Are you looking for some fun and interesting activities to do with your child that will help them learn about the great state of Ohio? Look no further! Below are some suggestions that will make for a memorable learning experience as you teach your child about Ohio, and have fun in the process.
Tickle Your Child with a Teaser
Learning does not have to be boring. Start your day off with a riddle, and get your child thinking about the state you are studying. Perhaps while serving breakfast, you can start the morning conversation off with a poem that will get capture your child's attention:
Today we are going to learn about a state
With Lake Erie to the north, it is considered great
The cardinal is the official state bird
Can you guess the state's name?
It's a four letter word!
Give your child time to think about what the state name is, and when he or she guesses correctly, lavish on the praise. Enthusiasm is contagious and your child will enjoy starting off the activity with lots of positive energy. Now ask your child to spell the state name. A fun activity that reinforces correct spelling, is to have your child spell out the state name using a supply of magnetic letters and an old metal cookie sheet. Once your child correctly spells the state on the cookie sheet, praise him. Great job!
During breakfast you can discuss some of the facts that you just shared in the poem. For example, ask your child if they know what type of bird a cardinal is. Depending on the age of your child, you can ask him about the color of the cardinal. Has your child ever seen a cardinal? Perhaps you will want to serve some tomato juice along with the breakfast. You can slide in the fact that tomato juice is the official state beverage. Discuss a bit about Lake Erie, and possibly what major Ohio cities are near this Great Lake. This can transition into discussion about the state's resources and top commodities like soybeans, corn and hay. You can also transition into information on the state's capital, Columbus. Or perhaps discuss some of the other state symbols, like the state tree which is the Buckeye. Has your child ever heard of a buckeye tree? At this point you can tell your child that you have a fun craft project planned, and that later you both will be making buckeyes!
Craft an Ohio Beanbag
Your child can easily make a cute beanbag which will be in the shape of the state of Ohio. This simple project requires no sewing and can be made for less than $1. Many of the materials needed are items that are probably already in your home. Here's what you will need:
2 small sheets of colored felt (you may want to choose red and gray to represent the scarlet and gray colors of Ohio State University).
Rice or dried beans (to use as filling)
Tacky glue or liquid fabric adhesive
marker
Scissors
To make the beanbag, simply google an image of the state of Ohio, or visit a website such as http://www.apples4theteacher.com/coloring-pages/usa/ state-outline/ohio.html to get an outline which will be used as a template for the beanbag. Cut out the image and trace it atop both pieces of felt, so that you have two identical shapes of the state. Next, you will want to glue most of the outer perimeter of the felt, adhering the two pieces of felt together. Be sure to leave a small opening in one area, however, so that your beans or rice can be later inserted when the material dries. After the material completely dries, you can place the dried rice or beans inside, and glue up the edge. Viola! Now you have a cute beanbag in the shape of Ohio. Your child may want to write the state name on the front, which can be easily labeled with a marker.
Make a Batch of Buckeyes
The buckeye tree is the official state tree of Ohio. If you are fortunate enough to have a real buckeye on hand, you can show your child how the tree got its name. The buckeye nut resembles the eye of a buck or male deer. The nut is chestnut brown colored, with a lighter circular eye. The nut of the buckeye tree is often hailed as a good luck charm, but the nuts are not consumed. You can tell your child that you both are going to make up some edible buckeyes, however, and you are certain he will enjoy them very much. Here are the simple ingredients to make this delicious treat:
1 cups of peanut butter
cup of margarine or butter
1 lb of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 cups of chocolate chips
Small amount of vegetable shortening (such as Crisco)
Soften the butter or margarine, and mix it with the peanut butter, vanilla and powdered sugar. Shape into 1 balls, to be placed in the refrigerator. Next, melt the chocolate with a bit of vegetable shortening in a double boiler. Insert a toothpick into the refrigerated balls, and dip into the melted chocolate, leaving a small area uncovered (to resemble a buckeye). Cool on wax paper, and store in a refrigerator or freezer. Your completed buckeye candy should look something like this, http://www.fourseasonsbakehouse.com/images/buckeyes- classic%20dark%20chocolate.JPG
Learn a Song
Now that your child has learned a few interesting facts about the state of Ohio, and enjoyed some tasty buckeye candy, you can finish the afternoon off with a song. This little jingle is sure to be a tune your child will remember. Not only that, you will be impressed with how much information about the great state of Ohio that your child has learned after sharing dialogue and information, making the craft and enjoying the candy buckeyes. Now that's something to sing about!
What is round on the ends and HI in the middle?
Tell me if you know, don't you think that's a cute little riddle?
Round on the end and HI in the middle
You can find it on the map if you look high and low,
The O's are round, it's high in the middle. O-H-I-O, that's the riddle!
Round on the end, and HI in the middle!
O-HI-O!