Game time!

This is a game that is appropriate for ages 4+.  This is a lesson in timbre (pronounced tam-bur).  Timbre is the distinct sound that everything makes. 

Materials:

Several containers, preferably the same

Different small items to put in the containers

How to play:

This is very simple.  Take your items, and put them into the containers.  It is best if all the containers are the same.  I have a bunch of those containers that baby puffs came in when my daughter used to eat those.  Try to make the items different, some hard, some soft.  Then shake each container one at a time and let your child try to guess what is inside. 

Notice how metal object sound, versus plastic objects.  Cotton balls sound like swishing, and rice sounds like rain.  Many objects sound different than just one.  And when you listen carefully, you can figure out what's inside just by listening.


Related activities for timbre:

1. Guess whose voice it is (need a larger group for this one). 

2.  If the child is old enough to answer the phone, have them notice how they can tell who it is sometimes just from hearing their voice.

3. Have your child close his or her eyes while you walk around and do different things.  Have them guess what you are doing.  Examples are closing a door, dropping a book, and moving a chair. 

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

My friend said to me "I would check this blog, my son doesn't even know any nursery rhymes;" so I decided to start with one of the most basic. We will start with The Itsy Bitsy Spider. Most people know this song, and it is great to start singing even to your infants. When they are itty bitty, you move their hands for them. Once they start watching you and mimicking you (between ages 1 and 2) then you show them what to do, and have them mimic you. I call this "sing with me, and do what I do."

I have a fun lesson that you will be able to get older children involved with, and your little ones will love it too.

Here is what you need:

spray bottle filled with water

construction paper in black and yellow (or be creative)

anything that is small and can be closed tight, like a plastic Easter egg

rice, beans or dry pasta

glue and tape

crayons and markers

Step 1: place your dry items inside the egg. tape it closed. The rice, pasta, and beans, will all make a different sound. Experiment to see which way sounds best to you!

Step 2 (optional): make a spider out of the black construction paper and attach it to the egg shaker. This is your spider for the hands on activity.

Step 3: use the yellow construction paper and markers or crayons to make a sun. If you have some cardboard to glue it onto, that's even better. This sun will be used like a fan.

Here is how the song will go:

The Itsy Bitsy Spider, climbed up the water spout (make the spider climb up your child's body)

Down came the rain and washed the spider out (spray the water overhead for rain. Special needs children may not tolerate this. But I find that spraying the water nearby is just as exciting)

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain (use the sun fan to dry of your child)

And the Itsy Bitsy spider, climbed up the spout again. (once again, make the spider climb up your child's body)

Other activities for this song:

•  If you have multiple children, let them do the spider or the fan. I would keep the spray bottle with someone age 8+
•  Become spiders and act out the story using your whole body. Get creative!
• There are different ways to make your spider climb. Older children will be able to touch thumb to index, and twist their hands around. Young children will need to keep it simple. touch all finger tips together and wiggle them all the way up.
• Read the story before singing.  Then sing while following the print with your finger.  This reinforces concepts of print, such as reading left to right, and turning pages.  If you don't have the book, either go to the library, or make your own!  You can even have your older children illustrate it and make a really nice book for younger children to use.