I hope all April’s showers have brought you May flowers. May is a colourful month with plenty of sunshine, perfect for getting outside and enjoying the fresh air. There are plenty of fun activities for kids to do outside and we have some great ones for you listed below.
May is Asian Heritage Month. Take time this month to learn about the various cultures, traditions, and achievements of Asian-Canadians throughout Canada’s history. This year’s theme is Resistance and Change: Stories of Asian Canadian Heritage. Asian-Canadians have contributed much to Canada, and it is important to acknowledge both those contributions and the struggles Asian-Canadians still face. Talk to your children about some of the many wonderfully diverse Asian cultures. Read your children storybooks by Asian authors and ask your local librarian for age-appropriate nonfiction sources.
May the Fourth is a perfect time to catch a glimpse of the stars through a fun astronomy activity. We may not have control of the Force, but we can unravel the secrets of the universe through science.
Use this star finder from the Canadian Science and Technology Museum to discover some of the most famous constellations in the night sky.
Viewing the stars can work up quite the appetite, so we have a simple, tasty treat for you to try on Cinco de Mayo. Fruit cups are a popular street snack in Mexico, and they make a deliciously refreshing treat. Check out our recipe below. Don’t worry if you can’t find the fruit listed – you can substitute other fruit from your local grocery store.
Ingredients:
Fruit:
1 mango
1 watermelon (can substitute for papaya)
1 pineapple
1 cantaloupe
Chili lime seasoning:
1 tablespoon sea salt
2 tablespoons lime zest
2 tablespoons chili powder
Chamoy sauce:
1 cup plum jam (apricot jam or mango jam)
3 teaspoons ancho chile powder
1 teaspoon of salt
1 tablespoon of lime juice
Steps:
Slice fruit into bite-sized pieces and put aside in a large bowl.
Make the chili lime seasoning by mixing all its ingredients in a small bowl.
Make the chamoy sauce by mixing all its ingredients in a small bowl. Pour the mixture into jar. It will keep for one week in the refrigerator.
Sprinkle the chili lime seasoning on to the sliced fruit.
Portion the seasoned fruit mixture into cups and drizzle with the chamoy sauce.
Serve and enjoy!
Mother’s Day is that one Sunday a year that moms are expected to sleep in and be pampered. Your child can help cook breakfast and make a Mother’s Day card. They can also make beautiful tissue paper flowers with this easy activity.
Materials:
Cardboard (like the lid of a pizza box)
A pencil
Scissors
Tissue paper of various colours
A stapler
Hot glue gun
Fishing line or string
Steps:
With an adult’s help, draw a large heart on a piece of cardboard. Draw a smaller heart inside to create a 1-inch frame. Cut out the heart frame.
Stack 4-5 sheets of tissue paper and cut out 3-inch squares. Fold the squares accordion-style by folding the tissue paper back and forth until it is in a 1 cm wide strip.
Staple the middle of the tissue paper strip to secure it.
Cut the ends into a rounded petal shape.
Fluff out the tissue paper and crinkle it to make a flower shape.
With an adult’s help, carefully use the hot glue gun to the string or fishing line in a loop on the back of the heart frame to create a hanger.
Using the hot glue gun, glue each flower to the heart frame.
They’re the perfect gift for Mom.
Mother’s Day is also a day for moms to relax. Spas may be out of reach right now, but moms can bring the spa home with this simple, delicious face mask recipe.
Mom’s Simple Face Mask
Ingredients:
· ¼ cup plain yogurt
· 2 tsp honey
· 1 medium-sized ripe banana
Steps:
Mash up the banana. Mix in the yogurt and honey until well combined.
Gently apply the mixture to your face for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water.
The best part is that it makes a healthy snack for the kids too!
Don’t forget the Victoria Day long weekend. There’s plenty to do to unwind and take advantage of that extra day, and we have some fun activities that will make the weekend a blast.
Set up an obstacle course.
Obstacles courses can be simple to make and will provide lots of fun. Use hula hoops, soccer balls, and skipping ropes, or just set up a series of actions like hopping on one foot, doing a cartwheel, or spinning around five times.
Make a pop geyser.
This fun activity teaches children about chemistry while making a delightful mess. Make sure to do this activity outside with plenty of space.
Materials needed:
· A bottle of pop
· A roll of mentos
· A piece of paper or index card
· A tube sized to fit the mentos
Steps:
1. Take the bottle of pop to a clear, open area and remove the lid
2. Place the piece of paper or index card over the opening of the pop bottle
3. Place the tube over the paper and load the mentos into it.
4. While holding on to the tube, quickly remove the paper to let the candies fall into the pop.
Step back!
5. Watch the geyser blow!
Set up a scavenger hunt.
Close off Victoria Day long weekend by celebrating National Scavenger Hunt Day on May 24. Scavenger hunts are fun indoors and outdoors. Create a list of small items for your child to find. It could be things like their favourite toy, a hairbrush, and a round rock. You can even put some fun Mother’s Day themed items on the list, like a family picture, or Mom’s favourite movie. You can also relax with a fun scavenger hunt book, like out Write & Wipe Family Fun Scavenger Hunt.
May is for moms, but June is for dads, best friends, and pen pals. Plus, it’s National Indigenous History Month, Sainte-Jean-Baptiste Day, and Multicultural Day. Join us and count down the days to the last day of school.
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Have a lovely May!\
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