Fun Learning

Fun and Learning?  In the same sentence?  How can that be?  Yes, learning can be fun.  If you have been reading my blogs for very long, you know science is not my best subject.  However, there is one science objective I do understand and always enjoyed teaching in my class.  That objective is change.  Physical and chemical change.  I loved teaching the difference in a fun way.  Here are some fun ways to teach the difference.

How to Tell Chemical & Physical Changes Apart  About.com explains the difference like this: A chemical change makes a substance that wasn't there before. There may be clues that a chemical reaction took place, such as light, heat, color change, gas production, odor, or sound. The starting and ending materials of a physical change are the same, even though they may look different.

Physical change can be taught by making things like homemade ice cream. Here is how I did it in the classroom.

 Mailing tape
1 empty 3 lb coffee can with lid
1 empty 1 lb coffee can with lid
1 pint half and half
1/2 sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix half and half, sugar, and vanilla.  Pour into 1 lb coffee can.  Put lid on can.  Seal lid with mailing tape.  Place 1lb can in 3 lb can.  Put a handful of crushed ice around 1 lb can.  Sprinkle ice with rock salt.  Continue alternating ice and salt until 1 lb can is covered.  Do not put salt on top of the lid of 1 lb can. (It tends to seep into the ice cream and make it salty.)  Place lid on 3 lb can and seal with mailing tape.

Have children sit on the floor and roll the 3 lb can back and forth for approximately 15 minutes.  Carefully open the 3 lb can and remove 1 lb can.  Wipe lid to make sure it is clear of salt.  Open the lid and check to see if the ice cream if in soft serve stage.  Serve to the children.  (This ice cream will not become solid like purchased ice cream.  It will be in a soft serve stage.)

Chemical change can be taught by making fun things like Flubber. 
1 1/2 cup warm water
1 teaspoon Borax
1 4oz. bottle of Elmer's glue
Food coloring

In one bowl dissolve Borax in 1/2 cup of water.  In a different bowl dissolve glue in 1 cup of water.  Add food color to desired color.  When glue is completely dissolved, mix the two mixtures together.  When it starts to solidify, use your hands to continue mixing the substance together.

Allow the child to help with every step.  This activity involves science and math (measuring). 

Layers of the Earth

Teaching science can be difficult, especially to small children.  How do you teach something as untouchable as the earth's layers?  Here is a fun way to create a visual model for any age.  It is a five day process, but well worth the time.

You will need:

A large clear bowl (size will be determined by number of students)
Plastic wrap

Lime sherbet

Strawberry ice cream

Lemon sherbet

                                                      Chocolate ice cream

These flavors were chosen to represent the temperatures of the different layers, however, can be changed if desired.  The width of ice cream represents the thickness of each layer of the earth.  If you need to change the measurement, just keep the proportion for teaching purposes.

Day 1.  Place plastic wrap on inside of bowl to help with removal of ice cream later.  Soften lime sherbet.  Using the back of a large spoon, spread softened lime sherbet around the inside of the clear bowl.  Make sure layer is at least 1/2 inch thick and entire bowl is coated.  As you are spreading sherbet, discuss with students that the sherbet represents the earth's crust.  Place bowl back in freezer to harden sherbet.

Day 2.  Soften strawberry ice cream.  Using the back of a large spoon, spread softened strawberry ice cream around the inside of the lime sherbet.  Make sure layer is at least 1 inch thick.  This layer represents the mantle, the hottest layer of the earth.  Place bowl back in freezer to harden ice cream.

Day 3.  Soften lemon sherbet.  Spread around strawberry ice cream.  Make sure layer is at least 2 inches thick.  This layer represents the outer core of the earth.  Place bowl back in freezer to harden ice cream.

Day 4. Soften chocolate ice cream.  Completely fill remainder of bowl with chocolate ice cream.  This layer represents the inner core of the earth.  Return bowl to freezer.

Day 5.  Allow ice cream to soften for easy removal from the bowl.  Remove it by turning bowl upside down on plate and pulling the plastic wrap.  Discard plastic wrap.  Slice through 'earth' allowing each layer to be visible.  Review layers of earth before allowing students to eat the earth.

http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/plate1.htm
http://www.kidsgeo.com/geology-for-kids/0020-crust-mantel-core.php
http://www.universetoday.com/42205/earths-layers-for-kids/