Family Learning Bags
Family learning bags are something that you use throughout the year. They will be differentiated for each family and the child depending on their developmental level and what their background experiences are. Children in some cases are even able to work on the bags here and there by themselves. It promotes learning and family time instead of sitting down and doing something that should have been taught at school. Family time is something we can never get back. Families can also request what bag a child is going to receive!
Here are examples of just a few bags! Think outside the box, have fun with this! :)
Themed bags: Sports/fall/winter/spring/number/shapes/colors/farm animals/healthy eating/books you are reading in class/insects and spiders etc.
In a Themed bag:
*The bag should be colorful/eye catching/fun (Children want to take it home)
*The bag should contain hands on engaging books, puzzles, stickers activities that enrich whatever theme you are working on. For example if you are doing fall: 1. Go on a fall walk with your family. 2. Collect objects in the plastic sack in your Fall bag and bring to school at the end of the week. 3. Take at least 2 pictures of you and your family and send to_______ so we can share with the classroom community.
*The bag should contain all materials that you would like the students to use and or bring back.
*checklists are best
*Directions are important.
*You will be able to tie all of your themes and activities to your curriculum that you are teaching in the classroom.
Family Cooking Bag: This is fun to do throughout the year. (You can get much of the food donated).
*The bag should contain a letter explaining what the bag is about.
*The bag should include all ingredients that the family will need.
*The bag should include a picture of the recipe
*The bag should include measuring cups, tips and tricks on how to prepare the food, and maybe a picture of you cooking the meal.
*I would send home a disposable camera or ask them to take pictures as a family while cooking the meal, setting the table and what the meal looked like when they were finished cooking.
*You can tie cooking with many different skills that you are teaching in your classroom and with the curriculum.
Healthy Family Bag:
*This bag will contain things such as a basketball, soccer ball, jump rope, a parachute etc (A different one each time)
*You will provide directions for the family.
*You will ask for pictures.
*You can even ask for videos of the family engaging.
*This bag will cover many topics and concepts required for your curriculum.
Game Bag:
There are so many fun and educational/kid/family games. Here is a great list: Family Game Night: Best Educational Board Games for Kids.
*Pick a bag
*Pick a game, puzzle, book or brain activity for the family to do together. For older families and children "Stories with Holes" are SO much fun.
*Brain puzzles are fun
*Puzzles in general are fun
*Stay on top of new fun/family friendly games that you can begin collecting (Try to have two sets, one for the bag and one for your classroom)!
*The game bag will cover many of the skills you are teaching in your given curriculum.
Get to Know you Better Bag:
This is a fun bag to do at the beginning of the year and then change it out throughout the seasons etc.
*This bag may have a camera
*This bag may ask a family to document themselves attending church, the park, events, birthdays etc.
*Ask the family to go to their favorite restaurant and document it with a photo
*Have the family take a family questionnaire or record themselves interviewing each other.
*This bag is limitless on the fun things you can do.
Here are examples of just a few bags! Think outside the box, have fun with this! :)
Themed bags: Sports/fall/winter/spring/number/shapes/colors/farm animals/healthy eating/books you are reading in class/insects and spiders etc.
In a Themed bag:
*The bag should be colorful/eye catching/fun (Children want to take it home)
*The bag should contain hands on engaging books, puzzles, stickers activities that enrich whatever theme you are working on. For example if you are doing fall: 1. Go on a fall walk with your family. 2. Collect objects in the plastic sack in your Fall bag and bring to school at the end of the week. 3. Take at least 2 pictures of you and your family and send to_______ so we can share with the classroom community.
*The bag should contain all materials that you would like the students to use and or bring back.
*checklists are best
*Directions are important.
*You will be able to tie all of your themes and activities to your curriculum that you are teaching in the classroom.
Family Cooking Bag: This is fun to do throughout the year. (You can get much of the food donated).
*The bag should contain a letter explaining what the bag is about.
*The bag should include all ingredients that the family will need.
*The bag should include a picture of the recipe
*The bag should include measuring cups, tips and tricks on how to prepare the food, and maybe a picture of you cooking the meal.
*I would send home a disposable camera or ask them to take pictures as a family while cooking the meal, setting the table and what the meal looked like when they were finished cooking.
*You can tie cooking with many different skills that you are teaching in your classroom and with the curriculum.
Healthy Family Bag:
*This bag will contain things such as a basketball, soccer ball, jump rope, a parachute etc (A different one each time)
*You will provide directions for the family.
*You will ask for pictures.
*You can even ask for videos of the family engaging.
*This bag will cover many topics and concepts required for your curriculum.
Game Bag:
There are so many fun and educational/kid/family games. Here is a great list: Family Game Night: Best Educational Board Games for Kids.
*Pick a bag
*Pick a game, puzzle, book or brain activity for the family to do together. For older families and children "Stories with Holes" are SO much fun.
*Brain puzzles are fun
*Puzzles in general are fun
*Stay on top of new fun/family friendly games that you can begin collecting (Try to have two sets, one for the bag and one for your classroom)!
*The game bag will cover many of the skills you are teaching in your given curriculum.
Get to Know you Better Bag:
This is a fun bag to do at the beginning of the year and then change it out throughout the seasons etc.
*This bag may have a camera
*This bag may ask a family to document themselves attending church, the park, events, birthdays etc.
*Ask the family to go to their favorite restaurant and document it with a photo
*Have the family take a family questionnaire or record themselves interviewing each other.
*This bag is limitless on the fun things you can do.