I mentioned 'Sid the Science Kid' in the last post but I thought I would explore it further. It is a great site for Prep and Grade 1 students. I will run through a few activities students can interact with. Each activity has the potential to be incorporated into other classroom tasks.
There are two ways to navigate around the site, one is to visit places such as a playground, classroom or kitchen. The second is to click on the icons on the top right.
The Penguin provides all the games available, the TV provides videos to watch, the book provides printable activities and the collection jar collects items you can find.
Visit the kitchen and explore different areas.
Click on the fridge and learn about nutrition and food groups. Students can select food to match each food group. This is a great way to learn about nutrition, a balanced diet and how to classify.
This activity could be used in a health lesson or a science lesson. Students could write down their favourite foods and draw them.
Next you can click on Sid's Father who is standing in the kitchen. Here students can learn about body parts. The Father moves a body part and names it and students can click on the same body part on Sid. Each time a body part is added helping students to develop memory skills. This could be a fun activity to do with students in groups. Students could stand in a circle and each one adds a body part to move.
In the kitchen is a Question Box, where students can write a question. This is a great activity for students to learn to form questions when they want to know about something. You could even start your own question box in the classroom.
Next you can visit a classroom called the Fab Lab.
Click on the First Aid box and it discusses the use of vaccines to fight against viruses. Students can click on an antibody to fight a virus.
Click on the luch box and watch the food decay over days. Students can also use a magnifying glass to look closer.
Click on the drawing on the easel and students are introduced to the five senses. Students are asked a question and then select the correct item.
Click on the chart and learn about animal sounds. Students can also learn the names of animals in Spanish.
Click on the Journals and look at drawings of objects and activities. Students can learn about how to observe and record events and how to classify and group.
Next you can visit the Playground.
Click on the girl under the bird nest and learn about levers and balance.
Click on the girl by the log and students need to guide the bugs into the log by clicking on them. This develops skills in judgement, problem solving and decision making.
Click on Sid and make tunes by clicking on objects.
Students could walk around the room or outside and find their own objects they can use to make noises.
Click on the boy on the right and students can learn about the four seasons. They can select appropriate clothing for each season.
All of these activities could lead into to further exploration such as group discussion, art activities or writing projects.
