You may not be able to really go visit a zoo right now, but many zoos are open using the internet! Today might be a good day to explore and learn something new.
The San Diego zoo is in California. You would have to travel for a long time to get there, but you can visit them by clicking the picture below.
And you can always look at live animal cams- become experts by observing different animals. Have fun exploring animals!
This has been a very confusing and anxious time for so many of us. Its been very hard to not be able to go to school and see all of my kindergarten friends. But there are many ways that you can still have fun at home with your families. Here are some of my favorites:
Start your day with a song!
Play a game! Board games are great, but if you don’t have any games at home, you can learn and play a game with just cards or dice. If you have a deck of cards or some dice, there are lots of games you can play that are fun to play, and a great way to practice so many math skills. Here are some links that will teach many different games:
Make up your own game! Send me a picture or a video of the game.
Read LOTS of books! I have my stack of books ready to go! You can also find many books online to read to you! Many authors are also reading their books online right now.
Here are a few of my favorite stories:
And check out this list below. How many have you read or heard?
Paint, draw, create some art! Inside or outside! I would love to see what you make! You can also go on a virtual field trip to many museums all around the world and see some famous pieces of art. The Musee D’Orsay in Paris is a terrific museum. It houses many pieces by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. You can go on a tour with the link below:
You can tour the Louvre, the British Museum, Van Gogh Museum, and many others if you have the Google Arts and Culture app.
Or just do some doodling with a favorite author/illustrator, Mo Willems on YouTube. Be sure to show me your doodles.
Go outside! Go on a nature scavenger hunt. Oftentimes in a scavenger hunt, objects are hidden throughout the search area and the children then search out these items. However, instead of looking for pre-hidden objects, children can look for plants, animals, and objects found in nature. Find a spider web, a piece of bark, signs of spring. Write or draw what you find.
Collect art supplies! Not only could children look around their surroundings for artistic inspiration, they could collect objects to be included in a piece of art. There are a lot of approaches to this and it depends on what is available in your area. You could collect pieces of bark, dried leaves or flowers to make a sculpture, or even collect sticks to build something with, such as a birdhouse.
Identify plants and animals. One of the best things to do on a nature walk is to simply observe what nature has to offer. But with the growing prevalence of devices and interactive science apps, there’s a lot more you can do. For example, with an app such as iNaturalist, kids can record, catalog and share what they have found. The app also facilitates connection with thousands of scientists to help users identify the species they have observed.
Collect seeds. Get kids to gather a collection of seeds from a wooded area. They can drag an old blanket or fuzzy cloth behind them on the ground. They can place a large, old, wool sock over hands or shoes to see what they can pick up. Or they can wear bracelets made of masking tape (sticky side out), to hold the seeds they find. Have children examine their seed collections and invent a system for sorting or classifying them. Explain that plants have developed many different methods of seed dispersal, to ensure the success of their species.
Have a picnic. Having a snack or meal is a great way to take a break while you’re exploring the outdoors. Use the opportunity to enjoy some bird watching or talk with your children about what they have seen and learned. Or if they have taken photos, be sure to share them with me.
Do some gardening. As the weather warms up, you can clean out some flower beds and get ready for planting. Look for worms. Plant and grow your own vegetables. Plant a tree. Plant a rainbow!
Get some exercise! Go for a run (I am making sure to go for a run or a walk every day). Take your dog for a walk. Dance! Here are some of our favorite songs to move to:
Do some yoga:
Cosmic Kids has some great and kid friendly yoga and mindfulness sessions on YouTube.
And, most of all, know that I miss seeing all of you! Wash your hands and stay healthy!
Compassion: Compassion is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. Be compassionate!
Assembly Read Aloud: We’re All Wonders by R.J. Palacio
I know I can’t change the way I look. But maybe, just maybe, people can change the way they see . . .Wonder is the unforgettable story of August Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. …
Read Other Books About Compassion:
Sing Songs about Compassion:
Listen to Books about Compassion on YouTube:
GO OUT AND CHANGE THE WORLD….
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Pull out your scissors and create an adorable heart animal for this year’s Valentine’s Day Challenge!
Build your animal from hearts! Your animal creation should include as many hearts as possible! Use hearts for your animals’ ears, toes, tails, etc….. And do not forget the cute Valentine’s Day pun…no Valentine’s Day card is ever complete without a fun pun or word play!
Watch the video below to get a few ideas!
You should also include one fact about your animal! You only have a few weeks to complete this challenge!
Print the challenge form below and return it to Ms. Eyer.
Deadline: February 14, 2019! Valentine’s Day!
Optimism: Optimism is the ability to remain hopeful and confident about the future or successful outcome of something. Be positive!
Assembly Read Aloud: Spin by Rebecca Janni
Go for a spin up a hill—when the story of a bike ride becomes an inspirational journey.Albert Einstein once said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” Ride along up and down the hills and valleys of this bike ride.
Sing Songs About OPTIMISM!
Read About OPTIMISM with books from YouTube!
Be kind!
K is for kindness! It’s a simple word, it’s true, but it’s amazing what a word can do! How will you be kind today? Small actions make a big difference! Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. PASS IT ON!
Assembly Read Aloud: Pass It On by Sophy Henn
When you see something terrific, smile a smile and pass it on! If you chance upon a chuckle, hee hee hee and pass it on. Should you spot a thing of wonder, jump for joy and Pass It On!
Read More Books About Kindness!
Sing Songs About Kindness!
Read About Kindness with books from YouTube!
Acceptance is allowing someone to become part of a group or community and making them feel welcome.
Diversity is the understanding that each person is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These differences might include: ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies.
Assembly Read Aloud: Perfectly Norman by Tom Percival
More books related to the theme of ACCEPTANCE:
Sing a few catchy songs about ACCEPTANCE:
It’s certainly easier to make assumptions about people than it is to spend time getting to know someone. SoulPancake wanted to put assumptions to the test to see what we’re missing out on because we’re so busy assuming we already “know” a person. Watch the video below and discover why you should never judge a book.
Listen to a few a YouTube books about ACCEPTANCE!
How Full is Your Bucket
Octicorn
Whoever You Are
A Rainbow of Friends
The Big Orange Splot
The Sneetches Video
Same Same But Different
It’s Okay to be Different
Be Responsible!
“You must be a sailor before you are a captain!”
Responsibility is being accountable for your own actions.
ASSEMBLY Read Aloud: The Ant and the Grasshopper (Aesop’s Fable)
YOUTUBE Songs that teach RESPONSIBILITY:
Books about RESPONSIBILITY on YOUTUBE:
Parent Resources:
Be persistent!
“A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor!”
Persistence is the continuous effort to do or achieve something even when faced with obstacles.
Assembly Read Aloud: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place-a pigeon! But you’ve never met one like this before. As he pleads, wheedles, and begs his way through the book…boy is that pigeon persistent!
Be kind!
“Be the anchor in rough waters!”
Kindness: Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
K is for kindness! It’s a simple word, it’s true, but it’s amazing what a word can do! How will you be kind today? Small actions make a big difference!
Assembly Read Aloud: Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler by Margery Cuyler
When Mrs. Ruler asks five of her kindergarteners to miss recess, she’s got a special plan up her sleeve. She’s about to teach a new golden rule: KINDNESS IS COOL!
Books About Kindness:
Sing Songs About Kindness:
Sing along with Tori Kelly and the rest of the Sesame Street gang as they sing a song all about kindness.
Read About Kindness with books from YouTube!