WonderWorks: Measuring Size (Math)

Is it bigger, smaller, shorter, taller?

After a bit of a hiatus for some family leave, I'm back!  Let's dive back in to WonderWorks.

Today's Topic: Measuring (a math skill)
Supplies:
a variety of measuring tools (rulers, yard sticks, measuring tapes, etc.)
a variety of small, similarly-sized objects (paperclips, pennies, washers, pony beads, etc.)
a variety of things to measure (books, shoes, paper, carpets, whatever)


Book:
  How big were dinosaurs? / Judge, Lita

Craft Lab: Billboard Bags

Recycling an unusual material is inspiring!

Today's project:  sewing with reclaimed billboard material
Supplies: 
 a discarded billboard banner
sewing machines
rotary cutters, rulers and self-healing cutting mats

The question you're all wondering:  How did you get a billboard?
My answer:  I was in the right place at the right time.  There's a "small" billboard near my house and occasionally, I happen to drive by when they're switching the ad.  Most of the time, I don't have time to pull over right at that moment, but one day, I did!  I asked the billboard worker whether or not I could take the ad he'd just removed and he said, "Sure!  Otherwise, it just gets thrown away."

The other question you're all wondering:  What does it feel like and is it easy to cut/sew?
My answer:  it's basically like a woven plastic.  It's strong and doesn't stretch at all, but it cuts VERY easily (almost too easily... don't get your finished bags near any sort of blade...).  Almost any project that you can find on Pinterest made from fused plastic shopping bags can also be made from this material.  It's also enormous.  Even though this was a "small" billboard (not on the highway), unfolded, it nearly filled half of our meeting room.

Looking for things to do at home?

If the late winter/early spring weather has your family house-bound and you're searching for some new ideas to try out with the kids, check out these resources:

The Early Literacy Calendar of Wisconsin -- with activities for each day of the year, aligned with early learning goals, you're bound to find some great options here!

Sesame Street Family Play -- an app that gives you ideas for simple games to play together with your child(ren), tailored to your surroundings and materials on hand (spoons, shoes, hats, everyday types of things).  The app also gives information about what your child is learning through each game.

Knoala -- a free app I've just discovered that is full of ideas for activities, story starters and more.  It's got an easy-to-use interface and a great filter so that you can narrow down the activities to exactly the type of thing you're looking for right away.

If any of you try these out, I'd love to hear about your experiences with them.  Any other top-notch recommendations?  Tell us about them in the comments below!

WonderWorks: Ramps + Textures

Exploring ramps was fun, let's try adding one extra element and see what happens!

Today's Topic: Friction (or Textured Ramps)
Supplies:
lengths of wooden cove molding
blocks
cardboard carpet tubes (optional)
things to slide down the ramps (balls, cars, marbles, blocks, etc.)
different textures to add to the ramps (foil, felt, fleece, foam sheets, burlap, silk, slate, sandpaper, etc.)

Book:  
Chicken chickens / Gorbachev, Valeri

Tails / Van Fleet, Matthew