Preschool Valentine Science Activities
Children love Valentine's Day, which offers hearts, candy, flowers and love. If you are a science teacher for preschoolers, you can celebrate Valentine's Day by creating science projects that relate to the holiday. These craft projects will include some of the well-known symbols of Valentine's Day.
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Glittery Crystal Heart
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A glittery crystal heart is not only beautiful to look at and a topical symbol of Valentine's Day, but it can also teach preschool children about how crystals form. To create a glittery crystal heart, pour four cups of water into a pot, and add in two cups of sugar. Add in three drops of red food coloring, stirring it in well. Heat the solution until it bubbles, then pour it into a large glass mason jar. Form a chenille stick into a heart shape, and attach a piece of twine to the bottom of it. Stick a pencil through the piece of twine, and lower it into the jar. Leave the heart in the jar until all of the water has evaporated, leaving the sugar crystals attached to the heart.
Pumping Heart Balloon
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Hearts are a symbol of Valentine's Day, which can open the doorway to teaching children about real human hearts and how they work. To make a pumping heart, pour two cups of water into a liquid measuring cup, and add 10 drops of red food coloring. Fill a clear balloon with the red water, and insert a clear straw into the mouthpiece of the balloon. When the you squeeze the balloon, children can see how the heart pumps blood through the veins and arteries in the body.
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Capillary Carnation
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Red and pink flowers are popular gifts on Valentine's Day. Children can transform white carnations into pink or red carnations, and learn about the capillary action of plants, with a simple experiment. Fill a glass tumbler with water, 1/4 cup of sugar and 15 drops of food coloring. Cut an inch off of the end of a carnation, and insert it into the colored water. Leave the flower alone for at least three days. The flower will transform from white to red or pink.
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References
- Photo Credit valentine candy image by William Berry from Fotolia.com
