Our children are going to need to use letters for their entire lives, so what better way to get them familiar with letters than by making them into toys? This alphabet craft can be completed in just thirty minutes, and can be used to teach letters, spelling, and phonetics for years. Here’s what to do:

Materials

This craft requires very few materials. You may have everything you need in your house already, but if you don’t, they can be easily be found in most general stores. All you need is:

• Playdough
• Glue
• Bottle caps (at least 36)
• Magnets (optional)

Step One

Once you’ve gathered all the materials, start by shaping the Playdough into the different letters of the alphabet. Make sure each letter is small enough to fit within the circumference of the bottle caps. Your kids can do this on their own, but you can give them a hand if they need it.

Step Two

Next, glue each Playdough letter onto the flat side of each bottle cap. Make sure you don’t use too much glue to keep the mess to a minimum. You don’t have to, but if you have some magnets, you can glue them to the other side of the bottle caps. That way you can stick them to the fridge!

Finally, have fun! Encourage your kids to make as many different words as they can with their bottle cap letters. Or, say a word and let your kids try and spell it out. What other fun and educational activities can you think of with these letters? Share your ideas with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using #mothergooseclub.

Whether you’re a veteran green-thumb or just trying to learn, tending to a garden is a wonderful way to get you and your kids out enjoying the summer weather and learning about our beautiful earth! There are lots of mental, physical and emotional benefits from gardening, so we’ve gathered up some tips and resources to get you and your family started.

Bring the Classroom Outside!

Gardening provides opportunities to introduce and engage first-hand with subjects like biology, geology, ecology and more.

For instance, weather directly affects what happens inside a garden, so try pointing out some of those connections to kids:

• Plants need water to grow, and you’ll be able to see how green and lively your garden will get after a few rain showers.
• Alternatively, a hot stretch can leave your soil a bit too dry. Balance is important!
• Frost is bad news for plants, so make sure to harvest before it gets too cold in winter.

Working within a garden makes biology concepts much more accessible. Keep the conversation going with some of these talking points:

• Plants need three things to grow: water, sunlight and air. They drink water from the ground with their roots, and they absorb sunlight and air in their leaves. Leaves are like sponges that soak up light and air.
• Sometimes we find holes in the leaves on our plants because bugs eat them! Caterpillars, for example, eat, eat and eat so they can rest in their cocoons and turn into beautiful butterflies!
• Some fruits and vegetables grow on vines, like tomatoes and grapes. Others grow on branches, like apples and avocados. And others grow in the ground, like potatoes and peanuts!
• It’s a good thing if you spot some worms crawling around. Worms eat soil and make food that’s yummy for plants!

Gardening also provides physical benefits. Digging holes and moving pots around requires some labor and strength. At the same time, planting seeds requires some meticulous attention to detail – good for fine motor skills!

Perhaps most importantly, it gives kids a good excuse to get a little dirty!

Gardening With Mother Goose Club

Mother Goose Club has plenty of resources that can help teach and inspire your young gardener! Check out the crafts and videos below.

• Bird Feeder Craft
• Spring Garden Craft
• The Planting Song Craft
• The Planting Song Video
• Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary Video

Share your gardening tips and experiences with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using #mothergooseclub!

Happy gardening!

Hey hey, do you want to play?
We’re going to the playground.
Our friends are here. Woohoo! let’s cheer,
Down at the playground.

We’ll swing up high, pretend to fly,
Up above the playground.
Climb monkey bars, travel to Mars,
We’ll lift off from the playground.

Play on the playground.
Let’s play on the playground.
We’re having fun. Let’s skip and run
All around the playground.

Let’s take a ride down the slide.
It’s fun at the playground.
Then spin around on the merry-go-round,
All around the playground.

We’ll make a friend and play pretend.
It’s awesome at the playground.
Dig in the sand. We’ll start a band.
Rock out on the playground.

Play on the playground.
Let’s play on the playground.
We’re having fun. Let’s skip and run
All around the playground.

OK now, whoa! we’ll take it slow
Here on the playground.
Let’s sit back and have a snack
And picnic on the playground.

The day is done. We’ll watch the sun
Setting on the playground.
Wave goodbye and give high fives
For a fun day on the playground.

Play on the playground.
Let’s play on the playground.
We’re having fun. Let’s skip and run
All around the playground.
I can’t wait to play on the playground.
I can’t wait to play on the playground,
On the playground.

View on YouTube!

As I was going to St. Ives,
I met a man with seven wives.
Every wife had seven sacks.
Every sack had seven cats.
Every cat had seven kits.
Kits, cats, sacks and wives,
How many were going to St. Ives?

View on YouTube!

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