Learning through unstructured play and observation.
There are a number of fun ways to engage children in science and nature. Free and unstructured play both in doors and outdoors is one way to encourage imaginative play and curious thinkers. Here are some other suggestions for preschool age children:
Digging in the dirt and looking for worms.
Find spiders and explore spider webs. Spray spider webs with a squirt bottle to see them better.
Grow seeds with plastic bags taped to the window. You don’t even have to spend money…popcorn, dry cooking beans work.
Planting and watching the garden grow. The easiest are peas, carrots, radishes and lettuce.
Take a nature walk. What sounds do you hear? What plants can you smell?
Explore where food comes from. Visit a local pea patch then visit the grocery store. Playing with blocks.
Water play.
Make a kite using construction paper, straws, string and tape. Make it fly.
Make paper airplanes.
Explore color mixing using food coloring.
Learn science through cooking. What happens if you forgot to put baking soda in a cake?