Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
Varies
Language & Literacy
What, Where, When?
Throughout the day, try giving me lots of examples of questions that start with "What," "Where," and "When."
If I ask a question with only one word, repeat my question as a complete sentence.
If I use gestures to ask a question (like pointing at something interesting), say the question I'm "asking" out loud. Then answer my question.
Over time, I'll learn to ask questions to help me figure things out.
10m
Math
Clean Up Countdown
Pick something in your house that needs to be put away (like clothes into a drawer, crayons into a box, dishes into the dishwasher). Try to choose something with 10 objects or fewer.
Ask your child to count how many things you're starting with (5 plates, 10 socks, 8 crayons, etc.).
Put the items away one by one. Count backwards along with your child as you put each item away.
When the last item has been put away, say "Zero! There's nothing left to put away."
15m
Science
Does it Float?
Gather objects from around the house. If possible, find a mix of things that you know will sink (coins, marbles, rocks), float (feather, bath toy, ball), and some that may be surprising (ball of cotton, pipe cleaner, an orange, tin foil).
Fill up the bathtub or a bowl of water.
Before placing an item in the water, ask your child whether they think it will sink or float. Have them place it in the water and observe what happens. Was their hypothesis correct?
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
15m
Language & Literacy
Grocery List Games
Invite your child to help make your grocery list.
Talk about the types of food you eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. With your child, determine which ingredients you already have at home, and what you need to put on the list to buy.
Write the items on your grocery list. If your child wants to help, write the first letter of a word and ask them to practice writing the letter. Or, they can draw a picture of the item!
Take the list and your child grocery shopping. Ask your child to check off each item as you add it to the cart.
10m
Math
Navigation Numbers
As you go about your day, point out numbers that help you travel from place to place (like: bus or train numbers, building numbers, or street names).
Ask your child what number(s) they see on the signs.
Spend extra time talking about navigation numbers that are important to your child (in your address, the number of the bus they take to school, etc.)
30m
Social Studies
Heritage Tree Leaf
BRING BACK
Talk about your family:
People in your family
Traditions in your family
Explain that you're going to make a tree leaf that represents your family's culture. Help your child gather pictures of people, places, and things you'd like to put on your leaf. Or, help your child draw pictures instead.
Using the leaf print out provided by your teacher (or printed from this page), make your own Heritage Tree Leaf. Ask your child to cut out pictures and glue them onto the leaf.
Label the pictures (children can help write labels too).
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
10m
Language & Literacy
Books and Facts
Select a nonfiction book to read with your child or children about a topic they’re interested in; for example, select a nonfiction book about transportation, gardening, insects, or animals
Explain that nonfiction books are about real topics and they are different from fiction books because they are about imaginary topics; you can also add that people read nonfiction books for information and learning
Provide your child or children with a safe prop that represents a topic in the book; for example, if the book is about gardening show them a pack of seeds and explain what it’s for and how it’s used
Hold the prop while reading the book. Look for clues in the text to make connections and spark conversation
15m
Math
More or Less?
Wherever you are (home, playground, bus, store, etc.), direct your child's attention to compare groups of objects. Try to find groups with 5 items or less.
Ask your child which group has "less" and which group has "more." Start with groups that have a big difference between "less" and "more," so your child will not need to count.
Once your child identifies "less" and "more" easily, increase the difficulty. Compare two groups that are closer in number, and count to check which has "more" and which has "less."
Try the game in different locations as you move throughout your day.
20m
Creativity
Torn Paper Collage
BRING BACK
Explain to your child that you're going to make a collage, which is a picture made from a bunch of small pieces.
Give your child a few pieces of differently-colored paper or tissue paper.
Demonstrate tearing the sheets into smaller pieces, and encourage your child to tear their own pieces.
Give your child paper and a glue stick to create a collage with the torn pieces.
