IdeaShare

We used contact paper and sticky notes to put the letters in order from A-Z.

• file: IMG_0848.HEIC

My 3 year old son loves trains so I had him line up the alphabet cards in order to make a "train". Then I told him to give each letter a train ticket (the number cards) to that that can ride on the train. Then we imagined riding the train to the Arctic to meet the Musk Ox herd.

When we put the letter flashcards in alphabetical order, I had my child make a single row on the floor. Then below each letter, my child placed the corresponding number card. We went a step further than the manual and then played a game where I would ask my child to remove a letter from the row based on its lo cation. For example, I would ask, "Find the 11th letter of the alphabet." My child would then use the number flash card to help them locate the letter and promptly remove it. We did this until all cards had been removed. It helped to emphasize the order of letters in the alphabet and was a fun game at the same time!

We too had the foam alphabet puzzle from Dollar Tree. So we expanded on the idea another MBTP parent had posted where they had used an alphabet puzzle in place of the flash cards. I took the letters from the puzzle and hid them throughout the living area to create a letter hide and seek game. After a letter was found, I had my child say the letter before putting it in the puzzle.

Discussed the difference between how humans and animals communicate. Animals don't use words or alphabet but have their own sounds & body language. Named various animals and how they communicate. Discussed the role of body language in our communication. Looked at pictures in the A is for Musk Ox book and interpreted what the characters were feeling just by facial expressions alone.

• link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqPSTLJGaho

We didn't have the materials pack yet and wanted to get started on a school schedule so we just improvised on week 1. I got a foam alphabet puzzle from the dollar store and my son has loved using it in lieu of the flashcards. The one below from Amazon is similar to ours. He's loved the interactive learning.

• link: https://www.amazon.com/Alphabet-Numbers-Foam-Puzzle-DDI/dp/B005WBDW20

My son loves the Kratts Brothers, so this episode is great to watch sometime during this week! We subscribe to the PBS channel on Amazon Prime, but you should be able to find it elsewhere! Enjoy!

• link: https://wildkratts.fandom.com/wiki/Musk_Ox_Mania

We tried this the way it was written and my 3yo was a bit bored with the concept. Especially after just counting the letters in activity 1. So instead, we made it a game. We threw the cards all around the living room floor and made her "hunt" for the letters like a wolf would hunt a musk ox, using the book or the ABC song as our guide. After every letter I would ask her what letter was next and then say "know, song or book?" (as in - do you know it? do you want to sing the song to find out? or do you need to look in the book?) It was a lot more energized than just putting them in order. At the end, when inevitably we were missing 6 numbers, she decided to make her own 6 number cards (21-26). This applied scissor use, number writing and then obviously numbering the last 6 letters. All in all it made the simple activity a bit more fun!

that he loves reenacting musk oxen headbutting. So we have him charge at a stuff animal over and over again.

At this age, I rip the pages out (I don't do all the worksheets) and hang them on the wall in alphabetical order even though it is not introduced in abc order. They love to see their works of art on the walls. We have a long hallway. I love walking down the hallway and see my son's musk ox all in yarn!