Montessori Activity: Magic Science - Pencil Trick

Age: From 5 years old

Materials:

1. 1 zip-lock bag

2. a few pencils

3. 1 jug of water

4. 1 tray (optional)

Directions:

1. Pour water into the zip-lock bag.

2. Zip up the bag.

3. Pierce the bag with pencils in the places where it’s filled with water.

4. You will see that the water does not seep through and the water remains in the bag.

5. Explain the reason why according to http://brightside.me/article/six-simple-science-experiments-you-need-to-show-your-kids-14605/:

"Explanation: If you pierce the bag with the pencils and only then pour in the water, it will seep out through the holes you’ve made. But if you fill it first and then insert the pencils, the water will not seep out at all. This is a result of the fact that when the polyethylene is broken apart it’s molecules move closer together. In this case, the polyethylene tightens around the pencils."

1. Pour water into the zip-lock bag.

2. Zip up the bag.

3. Pierce the bag with pencils in the places where it’s filled with water.

4. You will see that the water does not seep through and the water remains in the bag.

4. Explain the reason why:

"Explanation: If you pierce the bag with the pencils and only then pour in the water, it will seep out through the holes you’ve made. But if you fill it first and then insert the pencils, the water will not seep out at all. This is a result of the fact that when the polyethylene is broken apart it’s molecules move closer together. In this case, the polyethylene tightens around the pencils."

References:

http://brightside.me/article/six-simple-science-experiments-you-need-to-show-your-kids-14605/

Montessori Activity: Zipping & Unzipping Zip-Lock Bag

Age: From 1.5 year old

Activity Duration: 3 - 5 minutes

Materials:

1. 1 zip-lock bag filled with 1 or 2 toys
2. 1 tray

Directions:

1. Show your child how to open the zip-lock bag by unzipping it.

2. Then Show your child how to close the zip-lock bag by zipping it.

3. Encourage your child to try.

Additional Information:

My Biotherm free sample bag sitting in the bathroom cabinet is screaming out: "Montessori - use me, use me!"  today, so I thought of this little activity. I put into the bag 2 matchbox toy cars. I think Joshua is a little too old for this, but no harm for him to practise opening zip-lock bag. You can also use food zip lock bag. Joshua tried it on 25.8.2011 (2Y5M15D) and he could open and close the zip lock bag. Then he spoilt the zip.