Recognizing our commitment to children's education, Ready, Set, Learn airs every Friday morning during Good Morning Erie on WJET-TV 24.
October 2, 2009
On the first Friday of every month, Ready Set Learn focuses on the healthy development of our youngest children - infants and toddlers. While we know that the development of a young child's brain takes years to complete, we also know there are many things parents and caregivers can do to help children get off to a good start for life-long learning. And thanks to a partnership with Success By Six, here is a great hands-on activity for parents and children to do together.
Stop 'N' Go!
What You Need:
-Paper towel roll
-Construction paper
-Tape or glue
-Scissors
-Marker
-Paper plates
-Stapler
What You Do:
-Put two large paper plates together with their bottoms facing outward and space between the plates
-Staple them together several times along the edge leaving only a 3 inch opening
-Cut an octagon out of red construction paper
-Cut an octagon out of green construction paper
-Write "Stop" on the red octagon and "Go" on the green octagon
-Glue or tape the red octagon on one side of the paper plates and the green octagon on the other side
-Slide the paper towel roll inside the paper plates through the 3 inch opening
-Play "Red Light, Green Light"
Suggested Reading:
-Red, Stop! Green, Go! by P.D. Eastman
October 9, 2009
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie...
What You Need:
-Dominos
What You Do:
-Set up dominos in any shape you like
-Discuss chain reactions and relate them to the book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
-Knock down the first domino in your design
-Watch and see what happens
Suggested Reading:
-If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
October 16, 2009
Family literacy is about more than just words and pictures; it is about spending time together. This lesson will help you explore literacy with your child as we go on a wild safari!
Homemade Binoculars
What You Need:
-Cardboard tubes
-Markers or crayons
-Stapler
-String or yarn
-Hole punch
What You Do:
-Place two cardboard tubes side by side and staple them together in the center
-Punch a hole on one outside edge of one of the tubes and then punch another hole on the outside edge at the same end of the other tube
-Cut enough string to go all the way around your neck like a necklace
-Put one end of the string through one punched hole in the binoculars and tie a knot at the end
-Put the other end of the string through the other punched hole in the binoculars and tie a knot at the end
-Decorate the binoculars with markers, crayons, stickers, paint or anything you have around the house
-Put on your binoculars, use your imagination, and start exploring as you read the suggested book
Suggested Reading:
-Way Far Away on a Wild Safari by Jan Peck
October 23, 2009
There are so many different ways to help kids learn about leaves; however it always helps to collect some in order to do so. Leaf collecting is fun. It is also a great way to teach kids about leaves. After all, they are practically everywhere - on trees, shrubs, and flowers. Although you can collect leaves any time of the year, autumn is usually the most preferable. Leaves are already falling from trees and such, making them easier to collect. Leaves are also more colorful in autumn, from green, yellow, and orange to red, purple, and brown.
Autumn Leaves are Falling!
What You Need:
-Leaves
-Paper
-Paint
-Pencil
What You Do:
-Take your children outdoors for a nature walk. Have them collect a variety of leaves, placing them in a bag as they go.
-Encourage them to collect leaves of different sizes, shapes, and colors. Once they are finished, talk about the leaves they have collected. What trees did the leaves come from? Challenge your kids to use a tree guide from the library to identify the kind of tree from which each leaf comes.
-The kids might also enjoy making a piece of artwork from their favorite leaf. Cover a table with newspaper and have the kids wear an apron. Provide some paint and paper. Let them spread paint with their fingers or a paintbrush onto one side of the leaf. Turn the leaf over and make impressions on the paper. Hang it up to dry.
A Science Twist: Children can observe the effects of light on the color of leaves. When leaves on a tree are still green, invite your child to cover part of a leaf with aluminum foil. (Choose a tree that you know will turn bright colors.) Use masking tape to tape the foil to the leaf. Your child can sign his name on the masking tape. Wait until the leaves on the tree change color. Then remove the foil and see the colors that were in the leaf all summer!
Hands-on Art: Leaf rubbing is a fun art project. First place a leaf flat on the table. Then place a sheet of tracing paper over the leaf. Use a soft pencil or a crayon and gently rub over the tracing paper until the outline of the leaf shows through. Add additional leaves and use different colors for a nice effect.
Suggested Reading:
-Why Do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro
October 30, 2009
Halloween is a great time of year for educational fun for kids of all ages! This one requires only supplies already available around the home... plus, two hands and a foot!
Spooky Footprint Ghost!
What You Need:
-Black construction paper
-White paint
What You Do:
-Place a piece of black construction paper down on the floor
-Spread white paint on a paper plate and dip the bottom of you foot in it, covering the entire bottom
-Step onto the black construction paper
-Let paint dry
-Use paint to blob on two eyes and a mouth with your finger
Scary Handprint Bat!
What You Need:
-White paper
-Black marker
-Black paint
What You Do:
-Place a piece of sturdy white paper on a kitchen table
-Place the palm of your right hand in black paint and press this against the paper just slightly left of the center
-Repeat this with your left hand and press your left hand right next to the first one
-Wash the paint off of your hands and dry them
-Draw a circle for the bat's head between the two wings using your fingers
-Give your bat character by giving him some eyes or scary fangs if you want
Suggested Reading:
-Why Do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro
Future Lessons
Interested in submitting a lesson to be featured on Ready, Set, Learn? Email Traci Teudhope at tteudhope@wqln.org.