Learning Outside the Classroom

Mrs. Speer - LIbrarian

STEM Opportunities in the Library

Storybook Walk at our School

There are many activities that you can do when you are in a vehicle to help your child learn. Many people let there child go on devices in the car.  Here are alternative suggestions:

• Keep books in the car.  If there are books in the car that your child can look at and read this is a good way to continue that reading process.

• Play games.  When my family travels we come up with fun games to play in the car.  At the kindergarten level we play the alphabet game.  We have to look at signs out the windows and we look for the letters of the alphabet in order.  Another game is "I Spy."  So, you take turns describing things you see while others guess.  20 Questions is another great game to learn how to ask questions to figure out what the person is thinking of.

• Provide paper and writing utensils for writing.  Your child can draw pictures or practice writing letters or words.

There are many activities that you can do in the store while shopping. I know that sometimes it is difficult to take your child shopping with you.  However, I highly recommend doing it.  It is a good way to teach them about wants and needs.

• You can have your child recognize environmental print as you shop.  That means they will start to recognize different brands and labels.

• You can describe a food item and have them pick it up.  For example: Grab the red box of cereal with a strawberry on it.

• You can also at a young age start working with quantity.  Your child can get the job of getting 2 or 5 of something.  They can count as they put it in the cart. 

• It's also just a good way to spend some one on one time with your child and talk as you walk down each isle.

Years ago, when I was watching my child play with the neighbors on a summer day I came up with Driveway Stem.  I was just thinking about all the activities that they did while they were outside.  It can also be done on the sidewalk or a porch. Also, I highly recommend getting your child outside for fresh air and exercise whenever possible.  Here are a few things you can do with your child outside:

• Grab some outdoor chalk. You can have your child practice writing his/her name with chalk.  Your child can also practice their letters and numbers with the chalk.  

      We have also used chalk to make a path.  I would draw different shapes in a path with lines connecting them.  I would make a start and stop to the path.  I would say, "Go to the circle and jump 5 times."  So, your child is learning shapes and numbers and getting exercise.  Then, they could go to the triangle and touch their toes 3 times.  You could add numbers to your path.  

• Explore Nature. Give your child opportunites to pick up a pill bug or a leaf or rock.  I know that my son always had a pocket full of rocks when he came in from being outside.

• Courses - Help your child make an obstacle course of objects found around the house.  Have your child make  a ramp and use any toy with wheels to roll down the ramp and measure the distance.