To help reinforce the lessons of The Upside Down Show, here are some play-at-home ideas based on each episode written by Anna Housley Juster, M.A., Director of Content for Sesame Street and The Upside Down Show.
Episode 105: Camping
Skills Developed:
Spatial Relationships (horizontal & vertical)
Math
Vocabulary
It is easy to help your child build more awareness of spatial relations, which is an important math skill. Whether you are home together or out and about, draw your child's attention to objects in the environment that are horizontal (explain that this means "sideways") or vertical ("standing upright"). For example, "The trunk of that tree is vertical, but the branch sticking out to the side is horizontal."
Extend the learning further with the imaginary remote control. Point it at a block or book and say, "I am pressing the horizontal button." Your child can flip the book to lay it flat and say, "Horizontal!" What happens when you press the "vertical" button? Next, hand your child the imaginary remote and encourage him to direct it at objects that you can move.
You are not only building your child's mathematical skills, but you are encouraging rich vocabulary development, which is proven to be one of the most important precursors to school success.
