Dzien dobry!
We hope you had a playful weekend and continue to enjoy time together to play and learn. You may find Play Scotland’s new resource – Home Play Pack – an interesting and helpful read as you try to extend your child’s thinking and help them develop different skills. Click on the link to access: https://www.playscotland.org/wp-content/uploads/Play-Scotland-Home-Play-Pack-for-Parents-16pp-Web-1.pdf
Here are today’s other suggestions:
At the weekend I saw these pictures and read about some rare animals. They were spotted in Scotland and are red squirrels but have a special trait called Leucism. This means that they have all the same features as usual red squirrels but instead of auburn red fur their fur is white!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-52575674
- Could you create your own picture of this special white squirrel? What could you use? Chalk? Wool? Crayons? Paint? Cotton wool…?
2. If you have seen a squirrel before it was most likely a grey squirrel. Talk to your adult about the last time you saw a squirrel and what they were doing. Watch this video with lots of grey squirrels. At the end can you challenge your adult? Can each of you remember at least three things you saw the squirrels doing? More than three?!
3. What things can squirrels do that humans can’t and vice versa? Are humans better at some things and squirrels others? Why might that be? Think about how our bodies are different. Can you name all the parts of a squirrel’s body with the right words?
4. Squirrels are known for collecting food and hiding it for a later time. Sometimes when humans save something up for a later time we say they are ‘squirreling away’. Why don’t you use some dried pulses, marbles, other small items to work on fine motor and counting and number recognition skills. Can you set up a game a bit like this and put the correct amount in for each squirrel?
5. Can you help the squirrel to reach its acorns? Is there more than one possible route? How quickly can you/your adult reach the acorns?
6. Watch Patchwork Squirrel. Is the squirrel being polite and kind? How many nuts do you think he had altogether? Did he need that many just for himself? How did the friends solve the problem? Next time you have ll the blocks, cars or other toys maybe you could think about what you need and what you could give to someone else to play with.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000dwcn/patchwork-pals-series-2-6-patchwork-squirrel
7. Listen to the music and watch this squirrel dance. Do you think the dancers move like squirrels? Can you join in? Move your body in as many interesting ways as you can.
8. Join in with the squirrel song:
If you were a squirrel where would you hide your acorns or other food? Can you play a hide and seek game in the garden where you take turns to hide some ‘food’ and other people in your family need to find it? Who will have the best hiding place, I wonder…
9. The next time you go for a walk try to spot some squirrels. Why not look for other wild animals and pets too? Maybe you could keep a record of how many you find throughout the week.
10. Return to the colour white. Why don’t you make some simple gloop by mixing cornflour and water to make a slimey mix with interesting properties?
https://www.mumstakefive.com/index.php/clp/make-recipes/72-gloop-cornflour-recipe-fun
11. The current season may be spring but in winter time there are lots of interesting animals that change colour, matching the snowy surroundings. Find out more here:
12. Although we recently said it was a good idea to ‘eat a rainbow’ with lots of different fruits and vegetables, there are some healthy and tasty white foods too. Could you help to prepare a meal or snack today that has an ingredient which is (nearly) white? I’m thinking about raw cauliflower trees or maybe sprinkling some coconut over a dish…
