With the kids being home for a couple of weeks, you may be wondering how to continue learning-but in a fun way that your kid might enjoy. Your child may find it easier to keep learning if the learning is more interactive. You and your child can use this time to go on nature walks to discover your surroundings and do a little research. Here are some simple ideas to keep your child thinking over this break from school:
Nature Based Learning
- Go on a nature walk and pick out 5 rocks. Go home and learn about the rocks you picked. Learn about their textures and names.
- Look for 3-5 different flowers or plants around the yard. Take them back to the house and write down specific descriptions about them. Take some time to research the names of the flowers.
- Is it raining? Is your child curious about the water cycle? Take some time to draw out the water cycle and describe the different parts of the cycle. Learn the different names for each part of the water cycle.
- Is your child curious about the moon? Have them keep a sketch of the moon every night on a piece of paper. Have them research the different phases of the moon. Know the difference between waxing and waning; know the difference between new moon and full moon.
- Do the clouds look different on certain days? Go outside to look at the clouds in the sky. Learn about the different types of clouds. Your child can use cotton balls to demonstrate how the clouds look on a piece of paper. Have them label the cotton ball clouds according to type: Cirrus, Stratus, Cumulus.
- It’s time for another nature walk- this time grab a bunch of green leaves. Go home and do leaf printing!
- While you’re on that nature walk- bring a bag and fill it with dry leaves and sticks. Can you build a miniature fort (think fairy size) out of them?
- It’s time to learn about bugs in your back yard. Turn over rocks and logs to see how many you can find! See if you can find and name 10 different ones!
- Want to learn about bugs at night time? Set up a white sheet near an outdoor light. See how many moths and other bugs fly to it!
- What about the other creatures? Squirrels are everywhere. Take the time to learn more about them, what do they like/dislike? Alternatively, how many birds can you learn about and name?
- Now is a great time to grow a garden. Things like basil and cat grass are easy to grow by seed. They are great starter items and can teach kids about the whole process of growing things from start to finish.
- What about a scavenger hunt? Make a list of 15-20 items to look for, both indoors and outdoors.
Hands On STEM Learning
- Have you heard about marble racing? Try creating one at home.
- Another Marble idea: Create a marble run using paper towel and toilet paper rolls, tape, scissors and anything else you have around the home! You can also make a smaller one using LEGOs.
- Can you build a catapult? You can use popsicles, pencils, marshmallows, legos and so much more!
- Can you build a bridge? Try using the above items to create a bridge that can hold a bottle of water, or something heavier!
- Did you know you can build a balloon rocket out of a balloon, a straw and some string? Give it a try!
- How big can you build a tower out of solo cups?
- Can you build a house out of cards?
- Do you remember the old egg drop challenges? Can your child build a structure that will protect a raw egg from being dropped? Give it a try!
- If you want to get a bit messy, this is a great time to make a volcano!
- What about magnets? Teach your child about polarization and the fun they can have wtih magnets. Be careful of electronics!
- Have fun making some awesome paper airplanes. This is a great time to get creative with airplane design.
- Do you remember science class when you made a tornado in a 2 liter bottle? Give it a try!
- Want some other ideas of things you can build? Try a conveyor belt, or a pulley system.
- What about building a boat?! Can your child build something that floats?
Sensory based learning
- Want some fun ways to get out of energy that also work on proprioceptive input? Try wheelbarrow races, donkey kicks, bear walks, and crab walks!
- Another idea is to try making ice cream!
- Some additional ways to get proprioceptive input is to slither like a snake, have a pillow fight, or a snowball fight (with snowballs you can find on Amazon).
- What about the old school games? Try hopscotch, jump roping- remember double dutch? And leap frog.
- Now that it is getting warmer- your child might enjoy: water balloon catches, egg races, and water guns!
- Want to get messy? Playing with shaving cream is an amazing sensory based play.
- Another fun option is learning about textures. This can be made into a scavenger hunt.
- Blowing feathers or cotton balls is a great sensory technique for calming the body
Now that you have a bunch of ideas, pick a few and give them a try! And always remember- prioritize self care. We are here if you need us.