Read, Create, Connect – Stepping Stone School Celebrates WOYC 2020!
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has dedicated April 11-17, 2020 as a week to celebrate young children!
In conjunction with NAEYC and TXAEYC (Texas chapter of NAEYC), Stepping Stone School is celebrating the young children who bring us so much joy!
This year, we are centering our celebration around Connection using books by children’s author Ezra Jack Keats.
Musical Monday:
Read: Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats read aloud for you here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umbWnSOi0iQ
Create: Make musical instruments from recycled materials with your child. Create maracas by adding dry beans or rice to large plastic eggs leftover from Spring Celebrations. Tape the two sides of the eggs together with colorful duct tape to keep it sealed.
31 Homemade Instruments For Kids to Make
Connect: Did you know music builds creativity and helps to form synapses (connections) in the brain? Listening to music and creating music helps to support brain growth through the formation of synapses.
Technology Tuesday:
Read: A Letter for Amy by Ezra Jack Keats read aloud for you here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUjP1nW1_PY
Create: Make a crayon resist watercolor painting by first writing on a sheet of paper with crayon and then painting over the paper with watercolor paints. If you do not have any watercolors, try adding a little food coloring to water, but be careful, food coloring can stain clothing.
6 Amazing Watercolor Resist Techniques To Try With Kids
Connect: Did you know cause and effect is one of the building blocks of technology? Activities demonstrating cause and effect like crayon resist paintings teach this skill in a developmentally appropriate way for our youngest learners.
Work-Together Wednesday:
Read: Pet Show by Ezra Jack Keats read aloud for you here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOb68HIN6bY
Create: Put on a show in your home! The whole family can work together to put on your own show, create puppets or masks. Act out one of your favorite books or write your own story.
Make Cardboard Robot Puppets that Move!
Connect: Did you know we can stay connected through Social Media? Consider recording and sending your family show to a virtual audience on Social Media.
Thankful Thursday:
Read: Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats read aloud for you here:
Create: Make special cards to send to family, friends, grocery store clerks, doctors, nurses, and first responders. We have so much to be thankful for and so many people who support us each day. Sending a special note is a wonderful way to share gratitude for their help.
20 Card Making Ideas for Children
Connect: How will you show thankfulness to others? Have a discussion with your children about showing thankfulness.
Family Friday:
Read: Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats read aloud for you here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmZCQfeWjeQ
Create: Make Melting Ice Cube paintings as a family! The night before, add a little water and food coloring to an ice cube tray. If you do not have an ice cube tray, line a small bowl with aluminum foil before adding the water and food coloring. Secure plastic wrap over the top of the tray or bowl and stick a popsicle stick or toothpick into the water before freezing. Once frozen, remove the ice and place it on the paper for painting. Move the ice around on the paper using the toothpick or popsicle stick. As the ice melts, the colors create a beautiful work of art.
Ice Cube Painting
https://www.firstpalette.com/craft/ice-cube-painting.html
Connect: Do you have special family activities you enjoy doing together? Regular family activities together can create wonderful memories for children.
We hope you will join us in celebrating the wonderful young children in our lives! We encourage you to post using the hashtag #SSSWOYC2020 to share your celebrations with our Stepping Stone School family virtually.