Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Teaching Inside, Outside, and On

Simple Games, Activities and Strategies to Teach Kids the Concepts of Inside, Outside and On

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There are many pre-math concepts that need to be taught. Of these concepts, INSIDE, OUTSIDE, and ON are important. Kids need to understand placement and location of objects and understand the meaning of these words to help them understand directions later in their learning. Try these activities with kids to ensure they have a sound understanding of the words inside, outside and on.

Game of Inside, Outside and On the Circle

Teaching Kids Inside Outside and On with Games

Inside Outside and On 1. With masking tape place a large circle on the floor.

2. Begin by standing inside the circle. Tell the child you are in the circle. Step outside the circle, telling the child that you are now outside the circle. Step on the perimeter of the circle. Tell the child you are now “on” the circle.

3. Repeat by having the child stand in the circle. Tell them they are inside. Have them step out of the circle and tell them they are outside the circle. Have them step on the perimeter of the circle and tell them they are on the circle.

4. Have them play Simon says and tell you inside, outside, or on the circle. Do as they instruct and move in, out or on the circle as they tell you to do.

5. Reverse roles and play Simon says again. You instruct the child to move inside, outside or on the circle.

Draw a Picture to Teach Inside, Outside and On

Teaching Inside, Outside and On to Kids

Teaching Inside Outside and On Help your child draw a face. Begin by drawing a circle. Ask the child where the eyes belong. Praise their correct answer and direct them if they answer incorrectly. Ask the child if the location of the eyes is inside our outside of the circle. Again, praise correct answers and teach if the answer is incorrect. Repeat with the mouth and nose, asking the child if it is inside or outside the circle. When making the hair and ears, show the child that they are ON the circle. Draw an object such as a tree or a sun outside the circle. Talk to the child about where this object is located.

Children Learn Through Play

Teaching Kids at Home

Teaching Kids at Home Children learn through play. Each day as they explore the world around them, they are learning! Pushing children into an academic setting too quickly can squash their enthusiasm for learning. Make learning interesting for your child with Play-Smart. You’ll find lots of ideas for helping your child learn while they are having fun!
 
 

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Teaching Sense of Smell to Kids | Learning the 5 Senses




Learning Sense of Smell

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Teaching the five senses usually begins in preschool and Kindergarten. These concepts will be used later in scientific discovery as kids explore various attributes of objects in the world around them. Before they can begin observing and documenting facts about the world, they need to understand the five sense they use for observation and how those senses work.

Learning about our sense of smell can be fun! Children usually enjoy putting their nose to work and talking about what they discover through their sense of smell. Here are some fun activities to teach sense of smell to kids.




Activities to Teach Smell to Kids

Teaching Kids Sense of Smell and Having Fun Doing It!


1. Ask what part of your body is used to smell. If the child does not identify "nose" as the answer, simply tell them. Model smelling with your nose by sniffing something fragrant. Let them smell it too.

2. Walk around smelling anything aromatic that you can find, discussing what you are smelling and whether the smell is pleasant or unpleasant. Ask the child to describe the smell. Write your observations down in a notebook.

3. Gather several strong smelling household items. Without the child watching, place the items individually into a paper bag. Ask the child to identify the smell inside the bag without peaking. Play this game with several items asking often what part of your body you use to smell.



Other Ideas for Teaching 5 Senses to Kids

More Ideas to Teach After Sense of Smell

Teaching the other senses: hearing, touch, sight and taste.

Teaching Long and Short to Kids


Long and Short

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Long and short are preschool and kindergarten math concepts that children need to grasp in order to compare objects later. Here are some ideas to help a child learn the comparison words: long and short and how to apply these concepts to daily life. For kids who are struggling in trying to understand these concepts, books read frequently comparing long and short often help.


Photo by Cardivonius.

Comparing Length

Teaching a Child About Long and Short


1. Place two crayons of equal length horizontally on a table. Explain that the crayons are the same length.

2. Next, cut a straw into multiple length pieces. (One 3 inch pieces, two 4 inch piece, and one 5 inch piece works well.)Ensure at least 2 pieces are equal lengths.

3. Lay them out horizontally on the table. Ask the child to look at the straws. Ask the child if two pieces are the same length. See if the child can identify the straws that are the same length. If not, tell the child which are the same.

4. Remove the 3 inch straws from the table.

5. On two index cards, write the words "long," and "short." Place the index card labeled, "short" under the 3 inch straw. Place the card labeled long under the 5 inch straw. Point to the cards and read each to the child.

6. Ask the child to identify the "long" straw and "short" straw.

7. Repeat this with other objects around the house that are long and short, such as strings, people, and toys. If you feel the child can answer a question as to which object is "longer," or "shorter," then ask the child to identify that object. If the child is struggling, or you don't feel they are ready to answer the question. Keep pointing out long and short objects until they have a better grasp of the concept.

8. Read books about long and short to your child for reinforcement of the concept.