Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the basic concepts of biology and conduct simple science experiments.
Materials and Prep
- Water
- Cups
- Food coloring
- Plants or flowers
- White carnations
- Scissors
- Clear containers or vases
- Salt
- Ice cubes
- Plastic bags
- Vegetable oil
- Plastic bottles
- Funnel
- Food scraps (fruit peels, vegetable trimmings)
- Brown paper bags
- Markers
Make sure to have adult supervision when using sharp objects or potentially harmful substances.
Activities
Colorful Carnations:
- Fill several cups with water.
- Add different colors of food coloring to each cup.
- Cut the stem of a white carnation at an angle.
- Place each cut stem in a different colored water cup.
- Observe and record any changes in the color of the carnations over time.
Melting Ice:
- Fill two clear containers or vases with water.
- Add salt to one container and leave the other as is.
- Place an ice cube in each container.
- Observe and record which ice cube melts faster.
Oil and Water:
- Fill a plastic bottle with water.
- Add a few drops of vegetable oil to the bottle.
- Securely close the bottle with a cap.
- Shake the bottle vigorously and observe what happens.
- Discuss why oil and water do not mix.
Composting Fun:
- Decorate brown paper bags with markers.
- Collect food scraps throughout the week.
- Place the food scraps in the brown paper bags.
- Seal the bags and store them in a cool, dry place.
- Observe and record any changes in the food scraps over time.
Kindergarten Grade Talking Points
- "Biology is the science that helps us learn about living things like plants and animals."
- "Plants need water to survive, just like we do. They drink water through their roots."
- "Did you know that plants can change color? We can see this by putting them in colored water."
- "Salt can make ice melt faster. It's like magic!"
- "Oil and water don't mix. They separate from each other."
- "Composting is a way to turn food scraps into nutrient-rich soil. It's like recycling for plants!"