Social-Emotional Development
Calming Strategy
Butterfly Breathing
Have your child inhale and exhale slowly as they lift and lower their fragile, brand-new butterfly wings (arms). Repeat several times.
Cognitive Development
Ladybug Game
Draw and colour a large ladybug shape. Divide in half with a black line. Do not add spots. Cut out 12 black circles or use small rocks for the spots. One player rolls a die (borrow from a game you have) and places that number of spots on her half of the ladybug. The second player copies that number of spots on her side. The spots are then matched up one to one to confirm that the amounts are the same. Switch roles and play again. Challenge: Ask your child, “How many spots does the ladybug have altogether?”
Language Development
Insect Journal
Find some pictures of common insects on the Internet (bee, ant, mosquito, beetle, etc.) talk with your child about the three body parts that insects have (head, thorax and abdomen) and identify these parts in the insect pictures. Point out that insects have six legs, three on each side of their body.
Make a journal from 3 sheets of printer paper folded in half and stapled along the fold. Encourage your child to draw the insects you discussed. The journal could be added to over the course of a few days. Your child can copy the names of the insects, you can spell the name for them or you can write it for them, depending on your child’s ability.
Look for bugs outside that your child can add drawings of in their journal.
Physical Literacy
Kicking Practice
Set up a goal or target and have your child practice kicking a ball at the goal. First from a stationary position and then running and kicking the ball. Play soccer together as a family.
Creative Activity
Play Dough Insects
Gather play dough, cut up straws, googly eyes, toothpicks, pipe cleaners cut into fourths, any other decorative items you have around (sequins, buttons, pebbles, etc.). Encourage your child to create their own unique insect. Maybe more than one!
Additional Resources
www.reallygoodstuff.com - This website contains a free student activity printable section. It includes educational posters, worksheets, reader’s theater selections and downloadable books.
https://ngexplorer.cengage.com/ngyoungexplorer/index.html - Visit this website to listen to and read along with past issues of the National Geographic Young Explorer magazine. The Scout version is for Kindergarten students and the Voyager version is for Grade 1 students.
Learning at Home Preschool Week 14
Learning at Home Pre-Kindergarten Week 5
