Preschool at Home: Activity Card

Week 1, activity 1

Music and Movement: Dinosaur Roar Play the clip and copy the moves (or make moves of your own!)

You could stand in front of a mirror to see how scary your

dinosaurs moves are, or if you have space you could stomp like a

dinosaur. Learning outcomes

• Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a

range of purposes.

• Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from

these texts.

• Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of

media

Key Concepts Music and dance are a great way for all children to express

themselves. Learning moves to dances and the words to

songs helps with counting, concentration and memory. Allow

your child to express themselves through dance and make up

their own moves too.

Resources Justine Clarke: Dinosaur Roar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L

z0FWR_69Pg

Questions to ask:

• Can you stomp with your left

then stomp with your right leg?

• Let’s count to 10 stomps?

• How loud can you roar?

• Let’s stomp as quietly as we can?

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 2

Egg Carton Dinosaur Hat Watch the video and start creating your own dinosaur hat from an

egg carton.

Children may need help with cutting the egg carton and using the

staples. Remember that it doesn’t have to look exactly like the

example, children love to add their own flair. Remember, Dinosaurs

don’t have to be Green! Learning outcomes

• Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity,

cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm,

persistence, imagination and reflexivity.

Key Concepts Creative experiences focus on children’s fine motor skills,

concentration and imagination

Resources Paint, textas or pencils, scissors,

cardboard egg carton, staples

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T

H5zzcUfDAk

Questions to ask:

What is your favourite colour?

Can you make a roar like a dinosaur?

Which is your right hand, and which is

your left, what hand do you use to

colour in?

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 3

I am a Dinosaur Watch the 30-minute video about different Dinosaurs, what they

ate, where they lived, if they could fly, run or swim and what their

strengths and weakness were. Cast to your TV or watch on an iPad

or desktop computer.

Learning outcomes

Children develop a love for learning such as curiosity, cooperation,

confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence,

imagination and reflexivity.

Key Concepts Children are very interested in their world and can be very

fascinated by certain topics like Dinosaurs. This can be

expanded to learning about other animals or plants or where

animals live or sleep.

Resources https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=QNU4rzWI7z8

Questions to ask:

How many dinosaurs’ names do you

know?

Do dinosaurs still exist?

Which dinosaur was the strongest?

What did dinosaurs eat?

How many things can we find around

the house that start with D?

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 4

Simple Fine Motor Activity Watch the video before starting this exercise. You will be using

items around the house for this exercise that will help with

practicing fine motor skills. Children will squeeze and open the

peg/tongs/chopsticks to grip and release the object from one spot

to another. Learning outcomes

Strengthening of the hand to improve your child’s “pencil grip”.

Key Concepts

• Learning experiences using commonly found

house hold items

• Pencil grip

• Early writing skills

Resources https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=MD86MGSBd8w&feature=emb_

logo

• Pegs, chopsticks or tongs

• Small objects to pick up

such as cotton balls, Lego

blocks, marbles etc

• Something to hold the

items in, perhaps a small

bowl or box

• A tray/box or plate to use

for collected objects.

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 5

In the Kitchen – How to make Playdough No cooking is required for this one! Just get the ingredients and

have fun encouraging your child to explore, experiment and take

some risks in their learning.

Learning outcomes

Children are confident and involved learners, they are active

participants in their learning. Children demonstrate an increasing

understanding of measurement and number using vocabulary to

describe size, length, volume, capacity and names of numbers

Key Concepts

• Play based learning

• Children taking risks in their learning

• Early numeracy skills

Resources Ingredients

• 2 cups of flour

• 1 cup of salt

• 2 cups of boiling water (from kettle)

• 1 tablespoon of oil

• 1 tablespoon of cream of tarter

• Food colouring

Method

• Add flour, salt, oil and cream of tartar into a bowl

• Add boiling water and food colouring

• Mix together

• Knead until good consistency

• Add more flour if needed

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 6

Math at Home This is an easy activity that gets children thinking about maths

concepts using different containers and jugs you have around the

house. Pour water between different jugs and ask what your child

observes. Get them to help with pouring the water if they can.

Learning outcomes

Children make predictions and generalisations about their daily

activities, aspects of the natural world and environments, using

patterns they generate or identify and communicate these using

mathematical language.

Key Concepts • Explore mathematical concepts such measurement and volume • Mathematical vocabulary • Hypothesizing and estimating

Resources

• A range of containers, cups

and jars; water; towel for

clean-up.

Questions to ask:

“I wonder which will hold more?”

“Why do you think that”

“How much does it hold?”

Talk about ways you can test these

theories.

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 7

Meditation It’s time to stop and relax, find a quiet place in your home or grab

some headphones to block out the noise and distraction of the

other family members in your house. Lie down somewhere you

feel nice and comfortable. Parents note: You may choose to do this

activity while younger siblings are asleep, maybe just before

bedtime if you are having trouble with getting your child to sleep.

It’s best on a nice full belly so later in the afternoon, after lunch

and after children have participated in other activities for the day.

You could do it with your child and encourage other children in the

family, including school age children to join in.

Learning outcomes

Children make predictions and generalisations about their daily

activities, aspects of the natural world and environments, using

patterns they generate or identify and communicate these using

mathematical language.

Key Concepts We want children to be healthy and happy both physically and

mentally. These uncertain times can create stress for children.

It’s important to stop, relax and concentrate on refocussing

our mind. Mediation is very important for allowing children

time to breath and helps with concentration.

Resources

• An iPad, iPhone or laptop

• Open the link to play

• https://www.abc.net.au/kidslist

en/soundwalks/summer-

camping-on-kangaroo-island-

south-australia/10499382

• Headphones (to block out noise

if needed)

• A comfortable spot in the house

(bed, couch, bean bag, rug)

Questions to ask:

Encourage your child to try hard to

listen to the words and follow the

instructions.

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 8

Nature Scavenger Hunt Learning from home is not limited to indoor and sit-down types of

experiences. Outdoor play is good for your child’s physical health,

development and self-confidence. It’s great fun too. What are you

waiting for? Go outside and play! Learning outcomes

Play spaces in natural environments include plants, trees, rocks,

mud, water and other elements from nature. These spaces invite

open-ended interactions, spontaneity, risk-taking, exploration,

discovery and connection with nature (Raising Children Network;

The Australian Parenting Website, 2020)

Key Concepts Nature play, environmental awareness, outdoor exploration,

problem solving, healthy lifestyle choices, physical activity

A few things to

remember… • Encourage your child to play outside

several times a day.

• Look for natural resources that be

used for open-ended and art/craft

activities – everything you need can

be found outdoors.

• Outdoor play ideas include ball play,

nature walks, bike rides and more.

Remember to observe social

distancing when outside. Playgrounds

are unavailable to use, so visit the

park instead.

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 9

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Video presentation of Eric Carlisle’s popular book The Very Hungry

Caterpillar with follow up drawing activity.

Drawing activity – ask your child to share their ideas and thoughts

of the story in the form of drawing. Once they have completed the

task, encourage them to share their story with you.

Learning outcomes

Literacy is the capacity, confidence and disposition to use language

in all its forms.

Key Concepts Story recounting, Sequencing, Expressing ideas through art

and language, Early literacy skills

Resources Watch this on the TV, a tablet or

computer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=75NQK-Sm1YY

Questions to ask:

“What do you think will happen to

the caterpillar?”

“I wonder why he eats so much

food?”

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 10

Pretend Play Time for children to play out being characters, animals, mums or

dads, vets, shop owners or even superheros. Allow children

uninterrupted time to use their imagination. Children will often be

able to play on their own but it is also an opportunity for siblings to

play together. Or your child may need you to visit their pretend

shop to buy some groceries or sit at their pretend restaurant so

they can take your order. Learning outcomes

• Children relate to and contribute to their world range of

purposes.

Key Concepts Music and dance are a great way for all children to express

themselves. Learning moves to dances and the words to

songs helps with counting, concentration and memory. Allow

your child to express themselves through dance and make up

their own moves too.

Resources Things you already have around the

house.

Old Keyboard, pen and paper (working

in an office)

Pots and pans, bowls and cutlery form

the cupboard (Chef)

Cups and saucers (tea party)

Perishable items from your pantry;

tins, packaged items or canned items.

Pieces of paper cut up at money or

rocks from the garden (to make a

shop)

Questions to ask:

If children are feeling upset, excited or

angry this can come out in the roles

they choose to play. You may ask

them to tell you about their play and

why they choose that character or

event.

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 11

Make your own bubbles! Make your own bubbles. Take a drop or two of dish washing soap

on a plate. Add a little water and mix it slowly until small bubbles

or suds start to form. Ask the kids to dip the straw into the suds

and blow gently and slowly. Just watch as a big bubble starts to

form on the plate.

Learning outcomes

Children develop a range of skills and processes such as problem

solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching and

investigating.

Key Concepts Making bubbles is a easy science concept.

Resources Dishwashing soap, drinking straws

Questions to ask:

The game can also become a fun

competition of who makes the

biggest or the longest-lasting

bubble. They could also use their

hands instead of straws.

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 12

Sock toss This is like basketball inside the house, except you use socks

instead of ball and a clothes basket instead of the basketball hoop.

1: Roll up the socks into tiny balls and tie them up.

2: Place the clothes basket a few feet away from where you are

standing.

3: Take turns to throw the socks into the basket.

4: Move one step back each time you get the sock into the basket.

Sock toss Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and

physical wellbeing.

Key Concepts This activity encourages children to get off the couch and

move, it works to develop eye hand co-ordination and

counting.

Resources

• Colourful bunch of socks

• A bucket or clothes hamper

• Space to play

Questions to ask:

“How many did you get in and how

many did you miss?”

“What colours did you get into the

basket?”

Try it over arm and under arm.

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 13

Cooking at home Cooking is a great learning tool for children and a great way to pass

the time. You could make muffins or get them to help you prepare

for dinner. You may like to include other siblings into this activity

by setting the children at a kitchen table or around a bench and

each child can take a turn. If cooking isn't possible try getting

children to help layer a sandwich or cut a banana, spread butter on

their toast or pour their own milk.

Key Concepts Cooking build self-confidence, encourages imagination,

improves maths and science. It encourages self-help skills

Resources Before you do your cooking

experience. You may like Children to

sit and enjoy this episode of “I can

Cook”, which talks about washing our

hands and safety in the kitchen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

WsQHqyKKlME

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 14

Music and movement: Aussie Animals Let's learn about Aussie Animals

Play the clip and copy the moves (or make moves of your own!)

Learning outcomes

Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range

of purposes.

Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these

texts.

Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media Key Concepts Music, song and dance can be a great way for children to

learn about the things around them while getting some

exercise. This activity is a song and a dance that teaches

children about Australian animals and how they move

Resources Using a phone, iPad or computer

select the link and give yourselves

some space to dance and sing

Aussie Animals:

https://www.abc.net.au/abckids/early

-education/aussie-animals/11970542

Questions to ask:

“How many animals did they sing

about?”

“Show me how a Kangaroo

jumps?”

Where does a Koala live?

Preschool at Home Experiences

Week 1, activity 15

Learning with Leaves On a walk in your community or while you're in your own backyard,

collect as many leaves as you can. Look for different shapes,

colours and sizes. While collecting leave you can discuss how we

are now in Autumn and that there are 4 seasons in a year.

Then bring the leaves inside and allow the children to colour on

them or create shapes with them

Learning outcomes

Learning Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute

to their world

2.4 Children become socially responsible and show respect for the

environment

Resources Pen or texter to draw on the leaves

Questions to ask:

“How many brown leaves can you

collect in 2 minutes?”

“Order these leaves from smallest

to largest”

“What season comes after

Autumn?”