Mad Scientists!

“The important thing is not to stop questioning."
- Albert Einstein 

Science is all around us - it's in our bodies, in the sky above us and the ground below; it's in our cars and our kitchens. Science is a way of thinking. It involves observing and experimenting, making predictions, sharing discoveries, asking questions, and wondering how things work. It offers explanations for the phenomena all around and and allows us to reason rationally. 

Children are inherently curious and want to understand the world around them. By engaging multiple senses and allowing them to be fully involved in the learning process, kids are able to make their own discoveries, actually retain information, and build the foundation for cognitive growth. They are more likely to remember a learning experience if it's a new, fun, and real experience! A learning environment that involves hands-on, experiential projects allows this to happen. In this environment, the adult is not the only source of information. Instead, the educator is there to provide a wide array of learning experiences and offer support to help the child develop new skills.

We often use the weather and our garden as a teacher, learning from the world around us when it's right in front of us. But check out what else all these MAD SCIENTISTS did this in addition to that this month!

Learning About Science Through Art

Exploring The Scientific Method

Phases of Matter: Watercolor Ice 

Immiscible Liquids: Oil and Watercolor

Absorption and Diffusion: Colors and Water

Diffusion: Watercolor and Salt

Outer Space: Watercolor and Shaving Cream

Science Experiments

Oobleck - Exploring viscosity and non-Newtonian fluids

Inflating Balloon​ - Exploring acid/base reactions and the movement of gases

Catapults - Exploring physics and engineering 

Slime! - Exploring molecules and polymers

Citric Acid - Exploring acid/base reactions and food science

Scientific Journals - The kids write or draw their hypothesis before the hands-on experiment and then compare it to the results after! This encourages critical thinking, reflection, and deeper understanding.

Also check out these awesome videos of Volcano and Dr. Pepper explosions!!

Garden and Nature

This month, everyone got to plant their own baby seeds - choosing between kale, sugar snap peas, or cucumbers! The kids have been watering their own plants and keeping track of growth in their science journals. Soon we will plant everyone's baby plant in the garden and have some yummy snacks on hand!

Critters!! The kids found a gecko, jewel beetle, and a grub worm!

Outside fun!

We had lots of rain this month which made for some super fun water play...

...and brought us some new mushroom friends!

Science in Baking!

In any baking recipe, every ingredient has a purpose and scientific function. Flour offers structure, eggs bind ingredients together, baking powder or soda gives rise, butter and oils tenderize, and sugar moistens and makes your baked good extra yummy :)

You can make this Zucchini Bread recipe at home and explore the scientific concepts that were involved in making the delicious product! 

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups grated zucchini
• 2 cups almond flour
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup honey 
• 2 large eggs

In one bowl mix together all the dry ingredients. In another bowl mix together all the wet ingredients. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Carefully pour into an oiled bread pan and bake for about 60 minutes at 350 degrees. Slice into rectangles and enjoy with your friends!

See you next time!