Experiment-based play in childcare! Share the excitement with the children and have fun together

The Wonders of Magnets

[For Ages 4–5] Try and Discover! The Wonders of Magnets

Let’s make “sticky bugs” and play by using the properties of magnets! First, draw children’s favorite insects—like ladybugs or rhinoceros beetles—on construction paper and cut them out.

Attach a magnet to each one, and in no time your sticky bugs are ready.

Explore the room with your sticky bugs and see what they can stick to.

Try them on various items such as scissors, paper clips, stuffed animals, and blocks.

Review what sticks and what doesn’t, and ask questions like “Why does it stick?” to deepen children’s curiosity and interest in magnets.

Plastic Bottle Rocket Distance Contest

[Success] I tried making a super cheap plastic bottle rocket using materials from the 100-yen shop Daiso! ~I’ll show you how to make it too~ [Great for independent research!] #39

Let’s compete to see whose plastic bottle rocket can fly the farthest by pumping air into a plastic bottle and releasing it so it shoots out with force.

You can make the mechanism that traps air in the bottle by combining a faucet nozzle with a bicycle valve; once you attach this part to the plastic bottle, it’s ready to go.

The way it flies will vary depending on how much air you put in and how securely the parts are attached, so think of your own ways to increase the flight distance.

It’s also a good idea to attach the parts to the bottle so they catch the wind.

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kappamaki

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[Ages 4 and up] Let’s make a light box

A box of light!! Treasures sparkling all over! So pretty! So mysterious!

Why not try making a mysterious box that beautifully reflects light? First, cut silver origami paper into strips.

Then, attach tracing paper to one side of a milk carton ring to make the base.

Roll the silver origami into small tubes and line them up on the base.

When rolling, keep the silver side facing inward.

Once you’ve filled the box, stick several colors of cellophane on top, and it’s done! It’s a wonderful item for observing how light looks outdoors.

After you make it, be sure to head outside and have fun with everyone.

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tsukada moe

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underwater soap bubbles

Easy Home Experiment: Trapped Underwater Soap Bubble

Here’s an idea for underwater bubbles that also leads to learning.

First, fill two cups with water and add a few drops of dish soap to each.

Mix well, then use a straw like a dropper to suck up the soapy water from one cup and drip it into the other.

You should see bubbles form under the water.

Try thinking about why this happens as you do it.

If the bubbles don’t form well, adjusting the amount of soap often helps.

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yamamoto

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Let’s play with hand shadow puppets

Let's play with hand shadow puppets!

Shadow puppetry has long been a beloved form of play using light.

Hand shadow puppets—creating shapes of objects and creatures with your hands—are fun to watch and fun to imitate, making them perfect for activities in preschools and kindergartens.

Hands seen through the screen look like entirely different creatures.

Imitating the shapes can lead to new discoveries, such as, “So my hands can move like this!” In addition, giving instructions like “Let’s put your thumb together with your middle and ring fingers” can help children learn the names of their fingers.

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yuri

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