Spooktacular Smorgasboard of Simple Science & Sensory Ideas for Halloween

Why do kids love science? It makes learning come alive! It's all about discovery that makes science so appealing. Children love to participate in exploring and discovering using their senses and imagination making substances change form, color, shape, scent, and texture. Halloween is the perfect time to teach and discover with simple science activities. I never met a child yet who wasn’t fascinated to watch and participate in matter changing shapes, mixing colors, creating textures, and adding scents. This is the great time to erupt, fizz and manipulate all kinds of matter.

Young children are not ready for abstract thought but learn through action – by hands-on participation and asking questions and finding out answers. Children are naturally curious and love to experiment. It is important to focus activities on things they can see, hear, touch, taste and smell. With science and sensory activities, children learn by finding answers to their many questions including: Why, how, when, where and what happens? Science explains questions and can be easily connected to reading, writing and math activities. Providing opportunities for children to have questions answered helps them make connections in their minds about their experiences. Help them find their own answers by providing opportunities to explore and discover. Sensory bins are the beginning foundation of science exploration.

Flubber by Tinkerlab

SPOOKY SIMPLE RECIPES:

• Flubber Gak Slime Exploration by Tinkerlab 
• HOW TO MAKE SLIME Recipes and Video
• Two-Ingredient Homemade Silly Putty: Train Up a Child
• Rainbow Slime by Teach Preschool
• Glowing Oobleck on Train Up a Child 
• Erupting Pumpkins from Growing a Jeweled Rose 
• Erupting Monsters from Growing a Jeweled Rose
• Five Fun Science Experiments for Halloween by Science Sparks 
• Candy Experiments by Mamas Like Me
•  Elephant Toothpaste from Preschool Powol Packets 
•  Blow it Up! Exploring Gas with Balloons, Baking Soda and Vinegar by Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas 
• Ghoostly Dry Ice Ghost Bubbles by Steve Spangle Science   

Playdough:

• Simple Playdough Recipes by Kindergarten & Preschool for Parents & Teachers 
• DIY Pumpkin Pie Playdough by Tinkerlab
• Golden Shimmer Dough from The Imagination Tree
• Pumpkin Scented Cloud Dough on Growing a Jeweled Rose

Your Kids Table

 EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES:

• Pumpkin Guts from Creative Connections for Kids
• Exploring a Pumpkin from Montessori Tidbits
• Pumpkin Seed Counting and Cooking from Montessori Tidbits
• Monster Edition: Fine Motor Friday by Rainbows within Reach
• Happy Spiders at Play at Home Mom LLC
• Decorating Pumpkins Mamma Smiles
• Pumpkin Scented Painting Activity on Growing a Jeweled Rose
• It’s Fall Activities with Linky Party by In Lieu of Preschool
• Pumpkin Activities for Kids by The Imagination Tree
  Your Kids Table
• Kids Halloween Party Favors by Growing a Jeweled Rose
• Gorgeous Fall Crafts with Linky Party by Hands on as We Grow

Wildlife Fun 4 Kids

 
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:

• Spider Web Games and Activities – Wildlife Fun 4 Kids
• 31 Ideas for an Active October by Toddler Approved
• 31 {More} Ideas for an Active October by Toddler Approved
• Rolling Pumpkin Painting by Putti’s World
• Halloween Egg Hunt by Growing a Jeweled Rose

OTHER:

•   “The Horrible Homemade Halloween Costume” Book, Craft, Feelings Discussion with Video  
• More Halloween Books for Children on Play Dr Mom
• Ideas for Halloween Service by I Can Teach My Child
•  Fears, Anxiety + Monsters in Childhood PreK and Sharing 
• Halloween Knock-Knock Jokes for Kids on Amazon 
• Not So Scary Monster Fun for Kids by Mom to 2 Posh lil Divas

SENSORY PLAY FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN:

Mommy with Selective Memory

• Halloween Sensory Ideas for Kids on Growing a Jeweled Rose
  Dyed Pasta by Mommy with Selective Memory
• Top 10 Sensory Tub Ingredients by Kids Activities Blog
• Touch and Feel Scarecrows by Teach Preschool
• Halloween Sensory Bin by H is for Homeschooling
• 22 Fall Sensory Play Ideas by Your Kids Table
• 5 Pumpkin Activities for Tots by Rainy Day Mum
• 13 Halloween Sensory Play Ideas by Creative Playhouse
• Exploring with the Sense of Touch (including “brains”) Train Up a Child
• September’s Sensory Tub by Praying for Parker
• Halloween Sensory Bag Fun by Growing a Jeweled Rose
• Pumpkin Scissor Skills by Frogs & Snails and Puppy Dog Tails 
• Space Sensory Bin from 3 Dinosaurs 
• Fall Sensory Table for Preschoolers by Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas. 

SCIENCE BOARDS

Elephant Toothpaste by

Preschool Powol Packets

• Science Activities for Kids by Kindergarten & Preschool for Parents & Teachers
• Kids Science Experiements by Tinkerlab
• Steve Spangler Science
• Hands and Feet by Susan Wells
• Science by The Educator’s Spin on It
• Science Projects by Rachel Miller
• Kids Science & Discover by Ness & One Perfect Day
• Science by Red Ted Art
• Preschool Science Ideas by Emma Vanstone
• Preschool Science by In Lieu of Preschool
• The Science of Things by Growing a Jeweled Rose
• Scientific Kids by Ali Wright
• Science by Kids by Mama Smiles
• Hand-on Science by Creekside Learning
• Science: Kids Activities by Science: Kids Activities by Carrots are Orange

 Mommy with Selective Memory

START WITH SIMPLE SCIENCE TOOLS:

• Magnifying glass
• Bug net and box
• Magnets
• Nature collections

HOW TO MAKE SLIME VIDEO:

A reader of The Happy Mommy Handbook emailed me that the book gave her so many ideas to help with her prechooler's behavior. She said, "I don't have a bad boy; I had a bored boy." Would you like inexpensive ideas, activities, and games to teach your child through play? Mommy with Selective Memory and I can help save your sanity, one project at a time, with The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn. Or perhaps you'd like a glimpse into Kindergarten. Both books have been number 1 Bestsellers on Amazon.  

What would you like added for Science and Sensory Learning Activities?

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