Toys 
Words 
Words Level 1:​ ​ ​ball, bicycle, doll, teddy bear, toy train 
Words Level 2:​ blocks, coloring book, crayons, jump rope, puzzle, yo-yo 
 

Getting Started 
● Look at the words together (Level 1 or Level 1 and 2, depending on your child) 
and say them out loud. Which of the toys do you have at home? Make a special 
card for each one and attach it to the toy. Help your child write the word on one 
side of the card. On the other side of the card, let your child practice writing the 
word (it’s okay for their words to have mistakes!)   
 
 
Practice 
● All Aboard the Animal Train!​ For this activity you need an empty box, or (even 
better) several empty shoeboxes to make a “train.” If you use shoeboxes, 
connect them with clothespins or paperclips. Now push the train around the 
room looking for any animal toys, like teddy bears, other stuffed animals or 
plastic animal figures. At each “stop” your child can say the name of each 
animal, and then “choo choo!” before moving on. 
● Tidy Toys! T​ his is a perfect time to organize your child’s toys. First, decide 
together where to keep their toys. Do your best to make separate categories 
(puzzles and games, animals and dolls, outdoor toys). Write the category names 
on sticky notes. Your child can decorate the notes and then place them. Now it’s 
tidy time! Say the names of the toys as you put them away together.  

Activities 
● Rhyme Time! F ​ or this activity you need a jump rope or ball. While jumping rope 
or bouncing a ball, say this rhyme: 
The bear bear bear with no hair hair hair  
On the train train train in the rain rain rain 
Has a hat hat hat. Look at that that that!  
All aboard! Choo chooooooooo!  
(on the last line, drop the rope or ball and run away!)
● Book-making!​ For this activity you need colored pens, pencils or crayons, sheets 
of plain paper and staples. Help your child staple together 5 sheets of paper to 
start. They can now make their own coloring book with their favorite toys. Step 
one: with a dark color, draw an outline of the toy (try to use most of the page). 
Step two: write the name of the toy (your child may need help). Step three: use 
lots of colors to color in the drawing! Keep going with the other pages.
 
 

Extra Fun (Older Children) 

● Puzzle! F​ or this activity you need cardboard or heavy paper, glue, scissors and 
one sheet of plain paper. Draw a picture of one of your favorite dolls, teddy 
bears, or stuffed animals on the paper. Glue the drawing onto the cardboard or 
heavy paper. Now cut it into five or more pieces to make a jigsaw puzzle. Mix 
up the pieces and then put the puzzle together! Extra challenge: ask your child 
to try to make a more difficult puzzle for you. They must keep the subject of the 
puzzle a secret from you and cut 10 or more puzzle pieces!  
● Lowercase Letters - ​The lowercase letters b and d are easily confused. Take a 
piece of paper and fold it vertically. Now ask your child to write b on one side of 
 the page and d on the other side (both letters should be at the top). Now help 
your child remember some words that begin with b and d - start with the words 
from this lesson! 
 
 

A Recipe Just for You! 

Gingerbread Men 

 
 

Tools 
Baking sheet 
Parchment paper 
Electric mixer (best for this recipe) or big mixing bowl and wooden spoon 
Rolling pin 
Gingerbread man cookie cutter (cut also shape by hand with butter knife) 
 
 
 
 
 
Ingredients 
● 1 cup (230 grams) unsalted butter 
● 1 cup (210-220 grams) brown sugar 
● 2 large eggs 
● 5 cups (640 grams) all-purpose flour 
● ¾ cup (255 grams) molasses (you can substitute dark corn syrup or honey) 
● 1 teaspoon (small spoon) vanilla extract 
● 2 teaspoons (small spoon) ground ginger 
● 1 teaspoon (small spoon) ground cinnamon 
● 1 teaspoon (small spoon) baking powder 
● 1 teaspoon (small spoon) baking soda 
● 1 teaspoon (small spoon) salt 
● Small candies, raisins, chocolate chips and/or pre-made icing for decorating!  

Steps 
1) Turn on the oven to 350°F/175°C. Cover baking sheet(s) with parchment paper. 
2) Measure the flour, sugar, molasses and butter before starting. It’s best if the 
butter is a little soft. 
3) Put the the paddle attachment in the mixer and beat the butter and brown sugar 
until smooth. Next, add the molasses and vanilla and beat until well combined. If 
you do not have a mixer, mix in a large bowl with a wooden spoon until very well 
mixed. 
4) Beat one egg and add it (great time for your child to help!). Now repeat with the 
second egg and mix both eggs into the batter. 
5) Slowly add in the flour you measured. Now add the spoonfuls (see ingredients) 
of ginger, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt and mix on low speed. 
6) Divide dough in half. Put some flour down on a table or counter-top, and roll the 
dough with the rolling pin. Try to make the dough about ¼-inch (less than 1cm) 
thick.  
7) If you have a cookie cutter, help your child make gingerbread men shapes in the 
dough. Put the gingerbread on the baking sheet. If you have no cookie cutter, 
trying using a knife to make the shapes or simply a large glass for “gingerbread 
heads.” 
8) After the baking sheet is full, put it in the oven and bake for 7-9 minutes. Let 
cookies cool on baking sheets 5 minutes and then transfer to wire racks to cool 
completely. 
 9) Once cookies are cooled, decorate with cookie icing and candies.