stem camp

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 24 – Letter Matching Activity 

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Letter Matching Activity 

Literacy is more than just learning to read, it also includes how children interpret and understand what is being read, as well as writing skills and composition. Literacy skills do not just develop overnight. We have a fun and easy activity to do and create at home. All you need is a piece of paper, a few coloured crayons or markers and a pencil. Here is how “Letter Matching” works.

Note: We prefer this approach instead of printing “letter matching” worksheets so that you can work on all the letters of the alphabet. You can also focus on the ones that your child is not familiar with or focus on the letters in their name.

Step 1: On a blank piece of paper make two columns. In one column, write 6 random letters that are not in order. (E.g. A, G, M, W, P, S). Make sure each letter is a different colour.

Step 2: In the second column, write the same letters in a different order.

Step 3: Provide your child with a pencil. The goal is for them to match the letters from one column to the other by drawing a line to connect them.

Step 4: Repeat the activity with a different set of 6 letters until you have done the whole alphabet.

This activity is great for letter recognition. You can also talk about the sounds that each letter will make when you review it with your child. If you have an older preschool children, you can try to incorporate things that might be a bit trickier. For example, you can leave all letters the same colour. You could also use upper and lower case letters on the page and they would have to match the upper case letter to the lower case one. One last thing you could add as a trick is to put a few letters in there that don’t match with anything.

This is a great activity that you could do throughout the week by changing the letters that they have to match as you make your way through the alphabet.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: language and literacy. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 23 – Easter Egg Hunt Ideas

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Easter Egg Hunt Ideas

Traditional Easter egg hunts with candy and chocolate eggs are fun but if you want to get creative this year, consider these unique Easter egg hunt ideas to encourage kids, adults, and everyone in between to forget about sweets and have some fun! 

What to put inside the eggs? – Gather plastic fillable eggs and fill them with different items. Depending on the age of the child, you can modify what you put inside. Here’s some ideas of what you can put inside the egg: confetti, stickers, puzzle pieces, tickets, small rubber ball, small bubble bottle, small toy, clues etc. Of course, you could fill a few eggs with food items such as crackers, jelly beans, chocolate/candy eggs and other small candy items. Remember that many small items are choking hazards for children under 3, so be safe and consider the age of the child when filling the eggs.

#1 Bury your plastic eggs in a garden bed or sandbox. Have the child dig using their hands or a shovel to find the eggs hidden in the dirt/sand.

#2 Float the eggs in a big sink or tub of water and children get the eggs out of the water with a utensil such as tongs. This option is great when you don’t have a lot of space for a hunt.

#3 Colour hunting. Have a colour basket for each colour egg. Name a colour and kids only find eggs of that colour to put in the colour basket that matches. When they have found them, name a different colour. This option helps the hunt to last longer when the eggs are easily visible.

#4 Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt. This can be done in the evening, either inside (in a dark room) or outside after it gets dark. Turn off all lights and hide eggs with LED candle lights inside. Then hunt for them in the dark.

#5 Create a treasure map with the locations of the hidden eggs. Children will follow the map trail to find the hidden eggs in a specific order. You can put up signs and bunny prints to help them follow the trail.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: physical activity and language. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 22 – Easter Egg Art

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Easter Egg Art

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (art) and language.

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 21 – Easter Egg Activity: Sink or Float

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 20 – Easter Egg Activity: Sink or Float

Children love the sink and float experiment! This is an easy and entertaining science experiment that will keep your child entertained. With Easter coming in a few days, we suggest doing the sink and float experiment with eggs.  

Step 1 – Gather different types of eggs (e.g. real raw egg, real boiled egg, real egg with inside removed, empty plastic eggs, plastic eggs with items inside etc.)

Step 2 – Fill up a clear plastic bowl or container with water about ¾ full.

Step 3 – Talk to your child about all the different eggs that you have and ask them to guess whether they think the egg will sink or float.

Step 4 – Have your child drop the egg in the water and see what happens. Repeat for all the eggs.

Step 5 – Try adding salt to the water and repeat the experiment. (Hint: adding salt to the water should make the egg float instead of sink)

You can continue the sink and float experiment by adding other items around the house and talking to your child about what they think will sink and float in the water.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (science/sensory) and language. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 20 – Best Easter Apps for Kids

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 20 – Best Easter Apps for Kids

Looking for some fun Easter-themed apps to distract your kids from the Easter goodies? Check out this list of free Easter Apps and learn math, literacy and art skills with some fun and educational apps.

Step 1 – Download apps to your device and play. Enjoy!

#1 Hidden Egg Hunt: Try to find the most Easter Eggs. Count them as you find them to work on math skills. This app is good for all ages. (Math Skills)

#2 Easter Bunny Games: This is a fun animated puzzle game for toddlers, preschoolers, and kids from ages 2 -6. The puzzles start off easy to play and can be made more challenging – perfect for learning shape recognition and matching. (Math Skills)

#3 Happy Easter Little Critter: Interactive Book reading. Go on your own Easter egg hunt to find 100 eggs hidden throughout the story as Little Critter enjoys all the traditional Easter activities! For 2-5 yrs. (Literacy skills)

#4 Easter Colouring Pages: The Easter Coloring Pages is full of Easter egg coloring pages and Easter bunny coloring pages with 4 ways to color: bucket, brush, spray and color pencil. This app is good for all ages. (Art Skills)

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (art, math) and language/literacy. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 19 – Easter Alphabet Hopping Game

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 18 – Easter Alphabet Hopping Game

Preschoolers have a lot of fun when it comes to Easter and Bunnies! It’s fun to see their imagination spark as they anticipate the upcoming holiday. Encourage your child to learn to recognize the letters of the alphabet and letter sounds with this Easter alphabet hopping game.

Step 1 – Gather the following materials:

Sidewalk Chalk

Kids Scissors

Paper

Markers

Easter Basket or any container

Bunny Headband (optional)

Step 2 – Read any Easter or bunny themed book with your child. We recommend the classic book “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale” by Mo Willems. You can find it online at your favourite book store.

Step 3 – Make alphabet cards using paper and markers. You will make a card for each letter of the alphabet. You can decorate your cards with pastel colours or cut them out in the shape of carrots or Easter eggs. Cut out each of the letters and place them into your basket.

Step 4 –  Now it’s time to head outside for the alphabet hopping game!  Using the Sidewalk Chalk , have your child create a large letter of the alphabet with you on the driveway or sidewalk. You can add a little more Easter fun and make egg shapes too around the letters or bunny footprints.  (For a younger child you will need to create these objects and then encourage them to color them in.)

Step 5 –  Put on your bunny headband, it’s time to play the alphabet hopping game!  Reach into the basket full of alphabet cards and match the letter on the card, with the letter on the ground. HOP over to that letter and shout out its letter name and sound. Continue until you’ve found all the letters or you get tired of hopping.

Note: This game can be adapted for all ages. For younger children start with a few letters of the alphabet (5-10) and then add more as they become more confident. For older children, you can use Easter words on the cards instead of letters.

Reading with your child daily so important. Today’s book recommendation is called Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems.  In the story the characters Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood laundromat. But the exciting adventure takes a dramatic turn when Trixie realizes her beloved bunny was left behind. Mo Willems uses the backdrop of black and white photos with his adorable illustrations to share this humorous storyline of when Daddy’s in charge and a lovey is left behind.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (art), language/literacy and physical activity. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 18 – Easter Egg Weaving

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 18 – Easter Egg Weaving

Kids love to feel independent and this activity will allow them to do just that! They will use their first finger and thumb to form the pincer grasp and weave the string in and out of the cardboard cutouts. This activity can be done in multiple stages, including cutting out the egg, decorating it and then threading the string around the shape!

Step 1

Gather the following materials:

Cardboard or cardstock paper

Scissors

String, yarn or shoe laces

Hole punch

Markers, crayons or paint

Step 2

Using scissors, cut the cardboard or cardstock into an Easter egg (oval) approximately the size of an adult hand. Use a hole punch to create holes around the perimeter of the cutout, about 1 inch apart and ½ inch from the edge of the egg. If you don’t have a hole punch, scissors work as well — just make sure the holes are large enough to have string pass through them.

Step 3

Have the child decorate the egg using markers, crayons or paint.

Step 4

Use string, yarn or a shoelace to tie a knot around one hole in the cutout.

Step 5

Have the child weave the string in and out of each hole around the perimeter of the cutout.

Once completed, encourage the child to unthread the string and then start all over again! You can add more strings in different colors to the egg to form interesting patterns.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 17 – Math – Sorting Colours

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 17 – Math – Sorting Colours

Math can be fun! Math helps children make sense of the world around them and teaches them to reason and problem-solve. Teachers of preschool math build on children’s prior knowledge and capitalize on their spontaneous discoveries to further their understanding of mathematical concepts. Today’s activity is sorting colours. It is a fun way to teach counting, sorting and spatial recognition.

Step 1: Make or print a template that looks like the one in our picture.

Step 2: Have the children look around the house for items that are small and can fit in the circle. They must match the colour in the circle.

Step 3: When they have filled the circle with items, have them count how many of each they found and place that number beside the circle.

Step 4: Have the children place them in order from least to most items.

You can expand this fun activity into a hunt around the house to see what else they can find in those certain colours that may have been too big to fit on their paper.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (math), physical activity and language and literacy. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 16 – Picasso Kids Art Project

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 16 – Picasso Kids Art Project

Creating art expands a child’s ability to interact with the world around them, and provides a new set of skills for self-expression and communication. Not only does art help to develop the right side of the brain, it also cultivates important skills that benefit a child’s development. Art is beautiful and fun but most importantly art is up to the artist. It allows you to express yourself and create in your own unique way. This is one of the art lessons we will be teaching during our summer camp program. It is easy to do and a great way to add education to a project. It focuses on the style of Pablo Picasso.

Step 1: Gather the following supplies

1. 4 colours of paint, crayons, markers, etc. Whatever materials you have access to.
2. Pencil
3. Paper
4. Paint brushes if needed

Step 2: Use the pencil to outline the shape of your dog.

Step 3: Use the paint or other materials to colour your background one of the colours

Step 4: Use the other colours you have to paint the dog in different sections.

Step 5: Outline your dog black and give him a name.

Once your child is done you can take them on a journey. Visit the country that Pablo Picasso was born in, talk about the food he ate, the things he would have seen in his home country. You can figure out how long it would take someone to get there by plane from where you live. You can even discuss his super long real name…. Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso. Now that’s a mouthful!

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (art) and language and literacy. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 15 – Rainbow Wizards Brew Activity 

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 15 – Rainbow Wizards Brew Activity

Science helps children develop key life skills, including an ability to communicate, remain organized and focused, and even form their own opinions based on observation. Science also helps children develop their senses and overall awareness. Today we are going to have some fun making Rainbow Wizards Brew.

Step 1: Collect the items you will need

1. Baking soda
2. Food colouring
3. Glitter
4. Dish soap
5. Vinegar
6. Glass jar
7. Small plastic containers
8. Tray

Step 1. Fill the jar halfway with vinegar and place on a tray.

Step 2. Add a few drops of food colouring and some glitter.

Step 3. Squeeze in some dish soap, stir and place the jar on a tray

Step 4. Add in a heaping teaspoon of baking soda, stir again and watch the foam begin. Ask your child to predict what will happen before you add the baking soda.

Step 5. Continue to add baking soda and vinegar when the foam begins to slow until it overflows over the top of the jar. To make it change colour, add a tablespoon of vinegar mixed with a different colour of food colouring. Discuss what is happening with your child.

Step 7. Make sure to dump the coloured vinegar into the center of the brew.

The best part of all of this is watching the reaction on your child’s face, especially when they realize you can keep making it happen. You can also create multiple jars with the colours of the rainbow side by side on a tray and when it overflows around the jar, you can create a rainbow of colours on the tray.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (science) and language and literacy.