We found a mutant dandelion today right outside our apartment. My older daughter dissected the dandelion and it had seven heads attached to one rather thick stem.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Pothos Update
After a week of caring for her cutting, my daughter is thrilled at the roots growing from her Pothos' stem. She has successfully started propagating her first plant!
Book Review- Janice VanCleave's Play and Find Out about Science-Easy Experiments for Young Children
Book review Let's Play and Find Out about Science-Easy Experiments for Young Children by Janice Vancleave
Janice Vancleave has authored numerous, experiment packed books about Science for parents and kids. This book gives simple, short experiments for adults to do with children. The sections; Air, Changes, Magnets, Forces, Light, Sound, and Electricity, have multiple activities. Each experiment is set up as a question a small child might ask, followed by clear, concise instructions with illustrations and extensions, for more ways to try out the concept. The materials needed for are likely to be around your house already, if not a quick trip to a local store and a few bucks should suffice to get them. The book does not specify an age range that I have seen, though I feel it would be wonderful for Pre-K children.
I got this book to find some simple activities to do with my two year old. Some of the activities are appropriate for a two year old, others would work with a small amount of tweaking. The book includes simple explanations which could be read to the child or not. I haven't bothered to read anything from the book to my two year old. I think just experiencing is enough for this little of a scientist. I make short observational comments. Just like I usually do in our everyday life together.
She has really enjoyed the experiments we've done so far and it is just another fun way to spend time together. I'd recommend this book for those caring for children ages 2-5. Following are some pictures of our tweaked version of experiment Bubbly. The original experiment calls for bubble bath and water in the cup. I thought milk would be a safer alternative for a two year old. Good thing too because she did forget to blow a few times and sucked instead! She got a mouth full of 'cow', as she calls it, lol.
Janice Vancleave has authored numerous, experiment packed books about Science for parents and kids. This book gives simple, short experiments for adults to do with children. The sections; Air, Changes, Magnets, Forces, Light, Sound, and Electricity, have multiple activities. Each experiment is set up as a question a small child might ask, followed by clear, concise instructions with illustrations and extensions, for more ways to try out the concept. The materials needed for are likely to be around your house already, if not a quick trip to a local store and a few bucks should suffice to get them. The book does not specify an age range that I have seen, though I feel it would be wonderful for Pre-K children.
I got this book to find some simple activities to do with my two year old. Some of the activities are appropriate for a two year old, others would work with a small amount of tweaking. The book includes simple explanations which could be read to the child or not. I haven't bothered to read anything from the book to my two year old. I think just experiencing is enough for this little of a scientist. I make short observational comments. Just like I usually do in our everyday life together.
She has really enjoyed the experiments we've done so far and it is just another fun way to spend time together. I'd recommend this book for those caring for children ages 2-5. Following are some pictures of our tweaked version of experiment Bubbly. The original experiment calls for bubble bath and water in the cup. I thought milk would be a safer alternative for a two year old. Good thing too because she did forget to blow a few times and sucked instead! She got a mouth full of 'cow', as she calls it, lol.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Little One couldn't get to that playground fast enough! She loves being outside. After the playground we looked at flowers, buds, and new leaves on bushes, trees, and on the ground. I showed her how to gently stroke the buds to feel the softness. The ones on the bush were especially soft and furry feeling.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Food Coloring Fun
I'll admit I'm not a fan of food coloring! Dyeing eggs is fun for the kids, so I suck it up, mentally prepare myself, relax, and enjoy them having fun. The pictures speak for themselves. Please excuse our boxes. The closing date on our house was set for March 19th, then April 1st. Both times it's been delayed. Right now we're waiting as patiently as possible amid the boxes!!!!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Pothos
Both daughters were helping give the houseplants a little tlc last weekend. My older daughter, who is 10, accidentally removed a small chunk from the Pothos. She was concerned, but I told her no need to be, you can start a new one with that cutting. So she listened while I went on about the common houseplant Pothos, a beautiful running/climbing plant also known as Devil's Ivy. I showed her how to cut the bottom at an angle, remove the bottom leaves, and fill the mason jar just so full of water. She is very excited about her new plant. She'd like it in her bedroom at the new house. I think this is great. She's been diligently changing the water every second day and watching for root growth. I also got to drivel on a bit about the original plant's history and my personal history. Her father and I worked together at a mom and pop pizza shop twelve years ago, before we were blessed with kids. Our boss had a beautiful, giant leaf Pothos hanging out by the window in the dining area. He gave us a cutting of it and we've had it ever since. Interesting to note we made minimum wage working there, which I believe was $5.15 per hour at the time. It was THE best job though. Lots of nights my beau and I worked alone. Just the two of us, cutting veggies and making pizzas. Quite satisfactory! Oh, and did I mention we were allowed to eat whatever we wanted when on the clock? My sister also has some of our Pothos' little babies, all grown up now. This plant is very hardy. I love it and highly recommend it as a houseplant.
Scratch- a place to create and share your own interactive stories, games, music, and art
Scratch
This website is very popular with the big kids. They've needed absolutely no instruction from me to get started programming projects with this program. The interface is user-friendly. You can download other people's projects you like and 'dissect' them to learn how its done. My daughter has several in real life friends on Scratch. They love to make and share projects. My daughter is very into the Warriors books right now, so lots of her projects and the projects she's interested in have some Warrior slant to them. The projects can be made using Scratch's drawing program, but also can be hand drawn photos uploaded or drawn with a computer design tablet. We don't have a tablet yet, but I'd like to get one soon. I think this would enhance the experience greatly.
Star Breeze project
Sonia project
Happy Scratching!
This website is very popular with the big kids. They've needed absolutely no instruction from me to get started programming projects with this program. The interface is user-friendly. You can download other people's projects you like and 'dissect' them to learn how its done. My daughter has several in real life friends on Scratch. They love to make and share projects. My daughter is very into the Warriors books right now, so lots of her projects and the projects she's interested in have some Warrior slant to them. The projects can be made using Scratch's drawing program, but also can be hand drawn photos uploaded or drawn with a computer design tablet. We don't have a tablet yet, but I'd like to get one soon. I think this would enhance the experience greatly.
Star Breeze project
Sonia project
Happy Scratching!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
