I work extremely hard to make sure that my curriculum is created with mixed aged groups and siblings in mind. For this reason, the Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade program follow similar themes when possible and incorporate many activities that can be done together as a family. I really hope this helps my customers as I know firsthand how very difficult it can be raising multiple children while working in any capacity at home - and homeschooling and parenting COUNT as work!
This past month one of our themes was Apples, Patience. Not only are there fun activities for the children included but I also focused on the caregiver. There is a meditation on patience as well as a caregiver focus on trying to do more activities that require you to slow down, take your time, and be patient.
Here are a few fun things you can try at home like we did!
Make Apple Birdfeeders
Supplies Needed:
Apples
Spoon or Knife
Package of Gelatin or Peanut Butter
Birdseed
Baking Sheet
Twine or String
Yarn Needle
Using the instructions on your gelatin packet,
boil the water and when gelatin is dissolved mix the birdseed into this
mixture. Alternatively, mix peanut butter and birdseed together.
Cut your apples in half. Using a spoon or knife, hollow the center out. Place your apple halves on a baking sheet and carefully fill the insides with your birdseed mixture.
Use a yarn needle to thread twine or yarn through the back of your apple to the front for hanging outside for the birds to enjoy. Allow to cool in refrigerator for two hours.
Dissect an Apple
Begin by
looking at the apple together as a whole. What does it look like? What color is
it? What shape? Can you find the stem?
Next,
carefully peel some of the skin off the apple. What does it look like
underneath? Does the skin taste differently that the inside does?
Cut the
apple in half. Let children do this on their own, but with supervision. What do
you see inside? Go back to the songs of this week and sing the Treasure Box
song again. Do you see the seeds inside? Taste the apple.
Take out some of the seeds. Talk about how inside that tiny seed is the recipe for growing a big apple tree. All it needs is water and sunshine and to be planted deep in the ground.
It takes a very long time for an apple tree to grow from a tiny seed in the ground. Have you ever had to wait your turn for something? Was it hard for you to wait?
Play Apple Math Hide & Seek
Supplies Needed:
Construction Paper
Scissors
Marker
Have the children cut out apple shapes from construction paper. Paper cutting is a big part of our curriculum and helps children with their fine motor skills. On each apple write
a math equation. On other apples in a pile, have the answers. Tell your
children they will be going on an apple hide and seek game. Hide all of the apples when they are not looking in one room. When they find an
apple, they must go back to their pile of answers and pull out the correct
one.
I hope you enjoy these fun lessons have a better idea of what Little Acorn Learning is all about.
With love,
Eileen
