- Jun 20

discovery time! 3, 2, 1... GRAND summer fun!

Thursday, June 20, 2024

YIPEEEEEE!

Here in Minnesota, we’ve been flirting with summer for a few weeks now,

but today marks its official arrival!

Of course, here at Our Grand Lives we’ve already been busy

celebrating the summer season

with our posts focused on SUMMER FUN and SUMMER FAVES!

And today, we have 3 new activities to share

as we discover a brand new topic!

Providing opportunities to explore the world around them,

to question how things work

and to wonder and experiment

is one of the best gifts we can offer our Littles!

Today’s activities will intrigue your Littles

- your grandkids (like us), your own children or those you care for daily -

and might even get them thinking in new ways!

Our activities this week rely on the engineering process and are best suited

for preschoolers and older Littles

as they brainstorm, plan, create, test, question and improve

as they… PLAY!

Don’t worry though… check out our Toddler Tips along the way!

One more important reminder before we share this week’s ideas…

Let your Little guide you as they explore and discover!

Patience may be required on your part!

Your role can be to encourage your Littles’ curiosity and support their ideas

by asking open ended questions and following their lead!

Check out the easy balance scale Laurie and her Little D made recently

as they explored the question,

Which is heavier?

Littles of all ages will find lots to discover!

MATERIALS NEEDED

• A skirt/pants hanger (or a regular hanger*)

• 2 paper or plastic cups

• String or yarn

• Scissors and tape (any kind)

NOTE: You can use a regular clothes hanger, but you might need to tape the string from the plastic cups to the edges of the hanger so the weight is better distributed.

DIRECTIONS

1. Cut 2 fairly long pieces of string/yarn and tape it to the cup so it can loop around the clip on the hanger. This creates the scale. If you are using paper cups you can punch a hole in the cup and tie the string.

2. Find a spot where the “scale” can hang freely. (For example - a knob or latch on a door or cupboard.)

3. Go around your home and collect items that will fit in the cups on your scale. Your Little may have fun helping you hunt for items!

4. Allow your Little to gently place items in the cups and compare their weight.

Older preschoolers and school age Littles

should be encouraged to make predictions

before they weigh their objects!

A Toddler Tip!

Toddlers and young preschoolers will enjoy

placing items in the scale and watching to see

which way it tips!

This is a great time to introduce the concept of “heavier” and “lighter”.

When Laura taught enrichment Summer School classes,

this activity quickly became a fan favorite!

Play dough and marbles can provide hours of discovery for older Littles!

I know my great nephew and niece will love it,

so I’ll be bringing the supplies with me to the lake

for some 4th of July fun!

In fact, I know some Middles (namely dads and Grands)

who will be equally intrigued!

CAUTION! Keep marbles away from young Littles!

MATERIALS NEEDED

• Play dough (homemade or 3-4 store bought containers)

• Marbles

• A cookie sheet or the lid of a cardboard box

DIRECTIONS

1. Roll play dough into snakes. Make some long snakes and some shorter snakes.

2. Place the snakes on the sheet pan (or cookie sheet). You can also use the lid of a box. Push each snake gently into the pan/lid so that each adheres. Create a path for the marbles to run down (similar to a pinball path), using multiple snakes to do so, as shown below.

Prop up one end of your pan/lid (we used a few books to do so). You can do this on the floor or on a table top.

3. It’s time to test your track! Starting at the top of the track, roll one marble down at a time! At this point your Little may want to make snake adjustments so the marbles move more successfully or faster through the route!

A Toddler Tip!

Your toddler Littles will love making snakes with play dough!

And here’s a simple AND safe alternative!

Last year, Little L had fun sending popsicle sticks down

toilet paper tubes we’d taped to the wall!

Are you ready to have a blast with your Littles!

If so, give this activity - another favorite from our Kindergarten archives - a try!

It’s a great indoor activity for a rainy day or on a super hot day

It could even be a fun craft/favor to make at a birthday party!

A Pom Pom Launcher combines fun and discovery for Littles of all ages

and by using soft launching object, safety is insured!

We’ve provided two options for making your own

- one using a paper cup and the other a toilet paper roll -

with decorating ideas that would work with either version!!

MATERIALS NEEDED

• Paper cups or empty toilet paper rolls

• Exacto knife (if using paper cups)

• 12” balloons

• Duct tape or clear packing tape

• Scissors

• Pom poms - ½ - 1 inch works best (see below for other options)

• Craft materials to decorate launcher (craft/scrapbook/wrapping paper, stickers, etc)

DIRECTIONS

1. If you are using a paper cup for your launcher, have a grown up cut the bottom out of the cup with an Exacto knife (or scissors). If you are using toilet paper rolls, you can skip this step.

2. This step is completely optional! For Littles who like to do crafts, they can decorate the cups/toilet paper rolls with fun paper, stickers, foam shapes, markers and more! (NOTE: Some paper cups have a thin plastic covering so washable markers/crayons don't always work... we suggest testing ahead of time.). Provide tape, glue and scissors, as needed.

3. Choose a balloon and knot the end (about ¼ inch from the end). Then, using scissors, cut off the very top of the balloon (at the opposite end from the tied end).

Stretch the balloon over the bottom end of the cup )or on one end of the toilet paper roll). Center the knot over the opening.

4. Wrap duct tape/packing tape around the cup or toilet paper roll, sealing the balloon as shown in both examples.

Perhaps you noticed that, once I'd applied the duct tape, I added a few more decorations (stickers) to the launcher I made from the paper cup. Your Little could certainly do the same.

Now, you and your Little(s) are ready for some fun!

POINT AWAY FROM OTHERS!

Load the pom pom launcher with one or more pom poms,

aim upward or outward, pull the knotted end of the balloon and…LET GO!