Digging Into Dinosaurs

Greetings Summer Friends,

We hope you have had a nice little break and are ready to get back to some fun learning activities.  You will receive a Blog every two weeks to guide you through the play and learning.  You decide the order and time frames that will work with your schedule and lifestyle.  Activities vary by ability. Your child may work independently or need assistance.  Some games included will require a partner.  This blog will be a tool to guide you with directions, suggestions and photos of examples.  It will be broken into the different domains of Math, Literacy, Fine Motor as well as some Literature Links.  Always feel free to email Ms. Danielle or Ms. Marybeth with questions.  Remember to email us at our personal email:  mbdunn4@gmail.com   or  dvirtel@att.net

Our goal is to help your child by offering fun learning experiences while maintaining some needed summer routine.

Please try to save non-disposable items: dry wipe pen, clear sleeve, counters, dice, play dough... maybe just keep all supplies organized and together.  Being organized early on is a skill that will benefit your child during their school years.

You will be expected to have you own small scissors, glue, tape, markers, crayons (just the essentials).

You will find a laminated name practice page in the bag.  Maybe before each activity, have them practice their name using the dry wipe marker. The page is presented so that they can see their names in title case (capital with lower case) and then it is in the yellow highlighted for them to trace and the bottom line is blank for them to practice on their own. They will then be able to wipe it off.  Remember Handwriting Without Tears teaches the children to begin letter formation at the top.  Use the HWT page in the bag as a reference if needed when guiding your child.  We have also included a laminated upper and lower case letter practice page.  Begin with the upper case until your child masters the formation of the letters.  This will also be a great resource during their kindergarten years; so hang on to it : )

Digging into Dinosaurs

Math 

1. Subitizing Dino Land

(You may ask yourself, "what in the world is Subitizing?'  Subitizing is the ability to instantly recognize the number of objects in a small group without needing to count them.  This is why dominos, dice, collections, and Concentration is so important. ) 

Directions:

 A.Use the dice and counters sent in your bag.  Hang onto these items;  they may be used again this summer.  You will only need one die for this game.  Take turns rolling the die.  Count the dots if needed or ask your child if they can look at the die and tell what number it is without counting the dots.  Each player will have a set of colored counters.  After the die is rolled, cover up the matching number in Dino Land.  If there are not any numbers left to cover, the turn goes to the other player.  When all numbers are covered, remove your counters and see who had the most in Dino Land.  Remind you child, it is easier to count their counters when they are lined up (teaching organization skills at an early age will pay off). 

  B. Enrichment: (Addition with Dice) If your child has mastered the 1-6 with the one die, time to create a challenge.  Use the second page with the higher numbers, the same rules will apply. Your child will need to add the two dice to find their answer. 

2. Dino Puzzle 

(Sequencing is the ability to comprehend how a series of events occur in order and the duration of those events.  We are always asking children open ended questions prompting for a sequence of events.  "What did you do this weekend?"; "What do you do in the morning after you get up?"  Sequencing is a skill that translates across all domains of learning.  It helps children recognize patterns and make sense of the world around them.)

Directions:

A. Have your child cut on the dotted lines.  Use a piece of the purple construction paper provided to arrange the numbers in order.  You will see a Dinosaur picture when finished.  Again, we have created to levels: 1-7 and 8-14.  Try one; try both.  You can do it!  Use the cheat sheet number line provided if you need to or have your child count out loud to find what comes next.

(There is also a benefit of understanding spacial relationships; knowing that the pieces must touch each other and line up correctly to see the formation of the Dinosaur puzzle. Remind your child to line up the first piece on the left side of the paper. They may need a little help with the first piece.

3. Dino Pasta Spinner

(Tens frames are important tools and useful devices for developing number sense within the context of ten. Tens frames teach children to subitize and is a precursor to addition and subtraction.)

Directions:

(*We took the spinner out because it did not spin as great as the clear little one in the bag.  Lay the clear little spinner on top of the number wheel on the tens frame page and spin away)

There are 2 ways to use this activity.  Part A will be for beginners.When mastered, give Part B a try.

 A: Spin the spinner, identify the numeral on the wheel, place the dinosaur pasta counters from left to right.  Explain when the top chart is filled out that they have made 10.  

(Example:  the spinner lands on 7; place the dinosaur pasta in 7 boxes going from left to right; ask your child, "how many more do you need to get to 10?")

 B: (Enrichment): Instead of the spinner, you will use the 2 dice provided. Your child will roll a die, ask them to count the dots on the die.  They will then place the dinosaur pasta counters on the top tens frame from left to right.  Then you roll a die and put your counters in the bottom tens frame from left to right. Then ask your child to add the two together. You can say, "You rolled a 4, and I rolled a 2; how many do we have altogether?"  When your child counts and says "Six", you say, "that is right, 4 + 2 = 6. You are adding!"  You could also say, "Who has more; who has less?" If you both roll the same, ask again, Who has more; who has less?" See if they use the word "equal"  We use that term in Pre-K.   It is so great to begin using mathematical language with your child.

4. Dinosaur Count and Cover

(Matching numeral to quantity is the idea that numbers correspond to specific quantities and accurate counting begins when children assign one number to each object that they count.  This task requires coordinating motor movement and speech in unison.  So, the next time you set the dinner table, give your child the napkins to place and have them count as they go.)

Directions:

A. You and your child may work together to cut out the tens frame squares. Keep them in a neat little pile. See if your child can match the correct dots to the correct numeral. Another variation would be to take out any small snack (goldfish, mini marshmallows, cereal) and have your child count out the correct amount to place on the numeral. Example:  8 receives 8 goldfish. You could also incorporate both, letting your child see that the Goldfish Snack (or whatever snack item) can represent the same amount of dots that matches the number.

It is nice to have your child familiar with the tens frames.  They will be seeing more of this in the Fall.

 B: (Enrichment)There are two levels in your packet.  If your child is more comfortable with 1-10, stick with that.  For the child that is ready for something more challenging, try 11-20

Literacy

1. Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt

Letter Identification

(The ability to name letters and identify letter formation is important for children to learn how to read. Research has shown that letter recognition is enhanced by writing letters.  This Scavenger Hunt will help exercise the mind by problem solving skills while getting some exercise at the same time.  Feel free to incorporate clues that will get your child thinking and moving.)

Directions:

A. This will take a little set up,  yet well worth the fun.  Children are always drawn to a hide and seek type of activity.  While you child is out of sight, hide the alphabet letters around your house, maybe confining it to 2 rooms.  Twenty six letters may be a bit much at one time, so feel free to break it up into 2 different time frames.  When your child finds a letter, have them trace the letter on their dinosaur alphabet page.  Remind your child to begin at the top when writing their letters and refer to the Handwriting Without Tears Alphabet Page for letter formation guidance. 

(If this is an activity that you may want to repeat, place the letter practice page in the clear sleeve and practice writing with a dry wipe marker so that you will be able to wipe off to re-practice at another time.) Happy Dino Hunting!

   B: (Enrichment) For those friends who are ready for beginning sounds, upon finding a letter and writing it, have your child tell you a word that begins with that letter. Ex. A (apple, axe, ant)

2. Baby Dinosaur Egg Match:

(A game of matching beginning sounds)

(Phonemic awareness is the a set of crucial pre-reading skills that is essential for beginning readers. At the pre-school level, it is all about isolating and identifying sounds.  These beginning sounds are the basic stepping stones to learning to read.) 

Directions:

A: This fun activity helps by giving visual representation of both the letter "A" and its counterpart graphic picture "Ant".  We thought it would be fun to make this a memory match game.  Perhaps break it down with only half of the alphabet or if your child is just beginning with initial sounds, chose just nine matches (A-I) and so on. Place the dinosaur picture cards face down in neat rows; in an adjacent area turn the egg tops over.  Have your child turn over an egg top (say, "you chose the letter A. What does the A sound make?")Once that is established have your child chose from the baby dinosaur section. Your child may need assistance identifying some of the pictures.  If they pick the ant, then you can say, "you picked ant; does ant begin with the /A/ sound?"  Your child then gets to keep that match.  The more this is practiced the more they will begin to match those beginning sounds. The most commonly used phonemes used in the beginning are: /s/, /a/, /t/, /i/, /p/, /n/.  It might be beneficial to begin there if need be.

3.  Letter Match/Sound Match Game

(Once again, letter recognition along with phonemic awareness is crucial for our beginning readers.)

Directions:

You will be using the 2 little, plastic dinosaurs as movable tokens for the game.

A: The clear spinner may be used again, so hang onto it.  If your child is still working on lower case letter identification, begin with the letter sheet along with the orange spinner card.  Place the clear spinner on top of the orange letter card.  Show your child how to hold the spinner on top of the orange card.  The first player spins the spinner and announces the letter;  see if your child can also make the sound of that letter. They move their dinosaur to the first lower case letter that matches the upper case letter they landed on.  example:(Spinner lands on G; your dinosaur moves to the g).  First one to get to the end...wins.

B: Some of the children may not be ready for this game, yet hang onto it.  They may be ready as phonemic awareness begins to present itself.

This game will be played the same way, only using the blue card this time, example: (spin the spinner, land on the "M"; see if your child can make the /m/ sound.  They will then move their dinosaur to the mermaid.  They may need some help identifying the little pictures so maybe go over the pictures before you begin this game.

Mermaid, Sun, Wagon, Ball, Kite, Car, Tent, Dog, Watch, Sandwich, Bear, Money, Soup, Dolphin, King, Bee, Watermelon, Monkey, Wand, Key, Door, Cow, Turtle, Donut, Butterfly, Cupcake, Socks

4. Dinosaur Rhyming Match

(Rhyming helps young children understand word sounds, patterns and language formation.  Hearing and using rhyme and rhyme repetition help children develop early literacy skills and brain development.  Not to mention, what children does not like word play.  Rhyme away.)

Directions

A:  We left the pairs together for your review.  After reviewing the matching dinosaur cards, separate the matches by cutting on the black line.  There are a lot of cards so if you want to break things down, use half or a smaller group.  You can lay out all of the red dinosaurs on one side of the table, and place the blue dinosaurs on the other side of the table.  See if your child can make the rhyming matches.  Once they make the match, see if they can tell you another word that would rhyme with the set.

B: Just for a little added fun, turn the activity into a memory game.  Begin with a small amount, perhaps a dozen matches.  Again, keep the red dinosaur cards lined up in little rows and keep the blue dinosaur cards lined up.  Have the cards face down.  The first player turns over a red card, they then turn over a blue card to see if it is a match.  If not, turn them both back over and the next person takes a turn.  This will continue like any other Memory Game.  See who can collect the most matches.

FINE MOTOR

1.We Don't Eat Our Classmates

(Watch Video)

Literacy Extension

Directions:

A: After watching the video above, have your child color Penelope Rex. Then, have your child cut out the top part (the head) and maybe Mom or Dad can help cut out the body (a little trickier).  Use real glue to glue the head onto one side of the clothespin  and then glue the body onto the bottom part of the clothespin. When dry,  have your child use their pincher fingers to pinch the clothespin and pick up different objects. They could also act out the story.  Nice literacy and fine motor extension.  They will love their little Penelope Rex. We added a little Dinosaur Fruit Snack to eat while they listen to the story.

See the example below.

2. What if the Dinosaurs Came Back

(Watch Video)

(Tearing paper is not always that easy for young child, yet there is importance in this skill.  It helps develop hand strength and endurance in the small muscles in the hand.  Strengthening of these muscles helps improve grip on writing tools, cutting and managing everyday tasks such as buttoning, zipping, opening lunch containers, closing up that backpack,  (you get the idea). Children enjoy the challenge of tearing paper, so tear away.)

(EXAMPLE)

Directions:

After watching the video, use the light blue construction paper in your bag. This will be the backdrop of your city scene. Use the scrap pieces of construction paper to tear into tall or long pieces to make different sized buildings.  The idea here is tearing paper so just know the buildings will be representations. You may even need to help your child begin with the tearing.  If your child becomes frustrated, pull out those little scissors.  Cutting is a nice fine motor activity as well. Next, the children can use markers to color windows and doors on their buildings.  They can add roads, cars, sidewalks.... let them be the artist.

Lastly,  add the dinosaur cut-outs where ever you desire. 

Ask them: What was your favorite part of the story?

Do you think dinosaurs could really come back?

Would a dinosaur make a good pet? 

3. Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs

(Watch Video)

 

(Fine Motor Work:  This activity is fun and involves sensory exploration and fine motor work. The concepts of liquid or solid and freezing or melting are all words little friends may hear in kindergarten. The hammering incorporates both fine and gross motor work.  The planning and problem solving practice will come in handy as your child ventures off and becomes more independent.)

Directions:

After listening to the story, use the little cup that came in the bag.  Fill it with water and place your dinosaurs in the water. You can always use a plastic bowl as well, if you would like a larger ice block.  Place the cup in the freezer until it is frozen. Mom and Dad may need to pop the frozen dinosaur ice out of the cup onto a cookie sheet or tray.  If you don't have a little mallet or hammer, give your child a metal spoon or kitchen tool that is safe.  They will then use the golf tee in the supply bag.  The golf tee will serve as a pick.  They will use pincher fingers to place the tee on the ice and tap away, chipping the ice. Have them chip away at the ice with the goal of freeing their dinosaurs.  Ask them what will happen if they take the frozen dinosaurs outside on a sunny, warm day?  Will they get the dinosaurs out faster? Why? 

Will the dinosaurs come out faster if they simply leave it to melt or does it help to chip away at the ice?

(Great activity of Science, Motor Work, Problem Solving, Sensory Input)

4.Dinosaur Bones

(Watch Video)

Literacy Extension

Directions:

A: Time to make your own dinosaur skeleton prints.  Use the provided homemade play-dough and colorful pasta noodles to piece together what you think a dinosaur skeleton would look like.  Then pull the noodles away and you will see your very own dinosaur skeleton print.  This activity can be reworked many times.  Have a fossil contest.  Try to make a dinosaur favorite.  See if a friend can guess the dinosaur you made. Make a pattern with the noodles.  How many noodles did it take to make the skeleton? The ideas are endless.

B: Extension:  Use the play-dough to create a dinosaur

 while using the noodles as body parts.  Use them however you like; just remember, the play-dough will dry out if not sealed tightly.  You may want to transfer the play-dough baggie to an air tight container.  Have fun!

BONUS PAGE

If you would like to reuse this page, put it in the clear sleeve.  Have your child trace over the lines with the Dry Erase Marker. This is great fine motor work and it teaches them to slow down with their work.  Challenge them to not go off the line.

We hope you enjoyed Digging Into Dinosaurs.  See you in two weeks for 

"Fun with Fairytales"

Please reach out to us if you have any questions - Marybeth Dunn mbdunn4@gmail.com or Danielle Virtel dvirtel@att.net.

_________________________________________________________________________

STOP HERE AND WAIT FOR NEXT BAG

I Scream for Ice Cream

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

We hope you have enjoyed Dinosaurs, Fairytales and Robots.  Of course, we have saved the best for last: Ice Cream!  Can not think of a better summer topic or way to end our fun time together.    

MATH

1. Build An Ice Cream Cone (YUM)

Directions:

Identify the number on the ice cream cone and count out the correct number of ice cream scoops to match.  You can do a few at a time, since there are around 20 scoops.  For the higher numbers, make sure you touch each scoop as you give it a number if this is difficult to do.

Extension:  There are 4 cones without numbers on them.  You can use a small piece of paper to write a number from 11-20 on it and have your child count out the scoops.

2. I Spy Ice Cream Count

Directions: 

 Start with the first ice cream picture and put an "X" over the ones that look the same.  Your child can either count as they put the "X" or count after all the "Xs" have been made.  Next, have your child take a different color and put an "X" or circle or some other mark to find the next ice cream picture.  Keep changing colors if this helps your chid with discriminating between the pictures when eliminating those already found. If needed, use the number line provided from the Dinosaur theme to write the number.  See if they can write from memory before using the number line.

We have added an additional seek and find Ice Cream page this year. 

3. Ice Cream Sprinkle Addition

(This will begin or reinforce basic addition.  Using manipulatives will make addition concrete and easier to understand for your child.)

Directions:
Using the clear plastic sleeve, number line, one die, a dry erase marker and the straw "sprinkles", have your child roll the die.  The number rolled is the first number written in the first square.  Count out that many sprinkles "straws" and place on the LEFT side of the ice cream scoop.  Next, roll the die or dice again to count and write in the second number in the second square.  Count out that many sprinkles and place on the RIGHT side of the ice cream scoop.  Count the left and the right side together to find the total.  Repeat as often as your child has the attention for it.  Point out how the numbers match up with the sprinkles. 

Enrichment:  Use a set of dice to make the addition problems more challenging. 

 

4. Marshmallow Measuring

Directions:

Remember, all food items are new and fresh and have been handled with gloves.  It is time to measure and then eat a yummy treat.  Use the bag of different colored marshmallows as a unit of measurement.  Your child will line up the marshmallows in a tower form to measure the height of each ice cream cone.  Have them write that number next to the ice cream.  Get that number line out if they need to see the number formation.  The marshmallows are small so the numbers will be higher than 10.  Feel free to use different food items from home:  pretzel sticks, Cheez Its, pirate bootie, grapes... (you get the idea).

Enrichment:  As your child measures, see if they can make a pattern with the different colored marshmallows.

*It may be helpful to cut around the dotted lines to make each cone

independent thus allowing your child to see the visual differences when lined up.

5. Ice Cream Pom Pom Patterns

Directions:

  Use the clothespin provided to pick up and place the pom-poms in the correct pattern.  This will add a nice fine motor experience while patterning, an added BONUS.  Some of the colors are similar, so naming the shades will help and be a good distinguishing skill. (Ex. pink vs. peach)

Extension: A.  Put the Ice Cream paper away and simply use the pom poms to create you own pattern

B. Mix all of the pom poms up in a big pile and have your child sort them and count, which group has the most, which group has the least and are any equal.

LITERACY

1. Ice Cream Missing Alphabet

Directions:

Have your child use a pencil with this activity.  It is good practice to get your child use to pencils; they will use this tool daily in kindergarten.  This activity is pretty self explanatory.  Your child will be sequencing the alphabet by filling in the missing letters.  Remind them that we form our letters by beginning at the top.  Refer to the Handwriting Without Tears sheet that came home with the Dino Bag.  If you child becomes stuck, have them sing the song to indicate the next letter.

Enrichment:  Have your child try to practice the lower case letter next to the cone of the corresponding upper case letter.  This is not to frustrate your child; only for those who need an extra challenge.

2. Gorilla Loves Vanilla Match

(watch video)

Directions:

After watching Gorilla Loves Vanilla, have your child see if they can match the animal with the correct ice cream order.  They will need to cut out the 6 different orders (the small white strip).  They will then need to glue the food item with the correct animal.  If they forgot, let them go back and rewatch the story.  It is okay and really good practice for them to know they can reference material to retrieve information, although  we both agree that they will remember without having to go back. 

4. Literacy with Sequence

(Watch Video) 

Directions:

After watching and listening to the story Splat the Cat I Scream for Ice Cream, read the questions to your child to see if they can correctly answer the comprehension questions.  If you read the question, see if your child can figure out the answers by either looking at the pictures or reading the words. 

Extension:  Where would you like to go on a field trip?  Why did the cats say they didn't want any more ice cream at the end of the story? (They had already eaten and cleaned up so much ice cream searching for Seymour.)

5.  Sprinkle Names

Directions:

You will need the rainbow sprinkles and your name written on poster-board; have your child take your liquid glue and trace their name.  Remind your child to move their hands as they are writing it, or they will end up with a big puddle of glue. Next, using the rainbow sprinkles in the bag, using a pincher grasp (your thumb and pointer) to sprinkle the sprinkles along each letter.  Focus on one letter at a time or the glue may dry before they get to the last letter.

(You will need Elmer's Liquid Glue for this.) 

Tip:  If the glue bottle is too difficult to squeeze as sometimes they are, you can always pour some glue into a small plastic container and let your child use a Q-Tip dipped in glue to trace one letter at a time.  They will still benefit the fine motor experience.

The Sprinkles are new and clean (just in case a couple end up disappearing ; ) 

FINE MOTOR

1.  Lace that Ice Cream

Directions:

Lacing can look different for each child.  There are several skills being practiced.  Besides fine motor,  your child is using visual discrimination (recognizing a repeated pattern taking shape) along with matching 1:1.  There is no need to correct your child when they are lacing.  We often see little friends correct their own mistakes or the pattern may not take shape until midway through.  It's all good!

2. A Day At the Beach

Fine motor with literacy extension

(watch video)

Directions:

Now it's your child's time to tell a story.  Using the fun beach stickers, think of a story that you can tell using them on the sandy ocean scene.  Apply stickers as you see fit; you may not be able to fit them all so you can always draw a picture on a piece of paper and then add your leftover stickers.  Now, have your child tell you what is going on.  (Ex. There was a boy at the beach with his friends and they were building a sand castle when all of the sudden a giant whale jumped out of the water... .)  

Perhaps, write down what your child says word for word and then read it back to them.  This is different than having your child draw something and tell you what they drew.  This is having them think of a story and creating it.

 

3. Build a Play-dough Ice Cream Sundae

Directions:

Time to make an ice cream sundae.  Use the 3 ice cream balls (play dough) and baggie of pretend sprinkles and toppings to create an ice cream sundae.  We have added some pretend toppings yet feel free to use other materials from previous themed bags or items from your house.  Don't forget to sneak a pom pom from a previous activity for a cherry topping.    

Enrichment:  Have you child name their flavors of ice cream.

Ask them how many play-doh scoops they plan to add; have them count them.

Have a contest with Mom, Dad, Sibling:  who can come up with the most creative Ice Cream Flavor? (ex. Pink Lemonade Ladybug Ice Cream, Lemon Stinky Sunflower Ice Cream)

4. Pom pom in a cup game.

(This game works on fine motor, hand-eye coordination and patience.)

Directions:

The object of the game is to see if you can get the pom-pom into the cup (cone). Hold on to the cone, swing it forward and then back to you in a swinging motion to see if you can swing the pom-pom into the cone.  How many in a row can you get?  Challenge other family members.  Good Luck!

We have really enjoyed creating fun activities for all of you.  These fun games, projects and practice will benefit all of you come August as you begin your kindergarten year.  Feel free to pass our names along to others for next summer.  We look forward to any feed back (favorites or needed improvements) or any suggestions you think would benefit our little program.  Again, thank you and enjoy the rest of your summer.

Ms. Dani and Ms. Marybeth

Robot Mania

 ROBOT MANIA

Hello and welcome to our fun Robot theme.  These two weeks will prove to keep you busy with a lot of fun activities.  Remember to email us with any questions.  

We will not be adding the detailed explanation or goal of a particular skill if it has already been explained or covered in prior weeks. 

* Food products include: Rice Chex, pretzel sticks, MnMs and Honey Nut Cheerios.  Gloves were used when handling food items.

Warning: there are small parts to this bag and some items may have pointed ends.  So, it might be best to observe the building process and keep toddler siblings away from small objects.

Math

1.  Build a Robot with Play-dough

(This activity has a big punch offering many mathematical concepts:  counting, 1 to 1 correspondence, number recognition, number quantity, set recognition, spatial relations, more/less/equal concept, following directions.  It also offers fine motor and language skills.)

Directions:

You will need the grey play-dough that arrived in the bag.  Have your child work with the play-dough, kneading it between their hands.  Discuss the different shapes your child is familiar with: circle, square, rectangle and triangle.  Ask them what shape they would like to make their robot.  Mom and Dad may need to help in flattening the play-dough.  After your child creates the base of the robot, use the various "Build A Robot" cards as the "recipe" to make their creation.  There will also be a zip lock bag containing all of the ingredients to create the various robots.  Using reference cards is a great skill and they will see this again.  It will force your child to use their working memory to identify the need and then apply it.

Enrichment:  Let your child be creative and create their own robot.  Ask them to tell you the number of items used.  Have them sort the items as well.  Feel free to use items around your house.

*You can put the "Build a Robot" cards in the plastic sleeve from the dino bag, so it doesn't get dirty with the play-dough.

2.  Robot Race to 10 or 20

Directions:

Using the dice that was given in the Dino Bag, this game can be played with a partner.  Each player receives either 10 or 20 of the same markers depending if you are playing with the first tens frame or the double tens frames.  The first player rolls the die and then moves from left to right in the tens frame.  They then place that many markers covering the spots (roll a 5 use 5 markers) Then the next player rolls and puts their marker on the same squares (there should be room for both markers in each square.  The first one to 10 (or 20)wins.

A question to ask, "How many more do you need to get to 10?" 

For those who need a little more challenge, roll to reach 20.

3.  Graphing Robots

Practice graphing skills with this fun roll and graph game.

Directions:

Using the fun wooden robot dice and the graph, have your child roll the dice.  Whatever robot it lands on, your child will color or somehow mark the correct square starting with #1 spot.  Have your child continue to roll and graph on the correct robot until one of the robots reach #10.  Encourage your child to slow down and make sure they are marking the correct robot's graph.  Feel free to use the clear sheet and dry wipe marker that came in the Dino Bag, if you would like to play this multiple times. 

4.  Robot Sorting

                                                                      Example: Sort by Color

Sort by Antenna 

(Most pre-k students can sort items into set categories, but a more difficult skill is matching the same items in to a variety of different categories.  This activity gives your child a pile of robots that can be sorted based on 4 different attributes (color, antennas, shape, number of legs and arms).

Directions:

Ask you child which attribute they would like to begin with: color, antennas, shape, number of legs/arms.

Place the attribute card on the table and remove the rest.  Give your child the stack of cards and let them sort away.  Some robots may be questionable but that is good. (For example: your child may say this robot is mixed color but it has more red so I am putting it with the red robots; or I don't think antennas come out of the neck so I am putting this robot with the no antenna pile.)  This skill is teaching your child to defend their answers and improves critical thinking skills.  

Literacy

1.  Matching  Beginning Letter Sounds

(Matching the beginning sounds of words is an important pre-literacy skill.) 

Directions:

For some children we detached the robots because we know they are already identifying the letters.  For others, we left the heads attached in case your child needs a bit of a review of the pictures with corresponding beginning sound of each picture.  After reviewing, you can cut the heads off the robot bodies and begin the activity.

A.  If your child is still learning the sounds letters make, divide this activity into smaller sections.  Giving your child all the robot heads and bodies together could become overwhelming.  You can mix up the sections and include a few of the known sounds with a few unknown.  This will help your child start to learn more letter sounds.

B.  If your child knows all their letter sounds, try to give them the entire activity at once.  Organizing the heads on one side and the bodies on the other will help with the process.  Encourage your child to do the ones they know first if frustration sets in.  Divide the activity in half is an option as well.  Remember, this is basically a matching game. Take it to the next level and play it like a memory game.

2.  Robot Rhyming

Robots, Robots Everywhere

(Watch Video)

Now that your child has watched this fun rhyming story, it is time to practice some rhyming. 

Directions

Using the rhyming sheets, have your child use the markers/counters (that were used in Robot Race to 10) to place on the correct matching sound. (example: cat: hat). Begin with placing the markers on the robots (example is the first photo).  Have your child identify the first picture (cake).  Then have your child name the other two pictures to the right of the robot (bat, snake).  Ask them to tell you what word rhymes with cake? (bat or snake).  They will then move the marker to the correct rhyming word. 

Another fine motor variation would be to put the sheet into the clear sleeve that came home in a previous bag and use the dry wipe marker to circle the correct answer.

Enrichment:  Ask your child to name another rhyming word.  

(Cake: snake, take, bake, rake)

3.  Robot Matching Game

Directions:

Mix up the robots in the pile. Have your child review the robots by first matching them together.  

To Play the Game: Mix up the robots and place them face down in rows.  Individual Game: Your child can flip two cards over to see if there is a match and place them face down again if there is no match. Partner Game: You can play a game and alternate taking turns to make a match. When one person finds a match, their turn continues.  If a match is not made, it is the next person's turn.

4.  File Folder Fun - Matching Upper and Lowercase Letters

Directions:

This is a great file folder activity that can be used over and over again this summer.  All of the circular uppercase letters are in a plastic pocket on the front of the file folder.  Scatter the uppercase circles that look like "gears" on a surface and ask your child to find their match.  If your child just needs review, have him or her do them all at once.  If your child is still working on identifying the lowercase letters, have them only do one side of the folder at a time and make sure only the correct uppercase letters are available to choose from.

To reinforce learning and visual discrimination, talk with your child on what makes the lowercase letter unique or how they can remember it matches the uppercase letter.

FINE MOTOR

1.  I See Robots Emergent Reader

This is more than just a Fine Motor activity.  This emergent reader also involves math and literacy.  Your child needs to count the robots on each page and then practice writing the number on that page.  Remember to take out the number line that came in the Dino bag. This will help the child with identification and letter formation. When all pages are completed, have your child color a few pages. Use crayons or markers.  

 

TIP:  Remind your child to change colors. One suggestion we sometimes use:"if you are 4, use at least 4 colors; if you are 5 use at least five colors".

Also, remember to use your pincher fingers on your crayon/marker and use just the right amount of pressure.

2.  Robot Rompus

(watch video)

Directions:

A snack baggie titled "Nuts and Bolts" is inside your activity bag.  There are 4 different kinds of snacks inside the baggie (Rice Chex; honey nut cheerios, pretzel sticks and plain MnM's).  Empty the contents onto a paper towel, plate, or cookie sheet.  Have your child sort the snack or make a pattern or simply eat the snack while watching this silly Robot story.  This can be a working snack or simply a fun chill time.  The treat bags are really stuffed to share with siblings : )

Questions:  

Which robot was your favorite?

If you made a special robot; what special job would it do?

What would you have done if robots were going crazy at your home?

3. Boy + Bot

(Watch Video)

  Design A Robot 

Directions:

A. Now it's time for your child to build their own "Bot" using the brown paper bag full of supplies.  There is an aluminum foil covered foam block and bag of bolts and screws and miscellaneous items for your child to create his or her very own unique robot.  Not only does this activity channel their creativity and imagination, it also works their fine motor muscles because they have to push the items into the aluminum covered styrofoam. And let's not forget the motor planning involved in this activity. Feel free to add items you may have around the house as well (toothpicks, straws, sticks, plastic lids).  Not everything needs to push into the robot.  Feel free to glue some items on your robot; just make sure to lay it down flat so that it can dry. You will need glue to attach the eyes.

Enrichment:  We are just showing you an example of a robot that was made with a box, an old cell phone, 4 plastic wheels and other goodies found around the house.   The ideas are endless!

4.  Robot Bead Name Necklace

Directions:

Each bag contains a variety of colored beads as well as beads that spell out your child's name.  To add extra fine motor practice, your child can sort the beads.  Then, your child can organize their beads in the order they would like before they string the beads on to make a necklace. Make sure they spell out their name in order before they begin stringing.

NEXT: YOU SCREAM, I SCREAM, WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!!!