July Activities Part 2 : Of Creeks and Creatures

Lets go to the Zoo -  Science / Gross Motor / Nature / Animals / Ecosystems

What do you need:

• A trip to the zoo!

He got to ride the carousel at the zoo. He picked a wolf.

He had wonderful fun talking about the other animals chasing him!

We had silly fun howling like the wolves we had seen earlier in the day.

The carousel offered a great chance for us to talk about what different animals ate.

It was a fun time to see if he remembered the facts I had shared on our venture into the park!

My Monkey surrounded by monkeys. Well, Great Apes actually. 

He fell in love with them. We talked about how they moved and interacted.

We looked at the poster and tried to spot each different Chimpanzee. It was fun! 

We talked about how different faces mean different things. We even practiced the faces in the mirror! 

They had a really cool exhibit of geyser. He really wanted to go play in it!

 His favorite part was absolutely the Dino exhibit. He had to ask every animal name. 

Then mimicked the sounds they were making. 

He discovered fossils at the dig site and even found baby dinosaur eggs!

Nature walk - Gross motor / Life Science / hot and cold / senses

What do you need?

• Just go take a walk in the woods!

Below are some pictures from our nature walk! He found a creek and was scared to get his feet wet. After a few moments of being silly he dared to get a little wet. Then - He loved it! It was such a wonderful day of discovery splashing in the creek. It breaks my heart to see how many children are denied such a simple and perfect experience as cooling off in a creek on a hot summer day. Children are washable - let them get a little dirty now and again. Be observant and Be safe, but that doesn't require living in a sterile world of  recirculated air and the buzz of technology. We had both been a little grouchy before our discovery. Afterwards we felt closer than ever before and the ride home was full of giggles and story swamping. I will remember this discovery for many years to come.

July Activities Part One: Of Shopping and Home grown foods

Lets go Shopping!  - Dramatic Play / Money / Community Helpers / Math

Needed Items:

• Saved boxes from old groceries
• Saved bags from previous trips to store
• Tables (already had)
• Shopping cart *optional* (already had)
• Pretend Money ($1.00 at Dollar Store)

How To:

• During Nap I placed all of the boxes and empty jugs that I had saved and lined them up on three tables pushed together.
• I placed the money tray and his toy computer with mouse at the front as a register and scanner.
• Placed his toy car at the door and the shopping cart at the entrance of the shop.
• I went shopping first to serve as a basic guide then stepped back and let them take their own trips!
• They had so much fun! 

Here we see Chandler getting into his car with Cassie, his baby. He was careful to buckle her in her car-seat first. He waved and told me he would see me when he got home from the store.

 He had his toy money in his pocket and he showed it to Cassie after he got her in the shopping cart. 

 He took his time picking out all the items he needed from the store. 

 Then it was time to pay for his purchase. 

 All bagged up and ready to go. 

(I know bad green momma! But all my reusable bags were in use!)

 Next it was time for him to be the cashier. He started using the mouse as a scanner on his own. What a great use of creativity!  He also got his art smock to be used as a vest to show he worked there.

 Making change.

 Thank you have a great day!

Where does food come from?  - Science / Community Helpers / Cooking

Needed Items:

• One ear of unshucked corn
• A few pieces of uncut okra
• A few pieces of uncut squash
• A handful of unbroken pole beans.
• A can of each food mentioned above
• Total expense. $3.64

How To:

• I set up the table you will see at nap time. When they woke up we discussed what they thought each thing was and where it had come from. We used our senses to smell, touch and taste the uncooked food and later do the same once our meal was cooked. It was a great chance for open ended questions.

This was the table I had set up. It was a great chance to talk about where food comes from.

 Cutting Okra under -VERY- close supervision.

 I cut the squash since it doesn't give easy like okra. He laughed as some of the squash was smooth and other portions were very rough. He said he liked the smell of it but it felt slimey.

 Shucking Corn! He was so tickled by the silk. He kept asking why the corn grew hair.

TADA! He found the corn! 

 He helped me wash the food and we had all that we prepared for lunch that day! YUM!

Here is my favorite picture of the 4th of July