springwalk

springwalk
www.butterflyschool.net visit shininghours.com Pick up Activity Sheets

Welcome to Butterfly School

April 22 - April 28, 2001

Creativity basket tips for the week:
Comfortable walking shoes! Interesting scents. A flower to observe and smell!
Activity bonus: make paper tulips. Colorful paper & watercolor paints.
Green paper to make leaf umbrellas for a paper caterpillars.

Butterfly School Spring Walk

Rain or shine, awaken your senses with a wonderful spring walk! Listen for singing birds, count the frogs & flowers! There's something for everyone as we enjoy another seasonal stroll with our good friends: Grandma Judi, her granddaughter Ally & their friend Pillar.

From my kitchen table to yours . . . quick tips for great Butterfly School walking sessions.

Chose a safe route -- not too bumpy, suitable for a stroller!
Consider bringing a tiny snack & some water -- when you reach the half-way point, rest & replenish.
Bring a small basket to collect small signs of spring & nature.
Liven up your walk for an older child -- make a scavenger hunt list -- here are some ideas:

	bird nest
	bumble bee
	flower bud (instead of blossoms)
	tree roots
	mailbox

Still more challenges . . .

triangle shapes

numbers

things that begin "s" (sky, sun, street, sidewalk, stairs . . .)

5. Write up a little story about your walk after you get home -- or later in the day. Let your child make an illustration to go with the story -- one flower, one tree, one color -- anything your child likes. Share the story throughout the week.

Click here, send us an e-mail & we will subscribe you for our free weekly links!

You are ready for the Activity Sheets now; you can print them from here (Get Sheets), or go back to the Butterfly School home page.

From Butterfly Central,

-- Jessica Steigerwald

For more great ideas, check out the activities at our parent site www.shininghours.com.

Observe & enjoy!

Teacher Tips
from Corinne Steigerwald

One of the best ways to improve a child's observation skills, is to take a walk together and quietly discuss and describe the things you see.

Spring offers us especially colorful things to observe, interesting sounds to hear and the opportunity to notice things growing! Take a walk this week and notice the buds on the trees. Follow the same route a few days later & you might catch the first leaves as they unfold!

Here are some things to keep in mind:

* When you point out something interesting, say, a nest in a tree, give your child time to focus on it. Things that are small, high in the air, or far away take longer to see & absorb.

* Use lots of words to describe an object. If you stop to pick up a pine cone, describe the color, shape, texture and smell! Let your child observe each thing you have described.

* Sing! Sing any cheerful song out in the fresh air & you are sure to give your child a lasting memory!

Questions for Corinne: corinne@shininghours.com

Coordinated resources:

make paper tulips

paper caterpillars

You also might enjoy:

coloring paper roses

making paper flowers asters & daisies

making a frog friend . . .