Secret learning...

There are so many brilliant activities out there for keeping little ones entertained at home. My main sources of inspiration are Pinterest and Instagram, I'm forever taking screen shots of activities I like the look of or think I can adapt for my own children. Often, the activities are just for fun, but there are nearly always learning opportunities to be found if (like right now) you want to draw them out.

A few weeks ago, we criss crossed the patio with masking tape and used pavement chalk to fill in all the shapes we created. While we worked and after we had finished, we chatted a lot about shape. This is just one example of how you can create learning opportunities during a game or activity.

Set Challenges

Find a rectangle and colour it yellow.

Colour the smallest shape blue.

Jump on a triangle.

Throw a stone onto a rectangle.

Ask Questions

How many triangles can you see?

What is this shape called?

Can you see anything else in our garden that is square shaped?

Can you see any more rectangles?

How many sides does this shape have?

How many corners does this shape have?

Can you see any letters in our pattern?

Can you see any numbers in our pattern?

Which shape is the biggest?

Which shape is the smallest?

How many different shapes can you see?

How many shapes are there altogether?

Which shape has the most sides?

Ask Trickier Questions (depending on age or stage)

Can you see any symmetrical shapes?

Are any of these shapes squares? Why/why not?

How many right angles can you see?

What is the length of the sides of this triangle?

Which shapes are regular?

Which shapes are irregular?

Which angles are acute?

Which angles are obtuse?

Can you name some 3D shapes that have rectangular sides?

So you see, home school doesn't have to be worksheets every day, there are loads of activities you're probably doing already that you can find learning opportunities within. Let me know if you have a favourite activity with added 'secret learning'!

P.S. Aside from all the learning that took place, these photos also lead to me cleaning our patio due to how grim it looked here! I spent a happy hour scrubbing the slabs using a cream cleaner, water and a stiff bristled broom (another hack seen on Instagram) and we were all amazed by the results. It feels like we have a new patio!

Honey wears... Tutu by Candy Bows