Wacky Word Wednesday: Summer Journal

Objectives:
* To use fine motor skills involved with writing and drawing
* To consistently practice writing and drawing skills daily
* To recall events that happened during the day
* To be creative and use imagination to write stories
* To practice writing longer journals and use more details

Materials:
* spiral notebook or journal
* pencil or pen

Procedure:
* Each day have your child write a journal entry.  This can be a recall of what happened during the day or an original story.  Let them draw a picture to represent their story. This is a great daily exercise to practice writing and help them use their imagination and/or memory skills.  My kids do this every day at school, so it's important to continue during the summer in order to maintain these skills.  I love reading what they write each day!

* For younger children: Let them draw a picture and tell you about it.  Then you can write down what they say.  This is called the Language Experience Approach (LEA).  This helps them recognize that what they say can be written down into words.  They will start to correlate the spoken words with the written words which promotes early reading.

* Extension for older children:  Encourage them to write with more detail, describing each aspect of their story with more adjectives and creative phrases.

Summer Thinking - Week #4

Mighty Math Monday: Pattern Block Pictures
Math Objectives:
* To identify shapes
* To match shapes to their picture representation
* To create pictures using shapes

Materials:
* Pattern Block Mats from PreKinders
* Paper Pattern Blocks Printable from Teacher Vision (if needed)
* Pattern Blocks

Procedure:

* Print out as many pattern block mat pictures as you want.  I have lots of pattern blocks from my teaching days, but if you do not have any, you can print and cut some out from the link above.  Have your child match each shape to create the pictures.  Allow them to say what shapes they are using on each page.  They can even create their own images by putting the shapes together in different ways.

Totally Technical Tuesday: PBS Kids.org
Technology Objectives:
* To explore the PBS Kids website
* To work on clicking and dragging skills with the mouse

Materials:
* PBSKids.org Website
* Computer or IPad

Procedure:
* Go to the PBS Kids Website and allow your child to explore the different games, printables, videos, and activities on the site.  This is a fantastic learning page for kids that focuses on many academic concepts! Some of Sawyer's favorites are Sid the Science Kid, The Cat in the Hat, and Super Why.

Wacky Word Wednesday: Writing Practice
Language Objectives:
* To practice writing skills
* To hold a pencil correctly
* To use the fine motor skills involved with writing

Materials:
* Printables from Hand Writing Worksheets
* pencil

Procedure:

* Go to the website and personalize your own writing pages.  I did Sawyer's name and the letters of the alphabet to start with.  Print them out and help your child work on first tracing the letters and then writing them on their own.  Make sure they hold the pencil correctly.  Show your child the arrows by the letters to help them write in the correct directions.

Thoroughly Thoughtful Thursday: Back Pack Buddies
Social Skills Objectives:
* To understand the importance of giving to others
* To purchase school supplies for children in your area
* To understand that God calls us to give to those in need

Materials:
* all of the school supplies listed according to the school and grade you are shopping for

Procedure:
* Each year our family supports a ministry called Back Pack Buddies through our church.  We purchase school supplies and back packs for a little girl and a little boy before school starts.  This is a wonderful way to teach our kiddos about giving to those in need.  I know there are lots of ministries out there just like this one, so hopefully you can find one in your community.  If you do not have the time to shop for the supplies, a money donation is always welcomed, as well.  We bought the supplies at Walmart because they usually have all of the supplies on the lists.

Fantastically Fun Friday: Museum Field Trip
Fun Objectives:
* To understand what a museum is and how there are lots of learning opportunities there
* To explore a museum and participate in activities

Materials:
* Museum in your area - Association of Children's Museums

Procedure:
* Go on a field trip to a museum in your community.  Museums are fantastic learning environments for everyone.  We love the Mayborn Children's Museum here in Waco.  It's designed specifically for kids with themed rooms and activities for lots of ages.  Here are some pictures from our latest visit with our playgroup friends: