Author: halverd

Materials
Child’s play hammer
Package of golf tees (Black tees for Black and White week)
Large pieces of styrofoam
Sharpie Marker

• 9×12 Construction Paper
• Paper Strips approximately 1 inch in thickness
• Glue                                                                                                   
• Scissors

Materials
Tempera Paint
Paper Plates
Large construction paper
Toy cars

Directions
Cover the work space with newspaper.  Lay a piece of construction paper on the work space. Pour tempera paints onto the paper plates – one color per plate. Invite your child to choose a small toy car to roll in the paint on the paper plate, and then drive on the construction paper making fun, painted tire tracks. Dip the car’s tires again in paint and continue until your child is satisfied with his creation.  Allow to dry completely before displaying.

Materials
10 Plastic cups (we used black)
Indoor snowballs
Large cardboard box (optional)

Directions

Set up cups to make a pyramid – 5 on the bottom, then four on top of the five, etc. This is a good balancing activity for preschoolers. Younger children will enjoy setting up the cups in any manner. Once the cups are set up, invite your child to take a “snowball” or any soft, small ball and roll it trying to knock over the cups. Ask your child to count how many cups were knocked down. Set the cups back up and try again.  Count the cups again. This is a game your child will enjoy playing over and over!

Materials

Instructions

Materials
Large plastic tub
White rice
Dry Black Beans
Scoops, cups, spoons, etc.

Directions
Fill the large plastic tub with uncooked rice and black beans.  Provide cups, scoops, spoons, etc. Invite your child to explore, pour, measure, scoop, and fill containers with rice and beans.

Materials
Pipe cleaners – we used black and white
Cardboard box – any size is fine (a big one allows the child to sit inside and work!)
Pointed scissors or ice pick

Directions
Using a sharp pair of scissors or an ice pick, poke several holes into the sides of the box. Once the adult has finished poking holes into the box, invite your child to take pipe cleaners and poke them through the holes. Encourage your child to bend and curl the pipe cleaners to make interesting designs.  

This is a wonderful fine motor activity, which takes focus and good eye/finger coordination. Have fun!

Materials
Colored sand
Jello Roll Pan or light table

Directions
Invite your child to explore the colored sand, make patterns with his fingers or using other materials. Your child will have hours of fun making patterns, erasing patterns, and creating new patterns in the sand.

Principia School Acorn Program

Materials
White construction paper
Black tempera paint
Paint brush or sponge brush
Tape

Directions
Secure paper by taping it to the table top or work surface.  Pour a small amount of black paint into a plastic cup or bowl.  Invite your child to dip the paint brush or sponge brush into the black paint and then brush it across the white paper.  Encourage him to make circles, horizontal and vertical lines, and to just enjoy the process. Allow painting to dry before displaying.

Materials
Various black items
Various white items
Black piece of paper
White piece of paper
Basket

Directions
Place black and white items into a basket.  Invite your child to sort the items by placing the black items on the black paper and the white items on the white paper.  Help reinforce the colors by saying, “That’s a black car.”  “That’s a white snowman.”