Growing Crystals Experiment

Today we will be starting to grow our very own crystals! It will take a little while for them to grow into something interesting, so this is the perfect time for it! We will also be experimenting a little bit to try to find the way to grow the coolest and biggest crystals.

Be sure to watch the video to see how!

What You Will Need

• clear glass jars

• salt - as many types as you have (table salt, epsom salt, sea salt, etc.)

• string

• pencils or Popsicle sticks

• boiling water (PARENTS ONLY)

• experiment tracking sheet (see bottom of this page)

Parent Tips

Today we're focusing on using science terms when discussing our experiments. Some big words to focus on today are: experiment, hypothesis, solution, saturation. Be sure to try as many combinations of type of salt and location as you can! As the crystals develop you can discuss what they look like (colour, shape, length, etc.), and discuss theories as to why some may be growing faster than others. This can help develop a hypothesis as to why they grow better in different conditions!

Questions and Activities

1. Which of your experiments do you think will make the biggest crystal?

2. Be sure to fill in your tracking sheet with which crystals are made of which salt, and where you will put them!

3. If you can, have a parent help you take pictures of your experiments every few days so you can see the progress as they grow.

Curriculum Connections

Science

Grade 1: Understanding Structures and Mechanisms - 2.3 investigate, through experimentation, the properties of various materials

Grade 1: Understanding Matter and Energy - 2.2 investigate how the sun affects the air, land, and/or water, using a variety of methods ; 2.5 use scientific inquiry/experimentation skills, and knowledge acquired from previous investigations, to explore the effects of light and heat from the sun

Grade 2: Understanding Matter and Energy - 2.3 investigate, through experimentation, interactions that occur as a result of mixing and/or dissolving liquids and solids (e.g., salt and water, sand and water), liquids and liquids (e.g., oil and water), and solids and solids (e.g., salt and sand); 3.4 identify conditions in which the states of liquids and solids remain constant (e.g., solids remain solid when broken; liquids remain liquid when poured) and conditions that can cause their states to change (e.g., liquids may freeze when the temperature drops; solids may melt when heated)

Grade 5: Understanding Matter and Energy - 2.3 use scientific inquiry/experimentation skills (see page 12) to investigate changes of state and changes in matter; 3.3 explain changes of state in matter (e.g., evaporation, condensation, solidification or freezing, fusion or melting, sublimation), and give examples of each (e.g., water from wet clothes evaporates; steam from a boiling kettle condenses on a cold window; water in ponds and lakes solidifies or freezes in winter; a frozen treat melts on a warm summer day; a moth ball sublimates in the closet)

Across all grades: Use appropriate science terminology

Math:

Grade 4: Number Sense and Numeration - represent fractions using concrete materials, words, and standard fractional notation, and explain the meaning of the denominator as the number of the fractional parts of a whole or a set, and the numerator as the number of fractional parts being considered

Grade 6: Number Sense and Numerations - represent ratios found in real life contexts, using concrete materials, drawings, and standard fractional notations

Additional Resources

Magic School Bus S04e01 - The Magic School Bus Meets Molly Cule (Streams on Netflix)

This episode is a very cool way to see how molecules work together to form shapes. Supersatuating the water can be tricky to understand, and this episode explains it well!

If you're enjoying chemistry, check out the STEAM Class on making a Lemon Explosion!

Me, Toma and the Concrete Garden

Wow! Today's book is the tenth and final book from the Blue Spruce category in the Forest of Reading program and is read by the author himself! Me, Toma and the Concrete Garden is written by Andrew Larsen and illustrated by Anne Villeneuve, published by Kids Can Press. I am really enjoying these author readings, it is a real treat to hear an author read their book!

Me, Toma and the Concrete Garden is a story of summer, friendship and how a garden changes a community, three things that are close to my heart! I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did!

As always, once you have listened to the story there are some discussion questions below to get you thinking about the story and a few activities that you can do at home. If you are interested in participating in the Forest of Reading; voting is still open, you can find recordings of all the Blue Spruce books here, when you are ready to vote fill out the tracking form here.

Thank your for participating! I would love to know what you think of this program as well as your suggestions for improving this program. We miss being able to ask you after the program. If you have a few minutes to fill out a brief survey, your feedback would be greatly appreciated! To fill out the survey click here.

Enjoy the story and activities! Have a great week!

Discussion Questions

1. Did Vincent (the main character) think dirt balls were a nice present from a secret admirer at the beginning of the story? Do you think he feels the same at the end of the story?

2. What was in the dirt balls that made them so special?

3. How do the seed balls change the people who live near the vacant lot in the story?

4. What kinds of things do Toma and Vincent like to do during the summer? What are you looking forward to doing this summer?

Extended Learning Ideas:

1. Go for a flower walk! April showers bring May flowers, have a look to see what flowers are blooming in the forest, gardens or vacant property near you. Some of the flowers you find will be wildflowers; if you want to identify wildflowers, this website has a great list of which wildflowers are likely blooming right now in Northern Ontario, and lots of pictures to help you identify any wildflowers you find. If you want to identify garden plants there are a number of apps you can download to your smart phone that allow you to take a picture and then app will try to match the image.

2. Make dirt balls! Just like in the story, you can make dirt balls. You will need some soil, modeling clay and seeds. Follow the directions the author gives in the video above. Then spread some flowers!

3. Plant some seeds! It's a great time to start some seeds indoors so that you can plant them outside when the weather is warmer. If you use a clear plastic container you might be able to see the roots grow down into the dirt as well as how the shoots sprout from the seed. Some of my favourite seeds to start indoors are sunflowers, beans and any kind of sprout (like alfalfa) - then you can eat them! Keep your planted seeds in a warm sunny location for best results.

When Spring Comes

Hello Friends!

Today I am sharing "When Spring Comes" by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek and published by Harper Collins. Before watching the video, have a look at the song sheet below so that you can sing along with your child/children and if you have a scarf or kerchief you will be set for "popcorn kernels" and a new song "butterflies, butterflies".

I'm so glad that spring is here! I truly love all the seasons, but spring brings so much growth and colour after the dull end of winter, that I welcome this new season a lot. And best of all, it is so much easier to get outside and move around when you don't have to put so many layers on.

This week I am sharing one of my favourite sensory box ideas for you to try at home. It can be a bit messy, but it is perfect for this time of year. This sensory box changes daily and brings spring inside on those rainy spring days when we all need a new activity! On sunny days it can go outside which means less clean up. Because it changes everyday it provides lots of opportunity for learning, discussion and motor skill development.

Finally, we really hope you are enjoying Virtual Toddler Tales, but unfortunately we can't see who participates or what they think. We would really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to fill out a short survey and let us know what you think! To fill out the survey click here.

Spring Sensory Box:

Materials Required:

*Any large waterproof container will work, but an old clear storage bin works the best.

*Old blanket, sheet, shower curtain, just something that can get dirty and will make cleanup easier.

*Soil

*Gardening Tools: Old spoons, or forks, small gardening tools, popsicle sticks, just something that your child/children can use move the soil around

*Small cars, trucks, animals, anything your child might like to play with in the dirt.

*Seeds, you can use one type of seed or a mixture some suggestions include: flowers, grass, sprouts or vegetables. Flowers and vegetables can be planted outside when the weather is warmer. If you plant just grass seeds, grass is pretty robust your child/children can play with their toys in it, then once it gets long enough they can it trim with scissors.

*Spray bottle with water

Note: As with all sensory bin activities, your child/children should never be left unattended when playing with the sensory bin, there are items that could be dangerous to your child/children if left unattended.

Directions:

Day 1: Spread the blanket on the floor, and place your container in the middle. With your child/children scoop the soil into the bin. Encourage your child to play with the dirt, let them explore what the dirt feels like. Talk about the soil with them - it's colour, feel, is it wet. Use the gardening tools and talk about them with your child too. When they are done, or you are ready to move on, pick-up the container and put it out of reach, fold up the blanket and shake outside for easy clean up and wash your child(ren)'s hands.

Day 2: Spread the blanket on the floor again and put the container of dirt in the middle, get out some toys that your child can play with in the soil. Encourage your child(ren)'s play, remember to talk with them about what they see and feel.

Day 3: With the bin of soil today, talk about how seeds grow into plants and plants need soil and water and sunlight to grow. Look at your seeds with your child(ren) and talk about their shape, size and colour. Let your child plant the seeds, don't worry how they plant them, with lots of water and sunlight they will grow! When you are finished, place the container in a warm sunny spot out of reach of small hands.

Day 4 and on: Water your plants each day, a spray bottle with a bit of water allows your child(ren) to water the seeds everyday without over watering them. Check your container to see what is happening. If you used a variety of seeds they will likely sprout at different times, look for roots and sprouts. Remember to talk about what you see with your child(ren) and ask them what they see. You can pull the seeds out and see what is happening, they may not grow, but it give your child a chance to see up close what is happening.

Have Fun!