FREE Learning Activities Archives - Page 2 of 3

5 FREE Apple-Themed Invitations to Play

By Melissa Droegemueller | August 25, 2017 | Comments 0 Comment

Fall is my FAVORITE season! The weather is cooling down, the leaves on the trees are changing colors, and pumpkin-spice is about to take over the world for the next few months. I have been SO happy pinning fall-themed activities and dreaming about Halloween costumes for the girls.

But first, I want to share five FUN, free, EASY apple-themed kids activities.

Five FREE Apple-Themed Kids Activities (Toddlers and Preschoolers) | tot school, preschool at home, learning at home, tactile activities, wahm kids

Scroll down for our freebie!

More apple fun:

Grab our “Best Apple Books for Kids” list.
Learn more about apple-picking with your family.

In case you missed the introduction to our invitation to play series (click here), let me give you a brief introduction to how we structure these fun, simple activities at our house.

Maybe you are a homeschooling family looking for some play-based learning ideas for your toddler or preschooler.
Or you are spending the lots of time inside with your children due weather.
It could be you are a WAHM searching for a quick activity that will engage your little one while you send an e-mail or film a FB live video.

An invitation to play is an easy, open-ended activity that uses just a few materials found around the house. Keeping these learning activities set aside for special times keeps them interesting and intentionally engaging for when you need 10-15 minutes to get something else done! Best of all, these simple materials can be mixed and matched for countless other activities throughout the year.

This week, I have a freebie for you: a download with FIVE simple invitations to play, including a materials list!

picture of a toddler moving apples from one bowl to another with a spoon

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the skills found in our apple-themed kids activities:

Color sorting
Object transferring
Bead stringing
LOTS and LOTS of learning through open-ended play

Be sure to download the freebie for lots of modifications and extension ideas!

Just fill out this quick form to let me know you want the freebie!

Melissa @ Rolling Prairie Readers

Don’t forget to share this freebie with your friends. Hit the Facebook button below or pin this image:

two apple-themed activities for toddlers and preschoolers

Solar Eclipse Tips and Resources for Kids

By Melissa Droegemueller | August 16, 2017 | Comments 0 Comment

If you’re like me, your newsfeed is FULL of news and updates about the upcoming U.S. solar eclipse on Monday, August 21^st. There’s a lot of information out there, so I wanted to grab the “best of the best” for all of you to peruse quickly before Monday.

We like to use major events like these to pique our girls’ interest in new ideas (like the solar system!) and go deeper in our learning while interest is high.

What is a solar eclipse, and why is it such a big deal?

This video from SciShow Kids explains it perfectly!

How can I watch it (safely)?

If you live in this zone, you’ll be able to see some or all of the eclipse in your own yard!

Map of the 2017 solar eclipse, courtesy of NASA — Source: NASA

If you’re not able to see it outside, be sure to check out this live stream!

Know the Risks, Don’t Peek!

Note: Some scientists are disputing Dr. Schecter’s post, so use caution and make the best decision for your family.

Helpful Idea to Try with Kids:

Other Ways to Watch the Solar Eclipse:

Make a pinhole projector.
Make a cereal box viewer.
Make a pinhole viewer.
Make a diaper box viewer (or use a similarly-sized box!).

Learn more about the solar system with these great solar eclipse resources!

More Solar Eclipse Activities:

If your kids are like mine, they will likely be talking about the eclipse for days (or weeks!). Take advantage of their excitement to learn more about the sun AND take some time to preserve their memories of the day.

2017 Solar Eclipse Kid’s Questionnaire
Mystery Science FREE Lesson
Inspiration Laboratories has a FUN activity for kinesthetic and visual learners!

(Reminder: Rolling Prairie Readers uses affiliate links at no additional cost to you. You can see our full disclosure policy here.)

Book Recommendations:

My girls LOVE to read, so I always try to have a few non-fiction books available about the topic we’re studying. Visit your local library, or add a few new books to your collection. We have not found many eclipse-specific books, but are using the experience to learn more about the solar system in general. I recommend these five great books:

100 Things to Spot in the Night Sky from Usborne Books & More — Technically not a book, but a box of information cards.

Additional Resources:

NASA has set up a homeschool section on their solar eclipse website, including family activities and lesson plans for all ages.
I will continue to update this post as new resources become available!

5 Free Invitations to Play: Red, White, and Blue

By Melissa Droegemueller | June 26, 2017 | Comments 0 Comment

It’s hard to believe that we are already in the middle of summer! If your kids are anything like my kids, the bickering has started and you are on the hunt for simple, FUN activities too keep their hands and minds busy for at least part of the day.

I am excited to share our all-new red, white, and blue invitations to play!

Scroll down for our freebie!

In case you missed the introduction to our invitation to play series (click here), let me give you a brief introduction to how we structure these fun, simple activities at our house.

Lunch has ended, it’s raining outside, and you’re looking for a screen-free way to fill up some time so you can send an e-mail, unload the dishwasher, or (gasp!) read a book without being interrupted.

An invitation to play is an easy, open-ended activity that uses just a few materials found around the house. Keeping these activities set aside for special times keeps them interesting and intentionally engaging for when you need 10-15 minutes to get something else done! Best of all, these simple materials can be mixed and matched for countless other activities throughout the year.

This week, I have a freebie for you: a download with FIVE simple invitations to play, including a materials list!

Here’s a sneak peek at the activities:

Drop cut straw pieces into an empty Parmesan cheese container
Playdough* with colored gems & straw pieces
Sorting red & blue pom poms by color
Count pom poms and match to Uno cards (1-9)
Lace red and blue noodles* on a string

* Be sure to download the freebie for our favorite playdough recipe AND directions for dyeing noodles.

Just click here to access our freebie!

Melissa @ Rolling Prairie Readers

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