A friend of mine sent me this photo and explanation of a simple life cycles project she uses in her kindergarten class. I love that this project is simple, almost zero prep for the teacher (other than gathering everyday supplies) and happens fast enough that the kids don’t lose interest. Here are the steps:
1. Soak lima beans in cold water overnight.
2. Put a lima bean in a moist paper towel.
3. Put the paper towel (containing the lima bean) in a Ziplock bag.
3. Seal bag so water doesn’t evaporate (kind of like making a terrarium).
5. Staple to the wall (we put ours near a window). Last year in a different classroom we taped it to a window.
6. Students kept a two week log (words and drawing pictures). At the end, send it home!
If you’re got an idea that works well in your classroom, let me know!
Always changing and never predictable, weather makes a fascinating study for inquisitive young minds. Conduct a three-part study of the microclimate of your backyard, complete with charts on temperature, rainfall, and observed weather. Not only will your little meteorologist learn a lot about local temperature trends and rainfall frequency, he’ll also get some good practice in data collection, graphing, and 
Learning about clouds in elementary school is always fun. At minimum, it’s an excuse to go outside! Here’s my really simple graphic organizer to teach the science basics of clouds. There’s a space for some words about each type and an illustration. You can also glue cotton balls in that section instead. Shape/pull the cotton ball to match each type.
Squarehead Teachers 