Head Start
STREAM Kit Activities
1
Engineering Cycle
Questions for Activities:
What would happen if…
Tell me about…
What does this remind you of… How does it make you feel?
What is different? What is the same?
Do see any patterns?
What did you notice….What do you plan to do next?
Describe what is happening.
What tool should we use?
Suppose you could______ what would you do then?
How can you..
Predict what will happen next.
2
Homemade Playdough (Science VI.A.1., Math V.C.2)
Materials:
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3 cups flour
1 ½ cups salt
6 tsp cream of tarter
3 tbsp vegetable oil
3 cups water
Optional – food coloring and extract for smell, ex. Vanilla, lemon, peppermint, etc.
Pour all ingredients into large pot, stir on medium heat until dough pulls away from sides. Knead for 2
minutes. Please be mindful of any allergies in your classroom.
*create shapes, numbers, and letters using playdough
Translucent, Opaque, Transparent (Science VI.A.4.)
Materials:
 flashlight
 translucent, opaque, transparent materials
 light box
http://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/light-table-activities-for-kids/
**Use three similar flashlights, a rubber-band to secure each sheet of paper over the face of
the flashlight. Turn of the classroom lights to get the room dark enough, then flick on the flash
lights simultaneously to shine at the wall. Your students can try this with other types of paper
like tissue paper, transparency paper, recycled paper, etc, and sort these types of paper on in a
table or sort them in a continuum that goes from transparent to opaque.
Three (3) things can happen.
 Light passes through easily (if the object is transparent)
 Light is blurred (if the object is translucent)
Light is blocked (if the object is opaque)
3
All About Rocks: (Science VI.A.3, VI.A.3., VI.C.1.)
Materials:
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Rock Powerpoint book
balance scale
weigh and compare rock data sheet
measuring tape
*Use rocks for construction in block area
* Matching lines on rocks
Marble Maze: (Science VI.A.2.)
Materials:
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tape
cardboard tubes
4
Tinker Toys for Building (Science V.C.3.)
Materials:
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cardboard tubes
straws
Crawling Colors: (Science VI.A.1)
Materials:
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5 glasses (could use just 3)
Water
Food Color
Paper Towels
Directions:
Fill each glass half full or more with water. Then add Blue, Red, & Yellow food color to three of
the glasses
Stir up the water to disperse the color.
Rip a paper towel in half and the fold or twist it
Put your paper towels going from the full glasses to the empty glasses
After time the empty glasses will fill with water transferred from the paper towels. (may be the
next day)
5
Moon Sand: (Science VI.A.1)
Materials:
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8 cups flour
1 cup baby oil
food coloring
Experimenting with a Pully (Science VI.A.2)
Materials:
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pully
yarn
cup
6
Baking Soda Powered Boat (Science VI.A.2.)
Materials:
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Empty water bottle – small
Baking Soda
Paper Towel
Scissors
Straw
Vinegar
Tape
large container of water
Directions
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Pierce a hole in the non-lid end of the water bottle and poke the straw through, Trim so
straw is about one third of the length. Tape around the gap to prevent air escaping and
keep the straw in place.
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Carefully pour some vinegar into the bottle and replace the lid.
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Pour some baking soda onto a small piece of paper towel and roll it up.
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Stand over your water, stuff the tissue wrapped baking soda into the bottle and quickly
add the lid.
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Place in the water and watch it go.
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Measuring Volume (Science VI.A.3, Math V.D.2)
Materials:
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cup
water
objects to place in the cup.
*Measure the water that is displace.
Melting Ice (ScienceVI.A.1.)
Materials:
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bottle of ice
salt
food coloring
Exploring with a Level (ScienceVI.A.2.)
Materials:
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Blocks
Level
8
Temperature Color Experiment (Science VI.A.3)
Materials:
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3 clear cups
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water
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food coloring
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masking tape
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markers
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thermometers
How to conduct the experiment:
1. Label the cups with the temperatures you are going to use in the experiment. We used
room temperature water {about 72°F} and cold water {about 40°F}
2. Fill the cups ¾ of the way with water labeled Room Temperature water and Cold
water. Add ice to the cup to cool the water even farther. Remove the ice from the cup
before finishing your experiment.
3. Add a drop of food coloring to each of the cups and observe what happens over time.
The Science behind It
Molecules move faster when they are warmer and slower when they are colder. The food
coloring spreads out fairly quickly in room temperature water and slowest in the cold water.
9
Pendulum Painting (Science VI.A.2, Art VIII.A.1, VIII.A.2)
A pendulum is a fixed object hung from a point so it can swing freely back and forth due to the
force of gravity. When discussing the concept with children a great example to use is a swing.
As it moves back and forth it is demonstrating the physics of a pendulum. The swing is moving
back and forth due to the force of gravity on the swing.
Materials
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Plastic Cup
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Scissors
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String
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Tape
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2 Chairs
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Broom
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Large Paper (We used a roll of brown craft paper), Plastic Tablecloth or other drop cloth
Directions
Step 1: Prep the workspace by covering the floor with a drop cloth. Prep the pendulum by poking a hole
in the bottom of the cup and one hole on each side of the cup underneath the rim. Tie a piece of string
through the two holes on the side of the cup creating a handle for the cup.
Step 2: Place the broom horizontal across between the two chairs and slide the string tied cup to the
middle of the broom.
Step 3: Place a piece of tape covering the bottom hole of the cup and fill the cup with a mixture of
washable paint and water. Experiment with the thickness of paint, ex: 2:1 ratio, 2 parts paint to 1 part
water. Roll out and place your paper underneath the pendulum.
Remove the tape and swing the cup. Observe what patterns the pendulum creates on the paper.
Experiment with different timing of swinging the cup and different lengths of string to lower and raise
the cup. Afraid of the Mess? Try it Outside! Use a drop cloth for easy clean up.
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Science Resources:
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