Guessing Bags

My children love guessing games! 

"What toy has four wheels, a lightening bolt, is red, and holds the number 95?"

(Lightening McQueen, of course) 

Just an example but you get the idea. 

Here's what we have started doing in our home. 

Grab a paper bag, only because the child can't see through it. A cloth sack works well, also. 

Find items that your children know as everyday items. 

We used a book, one of our favorites! "Where's My T-R-U-C-K?" By Karen Beaumont

Fold the item up inside. 

They can shake it, practice listening. Lift the bag, practice words like heavy or light. 

Give them a few clues and let them guess. 

I write the clues down and as I give them and then write down the responses. It's fun to go back over it to see how many guesses they needed (counting skills). 

We did the same with a few few other items that were "hot ticket" items around out house. Remember, you want your child to be challenged and successful. So, don't pick something that's unfamiliar, out of character. Think of day to day items that they enjoy or use. 

All of these things are great opportunities to build vocabulary!!! Teach how to have a conversation and responding to your child in a way you would what them to respond to you. 

Beans! Sorting, Counting! Busy Bag Idea

Grab an old sheet and let's get started! 

We use this old blue one for everything! I'm sorry if you have seen it in other posts and upcoming posts! It's just so handy to have around the house! 

I purchased three bags of dried beans at our local store. Buy whatever colors strike you as fun. I also focused on getting different sizes. 1 bag of large white beans, 1 of black beans, and 1 pinto beans. 

I get out just about anything that can scoop or move beans. 

We gather containers, funnels, measuring scoops, table spoons, everything that's fun! 

Let them scoop and dump, make piles, spread them around (within reason).

This is a great sorting activity! Help provide your kids with vocabulary such as largest, smallest, big, bigger, biggest.... 

please excuse the yucky picture, I bet you can get the gist

We got silly and starting making food troughs for our animals and pools for them to swim. 

Do whatever your kids want with this, just talk with them. It's so important to teach conversation skills and teach them the vocabulary by modeling it for them!!! I can't tell you the number of 5th graders I teach that lack, what we think is basic vocabulary, and the ability to hold a full conversation. Many don't even respond "How are you?" if they are asked the question first. 

All I can stress is TALK with your children! YOU are their first and MOST teachers!!!!