A sensory table is a great tool for allowing children to explore science concepts independently. Place one or more plastic tubs on a table the children can reach. The tubs can be filled with a variety of materials--water, sand, grains or other food items. For water play, add small toys and objects for students to experiment with sinking and floating; include food coloring to practice mixing colors; add soap to explore bubbles or wash toys and dishes. Grains that can be added include rice, oatmeal and birdseed. Foods that can be used are beans, gelatin, macaroni or cornmeal. For sand, food or grain play, add measuring cups, funnels and other items that can be filled and poured from to encourage measurement and conservation skills. Magnets and metal objects can be included as well. Random materials can also be used, such as packing peanuts, colored paper clips, buttons, shaving cream or shredded paper.
Give each child a magnifying glass, a sheet of blank paper and an index card. Instruct the students to examine the tips of their fingers with the magnifying glasses. Explain that every person has a unique set of fingerprints, meaning they are unlike anyone else's prints. Have students draw the pattern of their fingerprints on the sheet of blank paper. Next, have each student use an ink pad to transfer their fingerprints to the index card. Tell students to use their magnifying glasses to examine all the different fingerprints. When students are finished, brainstorm a list of all the things they observed about the fingerprints--types of patterns, that all were different and so forth.
Employ water and food coloring to explore the color spectrum and acoustic properties. You will need water, six glass jars, blue, red and yellow food coloring; a metal spoon and measuring cup. Have your students help you add water to the six jars--one cup in the first jar, two cups in the second, three cups in the third, four cups in the fourth, five cups in the fifth and six in the sixth. Using the food coloring, make each jar a different color of the rainbow. Explain to the students that you have blue, yellow and red coloring. Ask them what colors to add to create green, purple and orange. Create the colors using the appropriate mixture of colors. Use the metal spoon to lightly tap the side of one of the jars. Show students that each jar makes a different sound or pitch. Allow students to take turns "playing" the jars.
Ask your students why they think leaves change colors. Discuss photosynthesis and how when leaves get enough light and water, they stay green. In the fall, the leaves get less light and water, and begin to change colors. Give each student five blank leaves for recording observations. Have each student pluck a green leaf from a tree outside. Cover several cookie sheets with wax paper. Have each student lay her leaf on the paper and write her name beside the leaf. Each day, the student will color one leaf from her data sheet to represent the leaf's appearance (see article Resources for a printable leaf template).