These activities will engage preschoolers in experiments and science center play that relate to ice. Preschool teachers can use ice in the classroom to help young children learn about the physical properties of ice, how ice interacts with salt and about icy animal habitats.
Preschool aged children learn science best through hands-on experiences that allow children to discover science concepts on their own. Preschool teachers can help children investigate and learn science by asking questions that encouraging children to find the answers.
Ice Cube Open Ended Play
A bin filled with ice cubes and a few tools will keep preschoolers engaged in educational science play. Tongs and buckets will allow young children to practice fine motor skills as they transfer ice to and from buckets. Ice cubes can be stacked and used to build ice structures inside of the ice bin or tub.
Ice cube trays are available in different shapes and sizes. Standard sized ice cubes can be used one day in the classroom, then other shapes or sizes can be used the next day. Another option is to add food coloring to the water before freezing so that children can explore with different colors of ice.
Ice Cube and Salt Science Activity
A saltshaker and string become science tools next to ice cubes. Preschoolers will learn they can lift an ice cube with a piece of string by using salt to “glue” the string to the ice cube. Although preschoolers won’t be able to understand the exact science behind combining salt and ice, they will notice that salt definitely has an effect on ice.
Children will enjoy the challenge of using string and salt to lift ice cubes. Teachers can ask, "Is it possible to lift an ice cube with ice cube with a piece of string?" and "What would help 'glue' the string to the ice cube?" After preschoolers guess, teachers can hold up a salt shaker and tell preschoolers that salt will help glue the string to the ice. Following the discussion, teachers can allow preschoolers to try to use the salt in different ways to "glue" the string to the ice.
Pretend Play about Icy Animal Habitats
Dramatic play figures can introduce young children to animal habitats in the ice. Preschool teachers can set out plastic animals such as polar bears, penguins and walruses, animals that live in icy habitats. The Fisher Price Little People Polar Set includes a penguin, a polar bear, a walrus and an ice cave. Preschoolers will enjoy helping polar region animals explore an icy habitat in an ice cube filled bin.
Preschool teachers can also add books to enhance a winter science center. Nonfiction books for preschoolers include titles such as Polar Animals (Scholastic Reader Level 1) by Wade Cooper [Cartwheel Books, 2007] and Who Lives Here? Polar Animals by Deborah Hodge [Kids Can Press 2008] offer more learning about animals that live in icy regions.
Comparing Frozen Water and Room Temperature Water
This science activity encourages preschoolers to notice some differences in water when it is frozen and when it is not frozen. Two latex gloves filled with water and tied, one frozen and one not will provider young children with a hands-on science investigation. This activity can be done in a group setting with the preschool teacher leading the discussion or set out at a science table for children to investigate on their own.
Preschool teachers can ask children open ended questions such “What’s the same?” and “What is different?” about the two gloves. Teachers can encourage preschoolers to use their senses by asking questions such as, "How does each glove feel?", "How does each glove look?", etc.
Preschoolers will be more interested in learning about science when they are given opportunities to explore in a hands-on way. In addition, teachers can ask questions that encourage children to guess or discover an answer.
For more preschool activities about winter, ice and snow, read Preschool Winter Animal Science Unit and Preschool Winter Dramatic Play. Also visit the "Ice Science" section of the Perpetual Preschool Website.
References:
Big Eyed Owl: Early Years Experience
PBS Kids: Zoom Website
Kelly Pfeiffer - Kelly Pfeiffer teaches Positive Discipline workshops to parents and trains child care providers on various child development topics.
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