Objective

By the end of this lesson, the 2-year-old student will have a basic understanding and appreciation for science.

Materials and Prep

• Water
• Empty plastic bottles
• Food coloring (optional)
• Small toys or objects that can float
• A towel or mat for clean-up

No prior knowledge is required for this lesson.

Activities

• Float or Sink: Fill a basin or sink with water and gather a few small toys or objects. Encourage the student to predict whether each item will float or sink. Then, one by one, let the student place the items in the water to observe the outcome.

• Water Bottle Experiment: Fill two empty plastic bottles with water, and add a few drops of food coloring to one of them (optional). Show the student both bottles and ask which one they think will be heavier. Let the student hold and compare the bottles, and then pour out the water to reveal that they weigh the same. Explain that even though the colored water looks different, it doesn't change the weight.

• Water Play: Fill a basin or sink with water and let the student explore pouring, splashing, and stirring the water with their hands or with simple utensils like spoons or cups. Encourage them to describe how the water feels and what they observe.

Talking Points

• "Water can make things float or sink. Let's see if the toy will float or sink when we put it in the water."
• "Look, the toy is floating! It's staying on top of the water. It's light!"
• "Oh no, the toy sank! It's at the bottom of the water. It's heavy!"
• "Let's compare these two bottles. Which one do you think is heavier? The red one or the blue one?"
• "Wow, they weigh the same! Even though the water in one bottle is colored, it doesn't change the weight."
• "Now it's time to play with water! You can pour it, splash it, and stir it. How does the water feel on your hands?"
• "Look at the ripples in the water when you splash it! Can you make big splashes or small splashes?"
• "What happens when we pour water from a high place? Does it make a loud sound or a soft sound?"