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Activity Ideas
Daily Activities and Literacy
Literacy is the ability to read and write.
All daily activities can be considered the
beginning of literacy.The daily activities
incorporate readiness skills which are the
foundation for introducing children to literacy.
Speaking, listening, prewriting, and reading
readiness are essential components of many
daily activities that are introduced to children.
Arts
Culture
Fun
Geography
History
Math
Play
Reading and Writing Readiness
Safety
Science
School Readiness
Social Studies
ARTS
Arts
The best of art, architecture, history, music and photography is at your fingertips from the Library of Congress, the National Gallery of Art, the National Endowment for the Humanities and many other Federal venues.
The Internet Public Library Youth Division--Art and Music
Find out about history, science, and art museums as well as information about art and music.
Kids Castle
Join the Castle Club or just surf the site! Here you'll find great message boards between kids, games, contests, and tons of photos of cool stuff in the Smithsonian Institution. From air and space, to arts, to sports and animals - you'll find fun things to learn.
Matthew Brady's Portraits
Take a virtual tour of Matthew Brady's National Portrait Gallery, go to the Carte de Visite Album, and learn about the making of a photograph, read his biography, study the technical glossary, or go through the index of the famous Americans who sat for Matthew Brady photographs. A fascinating site for anyone interested in photography or history!
National Gallery of Art
Visit the National Gallery of Art's Web site. The Gallery's extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and works on paper spans over 600 years of history from the Middle Ages to the present day. Discover more about the Gallery, its programs, and collections and exhibitions. Take an online tour and find out about the education programs offered by the museum.
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CULTURE
Our World
Learn about religions, languages, geography, and culture around the world.
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FUN
Arts & Crafts
This section links you to all kinds of crafts that you can do with things that
you have around your house or center. You can color pictures here, make gifts, learn origami, and more.
Ask Jeeves for Kids
Why is the sky blue? Why does the wind blow? How do I say "hello" in Chinese?
Curious kids will want to Ask Jeeves.
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
Fun Stuff for Preschooler Children on the Internet
This is a great site for kids and their parents and providers to play interactive games, find pictures to color, and read stories and jokes. Be sure to check out the fun stuff related to holidays and zoos too!
Reading Zone--Picture Books
Stories for younger readers, with colorful pictures. Our own Story Hour is inside!
Resources for Parents &Teachers;
These are some fun ideas and activities for parents or teachers to do with kids. Some of the activities here might require adult supervision.
Toys in Space
In 1993, the space shuttle Endeavor took off with an interesting payload: a high-tech communications satellite and a chest full of toys! The idea was to see how the familiar toys performed in orbit, without the force of gravity. This site compares normal earth operation of the toys with the orbit results.
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GEOGRAPHY
The Civil War
Civil War Parks and much much more!
Fact Finder Kids' Corner
Learn about the U.S. Census, get facts about your state,
and have fun with quiz questions.
Geography…Where do U.S. Diplomats Work?
Discover where our diplomats travel and live, challenge your geography skills, dig in and find out about other countries. The Geographic Learning Site is way more than maps.
Geography and The Learning Web
This part of the USGS web is dedicated to K-12 education, exploration, and life-long learning. Visit often and explore things on, in, around, and about the Earth. You can find out about plants and animals, land, water, and maps. Learn how Biology, Geology, Hydrology, and Geography help us understand our changing world.
Map Collections
The Geography and Map Division (G&M;) has the largest and most comprehensive map collection in the world. They have over 4.5 million maps including 60,000 atlases, 6,000 reference works, numerous globes and plastic relief models, and a large number of cartographic materials in other formats, including electronic.
NASA's Observatorium
National Aeronautics and Space Administration site for Earth and space data with pictures of the Earth, planets, stars, and other cool stuff, as well as the stories behind those images.
National Imagery & Mapping System
NIMA makes maps and provides imagery to support our national defense. Groups that help with national defense are the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and others in the federal government. NIMA's information is also used by airplane pilots and boat captains.
USA
This is a place where you can find all sorts of information on the history, government, presidents, people, and states of the United States.
Visible Earth
If you've ever wondered what different parts of the Earth or nature look like, this is definitely the site for you! NASA brings us a searchable directory of pictures, images, and animations of the Earth.
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HISTORY
America's Past
Discover the stories of America's Past...MEET amazing Americans, JUMP back in time, EXPLORE the states, JOIN America at play, SEE, HEAR and SING America.
Archives, Records, and Historical Documents
This is a great site for history fans, and preschool teachers who want to find background information for activities. You can find the text of the constitution, read about Sputnik, and find out how the US highway system began. The National Archives and Records Administration keeps original copies of some of our country's most historical documents-you can view them here.
Celebrating America's Freedoms
Fun facts about how our Nation's flag got the nickname "Old Glory," how the words in the Pledge of Allegiance have changed through the years, and why we hear "Taps" played at memorial services. These interestiing facts are brought to you by the Veterans Administration.
History Museums
A great site that will help you find a history museum near you
History Sites
If you ever wanted to teach your kids about history you have to check this site out. From American history to History of Today, this site really has it all.
Immigration Information
Immigration and related subjects are included in the curricula of most elementary schools, studied again in middle schools and then in greater depth in high schools. You can introduce the concepts through hands on activities to young children. This site offers information about famous symbols of immigration to America (including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island), the history of immigration to the United States, immigration laws, coming to America, becoming Americans, famous and not so famous immigrants, and how to find information about the immigrant background of you and the kids in your program.
Memorial Day
At 3:00 p.m.on Memorial Day, you are asked to participate in a Moment of Rememberance (duration: one minute). The time 3:00 p.m. was chosen because it is the time when many Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday. The Moment does not replace the traditional Memorial Day observances. It is intended to be a unifying act of remembrance for Americans of all ages. As you participate in the Moment you are helping reclaim Memorial Day for the noble and sacred reason for which it was intended-to honor those who died in service to our Nation.
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MATH
Ask Dr. Math-Elementary School Level
Dr. Math answers questions about mathematics from students and their teachers. You can ask questions about homework, puzzles, math education or anything related to mathematics.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing Kids Page
Kids have the chance to learn all about money on-line thanks to the new web site created by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The kid-friendly site offers educational games, teacher resources and a chat room that lets kids ask experts at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing questions about currency.
Mathematics in the Preschool
Mathematics teaching belongs in preschool, but it should build on everyday activities. Learn how good preschool mathematics teaching can be about joy and challenge--debating which child is bigger, drawing maps to the "treasure" buried outside, providing unit blocks and time to use them and challenging children to estimate and check how many steps are required to walk to the playground.
Official U.S. Time
What time is it? Click here to get the Official U.S. Time where you live.
STAWRS Kids Page
The STAWRS Kid's Page will educate kids on some of the basics involved in starting a business and the resulting employment related taxes. The purpose of the page is to inform these future taxpayers about the functions of the government agencies, forms that need to be filed, and the benefits of paying various taxes. The pages include an interactive "game" that allows the child to start a business, make money, hire employees, and pay taxes. The pages have three additional sections that provide education on the tax and wage related forms, the function of each of the related government agencies and some of the benefits of various taxes. What's the best thing about it? It's fun
Treasury Kids Page
This site educates kids and the "young at heart." Treasury's mascot, "Trez" (an alley cat who lives in the basement), takes you to the sites he found after he pounced on a really big mouse and got on the Internet. Trez allows you to color him on-line (just click on the cat) and takes you to his favorite Treasury sites.
Time Exhibits
Everything you need to know about time is at your fingertips--the history of time, why we have daylight savings time, the types of calendars that have been used through the ages and more.
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PLAY
Better Kid Care: Pay is the Business of Kids
The Better Kid Care Project at the Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension provides important information related to
play. The site discusses the types of play, characteristics of toys
and appropriate play activities for caregivers to provide for children.
Creative Play Helps Children Grow!
The Family Life Education at the University of Massachusetts
discusses ways to strengthen a child's creativity through
creative games, creative movement, creative toys
and creative questioning.
Good Times at Play
The Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado
State University Cooperative Extension discusses the
kinds of play and the kinds of activities that will encourage play.
Good Times Being Creative
This site defines creativity and gives suggested creative
activities for infancy through school- age.
How Children Learn
This National Network for Child Care Newsletter offers examples of a developmentally appropriate atmosphere in which children learn while they play.
Making the Most of Outdoor Play
This article gives a summary of ways to make your outdoor play area conducive for young children.
Play Activities for Children Birth to Nine Years
A list of developmentally appropriate activities are categorized
for infants through school-age children.
Playground Safety
Each year, more than 200,000 children go to U.S. hospital emergency
rooms with injuries associated with playground equipment.
Cada ano mas de 200,000 de ninos vana las salas de emergencia de
los hospitales en los Estados Undios con lesicnes que les ha provocado
el equipo utilizado en areas de recreo infantiles
Seguridad para El Area de Recreo
Cada ano mas de 200,000 de ninos vana las salas de emergencia de los hospitales en los Estados Undios con lesicnes que les ha provocado el equipo utilizado en areas de recreo infantiles
What are They Learning? Seeing the Concepts and Skills
Children can learn through Play
Excellent charts on concepts and skills that children learn through play.
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READING AND WRITING READINESS
American Library Association
The Parents, Teens and Kids Division helps you find great books and web sites for kids.
Avisos útiles sobre la lectura para los padres - Públicados en ingles y espanol
Si quiere ayudar a su hijo o hija prepararse para aprender leer o enterarse como identificar un buen programa de lección prepatoria, le ayudará un folleto de la Asociación de Envolvimiento Familiar en Educación, públicado en inglés y espanol. Llame a 1-877-4-ED-PUBS.
Colorado Parent Information & Resource Center
This site has information on emerging literacy, activities for children and parents, and other internet resources. The CPIRC created a partnership of organizations throughout Colorado working to provide parents and professionals with the information and resources they need to increase parent involvement in learning. Even if you don't live in Colorado there are great resources on this site.
Early Childhood Educators' and Family Web Corner
This web corner has categories containing articles and links to sites that may be of interest to early childhood educators, parents, and teachers. You can find everything from brain research to ideas for activities on this site-a great resource!
Early Childhood & Literacy
The America Reads Challenge calls on Americans to support teachers to ensure that every child reads by the end of 3rd grade. This site has excellent resources that will help get children ready for
school.
Helping Your Child Become A Reader
This booklet has resources for families, caregivers, and children to help improve language skills.
Issues Of Language And Culture Impacting The Early Care Of Young Latino Children
This paper focuses on the consideration of cultural and linguistic continuity for Latino children. A review of the connection between early thinking, language, and culture is briefly presented to emphasize the importance of examining the issue. A discussion of two general areas follows: the social, historical, and political reasons for many of the views held about bilingualism and Latino children; and two misconceptions about language acquisition.
Literacy Education Resources: Early Childhood to High School
This site has links related to literacy education from early childhood
to the high school level.
The Office of Special Education Programs
This site links to resources for parents and teacher, including a link to "Learning to Read/Reading to Learn" and "Early Intervention Programs for Infants and Toddlers". You can find some great reading readiness ideas here.
Put Reading First: The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read (PDF)
Teaching children to read at an early age.
Reading Tips for Parents in English and Spanish
If you want to help your child prepare to read, or learn how to identify a
good early reading program, this free brochure from the Partnership for
Family Involvement in Education in English or Spanish will help.
1-877-4-ED-PUBS.
Start Early, Finish Strong: How to Help Every Child Become a Reader
By starting early, we address the fact that the roots of reading take hold well before children go to school. We cannot focus only on fourth-grade reading scores as the problem, because children's reading habits and skills are already well established by that age. We now know we should start much earlier-even from birth-to develop a child's reading ability. Research shows we can improve reading achievement by starting in early childhood to build cognitive and language skills. This series of articles looks at reading in the early years-the status and the challenge as parents and early caregivers play an essential role in laying the foundations for literacy by talking and reading daily to babies and toddlers
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SAFETY
Consumer Product Safety Commission-- Kidd Safety
Find different games and safety activities for kids on this site.
Sesame Street --- I Want to Be a Firefighter
In this book by Linda Lee Maifair, Grover learns about the fascinating career of the firefighter.
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SCIENCE
Climate Information and Services
Climate Information and Services help kids understand various climate and what effect it has on the environment.
Environmental Health Science
Learn more about human health and the world around us -- how scientists discover links between our well being and the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the buildings we live in. Check out this site from the National Institutes of Health.
EPA Office of Water
Projects, art and experiments to involve kids and students with environmental protection.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
This site has amazing facts and fun and about natural disasters. Look at "For Little Ones" to find some great activities and "For Teachers and Parents" to help you teach kids what to do in a disaster. There is even a section in Spanish!
Innovative Lives
Do you have a budding inventor in your group? This site introduces you to inventors and their inventions--they don't all come from the same backgrounds or have the same interests. There is no mold for being an inventor!!!! These inspiring stories bring out the inventor in all of us and encourage kids who like to try new things.
Insects
Like bugs? Have a child who wants to know more about them? This site helps you see insects for what they really are
Insect Eaters
People who study bugs and insects are called entomologists -- so what are people who eat insects called? Check out this page for the story of some very weird science. Anyone want a grasshopper snack?
Kidzone
The Department of Energy's mission is to foster a secure and reliable energy system that is environmentally and economically sustainable, to be a responsible steward of the Nation's nuclear weapons, to clean up our own facilities and to support continued United States leadership in science and technology. The Kidzone introduces kids to information about energy in simple language. Young children won't be able to use this page, but it will give you plenty to share with them.
Magnetism
Magnetism helps us find our way with a compass. It's what makes electric motors run. Did you know it's also responsible for the northern lights--the aurora borealis? Read about the history of magnetism and how it works. May the force be with you!
NASA
Teach kids about space flight and exploration, the importance of basic science-- all from NASA.
NASA Internet Resources for Students
This page is a compilation of kids' sites from all over NASA. Follow Echo the Bat using images from satellites as he migrates across Arizona. Or build a model of a Martian spacecraft and conduct your own exploration of the Red Planet. How about coloring pictures of comets with Captain Comet? Surf around enough and you'll find even more.
National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)*
Was this the rainiest April ever in your city? What was the weather like the day you were born? You're just a few clicks away from finding out, when you cruise over to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), the world's biggest collection of weather information.
National Zoo
The National Zoo is one of the best places to go to learn more about animals. But if you can't visit the real zoo in Washington DC, this page will bring the zoo to you! Check out the wild webcams, where you will see live video of real animals, from elephants to komodo dragons.
NWSFO Norman WWW Home Page - Spotter Guide
See what happens to a car during a tornado and why it's a bad idea to stay in one when these violent storms- some of them have winds of up to 300 mph-come around. The Storm Spotter's Guide explains how these long-lasting storms, called "super cell" thunderstorms, cause most of our really bad weather, including tornadoes and big hail. Learn how you can stay safe during all the different kinds of bad storms. Be sure to read the USA Today weather information on tornadoes
Oceans and the Atmosphere & Weather
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offer many educational activities. This site helps teachers, librarians and the general public find the many educational activities, publications, and booklets that have been produced.
Quest: NASA K-12 Internet Initiative
Check the links to online interative projects - new ones every year! Past projects have included " Live from Antarctica, " " Online Jupiter 1997," and Earth to Mars Activities." Ask the scientists questions, order-interesting materials, and help NASA decide what they will do next.
Satellites and Reconnaissance
The National Reconnaissance Office has some fun and educational activities for kids in kindergarten and older. They also have some links to other great space related educational sites.
Science Museums
An easy way to find a science museum near you.
The Space Place
"The Space Place" is a place where you can learn how to make Saturn, Asteroid Potatoes, pop rockets and other space objects. Great activites for toddlers and up!
Star Child
This is a learning center for young astronomers-help the kids find out about the earth, planets, stars, galaxies, the sun and more. It is a great resource for child care providers.
U.S. Geological Survey Learning Web
The Learning Web is dedicated to K-12 education, exploration, and life-long learning. Visit often and explore things on, in, around, and about the Earth such as plants and animals, land, water, and maps.
U.S. EPA Acid Rain Home Page
This page, from the Acid Rain Program of the Environmental Protection Agency, describes some of the things that are being done to stop acid rain and the destruction it causes. For handy student resources, click on" students and teachers."
U.S. EPA Explorers Club
Do you know what the EPA is? It's a government entity (how's that for a big word!) called the Environmental Protection Agency, and it makes sure everyone works to keep the air, land, and water safe and pure. There are a lot of other sites on this page that can help you understand the environment and our impact on it.
Volcano World Starting Points
This site has great information about volcanoes and how to become a volcanologist. It includes stories, lesson plans, and activities. Most of the site is geared toward older children, but there is some great background information for you to look at.
You Can & Acid Rain
Beakman and Jax answer the question " How can rain be acid? They talk about acid rain and show you how to make an acid tester. Use the acid tester to check the rain in your town to see if your area is being affected. Oops, there's one small detail you should know: you need to boil some cabbage to make the tester. So what, you say? Well, we'll let you discover that one on your own :-)
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SCHOOL READINESS
Child Trends
Child Trends is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that studies children, youth, and families through research, data collection, and data analysis.
Helping Your Preschool Child
How well children will learn and develop and how well they will do in school depends on a number of things, including their health and physical well-being, social and emotional preparation, and language skills and general knowledge of the world. This booklet highlights techniques parents can use to encourage their children to develop the skills necessary for success in school and life by focusing on activities that make learning fun.
School Readiness: Helping Communities Get Children Ready for School and Schools Ready for Children
Many communities have set themselves the ambitious goal of enhancing school readiness. But what does school readiness mean? Child Trends developed this Research Brief and other tools to help communities.
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SOCIAL STUDIES
CIA
Enter the zone of secret national security. You can introduce kids to the CIA-test your knowledge and theirs, take them on a virtual tour of the CIA, let them try disguises on an agent, and practice decoding messages.
Defense and National Security
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines: all of these branches of the military are parts of the U.S. Department of Defense. If you want to know more about the U.S. military, or about what the military is doing around the world right now, check out this site. And if you are curious about the Pentagon-the world's largest office building - you can take the Virtual Pentagon Tour.
Justice for Kids and Youth
Learn how to fight crime and to stand up for civil rights when you visit this U.S. Department of Justice site. Make sure to see the special section for kindergarten and elementary school students, where you will learn more about kids and the Internet, and how hateful acts can hurt others.
Library of Congress
Visit the U.S.' official library that was established when Thomas Jefferson donated all his books. The big asset here is Thomas, from here you can get an online copy of laws and statements the Congressmen have made in the Congressional Record. Try out their Collections and Services page to get a view of what's in the number 1 library in the U.S. That's a zillion words but it's all here.
U.S. Gazetteer
A quick way to find the county, state, area code, ZIP code, and latitude and longitude of a place in the United States is to check this resource. It is linked to the XEROX PARC Map Viewer, so once you find out that Prague, Arkansas, is in Grant County, ZIP code 05053, latitude 34 17 12 N, longitude 92 16 50 W, you can click on those coordinates to view the map.
U.S. House of Representatives
Find out how to write your Representative in the House. Get the facts about pending legislation, and get information about visiting the House in Washington, DC.
U.S. Senate
Find out how to write to your senators, learn more about senatorial committees, and get information about visiting the Senate in Washington, DC.
USPS ZIP+4 Code Lookup
This is a very useful service to look up U.S. ZIP codes. This site will give you, in most instances, a ZIP code for a street and town address you provide. This service is provided by the U.S. Postal Service. If you don't know your nine-digit ZIP code, this site will tell you, based on your address.
White House
The White House site will help you stay up-to-date on the Executive Branch of Government. Headline news, an extensive library of White House documents, and a history of the White House are all yours at the click of a button.
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Running a Program 
