Kindergarten Cave Activities
Caves can be found around the world in many different environments. Known as mysterious, dark places, caves can be an interesting and educational topic for a kindergarten classroom theme. Explore the intricate features of these natural wonders by creating cave art projects and other activities with your class.
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Cave Diorama
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A diorama is a three-dimensional scene that can either be life sized or scaled down into a mini-representation. Your kindergarten class can make miniature cave interior dioramas from reused shoe boxes, paper and basic arts and crafts materials. Have the students paint the inside of the box brown and tan cave colors. This will be the interior of the cave. Remind the children to paint the cave floor (bottom of the box), the cave ceiling (top interior), the sides and the back. Add in yellow, white and black paints to the brown and encourage the children to mix unique shades and hues. Create stalactites (formations that grow down from the cave ceiling like rock icicles) and stalagmites (pointy rock formations that grow up from the cave's floor) by cutting long, thin rectangles from construction paper. Fold the bottom of the paper into a flap and glue to either the top or bottom of the box. Make boulders and rocks by molding soft clay into irregularly shaped balls.
Caving in the Classroom
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Getting into a cave often means squeezing through tight spaces. Set up a row of chairs for the children to crawl through into an imaginary classroom cave. Decorate the room with a cave backdrop mural made from large butcher paper sheets and markers. Draw rocks, stalactites, stalagmites and more onto the paper and hang it near the cave entrance (i.e., chairs). Hang posters of cave interiors on the walls for the children to explore.Turn the lights down, making sure there is enough light to see, and give the students flashlights. Ask the students to talk about what they see, including specific cave features and vocabulary words from class.
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Make Cave Crystals
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Explore crystal formations that grow inside many caves by growing your own versions in the kindergarten classroom. This project from the American Cave Conservation Association can help students to observe and better understand what crystals are. You will need heated water, a dish, charcoal briquettes, stirring spoon, Epsom salt and food coloring. Due to the nature of the materials (hot water and charcoal), you should mix the crystal making items and allow the students to observe. Measure 2/3 cup of hot water and pour onto the dish. Stir in 1/2 cup of Epsom salts. Place a few charcoal briquettes into the mixture. Add food coloring for bright and vivid crystals. Watch the colored salt crystals grow on the charcoal over the next few days. Provide the students with a notebook or science journal and ask the students to draw observations each day with a marker or colored pencil.
Cave Model
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Make a three-dimensional sculpture model to better understand caves in the classroom. This kindergarten activity will help students to explore the subject of caves while learning about art processes and techniques. Cut long, thin strips of brown construction paper that are approximately two by ten inches in size. Cover desks or a work surface with newspaper or another protective barrier. Mix a commercially available non-toxic, child-safe papier mache paste or make your own with a flour and water recipe. Pour the paste into bowls for the students to share (try three students per bowl). Give each student an inflated balloon. Ask the students to cover half of the balloon by dipping the paper into the paste and then applying in a circular pattern. Set the half covered balloon aside to dry. Once dry, pop the balloon and help the student cut an arch-like opening in the front of the cave.
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- Photo Credit cave image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
