Category: Activities

Materials

A variety of leaves that are pliable and whole
White paper
Crayons

Instructions

Collect a variety of leaves that are pliable and whole.
Place one leaf at a time on a hard surface with the leaf “veins” up.
Place a white sheet of paper on top of the leaf.
With the side of a crayon, rub over the top of the leaf, the more pressure used, the better! You may need to secure the leaf by pressing on it with your fingers as you color.

You will see the leaf appearing on your paper.
Repeat the process with other leaves and colors.

Materials

Celery stalks
Food Coloring
Glasses with water
Knife

Materials

1-2 small pails (Dollar Section at Target Stores)
Blue Pom Poms
Number cards or dice
Tray for work space

Directions

Place 1 or 2 small pails on the tray with a pile of blue pom poms.  Using number cards or a die, invite your child to roll the die or draw a number card and place that number of “blueberries” in the pail. For an added fine motor challenge, encourage your child to use a pair of tongs for picking up the pom poms. Count out loud as the “blueberries” are placed in the pail. 

Extension Activities: Read Blueberries for Sal” by Robert McCloskey.  Bake blueberry muffins or a blueberry pie. 

Materials

Plastic or wooden beads (larger beads for little hands, smaller beads or pony beads for preschoolers)
Shoe string

Directions

Materials 

Variety of blue materials for snipping (e.g. paper strips, straws, ribbon, craft foam) 
Tray 
Scissors 

Directions 

Place materials on a tray with a pair of child-size scissors. Invite your child to use the scissors to snip paper, straws, ribbon, etc.  You may want to place a small sticker on your child’s thumb so that he remembers to keep his thumb up as he snips. The snipped pieces can be used for sorting, counting, making patterns, or creating a beautiful blue collage. 

For toddlers and preschooler

Materials

1 tray
1 hand towel to cover the tray
3-8 blue objects

Directions

Show variety of blue objects to your child or a group of children.  Talk about each one, making sure you name each object and describe what it is used for.  With preschool age children, it’s fun to have the children name the objects and tell their purpose.  

Place a few objects, at one time, on the tray.  With toddlers, I recommend starting with two or three objects.  Preschool age children may begin with five objects.  Make sure the child knows which objects you are using to begin the game.  Invite your child to count the objects on the tray and study them for a minute.  Cover the tray with the hand towel.  Then ask your child to cover her eyes while you remove one of the items from the tray.  Once your child opens her eyes, remove the towel.  How many objects are on the tray?  Which blue object was removed?  Continue the game by adding more objects, one at a time to the tray.

For an additional challenge for preschool age children, try removing two objects at a time from the tray.  Always have the child count the number of objects before removing them and counting again after and object or two have been removed. 

This activity helps with your child’s spatial and object memory skills.

Materials

Plastic straws
Tempera Paint (slightly watered down)
Paper (construction paper or cardstock works best)
Spoon
Covered surface, tray, or lid from cardboard box

Directions

Place a piece of paper on surface for painting. 
Ask your child to choose a paint color, and then place a few drops onto the paper.
Using a straw, invite your child to blow the paint. Continue with other colors, if desired. For added sparkle, sprinkle a small amount of glitter onto the wet paint.

Invite your child to describe what they see in the painting and encourage her to name the painting. 

Allow the paint to dry before displaying the picture.

Materials

Blue playdough
Numeral cards 1-10
Muffin template

Directions

Invite your child to roll small balls out of playdough to make blueberries.  This is a nice follow up after reading, Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey.  If you have a small pail, encourage your child to drop them into the pail. Once he has made 10 or more blueberries, place numeral cards facedown on the table.  Invite your child to turn over a card and identify the numeral. He then places that many blueberries onto the muffin template. Continue practicing identifying the numerals.  

Lesson Extension

Encourage your child to place numerals in numerical order.

Materials

Several boxes of blue raspberry Jell-o (4-5 large boxes)
Large Plastic tuO
Plastic cups, scoops, spoons

Directions

Make several boxes of Jell-O according to the directions on the box. Refrigerate until firm.  Place Jell-O in a large plastic tub and invite your child to explore with his hands, scoops, pour into cups, etc. You child will love the cool, gushiness of the Jell-O.

Materials

Several balloons
Variety of materials to fill the balloons (e.g. sand, rice, beans, water)
Funnel
Small scoop or spoon

Directions

Using a funnel, invite your child to help fill balloons the balloons using a small scoop or spoon. Make two each. Tie the balloon closed and place in a large basket or bowl. Instruct your child to try and match the balloons according to what’s inside of them. Find the two balloons that are filled with water, beans, rice, etc. Ask your child if she remembers what’s inside each of the balloons.