Materials
Large bag of lemons, approximately 3 per child
Sturdy plastic knives
Hand juicer or hand-operated lever-type juicer
Small strainer
Clear, unbreakable pitcher
Sugar
Water
Large mixing spoon
Measuring cups
Ice shavings or crushed ice
Plastic cups
Red food coloring, optional
Instructions
1. Explore things that are found under the ground. Explain to the children that
many creatures live underground and that many valuable minerals can be
found underground, too. Following are some ideas.
* Study worms. Bring in earthworms and put them on a dirt-filled table
for children to explore. Make "Dirt Cake" with chocolate pudding,
Oreo cookies, and gummy worms.
* Learn about gold. Have a treasure hunt to find a hidden bag of "gold"
(plastic coins or wrapped chocolate candy coins). Find rocks outside
and spray paint them gold. Read a book about gold.
* Learn about diamonds and gems. Show the children artificial diamonds
and gems (from a craft store). Read or watch "Snow White" (the seven
dwarfs worked in a mine).
* Study bugs that live underground. Go outside on a bug hunt and catch
bugs to bring back and observe in the room. Have a class ant farm.
More to do
Books: Read a Winnie the Pooh book that has the character, Gopher, in it.
Gopher's grandpa dreamed of making an aboveground underground city.
Outdoors: Go outdoors and dig tunnels.
