Through physical science experiments, children can find out more about the world.
Physical science activities are a way for children to learn more about the world around them and how things work. Physical science encompasses all of the non-living components of the world and involves such fields as chemistry, physics, astronomy, and geology. Activities that relate to any of these fields is considered to be in the realm of physical science and can help children gain greater understanding.
Magnetism
Children often have misconceptions about what materials are magnetic. Sometimes they believe that because a surface is shiny or an item is made of metal, that it is magnetic. One type of activity that can be done to test magnetism is simply to test which types of materials are magnetic. Children can make a some predictions first, and then using a basic magnet, they can test which materials are magnetic. A variation of this would be to test how magnets function in certain situations. Children could see how effective a magnet is in water, between cloth, and between paper and wood.
Energy and Motion
Children also can experiment with energy and movement and can learn about how tools help with work. One activity children can complete is considering the impact of an inclined plane on the rate of motion. The speed of an object can be observed or recorded as it descends down several inclined planes of varying degrees. Children can predict first which plane will result in the greatest speed. Children can also observe the impact of mass on the rate of descent by using a single plane but recording the descent of several objects of different masses.
Buoyancy
Children often think that if an object is lighter than water, then it will float. They also may think that a metal object always sinks and a wood object always floats or that an object containing air always floats. However, buoyancy is determined by density. This means that if an object weighs more than the water it displaces, it will sink. Children can test buoyancy by testing objects to see if they sink or float. They can make predictions first about what they think will happen, and then see if their predictions are correct.
Properties of Liquids
Children can also learn many interesting things by studying liquids. Liquids take the shape of the container that they are in. They also have different properties. One physical science activity involving liquids focuses on absorbency. This can be done in two ways. First, different types of liquids can be used (liquid soap, oil, water, a beverage, etc) and they can all be dropped on the same type of material such as a paper towel. The children can consider which type of liquid will be absorbed most effectively. The other way to study this is to use one type of liquid, but to see what item is most absorbent (such as cloth, newspaper, foil, waxed paper).
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