Category: Play

This activity is a wonderful learning opportunity for infants, under strict supervision. Although, children of all ages will be fascinated by this activity.

Supplies

• Rice
• 1 tsp vinegar
• Food colouring
• Zip lock bag
• Lavender essential oil (optional)

Directions

1. Put rice, vinegar and a couple drops of food colouring into a zip lock bag.
2. Gently shake the bag to mix the ingredients. This will dye the rice.
3. Empty the bag of rice on to a large pan. Lay flat until dry (about 20 minutes).
4. If you are making multiple colours, repeat steps 1 – 3 for each colour.
5. Rice should be stored in a sealed bin.
6. Have fun!

Adaptations or Extensions of Play

• Add small world items (animal figurines, ocean theme, snow theme, etc.)
• Add cups and containers for dumping, filling and pouring
• Hide items such as alphabet letters, numbers, small toys or figurines to be found (larger toys for infants and toddlers)
• Large tweezers for kids can be used to pick up items hidden in the rice

Skills

• Sensory skills
• Math skills
• Science skills
• Cognitive skills
• Fine motor skills
• Eye hand coordination
• Visual perception skills
• Imaginative play
• Dramatic play

Supplies

• Balloon
• Water
• Dinosaur figurine
• Large tweezers, tongs, water droppers, warm water, salt (optional)

Instructions

1. Stretch open the top of the balloon and place the dinosaur figurine inside.
2. Fill up the balloon with water and tie the top.
3. Place the water balloon in the freezer overnight.
4. Take the frozen water balloon out of the freezer and carefully remove the balloon.
5. Have fun using your imagination and problem solving skills to dissolve the ice egg and save the dinosaur.
6. This is a great activity for a hot summer day!

Adaptations or Extensions of Play

• A larger container/tupperware can be used in lieu of a balloon
• Use a large container if you would like a large block of ice
• Place letters inside of the balloon, if you would like to adapt this activity to focus on letter recognition and sounds
• Other items can be used in lieu of dinosaurs, such as rocks, gems, plastic figurines, etc

Skills

• Math and Science: experimentation with salt and warm water to melt the ice, measurement of water, flow of water, changing states
• Float/sink
• Problem solving skills
• More, less, dissolve, freeze, melt
• Pouring, dumping, squeezing
• Eye hand coordination
• Cooperation
• Imagination
• Dramatic play – save the Dinosaurs!
• Social skills
• Socioemotional skills
• Sensory skills: cold, warm, slippery, wet
• Cognitive skills
• Fine motor skills: pouring, dumping, squeezing, picking up objects with tongs or large tweezers

Note: By using their hand muscles children will further develop their pincer grasp and hand muscles – all necessary for holding a pencil and writing ✍️

Supplies

• Shallow bin/tray
• Frog figurines
• Lily pads (can be purchased or made out of green craft foam)
• Water beads

Instructions

1. Fill a shallow bin or tray with water.
2. Toss in the frogs and lily pads.
3. Water beads can be used as frog eggs.
4. Allow children to explore the frog habitat and life cycle through play.

Adaptations or Extensions of Play

• Parents and educators can utilize this opportunity to discuss the habitat and life cycle of frogs
• Teach scientific terms and language such as eggs/spawn, tadpole, gills, adult and frog
• Include a book on frogs
• Give children a small fish net to catch the frogs
• Foam numbers can be used to match the frogs to corresponding numbers
• Add any play set to water to create a new and exciting learning opportunity

Skills

• Sensory: wet, warm and cool
• Fine motor: as they pick up and play with small items
• Gross motor
• Eye hand coordination
• Pouring
• Dumping
• Squeezing
• Stirring
• Math: More/less empty/full, many/few
• Problem solving: Will this object float? sink?
• Making hypothesis: I think this will sink
• Socioemotional skills: Relaxing, calming, an opportunity for conversation
• Language: An opportunity for new vocabulary – eggs/spawn, tadpole, gills, adult and frog
• Story telling skills and small world play and more
• Social skills
• Imagination!