Tagged with 'educational activities'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7Lf8iS39eI&feature=emb_logo Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Sahad Rivera Sonda, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 3-5Supplies:• Paper• Markers• Pipe cleaners in various colors• Tape• Design & Drill bolts in various colorsProcedure:1. Tape a piece of paper to the table.2. Tape the top end of 5 different colored pipe cleaners to the paper.3. Use a marker to write the numbers 1 through 5 next to the pipe cleaners.4. Ask your kid to match the color of the bolts with the pipe cleaner and to lace the number of bolts written on the paper.Sahad Rivera Sonda has dreamed of being a toy designer since she was a child in Mexico! Her passion for miniatures and other playful oddities (her collection includes everything from a plush churro to a miniature French fry) eventually led her to Otis College of Art and Design in California, where she obtained a degree in Toy Design. Sahad’s dreams came true when she landed a job with EI, designing the look and feel for many of our toys and games, including Playfoam Pals, Design & Drill and our plush line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT1ebCxvG7A&feature=emb_logo Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Sahad Rivera Sonda, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 3-7Supplies:• Paper• Marker• PlayfoamProcedure:1. Draw a character.2. Squish, squash and sculpt Playfoam to create clothes; let’s start with the dress.3. Let’s add some hair.4. Now add some hair bows.5. Then let’s add some shoes.6. Add polka dots and you’re done!Sahad Rivera Sonda has dreamed of being a toy designer since she was a child in Mexico! Her passion for miniatures and other playful oddities (her collection includes everything from a plush churro to a miniature French fry) eventually led her to Otis College of Art and Design in California, where she obtained a degree in Toy Design. Sahad’s dreams came true when she landed a job with EI, designing the look and feel for many of our toys and games, including Playfoam Pals, Design & Drill and our plush line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgDPEr9OmnQ&feature=emb_logo Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Janene Russell, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 2–4Keep your child busy with this fun fine motor activity.Supplies:• Strainer/colander• Shoe laceProcedure:Together with your child, thread the shoe lace through each hole of the colander. This builds great pencil gripping skills!Pro Tip: Try using colored pipe cleaners to add a color matching element.A former teacher and current mom of two young children, EI Product Manager Janene Russell has more than 15 years of early learning experience! This So Cal native puts her little kid knowledge to good use, guiding the development of the Bright Basics and GeoSafari Jr. lines, as well as various preschool games and classroom resources.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTrfRx_9n3c Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Janene Russell, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 3+Supplies:• Sticky notes• Crayons or markersProcedure:1. Together with your child, generate a list of people, places, and things.2. Draw them onto sticky notes.Tip: Draw the head separate from the body so you can make a new character, ex: a cat with a giraffe body! Have fun switching them around to create new fictional characters and story starters. The possibilities are endless.A former teacher and current mom of two young children, EI Product Manager Janene Russell has more than 15 years of early learning experience! This So Cal native puts her little kid knowledge to good use, guiding the development of the Bright Basics and GeoSafari Jr. lines, as well as various preschool games and classroom resources.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c41UozGgE2k&feature=emb_logoHome's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Sahad Rivera Sonda, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 3-5Supplies:• Design & Drill bolts in various colors• Pipe cleaners• Pencil• Scissors• Construction paper• Googly eyes• Stickers or markers to decorate your creaturesProcedure:Bolt Butterfly1. Fold paper in half, draw your wings and cut them out.2. Cut two openings on the center of the wings.3. Decorate your wings with stickers, markers or crayons.4. Cut two short pipe cleaners and roll one end towards the center, these will be the antennae.5. Insert both pipe cleaners through the hole of the bolt.6. Put the bolt through the opening on the wings.7. Add googly eyes and you’re done!Bolt Monster1. Cut pipe cleaners to the desired length, insert them through the bolt’s hole.2. Cut a mouth with an opening.3. Put the bolt through.4. Add googly eyes and you're done! Sahad Rivera Sonda has dreamed of being a toy designer since she was a child in Mexico! Her passion for miniatures and other playful oddities (her collection includes everything from a plush churro to a miniature French fry) eventually led her to Otis College of Art and Design in California, where she obtained a degree in Toy Design. Sahad’s dreams came true when she landed a job with EI, designing the look and feel for many of our toys and games, including Playfoam Pals, Design & Drill and our plush line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mow5lL4FKz4&feature=emb_logo Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Sahad Rivera Sonda, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 3-5Supplies:• Paper• Scissors• Spoon• Tape• Toilet Paper Roll• Playfoam PluffleProcedure:1. Cut two stems and a few leaves out of your construction paper.2. Tape the stems to a sheet of paper.3. Cut the toilet paper roll(s) in half, then cut each half into four shorter cylinders. Press each one in half to make a petal shape.4. Place the petals on top of the stems.5. Show your child how to spoon the Playfoam Pluffle into each “petal”, bringing your flower to colorful life and exercising those fine motor skills! Sahad Rivera Sonda has dreamed of being a toy designer since she was a child in Mexico! Her passion for miniatures and other playful oddities (her collection includes everything from a plush churro to a miniature French fry) eventually led her to Otis College of Art and Design in California, where she obtained a degree in Toy Design. Sahad’s dreams came true when she landed a job with EI, designing the look and feel for many of our toys and games, including Playfoam Pals, Design & Drill and our plush line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eALfa21BWCI&feature=emb_logo Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Michael Sheridan, one of our EI Product Managers!Ages: 5-12Grade: K-6Supplies:

• Baking Soda
• Liquid Dish Soap
• Water
• Vinegar
• Food Coloring (optional)

Procedure:

1. In a bowl, mix 1 cup of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap, and 1 teaspoon of water. Use your hands to mix it all together and shape into a ball. If you are adding food coloring, do that now.
2. If the ball wants to crumble, add a little more water. If it’s too fluid, add a little more baking soda.
3. Place the baking soda ball in the center of a large bowl.
4. Slowly pour about ¾ cup of vinegar over the top of the ball. Watch it erupt!

Explanation:This is a chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar. In this case, the baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid) react to form a gas called carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide created by this reaction escapes in the form of bubbles, causing the eruption you see.EI Product Manager Michael Sheridan is a jack of all trades! An avid surfer and former international soccer competitor, this outdoor and sporting enthusiast also has a degree in Astrophysics from UCLA and eight years of product development experience in a variety of industries. Prior to helping build EI's science products and brain game lines, Michael developed everything from folding chairs to electric scooters and skateboards!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUZdYNPEycI&feature=emb_logo Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Michael Sheridan, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 4+Grades: Pre-K and upSupplies:• Cardboard box• Scissors• Marker• TapeProcedure:1. Cut the short flap off a cardboard box.2. Mark 5 even lines about ¾ - 1” wide and cut them out.3. Mark each cardboard strip with a number from 1-5. These will be the points for each peg.4. Fold the strips in different lengths so that 5 is the shortest and most difficult. 1 should be the easiest. You can skip this step if you have little ones who might have difficulty getting the ring on a peg.5. Tape the strips to the inside of the box at different locations. We use two in the top row, one in the very center, and two on the bottom row for plenty of spacing.6. From the remaining piece of cardboard, cut out 2 rings. If you have more than 2 players, use the flap from the opposite side of the box to make more.7. Let the games begin!Game ideas: Throw the ring around the pegs. Play first to 10 or 20 to build their math skills while they play. You can also play where only odd or even numbers count.EI Product Manager Michael Sheridan is a jack of all trades! An avid surfer and former international soccer competitor, this outdoor and sporting enthusiast also has a degree in Astrophysics from UCLA and eight years of product development experience in a variety of industries. Prior to helping build EI's science products and brain game lines, Michael developed everything from folding chairs to electric scooters and skateboards!