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Curated educational activities from Early Childhood Specialist Leslie Gaar.


Earth and Sky Part 3

It’s the last day of Earth and Sky week, and we’re going out on a windy note! Today we’ll read a windy book, pretend to be the wind ourselves, make a windsock, and build windproof structures.

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Cuddle Up and Read

Do you have any books about wind or other weather-related books? Pick one out to read, or listen to this read-aloud, Like A Windy Day by Frank Asch and Devin Asch. Afterwards, ask your child:

  • What would you do if you were the wind?

  • How can you tell from the pictures that the wind is blowing?

  • Can you think of how wind is useful to people?

Find the story here.

 
Photo credit: delightfullearning.net

Photo credit: delightfullearning.net

 

Be the Wind

Now it’s your turn to be the wind! Put some ice in a bowl and then blow across the top of it, placing your hand on the opposite side. What does the air feel like on your hand? How does it feel different than if you blow on your hand without the ice? Why are the temperatures different?

Find the original activity here.

 
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Make a Dinosaur Train Windsock!

A windsock is a tool that we use to measure the direction of wind. By using simple craft materials, you can create and decorate your own windsock so you can easily observe the direction of the wind outside your home.

Click below to download your own Dinosaur Train windsock and check out the video for step-by-step instructions.

Find windsock pattern here.

 
Windproof.jpg
 

Build a Windproof Structure

Can you make a building strong enough to stand up to the wind? Use blocks, Legos, boxes, or other building materials to make a structure. Then, place a fan next to your structure and turn it on full blast. Did your building fall, or is it still standing? How tall can you make the structure before it comes crashing down? Try the experiment with other materials to see how strong they are!

Coming up next…

Things That Grow!