creativehistory

A Creative way to Motivate Kids!

Using goal markers are a great way to accomplish any goal, one step at a time. Want to motivate your children to do some extra curricular reading this summer? How about a reading race track on the wall!

How to make a Reading Race Track goal marker:
Attach two strips of paper to the wall with tape for the starting and finish lines.
Have each participant pick out a "racer" (small stuffed animal, cut out football, etc) attach at the starting line with a large push pin or tape.
In the center of track place numbers which will mark the spot for the racer when each book is completed.
Let the race begin...Make sure that there is a nice reward at the finish line!

Tip! Put little incentives on the track along the way. For example, on the #4 marker, tape the words "toy from the dollar store" or "you earned $1.00!" on maker 2.

Discover the Way Things Work!

My eldest son, loves to think up inventions. He has a notebook full of sketches and diagrams of the things he wants to invent. A very good activity for the engineer minded child is to let them take things apart and try to put them back again. I don't suggest letting them disassemble your microwave but you can get things such as transistor radios, toasters and clocks, very inexpensively at second hand stores. Before you start, make sure they have the right tools and safety precautions have been gone over. The learning possibilities are endless!

Feel the Words!
This activity I made up one night when I had a house full of children ... it was a huge hit! The best part is that children of all ages can play at the same time. I call it Feel the Words.

Materials Needed:
-Small objects around the house- nothing sharp (ie: toy car, small doll, dice, lid, etc. )
- Bag (cloth works the best)
-Timer
-Paper with name of each object written on it (index cards work great!)

Game Instructions:
Let all the children first look at the objects, then put them the a bag. Place the cards face down next to the bag in the middle. The first player picks up the card, reads it and then try to find it in the bag before the buzzer goes off, no peeking! For example if the card "pig" is drawn, they have to feel for the pig in the bag. For older children, give them less time (i.e.: 20 seconds) for the littler ones, give them more time (i.e. 45 seconds). If they find the correct object in the bag before the buzzer goes off they get to take the card and object. Whoever has the most at the end of the game wins!

TIP!With this game, you can involve even the pre-readers, just tell them what they are searching for in the bag.

Add & Subtract Game!

This fun, hands-on game is a great way to introduce children to the addition and subtraction symbols. To get started you only need; some bowls, paper, a deck of cards and marbles.

Preparation:
Remove face cards from a deck of cards. Take 20 small pieces of paper and write a "+" symbol on half the cards and a " - " symbol on the other half. (The backs of old business cards work great).

How to Play:
First, place a large bowl of marbles and both decks of cards face down, in center. Each player then gets to take 15 marbles and place it in their bowl. To start the game, a player picks a card from the number pile and one from the symbol pile. The cards will determine if he will get to add marbles to his bowl or give some away. For example: If he chooses the number 3 and a plus symbol, he will then add 3 marbles from the big bowl into his bowl. However, if he draws 3 and a minus symbol, he will need to give away three marbles from his bowl to the big bowl in the center. The game ends when all but one are out of marbles.