We’ll be playing with oobleck, a fun, gooey mixture that’s both a solid and a liquid! Through this hands-on experience, children will connect numbers with quantities in a playful, sensory environment.
WHAT ELSE WILL CHILDREN LEARN?
• Using their hands: Squishing and molding the oobleck helps develop fine motor skills.
• Curiosity and Motivation: We encourage children to ask questions and explore the oobleck’s unique properties.
• Reading and Understanding Recipes: Following a simple recipe allows children to see how words and numbers work together.
• Measuring: We’ll use measuring cups to mix and explore different quantities.
• Physical Science Fun: Children will discover the amazing physical properties of oobleck and how it changes when they touch it!
ASK YOUR CHILD:
• "Let’s look at the oobleck recipe—do you notice anything interesting?"
• "What colors can we choose to make our oobleck extra fun?"
DRAMATIC PLAY CENTER: DINNERTIME FUN!
OBJECTIVE:
We’ll be setting up a pretend dinner table where children get to play chef, server, or guest! While having fun, they’ll practice counting and measuring, like serving up plates with the right number of pretend foods.
WHAT ELSE WILL CHILDREN EXPLORE?
• Focus and Engagement: Children will practice staying engaged in an imaginative play scenario, sharing ideas, and working together.
• Pretend Play: They’ll step into different roles—maybe a chef, a parent, or a friend—helping them understand the world around them and how people interact.
• Understanding Space: As they set the table or arrange pretend food, they’ll learn about spatial relationships, like how things fit together and where they belong.
• Learning About People: By taking on different roles, children gain insight into routines and daily life, building a basic understanding of how people live and interact.
ASK YOUR CHILD:
• "What’s on the menu today at our pretend dinner?"
• "Who’s joining us for dinnertime fun?"
• "How many plates and cups do we need for everyone?"
TOYS AND GAMES: INTERACTIVE MATH PLAY
OBJECTIVE:
Children will explore math through fun activities like sorting, counting, and building. They’ll use colorful toys and games to practice important skills like matching numbers with objects and recognizing shapes—all while playing and having fun!
WHAT WILL CHILDREN BE LEARNING?
• Sorting and Classifying: Kids will group objects by color, size, or shape, developing their sorting skills in a playful way.
• Counting and Quantifying: Through hands-on games, they’ll practice counting and connecting numbers with quantities, like matching numbers with the right amount of toy animals or blocks.
• Shapes and Patterns: Children will discover and understand shapes as they play, helping them recognize and name different shapes like circles, squares, and triangles.
• Using Fingers and Hands: Activities like stacking, placing, and manipulating objects help children strengthen fine motor skills, improving their hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
ASK YOUR CHILD:
• "Can you find all the red balls and put them together?"
• "How many scoops do we have in this ice cream cone?"
ART: SHAVING CREAM LETTER ART
OBJECTIVE:
Children will use shaving cream to practice spelling their name, exploring the alphabet in a hands-on and creative way!
WHAT WILL CHILDREN BE LEARNING?
• Using Fingers and Hands: Picking up and arranging foam letters helps children strengthen their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
• Writing Skills: Kids will practice forming letters and writing their names, building their confidence with early writing skills.
• Exploring Visual Arts: By decorating their foam letters with colors or patterns, children get to express their creativity and engage in visual art activities.
• Letter Recognition: As they play, children will identify and name different letters, reinforcing their understanding of the alphabet.
ASK YOUR CHILD:
• "Can you find the letters of your name and put them in order?"
• "What colors would you like to decorate your letters with?"
• "Can you show me the letter ‘A’ in this group?"
SAND AND WATER CENTER: BUBBLE LETTER TREASURES!
OBJECTIVE:
Children will dive into a water-filled station where they’ll discover floating bubble treasures with hidden letters inside, helping them practice identifying and naming the alphabet in a fun, interactive way!
WHAT ELSE WILL CHILDREN EXPLORE?
• Curiosity and Motivation: Kids will feel like underwater adventurers as they search for bubble letters, sparking their natural curiosity and excitement for discovery.
• Using Tools: They’ll use nets, scoops, or tongs to catch and collect the floating letters, learning how different tools help complete tasks.
• Fine Motor Skills: Grabbing and scooping the bubble treasures strengthens children’s fingers and hands, enhancing their coordination.
• Perseverance: As they hunt for all the floating letters, children practice staying focused and persistent, even when some letters are tricky to catch.
ASK YOUR CHILD:
• "Which bubble letter did you catch in the water?"
• "Can you use the net to scoop up a floating treasure?"
• "What tools are you using to collect the letters?"
BLOCKS: COVER UP CHALLENGE!
OBJECTIVE:
Children will have a blast using blocks to cover up various shapes and objects, helping them learn about measurement and comparison in a hands-on way!
WHAT ELSE WILL CHILDREN EXPLORE?
• Using Fingers and Hands: As they stack and arrange blocks, kids will develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
• Problem Solving: Children will think critically as they figure out how to cover shapes completely with their blocks, encouraging creativity and innovation.
• Understanding Spatial Relationships: Playing with blocks helps children learn how different shapes fit together and how to navigate space while building.
• Recognizing Patterns: Kids will explore patterns as they create designs with their blocks, developing their ability to identify and replicate sequences.
ASK YOUR CHILD:
• "Can you show me how you covered this shape with blocks?"
• "What patterns can you make with your blocks?"
• "How many blocks did you use to cover that object?"
