STEAM:

Science/ Technology/ Engineering/ Art/ Math/ Science

Choose an activity to work on over a couple of days or choose one activity per day

Examples of questions to ask:

What happens when ___? How do you think that works? How could you change that?

What does that remind you of? What would happen if ___? Tell me more.

*Remember to narrate play and ask questions; label objects, animals, parts of things (i.e. wheel on car), colors, sizes, patterns, quantity.

*This is where you can use the items gathered during your park trip or neighborhood walk.

1. Road Shape Mats: Let's target math and fine motor skills. Consider printing out or drawing roads in a variety of shapes. Allow your child to use their finger to trace the outlines and "drive" their vehicle toys around the perimeter. As a challenge, have you child receptively or expressively identify shapes before they engage in play with the shape mat. Remember to narrate and ask questions throughout the activity.

2. Paper Engineer Hat: After reading "Freight Train" by Donald Crews, assist your child to create their own engineer hat. Allow your child to explore colors and textures, adding their unique ideas to the paper. If needed, assist your child to cut and put the hat together. No paint, no problem! Refer to the "Resources" page for homemade paint recipes.

3. Egg Carton Train: Using construction paper, egg cartons, scissors, and paint or markers, engage your child in an art activity where they can explore the movement of trains and colors. Ask your child to label colors, count the "train cars" and perform actions with the "train". If you decide to have the train cars carry items, ask your child to place items in the cars and count; remember to narrate their actions and ask questions!

4. Rocking Paper Plate Boat: Using paper plates, markers, stickers, paint and/ or crayons, assist your child to create a boat that rocks. While working on the activity discuss shapes, colors, where we find boats, and who drives the boat (i.e. captain, pilot).

5. Fruit Space Rocket Snacks: Using apples, grapes or marshmallows, strawberries and melon, assist your child to construct a fruit rocket. Focus on fine motor skills, following directions, imitations and identification, as well as counting. While eating, narrate the foods, flavors and textures.

Books of the Week

Once finished with the book, go through it again and PAUSE video to get a better look at pictures; assist your child to identify pictures (focus on labels, body parts, sounds, shapes, verbs, colors, quantity).

Use this as an opportunity to talk about vehicles, where we see them in the neighborhood, how and when we use vehicles. Discuss colors, shapes, quantity, and patterns. Pause the books at any time to answer questions, ASK questions, and point out important information. At the end of the book, talk about it some more. Ask WH questions (ie WHAT did we just read?/ WHAT did you see?)

Interested in reading some more? Check this out: Joan Snow PreK Library

Videos of the Week/ Music and Movement

When exploring these videos, use this as an opportunity to talk with your child about parts of their bodies and the function of body parts (ie touch/ feel with hands/ feet), EMOTIONS and following directions and imitations.

I've included some videos that target daily living skills; review these videos and talk about your daily routines, allow your child to practice and remember to narrate and model.

It's important to engage with your child, narrate videos and PAUSE video if you need to. Have your child perform emotions and movements with their bodies. Write down any reactions or words and share with us!

The goal here is to HAVE FUN! Making mistake and having a do-over is OKAY, it's all part of the learning process!

Check out these activities!!

If you need some time to relax and calm down, take 10 minutes.. just click here for our Calm Room.

Math Videos and Books

Activities of Daily Living and Social Skills

Parent's Corner