It’s already April which means the school year is rapidly coming to an end. So many things left to do; so many year-end activities!

One argument for not integrating science into the school day is the time and expense it involves. “I don’t want to have to buy a bunch of stuff, take a long time to set it up, or have to “practice” a bunch of times to make the experiment or activity work,” is a common cry from teachers, afterschool educators, and parents.

But much like the fancy toy in the beautifully gift wrapped package that gets laid aside in favor of the box itself, for young children, you may be over-estimating the need for complexity and over-thinking as well. This month we offer some simple science activities that pack a big punch…and tie April as well.

First, from the Quirkles book Density Dan, we illustrate the science concepts from the story with those eggs you never got around to hard boiling for Easter. Two eggs, two plastic cups, some water, and table salt is all you’ll need to create a fun, teachable moment about density and why some things float and others do not.

Another super simple, but impactful activity can be used to celebrate Earth Day, April 22. It literally only takes a rubber band!  Watch our video as children try to remove the rubber band from their own hand which represents what sea creatures and other wildlife must deal with when we carelessly throw plastic rings from beverage packs or other garbage that pollutes our sea and land.

April also is the month that hosts National Library Week. So don’t forget in the hustle and bustle to do one more simple but profound thing. Read a book together. A child is never too old for shared reading. And, if you’re looking for just the right story, might we suggest any of the Quirkles® 26 books?

Just remember, simple science can make a big impact! Try these activities, take time to read together, or enjoy a nature walk during this beautiful spring month. Simple is sometimes simply the best.

March may be fickle as far as weather goes, but it’s a month full of great teaching ideas. Of course there is Dr. Seuss’s birthday, Johnny Appleseed’s birthday, the first day of Spring, and St. Patrick’s Day. We figure you have those covered. But if you want some new inspiration, we’ve got some other fun things for you to think about too!

Did you know that March 13 was the day the planet Uranus was discovered? How about some interesting facts about this planet? For example Uranus is the coldest planet in the Solar System. It also makes one trip around the Sun every 84 Earth years. During some parts of its orbit, one or the other of its poles point directly at the Sun and get about 42 years of direct sunlight! The rest of the time they are in darkness. http://space-facts.com/uranus/

Or how about celebrating Albert Einstein’s birthday on March 14? Have a “no socks day.” Part of Einstein's charm was his disheveled look. In addition to his uncombed hair, one of Einstein's peculiar habits was to never wear socks. Whether it was while sailing, or to a formal dinner at the White House, Einstein refused to wear socks. To Einstein, socks were a pain because they often would get holes in them. Plus, why wear both socks and shoes when one of them would do just fine?

Did you know the third week of March is American Chocolate Week? Try the Quirkles’ “Vinnie Volcano’s Chocolate Meltdown.” Not only does this illustrate how rocks melt, it also allows for a tasty way to measure different melting times. Try dark chocolate, white chocolate and milk chocolate. Graph the results.

Not healthy enough? (We’d beg to differ!) It’s also broccoli month. Read Botanist Bert and learn how Bennie Bear confuses broccoli for a very bizarre basketball. (Yes, you can tie in some Johnny Appleseed activities to this lesson too!)

And if that’s not enough, March 30 is National Pencil Day. Like so many technologies we take for granted, imagine life without the pencil. Do you know your pencil trivia? Beloved author Roald Dahl used only pencils with yellow casing to write his books. He had six sharpened pencils ready at the beginning of each day and only when all six became unusable did he re-sharpen them. Speaking of yellow, do you know why most pencils are yellow? Check this out and other trivia here: http://nationaldaycalendar.com/days-2/national-pencil-day-march-30/

As for Quirkles activities, we just couldn’t pass up the opportunity St. Patrick’s Day offers. How about a lesson in color mixing (Colorful Caroline) to come up with St. Patty’s favorite color green? Or take a look at our water absorbing “Pot of Gold” activity. And of course we had to make a leprechaun’s potion for you to share! These and all our other fun experiments can be found via our e-newsletter/website resource pages or on our Quirkles® YouTube channel!

Happy March teaching!

T1his water may look the same, but think again! There may be more than meets the eye. Try this floating egg activity to see.

We just couldn’t pass up a St. Patrick’s Day science teaching opportunity. This month we make a “leprechaun’s potion” for you to share. Check this and all the other fun experiments out via our newsletter archives or Quirkles® YouTube channel!