Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
30m
Language & Literacy
Describing a Favorite Place
Ask your child to think of their favorite place. If possible, go to that place or look at a picture of the place.
Pick something in the place to talk about (like, a stuffed animal in your child's room, a swing at the park, etc.).
Ask your child to pretend they were describing this object to someone who's never seen it before. What words would help someone know all about it?
Continue describing other objects in your child's favorite place.
10m
Approaches to Learning
Do This Then That!
Create three-step directions for your child to follow; get silly and have fun with this!
Preface each command with “do this…then that…then that...” as you model the multi-step directions. Example: Say “do this” while tapping your nose and say “then that” while marching in place and "then that" when spinning in a circle.
Try not to repeat the directions; instead encourage your child to remember all three steps on their own.
If your child is successfully remembering 3-step directions, try 4-step directions (do this, then that, then that, then that).
30m
Science
Fort Building
Ask your child to think of what materials they would need to build a fort. Gather the materials from around the house. Consider using blankets, sheets, kitchen chairs, or even low tables in your home. Clothespins, large clips, and rubber bands can also be helpful!
Ask your child their plan for building the fort, then build! Encourage your child to do as much as they can by themselves.
Ask your child to assess your design. Does it seem sturdy? Can people fit inside? How can it be improved? Revise the fort if needed.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
30m
Social Studies
Explore A Local Landmark
Visit a local landmark (a building, statue, sign, tree, hill, park, etc.).
Explain that a landmark is something big that can be seen from a distance and can help people find their way around.
Ask your child to describe the landmark's characteristics.
Talk about how you might use the landmark to get where you're going.
1hr
Science
Build-A-Track
Find a small toy that can move along a track, like a toy car, marble, or small ball.
Gather materials to build your track, such as cardboard, tubes, blocks, pillows, or kitchen items, and use things like tape or string to connect the pieces.
Make a path for your toy to follow and add fun features like ramps or turns.
Test your track by pushing the toy along it, then fix any spots where it gets stuck and keep experimenting until it works smoothly.
20m
Science
Playground Physics
Gather a few different types of balls (like: soccer ball, kickball, baseball, bouncy ball) and head outside to a wide open space.
Mark a starting spot on the ground with a stick or rock. Experiment with different ways of moving the different balls. Examples:
A child kicking or throwing the ball gently
A child kicking or throwing the ball as hard as they can
Use rocks or sticks to mark where the ball lands each time.
Summarize your results: what kind of force made the ball go farther? Did one type of ball seem to go farther than another?
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
15m
Language & Literacy
Sight Word Search
Create a 'Sight Words Chart' to keep in your reading area. Sight words are words that your child can learn to recognize without sounding them out.
Divide a piece of paper into 10 sections.
In each section, write one of these sight words: he, was, that, she, on, they, but, at, with, all
While you're reading, tell your child to look for these words in the book.
If your child notices a sight word, add a check (or star, etc.) to that word's section on your chart. If you notice a sight word on the list, you can prompt your child to find it on the page.
Repeat whenever you read!
20m
Math
Shape Hunt
Before you head outside, print out or draw a shape chart that looks like the example chart. Ask your child to practice drawing each of the shapes (circle, triangle, square, rectangle, oval, diamond/rhombus, pentagon) in the left column.
Bring your chart and something to write with, then set a timer for 10-15 minutes and go outside.
Look for shapes in the world around you (examples: rectangle door, circle bicycle wheel, pentagon sign). Ask your child to put a small tally mark (short line) on the chart to count each shape they find.
When the timer goes off, count the tally marks for each shape. Which shape did you find the most? The least?
"Let's first make a chart so we can keep track of all the shapes we find."
30m
Social Studies
Build A Landmark
Read a nonfiction picture book (or look up information online) about a well-known structure like a bridge, monument, building, etc.
Give your child modeling materials like blocks, clay, play dough, straws and tape, or pretzel sticks and marshmallows to create a small model of this structure.
Display the model in a special place or have your child take it to school for show-and-tell.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
30m
Creativity
Make A Cityscape
Collect cardboard from recycled boxes. Cut the cardboard into differently sized rectangles.
Ask your child to make a city out of the rectangles. They can paint or color details like windows, doors, and roofs.
Encourage them to add more details to their city, like people, trees, or cars. Cut out the shapes for your child, and have your child decorate them.
When your child is done painting or drawing, arrange the buildings into a city. Ask your child to describe what they've made.
20m
Math
Shape Builders
"Today, we’re going to combine shapes to make new ones, like puzzles!" Show an example by placing two triangles together to make a square.
Invite your child to pick two shapes and try combining them., "What happens when you put these two together?"
Encourage your child to combine shapes into new ones, such as making a rectangle from two squares or a bigger triangle from two smaller ones. Celebrate each new creation.
As your child works, describe what you see: "You combined a triangle and a square—look, it makes a new shape!"
10m
Health & Wellness
I Spy a Clean Floor
Ask your child for help cleaning up the floor after a meal. Give your child a dustpan and brush, a child-sized broom, or a small handheld vacuum.
Play "I Spy" to identify areas that need cleaning. Encourage your child to "spy" messes as well.
Show your child how to finish the job by dumping the dustpan into the trash or emptying the vacuum.
Repeat daily to help your child build a habit. Over time, help your child complete more steps on their own (like grabbing the cleaning supplies, moving chairs out of the way, making sure all the dirt is gone).
