| A simple experiment that can help preschoolers | | | | We had the kids sit at the table and measure the milk |
| discover and enjoy the wonders of science. | | | | and vinegar portions for the experiment. They counted |
| Most childcare businesses supervise children for more | | | | how many cups of milk were needed and how many |
| than three hours a day, five days a week. Such long | | | | tablespoons of vinegar to add. It was now time to |
| hours in care can have a serious impact on a | | | | blast the mixture into the microwave for two minutes. |
| child’s growth and development. Businesses | | | | We recommend that an adult perform this part of the |
| that offer educational curriculums help children grow | | | | experiment to avoid placing children in harms way. |
| academically and help prepare them for school. | | | | After two minutes, the mixture was ready to be taken |
| Science plays an important role in the learning process | | | | out of the microwave. We allowed it to cool for |
| and should also be included as part of the curriculum. | | | | several minutes and then the children compared two |
| Science encourages preschoolers to ask questions, | | | | samples of the mixture before and after it was placed |
| make predictions, and find answers to some | | | | in the microwave. They observed that the mixture |
| fascinating questions. Here is an interesting experiment | | | | was lumpier after being heated in the microwave. The |
| that can help teach science to preschoolers. We | | | | children then strained the mixture by using kitchen |
| came across ideas for this experiment on PBS Kids | | | | towels. What remained was a white, rubbery |
| Website ( We tried it ourselves, at Young Achievers | | | | substance - the curds. They were excited. They saw |
| Inc., and it was an extreme success. | | | | first-hand what Miss Muffet ate. Then they discovered |
| First, we had circle time with the kids and recited some | | | | through experimentation that curds can be separated |
| classic nursery rhymes. One of the nursery rhymes | | | | from Miss Muffet’s curds and whey. |
| was the age-old rhyme, Little Miss Muffet. After singing | | | | The children dyed the curds different colors using food |
| in our circle we asked the kids some questions about | | | | coloring and made their own rubbery type of play |
| Little Miss Muffet. We discovered that they knew | | | | dough. They loved touching the curds and feeling its |
| what Little Miss Muffet sat on, what she ate, and what | | | | texture. Some children even shaped the curds into cool |
| frightened her. We then posed a thought-provoking | | | | looking dinosaurs and flowers with our help. At the end |
| question to the preschoolers. Can the curds be | | | | of the day the children were enlightened and had a |
| separated from Miss Muffet’s curds and | | | | great appreciation for science. They were all proud to |
| whey? The children responded with interesting | | | | show their parents what they had done. They were |
| answers. Their answers became our scientific | | | | truly young scientists! |
| hypotheses. We documented all responses in large | | | | If you would like to try this with children at your |
| text on our chalkboard so that the children can see | | | | childcare business we recommend the experiment for |
| and value their predictions. We then headed to the | | | | children ages 3 and up. |
| kitchen "laboratory" to see whose prediction was true. | | | | |