by Dr. Joyce Sibbett
Summertime can be a time when children say “I’m bored.” You can help to address this issue by engaging your child in an area that they find interesting. Knowing an area that is interesting to your child opens the opportunity to dive into activities and resources that highlights their interest.
We have many students from Dancing Moose who will be doing activities that they find interesting this summer. We have identified four areas to illustrate activities that complement their interests. These are all full activities that can extend to children’s homes for further exploration.
Dinosaurs
Activity– Brush dirt of Manicotti noodles.
Extension activity– Make bones out of salt dough, bury in sand, brush off and rebuild as paleontologist
Book– Costco or Sam’s Club generally has awesome Dinosaur books
Field trip– Natural History Museum of Utah
Resources– Dinosaur Book
Link to Skeleton Map
https://www.learning4kids.net/2012/12/09/how-to-make-salt-dough-recipe/
Constellations
Activity– Marshmallow toothpick constellations
Extension activity– Stars on paper and yarn with phone app to look at stars
Book– Discovering the Stars by Laurence Santrey
Field trip– Planetarium
Resources– https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/night-sky/id475772902?mt=8
Rocks
Activity– Growing crystals on pipe cleaners-
Extension activity– Searching and hammering your own geode
Book– Crystalize! by Scholastic
Field trip– Dugway Rock Shop
Resources– https://www.20muleteamlaundry.com/uses/arts-crafts/crystals-for-diy-home-crafts/#:~:text=Add%20about%203%2D4%20Tbsp.your%20crystals%20will%20be%20cloudy.&text=Once%20your%20solution%20is%20mixed,the%20way%20to%20the%20top
Tinkering
Activity– Hammering Golf Tees into Clay AND/OR Sorting Screws
Extension activity– Hammering nails into wood
Book– The Tool Book by Gail Gibbons