Greetings Folks! We are still setting up our beautiful new space so here is an oldie but goodie blog post with tons of STEAM learning activities as we explored force and motion with Action Art, Simple Machines, and learning all about levers, wheels, inclined planes, gravity, magnets and more!
Jackson Pollock Inspired Action Art!
We love the book Action Jackson by Jan Greenberg to inspire kids in Action Art!
Jackson Pollock Inspired Action Art!
We love the book Action Jackson by Jan Greenberg to inspire kids in Action Art!
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These collaborative Splatter Paintings are a creative way to explore gravity and amazing to see how the splatter technique really captures the feeling of motion.
Marble Painting is a hands-on way to learn about the effects of push and pull with force and motion!
“We all know that children prefer to be active, and action art incorporates the child’s need for activity with the always important need for creativity. The art experiences are based on the philosophy that children will learn from the process of creating, and that the finished product is the result of that process, not the goal.”
~ from the book Action Art by Mary Ann Kohl
~ from the book Action Art by Mary Ann Kohl
Paint, Wheels, and an Inclined Plane
We turned our table into an inclined plane by raising it on one side, then dipped toy cars into paint, and raced then down the canvas.
We turned our table into an inclined plane by raising it on one side, then dipped toy cars into paint, and raced then down the canvas.
Symmetrical Art with a Wheel and Axle
Paint on one side of the paper, then fold in half, use a rolling pin (wheel and axle!), and reveal your symmetrical art!
Paint on one side of the paper, then fold in half, use a rolling pin (wheel and axle!), and reveal your symmetrical art!
DIY Toy Cars!
Did you know you can make a toy car with a clothespin, a straw, 2 bread ties, and 4 buttons?
Did you know you can make a toy car with a clothespin, a straw, 2 bread ties, and 4 buttons?
Step 1
Decorate your clothespin with markers, paint, stickers, glitter....
Decorate your clothespin with markers, paint, stickers, glitter....
Step 2
Cut the straw into 2 equal lengths and thread the bread tie through it.
Cut the straw into 2 equal lengths and thread the bread tie through it.
Step 3
Attach the buttons to either side of the straw, creating a wheel and axle!
Attach the buttons to either side of the straw, creating a wheel and axle!
Step 4
Attach the front wheels in the front part of the clothes pin. Older kids can use a hot glue gun to secure the back wheels in place. Younger kids can use tape or have an adult help.
Attach the front wheels in the front part of the clothes pin. Older kids can use a hot glue gun to secure the back wheels in place. Younger kids can use tape or have an adult help.
We got this idea from the wonderful book 'I Can Make Toys' by Mary Wallace.
Race your cars down an inclined plane!
DIY Catapults!
Fun catapults made with popsicle sticks, a spoon, and rubber bands.
Fun catapults made with popsicle sticks, a spoon, and rubber bands.
Ready, Set, Launch!
DIY Hydraulic Cherry Picker!
We made this Cherry Picker powered by syringes filled with water.
We made this Cherry Picker powered by syringes filled with water.
Levers in Action!
Exploring Wheels and Magnets!
Exploring Gravity with Marble Runs!
Egg Drop Experiment!
The kids were sent home with a challenge to create a protective box that would protect an egg from being cracked from the highest point in our playground.
The kids were sent home with a challenge to create a protective box that would protect an egg from being cracked from the highest point in our playground.
They came up with so many great original ideas - old wrapping paper, a ziploc bag of water, ball moss...
"Ready, Set, Drop!"
The kids were excited to find out if their egg survived the drop or not!
Yogi Dice!
These Yogi Dice are a fun way to inspire some motion with yoga! Roll the dice and do the poses that roll face up!
These Yogi Dice are a fun way to inspire some motion with yoga! Roll the dice and do the poses that roll face up!
Flying Locusts!
Hissing Snakes!
Flying Airplanes!
Calculating Speed on an Inclined Plane
We measured the distance of the slide, then we timed to see how many seconds it would take for a toy truck to get from top to bottom, then calculated the speed by dividing the seconds from the meters.
We measured the distance of the slide, then we timed to see how many seconds it would take for a toy truck to get from top to bottom, then calculated the speed by dividing the seconds from the meters.
We created our own inclined plane to play on too!
Math-Magical Mondays!
In our Monday math class we created our own money, set up a store and café with price tags, and calculated the totals for our goods!
In our Monday math class we created our own money, set up a store and café with price tags, and calculated the totals for our goods!
In the Garden...
We have been hunting for rhino beetles,
We have been hunting for rhino beetles,
counting and planting seeds,
and tasting fresh figs!
Sweet Friends!
Cooking with Motion!
These cinnamon coconut apples were a hit! And a great way to pack apples for snacks!
Add 1 tsp of cinnamon, 1 tsp of coconut sugar, and 2 tsp of unsweetened shredded coconut to a bag of sliced apples. Then "shake shake shake" the apples until they are fully coated.
These cinnamon coconut apples were a hit! And a great way to pack apples for snacks!
Add 1 tsp of cinnamon, 1 tsp of coconut sugar, and 2 tsp of unsweetened shredded coconut to a bag of sliced apples. Then "shake shake shake" the apples until they are fully coated.
See you next time!
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