Posted on January 14th, 2021 in the category(s) STEM gems
In the heat of the summer, why not tap into the educational aspect of refreshing water play? What starts out as a bit of a splash-about to keep cool can easily turn into investigations that develop concepts such as density and buoyancy in children’s minds.
Posted on January 7th, 2021 in the category(s) STEM gems
Snails are so commonplace… so can they still inspire wonder? Did you know, that the metabolism of snails is evolving to be slower. Also snails with shells that coil right will only mate with other snails with right coiling shells. Discover and explore the fascinating world of snails…
Posted on December 16th, 2020 in the category(s) STEM gems
Often it’s only in those moments of reflection that we ask ourselves, “Why?”, but as advocates of inquiry-based learning, we should be asking ourselves, “Why?”, constantly.
Posted on December 9th, 2020 in the category(s) STEM gems
My love of gardening comes from the memories connected with it: planting seeds with my dad, climbing the apple tree and, of course, making mud pies in the patch of ground next to the cubby house. In an early childhood environment where things have become increasingly sanitised, regulated and designed, how do we, as educators, help our children make those connections?…
If you have a clear sky tonight, have a look up at the beautiful full moon. Do you know how Sun, Earth and Moon are positioned during a full moon? What will happen to the Moon in the next few days? What do you know about the phases of the Moon? Are they different in the northern…
This is a lovely design and technology experience. Children can look at the table setting and decide what objects are ‘fit for purpose’: What is it about the jug that makes it easy to pour…
From scraped knees to hair brushing, body parts and their names play a big role in children’s everyday lives. But, our memories of how we discovered them and when we learned their names are often a little hazy. See how many of these songs you know!
Satellites not only serve very practical purposes but also satisfy our curiosity about the universe. We wouldn’t know as much about space without astronomical satellites like the Hubble Space Telescope and the other research satellites out there.
Bubbles are fascinating: The spherical shape, the sheen and the rainbow colours, the way they float and move with the air currents… They are a source of wonder; but how do they form? What makes them pop? What holds them together? AND can you blow bubbles on the Moon?
Technology has changed rapidly in the last 50 years. An investigation into changes in telephone technology or pictures of old cars can spark many conversations. These might lead into a closer investigation of form and functionality then and now and how technology affects everyday life.