Activities with Kacey: Nature

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July 27, 2020

Summer activities with Kacey

Activities with Kacey: Nature

Kacey the Quality Koala and Maryland EXCELS have been sharing fun and educational activities and mealtime discussion questions for families and child care programs.

The theme of the activities below is “Nature.”

To see the latest activities and questions, visit this page or social media!

Share your activities on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtags #MarylandEXCELS and #KaceyEXCELS.

The Maryland State Department of Education’s Division of Early Childhood understands that activities described on this page and in website links are not suitable for all ages. Ultimately, all activities require adult supervision and are not endorsed by the Maryland State Department of Education or Johns Hopkins University.

Monday

A tree created on paper with paint, leaves, and flowersCreate Your Own Trees

Draw or cut out a tree trunk with branches from a piece of paper. Take a walk and find leaves, grass, sticks, and flowers. If you can’t get outside, draw, cut out natural elements from paper or a magazine. Glue or tape the items to decorate your tree branches. Be creative! Share your pictures with us on social media. Four leaves in various shades of red and green lined up next to each other

Mealtime discussion question: Why do leaves change colors? Why do trees lose their leaves in the fall?

Tuesday

A pinecone, twig from a fir tree, rocks, and pebblesSensory Sink or Float Activity

Note: An adult should always be present at all times around any water activities.

Go on a scavenger hunt and help your child find rocks, sticks, leaves, flowers, acorns, grass, pinecones, or small (waterproof) items in your home. Once your child has all the items they want to use, fill a small plastic container with water. Make predictions about which items will float and which ones will sink. Test your guesses!

Mealtime discussion question: Do you think any of your toys can float? Which ones do you think will float?

Wednesday

Bee Kind

Listen and read the story Please Please the Bees. Snacks made from vegetables in the shape of beesAs a follow-up family activity, make bee or other insect-shaped snacks using your favorite fruits and vegetables.

Mealtime discussion question: How are fruits and vegetables alike and different? What is your favorite fruit? What is your favorite vegetable?

Thursday

Nature Paintbrushes

Use a stick, long grasses, a branch from a pine tree, flowers, leaves, or other materials you can find outside. Secure the grass, flowers, or leaves to the stick with a rubber band. Let your child paint a colorful picture using their homemade paintbrush. Paintbrushes made from sticks and leaves Child using a paintbrush made from a stick

Mealtime discussion question: What other items could you make with sticks and leaves?

Friday

Indoor campsite with a tent made from chairs and a sheetCamping Indoors

Sing and dance to this song about the outdoors with Jason Mraz and Sesame Street characters. Bring the outdoors inside! Set up a tent and camping area in your home. Read by flashlight or tell silly stories!

Mealtime discussion question: What kinds of items would you need to pack if you went on a camping trip?

See activities from past weeks: