BLOCK BOOK AND PLAY DOUGH BOOK

These books are a perfect way to integrate literacy in practical ways in learning centers. Children will be engineers and mathematicians as they develop small motor skills and eye-hand coordination.


BLOCK BOOK
1. Cut small squares and rectangles similar to unit blocks out of construction paper.
2. Arrange on file folders to make structures similar to the ones shown.



3. Punch holes and bind together to make a book.
4. Place in the block center and challenge children to look at the designs and then make them with the blocks.
5. Can they look at the design and then turn it over and make it without looking?


PLAY DOUGH BOOK
1. Write “Can you make lines?” at the top of one folder.
Make lines similar to the one shown.

2. Draw curves on another folder and write “Can you make curves?” at the top.

3. Make shapes (square, rectangle, circle, triangle) on another folder and write “Can you make shapes?”

4. Draw simple objects (nest and eggs, hotdogs, bunny, etc.) on the last folder and write “What else can you make?”

5. Punch holes in the folders and attach with book rings.

6. Place the book in a center with play dough and challenge the children to roll the dough and place it on top of the lines and shapes.

ENGINEERS

Engineering is the design process used to solve problems and build things. Children are natural engineers as they play with blocks and Legos, create things in art, or build a fort outside with their friends. Here are a few other activities that will give your little “engineers” a job. 

Engineer Planning Book
Write “Engineer Planning Book” on the cover of the notebook. Explain that engineers draw a plan and then try to build their design. Place the book in the block center along with a pencil and encourage children to draw their idea and then try to build it.

Cups and Plates
Little guys to big kids will be challenged to build structures with simple materials like plates and cups.

Lunch Bag City
Buildings and houses from lunch bags are fun to construct and use to create a community, reproduce a scene from a book, or design a city of the future. Take 2 lunch bags and open them up. Fill one with crushed newspaper. Insert the second bag on top and then decorate with markers, construction paper scraps, etc.

LET'S MAKE SOME MUSIC

 You can buy musical instruments or you can let children make their own.

Tin Pan Band
Get out the junk box and invite children to create a musical instrument.


Family Project
For homework, ask parents to help their children make a musical instrument from something around the house. Can they find a box or cardboard roller and recycle it?


Classroom Objects
Challenge children to look around the classroom and find something they can use to make music. 

*Two paper plates, cups, craft sticks, pencils, or blocks can be used to tap out a beat or repeat a pattern.


Body Parts
Brainstorm body parts can they “play” to make music. Snap fingers, clap hands, thump fists, stomp feet, and so forth.


Loud and Soft
What child hasn't wanted to be a conductor? Let them take turns leading their classmates as they play instruments. Demonstrate when the conductor's arms are open they should play loud, but when the conductor puts her hands close together they should play softly.

HINT!  Use these instruments to keep the beat and expose children to different styles of music.   For example, classical, big band, marches, show tunes, etc.

ARE YOU A COUCH POTATO?

Click to view Couch Potato on YouTube 

Click to view La Sofa Papa Pokey on YouTube

Handout: https://bit.ly/drJCouchPotato-pdf

You will also find links on the description on YouTube.

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FIDGET FIXERS

There are some children who just can’t keep their fingers still. You try finger plays, cheers, and all the tricks you can, but those fingers just keep on moving. Here are a few ideas that might be an outlet for those frisky fingers.

Brain Toys (pre-K and K)
Fill a shoebox or basket with stress balls, sponge balls, knotted socks, etc. Suggest children get a “brain toy” when they can’t keep their hands to themselves.

Fiddle Stick (primary grades)
Wrap a 20” piece of string around a jumbo craft sticks. Children keep these in their desk and get them out when their hands need to fiddle.

Stress Button
Glue the hook side of Velcro to a poker chip to make a “stress button.”  Children can keep it in their pocket and then rub it when they feel anxious.

Twisty and Bendy

 

Give children a pipe cleaner or straw to twist and manipulate.

Fidget Cube

The fidget cube is a toy with different things that move, such as a toggle switch, clicking button, gears, etc. Apparently, they are helpful for adults and children with ADHD. I found several online and they vary in price from $1.00 on up.

KIDS GO WILD

Several years ago I read Richard Louv’s book LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS: SAVING OUR CHILDREN FROM NATURE-DEFICIT DISORDER. It reminded me that exposure to nature is essential for healthy physical and emotional development in children AND adults. (This book first came out in 2005, but you can imagine the decrease in outdoor time and increase in screen time over the past 20 years!!!!)

This is the perfect time to get outdoors and let children explore in a less controlled environment. Educators, as well as many parents, are concerned about all the time their children spend in front of a screen. But, you can’t always give children a choice. If you say, “Do you want to go outside and go for a walk or play video games on your computer?” You know what the answer will be!

We need to engage children in outdoor activities and create opportunities where they will choose to play and “be wild”! These are some suggestions that you might want to share with your parents:

Climb a tree

Roll down a really big hill

Build a tent

Hunt for stones

Watch the sun wake up

Go on a nature walk at night

Plant it, grow it, eat it

Discover what’s in a pond

Go to a park

Play in the sand

Run around in the rain

Fly a kite

Hunt for bugs

Go fishing

Cook on a campfire

Look for objects in the clouds

Make a mud pie

Swing on a rope swing

Here's a great website to share with parents to encourage more outdoor family fun:

https://www.parents.com/fun-things-to-do-with-kids-outdoors-8667161

FOREST SCHOOLS started in Denmark in the 1980's and they have been growing across the UK. Forest Schools are a type of outdoor education where children develop academic skills, as well as social and emotional skills in an woodland environment. It's an interesting concept, so google it and see what you think.

www.kidsgowildforestschool.com

PARTS OF A FLOWER

Learning to recognize and label plants, insects, and other objects they study about is a good way to integrate writing and science. With this song learning the parts of a flower will be much easier. Children will also be amazed about the parts of a flower that they eat!

Parts of a Flower (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”)
Flower (Hands around face.)
Stem (Point to neck.)
Leaves (Stick out arms.)
And roots (Touch feet.) –
Leaves and roots.
Flower, stem, leaves, and roots –
Leaves and roots.
All it takes is sun (Hands up in circle over head.)
And showers (Wiggle fingers down.)
And a seed (Hold out palm.)
Grows into a flower. (Spread fingers of right hand up through left fist.)


Flip Book
Make a flip book where children can label the parts of a flower. To make a flip book fold a sheet of paper into eighths. Open and fold in half. Cut down the three creased lines to the middle to make flips. Turn vertically as shown. Write “Flower," "Stem," "Leaves," "Roots” on the four sections from the top to the bottom. Open and draw the appropriate part of the plant under each label. Don’t forget to draw the seed!

Eating Plants
Discuss what parts of a plant you eat. What roots do you eat? What leaves? What stems? What flowers? What seeds?
*Divide a sheet of paper into fourths and label, “seeds,” “roots,” “stems,” “flowers.” Have children write or draw different foods they eat from each category.


Dirt Pie
Yeah, I know this isn't very healthy, but I'm sure somebody out there would like to do it at home or summer camp.

HOW ABOUT A BUNNY TALE TO TELL THIS WEEK?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3Nw_IGoa3Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL0Gw0yc3rY

Handout - 

https://bit.ly/drJBunnyEngEsp

"SEEDY" STUFF

All over the country people are planting their gardens. There's still a little magic when a seed begins to sprout. I remember eating a popsicle with my older cousins when I was a preschooler. They told me if I dug a hole and put my popsicle in it then it would grow into a popsicle tree. I'm still waiting!!! I also enjoyed letting my students brainstorm different objects we could plant, like jelly beans and pennies. 

Hint! If you line a plastic up with a paper towel and fill the center with sand you can insert items and watch what happens.

The Planting Song
(Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”
Let’s all plant some seeds, (Pretend to dig.)
Let’s all plant some seeds.
Hi, ho, it’s spring you know,
Let’s all plant some seeds.

The rain begins to fall… (Wiggle fingers down.)
The sun warms the earth…(Arms over head.)
The seeds begin to grow… (Pretend one arm is a plant.)


Growing, Growing!
What does a seed need to grow? Brainstorm with the children and write their responses on the board. Take five cups and draw the following as shown:
soil, water, sun, air
soil, water, air
soil, water, sun
soil, sun, air
sun, air, water

Plant several bean seeds in each cup. Encourage the children to predict what will happen. Observe. Evaluate predictions after several weeks.



Seed Hunt
Brainstorm different seeds that come from foods we eat, such as apples, oranges, sunflowers, avocados, popcorn... Challenge children to look in their kitchens at home and bring in seeds. Plant the seeds in clear cups and label. Place in a sunny window, water, and you might be surprised at what comes up!