Children explore and play in a tub of water and observe what happens when two colors of ice melt and mix.
Children explore and play in a tub of water and observe what happens when two colors of ice melt and mix.
What you'll need
- water
- ice cube trays
- red and blue food coloring
- large tub
- plastic scoops/containers
- clear plastic bottle
- tape
Step by step
Step 1
Fill ice cube trays with water. Tint some sections with red food coloring and other sections with blue food coloring.
Step 2
Freeze the trays and when ready, release the ice cubes into a tub of plain water. Add plastic scoops and containers.
Step 3
Invite the children to play. They may enjoy scooping up the ice and moving it in and out of the containers.
Step 4
As they explore, help them notice the colors of the ice cubes. Discuss what happens as the ice melts. Does a new color of water form?
More ideas
CAUTION: Always directly supervise water play. Cover the water table when not in use.
Infants: Pour some of the purple water into a clear plastic bottle. Secure the lid and reinforce it with tape. Offer the bottle to an infant to shake like a rattle. Point out that the water is purple.
Learning outcomes
Physical Development and Health
Gross Motor Development
Begins to coordinate body movements (picks up rolled ball, uses hands and feet to make contact with objects, claps); begins to develop proprioception - knowing where one's body is in space (tummy time, reaches for feet)
Coordinates body movements in place (begins kicking stationary ball, begins throwing overhand, catches rolled ball, etc.); continues to develop proprioception (participates in tummy time, uses both hands equally, sucks/blows with drinking straws, begins messy play)
Coordinates body movements in place to interact with objects and surroundings (kicks stationary balls, throws overhand at target, attempts to catch balls, begins dribbling balls with hands, jumps on 2 feet in place); continues to develop proprioception (participates in tummy time, continues messy play)
Physical Development and Health
Fine Motor Development
Uses hands or feet to make contact with mouth, objects, or people, eventually using hands to grasp small objects between thumb and fingertips; transfers objects from one hand to another; claps
Uses both hands to hold and manipulate objects (holds block and adds another block to top)
Uses more refined hand and wrist movements (scribbles, stacks blocks, turns pages)
Uses different actions on objects (kicks, pats, swipes, shakes); explores food with hands and fingers; coordinates sucking/chewing and swallowing, eventually grasping easy-to-handle foods
Coordinates hand and eye movements and controls small muscles when doing simple tasks (uses tools for feeding, hammers pegs, uses large crayons for scribbling); uses fingers and hands to grasp and eat finger foods and drink from cups; uses tools for feeding; drinks with a straw
Uses hands and eyes together to complete tasks requiring a moderate amount of control (completes three or four piece puzzles, thread beads with large holes, uses shape sorter)
Approaches to Learning
Curiosity, Initiative, and Risk-Taking
Uses senses to explore immediate environment
Exhibits interest, curiosity, and eagerness in exploring the world in sight of an adult; becomes increasingly aware of colors, shapes, patterns, or pictures
Asks questions, seeks adult approval, and tries new activities with adult prompting
Science
Observation and Inquiry
Explores objects and world through all five senses (touches and brings objects to mouth, focuses attention on people or objects).
Uses senses to explore and manipulate objects to observe how things work; varies behaviors to observe results.
Uses senses to explore; shares what is seen, heard, and touched; makes simple predictions based on previous experiences; observes the effects of their actions on others.
Uses body as a tool to gather information; reaches for objects; grasps objects; brings objects to mouth
Uses own body and adults as tools to help make observations and gather information.
Uses simple tools to observe things in the environment (sifter, water jug, magnifying glass).
Science
Physical Science
Observes how objects move when acted upon; pays attention to lights and sounds; imitates sounds; observes properties of materials (wet vs. dry; hot vs. cold, etc.).
Observes the ways objects move when acted upon; explores different sounds; observes and explores properties of materials (hard vs. soft; wet vs. dry; hot vs. cold, etc).
Explores different ways to move objects by applying force; explores light and sound; observes how properties of matter can change (water and dirt; melting ice).