With our center being a model for multiculturalism and diversity, our class brings in the excitement of these holidays with a study of eggs. This study starts our month long journey into of how things grow, where they grow from and many more questions about growth, changes, and life cycles. We start very basic and work towards more complex thinking concepts. Here are some simple ideas to start your child out on some "eggs-cellent" learning opportunities.
So grab up several dozen plastic eggs from that store that's always cheaper than a buck and you're ready to get started.
In this activity, the child has to match the number symbol on one half of the egg to the correct amount of dots on the opposite half of the egg. If you want to add a little more, add plastic refrigerator magnets for them to place inside the egg as well. (Total cost of learning activity: $2)
For this activity, we found these great cake pans with lids to that same cheap store to use for egg rolling art. Take a plastic egg and fill with just a little sand or rice then tape it shut with duct tape. Add your piece of paper to the cake pan then several drops of paint. Replace the lid then let the shaking begin. Have your child shake the pan in several directions...try using positional words like right to left, forward to back, in to out, and up to down. Great way to build vocabulary while doing art.
Do you have a child that loves sensory or water play? Try adding rice/oatmeal/grits to a plastic shoe box then add several eggs, some little chick colored Pom poms, small plastic animals that come from eggs (butterflies, bugs, frogs, lizards, snakes, etc.) and a small scoop. Let them tell you all about the animals, the eggs, or whatever their hearts desire. Or add eggs, scoops, animals, and a few rubber ducks (personal favorite) to bath time or as we have in our class, an under the bed storage container, to have some great water sensory time.
Worried about those math expectations....try using those plastic eggs as a measuring tool. When children enter primary school, they often think that items must be measured with a standard unit of measurement like ruler, tape measure, etc. Great reminder about standard and non-standard units of measurement. Even eggs can be used to measure themselves, a friend, or anything around the house.
Even see those cute little styrofoam eggs in "that store" and wonder who has time to do anything with those??? Well now you do!!! Take a simple muffin tin, place the corresponding colors of the eggs in the bottom of each section then let the sorting begin. Why is it so important to sort? Only young children need to sort....not!!!
Sorting helps children to learn about placement values, numbers, fine motor skills and more. What is all of that stuff you say? Think placement value in math equations and the counting of money. Fine motor skills include holding the pencil, writing with a pencil, using scissors, brushing your teeth or hair. Amazing to think that this simple starter activity could lead to many daily life fuctions later on.
Do you have an extra egg carton laying around? You will after you dye all those eggs. Then recycle or up cycle it to make a number or alphabet game. Grab some ping pong balls (maybe two) from "that store"-usually in the toy section. Write numbers or letters on them then write the corresponding dots or letter inside the egg carton. Here we placed the number on the ball then number of dots inside the egg carton. Trying writing the upper case letter on the "ping pong egg" and the lower case in the carton. Cheap activity and you can take it on the go as well. Think a quiet activity for the synagogue or chapel or that spring wedding.
We hope that you can find some ways to use these activities and have "eggs-cellento" opportunities for learning with splashes of fun to boot.
Have a "Springy" week and we'll see you next week for more learning make it take it sessions!!!
Sincerely,
Ms. Gen. And Ms. Kelly
No comments:
Post a Comment