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Science Exploration - FAS - M/W/F AM Class

We have started 2018 with a bang! By that, I mean we have been experimenting with vinegar and baking soda to introduce science into the class. The children have been guessing what will happen when we mix the two together and the outcome has been pretty exciting. 

We have created a few volcanoes with red lava erupting out.  The children were pretty thrilled in making the volcano with clay, and then we put in the baking soda, but the most fun was when we added the red coloured vinegar.  We did this hands-on experiment a few times since the children were very intrigued by it and captivated.

Children learn best when they’re involved in the learning which is by doing.  Through this experiment and the other hands-on ones we performed, like the vinegar in the egg, the expanding balloon, and the fizzing art, the children were able to take part in the experiment, observe, smell, touch and most importantly ask questions.


It was fun discussing what they thought would happen and then figuring out what happened. 

When we added an egg and vinegar to the jar, the children had many answers to what they predicted would happen.  Logan and a few children guessed that the egg would hatch and a chick would appear.  Nora and Emily said that the egg would explode.  Ronin said the egg would become scrambled.  Chloe said it would disappear. 

So, we left the egg over a weekend and brought it back out during circle.  The children were surprised that it was still there and observed it was larger than before and that it no longer was white. We all held the egg and discovered that it was rubbery like a bouncy ball and see through.  Although, no chick hatched it was still a successful experiment that gave the children a chance to make discoveries.


Another experiment we had done was blowing up a balloon by adding vinegar and baking soda to a water bottle that held a balloon on top.  The chemical reaction blew the balloon up. The children all took part in the experiment and were very excited to see the result of the chemical reaction happening. 

Our final experiment was baking a chocolate cake.  The children found this experiment the most delicious and satisfying.  By the end of the week, the children were very familiar with baking soda and vinegar, and of course the chemical reaction called carbon dioxide. 

Science is a great way to provoke a child's natural curiosity.  It helps develop many skills, such as communication, thinking, engagement, patience, confidence, problem solving and most of all it teaches about the way their world works.   
Until next time,
Deanna


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