Nine STEM Activities for Preschool - Early Math and Science Questions Explained
In a world where curiosity knows no bounds, introducing early math and science to preschoolers through everyday experiences opens endless possibilities. We help children learn from their experiences, adjust the way they think, restructure, and reach a higher level of mathematical understanding (NAEYC). It is up to us to point concepts out in everyday activities and to listen for opportunities to delve deeper. Early math and science development includes analyzing change and understanding that...
...most things change over time
...many changes are predictable
...most changes can be described mathematically or scientifically
Here is a short list of scientific or mathematical observations from preschoolers during the day, all of which can be easily scientifically or mathematically explained, described, and explored further.
"My magnet sticks to the fish." Magnets have a special power called magnetism. It's like an invisible force that makes metal things stick to it. So, when the magnet and the magnet on the fish meet, they stick together and don't let go. (Physics - Magnetism) - Why don't you count how many fish you can pick up with the magnet picks up? - Let's see what other objects the magnet will attract.
"My toy fell on the ground." Gravity is like a giant invisible magnet pulling us down to our planet Earth. It's what keeps us all on the ground instead of floating away like balloons! It works on everything around us, living and nonliving! It pulls down trees, cars, houses, and even the air we breathe. The heavier an object is, the more gravity that pulls at it. (Physics - Gravity) - Why don't you drop different objects and compare how they fall? (feather, rock, cotton ball, piece of paper, tissue, etc.) - How can you tell if the object's weight affected how it fell?
"When I push my car, it goes faster." Motion is when things move. When you push or pull something like a toy car or ball, it will move because of the force you applied. If the surface is flat, and there is nothing to pull or push the toy, like gravity or your hand, the toy will stop. (Physics - Force and motion) - Why don't you push your car on different surfaces and see which rolled the farthest? (sand, carpet, tile, gravel, wood ramp) - What if you measured how far each object rolled?
"My ice disappeared!" Ice melts to a liquid when it gets hotter or as the temperature increases. Ice must be kept cold to stay solid or frozen, but when it is left out of the cold or put in water, the warmer temperature will make the ice melt. When ice freezes, it's like all of your friends holding hands, and when the ice melts, it is like you all let go. Almost everything solid has a melting point. (Physics - Thermodynamics) - Let's see how slow/fast the ice melts when the water is warm vs. cold. - Why don't you use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water before you drop in the ice? After?
"The water went down!" A ramp is a simple machine called an inclined plane because it has a slope or an incline. When the plane is flat, the water will sit still like in a lake, but when one end is higher than the other, water flows like a river because it is being pulled to the ground by gravity. (Physics - Gravity - Fluid Dynamics) - What would happen if you raised or lowered one end of the ramp? - What if you connected more ramps to each end? - How can you build a stream/river?
"That dark thing moves with me." A shadow is a dark shape made by something blocking the light. Your body is blocking the light right now. You must have a light source to make shadows. Some light sources are the sun, an overhead projector, or a flashlight. Sometimes, light is only partially blocked, which makes a lighter shadow. (Physics - Optics) - What do you notice about your shadow when you move around? Closer? Farther away? - Why don't you hold different objects in front of the light and see what happens?
"My sugar is all gone." Sometimes, when two things are mixed together, one or both of them will change. The sugar had a chemical reaction when you poured it in the water. That means the sugar became something new once it got wet. You can't see the sugar anymore, but it still made the lemonade sweet. (Physics - Chemical reaction) - Why don't we pour other ingredients into cups of water and see what happens? (flour, baking soda, beads, crumbs, beans, whip cream, food coloring, etc.)
"The pumpkin turned black." Do you know how food changes and gets soft and yucky when we leave it out for a long time? After a pumpkin is picked from the vine, it starts to change because it's no longer getting the food and water it needs from the plant. Then tiny little creatures called bacteria and fungi that we can't see without a tool start eating and breaking down the food. (Chemistry, microbiology, and physics) - How can you use a tool to look at the pumpkin up close? - How can we turn this decaying pumpkin into compost to feed our newly planted pumpkins?
"This sand is hot." When the sun shines on an object, it can be reflected (bounced off) or absorbed (taken in). When the sun shines directly on the sand, the sand takes the sun's heat in and holds it so it stays warm. Some metal objects hold heat so much that they become too hot to touch. The sand in the shade doesn't absorb the sun, so it stays cool. (Thermodynamics) - What do you feel when you hold your hand in the sun and then the shade? - Why don't you move objects out of or into the sun and see what happens? (bucket, shovel, seashell, wet sand, vs. dry sand, container of water)
These are just a few examples of the many aspects of everyday life that can be explained or described mathematically or scientifically. Create a learning environment rich in open-ended materials and interactions, then give children free range to explore.
Angela Russ-Ayon is a mom-preneur, award-winning children’s author, interactive trainer on the subject of early childhood, and an award-winning artist/producer of music for young children. She presents educational strategies to child care providers, parents, and educators nationwide for AEYCs, R & Rs, child care agencies, and the like. She is a member of the Recording Academy and is the sole owner of Russ InVision Company. For more information on Angela, her workshops, keynotes, and accomplishments, you are welcome to visit www.abridgeclub.com. © 2021, Russ InVision. All rights reserved.
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