never drink liquids if we don’t know what they are. Many liquids may look like things to drink, but they may be dangerous for our bodies. (Show children a bottle of Windex or other cleaner as an example)
*** Put the ‘Gases’ bag on your lap and say: “There’s one more form that we’re going to talk about. It is in the bag, but you can’t see it! It’s called a gas! The air around us is made up of gases. Can you see the air around you? Even though we can’t see it, we know it’s there. We can feel it when the sun shines on the air and makes it warm. We can feel it when we get near a hot oven or a cold freezer or blow on your hand. You can’t hold a gas in your hand and gases don’t have their own shape like solids do. Gases have the same shape as whatever container they're in"
Demo: Hold up a deflated balloon for everyone to see. Explain that the balloon does not have any gases in it. Blow it up and pinch it shut. Explain that there is gas in the balloon now and it is in the shape of a balloon! “What will happen to the gas when I let it all out of the balloon?” Release the balloon and let it fly around. Explain that the gas left the balloon and now is in the air around us.
Point out that sometimes you can see gases when they are very hot or very cold, and many times you can smell gases. We use gases to heat things and to freeze things. We use gases for breathing and most importantly, to make hot air balloons fly! :)
Science: Ask “Do you want to know a neat secret? Solids, Liquids and Gases can change forms! Something that is solid can become a liquid, and something that is liquid can become a gas. Would you like to see how this is done?”
Empty an ice cube tray full of ice into a bowl. Allow children to feel the ice cubes. Tell them that when water freezes, it becomes a solid. Ask them what they think needs to happen to make it a liquid again.
Heat it in the microwave until ice cubes have melted. Allow children to observe water in its liquid form.
Ask children what they think needs to happen to make it into a gas.
Pour the water into a pan and bring it to a boil as they watch. Ask children if they can see the hot air coming from the pan. This is called steam, and steam is a gas!
Explain that when steam gets cool, it turns back into a liquid. Pour some of the hot water from the pan into a cup and put it in the freezer.
Explain that when the liquid freezes it will turn back into a solid again!
(It should be frozen in about 2 hours)
Activity: Lead children around the kitchen and have them identify several items in your refrigerator and pantry as solids or liquids.
Snack: Toast with margarine-and hot chocolate: As soon as the bread is toasted, spread a thin layer of margarine over the top. Have children observe the transformation of the margarine from a solid to liquid.
Have children watch as you mix cocoa mix (solid) into a cup of hot water. Point out that the solid disappeared in the water and now it is all liquid.
Service: Explain that we can use different solids and liquids to serve others. Set out a pitcher of water and ask children what kind of service they could do with it! Allow them to come up with some of their own ideas then ask if they would like to help you water your plants with it. Do the same for a neighbor! (Other ideas might include, making some lemonade for a friend or neighbor, filling a pet’s water dish, washing windows, etc.)
Physical Activity: Have children jog around outside for 5 minutes without stopping. Be sure to give them plenty of liquids when they’re done!
Goodbye Song: To the tune of Hokey Pokey
Put your right hand in
Put your right hand out
Put your right hand in, and wave it all about
Thanks for joining with us and for all your friendly smiles
We'll see you all in a while! (clap)
