Pay It Forward With EGGS

Many readers remember the chase, the hunt, and the utter thrill of finding that egg hidden in tall grass or at the bottom of a tree's roots on Easter. As plastic eggs sales around the world hit top sales this holiday weekend, we're here to offer a way to pay it forward through a message eggs can send. Whether educational or inspirational, we're transforming the way you've thought about those plastic eggs. In this case, it's what on the outside AND the inside that counts.

EDUCATIONAL USE OF PLASTIC EGGS:

The days of simple egg stuffing are over. These playful plastic pieces are top-notch teaching tools and can be differentiated for any age.

Eggs for toddlers and preK. First, it's important to note that the simple act of opening, closing, and spinning plastic eggs builds fine motor skills in young children. Fine motor skills help children with a variety of everyday activities like holding a pencil to draw or write and using small finger movements to tie shoes. Provide children with several eggs. Depending on your child you may want to model the matching first, or allow your child to explore the eggs and make the connection herself/himself. Simply have children match the top and bottom of eggs by color. After making those matches, spruce up the game by matching shapes (ex. draw a circle on one side of an egg and a circle on the other). After a child matches items, start working with word identification. The child should match the shape on one half of the egg to the word on the other side. See the example below:

For toddlers and pre-k children

Eggs for  Kindergarten, First, and Second Graders. As children learn to spell they do so in part by recognizing word "chunks" that are consistent from word to word. Often referred to as word families, reinforcing this understanding of "chunks" builds children's automaticity in word recognition. Designing eggs with word families children can spin to make new word after new word are thrilling to young children as well. In the picture below the child can make the words paw, raw, saw, straw, thaw, claw, and draw by the simple spinning of half the egg. As the child spins half the egg, s/he moves the piece to make a new word. This particular example highlights the "aw" word family, but you can do this with any word family (ex. -at, -an, -it, -ut).*Note the top and bottom egg portions still match in color, this is significant as you differentiate for other children as referenced below.

For K, First and Second grade children

For second, third, fourth and fifth graders. Easy way to help children move through their multiplication facts. Simply write the number you wish them to consistently multiply by on the top half, and every number they need to multiply it by on the bottom half. As the child rotates the egg they practice fluently reciting each multiplication fact. You can place correct answers inside the egg for the child to check his/her correct responses.

For second, third, fourth and fifth graders

As children learn how to spell, their ability to chunk becomes more sophisticated. In this case, present the child with several top and bottom egg portions (ex. 6 eggs, 12 egg halves) with word families and beginning letters. The child should be able to match the bottom half of the egg to a top portion where every letter results in the correct spelling of a word. Do NOT match the top and bottom portions of the eggs to add a layer of difficulty.

For second, third, fourth and fifth graders

INSPIRATIONAL USE OF PLASTIC EGGS: 
These ideas are for anyone. Perhaps you can pay it forward by leaving them hidden in a park or a neighbor's yard. They send a kind message - we think. We'll let you be the judge:

For all children young and old(er)

Wonder what's inside?

For all children young and old(er)

And another goodie for all!

For all children young and old(er)

As you spin this one it reads the following messages: You are Beautiful. You are strong. You are smart. You are inspiring. You are funny. You are loving. You are valued. ...and you are!

Are you reconceptualizing what your Easter egg hunt might look like this year? We hope these ideas leave you inspired to pay it forward with eggs! And speaking of being inspired, Goose, from Gospel of Goose had a brilliant and beautiful idea for the use of plastic eggs as well. We think it's the greatest way we've ever seen a bushel of eggs used before. What about you?

 Feel free to hop on over to Gospel of Goose and check out more of their wholesome goodness!


 What will you do or spell with your eggs this weekend? Hoppy Seeing Beautiful!
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Are you looking for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a portion of proceeds from every purchase is donated to charity. This month a portion of all proceeds will be donated to Getting to Better. Click HERE.