Q Camp: Getting Some Final Summer Fun In!

It's getting close to the end of the summer here and there are still many restrictions in place. Looking for at-home things to do? Here are some links to throwback posts that gather some fun activities together for you :)

#1: One favorite, which is low to no-cost, is "painting" with water out on the hard pavement - sidewalks, driveways, whatever you have :) Here's a link to fun water painting activities:

https://makeearlylearningfun.blogspot.com/2015/08/water-painting-fun.html

                                              

#2: Plan some food fun for a rainy day :) Playing with food is usually discouraged but, using what you have in the house, you can figure our some fun "lessons" that encompass math, art, science, etc.

https://makeearlylearningfun.blogspot.com/2015/08/an-apple-is-not-just-apple.html

                                                             

#3: Literacy for the win! Look for a great book to build a fun activity with! Remember, YouTube can help out with finding books, if you don't have it or don't want to mingle to get it! Googling images will put the cover pics right in front of your child :) It's great when interest in a story generates an extension activity - check this post out for some literacy and small-motor fun!

https://makeearlylearningfun.blogspot.com/2018/08/books-to-love-commotion-in-ocean.html

                                                             

#4: Character book bags can be so much fun! Team up with a few friends to try out this activity - friends who haven't seen each other or might be remote learning might enjoy this interaction by dropping off and circulating a character or two :)

https://makeearlylearningfun.blogspot.com/2011/08/character-book-bags.html     

                                              

#5: This post, entitled "Summer Fun!," gives you a bonus - 10 more ways to extend your summer fun!

https://makeearlylearningfun.blogspot.com/2011/07/summer-fun.html

End your summer with a great week! And - have fun!!

Books to Love: Commotion in the Ocean

A book like "Commotion in the Ocean" by Giles Andreae, can be used to teach so many things, besides being so FUN to read! The illustrations, by David Wojtowycz, catch your eye with their bright colors and cartoony features, which sets the stage for the silliness to begin :)

Each short poem about different sea creatures introduces new names and other related vocabulary, broadening the scope of what your child may know about each of these underwater animals.

The rhyme and rhythm incorporated in each poem will draw your child in - play the waiting game at the end of each section, drawing out the last sentence to see if your child will complete it with the final rhyming word :) Rhyming is an early reading indicator, and is best taught through organic word play within a text :)

Your child may want to recall and list the sea creatures, practicing sequencing and ordering. Or, maybe they would prefer to retell facts about each, displaying some retention or comprehension of the content. You could even simply play with beginning (or ending) sounds, stretching out the name of the animals.

Kiddos always love to hear sound noises and you can show them how they are shown as onomatopoeia, within the illustrations ... snippety snap and click and pitter patter. Try to re-create them using hands or toys or sticks - so much fun!

As an extension, the illustrations in this book provide great, simple shapes for tracing on paper and making stick puppets of each creature. Your child will get practice with tracing, cutting, and other fine motor practice while creating something fun - and useful! Attach craft sticks to make puppets or make sets for practicing visual discrimination and matching games, all centered around the sea creatures in the book!

So many things you can do!

Have fun!