Your Child Will Learn
Observing different characteristics of non-living objects
Here’s What to Do
- Without your child looking, gather objects from around the house made out of different materials (like: wood, metal, stone, cloth, plastic). Example objects: a wooden spoon, metal house keys, teddy bear, a rock, a plastic figurine.
- Ask your child to close their eyes (or wear a blindfold). Put one object into a large bag or pillowcase.
- Have your child reach into the bag with their eyes closed. Can they guess what the object is without looking at it? If they need a hint, prompt them to think about the object’s size, shape, texture, weight, and temperature.
- Repeat! Your child can also try to stump you by choosing different objects and letting you be the guesser.
Put PEER Into Action
PAUSE
- Find a quiet space and sit down together with your child. You’re ready to focus!.
ENGAGE
- “Can you guess what’s in the bag without looking at it?”
- “How did you figure out what it was? What else do you notice about the object now that you can see it?”
ENCOURAGE
- Help your child figure it out: “What kind of texture does it have? How heavy is it? What shape does it feel like? Is it big or small? Does it make a sound?”
- Give hints without giving the answer, like: “It is made out of metal, but it’s not my keys. Try feeling the shape again.”
REFLECT
- Which was the hardest to guess? The easiest? Why?
Not Quite Ready
Show your child all the items first before you put one in the bag.
Ready for More
After all the items are guessed, have your child sort them by material type.
As Your Child Masters This Skill
They will begin to describe characteristics of non-living objects.
Time to Complete
20 minutes
Materials Needed
Objects from around the house made out of different materials (like: wood, metal, stone, cloth, plastic), a large bag or pillowcase