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Family Learning Games: Preschool Puzzle Party!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Apr 7, 2020 | Reading
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Gameschooling 101!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Apr 1, 2020 | Math
Has your child ever pushed back when it comes to school or homework? My oldest daughter has always been a “workbook kid”. She absolutely loved worksheets and printables. We definitely do a ton of hands-on projects, but when it came to core subjects, like math and reading, she was completely content working in a book…until a few months ago. A daily battle began. She no longer wanted to sit at the table and breeze through concepts on paper. I gave her a few days off, but her resistance continued. I decided that I needed to reach her another way, so I decided to start Gameschooling.
Gameschooling is where you basically teach your child through playing games. What I love about homeschooling is that I can change our curriculum whenever necessary to meet the needs of my children! I sat down and made a list of topics that were age and skill-appropriate for my daughters, and then set out to find games that covered those subjects.
At their ages, a heavy focus is placed on numbers, counting, addition/subtraction, telling time, handling money, letter sounds, sight words and reading. Today I’m going to share a few of our favorite games that teach these concepts!
Sum Swamp™ Addition & Subtraction Game
Sum Swamp was one of the first math games I found that was appropriate and fun for both of my daughters (aged 4 & 6). Many games were either too advanced for my 4-year-old or too easy (and “boring”) for my 6-year-old. I was having a hard time finding something they could play together.
This game is fun, engaging, and competitive - even adults will enjoy it. It easily teaches addition and subtraction, which is something my 4-year-old had never been exposed to prior to this game. You can play a round in 10-15 minutes and there isn’t any complicated setup.
I Sea 10™ Math Game
I Sea 10! is another quick game we like to use to practice addition. The point of the game is to spot numbers that add up to 10. It can be 2 or more number groups and you race to make a number combination first. When you spot a combination, yell out I Sea 10! and the winner keeps the tiles. Watch out for sharks! If you flip one over, they will take your collected tiles along with them back into the box.
Money Bags™ Coin Value Game
We love Money Bags for practicing money concepts. It is a little more advanced because you have to add up the coins to make the correct money amount, so I will team up with my 4-year-old to play against my 6-year-old. I love how realistic the money is and it’s one of the only games I could find to teach this topic. It’s a really fun way to practice math and making change!
POP for Sight Words™ Game
I
really love the “POP” game line and was excited to grab POP for Sight Words. Let’s be honest, sight word practice can be really boring. The problem is, you can’t just skip it if you don’t feel like doing it. Sight words are necessary for reading. I play this game with my 6-year-old and it has made this subject a lot more enjoyable.
You pull popcorn out of the box and race to read the sight word. Obviously, a parent would win, so I give her about 5 seconds to “beat me” otherwise I answer. You try to collect the most popcorn. If you pick a card with POP! on it, you have to put all your popcorn back in the box. We also let her try to race through the popcorn on her own, making a pile that she knows and a pile that she doesn’t.
Snap It Up!® Phonics & Reading Game
Another game that we love playing together is Snap It Up! To make it easier for my 4-year-old, I read out the ending sound for the word family and we race to see if we have a card that would make a real word. The winner takes the card and a new word family card is displayed. The racing element and competition turn another mundane subject into a really fun game.
Even though we homeschool, Gameschooling can be used with any child or family! It’s a great way to practice subjects from school or work on areas your child might be struggling to grasp. This has been a wonderful teaching option for our family, and it’s so successful that we’ve completely ditched workbooks for the remainder of this year. I highly recommend trying out this method of learning with your little ones.
Save it for later!
Gameschooling 101!
READ MORE
Has your child ever pushed back when it comes to school or homework? My oldest daughter has always been a “workbook kid”. She absolutely loved worksheets and printables. We definitely do a ton of hands-on projects, but when it came to core subjects, like math and reading, she was completely content working in a book…until a few months ago. A daily battle began. She no longer wanted to sit at the table and breeze through concepts on paper. I gave her a few days off, but her resistance continued. I decided that I needed to reach her another way, so I decided to start Gameschooling.
Gameschooling is where you basically teach your child through playing games. What I love about homeschooling is that I can change our curriculum whenever necessary to meet the needs of my children! I sat down and made a list of topics that were age and skill-appropriate for my daughters, and then set out to find games that covered those subjects.
At their ages, a heavy focus is placed on numbers, counting, addition/subtraction, telling time, handling money, letter sounds, sight words and reading. Today I’m going to share a few of our favorite games that teach these concepts!
Sum Swamp™ Addition & Subtraction Game
Sum Swamp was one of the first math games I found that was appropriate and fun for both of my daughters (aged 4 & 6). Many games were either too advanced for my 4-year-old or too easy (and “boring”) for my 6-year-old. I was having a hard time finding something they could play together.
This game is fun, engaging, and competitive - even adults will enjoy it. It easily teaches addition and subtraction, which is something my 4-year-old had never been exposed to prior to this game. You can play a round in 10-15 minutes and there isn’t any complicated setup.
I Sea 10™ Math Game
I Sea 10! is another quick game we like to use to practice addition. The point of the game is to spot numbers that add up to 10. It can be 2 or more number groups and you race to make a number combination first. When you spot a combination, yell out I Sea 10! and the winner keeps the tiles. Watch out for sharks! If you flip one over, they will take your collected tiles along with them back into the box.
Money Bags™ Coin Value Game
We love Money Bags for practicing money concepts. It is a little more advanced because you have to add up the coins to make the correct money amount, so I will team up with my 4-year-old to play against my 6-year-old. I love how realistic the money is and it’s one of the only games I could find to teach this topic. It’s a really fun way to practice math and making change!
POP for Sight Words™ Game
I
really love the “POP” game line and was excited to grab POP for Sight Words. Let’s be honest, sight word practice can be really boring. The problem is, you can’t just skip it if you don’t feel like doing it. Sight words are necessary for reading. I play this game with my 6-year-old and it has made this subject a lot more enjoyable.
You pull popcorn out of the box and race to read the sight word. Obviously, a parent would win, so I give her about 5 seconds to “beat me” otherwise I answer. You try to collect the most popcorn. If you pick a card with POP! on it, you have to put all your popcorn back in the box. We also let her try to race through the popcorn on her own, making a pile that she knows and a pile that she doesn’t.
Snap It Up!® Phonics & Reading Game
Another game that we love playing together is Snap It Up! To make it easier for my 4-year-old, I read out the ending sound for the word family and we race to see if we have a card that would make a real word. The winner takes the card and a new word family card is displayed. The racing element and competition turn another mundane subject into a really fun game.
Even though we homeschool, Gameschooling can be used with any child or family! It’s a great way to practice subjects from school or work on areas your child might be struggling to grasp. This has been a wonderful teaching option for our family, and it’s so successful that we’ve completely ditched workbooks for the remainder of this year. I highly recommend trying out this method of learning with your little ones.
Save it for later!
Shelter-In-Place STEM Education!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 30, 2020 | STEM
Six Ways to Stay Positive
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 27, 2020 | Social-Emotional Learning
We're living through an unprecedented moment in history right now. People are sick, our lives are upended, and our communities are being tested like never before. It's easy to feel overwhelmed at a time like this, but it's also easy to take a minute to find your own personal bright side. Below, you'll find a few tips that we're employing to stay positive while dealing with the challenges we face.
Stick to a Schedule
Even when you're working and learning from home, it's important to maintain a predictable schedule, preferably one that looks as much like your normal routine as possible. That means getting up and going to bed at the usual hours, starting and stopping work at the same times each day, and honoring things like breaks and mealtimes the same way you would if you were out of the house. This predictability helps this unfamiliar situation feel a little less chaotic, and will help you and your kids maintain the good behaviors you've developed at work and school without backsliding.
Celebrate the Good Stuff
When you're dealing with excess stress and change, it can be really easy to overlook the things that are going well. Our team at Learning Resources has been meeting each day via video conference, and the first thing we do on every call is share one positive or exciting thing that happened during the previous day. Whether it's a movie we watched or a project we finished, it's an excellent way to focus ourselves on the positive things that remain despite the craziness. Try it with your family, and you'll be surprised at how much goodness you'll uncover.
Plan Special Occasions
Just because there aren't any major holidays on the calendar for a while doesn't mean you can't find an excuse to celebrate. If you're stuck inside for a while, we recommend planning special occasions of your own that give you a little something extra to look forward to throughout the day. It may be something as simple as a favorite home-cooked meal or game night, or as elaborate as a made-up holiday of your own; whatever shape it takes, these little treats help your family buy in and come together during a difficult time (Need inspiration? Check out National Today for fun ideas!)
Start a Family Project
With everyone home for an extended period of time, families have a unique opportunity to turn this downtime into something memorable. Maybe it's a scrapbook, photo album, journal, or art project that everyone contributes to. Maybe it's a new vegetable garden for the backyard. Maybe it's something as simple as quick daily vlogs that capture your lives in the moment. Whatever the case, these family-level projects give you the chance to build new skills, engage with your kids, and create something that you can look back on in the years to come.
Make Time for Me Time
Look, we get it: togetherness can be stressful, even under normal circumstances. With everyone under the same roof for an extended period of time, it's even more important to carve out some alone time for every member of the family. That can take many different shapes: maybe you can designate a room in your house that family members can reserve for solo activities, or maybe you can designate a quiet hour every day where everyone works on their own independent projects. Whatever shape your me time takes, it'll help you stay refreshed and maintain your sense of self while everyone's together.
Get Outside
It's finally spring, which means that nature is getting ready to put on a green, flower-filled show. That's why it's so vital to remember your outdoor options as you pass your time at home. As the weeks go by, your backyard will likely become a wonderland of bugs, critters, and new plant life that's worth explore (or just viewing with a cup of coffee from the porch). Don't have a backyard? Take a walk through your neighborhood. As long as you maintain proper social distancing, these little trips outside your home will reconnect your with the world at large and help you take in some bright springtime life all at the same time. 
At Learning Resources, we’re here to help you make the best of this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy, and check back with our blog for more tips and learning ideas as the situation unfolds.
Six Ways to Stay Positive
READ MORE
We're living through an unprecedented moment in history right now. People are sick, our lives are upended, and our communities are being tested like never before. It's easy to feel overwhelmed at a time like this, but it's also easy to take a minute to find your own personal bright side. Below, you'll find a few tips that we're employing to stay positive while dealing with the challenges we face.
Stick to a Schedule
Even when you're working and learning from home, it's important to maintain a predictable schedule, preferably one that looks as much like your normal routine as possible. That means getting up and going to bed at the usual hours, starting and stopping work at the same times each day, and honoring things like breaks and mealtimes the same way you would if you were out of the house. This predictability helps this unfamiliar situation feel a little less chaotic, and will help you and your kids maintain the good behaviors you've developed at work and school without backsliding.
Celebrate the Good Stuff
When you're dealing with excess stress and change, it can be really easy to overlook the things that are going well. Our team at Learning Resources has been meeting each day via video conference, and the first thing we do on every call is share one positive or exciting thing that happened during the previous day. Whether it's a movie we watched or a project we finished, it's an excellent way to focus ourselves on the positive things that remain despite the craziness. Try it with your family, and you'll be surprised at how much goodness you'll uncover.
Plan Special Occasions
Just because there aren't any major holidays on the calendar for a while doesn't mean you can't find an excuse to celebrate. If you're stuck inside for a while, we recommend planning special occasions of your own that give you a little something extra to look forward to throughout the day. It may be something as simple as a favorite home-cooked meal or game night, or as elaborate as a made-up holiday of your own; whatever shape it takes, these little treats help your family buy in and come together during a difficult time (Need inspiration? Check out National Today for fun ideas!)
Start a Family Project
With everyone home for an extended period of time, families have a unique opportunity to turn this downtime into something memorable. Maybe it's a scrapbook, photo album, journal, or art project that everyone contributes to. Maybe it's a new vegetable garden for the backyard. Maybe it's something as simple as quick daily vlogs that capture your lives in the moment. Whatever the case, these family-level projects give you the chance to build new skills, engage with your kids, and create something that you can look back on in the years to come.
Make Time for Me Time
Look, we get it: togetherness can be stressful, even under normal circumstances. With everyone under the same roof for an extended period of time, it's even more important to carve out some alone time for every member of the family. That can take many different shapes: maybe you can designate a room in your house that family members can reserve for solo activities, or maybe you can designate a quiet hour every day where everyone works on their own independent projects. Whatever shape your me time takes, it'll help you stay refreshed and maintain your sense of self while everyone's together.
Get Outside
It's finally spring, which means that nature is getting ready to put on a green, flower-filled show. That's why it's so vital to remember your outdoor options as you pass your time at home. As the weeks go by, your backyard will likely become a wonderland of bugs, critters, and new plant life that's worth explore (or just viewing with a cup of coffee from the porch). Don't have a backyard? Take a walk through your neighborhood. As long as you maintain proper social distancing, these little trips outside your home will reconnect your with the world at large and help you take in some bright springtime life all at the same time.
At Learning Resources, we’re here to help you make the best of this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy, and check back with our blog for more tips and learning ideas as the situation unfolds.
Two-Week Toy Refresh!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 26, 2020
With many families working and learning from home right now, it's easy to let the boredom creep in. To combat the blahs and add a little spark of creativity to your day, we've come up with a fun activity that turns your kids' toys into a creative project. Use our toy rotation guide to keep your kid's toys fresh and fun without spending extra money! Select The Toys: The first step in this process might be the most important. As you pick the toys for this project, try to strike a good balance between ones that they actively play with, and ones that they might have forgotten about a little. Try to avoid choosing any all-time favorites, as the fun of rediscovering them later might not outweigh the stress of (temporarily) losing them now. Wipe Them Down: Since these toys are going to be out of rotation for a while, now is a great opportunity to give them an extra cleaning. Wipe each selected toy down with a damp cloth, and then again with a disinfecting wipe or solution. Then, let them stand until dry to give the cleaning solutions plenty of time to work. Hold for Two Weeks: Now comes the waiting game! We recommend holding your selected toys back for at least two weeks, in order to maximize both the impact of their return and the time you have to come up with a fun idea for reintroducing them. You can plan longer or shorter time frames for your kids; do whatever works best for your family.Reintroduce: This is where it gets really fun. In order to get your kids engaged and excited about the return of their old toys, try to come up with a fun theme or activity for reintroducing them. Maybe you've put them in mystery boxes that the kids earn for answering flash cards correctly, or maybe you've hidden them around the house as a way to start a family scavenger hunt. You can also keep it simple; ask your kids to select the next round of toys that they can then swap for the ones currently in storage.
(product shown: Conversation Cubes, photo credit: Stacy Flannery)Repeat!: If your first round of toy refreshing goes well, consider repeating the process as needed. No matter what strategy you employ, this is a great way to keep kids active, appreciative, and engaged with the toys they already have! At Learning Resources, we’re here to help you make the best of this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy, and check back with our blog for more tips and learning ideas as the situation unfolds.Feature image photo credit: @littlemissedenmclemore
(product shown: Conversation Cubes, photo credit: Stacy Flannery)Repeat!: If your first round of toy refreshing goes well, consider repeating the process as needed. No matter what strategy you employ, this is a great way to keep kids active, appreciative, and engaged with the toys they already have! At Learning Resources, we’re here to help you make the best of this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy, and check back with our blog for more tips and learning ideas as the situation unfolds.Feature image photo credit: @littlemissedenmclemore
Two-Week Toy Refresh!
With many families working and learning from home right now, it's easy to let the boredom creep in. To combat the blahs and add a little spark of creativity to your day, we've come up with a fun activity that turns your kids' toys into a creative project. Use our toy rotation guide to keep your kid's toys fresh and fun without spending extra money! Select The Toys: The first step in this process might be the most important. As you pick the toys for this project, try to strike a good balance between ones that they actively play with, and ones that they might have forgotten about a little. Try to avoid choosing any all-time favorites, as the fun of rediscovering them later might not outweigh the stress of (temporarily) losing them now. Wipe Them Down: Since these toys are going to be out of rotation for a while, now is a great opportunity to give them an extra cleaning. Wipe each selected toy down with a damp cloth, and then again with a disinfecting wipe or solution. Then, let them stand until dry to give the cleaning solutions plenty of time to work. Hold for Two Weeks: Now comes the waiting game! We recommend holding your selected toys back for at least two weeks, in order to maximize both the impact of their return and the time you have to come up with a fun idea for reintroducing them. You can plan longer or shorter time frames for your kids; do whatever works best for your family.Reintroduce: This is where it gets really fun. In order to get your kids engaged and excited about the return of their old toys, try to come up with a fun theme or activity for reintroducing them. Maybe you've put them in mystery boxes that the kids earn for answering flash cards correctly, or maybe you've hidden them around the house as a way to start a family scavenger hunt. You can also keep it simple; ask your kids to select the next round of toys that they can then swap for the ones currently in storage.(product shown: Conversation Cubes, photo credit: Stacy Flannery)Repeat!: If your first round of toy refreshing goes well, consider repeating the process as needed. No matter what strategy you employ, this is a great way to keep kids active, appreciative, and engaged with the toys they already have! At Learning Resources, we’re here to help you make the best of this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy, and check back with our blog for more tips and learning ideas as the situation unfolds.Feature image photo credit: @littlemissedenmclemore
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(product shown: Conversation Cubes, photo credit: Stacy Flannery)Repeat!: If your first round of toy refreshing goes well, consider repeating the process as needed. No matter what strategy you employ, this is a great way to keep kids active, appreciative, and engaged with the toys they already have! At Learning Resources, we’re here to help you make the best of this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy, and check back with our blog for more tips and learning ideas as the situation unfolds.Feature image photo credit: @littlemissedenmclemore
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Move & Learn: DIY STEM Forts!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 26, 2020 | STEM
Even when you're learning at home, you still need recess! That's why we're coming up with lots of activities that get kids moving and learning at the same time. Today's activity adds some extra STEM fun to the classic art of fort-building.
Gather Materials
Everyone's house is filled with different stuff, so everyone's STEM Forts will look a little different. As you gather your fort-building materials, ask your kids what they think each item might be used for in the building process. Your final item lists may vary, but we recommend some or all of the following: couch cushions and pillows, bed sheets, twine or laundry line, small furniture items (chairs, coffee tables, ottomans), poles (yardsticks, mops, brooms).
Get Creative
Once you have your materials, it's time to start daydreaming about what kinds of forts you're going to build. This is a great opportunity to encourage your kids to stretch their imaginations. Ask them about their vision for the fort; are they building a moon base, or a castle, or a superhero hideout? What kinds of pretend features or creatures might the fort contain?Build STEM Skills
Building any kind of fort helps your kids strengthen their early engineering and design skills, but you can add even more learning to the fort-building with the following challenges:Shape Forts: Can you build a fort in the shape of a square, or a rectangle, or a triangle? What about a circle? How does the process change for each shape?Tallest/Longest Fort: How high can you make your fort before it topples over? How long can it get before the walls start to sag? What reinforcements can you make to keep your fort standing?
Multi-Room Forts: If you've mastered the single-room fort, can you design a fort with a second or third room? What will you use for the passages?
Simplest Fort: Who can build a fort with the smallest amount of materials? How does the process get harder or easier with fewer pieces?
Fort Race: Have builders take turns selecting from materials they want to build with. Once all the materials are selected, have a race to see who can build their fort the fastest. Our Digital Timer is the perfect tool to help keep track of race times!
At Learning Resources, we’re here to help you make the best of this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy, and check back with our blog for more tips and learning ideas as the situation unfolds.
Move & Learn: DIY STEM Forts!
READ MORE
Even when you're learning at home, you still need recess! That's why we're coming up with lots of activities that get kids moving and learning at the same time. Today's activity adds some extra STEM fun to the classic art of fort-building.
Gather Materials
Everyone's house is filled with different stuff, so everyone's STEM Forts will look a little different. As you gather your fort-building materials, ask your kids what they think each item might be used for in the building process. Your final item lists may vary, but we recommend some or all of the following: couch cushions and pillows, bed sheets, twine or laundry line, small furniture items (chairs, coffee tables, ottomans), poles (yardsticks, mops, brooms).
Get Creative
Once you have your materials, it's time to start daydreaming about what kinds of forts you're going to build. This is a great opportunity to encourage your kids to stretch their imaginations. Ask them about their vision for the fort; are they building a moon base, or a castle, or a superhero hideout? What kinds of pretend features or creatures might the fort contain?Build STEM Skills
Building any kind of fort helps your kids strengthen their early engineering and design skills, but you can add even more learning to the fort-building with the following challenges:Shape Forts: Can you build a fort in the shape of a square, or a rectangle, or a triangle? What about a circle? How does the process change for each shape?Tallest/Longest Fort: How high can you make your fort before it topples over? How long can it get before the walls start to sag? What reinforcements can you make to keep your fort standing?
Multi-Room Forts: If you've mastered the single-room fort, can you design a fort with a second or third room? What will you use for the passages?
Simplest Fort: Who can build a fort with the smallest amount of materials? How does the process get harder or easier with fewer pieces?
Fort Race: Have builders take turns selecting from materials they want to build with. Once all the materials are selected, have a race to see who can build their fort the fastest. Our Digital Timer is the perfect tool to help keep track of race times!
At Learning Resources, we’re here to help you make the best of this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy, and check back with our blog for more tips and learning ideas as the situation unfolds.
Indoor Camping Adventure!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 26, 2020 | STEM
Time to bring outdoor fun indoors during this springtime sequester. Make the best of it by planning a family camping adventure inside with the three “F’s” of fun: forts, flashlights, and food. With no bugs and access to running water, sounds like a perfect combination for some memorable family time!
Below are ideas to plan your overnight, indoor excursion – complete with a delicious S’mores recipe!
FORT
If your family is already campers, you can always pop your outdoor tent inside. Fill it up with sleeping bags and you’ve got a home away from home…inside your home.
No tent? No problem! Build your own fort. Have the kiddos grab these supplies for creative, engineering fun:
- Folding or kitchen chairs
- Blankets
- Sheets
- Pillows
- Books (for weight) or clips
- Twinkle lights
Set up chairs about 4-5 feet a part, backs of chairs facing each other. Throw blankets down on the “floor”. Make it as fluffy and comfortable as possible. Drape a sheet over the chairs as a roof. Secure the ends of the blanket wit heavy books or clips. String up twinkle lights as your stars, or grab your Primary Science® Shining Stars Projector to shine the heavens on the walls of your fort.
FLASHLIGHTS
Turn of the lights and let the fun begin. Have the kids grab their flashlights or lanterns and host a shadow puppet show or flashlight scavenger hunt. Shine the lights across each other and play flashlight limbo (the light beams serve as a pole). And if space allows, play everyone’s favorite nighttime summer game: flashlight tag!
Grab the Pretend & Play® Camp Set - complete with battery-operated lantern – creates the perfect glow for all your indoor camping needs.
FOOD
Plan for an indoor picnic during your campout. (Bonus! No chance of rain!) Have the children help you pack it all in an actual basket! Or maybe you can fire up the grill outside for some real campsite food. Either way, spread out a blanket by your tent and make it special.
Since no campsite is complete without this mainstay, here’s a S’mores Dip recipe, minus the fire!
Ingredients:
- A skillet
- ½ tablespoon of butter
- 1 ½ cups of chocolate chips, or 5 chocolate bars diced up
- 15 jumbo marshmallows cut in half, or a quarter of a bag of mini-marshmallows
- Graham cracker squares
(Little ones can help prep this delicious treat, but be sure all handling of the skillet and oven are done by a grown-up).
Place the dry skillet in the oven and turn on to 450 degrees. In the meantime, chop your chocolate (if using actual bars) and measure out your marshmallows.
Once the oven has reached the desired temperature, take out the hot skillet with an oven mitt. Again, keep little hands away from this part! The skillet will be extremely hot.
Throw your pad of butter in the skillet and swirl it around.
Pour in your chocolate, and top with your marshmallows. If you are using jumbo marshmallows, you can place in a uniform pattern around the skillet to ensure every inch is covered, just sure to steer clear of the hot pan.
Place in the oven for five to seven minutes. Break up your graham crackers into “dippable” serving pieces.
Remove dip from the oven and let the skillet sit on the counter for a good 10-15 minutes. Because your skillet is your serving dish, you’ll want it to cool off. Enjoy!
After everyone is fed, takes turns playing cards like Go Fish, or an old-fashioned game like Charades or Telephone. And just because there isn’t a campfire doesn’t mean there can’t be stories. Bring out your favorite books to read by flashlight or lantern.
The idea is just to be together…and make some fond memories during this unique time!
Happy Camping!
Indoor Camping Adventure!
READ MORE
Time to bring outdoor fun indoors during this springtime sequester. Make the best of it by planning a family camping adventure inside with the three “F’s” of fun: forts, flashlights, and food. With no bugs and access to running water, sounds like a perfect combination for some memorable family time!
Below are ideas to plan your overnight, indoor excursion – complete with a delicious S’mores recipe!
FORT
If your family is already campers, you can always pop your outdoor tent inside. Fill it up with sleeping bags and you’ve got a home away from home…inside your home.
No tent? No problem! Build your own fort. Have the kiddos grab these supplies for creative, engineering fun:
- Folding or kitchen chairs
- Blankets
- Sheets
- Pillows
- Books (for weight) or clips
- Twinkle lights
Set up chairs about 4-5 feet a part, backs of chairs facing each other. Throw blankets down on the “floor”. Make it as fluffy and comfortable as possible. Drape a sheet over the chairs as a roof. Secure the ends of the blanket wit heavy books or clips. String up twinkle lights as your stars, or grab your Primary Science® Shining Stars Projector to shine the heavens on the walls of your fort.
FLASHLIGHTS
Turn of the lights and let the fun begin. Have the kids grab their flashlights or lanterns and host a shadow puppet show or flashlight scavenger hunt. Shine the lights across each other and play flashlight limbo (the light beams serve as a pole). And if space allows, play everyone’s favorite nighttime summer game: flashlight tag!
Grab the Pretend & Play® Camp Set - complete with battery-operated lantern – creates the perfect glow for all your indoor camping needs.
FOOD
Plan for an indoor picnic during your campout. (Bonus! No chance of rain!) Have the children help you pack it all in an actual basket! Or maybe you can fire up the grill outside for some real campsite food. Either way, spread out a blanket by your tent and make it special.
Since no campsite is complete without this mainstay, here’s a S’mores Dip recipe, minus the fire!
Ingredients:
- A skillet
- ½ tablespoon of butter
- 1 ½ cups of chocolate chips, or 5 chocolate bars diced up
- 15 jumbo marshmallows cut in half, or a quarter of a bag of mini-marshmallows
- Graham cracker squares
(Little ones can help prep this delicious treat, but be sure all handling of the skillet and oven are done by a grown-up).
Place the dry skillet in the oven and turn on to 450 degrees. In the meantime, chop your chocolate (if using actual bars) and measure out your marshmallows.
Once the oven has reached the desired temperature, take out the hot skillet with an oven mitt. Again, keep little hands away from this part! The skillet will be extremely hot.
Throw your pad of butter in the skillet and swirl it around.
Pour in your chocolate, and top with your marshmallows. If you are using jumbo marshmallows, you can place in a uniform pattern around the skillet to ensure every inch is covered, just sure to steer clear of the hot pan.
Place in the oven for five to seven minutes. Break up your graham crackers into “dippable” serving pieces.
Remove dip from the oven and let the skillet sit on the counter for a good 10-15 minutes. Because your skillet is your serving dish, you’ll want it to cool off. Enjoy!
After everyone is fed, takes turns playing cards like Go Fish, or an old-fashioned game like Charades or Telephone. And just because there isn’t a campfire doesn’t mean there can’t be stories. Bring out your favorite books to read by flashlight or lantern.
The idea is just to be together…and make some fond memories during this unique time!
Happy Camping!
Move & Learn: Alphabet Hopscotch!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 25, 2020 | Reading
Spring is here, which means plenty of chances to move and learn outside! As you stay safe and smart with your at-home learning plans, we've got a few ideas for incorporating outside exercise and play into your routines. Today's activity: Alphabet Hopscotch!
- On your driveway or patio, draw a hopscotch course with 26 squares using sidewalk chalk. The exact layout is up to you - get creative!
- Have your kids fill in each square of the hopscotch course with the different letters of the alphabet. For some extra fun, have them draw a picture of an object that starts with that letter, too!
- Once the hopscotch course is complete, begin by calling out letters and having your kids hop to the corresponding squares. Have them hop in order as you sing the Alphabet Song, then call out letters at random!
- For more advanced fun, have your kids spell out simple words by hopping from letter to letter on the hopscotch course. Start with three-letter words, then gradually work your way up. For a challenge, have your kids try to spell the longest words they know!
At Learning Resources, we're here to help you make the best of this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy, and check back with our blog for more tips and learning ideas as the situation unfolds.
Move & Learn: Alphabet Hopscotch!
READ MORE
Spring is here, which means plenty of chances to move and learn outside! As you stay safe and smart with your at-home learning plans, we've got a few ideas for incorporating outside exercise and play into your routines. Today's activity: Alphabet Hopscotch!
- On your driveway or patio, draw a hopscotch course with 26 squares using sidewalk chalk. The exact layout is up to you - get creative!
- Have your kids fill in each square of the hopscotch course with the different letters of the alphabet. For some extra fun, have them draw a picture of an object that starts with that letter, too!
- Once the hopscotch course is complete, begin by calling out letters and having your kids hop to the corresponding squares. Have them hop in order as you sing the Alphabet Song, then call out letters at random!
- For more advanced fun, have your kids spell out simple words by hopping from letter to letter on the hopscotch course. Start with three-letter words, then gradually work your way up. For a challenge, have your kids try to spell the longest words they know!
At Learning Resources, we're here to help you make the best of this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy, and check back with our blog for more tips and learning ideas as the situation unfolds.
School Break Trips from Home!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 25, 2020 | Reading
[Updated on 3/17/21] Even though we're staying inside these days, we've still got ways to explore the wide world from home! Add some extra fun to your spring break plans with these virtual field trip ideas, which let you and your kids travel to museums, zoos, and even outer space from the comfort of your living room.
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems
It's not every day that you get the chance to take a drawing lesson from one of the world's most beloved children's book authors. Usually, that is. With kids out of school, author Mo Willems (creator of the Pigeon series, Elephant and Piggie, and more) is hosting a lunchtime drawing program on YouTube that connects kids with their artsy side every afternoon.
Virtual Museum Tours
Have you ever wanted to take your kids to the world's great museums and architectural sites? Thanks to Google Arts & Culture, you can do with without ever leaving the house! Their Museum Views collection lets you take virtual tours of more than 3,400 sites across the United States and around the world. You can even treat your little learners to a trip to the Boston Children's Museum!
Story Time with Michael Chabon
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon knows that what the world needs now is a good bedtime story. That's why he's spending his evenings at home reading the classics of children's literature, voices and all. Available on Youtube, the author's series updates every evening; past selections include Olivia, The Story of Ferdinand, and Harry the Dirty Dog.
Cincinnati Zoo Home Safaris
Although we can't go to the zoo right now, we can bring the zoo home online! At the Cincinnati Zoo, keepers are hosting daily Home Safaris to introduce viewers to the wild, wooly worlds of their animal residents. Tune in on Facebook Live each day, and you might meet hippos, cheetahs, rhinoceroses, and more!
Dutch Hollow Dairy Farm
A trip to the farm is always enlightening, even from the comfort of your home! Take your kids on this virtual tour of New York's Dutch Hollow Dairy Farm for an inside look at the secret lives of cows. Produced in cooperation with the American Dairy Association, the tour is geared for kids in grades K-4.
Ellis Island
As America faces its current challenges, we can take this opportunity to reflect on the nation's status as the world's melting pot. With Immigration: Stories of Yesterday and Today, the folks at Scholastic have put together a virtual tour of Ellis Island, the immigration station that welcomed more than 12 million future Americans between 1892 and 1954.
International Space Station
When it comes to virtual field trips, you're not limited to places here on Earth! Led by the astronauts stationed there, these virtual tours of the International Space Station give you and your kids an inside look at the scientific goings-on happening far above the planet.
Yellowstone National Park
It's springtime, which means our national parks are waking up from their long winter slumbers. Thanks to the National Parks Service, you can take a virtual visit to the country's oldest park. The tour takes you to seven different sites around the park, including the Mud Volcano, the Mammoth Geyser, and the Flower Paint Pot.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Adventure under the sea with this virtual visit to one of America's premiere aquariums. Thanks to the live cams set up around the Monterey Bay Aquarium, you can catch glimpses of animals from jellyfish and penguins to sharks and sea otters. There's even a feed that shows you the open waters of the bay itself!
Discover Ancient Egypt
As you explore these virtual field trips, don't miss the opportunity to travel back in time! Discover Ancient Egypt brings one of humanity's most storied societies back to life with cool interactive online recreations. Explore 3D temples, learn about the pyramids, or even study hieroglyphics!
At Learning Resources, we're here to help you make the best of this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy, and check back with our blog for more tips and learning ideas as the situation unfolds.
School Break Trips from Home!
READ MORE
[Updated on 3/17/21] Even though we're staying inside these days, we've still got ways to explore the wide world from home! Add some extra fun to your spring break plans with these virtual field trip ideas, which let you and your kids travel to museums, zoos, and even outer space from the comfort of your living room.
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems
It's not every day that you get the chance to take a drawing lesson from one of the world's most beloved children's book authors. Usually, that is. With kids out of school, author Mo Willems (creator of the Pigeon series, Elephant and Piggie, and more) is hosting a lunchtime drawing program on YouTube that connects kids with their artsy side every afternoon.
Virtual Museum Tours
Have you ever wanted to take your kids to the world's great museums and architectural sites? Thanks to Google Arts & Culture, you can do with without ever leaving the house! Their Museum Views collection lets you take virtual tours of more than 3,400 sites across the United States and around the world. You can even treat your little learners to a trip to the Boston Children's Museum!
Story Time with Michael Chabon
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon knows that what the world needs now is a good bedtime story. That's why he's spending his evenings at home reading the classics of children's literature, voices and all. Available on Youtube, the author's series updates every evening; past selections include Olivia, The Story of Ferdinand, and Harry the Dirty Dog.
Cincinnati Zoo Home Safaris
Although we can't go to the zoo right now, we can bring the zoo home online! At the Cincinnati Zoo, keepers are hosting daily Home Safaris to introduce viewers to the wild, wooly worlds of their animal residents. Tune in on Facebook Live each day, and you might meet hippos, cheetahs, rhinoceroses, and more!
Dutch Hollow Dairy Farm
A trip to the farm is always enlightening, even from the comfort of your home! Take your kids on this virtual tour of New York's Dutch Hollow Dairy Farm for an inside look at the secret lives of cows. Produced in cooperation with the American Dairy Association, the tour is geared for kids in grades K-4.
Ellis Island
As America faces its current challenges, we can take this opportunity to reflect on the nation's status as the world's melting pot. With Immigration: Stories of Yesterday and Today, the folks at Scholastic have put together a virtual tour of Ellis Island, the immigration station that welcomed more than 12 million future Americans between 1892 and 1954.
International Space Station
When it comes to virtual field trips, you're not limited to places here on Earth! Led by the astronauts stationed there, these virtual tours of the International Space Station give you and your kids an inside look at the scientific goings-on happening far above the planet.
Yellowstone National Park
It's springtime, which means our national parks are waking up from their long winter slumbers. Thanks to the National Parks Service, you can take a virtual visit to the country's oldest park. The tour takes you to seven different sites around the park, including the Mud Volcano, the Mammoth Geyser, and the Flower Paint Pot.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Adventure under the sea with this virtual visit to one of America's premiere aquariums. Thanks to the live cams set up around the Monterey Bay Aquarium, you can catch glimpses of animals from jellyfish and penguins to sharks and sea otters. There's even a feed that shows you the open waters of the bay itself!
Discover Ancient Egypt
As you explore these virtual field trips, don't miss the opportunity to travel back in time! Discover Ancient Egypt brings one of humanity's most storied societies back to life with cool interactive online recreations. Explore 3D temples, learn about the pyramids, or even study hieroglyphics!
At Learning Resources, we're here to help you make the best of this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy, and check back with our blog for more tips and learning ideas as the situation unfolds.
