These activities are intended to encourage our children to think strategically. To become expert, you need to think ahead, test and modify your tactics as you go along. ******************************************* MULINELLO QUADRUPIO This board game from the late Roman empire, originated around 5th or 6th century AD and was discovered in street excavations. It’s similar in concept to noughts… Read More
This activity is an opportunity for our children to strengthen their ability to visualize. Visualization is required in two ways. First, our children must plan ahead so as not to leave impossible spaces. Second, they must try to turn each piece in their ”mind’s eye” to decide which is needed for a particular gap. COVER… Read More
Many of our children enjoy working on puzzles. They can be easily motivated to adopt learning strategies that will improve their puzzle-solving skills. These puzzles require patience… try working as a team. ************************************ Puzzle with the Digits 1-8 ********************************** How Many Triangles Are There?
We are all like trees: our spines, trunks and our skin, bark. Our hearts give us strength and support, like heartwood. We are fueled by air and sun. Like humans, trees are social. They “talk” to spread information; they share food and resources. They shelter and take care of one another. They are stronger together. ***************************… Read More
When we look for patterns, we notice what changes and what stays the same from one picture to the next. Drawing or building the pattern helps us think about what comes next! Support your children’s thinking by working together using drawings and/or colored blocks. ********************************************* What do you notice? Discussion suggestions The pattern starts with 1… Read More
What’s on the other side of the forest? A young rabbit and his father are determined to find out. The villagers share their curiosity and the longing to know the unknown. They all find the ultimate answer to the question: what is on the other side of the forest? Someone like themselves. They are not alone…. Read More
This game is an opportunity to help our children practice identifying shapes and combining shapes to make new shapes. It is also, of course, practice in being strategic in game playing. ********************************** FILL IT FIRST ! – A Family Game OBJECT OF THE GAME Players take turns spinning the spinner and coloring in shapes on their… Read More
The friendship between this unlikely pair of buddies shines from the first lines of this story. They are a team! They see each others’ good qualities, and when they make mistakes, there is no blame – they help each other out. ******************************* SLOTH & SQUIRREL IN A PICKLE Cathy Ballou – Author Kelly Collier – Illuistrator… Read More
When we look for patterns, we notice what changes and what stays the same from one picture to the next. Drawing or building the pattern helps us think about what comes next. ******************************* What Comes Next? Circles & Triangles What do you notice? What do you wonder? What comes next? Show or tell what the next… Read More
Good thinkers collaborate and communicate. These problems are ideal to work on with a partner. If we encourage our children to work in pairs or small groups and share ideas, they may learn to recognize that two heads can be better than one. *********************************** SORTING SHAPES Age 5 to 7 Challenge Level Sara and Will were… Read More
