Play-based science activities for early learners - Questacon Science ...

Living Things
What they explore
Living things are fascinating. They look,
move and live very differently from us
and there are so many different ones
to explore.
What you need
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A large jar
A knife or hammer and nail
Damp cotton wool
What you do
Find a clean jar and carefully use a knife
or a hammer and nail to make small airholes
in the lid.
Ask your child if they want to have a look at
a plant or an animal. If they want to do both,
you’ll need another jar!
For plants
Place some damp cotton wool in the bottom
of the jar and place some seeds on top.
You could use seeds from a packet or hunt
together in the garden to find some. If you
don’t have any seeds, you can try growing
a carrot top on the damp cotton wool.
Keep the cotton wool damp and observe
the seeds over the next few days to see if
they sprout and start to grow.
What to ask
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Has it grown?
Is it alive?
This activity encourages observation skills,
teaches how to care for things and helps
children develop their concept of what is
and isn’t alive.
For animals
Go outside and hunt for insects together.
Once you find one you like, collect some
sticks and leaves from where you found
it and put them in the bottom of the jar.
Then carefully move the insect into the
jar and close the lid.
Have a good look at it with your child,
watch how it moves. Use a magnifying
glass to have a closer look.
To keep it for a while as a pet or for further
observation, use a book or the internet
to find out what it is and what it needs.
All creatures will need water, so put some
damp cotton wool into the jar and wet it
again every day. When you’ve finished
with the insect you can release it back
where you found it.
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How many legs does it have?
What do you think it eats?
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