| ACTIVITIES FOR "BIG KIDS" (5 YEARS AND ER) |
| EXPRESS YOUR HEALTH!™ (Part 1) |
| This is a great activity sheet from CDC (www.cdc.gov) that includes a maze on hand washing and a word search on staying safe. |
 Click on the picture on the right to open the activity sheet. It will open in a new window.
Note:
 This document is in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access the file. If you do not have the Acrobat Reader, you may download a free copy from the Adobe Web site.
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| LETTER OF THE DAY |
| This activity is a fun and creative way to really learn those letters! You can use any or all of the ideas listed below, or make up your own as you go. |
| What You Need |
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Various objects beginning with the same letter
Food items (e.g., fruits, vegetables, etc.) beginning with the same letter |
| What to Do |
| In the morning, announce that this day will be all about one letter (The Day of the Letter P, for example)
Ask your child to find and point at objects beginning with the selected letter (e.g., a plane, plant, plate, etc.) throughout the day
Suggest to draw a picture of something beginning with that letter
Serve food beginning with the letter of the day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (for example, peas, potatoes, pasta, etc.). If you can't think of any food items starting with a particular letter, use a recipe starting with that letter, or simply cut some letter shapes out of red peppers or other vegetables and serve them on the side |
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| OOBLECK |
| Oobleck is a fictional form of green precipitation invented by children's author Dr. Seuss in the book Bartholomew and the Oobleck. The word has since been used to describe a weird substance - it is liquid yet solid. This very messy activity is sure to
fascinate anyone! |
| What You Need |
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1 cup cornstarch
1/3 cup water
5 to 7 drops food coloring(optional) |
| What to Do |
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Mix water and food coloring together. Slowly add cornstarch. Do not stir. Let the mixture stand for 1 to 2 minutes. Pick a handful of the oobleck up and squeeze it until it forms a hard ball. Open your hand and the oobleck will turn from a solid back into a liquid. If it gets too dry after awhile, just add a bit more water.
Note that oobleck contains no preservatives and is therefore perishable. |
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| EXPRESS YOUR HEALTH!™ (Part 2) |
| This is another fun and educational activity sheet from CDC (www.cdc.gov) that includes word scramblers on physical activities and a word search on healthy eating. |
 Click on the picture on the right to open the activity sheet. It will open in a new window.
Note:
This document is in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access the file. If you do not have the Acrobat Reader, you may download a free copy from the Adobe Web site.
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| PUZZLE TREASURE HUNT |
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This is a variation of a traditional treasure hunt. For younger children, use just one or two puzzles with the minimum number of pieces. For older children, you can add an extra puzzle or two, depending on how long you want the search process to be. |
| What You Need |
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Several small (9-12 pieces) puzzles
A treasure (can be a birthday gift, or a prize if several teams are competing)
Small boxes |
| What to Do |
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Put the puzzles together, flip them over, and write clues on the back of each puzzle (with each clue leading to the location of the next puzzle)
Take the puzzles apart, and put each puzzle in a separate box
Hide the boxes and the "treasure"
Let the search begin! |
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| THE HAPPY EARTH DAY |
| This is an 11-page coloring book from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov) full of tips for making the Earth a better place |
 Click on the picture on the left to open the activity sheet. It will open in a new window.
Note:
This document is in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access the file. If you do not have the Acrobat Reader, you may download a free copy from the Adobe Web site. |
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| SLIME |
| What You Need |
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1 cup of soap flakes (you can grate a bar of mild soap, such as Ivory)
1/2 gallon (about 8 cups) of warm water
A wide, open container
Cups, sponges, plastic bottles, funnels, etc. |
| What to Do |
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Mix the grated soap with water
Allow the mixture to stand until it thickens and becomes slimy
Beat the mixture with a fork to make it froth
Pour it in a wide, open containers
Give your child the cups, sponges, funnels, etc., and let the fun begin!
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| PUFFY PAINTING |
The paint used for this activity will puff up when you cook it in the microwave!
Caution: Adult supervision required |
| What You Need |
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1 tablespoon of self-rising flour
1 tablespoon of salt
Food coloring (3-4 colors)
Small containers
Thick paper or cardboard |
| What to Do |
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Mix all the ingredients and add water until you get a smooth paste (use one container for each color)
Let your child use these paints to paint something on the cardboard
Microwave the painting for about 10 seconds or until the paint is dry
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