Category: Science

Ice Excavation & The Art of Distraction

1/2/2020

Dinosaurs, digging and tools are a few of my boys' favourite things. So, when they discovered how to create mini ice excavations to free frozen dinosaurs, it was NEXT LEVEL!

This STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) and sensory play has since become the kids' favourite activity not only because it's fun and easy to do but it also helps them to focus on something engaging, quickly. There is nothing quite like hammering away at blocks of ice to unwind and release energy – for both kids and parents!

Now, we always keep an ice tray full of frozen creatures. Preferably, near the ice packs for injuries in our freezer. What is the method behind the madness? When the kids (or I) feel grumpy or get a bump, we quite literally break ice as an ‘ice-breaker’ and a distraction from the stinging pain of cold ice pack on owie!

In fact, experts advise the art of distraction is often effective to help calm kids down, especially when they are hurting or need to let go of tension. Now, even the kids' play-dates request this fun, easy and engaging activity when they come over. A win-win for everyone :) Learn how we do it, below.

WHAT WE USE:

Ice trays, baby food trays or muffin trays
Small creature figures including dinosaurs, animals and bugs
Water
Play tools including hammers, drills, pics
Water spray bottles (optional)
Gem stones, water beads or other fun figures (optional)

LET'S CREATE!
Invite the kids to place a creature figure in each open space of the ice tray. Then, help them to pour water into each space and put the ice tray in the freezer. When the water has frozen, remove the ice tray from the freezer and extract the ice blocks onto a large surface (preferably on the ground, outside). Then, let the kids excavate away at the ice blocks with their toy tools to free the fossilized bugs or dinosaurs! Another option is to use water sprays to slowly melt the ice blocks. My kids also like to find different things to freeze to keep it interesting, such as tiny trinkets and water beads.

CONNECT & INSPIRE...
Not only is this activity an effective distraction and releases energy, it also develops skills such as:

STEAM play to learn the science that water and ice are the same substance:
water can be frozen from a liquid to a solid.
Sensory play to experience different temperatures and textures with fingertips: ice will remain frozen if kept in low temperature environments, and ice will melt at higher temperatures.
Imaginative play to create small world play scenes, especially for dinosaur loving kids.
Fine motor skills to pour water, hold slippery ice and use tools to break the ice.

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Creative STEAM Play

1/1/2020

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Artist and Engineer, Leonardo Da Vinci once said, 'Learn how to see. Realise that everything connects to everything else.' He demonstrated this by creatively combining and connecting science and art to make important discoveries.

Why does this matter? STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focused on science concepts. Kids who learn creative methods with STEAM (including Art within the acronym) make connections between concepts, learn to inquire and problem-solve in new and exciting ways.

Today, creative methods are acknowledged more than ever as vital for future-ready employees and as a life skill. One way I incorporate STEAM into play for my three kids is with marbles - encouraging creativity and challenging their engineering skills.

The kids and I were inspired to create our own version of Marble Runs and Trampolines from this post on Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls - thank you so much Mama Sarah for your amazing ideas that helped to grow my kids basic understanding of physics concepts.

WHAT WE USE:

Building toys – wooden blocks, wooden bridge train tracks and paper towel rolls
Marble trampoline(s) - Cut the neck off a balloon, with scissors, and stretch it over the top of a plastic or steel cup or bowl

Marbles
Masking tape

LET'S CREATE!
Try dropping a marble on a balloon to see it bounce! Then get to work creating marble runs that include your trampolines! Our first track was simple, and we used wooden blocks to support the wooden bridge train tracks. We also used masking tape to attach the paper towel rolls to the blocks.

CONNECT & INSPIRE...
Not only is this a great collaborative and engineering activity, but a great way to learn physics concepts and observation skills for older kids. My sons enjoyed tackling the following challenges I gave them:

How high does the marble bounce if you increase the height of the track over the trampoline?
Will the marble bounce higher if the track is longer?

Khan Academy and Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls are a great source for discussing the high-level physics concepts applied here: There is potential energy in a marble before it is released at the top of a track. When the marble is released onto the track, it has kinetic energy. As the marble rolls down the track, it gains momentum and it continues to roll faster because of acceleration and gravity which means it's velocity increases as well.

I would love to hear what you think in the comments section!

Go to Amazing Mazes, Painting with Marbles and Sensory Play with Light for some more creative STEAM activities.

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Sensory play with LIght

11/2/2019

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Let your kids play with light! Light is a fascinating subject for kids and a light box can be used to enhance sensory and STEAM skills in playful ways. To learn more about encouraging Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM) play, go to Fun Marble Runs!

We were inspired to create this Light Box from this post on The Imagination Tree - thank you so much Mama Anna for your amazing ideas!

WHAT WE USE:

Large clear plastic storage box
A string of fairy Christmas lights
Baking paper
Sticky tape
Semi-transparent toys and things such as: marbles, magnetic tiles, water beads, wooden sensory blocks and DIY glitter jars
Scoops and cups

LET'S CREATE!
I put together a simple DIY light box by spreading out the Christmas lights, inside the box. The lead wire came out from the side of the box which I plugged into a power point. Before putting the lid on the box, I lined the inside with sheets of baking paper and stuck it with tape. This helped to dull the light and disperse it evenly inside the box. After putting the lid on, I turned the room lights out and turned the power point connected to the Christmas lights on. The boys then loaded the box with the semi-transparent toys that they had scavenged around for their observation.

CONNECT & INSPIRE...
The kids had fun looking at the light through the various coloured shapes. They learned some great science, math and motor skills using all the senses such as adding, pattern making, sorting, stacking, balancing, scooping, filling and emptying. Plus, they learned how shadows and silhouettes work. In particular, they enjoyed playing and observing the luminous colours through the wooden sensory blocks we had borrowed from our local Toy Library.

What sensory play do your kids engage in?

Go to Amazing Mazes and Painting with Marbles for some more creative STEAM activities.

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Welcome to Creative Mama, where mamas can have fun connecting creatively with their kids and find meaning in mamahood.

Ice Excavation & The Art of Distraction

Creative STEAM Play

Sensory play with LIght

Categories

Welcome to Creative Mama, where mamas can have fun connecting creatively with their kids and find meaning in mamahood.​

Ice Excavation & The Art of Distraction

Creative STEAM Play

Sensory play with LIght

Categories

Welcome to Creative Mama, where mamas can have fun connecting creatively with their kids and find meaning in mamahood.