sorting

Materials:

Several small objects of same color  ( I got these small baby favors at Dollar Tree)

This lesson was entirely impromptu.  Not planned at all.  I was getting things ready for an upcoming baby shower and keeping my 2 and 3 year olds out of it was impossible.  I decided to let them help me sort the colors.  

I had forgotten what an important math skill this is.  They had so much fun sorting into sets that I think I may go get more after the shower!

What amazed me is I was being so narrow-minded and said lets sort these by color.  My two-year old did this for a while and said,  "Mommy,  we can put all the bears together too."  
There are so many math lessons you could teach with these.....I look forward to sharing them with you!

ABAB patterns

Materials needed:
* several copies of a picture ( I used birds this week, will use apples next week)
* markers
* scissors



This is a simple activity to start teaching patterns with little ones. Make several copies of a picture of any kind. I used birds since Z & K are fascinated with them right now. As you can tell, I also let them help me color the sheets. (To make this activity even easier, copy your pictures on 2 different colors paper). Then show them the pattern and even explain to them it is an ABAB pattern. After we made the pattern with our birds on the table we taped the birds to the wall in the ABAB pattern.

This is a skill very important to math and spatial skills later on and an easy lesson to start teaching now. This also reinforces colors.
My kids loved it and I plan on reinforcing it weekly. You can add more complex patterns once they master this skill!

magic nuudles

Materials Needed:
thick paper or foam sheet
magic nuudles (can be found at craft & hobby stores)
wet washcloth or paper towel
marker

This can be used to practice fine-motor skills and reinforce shapes. You could also use this activity with letters or numbers.

Take a marker and draw a shape on your paper or foam. I also like to write the word out for the kids.



You use your magic nuudles by slightly wetting them to stick to each other or the foam surface. Use the noodles to outline the shape, letter, or number.
Note: The noodles are nontoxic if your child does happen to put them in his or her mouth.





This is a super easy, educational activity......ENJOY!!

fun fruit salad

Materials:
a variety of fruit
knife (for you, not the kids)
cookie cutters
LOTS of towels (to clean up!)
bowl

Activity:
Creating a fun fruit salad while cutting out fun shapes, discussing the colors, and enjoying the sweetness of the fruit! Easy!!!

With the summer season here upon us the selection of fresh fruit is delightful (and less expensive). My kids love making our weekly fruit salad. This week I decided to make it a little more fun, though!


Let the kids watch you cut out the different melons if you buy them whole. Mine love to still guess which color will be inside!
After you cut some thin slices of fruit ( seedless watermelon seems to work best for little ones), give each child a plate and a cookie cutter to start making shapes out of their fruit.


Tip: Give them separate fruit and you cut your own if you plan on serving this to anyone else.....they will lick the cutters and eat their stars and hearts.


Make a variety of shapes for fun. We cut our grapes into ovals, made balls from the honeydew, made shapes & letters from the watermelon, and triangles for the cantaloupe.
Enjoy eating and talking about shapes and colors for a few days!!