The Science Kids curriculum is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.
This year long bundle includes 16 Science Units:
• “What do Scientists Do?”
• “Floating and Sinking”
• “Color Mixing”
• “Magnets”
• “Kitchen Chemistry”
• “Ramps”
• “Mirrors”
• “Gingerbread Science”
• “Freezing and Melting”
• “My Human Body”
• “Music and Vibration”
• “Shadows and Light”
• “Weather and Temperature”
• “Taking Care of the Earth”
• “Taking Care of Pets”
• “Taking Care of Plants”
This packet includes enough lessons for 32 weeks of hands-on learning. While 32 weeks is a bit shorter than a typical school year, this curriculum is designed to be flexible in order to give children the time they need to learn, so extra days are allowed for each unit. Additional, optional activities are also included for many of the units, and these can be used to help fill your days if needed.
This curriculum supports the Next Generation Science Standards for kindergarten.
Please see my other Science products if you want to supplement this curriculum.
Color Mixing Science for Preschool and Kindergarten
By Joyful Explorations
Through hands-on investigations, students will learn what happens when colors are mixed together. The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.
This packet includes:
Instructions for all of these hands-on, scientific investigations:
* "Paint Mixing" Investigation
* "Color and Water" Investigation
* "Bubbling Color" Investigation
* "Colored Lights" Investigation
* "Wandering Water" Investigation
* "Spinning Color Wheel" Investigation
* "Coffee Filter Chromatography" Investigation
* "Invent Your Own Color" final investigation
Click to see my entire Science Curriculum
Weather and Temperature Science Unit for Preschool and Kindergarten
By Joyful Explorations
Students will learn about weather systems, temperature and how to prepare for weather emergencies. This Unit supports the Next Generation Science Standards.
The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.
As they work through the experiments in this packet, students will explore the following concepts:
1. The weather changes.
2. Weather includes cloud cover, wind, precipitation and temperature.
3. The sun warms the Earth.
4. We can use tools to measure the weather.
5. The weather determines some of our actions and activities.
Activities include:
* “What do we wear?” (Clothing for different weather conditions)
* “Temperature” (Make a working thermometer)
* “The sun warms the earth”
* “Cloud in a Jar”
* “Make it Rain”
* “Make a Rain Gauge”
* “Make a Rainbow”
* “Will the Wind Blow It?”
* “Make a Pinwheel”
* “Artificial Snow”
* “Emergency Weather Situations” (Tornado, hurricane and snowstorm)
* “I am a Weather Forecaster”
Click to see my entire Science Curriculum
What Animals Need Science Unit for Preschool and Kindergarten
By Joyful Explorations
Children learn what animals need and how to care for pets through the hands-on lessons and activities in this unit. This packet supports the Next Generation Science Standards.
The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.
Through the activities in this packet, children will explore the things that animals need, including:
❤ Food and Water
❤ Habitat
❤ Body Coverings
❤ Exercise
❤ Companionship
Also included are 8 full-color (half page sized) habitat posters, printable pages for students to record their activities, and lots of ideas for extension activities.
Click to see my entire Science Curriculum
Floating and Sinking Science for Preschool and Kindergarten
By Joyful Explorations
Students will learn about buoyancy and water displacement through these engaging investigations. The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.
Included in this packet are:
★Explanation of the Scientific Method for teachers
★Five sinking and floating investigations, with directions and recording sheets
★Guide for helping students plan their own individual investigations
★Guides for forming hypotheses and reflecting on students' learning
★Guide for sharing student learning
★Tips and helpful suggestions
Click to see my entire Science Curriculum
Freezing and Melting Science for Preschool and Kindergarten
By Joyful Explorations
Students will investigate the states of matter of water as it changes from frozen to liquid states. The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.
Investigations in this unit include:
✔ "Ice Treasures"
✔ "Light or Dark?"
✔ "Adding Salt and Color"
✔ "Ice Cube Race"
✔ "Which is Heavier?"
✔ "Oil and Ice"
✔ "Painting with Ice"
The final investigation in this unit is a student-designed investigation that will test how certain ingredients affect the time it takes an ice cube to melt.
The packet also includes a fun recipe for Ice Cream in a Bag! (And the scientific explanation for how this recipe works.)
Ramps Science Unit for Preschool and Kindergarten (Simple Machines)
By Joyful Explorations
Students will use balls, cars and other objects on ramps as they consider the question, "What affects the way an object rolls down a ramp?" This packet supports the Next Generation Science Standards.
The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.
Concepts in this Unit:
*Some objects roll down ramps, while others slide.
*The height or texture of a ramp will change the distance and speed an object rolls.
*Changing the weight of an object will change the distance and speed it rolls down a ramp.
*An object will move around obstacles that are in its way as it rolls down a ramp
Investigations include:
*"Does it Roll or Slide?"
*"Does Height Make a Difference?"
*"Bumpy Ramps"
*"Heavy and Light"
*"Obstacles"
Printable "Prediction" and "What Really Happened?" sheets are included for many of these investigations.
Also included is a "Just for Fun" ramps art activity.
The final project in this packet is a "Design Your Own Ramp" activity with printable planning sheets and suggestions for ways that students can share their projects with their peers and others.
Mirrors and Reflections Science Unit for Preschool and Kindergarten
By Joyful Explorations
Students will learn about reflection and mirrors through engaging and fun investigations.
The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.
Activities include:
*Sorting reflective and non-reflective materials
*Double Mirrors
*Triangular Mirrors
*Symmetry
*Concave and Convex Mirrors
*Sensory Play on a Mirror
*Final Project- Create a Mirror Sculpture
Click to see my entire Science Curriculum
Intro to the Scientific Method for Preschool and Kindrgarten
By Joyful Explorations
This first unit in the "Science Kids" series helps students learn how to be scientists. Every activity in this packet is aligned with one of the five stages of scientific inquiry. This packet supports the Next Generation Science Standards.
The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning.
The packet includes:
• Color posters of the five stages of scientific inquiry (Click here for free sample)
• Explanation of the stages of scientific inquiry for teachers
• A two-week long, step-by step scientific investigation about balls and wagons
• Printable scientific recording sheets for tracking hypotheses and data
• Discussion guide
• Ideas for sharing student learning
Click to see my entire Science Curriculum
Plants Science Unit for Preschool and Kindergarten
By Joyful Explorations
In this Unit, students will learn about what plants need, through hands-on activities and observations. This unit supports the Next Generation Science Standards.
The “Science Kids” series of packets is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning.
As they learn about what plants need, the students will explore the following topics:
★ Life Cycle of a Seed
★ Plants Need Water
★ How Plants Absorb Water
★ Plants Need Soil
★ Dark or Light? (Plants need sunlight)
★ Parts of a Plant
Earth Conservation Science for Preschool and Kindergarten (Earth Day)
By Joyful Explorations
Perfect for Earth Day or any time, this Unit teaches children to take care of our Earth. This Unit supports the Next Generation Science Standards.
The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning.
A they work through the experiments in this packet the students will explore the following concepts:
Also included are four full color posters for you to display in your classroom, black and white posters for the children to color, journal pages and lots of extension activities.
Kitchen Chemistry Science for Preschool and Kindergarten
By Joyful Explorations
Using ingredients commonly found in the kitchen, students will begin to develop an understanding about the properties of matter and how matter can change when different ingredients are mixed together.
The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.
This packet includes:
• Explanation of the stages of scientific inquiry for teachers
• Six investigations that encourage HANDS ON learning (with explanations of “How it works”)
• Printable scientific recording sheets for tracking hypotheses and data
• Guide for helping students develop an independent investigation
Shadows Science Unit for Preschool and Kindergarten
By Joyful Explorations
Students will investigate shadows and light through a variety of engaging activities. This is a fun unit to do for Groundhog Day, but can be used any time of the year.
The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.
Ten hands-on lessons about shadows are included:
★ Discovering Shadows
★ Outdoor Shadows
★ Is a Shadow Always Black?
★ A Moving Shadow
★ Big and Small Shadows
★ Shadow Detectives
★ Multiple Shadows
★ Shadow Tracings
★ Shadow Charades
★ A Shadow Show (Reflecting on What We've Learned)
This packet also includes extension activities and printables.
Human Body Unit for Preschool and Kindergarten
By Joyful Explorations
Students will make a life size model of the human body as they learn about the systems of the body. This Unit supports the Next Generation Science Standards.
The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.
As we make the life size body model, the students will learn about:
★ The skeletal system (bones)
★ The respiratory system (lungs)
★ The muscular system (muscles)
★ The cardiovascular system (heart, veins and arteries)
★ The digestive system (stomach and intestines)
★ The nervous system (spine and brain)
This packet also includes a printable book: “My Amazing Body” (black and white)
Suggestions for additional activities are included (including printable activities)
Magnet Science for Preschool and Kindergarten
By Joyful Explorations
Students will learn about the concepts of magnets and magnetism through these fun and engaging investigations.
The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.
This packet includes instructions for all of these investigations:
“Magnetic or Not Magnetic?”
“The Magic Paper Clip”
“Magnet Cars”
“A String of Paper Clips”
“Magnet Train”
“Magnet Detectives”
The packet also includes:
• An explanation of the Scientific Method
• Printable recording sheets for investigations
• Guide for helping students develop independent investigations
• Tips and helpful suggestions
Music and Vibration Science for Preschool and Kindergarten
By Joyful Explorations
Students will explore the relationship between sound and vibration as they create several hand-made musical instruments.
The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.
As they learn about vibrations and sound, the students will explore the following hands-on topics:
★ "Balloon Drums"
★ "Seeing Sound Vibrations"
★ "Cardboard Kazoos"
★ "Spoon Sounds"
★ "Rubber Band Guitars"
★ "Buzzing Balloons"
The two-week unit will conclude with the students creating their own unique instruments.
This packet also includes pocket chart word cards for many common percussion instruments.