Children are enthralled by their environment. Have you ever been perplexed by questions such as, “What exactly is a cloud? How do boats stay afloat?”
Through engaging in science activities, Astor International School's inquiry-based teaching techniques ensure that not only are these questions answered but also that children's interest is piqued!
These simple science projects have the ability to ignite a child's curiosity for a lifetime.
What is a cloud?
This interactive activity focuses on condensation, water cycles, and matter states as part of our IPC curriculum for the unit “Land, Sea, and Sky”. The formation of clouds may be effectively shown with only a few basic household things (white shaving foam, blue food coloring, a big clear jar, and a dropper).
Pick up some coloured water with a dropper and drop the water on top of the shaving cream. Repeat this procedure one to two times, paying close attention to what is happening behind the foam cloud. The coloured water will start to seep through the shaving foam and into the water below, mimicking the clouds getting heavier, just before it's about to rain.
Why do boats float?
Students are challenged in this floating boat challenge, which is part of the STEAM extra curricular activity (ECA) at Astor.
Students design a boat using aluminum foil with the aim that it can float and support the most pebbles — without leaking, sinking, or tipping over. Children learn about the properties of materials, floating, and sinking. This fun activity also incorporates engineering skills as students modify their ideas to ensure their boats can float and move.
This lesson may be replicated by substituting different materials for the boat, such as lego, play dough, or even paper.
Science is taught by trial and error. At Astor, children have the opportunity to participate in exploratory sessions like these. We foster learning by kindling their curiosity and providing chances for discovery, which is essential for scientific learning.