Exploding lemons and smashing ice
The Wimbledon forest has been alive with laughter, imagination and science experiments this week.
We had a very special visitor this week to the forest, the mad scientist! Oh, we were all so excited and wanted to see the experiments. The first one involved lemons and bicarbonate of soda, to create erupting foamy lemons. The second was the classic volcano experiment using a bottle we buried in the ground, filled with bicarbonate, food colouring and vinegar. The children watched in awe as the eruption took place. They all had a chance to help and create their own reactions. What a fun way to explore science in the forest.
If you would like to try the fizzy lemons with your little ones at home here’s what to do:
1. Cut a lemon in half
2. Using a knife poke multiple holes into the lemon. We had an educator start this with a sharp knife and then the children had their own go using plastic knifes.
3. Add a few drops of food colouring to the lemon.
4. Next add bicarbonate to the lemon, you may need to continue poking hole to push the powder to mix with the juice.
5. Watch a fizzy colourful eruption!
We have continued the science experiments this week by exploring ice. On the walk ins we notice all the frost and icy puddles. The children love crunching frosty mud under their wellies and discussing how during the day when the sun comes out the frost goes away. Something we have enjoyed testing is all the different ways to break ice. Of course, we can stamp with our feet, but we can also use a stick by swinging against the ice or pushing down into it. The children have also been picking up the ice and smashing it on the ground. With the educators’ support, the foresters have further explored what happens when boiling water is poured on ice. The learning opportunities in the forest are endless.
While it is so frosty in the mornings, during the day it warms up, meaning especially in the sun we have been able to do more crafts. At the beginning of the week some of the little ones had a go at threading using string and pasta. It took great concentration and practice to do successfully. We further enjoyed making our own music shakers both by filling rice in cardboard tubes or by adding string and bells to sticks. We look forward to using these next week with our music teacher Joe. Another wonderful activity was designing maps, some created them for the route home while others drew wonderful treasure maps and used them with their friends to see what they could find. It is so incredible seeing the children create their own entire game out of a small idea that us as educators present.
It has been another incredible week in the forest. We feel so lucky to be surrounded by wonderful learning opportunities, amazing sunshine and such joyful children!
Little Forest Folk
Wimbledon