Story BINGO

Age: 4th-6th Grade

Supplies: 

• Lined paper

• Pencil

• Printer (Optional)

• Dice (Optional)

Purpose: This creative writing tool gives your child the bits and pieces they need to begin writing their own creative story. This gives them a starter point for them to run with. Below you will find two different versions: the Dice Story Bingo or regular Story Bingo. Using the dice version makes the writing more challenging because they have to create their story based on what they roll. The regular version allows you to choose as you write.

Directions

1. Dice Story Bingo - Use a dice to help guide them through their story. First roll for the beginning sentence, then let those creative juices start pumping through their minds. As the parts of the story come up, roll the dice to tell you what to put in place until you get to the end. 

2. Regular Story Bingo - Pick which way you would like to pick your story.

• Straight across - Pick a row that best suits what story you would like to write about. Then fill in the parts as they come into your story.

• Random - Pick one from each column that best suits what you want to write about and plug it in as your write.

Please click the link for the print out of the Bingo Cards.

Science Experiment: Stomach

Ages: Pre-K-4th grade

Supplies: 

• Toilet paper roll or Paper towel roll
• Plastic ziploc bag
• Water
• 5 crackers
• Stomach print out
• Tape
• Scissors
• Laminator (optional)

Purpose: The purpose of this science experiment is a fun way to teach your little one about how their digestive system works. Teaching your kids about what happens to the food after they swallow it and what stomach acid does. This is also a great way to explain the importance of making sure they chew their food well. 

Directions: Print out the attachment below and cut out the stomach. Tape the stomach face down with the part of the stomach that attaches to the esophagus at the top of the bag pointing up. Make sure you tape it to one side of your ziploc bag. Next, carefully put water a quarter to a third of the way of the zip lock bag. The water represents your stomach acid and the ziploc bag represents your stomach. After the water, take your paper roll which represents your esophagus and insert it in to the bag about 2 inches or so. Then pinch the bag closed up until the paper roll is secure by itself. Be careful not to slosh the water about. Next you will explain to them how digestion works. The steps are below:

When you put food in their mouth these are the step your body naturally takes to start digesting what you eat.

1. Chew food up
2. Swallow food
3. Food travels down your esophagus
4. Food drop into your stomach
5. Stomach acid breaks down your food
6. Then travels to you small intestine where nutrients is absorb
7. Then travels to your large intestine where more nutrients is absorbs

Once you go over the process, then show them  how it works by using the crackers. Follow the step below to execute the experiment. 

1. Crumble the crackers in your hand which will represent chewing.
2. Drop the crumbled crackers down the esophagus. (paper roll)
3. Watch what happens over the course of a few minute once it hit the stomach acid. (water) 
4. The food begins to break down.

Questions to Ask

What do you think is going to happen?

What do you see happening to the crackers once it hits the stomach acid?

Why is it important to chew your food well?

Here is the printout of the link for the Stomach Printout. 

Kitchen Measurements Activity (Cups/Spoons Edition)

Ages: Kindergarten - 6th grade

Supplies:

• One large mixing bowl or bucket
• Water
• Basic assorted measuring cups (1/4c, 1/3c, 1/2c & 1c)
• Basic assorted measuring spoons (1/8tsp,1/4tsp/tbsp, 1/3tsp/tbsp, 1/2tsp/tbsp, 1tsp/tbsp)
• Liquid measuring cup (at least 2 cup capacity)
• Food scale (optional)
• Primary color food coloring (optional - red, yellow or blue)
• One medium and small mixing bowl or bucket (optional if you choose to use food coloring)

Purpose: This activity helps gets kids familiar with kitchen measuring equipment and learning about educated guesses. The worksheet below gives them various tasks to perform to help them learn about measurements. This is a good activity when you are trying to introduce the cooking to your children and a fun way to introduce fractions.

Directions: I find it easier if the child stands above the workstation to make performing the tasks easier. Lay all your supplies out on your workstation and fill all your bowls with water. If you choose to use food coloring, leave the large bowl with regular water. Put one primary color in your medium bowl and another in your small bowl. Make sure you lay all measuring cups and spoons so the measurements display can be easily seen. You can skip the scale tasks if you don't have one. When you get to the tasks that require a scale, set it in front of your child and put the liquid measuring cup on it. Make sure you zero the scale before you begin putting the liquid in. 

Print out the worksheet and follow the instructions to complete the tasks. Print out in the link below.

Surprisingly it wasn't as messy as I thought it was going to be.

The following link will have you print out. Kitchen Measurement Worksheet.

Short Vowels vs Long Vowels

Ages: Pre-K- Kindergarten

Supplies: 

• Chalk
• Sheet of paper
• Marker
• Open space

Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to provide a fun way to introduce them to what the difference is between short vowel sounds and long vowel sounds. Them outside and active even in the simplest way. 

Directions: Below you will find an attached list of simple three to four letter words to start with. Use your chalk to write all the words listed by their vowels. Make sure you don't write the 'e' and write large enough. Then cut a sheet of paper in half and write a large 'E' on it with the marker. After you write all the words, go over the vowel sounds to reassure that they pronounce them correctly when they sound the words out. Next have them read down that vowel list individually. Once they have completed that vowel list, have them go back and read it again one time without the 'e' and then once with the 'e'. Repeat this step for each vowel list.

He enjoyed noticing the differences between the words with and without the 'e'.

After going through all the words, he was so proud of how many words he was 

able to read all on his own.

Now whenever he sees a word with an 'e' at the end he shouts it out. "Look this word has an 'e' at the end. That means the vowel sounds like the vowel name." He is so proud of himself. Please click the link to take you to the Vowel Word List.

Bouncing Math

Ages: 3 y/o - 2nd Grade

Purpose: The purpose for this activity is to bring fun and enjoyment while doing math. Adding movement to an activity can help them stay focused longer, easier recollection and make it more enjoyable. 

Supplies:

•  Bouncing ball (optional)
•  Visual Counting Aid
•  Space for Bouncing
  

Directions: You will need a good amount of space for bouncing. If you don't own a bouncy ball that's fine, I will provide alternatives. First decide how many problems you want to do and make sure you have that many visual counting aids. Have them start in the middle of the open space. Tell them a math problem and what ever the answer is will how many tomes they bounce. For addition, bounce forward and for subtraction, bounce backwards. If they bounce the correct amount of times in the right direction, they get a point. If they bounce the wrong direction or don't bounce the correct number then you get a point. If they bounce out of turn you also get a point. at the end of the game the person with the most points wins. While going backwards please be careful if you are using the sitting bouncing ball. 

Tips: If you don't have a sitting bouncing ball you can use a basketball, volleyball, bouncy ball or kickball. If you don't own any of  those, have them just hop, which will still keeps them active. 

If you would like to make it competitive for siblings or even friends, here is a more competitive options that you can do.

Bouncing Math Race - Have them start far back side by side and have two people providing the math problems. You won't need space for bouncing backwards just bouncing forward. Make the problems a little more difficult if you can. Both players are to answer the same problems, but each player is responsible for answering correctly, bouncing the correct amount of times as quickly they can and getting to the finish line first. Once they get used to the game, you could make it to where if they bounce an incorrect amount of times they have to go back tot he starting line. Tip: If you aren't using a sitting bouncing ball then to ensure not cheating make them walk. they can walk fast, they can't run. 

Make sure when you start that you give them a few problem they will easily get. This is to ensure they don't get discouraged at the start of the game. Also for the first couple of problems, I repeat and emphasize what I'm saying to ensure they are fully listening.

Explaining what they did incorrectly helps them learn from their mistakes, fully understand what they did wrong so that they can make the correction on their own next time.

This game can be so much fun, full of laughs and exercise. Have a bouncing good time!

Fishing Review Game

The purpose of this activity is to make the review of what your child is currently working on fun by fishing for what you're going to review with them. This activity will help you find out if they actually learned it or if they still need to work on it. You can review what they learned that day or week so far.

Fishing Review Game Cards

Make reviewing with your children fun and entertaining. Believe it or not, kids can enjoy learning. They can get excited about education and it doesn't have to take a lot of prep or expensive gadgets. I have provided a fun out of the box game that helps you review what your kids have learned and can be fun for them to play. 

Find the print out below that includes the supply list, instructions and topic cards. 

If when they cast they catch more than one, that is fine. I just don't recommend doing more than two at a time. It helps to spread your colorful objects so that it is less likely to happen. 

To buy the Fishing Pole please click the link

This helps build self confidence and gets them excited about being able to read. 

Work on reading and sentence structure.

Practicing different phonics.

Learning about time. Learning Clock

Play various fun games that have to do with telling time. Try a wall clock or a digital clock depending on what you are working on with them.

Watch them start to believe in themselves

and be so proud of their accomplish.

Give them hints and tips to help them achieve what they are doing. Only make mild correction though. Too many corrections can cause them to be discouraged about what they have done and they may not want to play the game. Just take a note of what they need to work on and move on from there. The goal is to build confidence.

Find the cards, list of supplies and instructions by clicking the link. Print, cut and enjoy the game. 

Fishing Review Game Download. I hope you enjoy!

Nutrition Week: Healthy or Unhealthy Food Game

Kids are never to young to learn healthy eating habits. When learning about nutrition it can be a little bit difficult to figure out a way to make it fun, memorable and entertaining. Healthy or Unhealthy Food Game is a great simple fun way to teach your kids about healthy and unhealthy food.

Supplies

- 12-15 Assorted grocery favorites and dislikes (fruits, snacks, drink pouch, etc.)

- A grocery play cart or grocery bag (paper or plastic)

Directions

Present one grocery item one at a time and have your child sort them by telling you if it is unhealthy or healthy. Healthy items go in the bag or cart. Unhealthy items are discarded to the side. If they label an item incorrect, you will be correcting it later. Once they have finished sorting all the groceries, together you will go through both sorted piles one at a time. While going over each item let them know if they were correct or incorrect by explain to them why. This is to insure they understand why the item is healthy or unhealthy. 

Purpose

The Purpose of this game is to help your children have a better understanding of various foods. Understanding what foods are healthy and unhealthy will assist your children in making better food choices.

Nutrition Week: Major Food Group Sorting

Teaching your children about living a healthy lifestyle is important. Educating them on the importance of proper nutrition and fitness can be fun and exciting for children of all ages. Most of the activities that we did were all done using common items that we had around the house. 

Supplies

- Paper

- Marker

- Scissors

- 5 or 6 paper Bags

- Plastic food or food pictures (optional)

Directions

Cut strips of paper and label each one with various foods they are familiar with. You don't want to make it to difficult. Label each bag with the major food groups and let them sort the items. If your child is too young, using pictures or even play food is a good option as well. 

Purpose

The purpose of this activity can be for multiple reasons. You can use it as a way to work on reading, sorting, playing a fun game by seeing how quickly they can sort. Also, to learn about the major food groups and why the foods fit in that particular group.

 

Nutrition Week Sensory Activity (Fruit/Veggie Edition)

Make learning about fruits and vegetables fun. It's important to make sure that you include learning without work sheets. The following activity is a fun way to do it. 

Supplies

- Blind fold, carboard box or trifold poster board. 

- Assorted fruits and vegetables

- Plate, bowl or paper towel

Purpose 

The purpose of this activity is not just for fun, but it's also a lesson in exploring inference by using various senses to navigate through daily living.

Sense of Touch

I used a trifold poster board and cut out two holes. You can also just use a blind fold or cardboard box.

Sense of Smell

Depending on how you display the fruit/veggies you may or may not want them to touch it. So you may want to have a plate or bowl on hand for them to pick up. 

Sense of Taste

I fed him because I didn't want him to get any hints by touching it. Alternatives you could use would be a fork and you can just pre-fork everything and then just put the fork in their hand. 

This activity provides a fun and exciting competition for the kids and very entertaining activity for the observers. I hope you enjoy!

Fun Themed Math

Are you having a hard time getting your children interested in math? Something as simple as changing the objects they count can help get them interested. Every week is themed at our house. The objects will only cost you $3-$12, unless you already everything you need in the house, so it's very simple. All you need are the following:

- 12-20 objects (typically same theme, but something they are interested in)

- Dry erase board or paper (Use their favorite color if you have it)

- Dry erase marker or pencil

Make the atmosphere fun. If your kids love space and has an astronaut costume, let them wear it. Give them something to look forward to, like wearing a costume to get them interested in doing math. 

Insect week - Critter Math  

Space Week - Solar System Solving 

The pieces are animated pictures of the planets and were just printed out. Make sure they aren't too big. I printed off three of each planet, which was helpful when I used them for teaching patterns.

First Responders Week - Flaming Math 

Print off, cut out, then laminate however many pieces your little one is ready to do with math. Make sure you leave at least an eighth of inch of clear laminate around the edges.

Fireman Math - The eighth of inch of clear laminate around the edges is to ensure the pieces don't get wet. Apply a very SMALL amount of shaving cream to each flame. Take a spray water bottle and put it on jet (you don't want mist). They "put out" the fire of however many is being subtracted. Whatever flames are left would be the answer. I used a bin because I was inside, but using pavement will be much easier. 

Extra supplies needed (all can be found at Dollar Tree):

- Spray bottle

- Shaving cream

 

Dinosaur Week - Dino Skeleton Math 

Math Blocks are another good tool to use for various options when teaching math.