Activities from Catie Hayes

A Homemade Rain Gauge

This is a neat project to be used in conjunction with weather study.  Yourkids will also get some practice with measuring skills.  With a knife, cut off the upper 1/3 from the soda bottle.  Remove the coverand invert the upper 1/3 into the lower 2/3 of the bottle (this portionacts as a funnel for collecting the rain).  Use masking tape to secure itin place.  Using a ruler and marker, measure and draw lines indicatinginches or centimeters on the outside of the rain gauge.  The gauge may beleft outside as is, or secured to a post for greater durability.

Learning About Animals

By drawing lines, divide your poster board into sections.Each section will contain a category name and criteria.

Examples for younger children:
"animals thatwalk"
"animals that fly"
"animals that swim"

 Examples for older children:
"amphibians"
"reptiles"
"mammals"

Inmarker, write the category name at the top of each section, and list a fewcriteria for membership.  Have your child sort through the collection ofanimal photos you have collected together from magazines, and decide inwhich category the animal belongs.  Ask your child to explain his/herdecision.  Have the child glue each photo in the appropriate space on theposter board.

Paper Plate Spider Web and Pipe Cleaner Spiders

Cut out the center of the paper plate with the scissors.  Next, punch holesaround the edge of the paper plate frame every 2 inches or so.  Cover oneend of the yarn with tape, making a 'safety needle'.  Instruct your childto weave the yarn in and out of the holes to make a spider's web.  Onceyour child is satisfied with his/her web, affix the loose ends with tape tothe paper plate frame.

Gather the pipe cleaners, tape, ruler and scissors for the spider.  Rollone pipe cleaner into a ball, tucking the sharp edges into the center. This is your spider's body.  Measure 4 4-inch lengths of pipe cleaner. These will be the legs.  Line up the 4 legs on top of a long length ofScotch tape.  Place the spider's body on top of the legs, and fold the tapearound to hold the spider together.  Gently bend each leg to finish andplace in the web.

Recommended books to accompany this activity:

Miss Spider's Tea Party by David Kirk
Miss Spider's Wedding by David Kirk
Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

About the Author
Catie is editor of WomanLinks.com and Homeschooling News which has triedand true book reviews, activities, affirming quotes and alist of freebies to support your homeschooling efforts eachweek. Whether you are a veteran HS family or just startingout, this newsletter has you in mind. To join visit: HERE