Finding out about Ice with Queen Goldenlight and King Icicle

We read the story

The Winter King and the Summer Queen.

We are helping the Magic Fish find out about ice, so he can help the fish in water.

8/1/10

We were amazed when we read their letter to us.

The children gasped in surprise when the letter was addressed to the boys and girls of Bowhouse Nursery Class.

We put our ideas and plans on our learning tree.

We started to look around us at the snow and ice outside in the Nursery Garden.

“It was like icy and cold.”

Abbie

8/1/10

Cyra enjoyed helping to fill up bags and balloons to make ice, this is what she recalled about the experience.

“1. Putting water in the balloons. 2. Water inside the balloons. 3 All icy out of the freezer.” Cyra 13/1/10

“Five snowmen. They got melted one, two three, because the sun melted them. “ Finlay

Already the children are very interested in ice, making connections with the weather we are currently experiencing and have some idea of the impact of cold and hot.

Making connections needs to be supported by encouraging extensions to their thoughts. The children link the sun to melting the snowmen, but why it does this is not so clear for some.

We need to further demonstrate the impact of something warm on ice. A hot water bottle with blocks ice might be interesting. 13/1/10

8 /1/10

Liam thought juice would be a good thing to freeze. So we tried this, with wonderful results. If only all science experiments had such tasty results!

Some of the words the children used to used to describe the ice lollies and the experience included.

“ Orange, cold, dripping, yummy, crunchy, fantastic, juicy, smooth, changing colour, slurpy, good, tasty, melting because it’s getting warmer and a cold mouth.”

8/1/10 12 /1/10

When we told the afternoon group of children about making ice lollies. They immediately thought it was a great idea. We are going to eat them on Thursday. Watch this space to find out what they children think of the lollies.

12/1/10

Some of the words the children used to used to describe the ice lollies and the experience included.

“Juicy, cold, slippy, good, crunchy, dripping.”

13/1/10

The morning group of children have become interested in finding out about how different things will freeze. So far we have tried juice, water, grapes, strawberries and milk. Now we are trying washing up liquid and cooking oil. We await the results.

The experiments have been a good opportunity to encourage the children to make focused observations and predictions. Mums are asking for the results as they come back to nursery too.

13/1/10

13/1/10

14/1/10 We examined the washing up liquid and oil. Yes. they did freeze. We found touching them was the best way to find out. Looking at the predictions most children had thought they would freeze.

14/1/10 We decided to make icebergs for the water tray. Filling the balloons and bags stimulated discussion about the balloons being wobbly. From this we talked about the movement in liquid and ice having no movement because it is solid. Nathan was especially interested in this analysis and description.

14/1/10 We have found a good book on liquids, gases and solids which some children may enjoy and extend their understanding.

14/1/10

“I was going to pick my cousin Rachel up in the snow. “

Erin

We talked with the children about why we wear a hat and gloves. This is what they said.

“To keep you warm.” Mitchell

“They make you cosier.” Alice

“To keep the hot in.” Lee

We have been finding out about ice in lots of ways

22/1/10

We looked back at our Ice Learning Story and talked about snow and ice again.

Recalling “The Hungry Snowman” story reminded us that when snow becomes warm it melts into water and when water freezes it becomes ice.

We agreed we would rather have a hot water bottle for our toes rather than a block of ice.

This has been an interesting investigation for the children. They have been keen to take part, often choosing an adult supported experiment on offer in free play time as well as independent investigations.

We find they are becoming more confident in thinking through voicing their predictions.

The hands on sensory nature of the investigations suited many children’s style of learning supporting them as they interacted with the materials.