Science

Inflate a balloon without blowing into it yourself! 

Materials:

• vinegar,
• bicarbonate of soda (baking soda),
• a bottle,
• a balloon.
• smocks

Process:

1. Notify parents that their children might coome home smeeling like vinegar to ensure kids are dressed properly
2. Put smocks on children
3. Have children pour about 20 ml of vinegar into their bottles
4. Put 2 teaspoons of baking soda into the balloon
5. Attach the balloon around the neck of the bottle, taking care not to let any baking soda fall into the bottle (you may need some sticky tape to secure the balloon)
6. Once the balloon is securely fastened to the bottle, have the children lift the balloon so that the baking soda is tipped into the bottle. Sit back and watch the balloon inflate
7. Allow children to freely explore the materials

• What makes the balloon inflate? When you tip the baking soda out of the balloon into the bottle, it mixes with the vinegar and a chemical reaction produces carbon dioxide gas. As the gas can't escape, the balloon inflates.

Engineering

Build Caterpillars with Clay
Materials:

• Red and green clay
• Popsicle sticks
• Scissors
• play dough molding instruments such as safety scissors and cookie cutters

Process:

• Cut popsicle sticks in half
• Put chunks of red and green clay out on the table along with the popsicle sticks and various molding instruments
• Explain how they can build a caterpillar by connecting the balls with the popsicle sticks
• Allow for artistic freedom and let them to build whatever they want

What Children Learn:

• Problem-Solving: Building with clay requires problem-solving skills as children think about how to shape and construct their ideas. They learn spatial awareness, proportions, and how different pieces can fit together to create a desired structure.

Math

Caterpillar matching dots

Material:

• Green construction paper
• Permanent Marker

Process:

• Cut green circles out of a green sheet of construction paper and number them, about 5 dots per child
• Draw circles on a green sheets of green construction paper the same size as the dots you just cut out
• number the circles
• Their job us to match the cut out colored dots to the dots you drew on to the other green sheet 

What Children Learn:

Children to learn 1:1 correspondence (a written number represents the amount in a set), number recognition and counting.

Literacy

Caterpillar Name Game

Materials:

• Sheet of butcher paper approximately 3ft x 2ft, more or less depending on the name length. 
• Green and red paper plates
• Permanent Marker

Process:

1. Using the permanent marker, write each letter of the child’s name on each plate with the first letter of the name written on the red plate. For instance, if a child’s name is John, you would need 1 red plate and 3 green plates for each letter in Jonh’s name with the first letter “J'' written on the red plate
2. On the butcher paper, trace the correct number of plates in a line like a caterpillar
3. Children can match the letters on the plate with the letters written on the paper
4. Allow children to move letters around and make their own game

What Children Learn:

• Visual Discrimination: By looking closely at names and differentiating between letters, children enhance their visual discrimination skills. They learn to recognize and distinguish similar-looking letters or letter combinations, improving their ability to perceive and identify subtle visual differences.

Music

Music:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar | Sing A Story | Sing Along Song

Materials: 

• Computer, tablet or other smart device to play music
• Colored Scarves

Process: 

1. Children follow the instructions in the song 
2. Have them get on their bellies
3. Crawl on the floor pretending to be caterpillars and eating the scarves

What Children Learn:

• Language Development: Singing songs helps children develop language skills. They learn new words, expand their vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and enhance their understanding of sentence structure and grammar.

Visual Arts

Paint A Cardboard Caterpillar

Materials:

• Three large packing boxes
• Green and Red Paint
• Various painting instruments such as brushes and sponges
• Smocks

Process:

1. Give each child a painting instrument and allow them to paint the boxes however they want

What Children Learn:

• Sensory Exploration: Painting engages multiple senses, including touch and sight. Children experience the texture of paint, learn to manipulate it, and see the visual results of their actions.

Dramatic Play

Cardboard Caterpillar Tunnel

Materials:

• Painted Cardboard Boxes

Process

1. Fold flaps of boxes inward to make a tunnels
2. Allow children to explore freely

What Children Learn:

• Color Recognition: Through painting, children become familiar with different colors and learn to distinguish and name them. They can mix primary colors to create secondary colors, developing an understanding of color theory.

Large Motor

Large Motor:

Caterpillar Hop Scotch

Materials:

• Chalk
• Cement surface

Process:

1. Draw 5 large circles on the cement ground. The first circle should be red and the rest of the circles green.
2. Show children how to hop from circle to circle like Hopscotch
3. Allow them to modify the game if they choose to do so

What Children Learn:

• Balance and Coordination: Hopping and jumping in hopscotch require balance and coordination. Children develop their equilibrium, and body control as they maintain balance while hopping on one foot and landing accurately on the individual boxes.

Science

Inflate a balloon without blowing into it yourself! 

Materials:

• vinegar,
• bicarbonate of soda (baking soda),
• a bottle,
• a balloon.
• smocks

Process:

1. Notify parents that their children might coome home smeeling like vinegar to ensure kids are dressed properly
2. Put smocks on children
3. Have children pour about 20 ml of vinegar into their bottles
4. Put 2 teaspoons of baking soda into the balloon
5. Attach the balloon around the neck of the bottle, taking care not to let any baking soda fall into the bottle (you may need some sticky tape to secure the balloon)
6. Once the balloon is securely fastened to the bottle, have the children lift the balloon so that the baking soda is tipped into the bottle. Sit back and watch the balloon inflate
7. Allow children to freely explore the materials

• What makes the balloon inflate? When you tip the baking soda out of the balloon into the bottle, it mixes with the vinegar and a chemical reaction produces carbon dioxide gas. As the gas can't escape, the balloon inflates.

Engineering

Build Caterpillars with Clay
Materials:

• Red and green clay
• Popsicle sticks
• Scissors
• play dough molding instruments such as safety scissors and cookie cutters

Process:

• Cut popsicle sticks in half
• Put chunks of red and green clay out on the table along with the popsicle sticks and various molding instruments
• Explain how they can build a caterpillar by connecting the balls with the popsicle sticks
• Allow for artistic freedom and let them to build whatever they want

What Children Learn:

• Problem-Solving: Building with clay requires problem-solving skills as children think about how to shape and construct their ideas. They learn spatial awareness, proportions, and how different pieces can fit together to create a desired structure.

Math

Caterpillar matching dots

Material:

• Green construction paper
• Permanent Marker

Process:

• Cut green circles out of a green sheet of construction paper and number them, about 5 dots per child
• Draw circles on a green sheets of green construction paper the same size as the dots you just cut out
• number the circles
• Their job us to match the cut out colored dots to the dots you drew on to the other green sheet 

What Children Learn:

Children to learn 1:1 correspondence (a written number represents the amount in a set), number recognition and counting.

Literacy

Caterpillar Name Game

Materials:

• Sheet of butcher paper approximately 3ft x 2ft, more or less depending on the name length. 
• Green and red paper plates
• Permanent Marker

Process:

1. Using the permanent marker, write each letter of the child’s name on each plate with the first letter of the name written on the red plate. For instance, if a child’s name is John, you would need 1 red plate and 3 green plates for each letter in Jonh’s name with the first letter “J'' written on the red plate
2. On the butcher paper, trace the correct number of plates in a line like a caterpillar
3. Children can match the letters on the plate with the letters written on the paper
4. Allow children to move letters around and make their own game

What Children Learn:

• Visual Discrimination: By looking closely at names and differentiating between letters, children enhance their visual discrimination skills. They learn to recognize and distinguish similar-looking letters or letter combinations, improving their ability to perceive and identify subtle visual differences.

Music

Music:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar | Sing A Story | Sing Along Song

Materials: 

• Computer, tablet or other smart device to play music
• Colored Scarves

Process: 

1. Children follow the instructions in the song 
2. Have them get on their bellies
3. Crawl on the floor pretending to be caterpillars and eating the scarves

What Children Learn:

• Language Development: Singing songs helps children develop language skills. They learn new words, expand their vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and enhance their understanding of sentence structure and grammar.

Visual Arts

Paint A Cardboard Caterpillar

Materials:

• Three large packing boxes
• Green and Red Paint
• Various painting instruments such as brushes and sponges
• Smocks

Process:

1. Give each child a painting instrument and allow them to paint the boxes however they want

What Children Learn:

• Sensory Exploration: Painting engages multiple senses, including touch and sight. Children experience the texture of paint, learn to manipulate it, and see the visual results of their actions.

Dramatic Play

Cardboard Caterpillar Tunnel

Materials:

• Painted Cardboard Boxes

Process

1. Fold flaps of boxes inward to make a tunnels
2. Allow children to explore freely

What Children Learn:

• Color Recognition: Through painting, children become familiar with different colors and learn to distinguish and name them. They can mix primary colors to create secondary colors, developing an understanding of color theory.

Large Motor

Large Motor:

Caterpillar Hop Scotch

Materials:

• Chalk
• Cement surface

Process:

1. Draw 5 large circles on the cement ground. The first circle should be red and the rest of the circles green.
2. Show children how to hop from circle to circle like Hopscotch
3. Allow them to modify the game if they choose to do so

What Children Learn:

• Balance and Coordination: Hopping and jumping in hopscotch require balance and coordination. Children develop their equilibrium, and body control as they maintain balance while hopping on one foot and landing accurately on the individual boxes.