STEAM Activity:
Newspaper Structures
All you need for this activity is some newspaper (finally a use for those advertising flyers) or any other scrap paper and tape and/or a stapler. Show your child how to roll the newspaper to make building tubes. The paper can be rolled lengthwise, widthwise or diagonally. Encourage your child to use these building tubes to create a structure of their own design. If they are having trouble getting started, brainstorm different kinds of structures to build. Offer a challenge: how tall can they make their structure; can they build a structure that they can fit inside.
Science Activity:
Bouncy Egg
Gather an egg, white vinegar and a clear glass. Place the egg in the glass and cover it with white vinegar. Let stand for 2 days. Remove the egg with a spoon. The egg will bounce when dropped lightly from a low height. If dropped from a higher height it will break open, after all, it is a raw egg.
What is happening?
The vinegar is an acid, that reacts with the calcium carbonate of the eggshell. The change makes the eggshell get soft and then it disappears. This is called decalcification.
Physical Activity
Float the Pond
Find an open space about 10 metres long. The object is to move from one end of the space to the other walking on your two “lily pads” without falling into the pond.
First place one lily pad (green paper circle) on the “pond” and step onto it with one foot. While balancing on one lily pad with one foot, place the second lily pad on the ground in front you and step onto the second lily pad and balance on one foot again. Pick up the first lily pad and place in front of the second one and step onto it. Continue in this manner until you reach the finish line. If you lose balance and fall into the “pond”, do five jumping jacks, then continue crossing the pond.
https://activeforlife.com/activity/float-the-pond_10/
For variety the lily pads could be rocks across a river or lava.
Creative Activity:
Embossed Foil Art
Gather cereal box cardboard, yarn or string, white glue, aluminum foil, scissors and paintbrush, paint or permanent coloured markers. Cut the cardboard to the size and shape you desire. Make a design or picture with the white glue on the cardboard and then lay the yarn onto the glue. Allow to dry. Once dry cut a piece of foil about 5cm larger than your cardboard. Place it shiny side down on a flat surface and spread glue on the entire surface using a paintbrush. Place your cardboard design yarn side down onto the foil. Turn it over and gently smooth the gaps between the yarn using the end of a paintbrush. Be gentle or the foil will rip. Start in the middle and work your way out. When completed, fold the extra foil over the edge and glue to the back. You can then decorate with paint or markers.
Additional Resources:
https://www.storylineonline.net/ – Running out of books to read? Visit this website for a selection of books read aloud by actors and actresses.
http://www.earlyliteracylearning.org/index.php – This Centre for Early Literacy Learning website has some posters for parents on simple ways to enhance literacy learning through everyday activities and routines. From the home page click on products and then choose CELLpops and posters from the drop-down menu for ideas to use with your infant, toddler or preschool child.
Learning at Home OSC KidZone Week 23
Learning at Home OSC KidZone Week 14
