Plastic Egg Match-up

This activity is basically similar to the last game I posted, but I wanted to give you a different variation of it.  Through this activity, you have a perfect use for all of those plastic Easter eggs that you find at this time of the year.  Plus, it helps children also identify with the theme of Easter.

When using the plastic eggs for a matching game, children will acquire and learn:

• Basic vocabulary 

• Letter identification, number identification, or shape identification

• Matching skills

• Social skills such as turn taking and sharing

• Color recognition

 

To make your own egg matching game you will need:

• Plastic eggs of various colors

• Paper, marker, scissors, tape

First, cut the paper into small 1/2 inch pieces.  Depending on what concept you want to teach, I chose letters, write the uppercase letter on once piece of paper and then the lowercase letter on a different piece of paper.  

Then choose a plastic egg, top and bottom, of the same color and taped each letter onto it.  Repeat this step for each letter or for as many letters as you would like to use.  For younger children, keep each egg match, top and bottom, the same color to avoid confusion.  You can also use less letters to be more developmentally appropriate.  For older children, you can mix up the tops and bottoms to provide a little challenge and also provide them with more letters.

Here is a picture if you decided to do a shape recognition game:

This is a simple, yet educational game that you can do with your child.  It doesn't take a lot of time or effort, but it can be really fun depending on how you play it!

Extension Idea:

As pictured above, I just set the eggs out for the child to pick up and and look into to decide if it is a match or not.  If you want to change it up to make it more fun, hide the tops and bottoms around the house and go on an egg hunt.  When children collect the different egg halves in their basket, have them match up the ones that belong together. :-)

What are some other educational uses that you have for plastic eggs?

Milk Caps Matching Game

Creating a game at home that helps teach children basic vocabulary and also math skills is very simple.  In this post, I will teach you how to take plastic milk caps and make them into a fun matching game based on your own child's interest.  If children are more interested, they are more likely to stay engaged in the activity and come away with a wealth of knowledge.

During this activity, children will learn and develop:

• Basic vocabulary
• Cognitive skills such as matching similarities and recall
• Math skills such as counting, "pairing", and patterning
• Social skills such as turn taking and sharing

To make your own matching game, you will need:

• Plastic milk caps of the same color to avoid confusion

 

• Stickers from the dollar store based on your child's interest (make sure to get duplicates).  The ones I picked out were transportation.

First, make sure the milk caps are completely cleaned and dried.  If they are not, the stickers do not stick as well.  Once this step is completed,  place a sticker on the inside of the milk.  If it doesn't seem to stay as well, you can use a piece of clear tape to reinforce it.  After the stickers are secure, they should look like the picture at the beginning of this post.

Next, flip them over to start the game.  Make sure to mix them up really well.

 

Ta-da!!  You now have a fun, educational game that you can play with your child.

Extension Idea:

If you use different types of milk or you know others who do, you can actually collect quite a few colors of milk caps.  When you gather a good amount of different colored caps, you can use them for making simple or complex patterns and even classifying based on colors.  Milk caps hold a world of possibilities.  

Do you have any other ideas that you would like to share!?

Jumbo Die

Teaching children numbers can be just as simple as using dice.  The problem with using smaller dice, though, is that the numbers appear a lot smaller and can be hard for children to see and count.  An alternative is to make your own die using items you can find around the house.

When using a jumbo die, children learn and develop:

• Math skills - such as counting, 3D shapes (cube), spatial concepts
• Language - you can use the die as a language cube to have children recognize pictures and build vocabulary

To make your own die/cube you will need:

• A Kleenex box that is cubed shape - leaving it with tissues in it is better, if not make sure it is stuffed with paper to make it heavier.
• Contact paper or wrapping paper
• Packaging tape (if you want it to last longer)
• Stickers, pictures from magazines

First, make sure the tissue box is stuffed with paper or extra tissues to give it some weight.  Then using either wrapping paper or contact paper, wrap it completely to cover all sides.  Once it is wrapped, you can either apply a layer of packaging tape until it is completely covered or skip this step.  After you have finished wrapping it, now it is time to place items on it.  Some ideas include:

• Round stickers - to resemble an actual die
• Pictures from magazines - to help build children's vocabulary; change the pictures once a week based on "themes"
• Library pockets/envelopes - to make switching pictures easier
• Pictures of different action movements - For older children, have them roll the die and then complete the action on the cube; such as jumping jacks, hopping, etc.

There are so many extensions and ideas that come from this idea.  In my classroom, I have a cube that I often use.  We use it to help children choose songs daily, decide how they want to transition from activities, and also during Math games.  It also serves as a great tool to help children understand the shape of a cube.

What are some other ideas that you may have?

Bonus Scoopers!!!!

You can make scoopers from just about anything.  Following the previous post, you can also make scoopers using random plastic containers.  If you plan on using your scoopers for water and your bottle lids are similar to a ketchup bottle (squirt reaction if you squeeze the bottle), keep the lids so children can learn more about how fast or slow water can flow, or also learn about pressure.

Scoopers

This next idea is just as simple as it can get!  Children are always very curious about scooping and dumping.  It has to be one of the most easiest, yet inexpensive items to make for a child to use that will keep him or her entertained for possibly hours!  Therefore, making a scoop for them to use at home is a must!

Through scooping and dumping, children learn and develop:

• Cause and effect
• Comparing
• Measurement
• Eye/hand coordination

To make your own scoopers, you will need:

• Empty plastic containers such as milk, juice, or detergent bottles (anything that has a handle)
• Sharpie marker
• A sharp knife for carving

First, make sure your container is completely cleaned out and dry.  Since little ones will be using them, we want to make sure that there is no residue left on them.  Secondly, trace an outline around the bottom edge to cut.   

The ones I have pictured are cut at an angle, but you can make a straight cut through the bottle as well.  Once your tracing is finished, carefully use a knife to carve off the bottom half of the bottle.  After you have carved off the bottom half, you can file it down to avoid sharp edges. 

When you have completed the above steps, you now have a scooper for your child to use.  Different items that your child can scoop include dry rice, sand, dirt, and water.  If you want to scoop water, make sure you keep the lids to your containers.

Also, the scoopers don’t just have to be used for “scooping”.  Other fun activities include:

  

•  Ball Toss/Catch

• Golf - laying the scoopers flat on the ground

Do you have any other ideas of items that you can use as scoopers?  What else can you do with your scoopers?  Please share!

Musical Shakers

Making your own music shaker is a very simple way to allow children to make some noise, literally.  While making your own shakers, you can decide what you want to put inside of them.  You can place certain items inside to make softer noises, and you can also place harder items to make louder noises.  Musical shakers can easily be produced using miscellaneous items that you find around the house.

Through shakers, children learn and develop:

• Cause and effect
• The different between soft/loud noises
• Fast vs. slow
•  Rhythm

To make your own shakers, you will need:

• Empty plastic containers such as crystal light, yogurt, baby food, plastic easter eggs, butter tubs
• Items to place inside – straws, cotton balls, seeds, old buttons, old beads, rice, pebbles, unpopped popcorn
• Glue – preferably a glue gun or super glue

First, place items into your container of choice.  Next, place glue on the lip and place the lid on snuggly.  Allow to dry for a few minutes.  Once dried, you have a musical shaker!

Now it is your turn to share!  What are some of your favorite things to use as musical shakers?  Or what have you used that might work better?

Musical Streamers

Using streamers during your music time can help children open up and complete various movements while listening to different genres of music.  Producing your own streamers is much cheaper compared to actually purchasing them from school stores or catalogs.  Plus they are actually fairly easy to make with just some simple items that you find around the house.

Through streamers, children learn about and develop:

• Cause and effect
• Space – their own and the area around them
• Rhythm
• Spatial directions
• Fast vs. slow
• Positive self-esteem

To make your own streamer, you will need:

• Plastic rings from canned pop
• Ribbons

OR

• Shower curtain rings
• Plastic ribbon tape found in a hardware store/fabric strips

First, cut each plastic ring apart to make several pieces.  Next place the ribbon onto different parts of the plastic ring tying it securely each time.  You can put as many ribbon strands on it as you want.  Once all the ribbons are secure on your ring, you have a completed streamer of your own.

Now it is your turn to share!  What are some of your favorite things to do with streamers?  Include your music ideas, as well as your movement ideas!