Counter Top Backup Bubbles

Bubbles--Indoor Science Activity

 Whenever it is too hot, too cold, too rainy, or too dark for outdoor bubbles, this indoor science activity helps young children learn to ask questions, make predictions and blow huge indoor bubbles with a minimum of fuss or mess. 

  You will need Dawn dish detergent, water, plastic straws, measuring tape, a water resistant counter top or cookie sheet, and towels to clean up.

Making Bubbles

  Clean a counter top and wet it with a

Wet Counter-top-Add a Few Drops of Detergent

 puddle of less than 1/8 cup of water.  Place 3-5 drops of dish detergent on the puddle and spread around with your hand (fingers curved) until you have some small bubbles. 

  Wet the tip of a straw in your bubble solution and gently place that tip at a 45-degree angle where the bubble meets the counter. 

   Slowly blow into the small bubble. 

Gently Blow Into the Soapy Puddle

The bubble will enlarge as long as the bubble stays in the soapy solution. Bubbles can reach a foot or more in diameter.

 Soap solution molecules link together. When children blow air into bubbles, the soap solution stretches and surrounds the air. We see bubble colors when light is bent similar to a rainbow. 

  To make smaller bubbles inside larger bubbles, dip the straw in the table solution and gently blow inside the larger bubble. 

  At first no one will get a bubble, and suddenly your counter top is full of bubbles. 

 Practice making bigger and bigger bubbles. When they pop, measure the diameter of the bubbles edge to edge through the center.
Refresh solution

   If the solution stops working, add more solution or more water until you get many small bubbles when you swish it around with curved fingers. if the solution is white when you spread it around clean up and start over. 

   What colors do you see in the bubbles? What color does a section of the bubble become the moment before there is a hole and that section bursts? (red, the thinnest part of the bubble skin)

Ask Questions, Experiment, Have Fun!

Who can make the most bubbles inside a larger bubble?  Can you move the bubble? Can you join it with another bubble? Predict what will happen if you move the bubble to a dry spot. Can you pick it up in your hand? Can you carefully place your soapy hand inside a bubble and keep blowing to surround your hand? 

  Teach very young children (age two) to blow OUT gently.  They will generally like to burst bubbles rather than make them.  Give them a cup or large bowl with solution.  

They will enjoy making bubble volcanoes or dipping their straw in the solution and making small bubbles in their hand or in the air.

By Jean Hetrick

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 

Tempting Kids with Picky Palates

Add French Toast to a Picky-Eater's Menu

 Families can add French toast to eggs, egg sandwiches, pancakes, and fruit smoothies in their search for nutritious recipes for picky eaters.   Since a traditional breakfast is now served as any meal, French toast is a good choice to get protein, fruit, and even vegetables into young children.

  The basic recipe to keep in your bag of childcare tricks is three slices of bread (whole wheat, nine grain or other nutritious bread), one egg and ¼ cup milk, soymilk, or almond milk. Some people add a half-teaspoon vanilla or pumpkin spice. Whisk the eggs and milk until well combined. Children will enjoy helping.

   Dip each slice of bread on both sides until the bread is soaked with the egg/milk mixture. Spray a nonstick fry pan with a pan spray and preheat the pan on medium to medium /high heat. Cook in the pan 2-3 minutes on each side until golden and they separate easily from the pan.  The edges should be a little crispy.

  Serve plain or with a little butter or powdered sugar.  

Healthy Ingredients for Cooking Ease 

Children can make a little puddle of syrup for dipping pieces of French toast.

Getting Fancy

  Add fresh whole or mashed blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, black berries, bananas, peaches, jam, jelly, a few chocolate chips, any nut butter, cinnamon sugar, vanilla yogurt, or a little canned whipped cream for sleepovers or other special occasions. As with many foods French toast can metamorphose into a sugary dessert that leaves nutrition behind.

  Some children like their French toast as long sticks for easy dipping. You may also cut day old French bread into large cubes.  They are a bit fussy to cook, but can be stacked on a plate like building blocks or pyramids for toddlers who like finger food.  It is a great way to get eggs into very young children. Bread can also be cut into circles, hearts, and triangles before soaking.

Being Creative

  To make French toast Nutella sandwiches.

Add Spices and Toppings for More Appeal

 Use eight slices of ay old bread, three eggs, and ¼ cup milk. Spread 4 slices with Nutella and top with the remaining slices. Whisk and soak as above. Fry in butter or a spray coated pan and serve when slightly cooled.

  To make French toast rollups cut off crusts and flatten bread with a rolling pin or plate. Cover with peanut butter or Nutella, roll, and soak in the egg mixture. Add a raspberry or strawberry piece at each end of the roll. Fry and turn until golden brown on all sides. Sprinkle with more berries.  

  Grated cheese, potatoes, carrots and other vegetables may also be sprinkled on soaked French toast before frying for an interesting and delicious veggie version.  For more ideas for young children see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com or wnmufm.org/ Learning Through the Seasons live and pod casts.
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

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