News for Black Hills Early Learners
We are here to bring you fun activities for any child ages 0-5 years. We hope you find this useful and helpful during this very unusual time. Happy learning!
At the end of each activity you will find
South Dakota Early Learning Guidelines
domain and goal for the activity.
For a copy of the Early Learning Guidelines click on the photo.
Infant Corner
Activities for children under 1
Development
More and more infants are spending time each day in some type of child care setting. All children—especially infants and toddlers—need a child care setting where they can thrive with caregivers who understand how to promote their healthy growth and development. The following article helps parents know what to look for and questions to ask when choosing quality care for their infant.
Play


Wrap a plastic ball in masking tape with the sticky side up and let your infant explore how it feels. Toddlers will enjoy this activity too.
Construction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning Goal CD-2

Boxes are so much fun! There's no need to buy fancy blocks. Wrap up some smaller boxes (such as cereal boxes or shoe boxes) with wrapping paper and allow your baby to handle them and rip them open. Help your baby stack the boxes and knock them over.
Construction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning Goal CD-2
Busy Toddlers
Activities for children 1-3
Physical/Outdoor
Toddlers use fine motor skills to wrap white yarn into mummies.
Motor Development Goal HPD-5

Shape ghost footprint activity will get toddlers moving. Put spooky music on and enjoy the silliness.
Motor Development Goal HPD-4

Make a web obstacle course inside using black streamers.
Motor Development Goal HPD-4
Science/Sensory

Monster Muck Sensory tub is easy to make with just shaving cream and cornstarch.
Construction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning Goal CD-1

Here is a Fall leaves sensory bin. If you don't have access to acrylic leaves you try adding real leaves.
Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-8

Sensory bottles are perfect to use for a calm down tool.
Construction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning Goal CD-1
Literacy/Math

After carving a pumpkin make pumpkin experience books.
Foundations For Writing Goal CLL-9

This song sung to the tun of The Wheels on the Bus can be used for a leaf theme and is packed with literacy learning opportunities.
Communication and Oral Language Development: Goal CLL-3

Get a pumpkin bucket and some plastic spiders or spider rings. Have the kids toss them into the bucket. How many land in the bucket? How many land outside of the bucket?
Mathematical Thinking and Expression Goal CD-4

Social Emotional
Cover a square tissue box in solid colored contact paper. Make Emotion Dice by placing a picture on each side with various emotion faces. Roll the dice and make a face in the mirror like the one on the dice. Or use the link below to print and make dice.
Self-Regulation and Pro-Social Behaviors Goal SED-6

Create a lesson around the book Sometimes I'm Bombaloo.
Sometimes when Katie loses her temper she uses her feet and fists instead of her words. The Book Nook link below has lesson plan ideas.
Self-Regulation and Pro-Social Behaviors Goal SED-5
Hands-On Preschoolers
Activities for children 4-5
Physical/Outdoor

Make a Halloween fine motor tray to help preschoolers explore and use their small muscles.
Motor Development Goal HPD-5

Lifting different size pumpkins and rolling them down your slide is a fun gross motor activity for preschoolers.
Motor Development Goal HPD-4
Here are a few ways to get kids moving outside with a Halloween twist.
Physical Health and Growth Goal HPD-2
Science/Sensory
Some spooky and fun witch's potion is a perfect Halloween sensory activity for preschoolers.
Construction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning Goal CD-1

Have you ever read Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell? It’s a story of a boy and his pumpkin and what he discovers about it. Carve your own Pumpkin Jack and look at the rotting process which is awesome science for kids.
Link to Read Aloud Pumpkin Jack
Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-8
Literacy/Math
Create a simple pumpkin writing center at home or in the classroom.
Foundations For Writing Goal CLL-10

Several math activities can be accomplished while exploring different size pumpkins.
Mathematical Thinking and Expression Goal CD-6
Creative Arts

Make this glue and salt spiderweb craft. Great activity to pair with with Eric Carle's The Very Busy Spider.
Constuction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning Goal CD-2

Plunger painting is a fun activity for preschoolers. Use orange paint and make a pumpkin patch outside.
Creative Arts and Expression Goal CD-12