CARBON DIOXIDE AND YEAST EXPERIMENTS

Most children have no idea what yeast is, or how it is used. When I explain to them that bread, rolls, and cake are made from yeast the kids got interested.

 I start by telling them that yeast is a living organism, a fungus.  As a living  organism it needs the same things to live as humans and it gets old just like we do. Its life span is only 6 months after its container has been opened and it must be kept in the refrigerator..  Then I ask what people needed to keep alive. Almost always the kids will guess oxygen, food, and water.  When I tell them that the the yeast needs the same oxygen, food and water to live and just like them the yeast breathes out the gas carbon dioxide. Yeast also needs warmth to grow. If one element is missing the yeast will not grow.  Lets' do an experiment to prove that 1. yeast needs oxygen and gives off carbon dioxide, 2. yeast needs sugar for food , 3. water to grow, and 4. warmth.

We set up 3 small soda bottles. In one bottle with the blue balloon we put yeast and water, no food.  In another bottle with the yellow balloon we put fresh yeast, sugar, and water.  In the third bottle with the green balloon we put old yeast, sugar, and water. We put different colored balloons to be able to keep track of which experiment it was.  We used 1 tablespoon yeast, and sugar and 1/4  water in each.

We set the bottles on the top of the stove and put the oven temperature to 200 degrees because it was winter and my house temperature is only  64 degrees. Yeast needs 75 degrees. A lamp would give warmth also.

The yellow balloon bottle with the new yeast, sugar and warm water is growing big because it has food is creating the gas carbon dioxide. Just like people yeast needs food to grow bigger.

The new yeast with food continued to produce carbon dioxide and grow bigger.

·        The balloon of the bottle of old yeast (green) just stood up but did not grow. This proves that new yeast is needed to make bread rise.  The balloon of the bottle of yeast without food (blue) only stood up but did not grow proving that yeast needs food to grow and produce carbon dioxide--just like people.

·        The total time we needed for this experiment was 2 hours.

CRAFTS—CREATING  DINOSAURS’ FROM BOXES AND SCRAPS

Children of all ages are fascinated by dinosaurs. I find it amazing that kindergarteners’ know the names and habits of so many dinosaurs’.  Many of their concepts are from cartoons, movies, and some books. I have found YouTube to be invaluable in presenting what scientists have found out about dinosaurs up to now-I say that because they are always finding new fossils and coming up with new concepts about how they lived and why they died. The YouTube Program I use in my classes the most often is, National Geographic’s “ How Dinosaurs Lived”. It consists of many different videos of dinosaurs roaming the earth, how they are born from eggs, how they fight (the boys love this), where they lived and the theories of how they died, etc. I find the children remember better and are more excited when they see the videos.

After we read, study, watch videos, discuss, and write about dinosaur life we create dinosaurs. This year I saved many sizes of cartons, different shaped boxes, paper, cans and craft scraps. I let the each child pick the carton they want and whatever they thought they needed for the project.

To put the dino together I had masking tape, glue, and hot glue guns.  I had my aid help the children with the glue gun. Young children should not use the glue guns because of the danger of burns.

This was one of the most exciting projects we did. I had some dinosaur books the kids could look at to help with their concepts. They spent the whole day creating and were very disappointed when school ended-they wanted to stay and work on their project

I was very surprised by the reaction of most of the parents. They also got excited about what their child did and couldn’t wait to take them home. Some even took pictures with their phones to show them off. A few parents had them displayed in the family room for the rest of the year.

MARSHMALLOW CRAFT, FOR ALL AGES, FOOD, ENGINEERING, SCULPTURE, AND SCIENCE PROJECT, EDIBLE FUN PROJECT

CRAFTS-MARSHMALLOW  SCULPTURES

Creating marshmallow sculptures is a perfect craft for all ages from kindergarten to college and adults.


 It is not only a good fun project for art.  This craft is also an excellent project for engineering , architecture. and science groups. It is also one of the most enjoyable projects to create because you can eat the finished project. 

Materials needed- - 
 1.Large and small Marshmallows, 2, Round toothpicks, 3.Gumdrops, and any other soft candy, 4. Large paper plate.

The project is to make a sculpture using the candy.  To start I will give a large paper plate filled with marshmallows, toothpicks, and other candy to each child (make sure you give the same amount to each) The large paper plate is so the project can be carried home when finished.  To start I will give the children 4 small candies to eat and tell them they cannot eat the ones for the sculpture until they take them home.

I know most people think this is not an architecture, engineering, or science project but it really is.  It is very difficult to get these soft candies not to collapse or cave in. The child or adult has to position them so they do not lean, or fall down



                          
                                              
. They have to engineer how to reinforce with the toothpicks, how to keep the heavier candies at the bottom, etc. I suggest you try it yourself to understand how difficult it really is.

I  add to the fun and also to keep any one from eating the candies as they work by offering prizes (an extra gum drop or marshmallow) for different categories such as who can build the tallest, widest, most interesting, etc.

CRAFTS---ROCK CREATURES    

Children love be creative! Crafts that are designed and packaged so that they all look the same and use the same materials take away the fun of using the child's own imagination. 

When I present a craft project I will use a theme or a particular material or topic,  I  encourage the children to create their designs and use whatever materials they feel will enhance their own creation.

To start a project I will put all materials on the art table, give the kids a tray and tell them to pick whatever they want to work with.

CREATED BY 10 YEAR OLD

CREATED BY A 12 YEAR OLD

For the "rock creatures"  I go to a garden center and buy a bag of river rocks that are 2 to 5 inches. If you live in a rural area you can always ask the kids to bring a rock in. On my art table I will put paper, plastic, foam, and material scraps, eyes, pipe cleaners, wood shapes, yarn scraps, straws, pom poms, ribbons, and whatever else I have that might be used.  On the work tables I will place white glue for the kids to use and if they are older I will allow them to use glue guns.  Glue from the glue gun is quicker to dry and holds better than white glue which takes hours to dry. If the children are younger I will glue with the glue gun for the kids.

CREATED BY A 12 YEAR OLD

CREATED BY A 7 YEAR OLD

                                                                           

This craft is good for all ages and usually the kids take from one to two hours to complete the project.  I have used it in my kindergarten class to the summer camp I am teaching with kids ranging from 7 to 12.  All approach the project with the same enthusiasm and have sooo much excitement and fun.  

 CRAFTS---PLASTER OF PARIS  CASTS TO PAINT

When my children where young there was a plaster of paris figurine  kit that had rubber molds you filled with the plaster. When it dried the figurine would come out of the mold and the children would paint them. The kids just loved it. A few years ago I started looking for the kit for my craft classes but all I could find was a single flat plaster cast in a bag with some paint for anywhere from $1.50 to $3.00 for a single object which would be much too expensive for a class of 20 to 30 kids.

   I started looking for something that I could use to make those fun molds. I went to toy stores, Michaels' and AC Moore. You could buy a mold strip that contained from 3 to 12 molds , depending on the size of the grouping. I have found pirates, cars, flowers, toys, animals, bugs, princess, etc. groupings.

                           

Often used mold

  In the same craft stores or in a hardware store you can buy a small container or a larger bag of plaster of paris for just a few dollars that will yield up to 50 or more plaster casts for the kids to paint.  It is easy but messy to make. I try to do it outside but have made them inside too. Make sure you use newspaper or plastic under the molds while you work to contain the spills.

  I use a small container, or a larger 10 oz disposable cup to make small batches, You have only about 3 minutes to mix the plaster before it starts to set. Put water in the cup first and then add plaster a little at a time, stirring constantly to prevent blobs of unmixed plaster. You are ready to pour when the plaster has the consistency of a milkshake or thin cake batter. It will begin to harden quickly. I usually do at least 3 or four strips at a time. Let the plaster cool, if it feels warm they are not ready to come out. Pop them out, and start again. I usually make over 50 to 100 casts at a time because the kids will want more than one or two.

 

This has been a favorite project at my craft classes or summer camps. Age does not matter as 4 year old's to 15 year old's love to paint them, but chose your subject matter carefully and adjust to the ages and genders you are working with.

SPRING CRAFTS-----EASTER BUNNY

                                                                 

                                                            

I needed a quick cute Easter bunny for my kindergarten class to make.  I used a small paper plate for the head, a larger one for the body, and a small one cut in half for the ears.  Because I was in a hurry, spring vacation was the next day, I stapled the plates together to make them stronger.

On our craft table I put puff balls, eyes, and pillow stuffing for the kids so they could pick their own supplies in whatever colors they wanted to use. Before putting the pillow stuffing I pulled the material so the kids would use less and not put too thick a fluff blob. I put white glue on the table with a paint brush for the children to brush the glue on the plate and not on the fluff.  It will stick better.

                                                                     

                 

The kids had a great time putting it all together.         

NATIVE AMERICAN CEREMONIES

Now that my class understood what Native American life was like in the past and they have made many of the tools and crafts, I wanted to prove to them that the Native Americans were still very much alive and still practiced many of the same crafts, music, and ceremonies.

I love U-tube, because you can find a visual of almost anything you are teaching. Children relate to visual images more than just reading about it in a book.  Seeing and hearing what you are teaching brings everything to life for them. They relate more when they can actually see and hear the ceremonies I have been telling them about. I had pictures I had taken in New Mexico and Arizona of the ceremonies and Indian rodeos and they thought it was interesting, but when I would find an actual rodeo or celebration on U-tube they could see and hear the action. If you have access to a computer you can just Google Native American Ceremonies in New Mexico or Arizona.  You can also type South Western Indian Ceremonies, and then click on video.

My class just got fascinated by the Ceremonial Costumes, the headdresses, the face painting, the clothing and the dancing.

To make a headdress I cut strips out of flat foam sheets (found in any craft store or catalog). I usually cut them one to two inches wide and staple two together to be long enough for a child’s’ head.  Then I put feathers and beads on the art table and let them pick the supplies they want to use.  On the tables I put white glue in a paper cup or plate and show them how to dip the bottom stick of the feather in the glue and to put that on the foam. I make sure that no one is dipping the whole feather in the glue.

It will take at least one day for the feather and the beads to dry.  When it all dries I will staple the headdress to fit the child’s head.  Make sure to put their name on the inside of the headdress.

After all is ready we paint faces, put on the headdresses, bring out our drums and dance. The dance that intrigued them the most was the hoop dance.  I brought in our hula hoops and let them go.  All the kid’s wanted to try. This became their favorite activity and even when we weren't watching the ceremonies the kid's would ask to hoop dance.