This is an activity that I documented and contributed over at No Time for Flash Cards quite a few months ago. I thought it would be perfect to share with you, even if you read it over on Allie’s site. Chances are you are having rain, or will sometime in the next few weeks. This is a great indoor activity to keep kids occupied and learning. You know learning without knowing they are really learning (the best kind).
I don't think it is a secret how much I love science. I love teaching my kids about science. Preschoolers are so much fun to watch when they experiment and learn. We did this fun activity on a recent rainy day that taught my kids about spatial relations and physics, but it was disguised as a wrecking ball. Here is what you will need: some yarn, an empty key ring, a ball, masking tape, and some blocks.
First, tape the key ring to a door frame using the masking tape. You want to only use masking tape because any other tape may damage paint or stained wood.
Next wrap the ball with the yarn. Any ball will do. This ball is very lightweight and filled with air and kind of squishy.
Have your child build a structure with the blocks. You do not have to use blocks. Empty yogurt or butter containers work great, so do food storage containers.
Thread the yarn through the key ring.
Have your child hold the end of the yarn in one hand and the ball in the other. Show them how they can adjust the height by pulling or letting go of the yarn. For the younger two kids I held the non-ball end for them.
Now your child can let loose and do some demolition!
We had a neat time talking about how we needed to pull it to make it higher and standing further back to make the ball hit the building harder. It was so exciting to hear my son point these things out. I would ask how we could hit the blocks at the very bottom and he would tell me how he thought it could be done. So I told him to test it out.
It was a good time for everyone. Nothing says fun like demolition. :-)
I so need to try this with my boys...it sounds slightly safer than the tea pot my son last used in his own wrecking crane experience :).
ReplyDeleteI love this idea!! My girls would have a "ball" :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea. I may have to try this with my 2 year old. He LOVES all construction machines, so if he gets to BE the machine, he'll be happy. :)
ReplyDeleteMakes me wish we had more doorways. And that I could reach my doorways without a ladder..... Stupid high ceilings.
ReplyDeleteWe have many great places in the house to set this up. Thanks for the great idea and thanks for sharing it here because I didn't catch is on No Time For Flash Cards. Now, to round up some small boxes to knock over. :)
ReplyDeleteI would love it if you linked this up to our new "It's Playtime" party today.
Jamie @ hands on : as we grow
This is a great idea! My boys would LoVe this! :)
ReplyDelete