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By Gigi McGraw, WHYY Educational Programs and Services Intern
The sizzling days of July are filled with the smells of barbecue, cool dips in the pool and lazy, hazy summer days. What better month than July to invest in quality time with your family out of doors? Traditionally, fireworks and trips to the beach have become synonymous with activities appropriate for the hottest month of the year, but did you know that July is also National Recreation and Parks Month? Encourage exploration and discovery as you take advantage of the many wonderful parks and recreational centers in your area! There are numerous outdoor activities that you can enjoy during July that promote summer learning, encourage exercise and inspire creativity.
VIEW
"Dinosaur Train" is a delightful show that fosters scientific thinking and observational skills in preschoolers. Multiple adventures occur when Buddy, a bubbly preschool age Tyrannosaurus and his adoptive Pterandon family, Mr. and Mrs. Pterandon, Tiny, Shiny and Don, take an educational fieldtrip on a train specifically made for, you guessed it, dinosaurs! With the assistance of the knowledgeable Train Conductor, Buddy and his family explore natural habitats and learn about extraordinary ecosystems. Each episode consists of two 11-minute stories which incorporate music, song and age-appropriate learning standards for life sciences and natural history. But that's not all! An informative live-action segment with Dr. Scott The Paleontologist teaches about a wide array of dinosaurs and our complex natural environment. "Dinosaur Train" is just the show to get you and your family out and about because it encourages wildlife adventure, promotes critical thinking and uses learning through play techniques to engage audiences. "Dinosaur Train" is on WHYY every weekday at 9:30 a.m.
DO
Here are some of everyone's favorite summer activities that you can do with your child.
Go Geocaching!
Geocaching pronounced (Gee-oh cashing) is the ultimate family friendly, outdoor scavenger hunt adventure. Participants set out to find hidden treasures called geocaches using coordinates from a global positioning device or smart phone. Once the geocache is found, participants have the choice to take the treasure, replace it with an item of equal or greater value, or simply observe and return it for the next adventurer. "Dinosaur Train" has partnered with PBS Stations, and cultural venues nation wide to hide Dinosaur Train themed geocaches. You can visit www.geocaching.com/dinosaurtrain to find out more. Want a creative alternative to using a GPS device? How about creating your own geocache site using a hand drawn treasure map? You can hide "treasure" in parks, green spaces or even in your own backyard! Kids will have hours of fun looking for the mystery site. Check out Youtube to see families geocaching and to view a few cleverly hidden geocaches. Here are some suggested video clips:
Cook Together
After a busy day of Geocaching you're sure to build up a mighty appetite. How about making a fun and easy lunch that offers a surprise for your lil diners? Kids can help make these delicious savory treats. Here's how:
Tyran-A-Riffic Eggs
- 1. Hard boil 4 to 6 eggs
- 2. Let cool and peel hardboiled eggs and place in a bowl.
- 3. Parents-In a separate bowl use 1 lbs of ground beef, turkey, or chicken.
- 4. Season meat with salt, pepper and spices of your choice. Kids can become pint-sized gourmet chefs as they experiment with different seasonings. Mix well!
- *Make sure to wash hands thoroughly after touching raw meat.
- 5. Cover each hard boiled egg with the seasoned (uncooked) meat. This cooking task is fun for kids and it also helps with fine motor skills. Make sure not to miss a spot! Optional- You can lightly dust Tyran-A-Riffic Eggs with bread crumbs.
- 6. In a frying pan heat 2 to 4 tablespoons of cooking oil
- 7. Gently fry the eggs on all sides until meat is well done.
- 8. Let cool a few minutes.
- 9. Eat and enjoy!
Kids will enjoy Tyran-A-Riffic Eggs with its yummy surprise inside.
Clean up!
Make wash up a prehistoric treasure find with "Fossilized" soaps. You can create mini soaps with "fossils" in them for the budding paleontologist in your family. *Adult assistance and supervision required.
Follow these simple directions:
- One bar of glycerin soap (Pears is a good choice)
- 2. ADULT- Using a serrated knife cut soap into 1 inch squares
- 3. Place soap in a microwave safe glass bowl or measuring cup
- 4. Microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute until melted. Microwave time may vary depending on microwave wattage. Do not overheat!
Alternative- If you prefer not to use the microwave, you can place soap inside of an oven safe glass bowl or measuring cup that is placed in a pot filled with 1/3 water. Slow boil on medium heat until the soap melts. Do not exceed 10 minutes.
- 5. Use aluminum foil or a plastic mini cup to create a soap mold. (If using the aluminum foil create a small square mold 3X3 inches. Pinch up the sides of the foil to prevent spillage.)
- 6. Pour a thin layer of the liquefied soap in the foil tin or the mini plastic cup. Let stand for 1 to 2 minutes.
- 7. Drop in a plastic insect, fake gem, leaves or dried flowers.
- 8. Using the remaining liquefied soap completely cover the hidden content.
- 9. Let soap cool and harden. Set in refrigerator for quicker cooling.
Kids will enjoy Tyran-A-Riffic Eggs with its yummy surprise inside.
Once the soap has set, carefully peel away the foil or cut away the plastic cup with scissors. If you notice excessive air bubbles on the soap lightly wipe rubbing alcohol on the surface of the soap. Clean up has never been so much fun!
READ
Here are some of your favorite children's books that your child is sure to love, as well.
How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? | By Jane Yolen
This teaching tale is just one book of many in the "How Do Dinosaurs...? series. Using dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes, the naughty dinos show what not to do when playing with friends, and eventually how to play appropriately especially when outdoors.
Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo | By Kevin Lewis
This quick-paced, straight forward story, with reoccurring refrains and rhyming text, tells of the efforts of a hard working train as it journeys through town. With large text and vibrant illustrations children are bound to enjoy this treasure.
Harold and the Purple Crayon | By Crockett Johnson
"Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight." And that is how the adventure begins in this children's literary classic. Harold is a little boy who creates his own outdoor adventure using his imagination and one purple crayon
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