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Exploring glitter putty {science activities for kids}

7 Comments Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st Grade

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This post may contain affiliate ads at no cost to you. See my disclosures for more information.

This blog features a number of science activities for kids, because science is one of my favorite subjects to share with my children. I have always loved science, and I hope to pass that love on to my kids. Since they are still preschoolers, I believe that part of teaching them about science is teaching them to be curious. Curiosity is something I highly value – hence, the name of my blog :-). Being curious, noticing things, and asking lots of questions are all hallmarks of a scientific mind, so I encourage these traits in my children as much as I can.

We recently received some iridescent glitter putty eggs from Oriental Trading Company. (Please note that the Oriental Trading Company items featured in this post were provided to me in exchange for an honest review. All activities using these materials were planned by me and all opinions are my own. See my disclosures for more information.) I decided to use the glitter putty as an opportunity for my kids to practice intellectual curiosity and scientific thinking.

Teaching science to kids using glitter putty || Gift of Curiosity

We have spent a lot of time in recent weeks learning about states of matter. So when I handed the glitter putty to the kids, the first thing I asked them was whether it was a solid, liquid, or gas. QBoy first said it was a solid, while XGirl first said it was a liquid. We talked about the properties of solids and liquids and how the glitter putty was like one or the other. Eventually we decided it was somewhere between a solid and a liquid because it has properties of both.

Teaching science to kids using glitter putty || Gift of Curiosity

Next, I decided to model being curious. I asked the kids what they thought would happen if we rolled the putty into a ball and dropped it. The kids thought this was a good idea, so they made some balls.

Teaching science to kids using glitter putty || Gift of Curiosity

After making some predictions about what would happen, they let them drop. We were surprised to find that the glitter putty balls bounced!

Teaching science to kids using glitter putty || Gift of Curiosity

Next I asked the kids whether they thought the glitter putty would stick to the sides of objects. They tested it out with small and large amounts of glitter putty. We learned that the putty would stick if it was only a small amount, but it would fall off if the amount was too much.

Teaching science to kids using glitter putty || Gift of Curiosity

Next I asked the kids what they thought would happen if they punched a hole in the putty. They used their straws to see what would happen. (It gets a hole in it, but the hole slowly fills back in.)

Teaching science to kids using glitter putty || Gift of Curiosity

The kids then decided to see what would happen if they squished the glitter putty into the weave of these plastic fruit baskets. They enjoyed watching it bulge as it poked through the holes.

Teaching science to kids using glitter putty || Gift of Curiosity

QBoy then began asking if he could try cutting the putty with scissors. I encouraged the kids to get their scissors from their room to see what would happen. They were delighted to find that they could cut the putty with their scissors. (And I was delighted to see them asking questions and seeking answers on their own!)

Teaching science to kids using glitter putty || Gift of Curiosity

At one point I noticed that the putty was translucent. I placed it on my fingers and held it up in front of a window to show my kids how light could come through.

Teaching science to kids using glitter putty || Gift of Curiosity

QBoy then discovered that the putty became not just translucent but transparent when it was stretched thin enough. This was a great opportunity to discuss the difference between “translucent” and “transparent.” (Translucent means semi-transparent, or letting light through but not allowing for detailed images to be seen. Transparent, on the other hand, means letting light through such that objects behind can be seen in full detail.)

Teaching science to kids using glitter putty || Gift of Curiosity

It was a joy for me to observe my kids engaging in scientific thinking with the glitter putty. Their curiosity is a wonderful thing to behold and I hope to nurture it as much as I can.

Filed Under: Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, Science, Sensory

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Reader Interactions

7 Comments

  1. Ashley

    March 30, 2014 at 4:45 pm

    New things are always great to encourage curiosity! Looks like a lot of fun!

    Reply to this comment
  2. Carrie

    April 4, 2014 at 5:25 pm

    What a great exploration!! How fun!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!

    Reply to this comment
  3. Samantha @ Stir the Wonder

    April 5, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    oooh! We love putty here! Thanks for linking up at the Saturday Science Blog Hop & Link Up! I hope you stop by and link up again this week!

    Reply to this comment
  4. Anna@The Measured Mom

    April 6, 2014 at 12:09 pm

    That looks like so much fun – you do such a great job of making science concepts understandable for young children. Thanks for linking up at After School!

    Reply to this comment
  5. Thaleia (@Something2Offer)

    April 6, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    Looks like lots of hands-on exploration. May have to allow my almost 4 year old some silly putty time:) Thanks for sharing at the Thoughtful Spot Blog Hop.

    Reply to this comment
  6. Jill

    April 6, 2014 at 7:29 pm

    This sounds really fun. My kids love putty and they love glitter. Pinning now!
    Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!

    Reply to this comment
  7. Victoria

    April 7, 2014 at 1:23 pm

    I’m definitely going to have to try this out with my girls! Any with glitter and is shiny, count us in! Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop and sharing with all of our readers! I have featured your post as one of my favorites this week 🙂 Hope you will visit us again each Monday!

    Reply to this comment

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