Taking School Outside

It's spring here on the coast so that means some days are just simply "going outside" days.  Today is one of those days.  To put it mildly, the day is simply divine.  There is a light breeze enough to blow away the sand gnats, no clouds in the sky, and a mild, 83 degrees.  Today we played a new game I made up.  It's called "Jump".  We play it with the alphabet, a Hundred Chart, chalk, and a blank section of the driveway.  (I think all parents know the trick of making up games to keep their children occupied and the parental sanity intact.)

First the alphabet jump.  I wrote out the alphabet in lower and uppercase letters at the edge of the driveway.  For Boy Wonder #2, the preschooler, I called out sounds.  He jumped to letter that matches the sound.  I also called out letters and he jumped to the letter.  For Boy Wonder #1, I called out words and made him spell out the letters by jumping on them.  They had a great time until Girl Wonder #1 decided write her own letters over mine.  She did have fun jumping with the boys.

Next came the number jump.  Using a hundred chart I drew on the driveway, Boy Wonder #1 worked on reciting counting by 2's, 5', and 10's.  Then we attempted simple addition facts, until Boy Wonder #2 and Girl Wonder #1 joined in the action.  Then we just practiced counting by jumping on the numbers.

Then we did everyone's favorite driveway game-hopscotch.  Boy Wonder #1 drew the game yesterday afternoon during another beautiful coastal afternoon.  He was so happy to be able to draw his own hopscotch board.  Boy Wonder #2 and Girl Wonder #1 joined in the fun, throwing rocks and jumping wherever they felt like it.