Fun in the sun! This week we are spending a whole lot of time outdoors since it is SO nice. We will be planting, finding worms for the chickens and playing. The activities for the week are ALL outdoor themed.
Math Activity
We are going to put the numbers from our alphabet mat to good use by taking them outside. Both boys love playing with these so they will have fun throwing them around and I’ll see if Joe can put them in order and use them for counting. For example, I’ll ask him to answer a “how many” question by showing me the foam number.
Language Activity
Joe pulled out the ping pong alphabet game yesterday and we spent about 30 minutes playing. He has his own way of playing. Instead of putting the letter balls in the matching toilet paper rolls, he ‘bowls’ the rolls over. His aim is really pretty good.
I think this activity incorporating the book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt sounds like tons of fun. I’ll have to rework it a bit and tailor it to the boys, but they both absolutely love that book so I know it will be a hit. We’ll go on our own little hunt through our swales, the barn and the gardens. Maybe we’ll incorporate the mulch pile.
“Uh oh! Mulch…a big pile of mulch!
We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it
Oh no! We’ve got to go through it!”
Science Activity
Joe was really in to coloring eggs this year. After we were done, he asked about every 5 minutes if they were dry yet so we could ‘crack’ them. Jacob decided that he wanted to see what was inside so he just smashed one in his hands.
This week we are going to make seed bombs – a small clump full of wildflower seeds that the kids can just chuck into the weeds, garden or wherever they want. We already have the wildflower mix and compost so all we’ll need to get is the clay.
Mix 5 parts clay with 1 part compost and 1 part seeds. Add a couple of drops of water and knead. Once mixed, roll into a ball, flatten it out and cut into pieces. Roll the smaller pieces into little balls.
I’m going to give them to the kids one at a time because I know that Joe, and Jake too, will just grab a handful and put them all in the same spot.
Bible Study/Craft
The stained glass crosses were a lot of fun. Both boys loved playing with the ripped up tissue paper and they look so pretty on our sliding glass door.
This week, we’ll be singing bible songs and, as I mentioned, planting seeds. We’ll read The Parable of the Growing Seed, Mark 4:26-29:
Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”
Since I’ve already planted some seeds that are sprouting, we’ll be able to see the ‘first leaf blade’ pushing through.
As summer approaches, more and more of our activities will be spontaneous…and spontaneity leads to the best kind of fun.
a pinch of homestead 