Phonics Friends, here you'll find a handy AR Word list and worksheets to teach all about the AR word family.
In this post, we’ll explain the Bossy R rule for AR words, provide a detailed list of "ar words," and share free AR word family worksheets for students to practice this new phonics rule.
When "A" and "R" are found together, they say R's name, like a pirate, "ARRRR!" The rule about "R" saying its name when combined with "A" is often taught as "Bossy R."
This phonics rule applies except on some occasions.
Here are the times when -AR doesn't say R's name:
Here is a fabulous video to help solidify the rule with kids.
The "ar" sound is a common pattern in English, found in many words children encounter frequently. Kids will be expected to read "AR words" during first grade. We need to practice AR words, because when kids are reading phonetically they will likely pronounce the /a/ sound and the /r/ sound separately, misreading words until they understand this rule.
Here is a list of common "ar words" that are perfect for young readers. These words vary in difficulty, making them suitable for different stages of learning. The AR word list pdf has many more words, so make sure to download it!
Basic AR Words:
Intermediate AR Words:
These words contain consonant blends, another important part of first grade phonics.
Advanced AR Words:
These words are multisyllabic, which makes them a bit harder to read. I would have these as 2nd grade vocabulary words.
Here are some practical ways to incorporate the "ar words list" into your teaching routine:
2. Writing AR Words Practice
2. Roll and Read Game by UFLI toolbox. I use these weekly!
3. Stamp and Cover AR Words List
Mastering "AR words" is an essential part of literacy development. If you're interested in more word family resources (also free), check out these posts:
Did you procrastinate and need some last minute leprechaun tricks to wow the kids? Me too, so you're in the right place for fun pranks that the kids will remember for years to come. Most of these silly leprechaun tricks can be done with almost no prep. Some others do require items that are really easy to get at your local store. Green food coloring will go a LONG way!
To make it easy, I've separated the leprechaun trick ideas into 4 categories, so you can find what you need right away by clicking the subsection that matches what you want.
*As an Amazon Associate, I may get a Leprechaun-sized (read: teensy) commission for any purchases you make with my links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you.
Trip the Trap! Each year before St. Patrick's day, I always have my kids build their own leprechaun trap where they entice them to enter their construction with the promise of gold. I have a free printable Leprechaun trap design sheet you can use to do this with kids or students! In the morning, the kids love to check the trap to see if they finally caught a leprechaun. Of course, I've already tripped the traps.
Shamrock Surprise: Hide shamrock stickers in unexpected places like their books or under their pillows.
Leprechaun Scavenger Hunt: This FREE Printable by Brooklyn Berry Designs is so awesome! Get ready for lots of excitement and laughs, thanks to those pesky leprechauns.
Magic Mirror Messages: Write leprechaun-themed messages on the bathroom mirror with soap or whiteboard markers. "Don't forget to wear green today!"
Melted Crayon Rainbow: Remove the peels from some crayons and glue them down on a surface, then blow dry them to make a wax rainbow courtesy of the leprechauns!
Leprechaun Laughs: Play a recording of leprechaun laughs or jingles and see their puzzled faces as they try to locate the source.
Paper Towel Leprechaun Magic: Cut a small section of paper towel and fold in half like a card. On the inside, where you would normally write a message in a card, draw a picture: leprechaun, clover, rainbow. Fold it over so that you can't see the message and then write on top, "Put in water." Once you place it in there, the image below is revealed! Magic!
Invisible Ink: Write a secret message with lemon juice on paper. Let them discover it when they gently heat it up (with supervision, of course!). For how to do it check out Team Cartwright's awesome post.
Mustache Mischief: Leprechauns are known for their red hair. Grab these silly mustaches and use the ginger ones to leave mischievous mustaches on random things like their favorite teddy bear!
Leaping Leprechaun Tracks: Use green paint or chalk to create leaping leprechaun tracks on the floor. I usually make a fist and paint the side of my hand, because it ends up looking like a tiny foot. All I need to do is add 5 dots for toes!
Green Light, Green Light: Swap out your classic bulbs for some green ones. That will have the kids roaring with laughter when they turn on the light and the room becomes green!
Green Ice Cubes: Freeze some green water then go get yourself some ice cubes and exclaim, "Who did this to my ice!"
Green Silly String: Have the kids discover that the leprechauns schemed while they were away. Use Green Silly String to mess up a room after they've just left.
Leprechaun Chemistry Trick: Place some green food coloring in a container and cover it completely with baking soda. Leave a container of vinegar next to it with a note that says, "Pour me in. From, A Leprechaun." That will change the baking soda into a green bubbly reaction! For full instructions see my post on Fizzy Colors Science.
Gather the Green: Take a bunch of green items from around the house or classroom and put them in a pile with a little sign that says "Conquered in the name of St. Patrick!"
Trash the room: This is quite possibly what makes St. Patrick's Day the most fun day of the whole school year. During recess, my fellow teachers and I TRASH the room. For real! (See the proof below!) We knock over every single chair, throw toys on the ground, dump out the bins. The kids are SHOCKED when they return from recess to witness the aftermath of Leprechaun shenanigans. The sweetest part is how they all want to clean it up right away, taking such pride in caring for their classroom!
Rainbow leads here: Use chalk to draw a large rainbow leading up to the classroom door if your classroom door is outside. If inside, use huge strips of paper.
Magic Leprechaun Notes: Leave a note from a leprechaun with a funny message or a silly riddle in their lunchbox or backpack.
Map to the end of the rainbow: Create a map of the school with a hidden treat. Have the kids read the map to find a hidden treasure of your choice. Even something as small as a sticker is always a huge hit.
Marker Mayhem: Remove all the green markers, crayons, and colored pencils from their stashes. When they go to color stuff, they'll go wild at the darn little Leprechauns who stole them on St. Patrick's Day.
Leprechaun’s Messy Desk: Rearrange a few items on the students' desks and replace their usual supplies with green or shamrock-themed items (like pencils, erasers, or notebooks). When the kids come in, they'll be puzzled by the leprechaun's playful rearrangement and enjoy discovering their new green gear!
Gold Coin Math Estimation: Leave a clear jar full of gold coins from the leprechauns. Have the kids estimate how many gold coins are inside. The winner gets to keep or distribute the coins to the class.
Roll up your sleeves: Cover your arms in St. Patrick's Day themed tattoos, then cover them up with a long shirt. Roll up your sleeves and act so surprised to find out that leprechauns must have covered your arms with their tattoos while you were sleeping!
String us together: With a super long piece of golden or green yarn, connect all the kids' chairs so that every chair is connected to another in the classroom. This is the perfect quick alternative to trashing the classroom. It is something you can easily undo by cutting the string while still bringing the festivity into the classroom.
Tiny Green Toilets: Place a few green food coloring drops in the toilet bowl. Who knew leprechauns were into eco-friendly pranks?
Shamrock Confetti: Fill their shoes with shamrock-shaped confetti. Nothing like a little surprise to start the day!
St. Patrick’s Day Jokes: Write leprechaun-themed jokes and hide them in their pockets or lunchboxes.
Leprechaun Hair Dye: Temporarily dye their hair green with a safe, washable green hairspray. Watch their eyes widen as they see their new “lucky” look!
Sensory Sink: Last year, I ran a marathon on St. Patrick's Day, so I woke up at 2:30am needing some last minute leprechaun tricks at home. This an the toilet one is my go to, because it's so easy; just add some green food coloring to water in the sink and put some floating green objects in. Viola!
St. Patrick's Day Green Bath: Fill the bathtub with green bath toys or floating shamrocks. A few drops of green food coloring in the bath always makes for some laughs! Just don't use too much or it can stain.
Shamrock Toilet Paper: Swap out the regular toilet paper with a hilarious Shamrock patterned roll, made just for silly leprechaun tricks!
Bedroom Balloons: I've done this for my kids' birthdays as well as St. Patrick's Day. Blow up some green, gold, and white balloons and then sneak the balloons into your child's room when they are asleep. They are super wowed when they wake up to a room full of balloons!
Paper Streamer Blockade: Use green or rainbow crepe paper streamers to "block" your kids' closed door. When they open their door, they're sure to explode with laughter before satisfyingly ripping through the crepe paper.
Green Milk Surprise: Add a few drops of green food coloring to their milk and watch their eyes widen as they take their first sip.
Green Food Day: Serve all their meals and snacks with a green twist. Green eggs, green pancakes, green spaghetti—anything goes!
Grow a Jelly Bean: On the day before St. Patrick's day, have children plant a jelly bean. At night, replace it with a jelly belly lollipop. This is a kindergarten tradition at our school.
Gold Coin Hunt: Scatter chocolate gold coins around the house or classroom for a little treasure hunt.
Lucky Charms Swap: Swap their usual cereal with Lucky Charms and watch them wonder why their breakfast has magically changed. Just place the plastic bag of Lucky Charms inside of another cereal's box and blame it on the leprechauns!
Green Tongue: Serve green popsicles or candies that will leave a green tint on their tongues.
One Green Egg: Wipe green food coloring around one egg in the egg carton and write a silly message from the leprechaun. Who will volunteer to eat that green egg?
Blended Leprechaun Juice: Serve green juice and replace the label with one that says "Blended Leprechaun Juice."
Leprechaun Lunch: Pack a completely green lunch. Clearly those sneaky leprechauns swapped out their regular food with all green food! Love that idea from the Stuffedsuitcase.com
So, whether you’re a parent or a teacher, get ready to sprinkle some leprechaun magic and mischief into your St. Patrick’s Day. With this huge list of last minute leprechaun tricks up your sleeve, you’re guaranteed to create a day full of laughter and surprises. Happy pranking! 🍀✨
Let's mix up your next gathering with games like Hot Potato! Hot Potato is a classic party game that has entertained generations with its simple yet energizing gameplay. Whether you're looking a quick game to play at indoor recess or want to impress the kiddos are your next party, there are plenty of games that capture the same joy. In this article, we'll explore how to play the Original Hot Potato Game and provide a list of 20 fun games like to Hot Potato that will keep your kiddos squealing with joy.
Be sure to also check out our list of Games like Rock, Paper, Scissors!
*As an Amazon Affiliate, I may receive a small commission if you buy anything using one of my links at no additional cost to you. Thank you in advance.
Hot Potato is a game that involves passing an object around a circle while music plays. Here’s how to play:
Hot Potato is great for its simplicity and the excitement it brings, but if you’re looking for similar games that offer a twist on this classic, read on!
Players walk around a circle of chairs while music plays. When the music stops, they must find a chair to sit in. One chair is removed each round until only one player remains. Similar rules to Hot Potato but kids are moving around more! Can be a great indoor recess game if you have the space.
Similar to Hot Potato, but with a beanbag. I love to do this one with my younger students to this song by Georgiana Stewart. The lyrics have the kids speed up and slow down and stop the bean bag to the music. No one gets "out," so it works well with preschool and kindergarten aged kids. My favorite bean bags for this game are these.
Have you watched Bluey? My kids became obsessed with Pass the Parcel after seeing it in an episode of that show! Wrap a small gift in multiple layers of wrapping paper.
Players pass the parcel around while music plays. When the music stops, the player holding the parcel removes one layer of wrapping. The player who unwraps the final layer gets to keep the gift. This one is great for birthday parties. Sometimes there are mini gifts in each layer to include all the kids. My kids say this is their favorite on the list of games like Hot Potato!
Players dance while music plays. When the music stops, everyone must freeze in place. Anyone caught moving is out. This is another great indoor recess game, to get wiggles out when it's too hot or rainy outside!
Again, you don't have to have anyone get "out," and you can choose different styles of movement to incorporate into the dance. "Dance like fish," or "Dance like a frog!" "Dance only with your legs!"
This Hot Potato Alternative was actually played at a Mom's Night Out I went to. Players pass a balloon around without using their hands. When the music stops, the player holding the balloon must pop it using only their body. I don't think it's one for the kids, but it's definitely a hilarious spin on Hot Potato!
In this variation of games like Hot Potato, players pass a silly hat around while music plays. When the music stops, the person wearing the hat performs a fun task or answer a question.
Players sit in a circle, and a bottle is placed in the center. One player spins the bottle, and when it stops, the person it points to must perform a task or answer a question. This game adds an element of surprise and quick thinking, similar to the unpredictability of Hot Potato. You can use it to carve out group bonding with silly tasks like "Do your best monkey impression!" or ask questions that help students get to know each other better like, "Who in your family do you most look forward to seeing?" You can also use a regular board game spinner.
Players stack and unstack cups in a specific sequence while music plays. If you mess up or take too long, you’re out. Ya'll know I love a cup stack challenge and even have cup stacking challenges for sale that teach reading and math. They would be great for this game!
Players sit in a circle. One player walks around, tapping others on the head while saying "duck." When they say "goose," that person must chase them around the circle. If they catch the person who "goosed" them, that person becomes the next "ducker." This is a great cooperative learning game that can build class morale!
Players hold a balloon between their knees and race to a finish line. The challenge is to keep the balloon from popping or falling to the ground while moving quickly. This game combines physical activity with the excitement of keeping the balloon intact, creating a fun and lively atmosphere.
Players take turns bending backward under a limbo stick while music plays. The stick is lowered after each round. If you touch the stick or fall, you’re out.
Players act out a word or phrase without speaking while their team guesses. Quick thinking is key, similar to Hot Potato.
Like the game of Hot Potato, kids are in a circle, this time sitting. A Memory Tray is brought to the center of the circle with about 20 objects on it and the kids have 1 minute to observe all the objects from where they're standing. The adult then removes the tray and takes away 1, 2, or 3 objects. The memory tray is returned to the circle and kids need to figure out what was missing. You can play this game in teams where the teams that get the objects first earn a point.
Players follow commands only if prefaced with "Simon says." If "Simon" doesn’t say "Simon says," and you follow the command, you’re out.
This might be my favorite indoor recess game ever. Each corner of the room is designated a number 1-4. Players choose a corner and go stand in it while the adult is closing their eyes. Then the adult chooses a number between 1-4. Those in the chosen corner are out. Similar to Hot Potato, the last person standing is the winner
Similar to Freeze Dance, but with a focus on remaining still like a statue when the music stops. In many games like Hot Potato, the music is the driving force and kids have to be focused to pay attention to when it starts and stops!
This free STEM lesson plan I created can be used to play a game like Hot Potato. You can use music with this lesson, to save the little bears from the rising lava. Kids will rescue bear counters by seeing how many they can balance on the structure they make out of cups before the music stops!
Teams of 3-4 race to pass a plastic Easter Egg down a line without dropping it. Alternate using tongs to a bucket to tongs to a bucket to get to the other side. You can also use a large spoon to make it extra challenging. The fastest team wins. Just like Hot Potato, don't drop that egg!
Want kids to be moving around and getting their wiggles out while developing their commuication skills? This Hedbanz game is something almost all my coteachers have at school. Kids wear a picture on their head that they cannot see. They have to go around to other kids, also wearing the Hedbanz, and ask questions that will help guide them to guess what their picture is! This ends up being a hilarious experience, and the kids all get to know each other, making it great for parties, mixers, and classrooms.
Players place their hands and feet on colored circles according to the spinner's directions. This is the Ultimate Twister board for larger groups because it has twice the space! The game becomes more challenging as more players are added. As kids fall or lose their placement they are out! You can also make this game more academic by attaching sight words or CVC words to each of the dots and calling out which WORD kids need to stand on.
These games like Hot Potato offer various ways to enjoy the thrill of fast-paced, active play. From classic party games to inventive twists, there’s something here for every occasion. Whether you’re hosting a birthday party, family gathering, or just having fun with friends, these games will keep everyone entertained and engaged. Try a few of these out and see which ones become your new favorites!
Looking for a free Captain Cook Crossword to help make learning history more fun? Look no further. This simple crossword is easy to download, requires no subscription, and it's totally free. Why? I love to make education more accessible for all and help other teachers out.
Who knew that Captain Cook crosswords for kids were in such high demand with so few resources? In a hurry? Scroll to the bottom of this post to download your crossword right now!
The free crossword also includes an answer key on the back. Don't need this right now, but think it's an excellent resource? Make sure to Pin this crossword on Pinterest.com.
Have kids work in partners to create their own questions and answers that have to do with Captain Cook. Use a crossword puzzle generator online (like puzzle maker or word mint) to plug in their historical Q & A's to make their own crossword for kids! These can be put in a "may do" station for when kids are finished early with their work. They'll love doing one another's crosswords and inadvertently, they'll be memorizing their Captain Cook facts!
I hope you enjoyed this Captain Cook crossword and answer key. I know it's a bit different from the usual reading activities you see on my blog, but whenever I create a resource for my students, I like to make it available to all of you!
Is there a resource you're hoping to see more of? Let me know in the comments or message me at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.
By popular demand, the printable Cup Stacking Silent E Games are finally here! These challenges will have your first graders stacking their way to better reading skills 🎉 and reading the difficult silent e words they need to master this year.
*As an Amazon associate, I may get a teensy commission from any purchases made through my links. Thank you!
Silent E is a powerful little letter that makes big changes in our words. It is often called "Sneaky E,"
"Bossy E", "Magic E," or even "Mama E" who tells the vowels to "say their names!"
Silent E transforms words like "hop" into "hope" and "tap" into "tape," and is taught in first grade, though some children learn it earlier or later.
To help first graders master this concept, I've reinvigorated the super viral original CVC cup stacking challenges to now include CVCe words! Students will use printable silent e games and stack cups with words on them to match the pictures in each of the 16 challenges.
Do you want even more cup stacking fun? Ever since I put these on Pinterest, all my cup stacking challenges have been selling like hot cakes. Try the consonant blend challenges, addition challenges, and the subtraction challenges!
By incorporating the Cup Stacking Challenge into your classroom, you’ll create an engaging and dynamic way for first graders to practice silent e words. Watch as they stack, match, and learn their way to literacy success! 📚🏆 Phonics really is fun!
Ready to get stacking? Download your silent e games today and let the fun begin!
While teaching first grade intervention, I had a hard time finding engaging consonant blends activities that would capture my struggling readers' attention! So I took our wildly popular kindergarten cup stacking challenge and developed a version that incorporates all the blends my first graders needed to learn.
Print and begin stacking cups to match the pictures. Some challenges include 6 cups, some 8, and some 9! I had to pry these cute little cups from my soon-to-be first grade daughter's hands, who can't resist a hands-on approach that enhances learning through play.
*As an Amazon associate, I may get a teensy commission from any purchases made through my links. Thank you!
The six sets of consonant blends activities will be a comprehensive way to practice reading consonant blends with first graders. I would even suggest them to advanced kindergartners and second graders needing more practice.
What you need to play:
To organize, you can write the words in different colors, as shown with the subtraction cups, or use labeling stickers like I did for our consonant blends cups. Some challenges have 6 cups, some have 8, some have 9. So you have differentiation too! Win, win!
Teaching blends to first graders involves a few key things:
Before kids read and write blends, they need to be able to hear that the blend is made up of multiple consonant sounds. Orally segmenting works into their smaller parts and blending sounds into whole words is key!
Example of what I would say while teaching this skill: What word am I making? /s/ /k/ /i/ /m/. Blend the SOUNDs together to make the word "skim!" Now let's segment that word. Put up 4 fingers and touch a new finger for each sound: /s/ /k/ /i/ /m/.
I find that when I explicitly teach consonant blends, then follow up with a game, the information gets put to practice in a meaningful way. For direct instruction, I love the free resources provided by UFLI Toolbox! They have a great scope of sequence that helps me teach consonant blends in an order that make sense to new readers.
The key to teaching blends in a fun way is to incorporate games and activities that appeal to young learners. Activities like cup stacking with blend words provide a tactile experience that keeps children engaged while they learn. They'll be less flustered by the new and possibly difficult skill, because they'll be in a fun frenzy of cup stacking. It's almost like they don't know they're learning!
First graders typically begin with two letter beginning consonant blends such as "bl," "cr," "dr," in words like blip, cram, and drop. Kids are most likely to struggle with the "tr" confusing it for "chr" and the "dr" confusing it for "jr." I find that making an anchor chart for those specific sounds can help serve as a visual reminder.
The Cup Stacking Challenges for consonant blends not only include all the beginning blends listed but also the very important ending blends! You'll find ending blends with n, m, l, and s in these activities in words such as jump, desk, hand.
When teaching blends to first graders, it's beneficial to start with blends that appear frequently in simple, everyday words. I always begin with beginning consonant blends that include the letter L, then I move on to ones that have the letter R next. Focus on blends like "bl," "cl," and "fl" initially, as they are encountered early in basic vocabulary and are easier for young learners to grasp. As children become more confident, gradually introduce blends that are slightly more challenging but still commonly used.
Ready to try these engaging consonant blends activities with your first graders? Explore our printable resources designed to make learning blends a delightful adventure!
Download your First Grade Frenzy Consonant Blends Games Now: bring joyful learning into your classroom!
Have you ever heard of word segmenting? This essential skill helps kids encode (aka spell) words. Word segmenting means breaking up words into their parts/sounds. An example would be taking the word CAT and "chopping up the word" to say "/c/ /a/ /t/."
This post will include 3 kinds of sound parking lots that my students in kindergarten AND first grade find simply irresistible. To download your 9 different activities now, scroll to the bottom!
*As an amazon affiliate I may receive a teensy commission if you buy something from one of the links in this post, at no additional cost to you. Thank you.
Word segmenting is breaking down words into beginning, middle, and ending sounds. Sometimes segmentation is performed without connection to letters, building up kids' pre-reading skills that fall under the umbrella of phonemic awareness. Once kids begin connecting letters to these segmented sounds, they're learning phonics.
By the end of kindergarten, kids are expected to spell CVC words (consonant vowel consonant words) correctly. In order to do this, they'll need to have the skill of phonemic isolation, to segment beginning, middle, and ending sounds of these words. To spell correctly, kids will need to connect those sounds to the letters they've spent so much time studying.
This is the most kid-approved way to practice all these essential skills! WORD SEGMENTATION parking lots for the win! Woohoo.
The three skills highlighted in these kindergarten level activities are:
As children isolate each sound, they gain the skills to segment the whole word,(especially when they move beyond the beginning sounds).
When I first made these parking lots, I chose beginning sounds only. It turns out, the kids I worked with loved the activity so much that they asked me to create more! And so, I created a whole bundle of beginning, middle, and ending sound parking lots to ensure kids master word segmenting.
You'll find beginning, middle, and ending sound parking lots. Each set will have 3 different mats, so kids can practice each skill 3 different ways, for a total of 9 downloadable parking lots. Bundle them all to save, or buy one at a time based on what you're teaching.
You'll need cars. These cute Amazon cars are the most recent ones I've purchased, and they're just the right size. My original cars pictured here are from the Dollar King store, which might be regional. The kids prefer the Amazon ones though!
These mats will get LOTS of play, so I recommend laminating them before use. Amazon also has my fave laminator and thick, lasting lamination sheets. I've had this laminator for 4 years, and it's still going strong.
Get your 3 beginning sounds lots right here for $3.33 (or grab the discounted bundle at the end of this post.)
Get your 3 ending sounds lots right here for $3.33 (or grab the discounted bundle at the end of this post.) I recommend ending sounds as the second skill to work on before complete word segmenting. If your kiddos are struggling with ending sound skills, here are some great activities to practice before moving onto isolating middle sounds.
Though it seems like middle sound practice should come right after beginning sounds, vowel sounds are the hardest sounds for kids to master. I highly recommend making sure kids have mastered their beginning and ending sounds before moving onto middle sound isolation.
If you only want middle sound parking lots, you can get them HERE. Or scroll down for the bundle of all 9 word segmenting parking lots for only $8!
Get all 9 different printable parking lots to practice beginning sounds, middle sounds, and ending sounds for a steal. Usually $9.99 for all three, now only $8 for the bundle! You'll save 20% by buying them all together.
A wonderful way to capture the magic of family trips is by having your children write reviews of their family adventures; so take along this vacation worksheet on your next trip. I thought of this idea while on a recent family trip to Great Wolf Lodge with my family, wondering if my children would remember how much fun we had together.
It occurred to me that by making age-appropriate trip review forms for my 5 and 8 year old, I could capture their thoughts. I plan to have them complete one for each trip and place them in a family trip review binder.
In this blog post, I'll explore the benefits of engaging kids in this activity and provide the three free vacation worksheets that parents and educators can use to inspire trip reviews. Let the joy of reminiscing and storytelling unfold!
Children possess a unique lens through which they view the world, and their perspectives on family trips are no exception. Encouraging them to share their thoughts fosters communication skills, enhances vocabulary, and boosts their self-esteem. Moreover, it's a delightful way for parents to gain insight into their child's experiences and feelings during the vacation.
To make the review-writing process more engaging for both kids and simpler for parents/educators, I've created a 3 age appropriate versions of a free vacation worksheet that you use with your children or students. This worksheet is designed to prompt specific questions, guiding kids through their thoughts about the trip and helping them organize their ideas.
Engaging children aged 4-8 in the process of writing reviews about their family trips is not only a creative exercise but also a meaningful way to strengthen family bonds. The free vacation worksheet serves as a handy tool, making writing both enjoyable and educational for kids. Looking for more fun writing assignments for this age? Try this free one.
Let the magic of their words capture the essence of your family adventures. In 10 years when you find this binder full of trip reviews you'll be laughing and remembering the best parts of this enchanting time. They grow up so fast.
Today, we're going to dive into a squeal worthy preschool science experiment known as Fizzy Colors Surprise, and it comes with a FREE downloadable preschool science lesson plan at the end of this post.
With just a few household ingredients, you'll dazzle your preschoolers in the name of chemistry. Each time they add a dash of vinegar to a muffin pan, a new surprise color will be revealed as the baking soda and vinegar reacts and reveals the food coloring below. So, let's gather our materials and dive into the fascinating world of chemistry!
*As an Amazon Associate I may get a small commission if you decide to purchase from my links. Thank you.
By doing this experiment, we will introduce preschoolers to basic chemical reactions using baking soda and vinegar. Children will make predictions and observations, record their findings, and describe the changes they notice happening during the chemical reaction.
Standards listed in the lesson plan are from the California Preschool Science Standards.
Materials:
Prepare for the experiment:
Watch this video to see how easy it all is!
The Fizzy Colors Surprise experiment is an excellent opportunity for preschoolers to engage in scientific inquiry while having a blast with colors and textures (much like our most popular free STEM lesson plan The Floor Is Lava!). Through this hands-on experience, children develop their observation skills, make predictions, and have fun.
Remember, the most important part is to foster a sense of wonder and curiosity, so be sure to have fun and encourage open-ended discussions throughout the experiment.
Safety Note: Although this experiment is safe when conducted with adult supervision, please remind children not to ingest any of the materials used. Also, wearing safety goggles can add an extra layer of protection for their eyes.
So, gather your materials, put on your scientist hats, and let the fizzy colors surprise unfold! Happy experimenting!