Learning Value:
This activity promotes development and learning by encouraging children to demonstrate the use of creativity and imagination in learning and play and to use their senses to explore and interact with the environment.
Materials Needed:
- Small toy (Lego® figure, small doll or animal)
- Craft sticks
- Tape
- Plastic straws
- Cardboard
- Blocks (wooden, Legos®, Duplos®)
- Spray bottle with water
- Baking tray
Participants:
This activity is can be done with adult/child interaction, independent play, or 2 or more participants.
Directions:
- April showers… bring an opportunity for your child to test out their problem-solving skills! Arrange the building materials on a flat surface, next to a baking tray. Ask the question, “What can you build to keep the toy dry?” Encourage your child to explore the materials and think about what type of shelter they can create.
- Allow your child time to build their rain shelter with the materials. Test them by spraying from above with the spray bottle to simulate rain. Did the toy stay dry? If not, ask your child how they think they could change their building to make it rainproof.
- Give them time to work on their design and encourage them to keep trying. Offer new materials or let them brainstorm ideas. It may take time to experiment and explore the materials. Test again with the spray bottle.
