Fun With Math and Science

Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-518 -- More Projects »
Creativity expert Courtney Watkins points out creative techniques for making science and math fun for little ones.

Density

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Figure A
Pour equal amounts of cooking oil, syrup and water in a tall cylindrical container. Allow the liquids to settle, then drop small items such as plastic toys into the liquids to demonstrate how the various densities of the liquids cause the objects to settle at different levels (figure A).

Sound Waves

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Figure B
Use water, glasses and a spoon to demonstrate how sound is affected by the distance it has to travel. Place various amounts of water in three identical glasses and add a bit of food coloring to each to differentiate the glasses (figure B). Let children tap lightly on the glasses with a metal spoon to discover how each glass produces a different tone.

Measuring Distances

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Figure C
Help children learn a basic math skill such as estimating distance with a simple trundle. A trundle is basically just a wheel on the end of a stick (figure C). Make a trundle with a wheel that's one yard in circumference, and mark the wheel with a bright red arrow. Each time the wheel makes a revolution, one yard is marked off.
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Figure D
Have children estimate how far away an item in the house is, then let them measure the distance with the trundle (figure D). Soon they'll acquire the important skill of estimating distances.

Displacement

Help illustrate math and science concepts with an interesting story. For instance, tell a child the story of how Archimedes discovered the principle of water displacement and demonstrate it by using a bathtub.

Fill the tub partially, and mark the water level. Add large items such as a watermelon or five-gallon jug of spring water and have the child mark the new, higher water level.

Resources
Courtney's Creative Adventures
by Courtney Watkins
Little, Brown & Co., 2002
Order this title from Amazon.com.

Guests
Courtney Watkins
Creativity Expert
E-mail: Courtney@CourtneyWatkins.com
Website: www.courtneywatkins.com
Also in this Episode
Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-518
•Forever in Blue Jeans
•Fun With Math and Science
•Party Appetizers
•Smart Solution of the Day