Happy Friday! Here are three invitations we hope will help you make it to the weekend.
Fine Motor Invitation: Meditative painting with water on stones
This invitation is an exploration of evaporation as well as a calming meditative practice for young children. You will need a rock or stone, a small container of water, and a small paintbrush. Invite your child to paint designs on the rock and see what happens. On a warm day like today, the water should evaporate fairly quickly leaving space for new designs.
Watching the rock change from light to dark to light is calming and centering for children. Using a small brush to paint the designs is also an exercise for small muscles.
Nature/Science Invitation: Flowers in Ice Part 2: The Melting
Note: If you did not make a block of ice yesterday, you can do it today, or just get out some ice cubes.
Find a place where the ice can melt. This could be in an empty storage bin, an empty kiddie pool, or the kitchen sink. Put the ice in the larger container, you can take it out of its mold or leave it in. Your child might also want a pitcher or cup of water, a paintbrush, a dropper or turkey baster, etc. What do they predict will happen with the ice? How can they get it out of the mold? What happens if they put water on it? How long might it take to melt?
This is an opportunity to explore the properties of ice, to make predictions and think like a scientist, and to problem solve.
Large Motor Invitation: Dance Party
Friday is a great day to get some wiggles out with a dance party! Because it will be warm out, it could be a day for an outdoor sprinkler dance party.
Dancing is a great medium for creative expression, encourages children to develop motor skills like balance, and connects children to the world.
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