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Guidelines: PK4.VI.A.1: Child observes, investigates, describes, and discusses characteristics of common objects.

Investigate and predict what common objects will do in response to an action (e.g., whether materials will sink/float or melt/freeze)

Activity: Christmas Sink or Float

Intro: A fun way for students to create and test their hypotheses. With this activity, students will predict whether they think an item will sink or float.

Materials:

Christmas Sink or Float Handouts

Pack of Candy Canes

Pack of Ornaments

Pack of Jingle bells

Pack of Tinsels

Pack of Plastic Cookie Cutters

Pack of Metal Cookie Cutters

Pack of Plastic Bowls

Water

Towels

Procedure:

1. Have students draw predictions for each item.

2. Draw a Christmas item in the bowl to help them understand the difference between

3. Have students test each item (Candy Cane, Ornament, Jingle bells, Plastic Cookie Cutter, Metal Cookie Cutter, and Tinsel)

4. Have students record the results!

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Guideline: PK4.VI.A.3 Child uses simple scientific tools to learn about objects.

Explore objects by appropriately using magnets, balances, eyedroppers, beakers, jars, etc.

Activity: Magnetic Science with Jingle Bells

Intro: An engaging way for students to practice using magnets with a twist of Christmas!

Materials:

Pack of Jingle Bells

Wood Blocks

Bar Magnets

U-shaped magnets

Large Popsicle Stick Magnets

Different kinds of containers

Procedure:

1. Teachers will have to prep the large popsicle stick magnets by hot-gluing mini round magnets to a large popsicle stick to make a magnetic wand of sorts.

2. Have students first sort bells by color and size and transfer the bells between different containers

3. Have students count how many bells they can pick up with the magnetic wand.

4. Have students explore how other different magnets work. (U-shaped magnet, Bar magnet)

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TEK: K.2D The student is expected to evaluate a design or object using criteria to determine if it works as intended.

Activity: Design a Sleigh for Santa

Intro: Students will become Christmas engineers with this simple sleigh-building challenge using egg cartons!

Materials:

Egg Cartons

Pairs of Scissors

Paint (Red, Green, White, Brown, Black)

Paint brushes

Popsicle sticks

Santa figurines

Glue or other adhesive

Procedure:

1. Teachers will show kids a slide showing a variety of traditional sled designs and discuss their strengths and weaknesses.

2. Students will be given the following criteria:

Santa must not fall out

The sleigh must have room for presents

3. Teachers will give students 10 minutes to draw their designs with their group (family included).

4. Students will then build and decorate their Santa sleigh.

5. When the sleds are complete, each sled will be tested by running it across a smooth surface to see which one is the most stable and can travel the fastest.

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TEK: K.1B: The student is expected to use scientific practices to plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations and use engineering practices to design solutions to problems.

Activity: Gingerbread man bridge

Intro: A fun activity where students help the gingerbread man escape!

Materials:

Popsicle Sticks

Wood Blocks

Construction paper

Paper cutouts of a gingerbread man

Recycled Toilet paper rolls

Tub of Water

Gingerbread Man Cookie

Building bridge handout

Procedure:

1. Teachers must set the scene: The Gingerbread Man is trying to escape from the Hungry Fox. The Gingerbread Man can't swim, or he'll crumble apart, so we must build a bridge for him to get away!

2. The teacher must place the gingerbread man cookie in the tub of water to show students that they must build a bridge.

3. Teachers must prepare a river made out of blue construction paper to resemble what the gingerbread man must get away from.

4. Students will have 20 minutes to design and build their bridges with the help of peers and parents.

5. Once everyone is done, they will be allowed to go around and explore what other teams or students have built.

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TEK: 1.6B: The student is expected to explain and predict changes in materials caused by heating and cooling.

Activity: Melting Snowman

Intro: An engaging way for students to see how a marshmallow snowman can be changed by heating and cooling!

Materials:

Hot paper cups

Black permanent marker

Hot cocoa mix

Hot water

Ice cubes

Regular marshmallows

Mini Marshmallows

Black and orange gel food coloring

Toothpicks

Melting Snowman experiment worksheet

Procedure:

1. Students will use a toothpick and food coloring to draw the snowmen's faces on the marshmallows. Allow students to do this for 5 minutes.

2. Teachers will give students 3 hot paper cups that are labeled as hot, warm, and cold.

3. Students will then pour the hot cocoa mix into the three cups. Students are free to use one packet for all three packets.

4. The teacher will pour hot water into the three cups and mix.

5. The teacher will then add 1-2 small ice cubes to the “warm” cup and mix until the ice melts.

6. The teacher will then add 3 ice cubes to the “cold” cup and mix until the ice melts. Must make sure to test that the liquid is cold.

7. The teacher will then ask students to form a hypothesis about which marshmallow will melt, and make sure that they are specific about the temperature of the hot cocoa.

8. The parent, student, or teacher will then carefully drop the marshmallows into the cups of cocoa at the same time. (Each cup should have one big marshmallow and one small marshmallow.)

9. The melting process should begin! The last step is to discuss the results with students.

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TEK: 2.7B: The student is expected to plan and conduct a descriptive investigation to demonstrate how the strength of a push and pull changes an object's motion.

Activity: Snowman Shooter

Intro: A fun way for students to engage with the forces of push and pull!

Materials:

White paper cups

Balloons

Scissors

Black and orange markers

Marshmallows

Cotton Balls

Measuring tape or ruler

Snowball shooter worksheet

Procedure:

1. The teacher will give students a white paper cup with the entire bottom cut out. The teacher will also give students a tied balloon.

2. The teacher will show a demonstration of how to cut the bottom of the balloon before students, so students will not mistake what bottom to cut.

3. Students will then stretch the balloon over the bottom of the white paper cup.

4. Students will use black and orange markers to decorate the snowman's face on the paper cup.

5. The teacher will then give students cotton balls and marshmallows, so students can put one in the cup, pull back the balloon, let go, and watch the item fly!

6. Students will then measure how far the marshmallow and cotton ball flew individually and compare.

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TEK: 2.6B: The student is expected to conduct a descriptive investigation to explain how physical properties can be changed through processes such as cutting, folding, sanding, melting, or freezing.

Activity: Christmas Tree Fizzing

Intro: Watch a Christmas tree change in physical properties!

Materials:

Clear plastic cups or Mason jars

Christmas tree, marshmallow peeps

Cold Water

Hot Water

Vinegar

Seltzer

Pens or Markers to record findings

Christmas Worksheet

Procedure:

1. The teacher will label each of the four clear containers with the four different liquids: hot water, cold water, seltzer, and vinegar. Then fill each of the containers about ¾ full.

2. Students will be given 4 Christmas tree marshmallow peeps and carefully place each one in each cup.

3. Students will then observe any changes in the marshmallow peeps and fill out their worksheets.

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TEK: 1.1A: The student is expected to ask questions or define problems based on observations from text, phenomena, models, or investigations.

Activity: Tallest Snowman

Intro: An engaging way for students to help Santa put up a star tree topper!

Materials:

Packs of toothpicks

Packs of regular marshmallows

Packs of mini marshmallows

Black and orange food coloring markers

Measuring tape or ruler

The tallest snowman worksheet

Prize for the tallest snowmen

Procedure:

1. Teachers must set the scene: Santa wanted to put the star on top of the tree, but his reindeers were sleeping. To not wake them up, we must help Santa make the tallest snowman!

2. Students will be handed marshmallows and toothpicks and will be able to begin planning how to build their snowmen. They will be given 5–10 minutes to plan.

3. Students will then begin making their snowmen; they can do this in groups with other peers or with parents.

4. After 10 minutes of building, the time will be up, and each of the snowmen will be measured.

5. The group or student who built the tallest snowmen will then be given a prize for helping Santa put the star on top of the tree.

Optional: Students can make the snowman head, so the marshmallow looks like a snowman!

Students can do this by:

Using food coloring markers to draw the face.

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Science night will start Thursday, December 21st, at 6:00 p.m. and last until 8:00 p.m.

Stations will last from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Each station will last 30 minutes and will then be rotated. Therefore, each student will have the chance to participate in each station within their grade level.

The last hour of Science night will consist of

Folkloric Dance Performance by a local High School The performance will begin at 7:00 and last 15–30 minutes in the auditorium.

Parents and students will be free to watch the performance or participate in the cafeteria, where there will be food stands, games, and prizes.

Science Night ends at 8:00 p.m.

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It is required for teachers from Pre-K–2nd grade to attend.

Each grade level teacher will split between their grade activities.

For example, if Pre-K has 4 teachers, then they will split between the two activities, so each activity will have 2 teachers.

Grade-level teachers will be required to sign up for the activity they will be in charge of.

It is also required for teachers to wear something Christmas-related or a school spirit shirt.

It is required for all faculty of administration to attend to help aid in guiding students and conducting games in the cafeteria.

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Other grade-level teachers are not required to attend but are free to volunteer to help students and families, administration, and other teachers

Due to our school being adopted by a church, people from the church will be allowed to volunteer in the Cafeteria.

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The PTA will be in charge of organizing and bringing food stands, such as:

Hot Dogs, Nachos, and Pizza

Water bottles, Juice bottles, Canned Soda, and Hot chocolate

Desserts like Cupcakes, Cookies, and Fruit cups

Other foods

PTA and Administration will be in charge of organizing small games that can be played in the cafeteria, such as:

Pin the nose on Rudolph

Santa says

Christmas Charade

Other games

The PTA and administration will be in charge of providing prizes such as:

Stuffed Animals

Basket of Goodies

Toys

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Throughout the stations and cafeteria, Christmas music will be played.

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Top Christmas Songs of All Time 🎅🏼 Best Christmas Music Playlist

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The Christmas Science Night will have a budget of $3,500-$4,000

The Science Night will also have donations from the PTA and Church

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The high school folkloric team volunteered to do a dance performance for Green Elementary.

The High School folkloric team will bring all necessary materials for their dance performance

Bus transportation will be given to high school students and faculty.

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Students and families will be required to have their own mode of transportation, as buses will not be available for this event.

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Boiron, B. (2021a, January 2). Tallest Marshmallow Snowman challenge. Mombrite. https://www.mombrite.com/tallest-marshmallow-snowman-challenge/

Boiron, B. (2021b, February 20). How to make snowman snowball shooters. Mombrite. https://www.mombrite.com/how-to-make-snowman-snowball-shooters/

Boiron, B. (2021c, August 9). Hot cocoa and Marshmallows melting snowmen experiment. Mombrite. https://www.mombrite.com/hot-cocoa-marshmallows-melting-snowmen-experiment/

Catherine, M. (2023, June 7). An easy to set up preschool magnet science activity with Jingle Bells. Fun. https://fun-a-day.com/preschool-magnet-science-jingle-bells/

Gorden, B. (2022, August 5). 🎄 christmas tree science experiment dissolving peeps activities. Preschool Play and Learn. https://www.preschoolplayandlearn.com/christmas-tree-science-experiment-dissolving-peeps/

Lynn, N. (2021, December 17). Building gingerbread bridges: December stem challenge. Natalie Lynn Kindergarten. https://natalielynnkindergarten.com/building-gingerbread-bridges-december-stem-challenge/

McClelland, S. (2023, November 8). Santa’s Sleigh Stem Challenge. Little Bins for Little Hands. https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/printable-santa-stem-activity-challenge/?epik=dj0yJnU9b3hDaFVGcGtJOF9pOXpFeDB2aWtaZ0RxMzVLQlp3NzcmcD0wJm49S2JaRVhMc0k1UWtiOTJ1Q1p6S3VodyZ0PUFBQUFBR1ZiN1A4

O’Block, T. (2023, November 7). Christmas Science Experiments & Stem Challenges. Lessons for Little Ones by Tina O’Block. https://lessons4littleones.com/2017/11/18/christmas-science-experiments/?epik=dj0yJnU9S0dTX2xsM1Q0T0hQOGVET0hBdDVydW9EVVJ1S2dIYmEmcD0wJm49bXRKeDd6dDZacy0wQzRJelloWWZVZyZ0PUFBQUFBR1ZiNlBn

Texas administrative code. (n.d.). https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=19&pt=2&ch=112&sch=A&rl=Y

Welcome to Texas Education Agency | Texas Education Agency. (n.d.). https://tea.texas.gov/academics/early-childhood-education/2022-texas-pkg-comprehensive-guide.pdf

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Each grade level will have two stations

Each station will last 30 minutes

After the 30 minutes, the stations will rotate, so students from that grade level will have the opportunity to participate in both.

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The purpose of Christmas Science Night is to combine both a favorite holiday and science activities to leave kids cheerful and with a lot of knowledge!

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Food will be provided by PTA and Administration