Friday, December 30, 2016

5 Minute Science Lesson - Snow


Can you tell what this is?
What does it also look like?
Why do you think this snow is falling sideways instead of straight down?

Monday, December 26, 2016

Snowmen Names


Create a wall mural where the students write the letters of their name on white circle "snowballs" to build their name snowman.

Friday, December 23, 2016

5 Minute Science Lesson - The Punctured Bag


You need: A polyethylene bag, some ordinary pencils, water.
The experiment: Fill about half the polyethylene with water. Pierce the bag using the pencils in the places where it's filled with water.
Explanation: If you pierce the bag with the pencils and only then pour in the water, it will seep out through the holes you've made. But if you fill it first and then insert the pencils, the water will not seep out at all. This is a result of the fact that when the polyethylene is broken apart its molecules move closer together. In this case, the polyethylene tightens around the pencils.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Christmas Crack-Up!


Click picture for larger version to download and print.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Friday, December 16, 2016

5 Minute Science Lesson - Shadows


You need: Some matches, a flashlight.
The experiment: Light a match and hold it about 2-3 inches away from the wall. Shine a flashlight over your hand holding the match. You'll notice that only the shadow of your hand and the matchstick itself will appear on the wall - the flame will not appear.
Explanation: Fire does not produce a shadow, because it doesn't impede the passage of light through itself in the same way that physical materials do.

Friday, December 9, 2016

5 Minute Science Lesson: Refraction


What are you seeing?
Are the straws and pencil broken?
Why or why not?

Try to do the same thing in your classroom.

Friday, December 2, 2016

5 Minute Science Lesson - Waterfall


Do you know what this is? It's a waterfall. Where do you think the water is coming from? Where do you think the water is going? Would it be safe to stand at the bottom and let the water fall on you?

Friday, November 25, 2016

5 Minute Science Lesson - Orchid Mantis


What is happening? What looks like a flower is really an orchid mantis have lunch. Discuss why the insect looks like part of a flower.

Friday, November 18, 2016

5 Minute Science Lesson - Whales


What is this? What is it doing? Why is it doing this?
Where do you think the camera man is while this is happening?

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Incentive - Report Card Reward Jar




Courtesy Holly Bailey Hudson on Facebook: (I) wanted to do something original to really motivate the kids for good grades. They love games and surprises, so I made a Mystery Report Card Reward Jug...... for each A they receive on their Report cards, they choose a stick, and a 4.0 gets an extra draw! Prizes written on the sticks range from 50 cents to $2.00, get out of chores free card, one small DQ blizzard, choice of dinner one night, as well as a few "Prizes" such as puzzles or candy that we bought. They LOVED it!

Monday, November 14, 2016

5 Things You Can Do With an Empty Tissue Box


1. Put game pieces or cards inside. Perfect for when the students need to draw a new card without having to worry about trying to keep the cards in a neat pile.

2. Keep on a table or desk for used tissues and other trash, when the trash can is on the other side of the room.

3.  Great storage for scissors or pencils, or other supplies.

4.  Ideal for tactile games such as "What's inside?", where students have to reach inside and try to describe or identify the object that's inside without being able to look at it.

5.  Keep plastic grocery bags inside for those students who forget their backpacks and need to pack home past work.

Friday, November 11, 2016

5 Minute Science Lesson - Soap Bubble/Water Freezing


What do you think is happening? This is a soap bubble freezing. What is making it freeze? Would you be able to hold the bubble after it's frozen?

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Sparky's Firehouse App


From the website (link here):

Sparky the Fire Dog's ® brand new app is loaded with games and activities perfect for teaching your early learner how to stay safe in case of a fire, plus early math, reading and literacy skills.

Friday, November 4, 2016

5 Minute Science Lesson - 360 Degree Rainbow


What are the men looking at? Can you tell? It's a 360 degree rainbow. A rainbow circle! Discuss why you think they're able to see a full circle instead of an arch like we normally do.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Rock Sorting Activity

By weight (can even use a balance scale to be more specific)


by size



by color


Friday, October 28, 2016

5 Minute Science Lesson - Fog


What does this look like? 
This is fog bank moving over a mountain range. 
Would it feel cold or hot up there?
Would it feel "wet" up there?
Why do you think it's moving so fast?

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Labels Help


Having taught PreK and Kindergarten, and cold weather rolls around, there were many times when two (or sometimes more) student had the same type of jacket, lunch boxes, etc.

And sometimes a sweater or something was left behind, leaving me to wonder who it belonged to.

Parents, please make sure you label their personal belongings so there is no squabbling about what belongs to whom.

Friday, October 21, 2016

Friday, October 14, 2016

5 Minute Science Lesson - Launching a Ship


Most children don't know boats are built on a dry dock, and then literally "dumped" into the water, which is referred to as launching.

Discuss why boats would be treated like this, rather than being built in the water. And what problems could occur by launching boats this way (which there have been!)

Friday, October 7, 2016

5 Minute Science Lesson - Waves


Discuss what this is a picture of. Where would you normally find waves? But this isn't the beach, and these aren't ocean waves. How can you tell this isn't the ocean? What do you think is causing these waves?