Have you ever taken a vacation around the Chesapeake Bay, in Saint Michaels or Annapolis, our state capital? Or have you been on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on your way to Ocean City, Rehobeth Beach, Bethany Beach, or Chincoteage?
What are the games you play on a road trip with your child(ren)? (You can pretend going on a road trip with your child by setting up a couple of chairs to build a car.)
1. Cars: Each player chooses a color and count how many cars of that color you He/she can see. If you play with siblings, which player has the most cars?
2. I spy with my little eyes…. Describe something you see with words without saying its name and your child(ren)’s goal is to guess its name. Each player takes a turn.
3. Alphabet: Take turns with your child(ren) going through the alphabet. Each player must find the next letter either from something in the car (like the stereo screen) or license plates, or road signs.
4. Story: One player says a word that begins a story. Take turns adding one word/idea onto the story and see how long your story can be!
We All Go Traveling By audiobook by Barefoot Book https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSw50Jw0H34
Science
The Chesapeake Bay is a big body of water and is about 200 miles long. You can find it on the map of Maryland. Show your child a map and talk about roads. Explain that maps help people go places. Decide with your child What type of map you would like to draw: a map of your house, to your friend’s house, to the playground, to the park, of your neighborhood, of the road to your grocery store, …..
If your child has a journal, draw or glue a map in it that you can label and date.
Language Arts
Suzanne Tate is Originally from the Outer Banks. Her children’s Nature Series includes over 35 books illustrated by local artist, James Melvin. Her books introduce children to all types of marine life, birds, flora and fauna found on the Outer Banks that you can also find in the Chesapeake Bay region.
We will explore some of her creations. Here is Salty Seagull. A Tale of an Old Salt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgkW-RSOdSs
There is also Johnny Longlegs. A Tale of Big Birds by Suzanne Tate (I could not find a video)
After viewing the book, help your child to sequence the book: what happened first, next and at the end? The book also touches the theme of trust. You can talk with your child who he/her can trust and listen to.
We sang this funny rhyming song many times in the classroom:
“Down by the Bay” Song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAjhLexlrDc)
Chesapeake Bay Coloring Page https://www.coloringnature.org/coloring_page/chesapeake-bay-animals-labeled/
Another song: “So Long Seagulls!” (Tune of “Down by the Station”)
Down by the estuary early in the morning.
See the flocks of seagulls all in a row.
See them flap their wings and fly toward the bay.
Flap, flap! Caw, caw! Off they go!
Uppercase Letter S (remember to start at the top) https://twistynoodle.com/uppercase-letter-s-4-coloring-page/
Another bird story by Suzanne Tate: Perky Pelican. A Tale of a Lively Bird by Suzanne Tate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFstau8FaAM
Math
May is a new month and your child needs a new calendar. Print this calendar set https://www.themailbox.com/magazines/may-calendar-setbr4-pages/may-calendar-set and have your child choose a pattern to follow for the new month.
Counting and rhyming are fun! ! Cut five raindrop shapes out of paper to felt. Help your child to count the raindrops forward and backward while rhyming.
Five little raindrops, up in a cloud,
Are ready to jump; their mothers are so proud.
The first one jumped and said, “Hurray!”
As she fell down to the bay.
The second one said, “I can do that!”
As he closed his eyes and landed on a bat.
The third one said, “I’m ready too!”
So she held her nose and jumped through the blue.
The fourth one said, “I’m set to go!”
As he jumped, then fell far below.
The fifth one said, “I’m all alone!”
As she jumped down on her own.
Five little raindrops now can rest.
Each has passed the jumping test.
Art
For this art project, you need (1) a paper plate, (2) scissors, (3) orange construction paper or pipe cleaner (feet/beak), (4) black/orange markers, and (5) grey paint with brush.
Help your child trace the seagull’s head and cut around it and fold the wings. Have him/her paint the wings grey, use the black marker to color the eyes and the orange to color the beak. Cut the pipe cleaner into two and shape feet and legs or cut legs/feet out of orange construction paper.
Small Motor Skills
Seagull Coloring Pages http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/birds/seagulls
Count the Birds Coloring Page https://twistynoodle.com/count-the-birds-coloring-page/
Connect the Dots Seagull http://www.connectthedots101.com/worksheet/6791-California-Seagull-walk-dot-to-dot
Gross Motor Skills
Here is a video of what seagulls do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHVWPJl4aYc
Help your child pretend he/she is a seagull and do the movement of flying, gliding, swimming, jumping, Stomping …