News for Black Hills Early Learners
Early Childhood Connections is a weekly contributor to Early Learning Activities
At the end of each activity domain and goals for the activities are provided. For a copy of the Early Learning Guidelines click on the photo.

Infant Corner
Activities for children under 1
Development

Learn the Basics of Sensory Development, the milestones, activities and what to watch for in your babies first year.
Construction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning Goal CD-1

Temperament describes a child’s personal “style” – the way he or she experiences the world. Is your child highly social or is she slow-to-warm-up? Is your child flexible when faced with change, or is he troubled by unexpected transitions and prefer routines? Understanding a child’s temperament is a critically important part of parenting.
Play

Make a great sensory activity for your baby using fruit to make edible paint.
Construction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning Goal CD-1

Create a sensory bin to introduce new foods in an interesting way.
Construction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning Goal CD-1

This crafty mom made a hook and loop fastener board so her toddler could explore pulling and applying objects to the board.
Construction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning Goal CD-1
Busy Toddlers
Activities for children 1-3
Physical/Outdoor

Simply wrap a piece of duct tape around your child's tummy, sticky side out. Then let him/her explored outdoors and chose treasures to fix to his/her nifty nature belt.
Construction of Knowledge : Thinking and Reasoning Goal CD-1

Create this is a simple toy that will engage toddlers. Great for eye hand coordination.
Motor Development Goal HPD-5
Science/Sensory

In honor of Earth Day create a bug hotel. This easy bug hotel is probably as simple and as easy as it gets – there are many prettier and cleverer bug hotels out there, but sometimes, you can make do with what you have and teach kids about upcycling and recycling.
Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-8

On a nice day get outside with your toddlers and do some water painting!
Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-8
Literacy/Math

Help the children trace one of their hands. Ask them for ideas on how he or she can help the Earth. Ideas might include turning off a light when leaving a room, shutting off the water when brushing teeth, or opening a window instead of using the air conditioner. Write their ideas in each finger of the traced hand. Display your Earth Day hand for everyone to see.
Foundations for Writing Goal CLL-9

An engaging Earth Day math sensory bin for kids. They can explore sensory play while working on their number skills.
Mathematical Thinking and Expression Goal CD-1
Social Emotional

"The Earth and I" book is a story about being friends with the Earth. This book provides great opportunity to not only talk about caring for the earth but what skills are involved in being friends.
Developing a Positive Sense of Self Goal SED-1

Each child gets a marble (Or small ball if concerned they will end up in someone's mouth) and has to find the other kids who have the same color marble. They then link arms and stay together until all groups are complete. This is a fun way to group kids for an activity and a good way for toddlers to work on naming colors.
Developing Relationships Goal SED-3
Hands-On Preschoolers
Activities for children 4-5
Physical/Outdoor

Grab some blueberries, green grapes and let’s create the water and land with an Earth Day Snack! This kid made recipe can be made into individual Earth for each child or you can make one large Earth!
Physical Health and Growth Goal HPD-1
Earth Day yoga is a fun way to add physical activity to your kids day.
Motor Development Goal HPD-4
Science/Sensory

If you save cardboard tubes from paper towels, toilet paper, and whatever else comes on a roll you can use it to create a great recycling STEM a cardboard tube marble run.
Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-9
Making paper with kids is a rewarding experience, and this article shares how to make paper with kids. These steps work for anyone interested in how to make paper, and gives specific tips and advice on how to make paper with kids (even toddlers!)
Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-8
Literacy/Math

This literacy activity is easy to set up and gives you an opportunity to talk to kids about littering.
Foundations for Reading Goal CLL-8
Create your own Earth Day recycling sorting game.
Mathematical Thinking and Expression Goal CD-6
Creative Arts

It is such fun to explore fun and easy painting ideas using a wide variety of objects. Earth Day would be a great day to focus on ways to paint with recycled objects.
Creative Arts and Expression Goal CD-12

Coffee filter Earth Day art is great and fun for even non-crafty kiddos. 
Creative Arts and Expression Goal CD-12