Science

Apple Tasting

We tasted three types of apples: Golden Delicious, Royal Gala, and Granny Smith. The children enjoyed sharing how the apples tasted using descriptive words such as sweet, sour, crunchy, and juicy. The children also compared the colours of each apple. Finally, each child placed their picture on a chart under their favourite apple. Royal Gala was the classroom favourite! (Please click for the full photos and how we extended our learning.)

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Butterfly Life Cycle

We experienced the magical transformation of live caterpillars into butterflies. As we eagerly awaited the butterfly transformations, we explored the Butterfly Life Cycle with nomenclature cards, observed preserved caterpillars and butterflies, and read a favourite story, ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’. Click for more information on our beautiful learning experience and for full photos!

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Butterfly Life Cycle Process

The children learned about the metamorphosis of a butterfly from an egg, larva, chrysalis, and finally a butterfly as each stage progressed through days and weeks. We created an art display depicting the life cycle of a butterfly integrating botany and various materials around our classroom. Please click for more information and to watch the video collage of our process!

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Planting Beans

Engaging children with nature is important to be able to give them the opportunity to explore and understand the natural world and will support their respect and appreciation for the environment. The Under 3 class observed lifecycle of a plant objects and discussed the seed, seedling, and plant and what is needed for growth. (Click for the full photos and information on the planting and nurturing the children participated in.)

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Culture: Life Cycles

There are many activities in the Montessori classroom that teach the children about different life cycles such as that of animals, plants, and humans. These activities train the child’s faculties of observation, patience, and admiration, as well as build vocabulary and knowledge about metamorphosis. (Click to find out more about the process.)

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Melting Ice

Ice play provides a thrilling sensory experience. With the varying textures of ice, along with the cold temperature, this activity helps stimulate children’s growing senses and fosters their sensory exploration and cognitive development. Ice play also offers an opportunity for social interaction and communication as the children engage in collaborative ice exploration together. (Please click for the full photos and more information.)

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Water Absorption

Squeezing and releasing a sponge while transferring water from bowl to bowl strengthens the small muscles in the dominant hand and wrist while refining eye-hand coordination. The child also notices the scientific concept of absorption. Moving from left to right indirectly prepares the child for reading and writing. (Please click for more information.)

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Snow Dough

The children are molding and shaping cornstarch mixed with some oil to retain its shape. Sensory play enhances the senses, fine motor skills, and eye-hand coordination, and stimulates intellectual development and curiosity. (Please click for full photos and more information.)

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Sink or Float?

Young children have a natural curiosity for the world around them. The children had fun engaging in our sink or float science experiment, which helps children explore the concept of buoyancy. Science experiments encourage children to explore their environment and to question how and why something happens. (Please click for full photos.)

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Pumpkin Volcanoes!

We experimented with creating Pumpkin Volcanoes. We carved and cleaned pumpkins, and touched and examined the flesh. We made predictions about what would happen when we mixed various ingredients together and determined which ones worked best to “explode.” Please click for more information and full photos, and to find out which mixture came in first place!

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