Backyard Games

My girls are very interested in letters lately... especially my 3 year old.  We did an INDOOR LETTER HUNT a few months back that we play often.  Since the weather has been warmer I thought we would take the hunt outside!  

To make the letters I purchased Marking Chalk from Amazon.

I created an alphabet checklist they could use to mark off the letters they found.  

"I found letter P!  Let me see here.... where is it?"

"I found it!"

Letter P in the grass

Letter S in the mulch.

The girls searching for letters. 

"I found letter V under the trampoline.  That was a tricky one."

We also made some fun games.  

Backyard Hopscotch

I also buried a few letters in our garden.  

X marks the spot!

My oldest loved digging for "treasures".  We plan to do a treasure hunt dig next.  :-)  Stay tuned!  

RL 

Frogs - Taking Advantage of Real Life, Hands On Learning

"If it's not in the hand, then it's not in the head or the heart!"

~ Bev Bos

Strolling along a nature trail, throwing rocks into a lake, or playing on a playground is where you will find us on most days.  We typically get out to a park or playground every day, and allow our children to take us on all kinds of adventures.  What a gift it is to see the wonder of the world through their eyes.  On one such trip recently, we came upon a lake brimming with tadpoles.

YES – We can bring out our nets and catch some for you all to explore.  

YES – You may walk into the water with your shoes on (or off).

YES – We can catch more than one.  

YES – We can take them home for further exploration and learning.

YES - You may hold them.

This type of hands-on learning is ideal - 

to spark interest

for better retention

and because its fun.

Thus it begins – the life cycle of a frog adventures.

Catching tadpoles

Watching tadpoles

Scoop 'em up!

Got some!

The wonder!!

YES - You may hold them.

Growth of a Tadpole

"Look, this one is the smallest."

"This one has hind limbs!!!  He must be the oldest.  Will he be a frog soon?  Let me pick him up for a better look."

We watched a short video about the Life Cycle of the Frog

An invitation to explore the tadpoles.

He put one in a petri dish for a better look.

Using a magnifying glass.

"I'm drawing the whole tadpole family."

Our hopes are that the tadpoles continue to grow and our children get to watch the metamorphosis   Once they are frogs (fingers crossed), we will take them back to their lake and set them free.

How rewarding!

Tell me and I'll forget;

Show me and I may remember;

Involve me and I'll understand.

- Chinese Proverb

- AK/RL

A Prototype

One of the girls favorite things to do is to watch the dogs at Petsmart.  They are very big dog lovers... especially my youngest!  Inside our store they have a little dog play house type thing.  It has a cubby hole and slide, etc.  My oldest asked my husband if we could build one for our dog.  My husband suggested that she go draw a picture so he could see what it looked like.  Off she ran up to the playroom to get her pencil and paper.  I thought it would be fun to expand off her drawing.  Amazing where one little question can take you!  I asked her if she wanted to make a prototype.  We talked a little bit about what that is, and searched for materials she thought we could use.  She decided to use some play blocks. 

Original Drawing

She decided to make the slide first.  

"I need to put a door right here." 

"I think my slide needs to be a little bit bigger."

Proud Girl

"I made a door!"

Testing the stairs out with a playmobil dog.  

Stairs leading up to the slide. 

Adjusting her original drawing.  Adding a chimney and steps.  I love how she went back to the drawing first to expand!  

Testing the slide.  

"It works!!!!!"  

Finished Drawing

Finished Prototype.

RL  

"Painting" with water

I think summer play season is here!  We are always looking for fun ways to play with water as the temperatures here get HOT and HUMID!  A few years we back we did this water play post....

http://www.playathomemomllc.com/2011/08/squirt-squeeze-spray-pump-pour-press.html

We expanded off that a bit and instead of just squeezing, pouring, etc into the sensory bin I thought I would give them a "canvas".... AKA our driveway.  

Some of the items we used.  

Watering Ducks (Target Dollar Spot)

Paint Brushes

Bucket

Condiment Bottles

Spray Bottles

Our refill station.

This is much easier than using the hose and having the water running constantly.  

My oldest (4.5 years) twirling around with a wet paintbrush.

"Look at the design I am making!"

My middle girl (3 years) making a circle with her paintbrush.  

 Condiment Bottles

The girls asked if they could add some color to the water.  

We grabbed some color tablets from the bathroom.

My oldest discovered that you can mix colors by placing them on top of each other and spraying them with water.  So cool!!!  I love watching them experiment.  

Above is a small blue color tablet on top of a big yellow tablet.

"Look!!!!  I'm making green!!!"  

We placed some tablets in front of our refill station.  

The picture doesn't do this justice!  We had a "rainbow river"!  

It was also fun to "clean" with the brushes.  

Watering the flowers.  

RL 

Toddler Play Dough Play

I posted a while back on Infant Play Dough Play.  You can see that post here...

http://www.playathomemomllc.com/2012/06/infant-play-dough-play.html

I thought I would update to show Y'all where we are at now.  :-)  

Play-doh is probably the number one used medium in our house.  All three of my girls really enjoy it and play with it on a daily basis.  

To make your own Play Dough please see this recipe here...

http://www.playathomemomllc.com/2011/07/homemade-playdough.html

Here are some ideas for play.  My youngest is now 17 months.  

Homemade Dough

 We first talk about the texture, smell, temperature, etc.

We often use kool-aid or some other sort of extract to give the dough a yummy smell! 

The dough right after cooking is warm to the touch.  You can also throw it in the refrigerator for cool dough.  

Some of the tools that are in my youngest's play dough bucket. 

Toothpicks, beads, clay hammer, "pizza cutter", rolling pin, a few shapes, animals, etc. 

Using her cutters to make circles.

Play Dough Invitation

 The container on the left is pony beads and the container on the right is recycled bottle caps.  

To see a video on how this invitation plays out click here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyPhpqsVE-E

Pushing the beads in the dough

Counting

Increasing Vocabulary

We have a red turtle and a red penguin!  

My youngest loves nursery rhymes, singing etc.  

We often sing along to our dough creations.

"Twinkle Twinkle Litte Star"

"5 Little Ducks Went Swimming One Day"

Smooshing the play dough balls

 If you had a chance to check out the infant play... this has been a favorite of hers since she was 7 months old!  

Big, Bigger, Biggest

 RL