I'm back! This time I am ready to share simple activities you can do this week with your children. I'll break it down by age range below. Watch out for my next post which will contain a list of supplies for upcoming live science experiments on my Facebook (which you'll be able to access on IG as well). These ideas are things you can easily do tomorrow and over the next two weeks (more ideas to follow in the coming days).
If you have a sweet little one about 18 - 24 months, I have a list of simple activities ready to go for you (these activities could easily be used with children through age three).
For those sweet little preschool through upper elementary, I have a list for you! The great thing about this list is that you can tailor it to multiple age ranges. Hopefully this makes life easier for you.
Mystery Painting
How does it work? Using a white crayon write words, shapes, letters or numbers on plain white paper (printer paper is fine but card stock holds up a little better).
Have your child use watercolors to paint over the entire paper revealing the things you wrote in crayon. Have them read/identify what they find. They love it! We call it “mystery painting” in my house and it’s a huge hit.
Word / Letter Find
On a large sheet of paper write down letters, numbers, sight words, spelling words, vocabulary words, or shapes (2D or 3D) that your child should practice recognizing. Leave room in between each object or word. Then hand them a stack of magazines. They could be old Highlights, your clothing magazines, cooking magazines, or anything other magazines appropriate for a child to explore. Ask them to go on a hunt through the magazines. Their goal is to find a picture for each object/word written on their sheet of paper.
For example: the letter A. They could find things that begin with the letter or find the letter itself. Older children can do this with sight words and beginning blends (th, br). Have younger preschool students find 2D shapes and older children find 3D shape representations.
This also allows students to fine tune their cutting skills and use glue or tape (because every child is obsessed with using both of these as we know).
Splat or Spear the Word
I have three boys, so there is a LOT of movement during our school time. One of our FAVORITE games is splat the word or spear the word. It just depends on our mood.
I write sight words (but you can also easily write spelling words for all elementary ages or vocabulary words) on index cards, post its or with Expo markers on the window (yep - it works and the kids love it).
When you call our a word your children use a fly swatter (or in my house - swords) to splat/whack/spear the word.
You could also read the definition of a word and have your child go through the same motions.
My kids love this so much, I normally have to convince them we are done playing. So happy splatting!
Jenga
Hop on Amazon or Target and buy the cheapest version of Jenga you can find (maybe two sets). We love sight word and math Jenga in this house. It is SO much fun and every age can play.
Here is how you set it up. Choose two of the following categories:
- Sight words
- Letters
- Numbers
- Spelling words
- Vocabulary words
- Math equations (from simple addition and subtraction to multiplication and division)
Take a permanent marker and write words, letters, or numbers on one side of the Jenga block. If your child picks these they need to read/recognize what it says.
If you write spelling words, then your child needs to hand you the block once they take it out of the tower and you need to read it to them. They can spell it aloud or on paper for you.
If you choose to write vocabulary words, they must give you the definition of the word they pull out of the tower.
If they pull a math equation block, they must solve the equation. I allow younger children to use a manipulative such as cheerios, candy, or mini erasers to help them solve simple addition and subtraction problems.
This is such a fun way to review! If you have children who span multiple ages, make one side of each block appropriate for each varying level.
We never get tired of this fun, educational game!
Catch a leprechaun.
St. Patrick's Day is Tuesday, so why not have a fun activity or two? Do you have extra boxes laying around? They could be from online orders, cereal, or tissues. Find some string, a stick or straw, and tape. Maybe you even have an empty container or two (think egg cartons or small plastic containers/tops) grab those and set all the supplies in a pile. Have your child (whether they believe or not) set a trap for a leprechaun.
Before you roll your eyes and say your older children wouldn't go for this, let me tell you. I taught fifth grade for eight years and never were they more excited than when we were about to catch a pretend leprechaun with the traps they made.
Older children can write a journal entry or fictional story about how their trap worked (or didn't work). Younger children can write a prediction about their creation or a note to the leprechaun.
Oh and share those leprechaun traps tomorrow and Tuesday! I'll share ours also!
Want to extend the lesson? Paint rainbows using q-tips, marshmallows, or paint brushes. Order a box of lucky charms and graph the marshmallows before devouring them. You can also use them to count, skip count, or do some simple addition and subtraction. Have older children use the marshmallows to tell a story (choose four marshmallows and incorporate them into their short story).
Check out Art Hub for Kids and learn how to draw a leprechaun! Check it out here: learn to draw a leprechaun surprise!
Peeps Diorama
This is MY favorite project as a former teacher. Every year I would have my students create a diorama using peeps. It could not just be any old diorama. It had to connect to our social studies units. They could create a diorama on the Middle Ages, Ancient China, or Mesopotamia. I bought the Peeps (four per box maximum) and supplied the shoe boxes. They brought in the remainder of the supplies. It took days for us to construct the dioramas. Then they presented them to the class.
Over the next few weeks even my kindergartner will create a Peeps diorama based on our current history unit or science unit. I will share in about two weeks. Want to create one with us? I'll be posting updates on my IG and Facebook throughout the duration of this project. :)
Be back soon with a list of upcoming science experiments for the week!
Yorumlar