Week 23 Lesson
STEAM
Lemon Volcanoes
Try out this fun and messy science experiment using lemons, dish soap and baking soda. https://beyondtheplayroom.com/lemon-volcano-science-experiment/
Physical
Water Balloon Painting
Hang a plastic tablecloth or an old sheet on the fence, fill water balloons with paint and get messy!
Creative Development
Slinky Painting
Have some messy fun with a slinky and multi-colored paint. https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/slinky-painting.html
Week 22 Lesson
Science:
Make a Microscope
Want to get an up-close look at all the natural materials you can find camping? Try using a homemade microscope and look at interesting specimens you find outside! https://childhood101.com/science-for-kids-how-to-make-a-microscope/
STEAM
S’mores Oven
Make a solar powered oven to make some fire free S’mores using a pizza box and tinfoil https://cubscoutideas.com/2697/pizza-box-oven/
Physical
Math Fact Hop
Use sidewalk chalk and dice to practice math facts while moving their bodies! https://www.lookwerelearning.com/outdoor-math-game/
Creative Development
Camping Lanterns
Make a homemade lantern to bring in your tent or on a nighttime walk! https://barleyandbirch.com/2018/08/make-colorful-flameless-camp-lantern/
Week 21 Lesson
STEAM
I Love My White Shoes
Take some inspiration from this book and design your own pair of shoes! What will make you feel “all good” wherever you go and no matter what you walk through?
Physical
Four Groovy Buttons
Button sewing is an excellent fine motor exercise and practical life skill that your child can use for years to come. Try out this sewing activity as an introduction: https://mamapapabubba.com/2014/04/29/pete-the-cat-and-his-four-groovy-buttons-a-sewing-activity/
Creative Development
K Cup Pete
Use a K Cup to make this cute Pete the Cat craft: https://artsymomma.com/k-cup-pete-the-cat-craft.html
Week 20 Lesson
STEAM
Water Slides
Use paper towel tubes, straws, aluminum foil, pipe cleaners, wax paper, tape etc. to make water slides for Lego guys. Make a design, test it out, and track results. See which slide can transport the guy the fastest!
Physical
Water Games
Water play can provide hours and hours of fun and exercise. Try out some of these backyard games – no pool required! https://brainpowerboy.com/backyard-water-games/
Creative Development
Exploding Paint Rockets
Explore chemical reactions in a fun and creative way with this cool experiment: https://www.steamsational.com/exploding-paint-bombs/
Week 19 Lesson
STEAM
Cupcake Bakeoff
Have a family bakeoff this week inspired by If You Give a Cat a Cupcake. Baking is a great way to practice measuring, learn about chemical reactions and improve on following directions.
Physical
Cookie Face
Try out this fun minute to win it style game! Each player places a cookie on their forehead, and the goal is to get the cookie into your mouth using only your facial muscles in under 1 minute. No hands! This is tougher than it looks!
Creative Development
Young Authors
Your child is probably already familiar with Laura Numeroff’s book series that started with If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Exercise your creative minds this week by creating your own spinoff! Your child can be the author and the illustrator. If you need some inspiration, try If You Give a Pirate a Pretzel or If you Give a Bear a Brownie.
Week 18 Lesson
Science:
Balloon Rockets
Can you move a balloon from one side of the room to another without touching it? Construct a balloon rocket using straw, tape, a balloon and string. Problem solve and experiment to discover how to make it happen!
STEAM
DIY Bouncy Balls
Check out this awesome experiment and create your own bouncy balls at home! https://acraftyspoonful.com/diy-bouncing-ball/
Physical
Science of Baseball
Ever wonder why a curveball curves, or what’s inside of a baseball? Find out here at the Exploratorium’s Science of Baseball site: https://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/index.html
Creative Development
Floating Ink
Dry erase markers, water and a dinner plate are all you need for this fun and creative experiment! Check out this site and also the link for the “how and why” that’s included: https://happyhooligans.ca/dry-erase-and-water-floating-ink/
Week 17 Lesson
Science:
Butterfly Feeder
Attract some butterflies to your yard by creating a butterfly feeder like the one shown here: https://www.shareitscience.com/2016/06/the-great-backyard-butterfly-experiment-DIY-feeder.html
STEAM
Animal Action
Many Eric Carle books focus on animals – farm animals, endangered animals, zoo animals, etc. Follow the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens on Facebook and you can see a presentation about one of these animals every Tuesday and Thursday at 3:00 pm. All the videos are also posted to their YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/CincinnatiZooTube/featured
Physical
Jr NBA
Is your child looking to brush up on their basketball skills? Jr NBA at Home has a host of videos with drills, tips, and tricks to be better on the court! https://jr.nba.com/jrnbaathome/
Creative Development
Painted Paper Collages
Eric Carle created his illustrations by making collages of different painted paper, giving them a unique textured look. See what you can create at home by painting cardstock in all different colors using various objects (plastic forks, cups, combs, Q Tips, etc.). Cut into shapes and create animals, flowers, or anything your child can dream up!
Week 16 Lesson
Science:
Virtual Safari
Learn about the animals of the world on this virtual safari! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUmHClrRPxc
STEAM
World Structures Challenge
Take a look at some famous landmarks from around the world and see what you and your child can build with blocks and/or household materials.
Physical
Dance Hits
Check out some dance hits from around the world to get your bodies moving this week! https://kidworldcitizen.org/multicultural-brain-break-dance-hits-from-around-the-world/
Creative Development
Boomerangs!
Try your hand at origami and make a boomerang that really comes back! Check out the tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0A_Lwr7a9s
Week 15 Lesson
Science:
Can the Pigeon fly?
Make a catapult or zipline using household items like markers, plastic spoons, paper clips, string, etc. and see if you can get your Pigeon to fly to school.
STEAM
Pigeon Bus Challenge
Make a bus for Pigeon using only a milk carton and random household items like bamboo skewers, beads, tape, straws, etc. See whose bus can travel down a ramp fastest.
Physical
Playworks
Have some fun browsing the Playworks library this week and trying out some new activities to get your family up and moving whenever possible. https://www.playworks.org/game-library/?page=1&per_page=9&orderby=name&order=ASC&post_type=game&game-group-size[]=345
Creative Development
Lunch Doodles
Every Thursday Mo Willems posts a Lunch Doodles video about his own artwork with tips and tricks for your own young artist. Check out the episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%23MoLunchDoodles
Week 14 Lesson
Science:
Fizzing Lemonade
it might not be safe to have a lemonade stand yet but that shouldn’t stop your kids from making this fresh squeezed fizzing lemonade! https://www.learnwithplayathome.com/2014/09/how-to-make-fizzing-lemonade-edible.html?m=1
STEAM
Pendulum Painting
Make a pendulum and use it to paint your sidewalk or driveway! Check it out here: https://innovationkidslab.com/online-art-camps-kids/action-painting/pendulum-painting/
Physical
Sight Word Soccer
Tape sight word cards to cones and see if your child can kick over the cone when you call out the word. You could try this with math facts too!
Creative Development
Puffy Paint Ice Cream Cones
Mix shaving cream, glue, and food coloring to make your own puffy paint! Use it to paint your favorite type of ice cream cone.
Week 13 Lesson
Science:
Lava Lamps
Explore oil and water this week with homemade lava lamps. Check it out here: https://www.icanteachmychild.com/make-your-own-lava-lamp/
STEAM
Water Slides
Use paper towel tubes, straws, aluminum foil, pipe cleaners, wax paper, tape etc. to make water slides for Lego guys. Make a design, test it out, and track results. See which slide can transport the guy the fastest!
Physical
Water Games
Water play can provide hours and hours of fun and exercise. Try out some of these backyard games – no pool required! https://brainpowerboy.com/backyard-water-games/
Creative Development
Tissue Paper Watercolors
Glue tissue paper squares onto paper, squirt with water guns to create a beautiful watercolor painting.
Week 12 Lesson
Science:
Make a Microscope
Want to get an up-close look at all the natural materials you can find camping? Try using a homemade microscope and look at interesting specimens you find outside! https://childhood101.com/science-for-kids-how-to-make-a-microscope/
STEAM
S’mores Oven
Make a solar powered oven to make some fire free S’mores using a pizza box and tinfoil https://cubscoutideas.com/2697/pizza-box-oven/
Physical
Math Fact Hop
Use sidewalk chalk and dice to practice math facts while moving their bodies! https://www.lookwerelearning.com/outdoor-math-game/
Creative Development
Camping Lanterns
Make a homemade lantern to bring in your tent or on a nighttime walk! https://barleyandbirch.com/2018/08/make-colorful-flameless-camp-lantern/
Week 11 Lesson
Science:
Fizzing Dinosaur Eggs
Using everyday baking ingredients your child can make dinosaur eggs and explore chemical reactions! Check it out here: https://www.simpleeverydaymom.com/dinosaur-stem-activity/
STEAM
Build a Dino
Using a dinosaur image or toy as a model, create a free-standing dinosaur using only plastic straws, marshmallows and toothpicks. https://jdaniel4smom.com/2016/11/build-a-dino-stem-activity.html
Physical
Get Moving!
Try out a new activity this week to get everyone in your house moving. How about Soccer Croquet? Slam Ball? Fitness UNO? Check out these ideas and more at https://openphysed.org/activeschools/activehome
Creative Development
Dinosaur Silhouettes
Paint a piece of paper with watercolor paint to look like a sunset. Cutout dinosaur silhouettes from black paper and add to your landscape.
Week 10 Lesson
Science:
Popsicle Stick Bridges
Who can make the strongest bridge in the house using only glue and popsicle sticks? Take turns balancing different objects on the bridges and see whose cracks under the pressure first!
STEAM
Straw Towers
Build a tower strong enough to hold a baseball using only straws and tape! You can also make one with newspaper and tape that holds a basketball for an added challenge!
Physical
Wide Open School
This is an incredible homeschool resource that includes a vast library of movement activities for children of all ages including Zumba, a sit-up challenge and DIY Exercise routines. https://wideopenschool.org/programs/family/prek-5/get-moving/
Creative Development
Blueprints
Learn about architecture this week and create blueprints for dream houses, cityscapes, playgrounds or schools.
Week 9 Lesson
Science:
Ocean Zone Density Jar
Use household items to teach your child about the different zones of the ocean and research what lives in each area from the sunlit zone down to the trenches. https://www.darcyandbrian.com/ocean-zone-density-jar/
STEAM
Create a Coral Reef
The American Museum of Natural History offers step by step instructions for designing and building a coral reef with household items and basic art supplies. It’s a multistep project that may require adult assistance for younger friends while older children can create on their own. https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/marine-biology/create-a-coral-reef2
Physical
Virtual Kids Run
Independent Health Foundation is hosting a virtual Kids Run the weekend of June 5th and it is FREE to register. Get the details here and start training for the run this week https://www.kidsrunbuffalo.com/
Creative Development
How Big is a Blue Whale?
Spend some time researching blue whales this week. Find out how long they are and head outside with chalk and a tape measure. Challenge your child to draw a life size blue whale with the chalk – hint: it’s 80-100 feet long so it should take a while!
Week 8 Lesson
Science:
Flower Dissection
Dissect different flowers you find around your home and neighborhood. Pull out each part, glue it to paper, label it and write its purpose. Find inspiration here: https://www.science-sparks.com/dissecting-flowers-and-more-plant-experiments/
STEAM
Crystal Flowers
Grow your own crystal flowers this week while you explore chemical reactions with your child. https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/crystal-flowers-spring-science-experiment/
Physical
YMCA On Demand
YMCA On Demand exercise videos are free online to promote health and wellbeing while children and families are at home. There are Youth Sports and Kids Yoga plus plenty of videos for the whole family to enjoy. Check it out here: https://ymca360.org/on-demand/category/17
Creative Development
Paper Plate Flowers
Layer painted paper plate flowers on top of one another to create a 3D flower! http://www.pinkstripeysocks.com/2015/08/how-to-make-painted-paper-plate-flowers.html
Week 7 Lesson
Science:
Bug Hunt
Head outside with some jars and small shovels and see what bugs you can find in the dirt. Use magnifying glasses to observe their movements and characteristics. See if you can draw each specimen.
STEAM
Chromatography Butterflies
Check out this awesome art activity that teaches students about separating color mixtures! https://buggyandbuddy.com/chromatography-butterflies-separating-colors-in-markers/
Physical
Spiderwebs
Use masking tape or yarn to create a giant spider web across an area of your home. Challenge your child to crawl, step, or hop from one side to another without getting caught in the web.
Creative Development
Design a Bug
Challenge your family to create your own bugs this week. Draw it, write a description, and persuade each other on what makes your bug the best.
Week 6 Lesson
Science:
Taste Test
Have a blind taste test competition at home this week. Family members can use their sense of smell and taste only to determine what they’re eating. Make it a friendly competition by keeping score and letting the winner pick what’s for dinner.
STEAM
Clean Mud
All you need are bars of soap for this fun concoction. Check out the details here: https://lemonlimeadventures.com/science-behind-clean-mud/
Physical Literacy
Lose a Sense
Try out some of your favorite physical activities without using all of your senses! For example, play catch with one eye covered, dance without listening to music, hit a Wiffle ball with a blindfold on, etc. Talk about the changes and adjustments you have to make to be successful.
Creative Development
Scented Puffy Paint
Mix up some scented puffy paint and let your child get creative! Here’s a recipe for lemon-scented paint https://theimaginationtree.com/lemon-scented-puffy-paint-recipe/
Week 5 Lesson
Science:
Clouds
We are off to a wet and cloudy beginning of spring. Learn about clouds this week and try out this Rain Cloud in a Jar experiment https://thestemlaboratory.com/rain-cloud-jar/
STEAM
Straw Races
Explore wind this week and have some straw races! Use tape to create a start and finish line. Each player gets a straw and a cotton ball. See who can blow their cotton ball to the finish line first!
Physical Literacy
Jump Rope Challenge
Learning how to jump rope isn’t easy but once kids learn how there are so many fun ways to jump! Check out these free jump rope cards here and challenge your child – and yourself! https://theinspiredtreehouse.com/jump-rope-games-for-kids/
Cognitive Development
Stained Glass Sidewalk
Take your sidewalk chalk to the next level by taping out a geometric design with painter’s tape. Color in each section of the design with different colors. Unstick the tape and VOILA! https://www.yourmodernfamily.com/stained-glass-sidewalk-chalk-art-with-kids/
Week 4 Lesson
Once your school-age children are done with their required math homework, let them have some fun with math! A deck of cards is all you need to boost math knowledge and learning at home. A Total of Ten-Layout 20 cards on the table (leave out face cards or change them to equal 0, while aces equal one) Try to remove sets of cards that add up to 10, ultimately trying to remove all the cards from the table. It’s harder than you
think!
Click here to watch a YouTube tutorial!
Fraction War – Add a fraction trick to traditional War. Each player deals two cards, a numerator and denominator. Determine whose fraction is the
largest. The winner keeps all four cards, and play continues until the cards are gone. Basic Facts Practice – Instead of using flashcards for practising math facts, halve a deck and flip over one card from each pile. Your child can add, subtract or multiply them. Time children for an added bit of fun or challenge them to see who can collect the most correct answers.
Click here to download the book Coronavirus, A Book for Children;
This informative and accessible guide for young readers defines the coronavirus, explains why everyday routines have been disrupted and lays out how everyone can do their part to help. With child-appropriate answers and explanations, the book addresses several key questions.