What could be better than learning about space and sending off our own rockets? Learning about DOGS going in to space and helping send THEM up in to “space”! Today’s brief storybook-inspired science project found us learning about two stray dogs and their incredible journey into space. Then, we designed our own doggie rockets and tested how far we could send them upwards!
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When I read Memoirs of a Parrot by Devin Scillian, I loved the memorable parrot, Brock/Echo, who loves his crackers. After we read the book, I gave the kids in my co-op STEM Challenge class a new challenge: Make a new bird cage for Echo’s friend, Tik Tok, so they can adopt him from the pet store.
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My daughter still talks about the time the “leprechauns” came to her preschool classroom and left their footprints everywhere, and that was years ago! There’s no doubt it’s fun to imagine leprechauns at this time of year, so it was tons of fun to read How to Trap a Leprechaun to learn that we can get our wish is we catch one of the lucky little guys! Designing a leprechaun trap is a seasonal STEAM project that requires a bit of creativity. After all, if the Leprechauns we’re catching don’t really exist what rules are there?
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When the kids come inside from playing in the snow, I always let them have some hot cocoa to help them warm up. I decided to sneak a tiny bit of learning in on a day when it was too yucky to go outside! We practiced “marshmallow math” at the kitchen table. Marshmallow counting was perfect for a preschooler. Marshmallow addition (and subtraction) keeps my older child busy.
Continue readingWe created our own mail center in our schoolroom and play room because my kids love getting the mail. They love to send letters to friends, teachers, and grandparents. They love to send and receive mail. I made some monster post cards to help us practice writing, addressing, and sending mail. Of course, these aren’t post cards for the US Postal Service: they are for our own homemade mail box!
This week’s Thematic Thursday is all about space, and I’ve chosen to focus a bit more on the moon.
(Yes, I realize that it is no longer Thursday, but we do what we can, right?!)
We studied the moon and space about two years ago, when my son was starting his kindergarten year. His grandma sent him a solar system set that we painted, and we read a lot of books about space. We will be doing space again this year for our science at co-op and I look forward to revisiting the subject. (I love astronomy!)
Here are some of the best moon picture books and educational activities about the moon. (Note: Affiliate links are provided for your convenience.) Continue reading
One of the fun things I have done for my kids this summer to keep track of our summer fun was create a simple summer activity passport for her! It’s a way to keep track of the fun we’ve had this summer as well as encourage the kids to decide which activities we want to make sure to fit in this summer.
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My daughter is so proud that she can read simple consonant-vowel-consonant words now. She still needs to sound them out sometimes, but it comes with ease now. Because she’s gotten to this point of fluency, she can read for understanding.
The best activity we’ve done lately is switched the right words to the wrong words. It makes for a funny sentence. I made up a center for her to practice sentences editing and correcting CVC words. In the simple sentences, which have a related image, just one letter is incorrect. The resulting sentence has a CVC word that makes no sense! Finding the errors is a hoot!
I printed the cards with sentences and laminated them so my daughter could circle the WRONG words using a dry erase marker. The lamination also preserves the task cards for future use!
I also created a recording sheet for others to record the incorrect words and write what the word should be. I knew that my daughter was not ready for the writing aspect of the activity, but some students will be. This could be a great handwriting practice activity as well.
Now that my girl has learned to sound out CVC words, the world of stories is opening. The best part of our Sentences Editing project was that she could find the humor in the incorrect words.
Check out some sample sentences:
Her bright wed sled is fast.
The tot can hit the pat.
The water gum is lots of fun!
The cop mops the web spot.
She understands it all! And she finds it hilarious.
Want to bring laughter into your reading practice? Let your early reader find the errors in this hilarious “editing” task card set!
You can get this product at my Shop or at my TPT store.
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Ever since my son and I began studying the History of Science with Beautiful Feet Books last year, I’ve been on the lookout for something similar that will be a perfect match for my school-averse kindergartner.
Imagine my delight to find an early elementary curriculum that travels around the world: Around the World with Picture Books. My kindergartner has loved the chance to explore different countries, just by reading books and doing similar, related projects.
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I love the Spanish language, but just because I mostly know it myself does not mean that it’s been easy teaching it to my kids. I’ve been trying to speak to my son for five years and he’s fought me. It is so hard for him to develop confidence in a new language. Now he’s ten and my second child is 6. I’ve finally found something that gets them both excited about speaking and learning Spanish. It’s Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids®, which helps them gain confidence by showing other kids speaking Spanish at their level.
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