ACTIVITIES Magnet Magic Fill a jar with water and place a paper clip in it. (Be sure the paper clip you use is magnetic. Some are not.) Make the paper clip dance up and down in the water by moving a magnet up and down outside the jar.
Variation: Place a paper clip or other metal object on top of a table. Rub the magnet under the table and watch the metal items move around the table.
SCAVENGER HUNT For next week’s Activities feature, you will need a package of prepared sugar cookie dough, flour, oil or shortening, colored hard candies, a cookie sheet, and wax paper.
(Contributed by Discovery Place Early Learning center.)
JOKE OFTHEWEEK Q: What did the paper clip say to the magnet? A: “I find you very attractive.”
BOOKS OFTHEWEEK There are thousands of books written for young children every year and many are available for you to borrow from a public library or can be purchased from a bookstore or online. Here are a classic children’s book or two that your family might enjoy: Carmi, Rebecca. Amazing Magnetism. Mrs. Frizzle's class challenges Mr. Order's class to a science contest, where the topic of the contest is magnetism.
Adler, David A. Magnets Push, Magnets Pull. We can’t see magnetism, but it is everywhere around us. Even the Earth is a giant magnet! In this fun and accessible book, David A. Adler covers the basics of magnetism.
VIDEOVARIETY In addition to the books that are available for your family, there are also many movies and documentaries that may make you laugh and inspire you, as well. Here is one classic choice: Sid the Science Kid. Now that's using your brain or Electricity (Safety Smart Science with Bill Nye the Science Guy explores the science of safety by going behind the scenes at Underwriters Laboratories and discovering how products that use electricity are tested to keep us safe. Learn the shocking truth about conductors and insulators and why electricity can be dangerous if you become part of the circuit.)
WONDERS OFTHEWEB The Internet has long been available to supplement your parenting knowledge and skills.This is one web location that your family might enjoy: Experiments with magnets for children. http://www.lovemyscience.com/cat_magnetic.html Remember that you can also visit the website of your local public library to find out more about local library services. Libraries in much of Northwest Minnesota are listed on the Northwest Regional Library website: http://www.nwrlib.org/ (With assistance from the Thief River Falls Public Library.)
PARENTINGTIPS Reading Readiness through Play Children’s play will actually help them to develop one of the most complex of symbolic activities: reading! Learning to read means understanding that a combination of squiggly marks (c-h-a-i-r) means “chair.”The symbols aren’t a picture of a chair but anyone reading the marks knows that they mean “chair.” How complex!
How does play help children prepare for reading? During play most toys are symbols. Plastic food is a symbol for the real thing. It looks (sort of) like the real thing. However, the child may decide that blocks can be used for toast. Blocks don’t look like toast, but the child has chosen the block to be a symbol. The child may develop other pretend items. “Pretend that this is toast.” Whenever an object “becomes” something else it is a symbol.
The more difference between the item and the real thing, the more complex the symbol.The development of this symbolic thinking is necessary for children to learn to read!
Parents can help their children to use symbols. Don’t always buy realistic play props. Instead ask, “what can we use for food?” or “what would make a good airplane?” Make suggestions that will help the child add new scenes or keep the play on track. However, be careful to suggest but not direct.
(Contributed by the Early Childhood Family Education department of School District 564.) SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT Encourage conversation. Words can become symbols when substituted for actions, feelings or objects.
(Contributed by the Early Childhood Family Education department of School District 564.)
