Our building unit is underway. We have been talking about buildings in our communities especially houses. Here are some fun activities that can spark language and conversations with your child surrounding houses.
Sandpaper Rubbings
Explain to the children what sandpaper is used for and how it is used to smooth pieces of wood to build things like houses!
Let the children feel the different grains of sandpaper. Place paper over pieces of sand paper. Use peeled crayons and the children rub the long sides back and forth over the paper.
Extra Language ideas: talk about textures (smooth, rough, soft, ect), describe what shapes and pictures they make when using the crayon, find other rough and smooth textures around your house.
Paper Bag House
Materials needed: brown lunch bags, glue sticks, glue, miscellaneous arts and craft materials (yarn, sequins, felt, construction paper), scissors, markers and crayons; newspaper.
The children decorate the bags as they want drawing or making doors and windows.
When done, crumple newspaper and stuff bags. Staple closed.
Extra Language ideas: have your child request various objects they would like, describe the objects they are using, and once they are made you can use people toys for some pretend play scenarios.
My Street
Materials needed: white paper, black crayons, pictures of houses (or markers to draw houses or house shaped sponges and paint).
The children draw two long, solid black lines and then a dotted line in-between them. Great pre-writing skills!
They then glue on, draw on or sponge paint on houses to the sides of the road.
Extra Language ideas: describe the houses they make, talk about who lives in the houses, talk about any other things they live near besides houses.
It's Hammer Time!
Use plastic hammers, playdough hammers (or real hammers if you are brave!) to dip in paint and "hammer paint" with!
Shape Houses
Provide an assortment of construction paper shapes.
The children glue the different shapes onto paper to create their own houses!
Extra Language ideas: have your child request various objects they would like, describe the objects they are using, and once they are made you can use people toys for some pretend play scenarios.
Sandpaper Rubbings
Explain to the children what sandpaper is used for and how it is used to smooth pieces of wood to build things like houses!
Let the children feel the different grains of sandpaper. Place paper over pieces of sand paper. Use peeled crayons and the children rub the long sides back and forth over the paper.
Extra Language ideas: talk about textures (smooth, rough, soft, ect), describe what shapes and pictures they make when using the crayon, find other rough and smooth textures around your house.
Paper Bag House
Materials needed: brown lunch bags, glue sticks, glue, miscellaneous arts and craft materials (yarn, sequins, felt, construction paper), scissors, markers and crayons; newspaper.
The children decorate the bags as they want drawing or making doors and windows.
When done, crumple newspaper and stuff bags. Staple closed.
Extra Language ideas: have your child request various objects they would like, describe the objects they are using, and once they are made you can use people toys for some pretend play scenarios.
My Street
Materials needed: white paper, black crayons, pictures of houses (or markers to draw houses or house shaped sponges and paint).
The children draw two long, solid black lines and then a dotted line in-between them. Great pre-writing skills!
They then glue on, draw on or sponge paint on houses to the sides of the road.
Extra Language ideas: describe the houses they make, talk about who lives in the houses, talk about any other things they live near besides houses.
It's Hammer Time!
Use plastic hammers, playdough hammers (or real hammers if you are brave!) to dip in paint and "hammer paint" with!
Shape Houses
Provide an assortment of construction paper shapes.
The children glue the different shapes onto paper to create their own houses!
Extra Language ideas: have your child request various objects they would like, describe the objects they are using, and once they are made you can use people toys for some pretend play scenarios.