markers
H OW-TO
1. Draw a maze on a piece of paper, then hand it over for your child to complete. Ask for some kid input when creating the challenge to motivate your little problem solver.
Variations
For Scribblers: The first strokes that pre-writers will master are simple vertical and horizontal ones. Mazes should be as basic as possible, say a simple straight path from a car to a garage, or from a bumblebee to a flower. The challenge here is for little fingers to guide a pencil to stay between the lines (which should be at least an inch apart) without veering off course.
For Spellers: Emerging writers can be challenged with lines that are closer together (about one-half inch apart) and that switch directions (back and forth and up and down).
For Storytellers: Children who have had some more pencil-holding experience are ready to tackle narrow lines, twists and turns, obstructions, and dead ends (which require them to retrace their lines in order to “turn around”).
For Scholars: More complex mazes resemble mini paper-and-pencil obstacle courses and can even incorporate some written directions, such as: “Zigzag back and forth through the flags,” “Loop around each rock three times,” or “Travel down this path using a wavy line.” Game on!
6
Sand Writing
I CAN’T THINK of any better way for young writers to hone their letter formation skills than to write with their fingers in sand. The surface area of a fingertip contains an extremely large concentration of tactile receptors, each one sending a message to children’s brains as they write. Sand makes all of those tiny little receptors positively hum with rich information.
And while sand writing is an ideal activity to do in a sandbox or at the beach (with the waves as Mother Nature’s eraser), an excursion is not required. Sand writing is just as engaging when done at the kitchen table or in the playroom. When you set this up, be ready to stay put for a while, though. Running your fingers through the sand is rather habit forming, and children love to explore this reinforcing (and relaxing) activity for what may seem like an eternity.
M ATERIALS
∗ shallow box or tray
∗ about one to two cups of sand (cornmeal works too)
∗ broom and dustpan (optional, but advised)
H OW-TO
1. Fill the box or tray with about one-fourth to one-half inch of clean sand.
2. Show your children how to make shapes, trace letters, and write words in the sand.
3. Demonstrate how to “erase” the writing by smoothing out the sand with a flat hand.
4. Read and reinforce any writing your children want to share with you.
Variations
For Scribblers: Start with vertical and horizontal strokes, simple shapes, or lines with repeating patterns (such as waves, loops, or zigzags).
For Spellers: Practice one letter at a time over and over by playing “disappearing letter.” Act surprised when your child makes a letter vanish, saying, “Where on earth did that E go? It was just there! Can you find it?” Feign shock and amazement when they re-create it, as if by magic.
For Storytellers: Your Storyteller may love having two trays, side by side, one to draw in and one in which to write a word that corresponds to their picture.
For Scholars: More spelling words to practice for homework tonight? Ditch the drudgery, and pull out the sand tray instead.
7
Letters ‘R’ Us
N OWADAYS, kids are becoming savvy shoppers at a young age. They know all about swiping credit cards, signing receipts, and using coupons. And it intrigues them. So much so that, every time I introduce kids to this activity, they become quite the shopaholics. They love being the ones to mind the store (especially when there’s a cool cash register involved).
In this project, have your kids set up a letter store. Would you like to buy an E ? How about all the letters to spell your name? With twenty-six letters in stock, the possibilities
H OW-TO
1. Draw a maze on a piece of paper, then hand it over for your child to complete. Ask for some kid input when creating the challenge to motivate your little problem solver.
Variations
For Scribblers: The first strokes that pre-writers will master are simple vertical and horizontal ones. Mazes should be as basic as possible, say a simple straight path from a car to a garage, or from a bumblebee to a flower. The challenge here is for little fingers to guide a pencil to stay between the lines (which should be at least an inch apart) without veering off course.
For Spellers: Emerging writers can be challenged with lines that are closer together (about one-half inch apart) and that switch directions (back and forth and up and down).
For Storytellers: Children who have had some more pencil-holding experience are ready to tackle narrow lines, twists and turns, obstructions, and dead ends (which require them to retrace their lines in order to “turn around”).
For Scholars: More complex mazes resemble mini paper-and-pencil obstacle courses and can even incorporate some written directions, such as: “Zigzag back and forth through the flags,” “Loop around each rock three times,” or “Travel down this path using a wavy line.” Game on!
6
Sand Writing
I CAN’T THINK of any better way for young writers to hone their letter formation skills than to write with their fingers in sand. The surface area of a fingertip contains an extremely large concentration of tactile receptors, each one sending a message to children’s brains as they write. Sand makes all of those tiny little receptors positively hum with rich information.
And while sand writing is an ideal activity to do in a sandbox or at the beach (with the waves as Mother Nature’s eraser), an excursion is not required. Sand writing is just as engaging when done at the kitchen table or in the playroom. When you set this up, be ready to stay put for a while, though. Running your fingers through the sand is rather habit forming, and children love to explore this reinforcing (and relaxing) activity for what may seem like an eternity.
M ATERIALS
∗ shallow box or tray
∗ about one to two cups of sand (cornmeal works too)
∗ broom and dustpan (optional, but advised)
H OW-TO
1. Fill the box or tray with about one-fourth to one-half inch of clean sand.
2. Show your children how to make shapes, trace letters, and write words in the sand.
3. Demonstrate how to “erase” the writing by smoothing out the sand with a flat hand.
4. Read and reinforce any writing your children want to share with you.
Variations
For Scribblers: Start with vertical and horizontal strokes, simple shapes, or lines with repeating patterns (such as waves, loops, or zigzags).
For Spellers: Practice one letter at a time over and over by playing “disappearing letter.” Act surprised when your child makes a letter vanish, saying, “Where on earth did that E go? It was just there! Can you find it?” Feign shock and amazement when they re-create it, as if by magic.
For Storytellers: Your Storyteller may love having two trays, side by side, one to draw in and one in which to write a word that corresponds to their picture.
For Scholars: More spelling words to practice for homework tonight? Ditch the drudgery, and pull out the sand tray instead.
7
Letters ‘R’ Us
N OWADAYS, kids are becoming savvy shoppers at a young age. They know all about swiping credit cards, signing receipts, and using coupons. And it intrigues them. So much so that, every time I introduce kids to this activity, they become quite the shopaholics. They love being the ones to mind the store (especially when there’s a cool cash register involved).
In this project, have your kids set up a letter store. Would you like to buy an E ? How about all the letters to spell your name? With twenty-six letters in stock, the possibilities
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