Erosion caused by water is one earth science concept that can be demonstrated for kindergarteners.
Kindergartners are curious about the world around them and love learning new things. Science can be especially exciting for this age group. In kindergarten, students should begin to investigate objects and materials in the natural world, helping them develop the skills and understanding necessary for future scientific inquiry. Earth science activities at this level should be short and engaging, with plenty of hands-on opportunities.
Evaporation Art
Help students understand the concept of evaporation by mixing equal parts warm water and salt, and several drops of food coloring. Allow students to paint pictures with brushes and the mixture, then let the artwork dry overnight. The water will evaporate from the paper and the colored salt will remain. You can relate the activity to the water cycle, explaining that the sun heats up water from lakes and oceans and the water evaporates into the air in the form of water vapor. This water vapor eventually returns to the earth in the form of rain.
Science Scavenger Hunt
Kindergartners love to go on adventures. Using a list of natural items, such as different types of rocks, sand and soil, each child will bring a collection bag and clipboard along on a nature walk around the school. Students search for the items on the list, checking them off and placing them in their bags as they find them. In the classroom, the students can place the items on a discovery table and observe what they have found. Encourage them to compare and contrast the items with those found by their classmates, and examine their items using tools such as magnifying glasses and scales. Students can also record their observations in a science journal.
Erosion Demonstration
Students can learn how elements, such as wind and water, affect and change the earth's surface. Using a small fan to first blow sandy soil across the ground, then point the fan on an area covered by grass, and asks students to think about why the dirt where the grass is growing doesn't blow away, but the sandy soil does. The class will discuss what plants do for the land. You should also show students that water changes the surface of the earth by building a hill in a sandbox and allowing water to flow down from the top. Direct the students to observe how the water changes the land as it gets bigger, and ask students to predict what will happen if the water flows faster.
Soil Investigation
After placing rocks that crumble easily on hard ground and cover them with layers of paper, you can let students take turns pounding the rocks with a mallet or hammer until they break down into very small pieces. Explain that this is how soil is made, and ask students if they can come up with ways rocks are pounded or hammered in the natural world, leading to a discussion on how wind, rain and waves in the ocean change the way rocks look.
Forest Floors as Filters
Discuss with students how the forest floor acts as a filter for water. To demonstrate, cover a screen with various materials that would be found on the forest floor, such as dirt, gravel, leaves, moss and bark. Placing a basin underneath the screen, slowly pour water over the materials. While the water is filtering through the screen, children can create forest floor collages by gluing the different materials onto heavy paper. Afterward, students can return to the screen to observe what has happened to the water, prompting a discussion about the purpose of the forest floor and why it is important.
Tags: forest floor, natural world, observe what, sandy soil, water changes
