by Nan Keltie

Created on: March 02, 2010

There are so many fun things to do with water!  You can pour it, play in it, clean with it, color it, sprinkle it, squirt it, flavor it, freeze it, melt it and mix it.  Take advantage of children’s natural curiosity to introduce these water-themed activities:  

#1 Play with it -
Fill as many plastic ice cube trays as you have children.  Set them on a water-resistant surface or cover the table with a plastic tablecloth.  There are only two rules for this activity, but be sure to stress them:  Rule #1, Everyone has their own tray.  Rule #2,  The trays must stay on the table.  The following activities can be done with water in ice-cube trays:

Dabble in it: Poking their fingers in water is part of learning the difference between solids and liquids.  Most objects children come in contact with are solid.  Water, on the other hand, parts easily when they touch it.  Fascinating to a child!

Paint with it: Give each child a piece of construction paper to “finger paint.” The colors that will show their designs best are red, blue, orange and green.  You can also introduce paint brushes if you like.  Tell the children their "paint" will disappear like magic when it dries.

Experiment with it: Along with water in the ice-cube trays, introduce the following items for fun exploration: Small foam shapes (they float), sugar cubes (they melt), and rocks or colorful marbles (they sink).  

#2 Pour it -
This small-group activity is fun, but it also helps with eye-hand coordination.  Provide a dishpan full of water per table and have the children take turns.  Give each child two small plastic cups and show them how to scoop water up with one cup and use it to fill the other cup.  

Be sure to explain that this water is not for drinking - "This is what we call play water."  They’ll enjoy pouring back and forth a dozen times or more just to watch the fluid movement. They will also find it a fun challenge to scoop, balance the full cup and then transfer the water to the other cup.  This activity encourages good eye-hand coordination.

#3 Clean with it -
You will need to collect several empty spice containers for this project.  Once they have been thoroughly cleaned, partially fill them with water and snap in place the lid that has holes in it.  This will help control the water flow. 

Children will take turns "cleaning” the tables by sprinkling

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>