INUKSHUK ACTIVITY
24/06/2020
National Indigenous Peoples Day was this past Sunday and we want you to help us celebrate by learning about and creating your own miniature inuksuk!
Materials
- Rocks
- Cardboard
- Glue (white glue or a hot glue gun)
- Paint
- Paintbrush
Directions:
- An inuksuk can be built in many different ways! Look online or in a book for examples of how an inuksuk can be built and discover how the different formations helped people in different ways!
- Choose the rocks you want to use to build your inuksuk. Rocks with one side that is relatively flat will be easier to glue down
- Bring your rocks inside and wash them if necessary
- Arrange your rocks on your piece of cardboard to create the image of an inuksuk
- Pick up one rock at a time and apply glue to the flat side. Press it down firmly onto your cardboard. Continue with the other rocks until all your rocks are glued down
- Note: If your rocks are larger, you may need to use a hot glue gun to attach them to your cardboard. Please be sure to check with an adult before using a hot glue gun
- Allow your inuksuk time to dry!
- Once it’s dry, use paint to create a stunning background for your inuksuk!
How does this spark creative learning?
Kindergarten:
One of the many uses of the inuksuk is as a landmark. They can help people find their way, or can mark a certain spot. Identify familiar places and landmarks in your community. How could you use these landmarks to help you find your way home?
Grade 1:
An inuksuk is an important Indigenous landmark. What are some examples of other important Indigenous landmarks? Which ones might we find in Winnipeg?
Grade 2:
Do ways of life stay the same, or do they change? Do you think an inuksuk is used the same way today as it was in the past? Research ways in which life in different Canadian communities has changed over time!
Grade 3:
The inuksuk is only one example of Indigenous technology. Research to discover what other technologies were used by the Inuit, and how these technologies helped them in their daily lives!
Grade 4:
How many different uses did an inuksuk have? Research to discover the varied purposes that this unique structure possesses!
Grade 5:
The Inuit are only one of the diverse Indigenous communities that are present in Canada. Choose one other Indigenous community and research to compare their daily life to those of the Inuit.
Stay tuned for more resources to help spark kids’ creative learning!
Donate Today
Your support of the Children’s Museum is more important than ever during these difficult times. If you are able, please consider making a donation today.
ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM!
23/06/2020
(Source: kiwico.com)
Are you ready for another STEAM Tuesday?
MEL Science brings fun, hands-on science experiments right to your front door! For a subscription fee of less than $50 a month, you will receive 2-3 science experiments that the whole family will love. Sign up today and receive your starter kit and VR headset so you can enjoy the full experience right away. Check out their blog for FREE chemistry experiments that you can re-create on your own at home.
KiwiCo offers creative, hands-on projects that help kids think big and spark their curiosity. They have a large variety of projects and experiments available for purchase on their website that can fit into any budget. In addition to their online store, they also have an incredible amount of FREE content available including printables, DIY crafts, experiments & recipes, and parent toolkits with extra materials and lesson resources.
Put your inner artist to the test and create these under-the-sea themed paper plate crafts! As you are working through this craft with your little one, get them thinking about all the different kinds of creatures that live in the sea. What’s their favourite sea animal? Can they craft this animal and tell you some fun facts about it?
Stay tuned for more resources to help spark kids’ creative learning!
Donate Today
Your support of the Children’s Museum is more important than ever during these difficult times. If you are able, please consider making a donation today.
MINI MONDAY: DAD’S DOTTED TIE
22/06/2020
Father’s Day may have passed, but there’s always time to show Dad how great he is! Give your dad a special gift with this stunning dot-painted tie – where each dot represents a reason why he’s so great!
Materials
- Cardstock
- Paint
- Q-tips
- Yarn
- Scissors
- Tape
- Pencil
Directions:
- Choose a piece of cardstock and trace a tie
- Use the scissors to cut out your tie
- Use the scissors to cut a piece of yarn. You want this to be long enough that it could comfortably be tied around someone’s neck. Use the tape to attach this to the back of your tie, near the top
- Note: Depending on the age of your child, these first three steps could be prepared in advance, or you could invite them to complete them independently or with your help!
- Pour different colours of paint on a plate. Dip a q-tip into a colour of paint and use it to create dots on the tie
- If your child is younger or finds grasping the q-tip difficult, you can encourage them to create dots with their finger instead!
- As your child paints each dot on the tie, encourage them to think about one reason why they love their dad! This could be something they like doing together, something they learned from their dad, a fun memory, something their dad is really good at, etc. As they decorate, write a list to help them remember
- Continue decorating your tie until it’s complete! Once it’s done, leave it to dry
- Once the paint is dry, give the tie to your dad to wear! Be sure to share all the reasons why he’s so special!
Keep the fun and learning going! Can you…
- Use the dots to create an image on the tie?
- Use different colours of paint to create a pattern on the tie?
- Count how many dots you have on your tie?
ESSENTIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are developed when children learn to use their smaller muscles, like the ones in their hands, fingers, and wrists. Fine motor skills are used for everything from picking up a utensil to eat, buttoning clothing, and holding a pencil when learning to write. This craft helps to support the development of fine motor skills by inviting children to use their smaller muscles to grasp the q-tip as they decorate their tie!
Interacting with Others
Strong positive relationships and positive interactions between children and adults are required for successful learning for young children. These relationships help your child build confidence and resilience, as well as learn how to communicate, show emotions, and develop social skills. This week’s craft helps your child to think about different traits and experiences that help build positive relationships!
Donate Today
Your support of the Children’s Museum is more important than ever during these difficult times. If you are able, please consider making a donation today.
SUNDAY FUNDAY: WAYS TO CELEBRATE FATHER’S DAY
21/06/2020
Happy Father’s Day to all of the amazing dads out there! We put together a little list of fun ways to celebrate this day as a family.
- Most dads love any excuse to use the barbecue, so whip out your favourite foods and have a lovely outdoor BBQ feast!
- Is your dad a history buff? Join the Seven Oaks House Museum for a FREE walking tour around the Seven Oaks area as you visit the oldest buildings in the neighbourhood and learn about the community history.
- Grab the whole family and head over to FortWhyte Alive for a Baby Bison Walk! See the herd in action, hear how this icon of the prairie almost disappeared, and feel a connection to the herd as you see the miracle of baby bison. Register your spot online – if you can’t make it today, Baby Bison Walk’s happen every Sunday until August 16.
- Pull out your fishing gear and take dad out for a day trip. Check out this list of great fishing spots around Manitoba!
Stay tuned for more resources to help spark kids’ creative learning!
Donate Today
Your support of the Children’s Museum is more important than ever during these difficult times. If you are able, please consider making a donation today.
SHOP FEATURE 5
(For The Week Of June 21, 2020)
Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store, now with FREE shipping in Winnipeg on orders over $25!
Engino Discovering STEM Solar Power Model Kit
Price: $86.00
Sale Price: $42.99 each
In our ever-changing world, renewable energy sources are key to the future of energy. This fun and educational solar powered toy is a wonderful way to introduce your child to the concept of green energy, while building cool models that are powered by the sun. Using the included 144 sturdy parts made from ABS and following the instructions, kids can enjoy building challenges of models like a chopper car, a fan, a plane, a robot, a drawbridge, a winch crane, and much more! Kit includes a 3V solar panel that powers up an electrical motor, instructions for 16 solar powered models, and a colourful booklet which teaches kids about various types of renewable energy.
Suitable for ages 8+
Engino Inventor Girl 30 Motorized Models Kit
Price: $76.00
Sale Price: $37.99 each
Build 30 different models! Foster interest in construction building and engineering with this colourful modelling kit. Linking imaginative play with 3D model creation, kids learn key STEM concepts while creating structures, vehicles, and more. Kit includes printed instructions for 4 main models, with downloadable 3D instructions for all 30 models available online via Engino’s website or free apps (available for Android, Apple, and Windows mobile operating systems).
Suitable for ages 6+
Alex Snap-To-It Ocean
Price: $29.99 each
Create your very own underwater world and develop fine motor skills with this fun set. Young ones can snap, button, zip, and pocket felt objects to a background to create a scene that tells a story. Each special themed carry case has pockets to store felt pieces and accessories, so it is great for on-the-go. Includes a snap board case, 12 plastic snap buttons, 15 felt shapes, and easy instructions.
Suitable for ages 3+
Robo Bug
Price: $24.99 each
You build it, it crawls! Robo Bug gives kids a bug’s-eye view of the world. This amazing robot can crawl over sand and rocks, pull objects, and even climb up hills. Kit includes 24 robot parts with glowing wings, gears, and bolts; 1 gear box with motor; 6 traction pads; 24″ string; and a full-colour booklet which will teach kids all about insects. Note: Requires 2 AAA batteries (not included).
Suitable for ages 7+
Farkle Box
Price: $16.99 each
The classic dice-rolling, risk-taking game! Take a risk, and keep rolling to build your score. Or play it safe so you don’t lose your points in a farkle. Easy to learn and cleans up quick! Farkle is great at home or for bringing on trips. Box contains 6 dice, shaker cup, score pad, and rules.
Suitable for ages 8+
LOVE LOCAL: SPARK CREATIVE LEARNING WITH THESE MANITOBA PARTNERS
20/06/2020
Are you looking for ways to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day and/or Father’s Day tomorrow?
Join the WAG, in partnership with Indigenous Music, on Sunday, June 21 on the WAG Facebook page for their live Virtual Powwow Celebration from 1:00PM – 2:30PM. Sing and dance along to the live stream and don’t forget to tag the WAG in related social media posts to be entered to win giveaways!
Indigenous Music presents Festival of Fathers on Sunday, June 21 at 3:00PM. Celebrate Father’s Day and National Indigenous Peoples Day with this special virtual concert by amazing local artists. Join the live event through the Indigenous Music Facebook page!
Grab your net and bucket and join Oak Hammock Marsh for their Outdoor Waterbug Derby on Sunday, June 21 at 11:00AM or 1:00PM! Prizes will be given out for the highest score and most unique bugs found. Pre-registration is required as each derby is limited to 30 participants.
Stay tuned for more resources to help spark kids’ creative learning!
FEATURE FRIDAY: VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS FOR KIDS (PART 2)
19/06/2020
Many attractions may still be closed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still give them a tour (virtually, that is)!
- View the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York through these six short 360° view videos. Once you’ve taken the tour, head over to the MetKids section and hop into the Time Machine to learn more about the galleries and displays that The Met has to offer.
- San Diego Zoo is one of the largest zoo’s in the United States and offers sanctuary for a variety of animals. Head over to their website for live cams of baboons, elephants, pandas, and more! For more animal resources, visit San Diego Zoo Kids for animals facts, stories, and games.
- Are you ready to explore Yellowstone National Park? Go on a virtual walk through the various lookout points, falls, and springs with these video tours. You can even learn more about Fort Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Grand Canyon through photos and fun facts.
- The Great Wall of China may have been a site that you never thought you would get to see – luckily for you, they have a wonderful 360° virtual tour available online! Enjoy this ancient structure and learn more about the Great Wall all from the comfort of your own home.
If you missed part 1 of our list of virtual field trips, check it out here.
Stay tuned for more resources to help spark kids’ creative learning!
Donate Today
Your support of the Children’s Museum is more important than ever during these difficult times. If you are able, please consider making a donation today.
THURSDAY SCHOLASTIC LITERACY RESOURCES
18/06/2020
(Source: scholastic.com)
Scholastic is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and they believe that all children should have access to resources and materials to promote early reading and education.
The Scholastic blog is full of tips and book recommendations. Get your kiddos ready for a summer full of reading with these tips & tricks for creating a summer reading space and Scholastic’s list of top book sets for this summer! Do you have a little one that is in the early stages of becoming a young reader? Check out this list of expert-approved books for beginner readers.
Scholastic Magazines are a wonderful way to promote at-home reading. With playful text and bright photos, your little ones are sure to become young readers with these magazines. Check out the Scholastic Store for a variety of magazines, books, and games to encourage literacy education at home.
There is even a list of FREE activities and crafts available on the Scholastic website that includes things like making your own puppy bookmark, magazine collage stories, and ideas for taking a reading field trip. Head over to the printables section and print out at-home lessons for cursive writing, creating comic strips, and more!
Stay tuned for more resources to help spark kids’ creative learning!
Donate Today
Your support of the Children’s Museum is more important than ever during these difficult times. If you are able, please consider making a donation today.
EMBOSSED ALUMINIUM ART
17/06/2020
Calling all artists! Expand your horizons and create your own unique masterpiece as you draw, glue, cut, and press to create your own embossed aluminium art!
Materials
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Glue
- Yarn
- Aluminium Foil
Directions:
- Cut your piece of cardboard to the desired size to create your canvas
- Choose what you would like to draw! Let your creativity run wild or see our suggestions below for ideas on what to draw to support learning outcomes from Kindergarten to Grade 5!
- Draw your desired image on your cardboard
- Grab some yarn and some white glue. Working in small sections, begin to trace your drawing with white glue. As you go, cut off pieces of yarn, and lay them over the glue. Continue until you have traced all of your lines with glue and yarn.
- Leave your image to dry
- Once it is dry, fill in all the uncovered spaces on your cardboard with white glue
- Tear off a piece of aluminium foil. Lay it overtop of your cardboard/wrap it around the edges of the cardboard. Apply pressure so the aluminium foil sticks to the glue on the cardboard. Be careful not to tear the aluminium foil as you apply pressure.
- With the aluminium foil applied, you should now see ridges where it is pressed overtop of the yarn – creating a unique, 3-dimensional look for your art!
- Display your masterpiece somewhere for everyone to see!
How does this spark creative learning?
Kindergarten:
Tall or tiny, you can create terrific trees that are sure to impress! Discuss the different parts of a tree that are represented in your image. How would your tree look different throughout the changing seasons?
Grade 1:
Practice distinguishing between things we want and things we need as you immortalize the image of something humans need to survive!
Grade 2:
Baby bears versus great big bears – how do they change? Explore the life cycle of an animal as you identify the changes that occur as they grow and develop. Create two images – one of your chosen animal as a baby, and one as an adult – and see how they compare!
Grade 3:
What solid structures have you seen? Design an image of a structure which can withstand any storm! What kinds of shapes and forms are present in your structure? How do these help make it nice and strong?
Grade 4:
Create a lasting image of a perfect habitat! Choose your favourite animal and think about what it needs to survive. Create the image of a habitat which incorporates all those elements.
Grade 5:
Running, swimming, biking or skating – what makes them all possible? Choose one of the major systems in the human body and design an image showing the different parts of that system. How does this system help work together with other systems to allow you to complete all your favourite activities?
Stay tuned for more resources to help spark kids’ creative learning!
Donate Today
Your support of the Children’s Museum is more important than ever during these difficult times. If you are able, please consider making a donation today.
ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM!
16/06/2020
(Source: madscience.org)
Today we are here to bring you a list of French-based STEAM resources!
Not only does Mad Science have a large list of at-home science experiments, they also have colouring pages and science quizzes available on their website! Print off the PDF experiment sheets and enjoy a day full of ghost bubbles, instant ice cream, and more.
Bees are an important part of nature, and thanks to Initiatives Nature, you can view this educational beekeeping booklet online! Learn all about bees and what it is that they do for our planet, and then finish off with a little quiz to showcase all that you have learned.
Time to get crafty with these edible crafts! Getting your little ones to eat healthy foods can sometimes be a challenge – try some of these edible crafts and get them playing, crafting, and eating all at the same time. From egg white whales, to a Wild West scene, there is sure to be something to pique every child’s interest.
Stay tuned for more resources to help spark kids’ creative learning!
Donate Today
Your support of the Children’s Museum is more important than ever during these difficult times. If you are able, please consider making a donation today.