Solids, Liquids, Melting & Temperature
A nursery STEM lesson is reviewed
Preparation
There are 2 stages, for me: Wide reading that focuses onto kids (text)books to get the correct level, then identification of experiments for the kids to carry out. I prepare by writing a lesson plan for the lesson with a theme. In this case I felt that THERMOMETERS to show, scale wise, whereabouts something melts. I was going to start at zero degrees Celsius work upwards
EXPERIMENTS:
I started with a few words about Solids & Liquids and then handed out some (glass) traditional thermometers to see if they could raise the temperature by holding (carefully) the bowl, and some digital ones too. I pointed out zero as the point of water turning to Ice.
- ICE Sculpture: Aim to make Hole in the ice block in ice cream tubs with salt. Then decorate with brown sugar, coffee, food colour administered via squeeze-able pipettes.
2. Does it Melt with heat. Try Marshmallow/Chocolate/soap/cheese/ and see if they ..
FINALE
CHEESE on Toast:
REVIEW
What did not go well…..
- Thermometer explanation of scale: I am not quite sure if the kids understood what was going on. I maybe needed a bigger graphic
- Melt — was curtailed by a music lesson
Health & Safety Nos
Boiling/
MELTING POINTS
An incomplete (only those in range)table of Melting Point Temperatures,
- Palm Oil 35C
- Cocoa Butter 34 to 38C
- Marshmallow 38C
BOOKS:
What Are Solids, Liquids, and Gases?: Exploring Science With Hands-on Activities (In Touch With Basic Science) by Richard Spilsbury
Experiment with Kitchen Science: Fun projects to try at home (STEAM Ahead) by Nick Arnold and Giulia Zoavo
