| The preschool sand and water table perfectly | | | | Before you move on to a different material for the |
| combines children's desire to play with their need to | | | | sand and water activity center, give each child a small |
| explore the world around them. As with most fun | | | | cup of vinegar and ask them if they know what will |
| preschool activities, the sand and water activity center | | | | happen when they pour it on the baking soda. They |
| is a place where messes are a given. In fact, the | | | | can employ all of their senses in this activity. They will |
| messier, the better! It is also an opportunity for learning | | | | delight in watching the bubbles form and listening to the |
| about different materials, creating science experiences, | | | | fizzing sound that is made by the chemical reaction. |
| developing motor skills and sensory development. | | | | They can also feel the bubbles, scooping up some |
| A Few Fun Activities | | | | baking soda in one hand and pouring more and more |
| Baking soda is an inexpensive material. It is finer than | | | | vinegar onto it until it completely dissolves. |
| sand, and it has some magical chemical properties as | | | | Talk about the fact that vinegar mixed with baking |
| well. Ask the children to compare how it feels to how | | | | soda creates carbon dioxide, a gas that people |
| sand feels or pasta or water. Provide them with | | | | breathe out and that plants breathe in. When all of the |
| measuring cups, spoons for digging, and sifters to | | | | baking soda is dissolved and all that's left is a sand and |
| move it around and manipulate it. | | | | water table full of vinegar, ask the children if they |
| Let's Talk About Baking | | | | know what happened. Ask them to tell you whether or |
| Filling the sand and water activity center with baking | | | | not they like the smell of vinegar. |
| soda provides you with the opportunity to talk about | | | | The sand and water table is a great place for |
| how it is used to make baked goods. Invite the children | | | | exploration, experimentation and discussion. Although |
| to think of yummy treats they like to eat that are | | | | preschool children aren't ready yet to learn the |
| baked in the oven. Help them decide which foods are | | | | intricacies of science and chemistry, they can |
| made using it and which are not. | | | | understand simple concepts that they witness |
| You can also use simple words to talk about chemical | | | | themselves, as in the case of the bubbles created by |
| reactions and what kinds of materials will react with | | | | the mixing of baking soda and vinegar. Like sand, |
| baking soda. This would also be a good time to | | | | baking soda is also a fun material to manipulate and |
| discuss other uses for it like spreading it topically on | | | | measure. It is a good medium for hiding and finding |
| the skin to soothe minor burns or insect stings. | | | | small objects, as well as practicing writing letters and |
| Making Bubbles | | | | numbers with fingertips. |