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Listen to Stellaluna read by Pamela Reed on Storyline online here:
https://youtu.be/VLRIvyWUzxs

Choose five of the words in the text that your child doesn't currently use in their language.  Some of the words I noticed include (but there are lots more): limp, obey, escape, clutched, peculiar

Write these words on paper and stick them up in a prominent place in your home.

Discuss the meaning of these words with your child.

Challenge your child to try to use these words in their day.  Give them a sticker, reward or build-up if you hear them using the words.  Try to use the words in your everyday communications with your child.  Children need to hear particular words up to 200 times in a variety of contexts before they start to naturally include these words in their vocabulary.

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Have a conversation and make a list of all of the paper based materials you and your child use in a week.

Watch this clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c8YxMb0tlk

Make your own recycled paper by following these instructions:
https://natashalh.com/how-to-make-your-own-recycled-paper-without-a-mold-or-deckle/

Play this online game:
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-content/richmedia/1/1143/project/dist/desktop.html

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Uploaded by How It's Made on 2015-04-13.

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Make a clock using lego or other materials you can find in your home like in the pictures below.

Watch these clips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaVgBjVh4b8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAtX3HPIEGA

Talk through your normal day or week and pick times when you usually do things.  Make the times with your clock.  Practice counting in fives as the minute hand moves around your clock.

Watch this story "Cluck O'Clock" by Kes Gray and make the times in the story on your clock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUhK42DYUjo

Here is an online quiz to use to practice telling time to the half hour:
https://www.helpfulgames.com/subjects/mathematics/tell-time.html

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Telling Time to the Half Hour and Hour Song | 1st Grade & 2nd Grade

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Watch this clip to help your child understand ordinal numbers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=50&v=fR8KyCt5XtA&feature=emb_logo

Marble race: Find three marbles or balls of differing colours (preferably the same size).  Tape a start line and a finish line for the "race".  Sit behind the start line and roll all three balls together in one action.  Notice which ball crossed the line first, which crossed second, and which came third in the race.  Record the results on a piece of paper.

Listen to this version of "Chicken Licken".  See if you have the animals represented in the book in your toy box.  If you don't you could draw each of the animals on a small piece of paper.  Put the animals in the order that they appear in the story.  (See image below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzZbtMFP-_I

Play this online game to check your child's understanding of ordinal numbers:
https://toytheater.com/order/

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Listen to Iggy Peck Architect - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18B8WMJdTCQ&t=11s

Find some materials (pegs, paper, sticky tape, string, cardboard) around your house (use your imagination) to build a bridge between two chairs.  Once you have found the materials you will use draw a plan for your bridge design considering how you think the different materials might work.

Make your bridge using your drawing as a guide.  If some things don't work as well as you first thought you can make adjustments.  Make some notes about the adjustments you make to your design.

Test out the strength of your bridge by putting some weights on it (you could use rocks, or books - best if a consistent size).

This activity could be repeated numerous times with the aim of improving your design so that it holds more weight!

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Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty (Read Aloud) | Storytime | Self-confidence

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Watch this clip of a procedural text titled "How to sneak your monster into school"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A1g_dnu2Xs

Discuss with your child the elements that made this a procedural text:
- step by step instructions
- tells you how to do something
- sequence is important
- images add to the instruction.

Create a simple procedural text to do something at home.  Some ideas include:
- Fairy bread
- Lego house
- Drawing a penguin
- Making your bed

Support your child to follow your procedural text to complete the task!

Here are some other procedural texts to watch if you want more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOpe5icUzaw&t=72s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KPaxKUDj6I

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This is effective as an oral language task and could be enhanced with written activities.

Using interesting pictures with a lot of detail allows children to use their imaginations and cognitive skills to form opinions, make stories, predict, develop questions, and work on comprehension of visual texts.
Scroll below for suggested task beginnings.

Using the below picture as a stimulus:
Courtesy of Storyart.com
Stories
Most visitors are a little shocked (to put it mildly) when they arrive at Animal Town. Despite the fact that the name of the town gives a slight indication to passers-by that the inhabitants of the town are ‘not normal’, it’s as if people don’t believe things until the see them with their own eyes!
Once you get used to being in Animal Town – or so they say – seeing an orangutan behind a desk in a sheriff’s office and upholding the law to an impeccably high standard becomes relatively ‘normal’…

Imagine you are a visitor in Animal Town. Try to describe your experience.
Alternatively, you could be one of the residents…

Some questions to discuss -
Which animal would be suited to working in the health clinic?
Can you give suggestions as to the occupations of the other animals in the picture?
If you could have any job, what would it be and why?
If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?
What problems might they encounter in Animal Town that humans don’t encounter in human towns?
Are there any similar problems that both animals and humans experience?
Would animals be better off without humans? Would humans be better off without animals?

Grammar:
Students describe some of the animals. For example - The lion is big and looks bossy.

Discuss, discuss, discuss!!

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Mystery Reader day

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The ability to recognise numbers of things without counting them is called subitising and it develops from a very early age. Subitising can help children to build visual images for numbers, which in turn helps them to learn number facts.

Here are a couple of fun clips to practice subitising with:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L8bIDeW5co
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSlA-u_ABmU

Try to play this game without counting!
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/ladybird-spots

Playing dominoes is a good way to practice subitising!

Once your child is having some success with subitising, try this tricky clip which quite quickly flashes numbers of objects onto the screen for them to guess! https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=_dVqV5ZEhSc&feature=emb_logo

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Subitize with a Pirate [suhb-i-tize]   (pirate math song for kids)

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Watch these clips focussing on the number ten:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPJEqUB2CxA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB-5s02AsUU

Cut the end of an egg carton so that it only has ten compartments, not twelve.  See if you can find ten objects to put into your carton: ten stones, ten gum nuts, ten pieces of lego.

Another way to practice is to use a small bag or pillow case with object in it, grab a "handful" out and place them on the table and ask your child to quickly tell you how many there are.  You can discuss a couple of different ways to break up the number.  For example, if the number is 8 your child might break it up in the following ways: 2 groups of 4/5 and 3 more/2 groups of 3 = 6 plus 2 more.

This online game encourages children to practice counting the numbers 1-10 in a fun and engaging way:
https://pbskids.org/peg/games/3-2-1-snack

This free app supports children with writing numbers, recognising and identifying numbers, and counting:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/number-quiz-free-numbers-tracing/id338537611

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Cat is so hungry! Help Pet set up a crazy contraption to feed Cat his snack.

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Collect some sticks outside.  See if your child can order them from shortest to longest.

Watch this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqWvhs4uzPc

Find some rocks or stones outside.  See if your child can order them from the smallest to the largest, or from the lightest to the heaviest.  Use language such as light, lighter, lightest and heavy, heavier, heaviest.

Ask your child "How could we measure how tall you are?"  Use this clip for inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2NH_G-llT0

Play these free online games:
https://au.mathgames.com/skill/F.47-light-and-heavy
https://au.mathgames.com/skill/F.48-holds-more-or-less

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Sesame Street: Elmo and Abby Investigate: Measuring with Tubes

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This is from our friends in Western Australia - suitable for early years and primary grades. Photo stories provide a way for parents to motivate their children to create texts in various ways.

Step by step instructions show you how to plan and make your story using photos, and then how to change the meaning of a story by rearranging the photo order.

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Watch this clip of "One is a Snail, Ten Is a Crab"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfilGMOb9rw

Watch it again, pausing to discuss some of the numbers within the book.

The children can fold a piece of paper in half and then draw some lines, like seen in the image below, cut along the lines to the middle of the page creating five even sized liftable flaps. On the front they can write the numbers.  These could either be the numbers for counting in 2's or 5's.  Under each flap they can draw one or a few animals that combine to make the flap's number with their feet.

Find some animal toys in your toy box and make some basic calculations.  If you don't have a snail, maybe you could make one with lego!  The snail is important because without it we can't have our odd numbers!

Use this number generator to find a number:
http://numbergenerator.org/randomnumbergenerator/1-100
Draw the creatures from the book that you would need to make this number.

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Use the chart below to discuss how people communicate through gestures and facial expressions.  You could replicate the emotions seen on the left of the chart and ask your child to guess what you are communicating.

Watch this Pixar clip titled "For the Birds"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihKXQbYeV5k&list=PLaSegn4AdJAyK5Um_gAnmTPAwfy5duOB_&index=6

Rewatch the clip, pausing and discussing what the birds might be thinking and feeling, and how we read this when watching.

At morning tea time, try this fun game called "Silent Snack":
Put a few snack choices out in individual bowls, and declare it “Silent Snack Time.” You can offer each person a taste of each snack, but make sure that everyone knows there’s no talking allowed! You can take turns sharing your opinions on each snack using thumbs up/down or facial expressions. Have fun!

Play charades with each person taking a turn to act out an emotion: scared, sad, bored, angry, happy, wary, proud.

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Look for solid/three dimensional shapes in your home environment.  Make a list of what you find under the headings sphere, cube, cone, pyramid.

This app can be played for free on a computer or on an ipad, just let your child play with making shapes on the geoboard: https://apps.mathlearningcenter.org/geoboard/

If you have a device for your child to use, you can download this free app, it is a hide and seek game for learning shapes.  If you click on the name of the shape at the bottom it gives the child an explanation of the focus shape: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/prestobingo-shapes/id494347130

Play these free online games:
https://au.mathgames.com/skill/F.50-identify-simple-planar-and-solid-shapes
https://au.mathgames.com/skill/F.55-identify-solid-figures

Watch this clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTeqUejf3D0

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Geoboard is a tool for mathematical exploration. Stretch bands around the pegs to form line segments and polygons, and make discoveries about perimeter, area, angles, congruence, fractions, and more.

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Gather a variety of small objects from your house and place them on your table.  Think about how you could sort them according to their properties?
- size
- soft/hard
- heavy/light
- plastic/fabric/metal/wood
- texture
- magnetic/non-magnetic
- natural/manmade
- colours

Check out these sorting songs from Sesame Street:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqegob0v9W8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQBjd7OCGIE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZci3eOafK0

Find your favourite object in your house and list its properties.  Can you find anything else with the same properties as your favourite object?

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Sesame Street - One of These Things (with Wegman's dogs)

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Plant a bean in pot or glass and place in a sunny spot - see instructions in this clip https://youtu.be/RTRW2Cf9U2U

Keep a daily diary about the changes you see with your growing bean plant.  Once it starts growing try to include the measurement of the bean - you can use informal units of measurement...like it is 1 x fruit loops long, or it is 2 x my thumbnail long.

When your plant has grown, draw a picture of it.  Label the parts of the plant:  stem, leaves, roots, flower (if you a re lucky and it grows one!)

If you want to extend this experience you can plant 2 glasses or jars with beans and place one in a dark spot and one where it can catch direct sunlight.  Record the changes of both and discuss any differences you observe.

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How To Grow A Bean Plant In A Jar? | Fun Kids Science Experiment

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Watch this clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JUdfn6r5wA

Make 4 lists on pieces of paper with these headings: likely, unlikely, certain and impossible.  Think about events that fit under the headings for your house/family.  e.g. Will it rain today where you are?  Which category will it fit into?  Add it to a list.  e.g. Will the daffodil bulbs flower today?
I wonder how many things you can add to your list in the coming days?

Play these free online game:
http://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/viewing/L115/index.html#
http://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/viewing/L118/index.html#

Here is a story called "Probably Penny" you can watch on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9gtkhiwNAQ

Here is another story called "Pigs at Odds" you can watch on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELn-F3kbAUc

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Watch one of the news updates and observe the Auslan interpreter for a few minutes.  See if you can understand any of the words he/she is signing.

Study this sheet with different signs on it.  See if you pick up any of these signs in the news updates.

Can you make up your own secret signs for your family to use at home?

Have a look at these emojis.  How/what are they communicating to us?

Learn some more Auslan by watching and copying this clip!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5m3TLBmeuc

Another one to watch as it is just lovely!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=262zTsGTEiE&list=PLl5M_sQuBN12ykka1RkXombj_Zl1YM7d3&index=5

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Conduct some simple experiments and make observations of the results.  Record your findings by either writing them down or video yourself talking about your observations for each experiment.

Melting Ice Experiment:
https://www.thechaosandtheclutter.com/archives/melting-ice-experiment

How to Make Frost:
https://www.steamsational.com/how-to-make-frost/

Magic Milk Experiment:
https://www.craftymorning.com/magic-milk-science-experiment/

Balloon Inflating Experiment:
https://www.parentsfirst.babyfirsttv.com/post/balloon-inflating-experiment

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This simple melting ice science experiment allows students to discover what variables affect the speed at which ice melts. The materials needed are in your kitchen.

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Melting Ice Experiment

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Cooking at home is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the science that is occurring during the cooking process!  Here are some ideas for cooking at home:

https://mosswoodconnections.com/activity/science-lessons-from-making-freezer-bag-ice-cream/

https://creativefamilyfun.net/making-butter-little-house-science/

https://homeschool.rebeccareid.com/teach-science-through-baking-activities/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_smartloop&utm_content=smartloop&utm_term=30202088

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Science Lessons From Making Freezer Bag Ice Cream - Mosswood

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Science Lessons From Making Freezer Bag Ice Cream. Children explore changing matter from a liuid to solid. Includes free printable on the scientific method.

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Make a job chart with your child asking them to tick it off on the appropriate day. Maybe even get creative and let the children decorate the chart!
Some ideas of jobs might be to help sort and fold laundry, sort out the pairs of socks, make their bed, sweep the floor, walk the dog, take out the garbage etc.

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Free online continents game:
https://online.seterra.com/en/vgp/3004

A song to help us remember:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6DSMZ8b3LE

Have a look at the seven silhouette images of the continents below.  Discuss discernible features of each continent.  Maybe ask your child to try to draw, or create models with play dough of the seven different continents.

Test how you are going at remembering the continents with this clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uO0E67mvtE

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World: Continents - Map Quiz Game - Seterra

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The world has over seven billion people and 195 countries. All of those people live over six continents. How many continents can you identify on this free map quiz game?If you want to practice offline, download our printable maps in pdf format.

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Compare, order and make correspondences between collections, initially to 20, and explain reasoning
SHOE HUNT
Have a look in your wardrobe:
Find your shoes.
Can you put your shoes in pairs?
Can you count how many pairs you have?
Can you count how many you have altogether?
Can you sort them into colours?
What are some other ways you can sort them?
Can you record this by drawing your shoes?
Can you write the number beside your picture?
Once you have sorted and counted your shoes, can you sort and count everyone in your family’s shoes?
How many do you have altogether?
Who has the most shoes in your family?

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Watch this fun clip of Ellen showing some children old fashioned objects:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CMS9xnBRkc

Watch this clip with the changing view of Sydney over time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S83A1ZfiT70

Have a look at the two images of Mount Wellington and Hobart.  Discuss the changes you can see.

Have you got a favourite place?  Have a think about how it might have changed over time.  Write some sentences to explain how you think it might have changed.

Check out how toys have changed over time.  Ring a grandparent or an older family friend and ask them what their favourite toy was when they were a child.  Look it up in Google to see what it looks like.

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Watch this clip about the sequence within events:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDJg76KndLQ - read the words to your child.

Play this free online game:
https://www.roomrecess.com/mobile/Sequencing/play.html

Read a story with your child.  Ask them to remember some events that happened in the story and draw each of them.  Then muddle up the drawings and see if your child can sequence them in the order they occurred in the story.  This could also be done without a story, but rather recounting a special day you have had together or an event your child attended.

Find one of your favourite simple recipes.  While using the recipe as a reference, draw step by step instructions with your child.  Follow the instructions to make the recipe!

Take some photos of your child creating a structure with lego or blocks.  Put the photos into a powerpoint slideshow.  Ask your child which order they need to go in.  Watch back the slideshow to self-check.

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Content descriptor: Foundation, English - Retell familiar literary texts through performance, use of illustrations and images

Watch Mrs Wishy Washy on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLxGyBHHdds

Watch it again, with the sound down and support your child to read along, pointing at the words on the screen.

See if you can find toys to represent the cow, pig, duck and Mrs Wishy Washy.  If not help your child to draw the characters and use sticks to make the drawings into stick puppets.  Ask your child to have a go at retelling the story using the toys or stick puppets.  Another alternative is to act it out using members of your family as the different characters!

Discuss the order of the story and help your child draw a story map.

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Read your favourite book with an adult.

Describe your favourite character to a family member. Draw your favourite part of the story.
Explain why it is your favourite part to some one in your family?
What interesting words can you find in the story?

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Following and giving simple directions to guide a friend around an obstacle path.
TREASURE HUNT
Ask your child to create a treasure map that takes you and your family on a "treasure hunt".
Challenge your children to use words such as above, behind, next to, beside and toward.
Discuss familiar landmarks in your house and garden. Ask the children to represent theses on paper that will then lead another person around the obstacle course.

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Watch this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2eDawFb9ro

Play this free online game:
https://www.crackerjackeducation.com.au/resources/loose-change/

Find as many coins as you can in your house/car/couch!  Set up a play shop using empty boxes and containers from your recycling bin.  Use a permanent marker to write prices on them.  Let your child be the shop keeper and play away!

Draw a set of scales on an A4 piece of paper.  Ask your child to place coins on the paper making sure each side is equal in value. e.g. 2 x 5cent pieces on one side and 1 x ten cent piece on the other side.

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Ask your child to explain what they think a circle is.  Watch this clip together:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc7gPfysIU8

Ask your child to describe what they think a sphere is.  Watch this clip together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWZ6ZMuZr3U

Discuss the difference between a sphere and a circle.  Go on a hunt in your house and find things that are spheres and circles.  Ask your child to sort them.  Send a picture of your sorted spheres and circles to your teacher!

You could try a circles painting using cups and acrylic paint if you have some!

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Find a variety of glasses or jars and an "informal unit" (this could be marbles, fruit loops, kidney beans, jelly beans - they must all be approximately the same size).  Let your child play with the materials to work out the volume of your glasses or jars.  Provide sticky notes or paper squares and a pencil to help them label and remember each glass.  Suggest they order the glasses from the smallest volume to the largest.  Have a conversation about the process they used to work it out using words such as bigger, smaller, wider, thinner, taller, shorter.

Read "Mr Archimedes Bath" by Pamela Allan, or watch it on this clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OPsrVIBW5I

Have a play with a glass bowl and some hard toys.  See if you can make the water level move up and down.  Ask your child what they think is happening, how and why does the water level move up and down?  Maybe have a play in your bath at home too!

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Listen to the following story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tQcSKH37AY

Find some materials that can be used to make ramps in your house.  You could use cardboard, cardboard tubes, old pool noodles, wooden blocks, or pvc piping.

Challenge your child to make a ramp for a toy car or ball to roll down and stop in a certain spot.  Use questions to help your child articulate their thinking..."why did you move that piece?" "why did it go too far?" "how can we fix it?"

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Watch this clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg2rJBC7q3s

Watch it again, pausing at different points to discuss what season it might be at any given time and how we know this.

If you have a tree that is changing colour outside, go outside and let your child take some photos each morning so that they can observe the changes.  Put the photos into one file so they can be compared.

Choose some leaves from your garden or the park that are differing colours of autumn and bring them inside.  Paint or draw using the leaves as a provocation.

Play this online game "Dress for the Seasons" here: http://d3tt741pwxqwm0.cloudfront.net/KET/evlearnket/Dress-For-The-Season/index.html .

Discuss the changes we make to our clothing according to the weather.
This clip might add to the conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_tadm4uaQ4

Another one for fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zyXRioBcLY

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A great way to paint at home!

Home-made Paint Recipe

Ingredients
1 tbs cornflour
1 tbs cold water
1 cup boiling water
2 drops gel food colouring
Method
Mix cornflour and cold water together until creamy.
Add boiling water and stir until thick.
Divide into small disposable containers or jars and add a few drops of selected food colourings to each one.

Notes
If the mixture does not thicken place into a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring constantly.
Cornflour paint will keep in the fridge for a week, after that it becomes a little smelly. It will thicken in the fridge so just add a little warm water and give it a good stir when you are ready to use it again.

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Bigger/Smaller

Using a deck of playing cards, Take out the picture cards.
Share out the pack between players.
Each take a turn to place a card down, the biggest (or the smallest) card wins.

This game allows children to recognise numbers, use mathematical language and collaborate, display and understand resilience, patience and good sportsmanship.

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Cosmic Kids Yoga is a great way to introduce children to non-competitive physical activity. Yoga physically, enhances children’s flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness. In addition, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves. Doing yoga, children exercise, play, connect more deeply with the inner self, and develop an intimate relationship with the natural world that surrounds them.
https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga

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Sensory Play
Sensory play is important for children as:
It allows children to gain confidence using all 5 senses.
Sensory play strengthens fine motor skills and coordination.
It allows children to develop their problem solving skills  – allowing them to discover strategies to overcome challenges.
It encourages imagination and creativity.
It promotes language development- experimenting with language and trying new words.
Sensory play offers children the opportunity for self-expression because there is no right answer and children feel safe to change or experiment with what they are doing.
Some ways to promote sensory play at home could be to play "bottle top soup". In a sink/tub of water,  children scoop up the bottle tops using a ladle/spoon. You could also add dishwashing liquid or liquid soap and ask children to whisk up the bubbles in the water and then look for the bottle tops. (a good way to clean hands too!)

Using ice cubes
Frozen ice sensory play ideas :: ice excavation
The idea behind this invitation to play is to freeze interesting items inside blocks of ice for children to release and explore.

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Kindergarten - Health and Physical Education

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Kindergarten - Health and Physical Education

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Animal Walks - a great gross motor activity for children that requires no equipment, just imagination and a little bit of space. Can be inside or outside!

https://youtu.be/BFfkwln-kWw

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Make some musical instruments for a fun musical day!
- Spoon maracas
- Pots and pans
- Rainbow glass jar/bottle xylophone!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=p9wfKOyU8-A&feature=emb_logo

This clip might go well with your music making day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Krn-mfDzW8

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Use rolled up newspaper and sticky/masking tape to design a structure.  This helps to develop creative thinking and problem solving skills.

Maybe watch this clip as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6cVOWx0X6I

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Try some science experiments..."why is it so?"

- Cut some white flowers and place them in vases with different food dye to watch them change colour overnight.
- Make a Rube Goldberg machine featuring a series of moving pieces that affect one another: marbles, dominoes, books, and most any surface.
- Build a rocket balloon car or boat using a Styrofoam tray, a balloon, and a straw; watch how air pressure moves it across the table.

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Mix it up by creating new inviting play spaces in your home.
- Couch cubby house
- Table cubby house
- Under dining chairs
- In wardrobes
- In a washing basket

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Want to burn some energy with the kids?  What about these ideas for developing gross motor and shaking off the cabin fever?
- Get two paper plates and skate around your house
- Throw bean bags to land on each stair on your staircase you can use masking tape to make square targets if you like.  If you don't have stairs it can be done anywhere!
- Draw a sheep face on some white balloons and set them free in the yard. You could use an old play pen or large box to hold the sheep as they are herded!

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Uncooked Play Dough

2 cups plain flour
4 tablespoons of cream of tartar
2 tablespoons of cooking oil
1 cup salt
2 cups boiling water
Food colouring

Just pop it all in a mixing bow and mix.
At first it looks as though it is not going to mix well, but hang in there and put it onto the bench to knead and it will come together nicely.

The benefits of play dough include, but are not limited to:
-developing hand/eye co-ordination
-enhancing fine motor skills
-promoting creativity
Ask families to be as creative as they can with the play dough and share their photos with you.

Uncooked Play Dough

2 cups plain flour
4 tablespoons of cream of tartar
2 tablespoons of cooking oil
1 cup salt
2 cups boiling water
Food colouring

Just pop it all in a mixing bow and mix.
At first it looks as though it is not going to mix well, but hang in there and put it onto the bench to knead and it will come together nicely.

The benefits of play dough include, but are not limited to:
-developing hand/eye co-ordination
-enhancing fine motor skills
-promoting creativity

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Home-made puzzles!

Turning your book dust covers, cards or your colouring in pages into a jigsaw puzzle.

1. Cut around the image of the character on your book cover and glue it to some thin cardboard (old cereal boxes are perfect).

2. Cut the image into pieces (consider the age of your child when choosing the number of pieces.  A toddler might only need it cut into 2-3 pieces, a preschool aged child might cope with 4-6 pieces.  Remember that you can cut it up into more pieces if they are finding it too easy.  Remember you can make a puzzle with straight edges, it doesn't have to be too complex.

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This is shaping up to be a year to remember!
What about creating a time capsule with your children?

1. Choose a container - shoebox, mason jar, old lunch box.
2. Decorate your capsule - include the date it can be opened on the front somehow.
3. Here are some ideas of what you can put in it:
- cut out hand shape for each child
- Newspaper front page
- List today’s date, and each person's name, height, friends, favourite things, hobbies etc.
- Their favourite fashion trends cut out from a magazine
- A note to their future self
- A favourite recipe
- Trinkets they are happy to part with
- Sealed letters to each child from Mum and/or Dad
- Tell how they got their current nickname
- Tell about who they most admire right now
- Describe in 5 words (adjectives) their room, their pet, a sibling (or other family member), their grandmother’s house, etc.
- Tell who their best friend is and how they met
- Tell about something they did that got them in trouble recently
- Tell about something they did that they are proud of recently
- Describe what a perfect day would look like

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Act it out!
Choose one of your favourite picture books and act it out.  We're going on a Bear Hunt is an obvious choice.  Other books that would work include The Hungry Caterpillar, Wombat Stew, and the Gruffalo.

If you need a link, because you don't have the book - this version of We're Going on a Bear Hunt is acted out by the author in this clip and is worth watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gyI6ykDwds