Science- Exploring With Solids

Our first science unit is on matter. We specifically cover solids and liquids, but I like to throw in gas too and do some experiments with gasses. For the first part of science the students get to explore with solids. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes for this part of the lesson. I walk around and ask questions that get students thinking about the properties of solids. They start to create pictures. Here is one of the 3-D pictures that one of my students created.

 This student was creating a boat in the ocean. I think that she was being very creative!

This student started to stack the items from largest to smallest. It is a great way to provide the math vocabulary for measurement, early in the year. 

I love exploring solids. If you would like to do this at your school, you will need:

A plastic bag

cloth

plastic cut into a shape

popsicle sticks

wood cylinder

wire

plastic tubing

any other solids that you would like to include like

wikki sticks

string

pipe cleaners

construction paper

Place all items inside the bags and let the students explore at a center or their desk!