Let's Think About... Change

Activities:

4. Fresh Foods Do Not Last Forever

Bring in a banana and a tomato. Watch each day to see if there are any changes. Have children make comments. Do they change the same way? Do they change in the same time?

Take a 2 slices of bread. Sprinkle each with water and place each one in a zipped plastic bag. Place one in the refrigerator and one near the window. Watch and compare as they change.

5. Everyday the Weather Changes

Monitor the weather changes for two weeks. Each day check the weather. Use a chart to designate what the weather is like over a two week period. Is the weather the same each day? Is it different?

6. Water Can Change From Liquids to Solids

Fill two containers that are the same size and shape with water. Place one in the freezer. Keep one at room temperature. When frozen, remove the block of ice from its container. Place it in a large pyrex dish. With children, examine both the water and the ice. What happened? Why? As the ice melts, continue to compare. When melted, pour water back into the original container. Does it take up the same amount of space?

Using the same two containers of water, compare what happens with heat. Pour one container of water into a tea kettle and heat. (Note: Electric tea kettles or coffee pots work well.) Talk about water changing into steam (water vapor). Let water cool and then pour water into the original container. What happened? Why?

7. Some Trees Change Their Color and Lose Their Leaves