In the month of December, the children in the Preschool program welcomed the colder weather as they engaged in an exploration experience involving water and snow and their ability to transition into ice. The children filled two small containers with water and food coloring. Prior to setting the bowls outside a bit after 8:30 am, the children took turns shaking green and gold glitter into each bowl. This then began conversation surrounding the science aspect to this experience. Their curiosity about how long it would take for the water to freeze and their predictions about the process were the perfect starting point for this hands-on investigation. The children not only made estimations, but they also took the time to reflect on those predictions as they observed the changes throughout the day.
The creative addition of glitter brought a fun, artistic touch to the experiment, allowing the children to connect their scientific inquiry with their imagination. By taking turns and working together to add the glitter to the bowls, the children practiced valuable cooperative skills, reinforcing the importance of teamwork in learning.
The observations made at each check-in, until it was finally solid at 2:30 pm, highlighted the rapid changes in the water and snow and how their predictions compared to the actual happenings of the freezing process. When the children touched the frozen ice, it was an excellent opportunity to discuss the science behind freezing, temperature, and how things can change from liquid to solid. This experiment encompassed a combination of estimation, creativity, teamwork, and scientific observation, providing the children with a multifaceted learning experience.
