Optional: sand toys, small shovel, truck, water, etc.
Instructions
This activity is so simple, simply allow your child to play in the sand and use their imagination.
Children learn through play and playing with sand is the perfect learning opportunity.
Adaptations
Use a twig to draw shapes, lines and pictures. This is perfect for developing prewriting skills. Older children can further develop their writing skills by writing words.
Encourage small world play by including figurines (animals in the dessert, dinosaurs, etc).
Adding water to the mix allows children to make structures, bridges over water, etc.
Skills
Fine motor
Eye/hand coordination
Sensory
Socialization
Language
Creative
Science: when combined with water, see the sand change states (dry to wet)
Math: volume (ie. transferring the sand contents from one bucket to a bigger or smaller bucket)
Develop sensory skills and learn about different textures.
Newspaper (or any easy to tear papers that you wish to recycle)
Instructions
Tell your child that this is special paper that we can have fun tearing up before we recycle it.
Demonstrate tearing off small pieces of newspaper. Comment on the sizes “Wow, you’re tearing off a BIG piece of paper.”
Throw the pieces in the air! Crumple pieces into balls! Have fun!
Set aside a clean bin that your child can use to help clean up all the papers at the end. You may also show them how to dump the bin into your paper recycling bin. Hint: They may wish to even watch the recycling truck pick up the paper in garbage day!
Skills
Fine motor
Social when completed with friends or caregiver
Language: big, small, lots, little, tear
Tip:
This is a great activity for redirecting a child who is tearing pages in their books. Gently redirect them to “special tearing paper”.
The remarkable true story of William Kamkwamba. William was a 14 year old boy living in the village of Malawi when his village experienced a devastating drought.
Unfortunately, Williams parents could no longer afford his school tuition and he was unable to continue attending school.
William refused to give up on education and attended the library daily to read books. Through dedication and reading he educated himself on electricity.
William persevered through the challenges presented and built a windmill out of scraps. He brought electricity to his family home.
Written by the incredible William Kamkwamba and best selling author Bryan Mealer.
Illustrated by the very talented Elizabeth Zunan. Elizabeth has described her work as being largely influenced by the people, places, and things from her childhood in the Ivory Coast as the product of two cultures.
Brings awareness to poverty, hunger and access to education in an age appropriate manner.
Inspires us to recognize the challenges that surround us and ignites the desire to improve our circumstances.
Empowers us to have the confidence to make a difference, even young people can make a big difference in the world.
Encourages curiosity and inspires us to learn something new.
Inspires us to persevere through challenges.
We love that this book inspires young minds to be creative and encourages self-empowerment.
Skills
Perseverance
Resilience
Imagination
Empathy
Caring
Self-empowerment
Entrepreneurship
Helping your community
Value of education
The beautiful illustrations captivate the children’s attention and interest.
zubyandbeans.ca 