For our science field trip, parents and children all pretended driving to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland, and played lots of games in the car during their trips (see Chesapeake Bank – General posting). The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center has lots of educational programs for adults, teachers and school students. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27t9j3xdx98 We pretended parking our cars and entering the center. The staff greeted us and escorted us to the docks where a boat was waiting for us. Some of us had our snorkeling gear to explore the oyster reef. Let’s pretend putting them on……
Science
Where Pearls do come from? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1M68UofTAw After viewing the video, discuss with your child how you could see a pearl and other gems. I have pearl earrings and a necklace that I usually bring to my class.
As a special activities, if you have plastic or wooden beads, your child could put beads on a string following a pattern (or not). You could also use cherries, buttons, nuts, …
If your child has a journal, help your child to find a picture of a pearl or glue a bead that you can label and date.
As another fun activity, your child could start a collection of shiny rocks in an egg carton that he/she can find outside during walks. Have a great adventure!
Kitchen Science
For oyster snack time, help your child to find two round cookies, icing/yogurt/cream cheese, and a marshmallow or a skittle. Have your child cover one round cookie with icing and put the marshmallow in the middle. Cover with the second cookie. Yummy oyster cookie!
Language Arts
Another book from Suzanne Tate is Pearlie Oyster. A Tale of an Amazing Oyster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O82JGFUL3o After viewing the book, help your child to sequence the story: what came first, next and what happened at the end.
There is also an underlying theme in the book: friendship and perseverance. You might want to start a discussion of what is a friend for your child and what is a friend for you.
Another oyster story by another Marylander, Elaine Ann Allen, called Olly’s Treasure.
Oyster starts with uppercase O. Let’s practice uppercase O with this tracing page https://twistynoodle.com/uppercase-letter-o-3-coloring-page/
O was an Ossified Oyster Poem https://www.dltk-teach.com/alphabuddies/songs/o/wells-zooo.htm
”Five Little Oysters” Song (Tune of “Ten in a bed”)
There were 5 little oysters all comfy in a bed
And the littlest one said “I’m squished. Could you please roll over?”
Then they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were 4 little oysters….
There were 3 little oysters….
There were 2 little oysters….
There was one little oysters….
There was no little oysters…
She sells Seashells Singalong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8SygZRf9tw
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.
Match the Shapes Review Worksheet https://www.greatschools.org/gk/worksheets/match-the-blocks/
For Pearl Color Matching Game, you need (1) seashells (oyster shells), (2) color pompons, and (3) color markers. Have your child color the inside of the shells with one color. Ask your child to match the color inside the shell to a color pompons.
Art
For this art project, you need (1) a paper plate, (2) pink and blue paint, (3) a brush, (4) a white cotton ball, (5) glue, and (6) maybe glitter.
Have your child paint one side of the paper plate pink for the inside of the oyster and the other side blue for the outside. You can also sprinkle glitter on the outside to make it shiny! Once dry, fold the paper plate into 2. Glue the white cotton ball in the center. Here is a picture https://www.thingstoshareandremember.com/ocean-commotion-oyster-pearls-preschool-craft/
Other craft:
Coffee Filter Oyster Craft http://elaineannallen.com/easy-oyster-craft/
Egg Carton Oyster Craft https://www.craftymorning.com/egg-carton-oyster-kids-craft/
Small Motor Skills
Above, On, Below Worksheet https://www.greatschools.org/gk/worksheets/above-on-below/
Match the Blocks Worksheet https://www.greatschools.org/gk/worksheets/match-the-blocks/
Color the Shape that is Different https://twistynoodle.com/color-the-shape-that-is-different-coloring-page/
Gross Motor Skills
The game is called Shape Hunt outdoors or indoors. Print the shapes and taped a shape on a container like a bucket. Place the many containers in different places in your yard or in a large room. Call out a shape. Ask you child to find the shape and run as fast as possible to the container with the shape on it. Your child will have fun to run from shape to shape!