Social-Emotional Development
S.T.A.R. Breathing
Remember intentional breathing strategies bring oxygen to the brain to help your child focus and remain calm. Let’s review S.T.A.R. breathing.
S– smile
T– take a deep breath
A–and
R– relax
Cognitive Development
Star Patterns
Cut 20-3cm squares out of paper. On ten squares draw one colour of stars and on the other ten draw a different colour of stars. Encourage your child to make patterns with the stars. Start the pattern for them to continue at first and then let them make their own pattern. You can start with an AB (red, blue, red, blue) pattern at first and then move to an ABB (red, blue, blue) and AAB (red, red, blue). If your child is still interested you can make a third set of stars in another color and try an ABC (red, blue, yellow) pattern.
Language Development
What Rhymes with Star?
Sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” with your child. Encourage your child to listen for the rhyming word pairs in the song and then make a list of other words that rhyme with star.
Ask your child what they know about stars and share some facts with them.
A star is a sphere of superhot gases in space. They give out heat and light because they are very hot. The sun is a star that is just closer to earth than the other stars. Stars are categorized by their color. Red stars are the smallest, medium stars are yellow and the largest stars are blue. Most of the stars in the universe are called red dwarfs.
Physical Literacy
Asteroid Toss
Make several balls of crumpled up aluminum foil. Set up two boxes, one in front of the other. Assign points to each box and your child can get some adding practice in (keep the numbers low, 1-5). Choose a starting line and invite your child to toss the “asteroids” into the boxes. Play to the score of ten and then start a new game.
*Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the sun.
Creative Activity
Draw Like an Astronaut
Tape paper to the bottom of a low table or chair. Encourage your child to lie on their back under the table and draw a picture of space using washable markers.
Additional Resources
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ – This website is a source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families on movies, books, apps and games and websites.
https://www.funbrain.com/ – A collection of educational games, books and videos for Pre-K through Grade 8 children.
Learning at Home Preschool Week 3
Learning at Home Pre-Kindergarten Week 15
