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Activity Suggestions

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Picnics

Picnics can be useful for teaching children various concepts. Start your class with a picnic with your learners. Beforehand, ask families to send something healthy for the picnic. Set up the scene outside the classroom. If the school has a green area, that's even better. During the activity, discuss the importance of a healthy diet and present the food they brought from home. You can also explore the five senses and the parts of the face.

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Materials

  • Picnic tablecloth

  • food learners from home

Detectives in the garden

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Children love going outside the classroom to explore, and they enjoy searching for bugs in the garden and observing them. To begin the class you can create magnifying glasses with them. You can find many ideas on YouTube (check video in the right for a suggestion).  Take the learners to the garden or a green area at your school. In advance, place some flashcards or toy bugs around the garden. Instruct them to search for these bugs, using their magnifying glasses as if they were real detectives. After some time, gather the learners and explore with them. When you find a bug, pause and examine it with them. . You can discuss how the bugs move, the parts of their bodies, the colors and count the numbers of bugs.

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Materials

  • pieces of plastic

  • colored sheets of paper

  • markers, crayons or colored pencils

  • scissors

  • glue or staples

  • magnifying glass template

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Heuristic play

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Heuristic Play

Heuristic play is a type of child-centered learning that involves offering children a variety of everyday objects to explore and discover independently. This approach is popular in Montessori and Waldorf educational methods, as it supports sensory development, problem-solving, fine motor skills, and creativity. It encourages children to learn through self-directed, open-ended play. 

Heuristic play activities promote sensory exploration, fine motor development, problem-solving, and creative thinking while allowing children to follow their interests and curiosity. Remember to supervise children during these activities to ensure their safety.

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Materials

  • Picnic tablecloth

  • food learners from home

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Natural Objects: Provide children with items from nature, such as pinecones, shells, stones, or leaves. They can explore the textures, shapes, and sizes of these objects.

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Wooden Blocks: Wooden blocks of different sizes and shapes allow children to build, stack, and experiment with balance and structure.

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Sensory Trays: Fill shallow containers with materials like sand, rice, water beads, or pasta. Children can dig, pour, and explore textures.

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Kitchen Utensils: Offer kitchen items like wooden spoons, measuring cups, or pastry brushes. Children can use them for scooping, stirring, and making creative play.

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Fabrics: Provide a variety of fabrics with different textures, colors, and patterns. Children can drape, wrap, or create with them.

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Loose Parts: Small, loose parts like buttons, shells, beads, and small wooden pieces allow children to manipulate, sort, and create.

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Water Play: Offer basins of water with containers and objects for pouring, scooping, and experimenting with buoyancy.

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Mirror Play: Set up mirrors for self-discovery and exploring reflections.

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Light and Shadow: Use light sources and objects to create intriguing shadows and light patterns.

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Exploring Nature: Take children on nature walks to observe and collect natural materials like leaves, sticks, and flowers.

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Children love to help in the kitchen! Prepare the ingredients beforehand. Ask learners to wash their hands and then take them to the kitchen. Create a bear-shaped toast before the class, so you can use it as a model. Show the learners your model and encourage them to build their own bear toasts. Let them be creative! During the activity you can explore various topics such as, animals, mammals, bear habitats, what bears eat, parts of the face, healthy food, and more.

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Do not forget to check for allergies before the day of the activity.

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Materials

  • bread

  • bananas

  • grapes or raisins

  • honey or peanut butter

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