I don’t think it is a secret how much I love science. I love teaching my kids about science, without telling them it’s science. Preschoolers are so much fun to watch when they experiment and learn. We did this fun activity on a recent rainy day that taught my kids about spacial relations and physics, but it was disguised as a wrecking ball.
Here is what you will need: some yarn, an empty key ring, a ball, masking tape, and some blocks.
First, tape the key ring to a door frame using the masking tape. You want to only use masking tape because any other tape may damage paint or stained wood.
Next wrap the ball with the yarn. Any ball will do.
Have your child build a structure with the blocks. You do not have to use blocks. Empty yogurt or butter containers work great, so do food storage containers.
Thread the yarn through the key ring.
Have your child hold the end of the yarn in one hand and the ball in the other. Show them how they can adjust the height by pulling or letting go of the yarn. For the younger two kids I held the non-ball end for them.
Now your child can let loose and do some demolition!
We had a neat time talking about how we needed to pull it to make it higher and standing further back to make the ball hit the building harder. It was so exciting to hear my son point these things out. I would ask how we could hit the blocks at the very bottom and he would tell me how he thought it could be done. So I told him to test it out.
It was a good time for everyone. Nothing says fun like demolition. 🙂
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Kim is a contributing writer for No Time For Flash Cards, a mom to a toddler, a preschooler, and a foster parent, too. She juggles her day by trying out fun activities and crafts with the kids. After all, she is just a big kid herself. See what she has been up to over at Mom Tried It.
Jenae @ I Can Teach My Child says
I never, in a million years, would have thought about this! GREAT idea!
Zoe @ Playing by the book says
This really looks like so much fun!
Ticia says
That is way too cool! I have some little guys who would love this.
Julie says
What a great idea! I’m sure my kids would love this.
Alice S says
EXCELLENT IDEA! Its a big hit at our house today.
Tricia says
Awesome!! My guys will LOVE this!
Tricia says
Awesome!! My guys are gonna LOVE this!
helen rawlinson says
Brilliant idea. Will have to have a bit more permanent fixing for the key ring though, as I know that would come down straight away with my enthusiastic boy! Great stuff
Sarah says
Terrific activity – our kids will have fun with this one too.
Amber says
I know my kids would love this – how fun!
maryanne says
I love this idea – and my kids will too! Thanks for sharing =)
Jo says
Forget the kids…I am excited to try this out! What a terrific idea! Thanks!
Jennifer says
love, love, love this idea! Can’t wait to dig out the cardboard blocks and try this one!
Teacher Cheryl says
haha! This looks like so much fun! I love it! 🙂
Marie says
Ahhhhhh!! This is so fabulous. I can’t wait to try it with my kids!!! So fun!