Homework Ideas

Story Time:
· Discuss the author & illustrator. Take a picture walk (look at the pictures before reading and talk about what is happening in the pictures). Make predictions about what will happen in the story
· Ask your child to retell a story in their own words
· Discuss story elements (title, author/illustrator, setting, main characters, problem and solution)
· Have your child come up with a new ending
· Look for the kindergarten passwords in the book
· Have your child draw their favorite character from the book
· Act out favorite parts from a book
· Read to your child every day

Language Arts:
· Go on letter hunts to look for different letters of the alphabet
· Make an exciting vocabulary list: (Ex: Instead of happy use elated or excited. Instead of sad use blue or upset)
· Practice Nursery Rhymes (read, act out, look for passwords)
· Make letters out of playdoh
· Practice writing name in shaving cream
· Paint name and passwords
· Build words out of magnetic letters
· Come up with a word for each letter of the alphabet (Ex. L is for lion)
· Practice the sounds that letters make
· Practice rhyming (man, dan, can, san)
· Discuss sequence as you do every day activities (EX: Unloading the dishwasher. First we take the clean dishes out. Next we put the clean dishes in the cabinets. Last we put the dirty dishes into the dishwasher.)
· Use vocabulary, vocabulary, vocabulary!

Technology:
· www.starfall.com
· http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
· http://pbskids.org/
· http://www.coolmath4kids.com/
· www.funbrain.com
·

Math:
· Practice sorting objects into groups (by color, shape and size)
· Practice writing numbers
· Practicing counting to 20 and backwards from 20 (use objects to help)
· Practice skip counting (counting by 5s, 2s, and 10s)
· Count objects to 20 (or more of course)
· Use math vocabulary words to locate objects (Ex: Look above the table. Put your toys to the left of your bed)
· Go on a color scavenger hunt
· Use describing words to describe objects (big, huge, tiny, small, medium, heavy, light)

Science:
· Go on nature walks during the day and at night, discuss what you see around you

Just for Fun:
· Cook with your child
· Watch their favorite cartoon or tv show with them (Don’t read a book or do another activity – sit with them and watch it.)
· Talk them on a walk
· Ride your bikes together
· Go shopping together
· Play a board game (Candy Land, Hungry Hungry Hippos, etc)
· Play a card game (Go Fish, Uno)
· Work on puzzles
· Spend time together J