Create your own waterslide for your favorite small figurine! This week for our Summer STEAM series cool off with some fun hands-on water play.
STEAM represents the combination of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.
Preschoolers naturally are inquisitive and ask a lot of questions just like a scientist, mathematician or artist. Through the process of experimenting and exploring children are developing their creative and critical thinking skills.
STEAM Challenge: Can you build a waterslide that can transport a toy?
Objective: Build a waterslide that can transport a toy from one end to the other.
Materials:
- Book, “Roll, Slope, and Slide: A Book About Ramps”
- Pool Noodle
- Plastic Toy Figure
- Large Plastic Container
- Pitcher of Water
- Large Building Blocks
Adult Prep: Slice a pool noodle in half lengthwise.
Read the book, “Roll, Slope, and Slide: A Book About Ramps”. Discuss slides and ramps.
Use the building materials plus pool noodles to build a water slide for a small toy figurine.
Use a pitcher to pour water down the slide to transport your toy.
Did it work?
Did your toy make it to the end of the slide?
Redesign your waterslide as necessary.
- Where have you seen slides or ramps before?
- How can you make your toy slide faster down the slide?
- What other objects will slide down your waterslide?
STEAM Integrations:
Science: What happens if you raise or lower your slide?
Technology: Use a timer to record how fast your toy floats down the water slide.
Engineering: Build a waterslide that can transport your toy.
Art: Make a boat from recycled materials that can float down your waterslide.
Math: How fast can your toy float down the water slide?
Judy Geng says
http://www.preschoolsteam is very useful for our lesson plan.