Activity for 1-2-Year-Olds: Critter Crawl
Take a leisurely walk in your neighborhood or backyard and see what tiny creatures you can spot. You might be surprised by how many critters call your backyard their home!
Materials:
- Nothing! Just a keen eye and a sense of curiosity.
Instructions
1. Talk to your child about the bugs you're likely to see.
2. As you walk, point out any bugs you spot. Talk about what they're doing and any interesting features they have.
3. Try to find different types of bugs - crawling, flying, jumping. It's like a scavenger hunt!
Don't forget to capture the adventure in your Qeepsake journal!
Activity for 3-4-Year-Olds: "Little Geologists" - Rock and Mineral Exploration Activities
For this week's adventure, we're transforming your backyard or a local park into a geologist's dream. This rock and mineral exploration activity is a wonderful way for your little ones to engage with the natural world.
Materials:
- A magnifying glass
- A few empty containers or bags for collecting rocks
- A small hammer (optional depending on if you plan to break open larger rocks, and only to be used under adult supervision)
Preparation
Choose an outdoor location with a variety of rocks. You might want to research the types of rocks common in your area, so you can guide your little geologists during their expedition.
Instructions:
- Head out to your chosen location and start your rock hunt. Encourage your children to look for rocks of different colors, sizes, and textures.
- Show them how to use the magnifying glass to take a closer look at the rocks' details.
- Look under the rocks! What do you see? Explore taking a peek into the habitat of different insects (introduce the word “habitat” and discuss!)
- If your child feels comfortable, allow them to touch insects that feel safe (worms, ants) and discuss more about their size, shape, the way they move, etc.
- If you've decided to bring a small hammer, you can carefully break open a few larger rocks to see what's inside. Always ensure this step is strictly supervised!
- When you're back home, wash the collected rocks and let your children examine them again, maybe even sorting them into categories (ex: big and small, rough and smooth, colored and gray)
- To extend the activity, you can look up more information about the rocks you found and learn about their formation. This activity promotes observational skills, patience, and a love for science in an exciting and interactive way. Your budding geologists will be thrilled with their findings!
Capture these memory-making moments forever with plenty of photos and texts in the Qeepsake App.
