Remote Learning: At-Home Literacy (Fun!) Challenge

Looking for ways to help your child branch out in their literacy skills, while they're home?

Try putting the kids in charge :) This is a multi-step, fun project that could be broken down over several days :) They will learn about characters, setting, adding details, writing down information, making choices about writing, and compiling notes into a "report." All while having fun ....... :)

Step1:

Get out some art materials and design a character (animal or person) to write about. (They may be able to do this alone, or need help with outlines or models, depending on their age and/or ability. Sometimes just drawing a simple outline with shapes will help them get started...)

I picked a mouse for my character (and he has a lizard friend!) ... maybe you will choose a bear, a person, a snake, or something else. Look at books to get ideas, if you need to. Use colors and add details to make your character super cool! Definitely come up with a name for your character! When you're done, cut your figure out.

Step 2:

Design your character's "house." Find a small box or envelope (bigger than your character) and draw on the outside, making it into the type of place that your character would live in. Add pictures of accessories and cut them out to tuck them in, if needed/wanted.

Step 3:

Find some writing paper - computer paper, paper from a notebook, whatever you decide on will be great! Fold it or cut it into smaller pieces - either quarters or strips. I cut mine into strips so I could write across and then fold it up later to fit in my "house."

Step 4:

Decide on a list of questions that you want to answer about your character. Think about what your character looks like, what their house looks like, what his/her family is like, what their favorite color is, what they like to eat, play with, etc. If you need help, ask a bigger person to write them down. 

Step 5: 

Take one question at a time and write about your character. When all questions are answered, ask some more questions and write some more answers :) It could be as simple as "Snakey has no feet and is green," or much more detail, if you're older. Small friends can do this with a big friend. 

Step 6: 

Write an introduction, as if you were introducing your character to a friend. Line up all your writing pieces and decide which piece of information should go first, next, last. Put it all together into a book about your character. Staple or tape together, or rewrite if needed.

Step 7:

Make a cover and have an author's reading with the family - sit in a special chair and read aloud. Consider recording it on audio or video and sharing :)

So, you have your character forever now ...
maybe they'll take some adventures next ... !

Have fun!

More free resources (Part 2)

Everyone is getting very creative but just in case you’re looking ....
More resources ....

On FacebookLive - check out PhillyZoo at 2 each day.

Audible books for all ages - https://stories.audible.com/start-listen

Aquarium live cams - https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams

San Diego Zoo also has live visits with animals on Facebook and FacebookLive.

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is offering fun videos and activities for kids https://www.childrensmuseum.org/museum-at-home

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh has maker projects on its Museum at Homepage https://pittsburghkids.org/museumathome

Have fun!

Free in-home learning resources: during Coronavirus 2020

While we are all adjusting to our new schedules, and learning how to adapt to doing things differently, so many resources are being made available to families to facilitate in-home learning. Check these links (subject to date/time restrictions) to find ways to extend your child’s learning :)

For extensions in Literacy, take a look at:

Storyline Online.  https://www.storylineonline.net/about-us/

Seussville  https://www.seussville.com

Oliver Jeffers ("The Day the Crayons Quit") is doing daily Instagram read-alouds, and Peter H. Reynolds ("The Dot") will be on FacebookLive. Check for your favorite authors on social media - more and more are stepping up.

PenguinKids is doing a daily read-aloud at 10am ET on InstagramLive, so check them out, too :)

YouTube has an amazing assortment of books read aloud by teachers and others, if you're looking for a particular favorite. Many local libraries are also operating online, even if they are closed to the public.

For Math, there are Math games and lots more ... at https://www.education.com/

Interested in Science? Mystery Science (mysteryscience.com) is opening up for free for all different ages, and Scholastic.com has a great library of videos to view on many different topics.

Don't miss a daily visit on FaceBook Live with the Cincinnati Zoo :) 3PM
https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo/

Looking for Dance and Exercise fun? Try these ...

Ballet:  https://www.clevelandinnercityballet.org/single-post/2020/03/14/Cleveland-Inner-City-Ballet-to-launch-Virtual-Online-Ballet-Instruction-Program

Yoga: https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga

All the budding artists can join Mo Willems for his Lunchtime Doodles at 12N ET:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmzjCPQv3y8

Many museums and performance art establishments are working on getting their content out to the public. Check as the days go on to find even more things to do :) I saw this compilation of at home things to do/view, but always preview before having kids jump in :)

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/what-to-do-at-home-streaming-art-museums-concerts-coronavirus-trnd/index.html

Have fun with your exploring time!


Note: all info subject to changes

Small Steps Towards Equity and Inclusion

Teachers (and parents) can broaden children’s experiences through thoughtful, inclusive choices in both literature and in choosing topics for project-based learning. Seeing a range of people reflected in books, and opening up topics that are inclusive, where everyone can contribute and feel connected, are just two ways to honor and celebrate the differences among us.

All children need and deserve to see themselves in books - to feel a part of the world represented in literature, through illustrations and photos. If they do not, they won’t necessarily feel the connection to literature as a whole and to specific stories that may reflect or expand their experience of the world. Children should also be looking at illustrations and reading stories that broaden their view of different cultures ... there is a wealth of great books out there to choose from.

It’s easy to find book lists that are inclusive and expansive, depicting children of all races, cultures, ethnicities, etc. Books that also show characters with disabilities, varied family structures, and in different living situations are so important, as they normalize things for children who may feel marginalized in some way.

In order to feel truly a part of play and learning situations, children must also be able to make connections to the materials featured in the classroom. Choosing topics for group activities that level the playing field opens the door for children with differing backgrounds and experiences to meet on common ground. Topics that are drawn from nature, for example, allow all children ... those who are learning a new language, those with special needs, those with fewer background experiences, even those with trauma in their past ... to join in and contribute.

Common subjects like leaves, snow, planting, motion ... the typical “science” explorations have shown to be great equalizers in our class. Using these types of topics to launch new vocabulary, build knowledge, and explore common questions, helps our students all get involved in the topics we explore. Using these projects to bring together all of our children has helped make our classroom a community, and give each child a voice. And, it has been a very happy voice!

Have fun - and promote equity!

We Are Scientists: Ice Cube Treasures

We are scientists! My friends and I are excited about science - most kiddos are! Here's some science for a cold winter day ... all you need are some ice trays (or there small containers), water, and small colorful items for a little science fun!

First, fill the ice cube trays about 1/3 full and freeze. Then, lay in some tiny treasures ... little toys, natural items, or colorful pompous! Fill the rest of the tray with water and freeze (if the items float, just freeze part full and then do a third layer of plain water to freeze).

When they are frozen, pop an ice cube out per child and encourage them to think up ideas about how to get the “treasure” out. They may want to try breaking the ice cubes or chipping at them with some kind of tool. Have them predict some outcomes and plan a method ... that’s what scientists do!

Show them how to use a dropper or a small spoon to drip little drips of water over and over on the ice ... it will start to indent a little.

Dripping cold water might work s-l-o-w-l-y, but they will see a divot develop where they are dripping water. Eventually, you can guide them to drip warm water with an eye dropper, and see the magic work even better!

Start a chat about the connections between ice and water - and how heat and cold affect each. See what your kiddos observe - tell them they are, indeed, scientists!

My friends got great satisfaction out of this task and stuck with it longer than I thought they would :) Some even asked for more cubes to try again :)

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!

Fairy Tales: The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Children love to get really involved in stories ... helping to tell stories in any way, acting them out, drawing pictures of characters or scenes! This particular tale - The Three Billy Gots Gruff - is so much fun to really delve into, as the children always come up with different ways to extend it :) Extending a story through discussion, dramatic play, or retelling helps with comprehension - and, it's fun!

Before you read, see what materials you might have that correspond to the story characters or setting. Maybe there are some animal figures laying around or some art materials that could be handy. Blocks are great for scenery - like building bridges for trolls to live under :) Don't organize these, but have them available to be "found" for retelling - when the children feel ownership of a project, they get even more excited!

When you are ready to read, find a repeating line (or two!) that the children can "help"with and practice it before starting to read - they will love having a job! In Three Billy Goats, the kiddos love to play the part of the goats and/or the troll :) Plan on reading it through once, so the storyline is known, and then again, maybe in a dramatic retelling, with children taking parts. Taking a story and pulling it apart to retell it is a great way to make it memorable!

My kiddos always love to use toy figures to act out the story - for days afterward! They have "discovered" figures to use (sometimes a horse figure becomes a goat!), made block bridges, searched for blue paper to make into "water," etc. The hunt for a troll figure is always interesting, as they pore over different versions of the story to see that the troll always looks different, depending on the illustrator! Sometimes a troll drawing contest emerges!

Allowing time for all this to unfold is critical here - for their imaginations to really take hold and spur these different extensions of the literature! Stepping back and just observing is key also, as the children will most likely keep the ball rolling with little support. The last time I did The Three Billy Goats Gruff, we dedicated a table for building on top of, like a stage set, and left it up for a few days. It was a very popular spot!

Paper renditions of the troll and goats can be fun and silly. Looking at a model, then cutting and gluing to try to match it, is a great way to stretch skills like sizing, counting, cutting, etc. Our trolls and goats were all originals :)

Above all, have fun with it!