Category: Activities

Materials
3 small containers for unifix cubes: one with red unifix cubes, one with blue, unifix cubes, one with white unifix cubes

Directions
Invite your child to stack the cubes on top of each other.  Older children can create various repeating patterns using the three colors of cubes.  Younger children are practicing eye/hand coordination with just stacking the cubes. Younger children may not be interested in creating patterns. Count the cubes. Encourage your kindergartener to stack colors in groups of 2’s, 5’s, or 10’s (2 reds, 2 whites, 2 blues) and then count by 2’s.

Ingredients
Vanilla yogurt
Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
Strawberries (fresh or frozen)
Berry-flavored juice

Directions
Invite your child to help scoop a container of yogurt into the blender. Next add blueberries and strawberries. Blend. Add juice a little bit at a time until the smoothie is a good consistency for drinking. Enjoy as a special snack!

Materials
12×18 piece of construction paper, cut in half lengthwise (6×18)
Black permanent marker
Lots of dot stickers in various colors

Directions
Using the permanent markter, draw a wavy line or zig zag line on the 6×18 piece of construction paper.  Invite your child to place dot stickers along the line. Once completed, encourage your child to trace the line with his finger.

Materials
Large paper with numerals 1-6 
Flyswatter
Dice

Directions
Roll one die, count the dots, and use the flyswatter to “swat” the corresponding numeral. For an added challenge, write numerals 1-12 on one or two pieces of paper. Use two dice with preschoolers and kindergarteners and have them add the two dice together.

Lesson extensions:

• Sutract the lower number on the dice from the higher number
• Write lower case letters on the paper and upper case letters on notecards. Invite your child to turn over a notecard and “swat” the lower case letter that matches the upper case letter
• Provide two pictures that rhyme. Glue one on the paper and one on a notecard. As a notecard is turned over, “swat” a picture that rhymes (e.g.man, pan; hat, cat; box, fox) 

This activity helps to reinforce concepts and also practices eye/hand coordination.

Materials
Nesting cups (3-4 colors that make a repeating pattern when stacked))

Directions
Invite your toddler to stack the nesting cups upside down to make a tall tower. Point and say the colors as he stacks them. Invite your child to say all the colors once the cups are stacked.

Materials
Purple construction paper (light and dark colors)
Scissors
2-3 size circular objects to trace around

How to make your own raisins – A great Science experiment!

http://www.planet-science.com/categories/under-11s/our-world/2012/05/make-your-own-raisins.aspx

Materials
Colored Sand
Tray
Various objects to make tracks in the sand (combs, scrapers, etc.)

Directions
Pour one color of sand onto a tray.  Provide various objects that will make nice pattern tracks in the sand.  Invite your child to explore the sand, dragging the various objects in the sand, drawing patterns with his fingers, etc.

Materials
Bowl of Fruit Loops
Yarn or string 24″ long
Bobby pin

Directions
Invite your child to choose 2 or 3 different color fruit loops to make a patterned necklace. Sort them into piles by their color. Tie a Fruit Loop on the end of the string or yarn. Tie a bobby pin onto the other end. Invite your preschooler to string the Fruit Loops in an order that repeats (i.e. green, orange, yellow). Encourage your child to lay out one of each color, saying the color out loud, then stringing them in the same order. Repeat. Continue until the string is full or your child loses interest. Remove the bobby pin and tie the end together.

Toddlers enjoy stringing Fruit Loops, too!  It’s excellent fine motor practice.  They may not be interested in creating a pattern.