{"id":1043,"date":"2024-04-17T14:18:40","date_gmt":"2024-04-17T13:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ahouseofplay.com\/?p=1043"},"modified":"2024-04-19T15:55:59","modified_gmt":"2024-04-19T14:55:59","slug":"pond-clean-up-play-tray","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahouseofplay.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/17\/pond-clean-up-play-tray\/","title":{"rendered":"Pond Clean Up Play Tray"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When we read Pond<\/em> by Jim LaMarche, I immediately thought it would make a fun activity for the kids.  It\u2019s about a boy who finds a former pond area and restores it with friends and family. In return, the healthy pond has a wonderful impact on the boy\u2019s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"tuff<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To recreate the pond area, I set up our Tuff Tray and laid down the Wonderie Coral Reef Play Cloth first. Then I added grass mats, stones, sticks and vegetation and poured water over it all. Finally I added the animals, clean recycling, some bowls and scoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"recycling<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"crane<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"DIY<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When the kids saw the tray, they dove right into pond clean-up and enjoyed playing with all the elements of the pond. They did need a little prompting to think of this activity in terms of the book. We haven\u2019t done a lot of book sensory play, so it may be that we just need to practice that way of thinking and do book-related play more often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The book and activity fit right into our week of pond play and was a great precursor to Earth Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pond<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Materials<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n