Over the summer we have more kiddos than during the school year and I promised myself I'd stick to structure to ensure success. So far I have heard only positive things but it IS ONLY JUNE;) For any of you who have a child or several-- some of our ideas may work for you too. The LIBRARY has served as a big resource... movies, music, and of course books on every topic you can think of!
* find a resource on SCIENCE experiments for kids
* pick several topics that you could spread over a couple weeks
* use the internet to add to your topic- let them help
* make/create some keepsake from the topic you studied
* keep a binder or folder of your tracings
We talked about Explorers first here... we checked out some books to OF COURSE I needed to get educated too! I had them collect objects from outside that remind us of this part of the country. We next worked on maps of each of their towns, so they tried hard to note certain features and places to go that were unique. Any kind of HUNT can be loads of fun, role play that concept of exploration. We have foil wrapped gum coins that we pretend is pirate treasure. For a science concept we looked at water sanitation/filtration. When EXPLORING our daycare helper's backyard we gathered a water sample from her pond and the kids added items from the ground to dirty the water further. Our pitcher sat over hours and hours getting clearer as the filth settles this is often stage two in the greater process of recycling our waste water. Using tracing paper from the grocery store, I had our oldest kids trace some icons like a old ship, a compass, gold and such. Toward the end of the week I rubbed coffee and black tea bags on the maps to help age them and then we burnt them around the edges after they were all dry.
The next week we talked about Native Americans and had a great time with this topic! The library books were fun for kids of all ages to look over. We gathered large sticks from outside and talked of all the uses they could have. Inside we painted them and hot glued on colored feathers. I tried to have them come up with several dances for rain, harvest, and for buffalo. Remember, "Ta-tahn-kah" from Dances with Wolves?? Their were hand gestures to communicate between other tribes (like universal sign language) noting the "Chief," warning for "White man," and for "lies." I expressed the conflict that there used to be with the Native Americans and overtime how it is changing. Several knew of ways other Americans are trying to help some reservations. We role played the different identities you might find in a tribe... Medicine Woman/Man, the CHIEF, the Father of many children, and the top Hunter. There are so many objects to trace from books. If you have played pick up sticks we found a similar game the Native American children played even back in the 1400's. REFER to the photo... past out arrows/straws evenly and have your family take turns tossing your arrow in hoping to cross on top of another straw(s). You collect up these straws and increase your stash the more straws you land on/touch. The winner has the most: )
Our Diverse World was next in focus. On our wall we have displayed the continents and picture of children from certain regions. These are from the teaching store and are easily available. On some of the large prominent countries we talk of some of the customs, common foods, beliefs, and the climate. On some there are obvious things to note from trouble with the government, natural disasters, troubling diseases and how we can show compassion toward many that suffer. I use my book from Compassion International to help them see the realities of other children's lives. One day we focused on those that are disabled and on ways they adapt and overcome. We drew and traced different devices that are helpful and learned about canines that are trained to help them succeed in their environment. We discussed the many ways war vets might have become disabled. There were certain populations we chose to study like the Arab/Muslim population, Eqyptians, and African Americans. The kids expressed physical differences yet talked too of how much likeness we all have. The history of the African American people was rough, slavery was not something kids think about. Slowly we learn about the first Presidents as we go through our main topics.
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