Age:
2 and up
What you need:
- Flour
- 2 bowls
- Sifter
- Rocks, beads or dried beans
- Spoon
How to:
1- Choose whether you want to put only one type of object to find. For example just a rock or just a dried bean. You can choose to use more than one and use this activity as a sorting activity as well.
2- Put the items you choose to use in a large bowl. We used small rocks.
3- Place the flour in the same bowl.
4- Set up your child in a comfortable place where you don’t mind if the flour spills over a little (it probably will spill over a little)
5- Then give your child a spoon and a sifter. Ask them to separate the rocks and the flour. You can show them how the sifter works before giving them the opportunity to do this activity on their own.
What to expect:
- Some children will follow the directions exactly and ONLY use the sifter in order to separate the rocks.
- Others will use their hands as well as the sifter. This is perfectly acceptable.
- Flour will go on the table, chair or floor the first few times as your child is practicing. The mess will become less as they get more and more practice.
Objective:
This is a great opportunity for young children to experience the difference in size. Why flour can go through the sifter but rocks, beads or beans can’t? They will also be working on their gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Check out more Science Activities:
– Baking Soda + Vinegar
– Color Mixing
– Ice Smash