Dear Brooklyn Parents,

The Brooklyn Science Spot tries to make the best out of any situation, especially when it comes to spontaneous learning opportunities. Summer is in full swing, and while the heat may have you thinking of ways to stay cool indoors, why not embrace the warmth and turn those hot Downtown Brooklyn Park Slope days into opportunities for exciting hands-on science activities with your preschoolers? In this blog post, we'll explore a range of creative and educational outdoor experiments that will keep your children engaged and spark their curiosity about the world around them.

The best way to take advantage of these opportunities is to organize a series of activities that are both fun and educational. We are all educators, so look at these activities below and have fun with your toddlers and/or preschoolers.

Evaporation Paintings:
Materials: Water, food coloring, small containers, paintbrushes, and paper.
Instructions: Set up an outdoor painting station with paper and containers filled with water mixed with food coloring. Encourage your kids to paint designs on the paper using colored water. Watch how the water evaporates as the sun hits the paper, leaving behind vibrant paintings.

Shadow Drawings:
Materials: Sidewalk chalk, objects with interesting shapes (toys, leaves, etc.), and a sunny outdoor space.
Instructions: Place objects with distinct shapes on the ground and encourage your kids to trace the shadows with chalk. Discuss how shadows change throughout the day due to the sun's movement, introducing concepts of light and rotation.

Sun-Powered S'mores:
Materials: A shoebox, aluminum foil, black construction paper, plastic wrap, marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate.
Instructions:Use the shoebox, aluminum foil, and black paper to create a solar oven. Place s'mores inside and let the sun do the cooking! This activity teaches about solar energy and rewards the family with a delicious treat.

DIY Solar Prints:
Materials:Sun-sensitive paper, various objects (leaves, toys, etc.), and a sunny day.
Instructions: Arrange objects on the sun-sensitive paper and leave it in direct sunlight. After a few minutes, rinse the paper with water to reveal unique prints. Discuss how the sun's UV rays react with the paper, introducing a simple lesson on phototropism.

Melting Ice Excavation:
Materials: Small toys, water, balloons, and a sunny day.
Instructions: Place small toys inside balloons, fill them with water, and freeze them. Once frozen, peel off the balloon, and let your kids use tools like spoons, brushes, or even warm water to excavate the toys. Discuss the science of melting and freezing while enjoying a cool, refreshing time.

This summer, embrace the outdoors as a classroom instead of keeping your preschoolers cooped up indoors. These hands-on science activities provide a break from the heat, create lasting memories, and foster a love for learning. Encourage inquiry and exploration, and, most importantly, have fun discovering the wonders of science together! This is the Brooklyn Science Spot way!

Happy exploring!

Carmelo Piazza
Founder and Owner of the Brooklyn Science Spot