The science corner during summer months

The science corner during summer months

Modifying the contents of your various corners according to the themes explored can be interesting, but you can also change the materials offered and the subjects presented according to the seasons. Here are a few suggestions for your science corner during summer months.

If you wish, arrange the contents of your science corner in a container or suitcase and bring everything outside. Children will love to explore its contents in the yard.

The insectarium
During summer months, install an insectarium in your science corner. Children will love to capture spiders, flies, slugs, and other small bugs outdoors and bringing them indoors to observe, analyze, and feed them.

Suggested questions and observations:

• Can the grasshopper jump high enough to get out of the container?
• Will the caterpillar build a cocoon?
• Will we see the worm dig a hole in the soil?
• Does the big spider have the same number of legs as the small spider? How many legs do they have?
• Are all the ants identical?
• Can we count the centipede's legs?
• Does the fly have a sting like the mosquito?
• etc.

Essential contents of your insectarium:

• Butterfly nets and fishing nets (they are smaller and easier for little hands to manipulate).
• Magnifying glasses.
• Microscope.
• Small tongs that can be used to gently manipulate insects.
• Clear containers with screens.
• Empty medication/pill bottles for capturing insects.
• Aquarium (or large clear container) with a screen that can be used as lid.
• Sand, soil, gravel, water, grass, tiny branches, leaves, etc.
• Plastic insects and, if possible, real insects.

You may also find a variety of activities in the following educatall themes:

http://www.educatall.com/page/242/Insects.html
http://www.educatall.com/page/445/Mosquitoes.html
http://www.educatall.com/page/443/Butterflies.html
http://www.educatall.com/page/465/Ladybugs.html

You may also visit the Montreal Insectarium's website for additional information:

http://espacepourlavie.ca/en/insectarium

Bird observatory
Set up a small bird observatory within your daycare simply by placing a table near a window and decorating your walls with pictures of different types of birds. Obviously, this workshop can easily be taken outside on sunny days. From their observatory, children will be introduced to the world of ornithology.

Suggested questions and observations:

• Are all birds the same color? What color birds have you seen?
• How many legs do birds have? Do they leave tracks?
• Do you know other types of animals or other things that fly like birds?
• Do birds have fur or feathers?
• Are all birds the same size? Which bird is the smallest? Which bird is the largest?
• What does a bird eat?
• etc.

Essential contents of your observatory:

• Binoculars.
• A cage, a perch, a feeding dish, and a small plastic bird for pretend games.
• Pictures, posters, and diagrams involving birds.
• CD with singing bird sounds and pictures of the corresponding birds (association).
• Feathers.
• Different types of birdseed in small containers (sealed with hot glue).
• Camera.
• A feeding dish set up outside to create a feeding a station that will make observing birds easier.
• Pretend nests and plastic birds to play with.
• etc.

You may also find a variety of activities in the following educatall themes:

http://www.educatall.com/page/456/Penguins.html
http://www.educatall.com/page/206/Birds.html

Caroline Allard

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