Play Learn Grow Together

Learning Together Joyfully: Medley of June Activities

Welcome to educators, parents, care-givers and grandparents. What does Father’s Day, National Indigenous Peoples Day, pets, summer solstice and the night sky have in common? They all take place in June! How do pets fit in? Hmmm – as summer approaches children will have more time to spend caring for and enjoying the emotional support from their pets or they may even have the opportunity to assist in the training of a new pet. Some pets can mean extra work but keep in mind the many positive benefits for children and the family. Read on and hopefully you will find a variety of June activities, pets or not, that will continue to inspire you to join in with your children to play, learn and grow together joyfully.

“Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story. Learning involves patience and time. ” — First Peoples Principles of Learning – BC Ministry of Education

1.  Read together 📚

On June 21, Canadians celebrate National Indigenous History Month to honour the history, heritage and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada. It is also an opportunity to recognize the strength of present-day Indigenous communities. Reading books is one way to develop our children’s appreciation and acknowledgement of the contributions First Nations, Inuit and Métis people have made in shaping Canada.  (Check out the downloadable poster on the Resources section of the playlearngrowtogether.com website.) Consider sharing and adding the following books to your classroom library or borrow them from your school or public library.

Book selections to highlight National Indigenous History Month, Father’s Day, Pets, Summer Solstice, and the Night Sky! 

• What to Look For in Summer by Elizabeth Jenner explores the secrets of summer including summer storms and the solstice.
• My Dad by Susan Quinn is a joyous celebration of fatherhood and all the everyday things this child loves to do with his dad. This is a special reading experience between a child and their father.
• Dog Training for Kids: Fun and Easy Ways to Care for Your Furry Friend  by Vanessa Estrada Marin.  Kids learn how to be caring and responsible dog owners by learning simple steps and easy-to-follow instructions about house training, essential commands, leash training and more.  
• A Kid’s Guide to Cats: How to Train, Care for, Play and Communicate with Your Amazing Pet! By Arden Moore. This book equips kids with everything they need to know to be great caretakers and companions.
• The Barnabus Project by Terry Fan. This poignant and magical story, placed in a world built for Perfect Pets, is about imperfect Barnabus who is half mouse, half elephant, and kept out of sight until his dreams of freedom lead him and his misfit friends on a perilous adventure. 
• Hey Little Rockabye: A Lullaby for Pet Adoption by Buffy Sainte-Marie. This heartfelt picture book is about pet adoption based on a song written by the well-known Canadian indigenous singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie. In this tender picture book about finding love and acceptance, a puppy is looking for someone to adopt him and a little girl who desperately wants him.
• National Geographic Readers: Night Sky by S. Drimmer. Kids learn all about the night sky, from the moon to constellations to planets, in this new National Geographic Reader. The text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging information for beginning readers.
• Vincent Can’t Sleep: Van Gogh Paints the Night Sky by Barb Rosenstock. Vincent van Gogh was often unable to sleep and wandered under starlit skies which was the inspiration for many paintings including The Starry Night. 
• Together read aloud some favorite books related to our medley of June activities by clicking on the video links below:
  • A Promise is a Promise (15:36 mins.) by Robert Munsch and Michael Kusgak. Allashua wants to go fishing in the cracks in the sea ice but her mother tells her not to because of the Qallupilluit who grab children. Allashua promises she will fish in the nearby lake instead but does she stay true to her word?
  • Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox (3:25 mins.) by Danielle Daniel is a children’s introduction to totem animals in the Anishinaabe tradition. Short poems accompanied by illustrations of children wearing masks explains how animals can guide us as we seek to understand ourselves and our place in the world.
  • When We Were Alone,(5:15 mins.) read by author David Robertson, is a story about the author’s grandmother who by sharing her experiences when she attended residential school, help all of us to better understand the many challenges. 
    • Go Show the World (4:13 mins.) by Wab Kinew celebrates Indigenous people and their achievements. This inspirational non-fiction picture book showcases a diverse group of 13 Indigenous people. 
  • The Night Before Father’s Day by Natasha Wing (4:42 mins.) is about how a family planned a special surprise for Father’s Day! This book highlights ways to celebrate dads everywhere with bike rides, car washes, and more.
  • Hair Twins (3:21 mins.) read by author Raakhee Mirchandani is a touching story about a Sikh father and daughter who share a special bond as they proudly celebrate family traditions related to their hair. Her favorite style is when he styles her hair in a bun just like the joora he wears every day under his turban. (3:21 mins.)
  • Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express (2:04 mins.) by Megan McDonald When three guinea pigs from the local pet shop make a great escape, Stink Moody and his friends spring into action. These Fur Friends go on an adventure to find good homes for 101 squealing, whistling, chirping, wiggly piggies.
  • Summer  (8:32 mins.) by Alice Low explores many activities and experiences that children enjoy and associate with summer.

SING ABOUT JUNE ACTIVITIES 

• Enjoy singing about June, Father’s Day, Summer Solstice, Space and Pets:
  • It’s the month of June (2:02 mins.)
  • Summer Solstice (1:05 mins.) 
  • My Dad  (2:51 mins.)      
  • My Daddy is the Best (3:14 mins.)
  • Hey Little Rockabye: A Lullaby for Pet Adoption by Buffy Sainte-Marie 
  • Outer Space: “We are the Planets,” The Solar System Song  
  • The Planets of our Solar System Song

2. Create together: Crafts, Drawing and Constructing 🧩 

• After reading the book Vincent Can’t Sleep, children may be inspired to create their own Van Gogh Starry Night painting on foil or consider exploring another of his famous paintings and create a mixed media picture of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
  • Children who are more adept at drawing, may enjoy making and creating Van Gogh’s Sunflowers guided by a member of London’s National Gallery. 
• Create 20 activities to do for Father’s Day that will make Dad, Granddad or a special father figure feel extra-special.
• Choose from 20 different homemade Father’s Day card ideas that are simple for kids to make. Dad will love and treasure the special card!
• Children can make Dad or Granddad a special crafty gift! Here are 27 easy peasy Father’s Day crafts for kids to make for their No.1 Dads.
• As children wonder more about the summer solstice, you may be interested to join them in making their own sundial or for specific instructions watch a video (1:06 mins.) on how to create one.
• Create a starry night sky in your child’s bedroom with a Night Sky Projection Kit or play the Night Sky card game with 52 different constellations representing the different seasons. What a fun way to share in your child’s wonder and curiosity as you check out the summer solstice and the night sky together! 

3. Explore together 🌍

Our amazingly large and beautiful sky can help children understand their place in the world and universe. During this Spring and June there have been several unique displays in the sky reported in the news which may have sparked your children’s curiosity. You can encourage and support their interest by enjoying books, sharing an app, or joining them as you sit outside together, observing the night sky and discussing the mysteries of our amazing universe.

• Check out the upcoming events at the HR Macmillan Space Centre or explore NASA’s suggested observations in the June night sky or Google Earth or view the Stellarium Web Online Star Map. 
• Space apps may be another way to explore the universe’s greatness with children. StarMap is a point-and-learn app which can be used by guiding your child through the night sky, and ISS Spotter warns about when and where to catch a glimpse of the International Space Station passing overhead.
• Watch the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge. Check the PDT timing to observe the sunrise and sunset around June 20, 2021. 
• Read about cultural centres, museums and contemporary art galleries throughout Vancouver that represent the indigenous cultures of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations. as you plan upcoming visitations.
• After reading the story about Vincent Van Gogh and supporting your child to create their own artistic  “masterpiece”, enjoy a virtual tour of the Van Gogh Museum to view his famous paintings.

4. Engage and Interact: 👭 Pets, Dads and the Summer Solstice!

After our experiences this year, some children may be showing signs of additional stress, so caring and taking responsibility for a pet can positively benefit a child’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. Adopting a pet maybe an option to consider for the classroom or for your family. Research highlights the positive influence human-animal interaction has on a child with any pet whether it be a cat, dog, guinea pig or something more exotic! Most pets are nonjudgmental, forgiving, and offer support by openly and spontaneously displaying their feelings of affection. All of this can increase children’s emotional expression and lower stress levels.

• Dog lovers? 
  • Encourage your child to interact with a new puppy by involving them in the training process. Consider some names for your new puppy or cat. 
  • Consider encouraging your child to train your mature dog to do tricks.
• Cat lovers? Involve your child in their training as they learn how to maintain your cat’s health.
• If you and your child have made Dad a special card and craft – what’s left? Here are 5 father-child cooking projects to celebrate Father’s Day.
• Learn more about the science behind the Summer Solstice (3:45 mins.) or enjoy a thorough discussion with even more detail. (5:54 mins.)

5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day 💭

• Read what science tells us about the Influence of Fathers on their children’s development and watch a video (5:05 mins.) explaining the importance of Roughhousing during play. Learn how roughhousing contributes to make kids more resilient, as well as morally and socially adept.

• Read more about Roughhouse play and how it builds social intelligence as children learn to tell the difference between play and aggression and learn to take turns and cooperate so the fun continues. 

• Check out the Resources section of the Playlearngrowtogether.com website to view, highly regarded author, Monique Gray Smith’s video where she offers strategies to support families, caregivers, and educators when they undertake conversations with children about Residential Schools. She also provides titles of Indigenous authors “who are both bringing the truth to light, but also the joy of our people to light.”

Upcoming July Blog: Summer Sun and Fun 

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