| There are
always television programs during the month that are great
learning vehicles but nothing compares to the Olympics. This
month make time to watch some of the events with a child and
chat about the participants, their training, where they
live, etc. The Olympics give an unique opportunity
for a child to see the diversity of our world and embrace
the unity of sport. This month there are activities to share
on Valentine’s Day plus a learning game in which a child’s
photo is the secret ingredient needed to play. February is
the month of love – remind a child how much you love them.
#1 Searching
for Patterns
This idea has you
looking for patterns in reading, math, and science.
Searching for relationships in numbers and words or finding
connections is a basic skill for problem solving. Here are
some patterns to share with a child. See if you can discover
other patterns.
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A reading
pattern could be 2 vowels together – the first one does
the talking (long vowel sound) and the second vowel is
silent – toad soak
-
A math pattern
could be counting by 3’s – 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, etc.
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Science –
pattern of our seasons – Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
#2
Pattern Photo Game
Watch Video
In this
idea we will make a pattern game and personalize it to share
with a child. You will need a camera.
-
Take
photos of a child and decide on 3 different
poses.
-
A pose
with arms stretched high, a pose with arms
stretched wide, a pose with child sitting on
floor, or other simple poses.
-
Make 5
copies of each of the poses – 15 pictures in
all.
-
Make a
pattern with the pictures on a table in front of
a child.
-
A
simple photo pattern could be:
-
child’s arms high
-
child
sitting on floor
-
child’s arms high
-
child
sitting on floor
-
child’s arms high
-
?????
-
Let
child pick the photo which would come next.
-
Using
these 15 pictures allow for multiple patterns to
be made.
-
A
variation could be to make a pattern and then
eliminate a photo from inside the pattern and
see if the child can determine the missing
pattern piece.
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(Click photos to enlarge image.) |
By using pictures of a child, the playing and rearranging of
new patterns can keep a child occupied for a long time. For
younger children, try using pictures of different children
which is easier for them to see a pattern. Example: boy,
girl, boy, girl, ?
#3 Candy Heart Math
Watch Video
Valentine’s Day is a day to remind people
how special they are in our lives. Candy hearts with sayings
printed on them can be found during this season. Here are
some ways to use the hearts for math.
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Gather some
hearts in a clear plastic cup and predict –
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What is the
most frequent color of hearts
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How many total
candy hearts are in the cup
-
How many of
each color are in the cup
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Once the
predictions are made, go ahead and remove the hearts from
the cup and put them in rows according to color and count
each category.
-
Draw an outline of
a large heart on a piece of paper. Now estimate how many
candy hearts it would take to fill the heart. Once the heart
is filled, let the child compare the estimate to the actual
number of candy hearts. Use either the large or small hearts
depending on the age of the child to fill the outline.
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(Click photos to enlarge image.) |
#4 Sentence Making with Candy Hearts
Again, we will use the candy hearts with sayings for a
thinking activity.
-
Select a candy
heart with a saying and let a child make up a sentence
using the saying on the heart. If the candy heart states
– HOW NICE – a sentence to create could be:
-
Any number of
people can participate as each person around the table
picks out a heart and states a sentence. This is an easy
method to use for children to be comfortable in speaking
aloud.
#5 Creative Writing with Candy Hearts
Candy hearts are still needed for this
unique writing activity for all ages.
-
Give a
child up to 15 candy hearts with sayings, a
sheet of paper, and glue.
-
The
goal is for a child to use as many of the hearts
as possible to create a story. The hearts are
glued on the paper in the appropriate part of
the story
-
Below
are examples with the sayings on the candy
hearts put in CAPITAL LETTERS
-
My
mom and dad were SWEETHEARTS in school.
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Dad liked her SMILE according to a LOVE
LETTER I saw.
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It
was THAT SMILE that dad said would CHARM ME.
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Dad said mom would E-MAIL ME and always ask
WHAT’S UP.
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She would CHEER ME on when I got tired.
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Dad was excited when mom said, “I LOVE YOU’.
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One day he gave her HUGS and KISSES and
asked “Would you MARRY ME?”
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She said “Yes, THANK YOU for asking.”
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And they are living happily EVER AFTER.
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(Click photos to enlarge image.) |
Let me
know by e-mail what your favorite activity was this month. I am compiling information for a resource book
and want your input. Thanks.
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