Group Learning Experience Planning Sheet:

Student Name: Jessica Edwards Course Code: ECS4070

Age Group: 4 to 5 years. Date: September 21st 2017

Learning Experience: Science, Think and Inquiry Activity- Orbeez Growth Experiment
Programming Purpose:

On a previous placement day I observed that a group of children in the class were very
interested in water play. This gave me the idea to create an activity using squishy water beads
called orbeez. Orbeez come in a variety of colours which can make them suitable for lots of
activities related to sorting, patterns, and other basic math concepts as well as being a fun
sensory play material. My supervising teacher suggested that I create a science experiment
type activity to appeal to a group of students that I have not yet worked with. To blend these
two ideas I created a science experiment that allows children to hypothesize about which
liquids orbeez will grow in (note: they typically grow in water and need water to expand
before they can be played with). In addition to discussing our predictions, the children will
also have an opportunity to record their opinion using stickers on a t-chart.
Objective:
The children will:
1) Engage in sensory play using water beads and other materials.
2) Practice social skills related to discussing ideas, turn taking and listening skills.
3) Practice math and science skills related to making predictions, plotting data on a
t-chart and discussing properties of liquids such as viscosity and temperature.

Materials:

Orbeez Water Beads

Four Plastic Cups
Vegetable Oil
Water
Dish Soap
Large Sheet of Paper
Ruler
Markers
Small Stickers (Four per child participating)
Cleaning spray
Paper Towel
Set Up:

Planned Implementation

1. I will fill four cups with a tablespoon of orbeez water beads and the following liquids:
a. Warm Water.
b. Cold Water.
c. Vegetable Oil.
d. Dish Soap and Water Mixture.
2. I will use a marker and masking tape to create labels for the four cups of liquid.
3. I will a ruler and markers to create a large sheet with four smaller t-charts inside titled:
Will Orbeez Grow In..? The chart will have the names of each liquid, with a t-chart
below each name with a Yes or No on either side of the t-chart.
4. I will invite some children in the classroom to participate by asking them if they have
ever played with orbeez before. Then we can discuss What makes them grow?
5. Orbeez typically grow in water, but we can discuss how different properties will affect
how fast they grow, and if they will grow. Questions about this include:
a. Do you think orbeez grow faster in warm water or cold water? Why?
b. Do you think soap will make it harder or easier for the orbeez to grow? Or will
it be the same?
c. Do you think the orbeez will grow in vegetable oil? Why or why not?
6. After we discuss each liquid each child will be given a sticker. They will each get a
turn to put their stickers on the yes or no side of the t-chart for each corresponding
liquid.
7. After all of the children have charted their predictions we will leave the orbeez for two
to four hours to allow them to grow.
8. I will clean the space used for the experiemtn including tbales and chairs with cleaning
spray and paper towel.
9. I will sweep the floor and use bleach solution and paper towel to remove any residue
that may be left.
10. After the orbeez have grown we can discuss our results and see how the orbeez grew.
We can also discuss predictions and how they relate to results in an experiment. After
this point the children can use the orbeez as a free-play material for other activities
such as sensory play.
Additional Emergent Use of Materials:

We used spoons to allow the children to stir and play with the orbeez to see if this
would help them grow faster.

After the orbeez have grown we used paper plates to allow the children to take the
orbeez out of the water and other liquids and observe the properties of the orbeez such
as texture, bounciness and size.
Learning Strategy #1
Questions
While the children are participating I can ask questions to initiate conversation among the
students about their ideas and predictions based on what they already know about orbeez.
Examples of these questions include:
Have you ever seen oil before? Maybe in your kitchen? What did you use it for?
If you've played with orbeez before, what did you use to make them grow?
Do you think a different temperature will change the way the orbeez grow?
Learning Strategy #2
Do-it Signals

While we are conducting our experiment I will use do-it signals to guide the children through
certain parts of the activity. Such as asking volunteers to perform certain tasks such as holding
cups or placing their stickers in the section of the t-chart that matches with their opinion.
Examples of so it statements for this activity include:
______ can you please add the orbeez to the cup of soapy water?
________ it's your turn to put your sticker on the chart.
Can you put up your hand and tell me what you think about this liquid?

Overall Evaluation
What worked during this experience? Why?
What did not work during this experience? Why?

What might you have done differently?

What theory might you use to support these changes?