What’s the big idea? CREATE

What are spy scopes used for?

• Gather a paper towel or toilet paper roll, foil tape, ribbon, stickers, and other decorations.
• Cover the roll in foil tape.
• Decorate with your favorite stickers, ribbons, and drawings.

What’s the big idea? DISCOVERY

What was the best discovery you ever made?

• Gather small filler items (kernels, rice, etc.), see-through bags, and small objects to discover.
• Place filler items in a see-through bag.
• Discuss and name each small object the child will have to discover.
• Place the small objects into the bag.
• Call out an object and have the child discover where it is.

Variation: Have duplicates of each small object to discover.  Place one set in an empty bag to look at for a reference.

What’s the big idea? GROSS MOTOR SKILLS

What designs can you make with painted marbles?

• Gather marbles, paint, small bowls, paper, and plastic bin.
• Pour different colored paint into separate bowls.
• Add marbles to each bowl of paint.
• Place clean paper into the bottom of the plastic bin.
• Next, place painted marbles into bin.
• Move the bin around so that the marbles paint straight and wavy lines.

Variations:

• Place paint directly in bin and roll marbles around.
• Paint with one marble and draw a unique design.

What’s the big idea? MAPPING

What would you find on a treasure map?

• Gather “old” paper, crayons, and markers.
• Create a map that leads to treasure.
• Don’t forget to mark the treasure with an X.

What’s the big idea? MATERIALS

What can you make with spaghetti – other than dinner?

• Gather uncooked spaghetti and an imagination.
• Try breaking the spaghetti into small and then smaller parts.
• Arrange the spaghetti into letters, shapes, objects, or anything you want!

Variation:

•        Someone tells you something to make and you try to make it.
•        You can also mix dry and cooked spaghetti together.

What’s the big idea? SENSORY PLAY

As you play with the rice can you…

Draw a number? Create a picture? Show me a shape?

• Gather rice (visit Rice It Up for how to color it) and baking sheet.

• Place rice on a baking sheet or in a sensory bin to let the child experience the texture.

• Guide the child through exploring his/her numbers, shapes, or even hidden objects.

• It is equally important to have the child participate during clean-up time.

• S/he may wish to use a funnel, spoon, or even hands to get the rice back into its container.