This activity exploring states of matter with water, ice, and steam was done as part of our unit covering states of matter. The point of this activity was to show my kids how matter can change states from solid to liquid to gas. Further, I wanted them to learn that temperature is a major factor causing matter to change from one state to ... Continue Reading
The ultimate list of St. Patrick’s Day crafts and activities
St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching. Will your family be celebrating it this year? St. Patrick's Day is certainly not a big holiday for our family, but we do enjoy the occasional rainbow craft and a bit of leprechaun mischief. This week I'm bringing you the ultimate list of St. Patrick's Day crafts and activities from a variety of ... Continue Reading
8 amazing art ideas your kids will love {guest post}
Do you ever get tired of doing art with your kids? Are you stuck in an art rut? I recently did a guest post at The Measured Mom to share eight ideas for unconventional art that kids are sure to love. In my post I talk about eight different kids of art you might not have thought of: fizzy art melted crayon art sticky paper art ... Continue Reading
Skittles Density Rainbow
The kids and I recently created a rainbow in our kitchen. How did we do that, you might ask? We made a Skittles density rainbow using a bag of Skittles candy and a bit of science knowledge! This would make a great St. Patrick's Day activity for kids. It would also be a great activity at any time of the year to illustrate the scientific property ... Continue Reading
Dancing raisins experiment
I've done a version of this dancing raisins experiment with my kids a couple of times over the years. We initially did this activity as part of our discussions about states of matter. But it also works really well for a unit on density. When I was developing my Density STEM Pack, a comprehensive curriculum for teaching kids about ... Continue Reading
13 sensory play ideas for preschoolers
I am a big fan of sensory play, and have featured lots of sensory play ideas here at Gift of Curiosity. I believe strongly that sensory play supports the development of critical skills in early childhood. I have come to this belief not just from my perspective as someone with an advanced degree in child development, but also from my perspective as ... Continue Reading
Books about states of matter (solids, liquids, & gasses)
Planning to study matter with your kids or students? Looking for books about matter that are accessible, educational, and interesting? Below, I've reviewed eight books about states of matter that you can use to introduce children to matter and its three forms. Note: For more activities about matter, please see my states of ... Continue Reading
States of matter: An introduction
Matter is defined as "that which occupies space and possesses mass." Matter exists in three primary states: solids, liquids, and gasses. (There is a fourth state of matter, plasma, but we did not cover plasma during our states of matter unit.) In this post I share how I provided my kids with a very basic introduction to states of matter. ... Continue Reading
14 heart crafts for kids {Weekly Kids’ Co-op}
Hearts are a universal symbol of love. Your children can express their feelings for all of their loved ones - family, friends, even pets! - with these 14 heart crafts for kids from the fabulous bloggers of the Weekly Kids' Co-op. These activities include super simple crafts that preschoolers can do as well as more sophisticated ... Continue Reading
Valentine play dough mats
I'm excited to share with you the new Valentine play dough mats I have created to inspire some Valentine-themed sensory play! Using play dough, of course, has many benefits. For example, it gives children's fine motor skills a workout. Play dough also encourages children to use their imaginations. So why incorporate play dough mats into your ... Continue Reading
