Having Fun and Learning With Gravity

Gravity-force that causes objects to fall! 

 Adults who provide care for young children often teach them about animals and plants when out in nature, but children also enjoy learning about physical science. Gravity is the force that causes objects to fall. It is fun for children to learn because it involves sliding, rolling, and other vigorous activities that are some of their favorite things to do.

  Learning about gravity can be done anywhere there is an incline like a safe driveway, hill, playground slide, or a few steps. While going down a slide point out that gravity helps one go fast. 

Gravity Tosses

  Tossing a slightly deflated beach ball up in the air or rolling it down a hill is a good teaching moment and time for discussion.  Gravity is the force that attracts one object to another. If a ball is thrown up, it will come down toward the larger object, the Earth.  A slightly deflated

Gravity - force that attracts objects together!

 beach ball is easier to catch for small hands. 

  Children can roll a ball or some small cars on a decline to have gravity fun.  Push balls down steps so children can practice catching them with the help of gravity. Place a long board on the steps. Will the balls go down faster on the flat board or the steps?

  While the board is out have some fun racing small cars down the plain. Which car is the gravity champion that gets to the bottom first and then continues to roll the farthest? Does the size of the car seem to matter?

  When washing the car on a hot day aim the hose straight up in the air. Children will love to make rain on everyone with the help of gravity. Take out some umbrellas and enjoy the shower.

   If you throw a feather and piece of paper in the air do they land as fast as a ball? No, because they are 

Take Pictures to Make a Personal Science Book

flat and air gets underneath to slow their fall to the Earth. If your children roll that same piece of paper into a ball will it now fall to the ground faster?  There is less resistance and gravity will win. 

Gravity Rolls

  When cousins or friends get together they can have fun with gravity rolling down grassy hills. Teach children to hug themselves and roll sideways down the hill.  

Someone inevitably gets the idea to summersault down, too.

  

Many Childrens' Books Tell About Gravity

You can take pictures during any of these activities and make a personal science book about gravity with children’s words underneath.   Experiences like these give children practice explaining science and telling a story.

read to young children. For more STEM fun see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com. 

photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

More Vocabulary Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’

website:  Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio, 90; Youtube

Pancakes Tempt Choosey Kids

Wholesome Pancakes Cure for Picky Eaters

Picky eaters can drive families crazy. One solution suggested by nutritionists is to serve wholesome pancakes more often because they have a texture children like to eat. They are a versatile food that can be made in advance, stored, and reheated in the microwave on a rushed day. They can be warmed, filled with a little nut butter, rolled, and eaten on the way to school or an afternoon lesson.

  Box mixes cost more than making your own. This basic recipe from Natalie Monson is cheaper and the dry ingredients can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three months. Add the wet ingredients when planning to cook.

Family Favorite

   Mix these dry ingredients to have on hand: 3 cups whole wheat flour, 2 cups white unbleached flour, 1 ¼ cup powdered milk, ¼ cup sugar (or leave it out), 1 T baking powder, 1t salt (or less). Other flours may be substituted for gluten free pancakes.

  When you want to make 6-8 pancakes,

Try a Greek Yogurt Smoothie on the Side!

add the following to 1 ½ cups of the dry ingredients above and whisk together: 1 cup water or milk, 2 tablespoons oil, and 1 egg.

  Pour onto a medium heated pan sprayed with a little cooking spray.

Cook on one side until there are many popped bubbles and the pan side is golden brown with crispy edges. Flip and cook the other side.  Check that the pan side is also golden brown and edges are crispy. Exact time will vary. 

  With supervision children may place a few blueberries, banana slices, cinnamon and apples or chocolate chips in the batter. These fancier pancakes can also be made in a large batch and stored in the refrigerator for a few days.

  Children old enough to use the microwave can warm them up a few seconds for an after school snack or breakfast. A syrup puddle can be used for dipping.  

  Very young children often like pancakes with a little butter, powder sugar, or dry with a few berries on top.  They make great finger food with a

scrambled egg, Greek yogurt, or a strawberry banana smoothie on the side.

Only Two Ingredients

 

Nutritious Choices of Ingredients

Megan Gilmore suggests a pancake with only two ingredients for very young children:  banana and egg. To make the batter mix up one very ripe peeled banana and two eggs in a blender. Ripe bananas have brown spots on the skin, but they are a smooth texture and sweeter than yellow/green bananas.

    Melt a little butter or spray oil in a frying pan on medium heat. Cook about 1-2 minutes on each side until golden brown. Add anything else your children like on top. 

photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

More Vocabulary Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’

website: Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio, 90; Youtube

Pancakes Tempt Choosey Kids

Wholesome Pancakes Cure for Picky Eaters

Picky eaters can drive families crazy. One solution suggested by nutritionists is to serve wholesome pancakes more often because they have a texture children like to eat. They are a versatile food that can be made in advance, stored, and reheated in the microwave on a rushed day. They can be warmed, filled with a little nut butter, rolled, and eaten on the way to school or an afternoon lesson.

  Box mixes cost more than making your own. This basic recipe from Natalie Monson is cheaper and the dry ingredients can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three months. Add the wet ingredients when planning to cook.

Family Favorite

   Mix these dry ingredients to have on hand: 3 cups whole wheat flour, 2 cups white unbleached flour, 1 ¼ cup powdered milk, ¼ cup sugar (or leave it out), 1 T baking powder, 1t salt (or less). Other flours may be substituted for gluten free pancakes.

  When you want to make 6-8 pancakes,

Try a Greek Yogurt Smoothie on the Side!

add the following to 1 ½ cups of the dry ingredients above and whisk together: 1 cup water or milk, 2 tablespoons oil, and 1 egg.

  Pour onto a medium heated pan sprayed with a little cooking spray.

Cook on one side until there are many popped bubbles and the pan side is golden brown with crispy edges. Flip and cook the other side.  Check that the pan side is also golden brown and edges are crispy. Exact time will vary. 

  With supervision children may place a few blueberries, banana slices, cinnamon and apples or chocolate chips in the batter. These fancier pancakes can also be made in a large batch and stored in the refrigerator for a few days.

  Children old enough to use the microwave can warm them up a few seconds for an after school snack or breakfast. A syrup puddle can be used for dipping.  

  Very young children often like pancakes with a little butter, powder sugar, or dry with a few berries on top.  They make great finger food with a

scrambled egg, Greek yogurt, or a strawberry banana smoothie on the side.

Only Two Ingredients

 

Nutritious Choices of Ingredients

Megan Gilmore suggests a pancake with only two ingredients for very young children:  banana and egg. To make the batter mix up one very ripe peeled banana and two eggs in a blender. Ripe bananas have brown spots on the skin, but they are a smooth texture and sweeter than yellow/green bananas.

    Melt a little butter or spray oil in a frying pan on medium heat. Cook about 1-2 minutes on each side until golden brown. Add anything else your children like on top. 

photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

More Vocabulary Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’

website: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio, 90; Youtube

S.T.E.M. Perfect for Families

STEM Opens Conversation Channels

S.T.E.M.  opens up many new opportunities for conversation and learning  during family time like taking walks. The acronym stands for having fun with science, technology, engineering, and math.  Most states have now added “A” for art making the acronym S.T.E.A.M. It’s a way of organizing learning and families can participate.

A Way of Thinking

  How does S.T.E.M. work in the family?  Whenever a family is doing an activity, adults can add a little learning. For example, if grandpa is taking a walk with young children he can stop to watch a few ants working around their anthill. He might even pack a magnifying glass, a

How Does STEM Work?

 real handy tool.  Maybe they’ll pick up a stick to watch an ant crawl. Gramps can add a few interesting science facts he knows about ants, like they bite and may sting.  They crawl down many feet below the frost line to survive the winter. What happens if we leave a little honey, cheese, or a dead fly by the ant hole?  What is the prediction?

  When they get home they might look up information about ants and images on Google or You Tube educational movies.  They might take a picture with their camera. This picture can be inspiration for some sketches, models of ants, or a library visit.  

How Does STEM Work?

  To get the “E” for engineering, grandpa might talk about now the ants make their home. What happens when their house on the sidewalk gets washed out?  How long will it take to rebuild? How is their home like ours—ant farm anyone?

  Let’s count how many ants we see on the way to the park?  Are they all the same color and size?  Is there a pattern to the ant holes on the sidewalk?  There is your math.

  Counting, finding likenesses and differences, looking for patterns, asking questions, figuring out answers, putting in groups, and classifying them are activities kids love to do. Adults can sneak them in anytime anyplace.

Seaborg Center

  Families can talk about the weather, gravity, animals, plants, tracks, mud, gardens, water, 

Sign up for Summer STEM!

food, signs, 

camping, or playing sports, all with S.T.E.M. or S.T.E.A.M. in mind. It’s a way of thinking that just takes a little practice.

  According to the National Science 

Foundation “Over 50% of the fastest growing jobs in the U.S. are math, science, engineering, or technology related” and with families helping, grandkids can get those jobs.

  

All Free Home Materials!

Northern Michigan University offers many exciting summer S.T.E.M. classes for young children at the Seaborg Center that are S.T.E.M. related.

  Many libraries, nature centers, Y’s, and summer camps use the S.T.E.M. model for organizing their programs.  There are also many on-line ideas to easily work S.T.E.M. into your family’s summer life.  

It’s all free with materials in homes, parks, and backyards. 

photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

More Vocabulary Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’

website: Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio, 90; Youtube