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Outdoor Summer Fun
One great thing about the warm weather is the opportunity to get outside and play. While running, skipping. and hopping are great fun and very healthy, there are plenty of ways to add some literacy learning into outside play. Below are two activities that help reinforce literacy concepts while incorporating play and fun!
Outdoor Alphabet Matching
You Will Need:
• Foam or plastic letters
• Outside chalk
• Large bucket or container
• Bug catching net or a strainer with a handle
Directions:
1. Using Chalk, write the alphabet on a sidewalk or driveway. The alphabet can be written in upper case, lowercase, or both.
2. Fill the bucket with water and drop the foam or plastic letters in.
3. Using the bug net or strainer have your child “fish” for letters.
4. Have your child match the letters they catch with the written chalk letters.
5. When they match a letter, talk about what sound it makes and discuss words that start with that letter or have the letter in it.
This post has been adapted from I Can Teach My Child.
Sight Word Puddle Jumping
You Will Need:
• 9 paper plates
• Paint brush or sponge
• Jumbo black marker
• Blue paint
• Foam or plastic letters
• Painter’s/masking or other heavy duty tape
• Optional: rainy day clothing (rain boots, umbrella, etc.)
Directions:
1. Have your child paint the paper plates with the paint brush or sponge.
2. Once plates are dry, use the black marker to write any words, letters, or numbers your child is learning. These will be your puddles.
3. Using painter’s tape, tape the puddles to either a driveway or a sidewalk. Make sure they are close enough together that your child can jump from one to another, but far enough apart so that it is fun!
4. Shout out some of the words, letters, or numbers, and have your child jump to the corresponding puddle.
5. While on a word, have your child use the word in the sentence or explain what the word means. If it is a letter, have them name a word that begins with that letter.
5. Once your child has matched with the puddles, switch it up. Have them jump to whichever puddle they choose and then shout out whatever is written on it.
This post has been adapted from Fantastic Fun and Learning.