Experimenting with Gravity
Here's What To Do
Gather toys that are okay for me to drop (balls, stuffed animals, crumpled paper, tissues, etc.) and a box or basket to catch them in.
Sit with me in a chair, and encourage me to drop the different items into the box. Describe how the different items fall.
Throughout the day, let me 'help' drop other things, like: clothes in a laundry basket, trash into a trashcan, or bath toys into the tub.
I might be in a "dropping stage" right now, and sometimes you might not want me to be experimenting with gravity (like when I'm eating and I drop food or spoons on purpose!).
- During those times, try not to react strongly to my dropping, which will encourage me to continue.
- Matter-of-factly remove the object and distract me. Don't try to reason with me, I'm still too young to understand rules.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Give me a hug before we begin.
Engage:
- "Can you drop the ball into the box?"
- "That tissue fell so slow, and it was so quiet when it landed!"
Encourage:
- "You're doing a great job noticing how different things fall!"
- When we're playing this gravity game, respond positively to me dropping toys. This helps me know they're an okay thing to drop. When I'm dropping things you'd rather I don't drop (like food), try to respond in a neutral tone so I'm not encouraged to do it again.
Reflect:
- Do I seem to be enjoying this gravity experiment?
Not quite ready?
If I'm not able to drop objects intentionally, help me experiment with them in other ways (like making noises or feeling them with my hands or mouth).
Ready for more?
Show me how different variables affect gravity's forces- like dropping things from down low and up high, dropping heavy and light things, or dropping things with more surface area that "float" down.
As your child masters this skill...
They will explore cause-effect relationships and experiment with objects to learn more about them.