Each day, we can feel the sun getting a bit warmer and the idea of spending the playing outside becomes more and more inviting. Creating opportunities for play outside will enable your child to work independently (that’s the dream!) and provide you an opportunity to play creatively side by side …
Corn is not ready yet this year but, you can typically find cornmeal made from last year’s crop at local farm stands right now. Lucky me, my co-worker Lara recently gifted me a bag of cornmeal from MariLee’s Farmstand in Sagaponack. I went right to my kitchen, and whipped up a …
I have so enjoyed creating art activities each week and have tried each and every one myself at home! These projects are not specifically for children—art is adaptable (and therapeutic!). They’ve been a welcome addition to my daily schedule. Art allows us to take a moment to be still and …
In case you couldn’t tell, we’re huge fans of food here at CMEE. We tend to keep things healthy, but every so often the Museum’s Director of Marketing brings in his “world famous” (his words) Chewy Chocolate Cookies for the office to enjoy. They usually don’t make it until lunch. …
When we are at work in the office, the CMEE staff often participate in “community lunches.” We each bring one ingredient, without discussing it beforehand, and use whatever we have to make a large lunch for everyone to share. It’s fun (and typically very healthy!). Lunches are usually a big …
My new work-at-home morning routine begins each day with coffee outside on the back deck listening to nature’s chorus: the birds! There are tens of different sounds and birds darting from tree to tree. I put out a few bird feeders in hopes of getting a better look at my feathered …
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, and this year more than ever, we really appreciate teachers. THANK YOU to two of our favorite teachers, Ms. Kelly and Ms. Claudia, from Long Island Head Start. In addition to running their own classrooms, they facilitate our CMEE in Riverside Family Fun Nights. Each week …
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and the United States commemorating the victory of the Mexican army over the French in the Battle of Puebla, in 1862. In Mexico, it is celebrated with food, dancing, and customs. The holiday has become widely popular in the United States, …
While every day is the perfect opportunity to make slime, we need to pull out all the stops on May the 4th. Behold…Galaxy (Far, Far Away) Slime! This glittery, slippery, slimy substance is perfect for those who want to imagine what falling into the Sarlacc pit must be like (without …
It’s certainly is windy lately! Do you know from which way the wind is coming? For today’s science activity head outside and take notice of the wind. Discuss where you feel the wind coming from, if there are clouds in the sky, and if you can see the clouds moving. …
One of the largest effects of this COVID lockdown is isolation. We love our kids and (mostly) significant others, but sometimes you need a fresh perspective. Or a good listener. Or just a moment to breathe. So get a cup of tea, lock yourself in a closet or the bathroom …
This Spring certainly feels more rainy than usual as we sit inside our homes anxiously awaiting the warm spring sunshine. “April showers bring May flowers”, as they say. This year our lives have slowed to a pace where we are actually watching the growth and change that this weather brings …
Children seem more willing to try and explore new food through hands on experiences. One my of favorite things to hear parents say is, “My child would never eat this at home,” as the child shovels fresh tomatoes, or greens and herbs into their mouths. Through a partnership with Amber Waves …
My name is Cecelia Fioriello and you might recognize me from the front desk, birthday parties, or Art Party! I am currently a graduate student at Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, getting my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy. For fun, I love …
Hi, I’m Mark-Antonio Smith, Founder and Educator of The Nurtury For Kids. For the past three years, I have been working with Project Most, Slow Food East End and private families in educating young growers as well as consulting with schools on the East End in starting and maintaining gardening spaces. In addition …
I applaud many of our members as I see their efforts to clean local beaches, recycle, and avoid single-use plastics. We’ve grown accustomed to our reusable grocery bags and often wave off the bag provided by the store if we forget them. We’ve incorporated more plant-based recipes into our diets …
My name is Ann Jones Levine. This will be my third season working as the children’s education director at Amber Waves Farm. For fun I like to read about the energy in the universe that causes plants and humans to evolve and grow. Pandemics can make you go down book …
Hi! I’m Tinixara! Some of you may know me from the front desk at CMEE. When I’m not at Museum or college, I volunteer with the Southampton Village Ambulance. Being apart of the EMS is so important and special; my job is to help save as many lives as possible, …
The Museum’s #1 bun has been missing his friends! So, we’ve arranged a virtual visit with Ms. McKenna and Domino this Monday on Facebook Live and Instagram. Here’s your your chance to say “hello” and let him know that you’ve been thinking about him. Ms. McKenna will also give a …
One of our all-time favorite activities at the Museum are kid-powered rockets. Using homemade launchers (made by CMEE staff using PVC pipe and empty soda bottles) kids send rockets soaring high up into the sky…and sometimes on to the roof! While our launchers are temporarily unavailable, you can certainly make your …
It has been a bit of a challenge to curate a different learning activity each day, using only things that most people have in their home. Luckily, I live on a little street that is FULL of school aged children. I have outsourced some of my work to my lovely, …
So easy. So fast. We call these pickles…quickles! You cannot mess them up! The is a wonderful early learning recipe for littles and novice pickle-ers, alike. Give your child full control over this experiment and let them use the knife! A butter knife, or plastic knife should work just fine …
The weather is getting nicer, and that usually means one thing at CMEE…bubbles! Since we can’t break out our wildly popular bubble table—loved by kids and grownups alike—we’re sharing our super secret ginormous bubble recipe so you can enjoy the experience at home. The most important element of this recipe …
One of our favorite activities every year is filling the Museum’s lobby windows Tissue Paper Cherry Blossoms. At the beginning of spring, CMEE staff paint bare trees onto the lobby windows and we invite family and friends to fill the branches with these blossoms. It is a simple craft that fills the …
What is it with all this talk about planting a watering seeds‽ How does a seed drink water…it doesn’t have a cup! A great way to introduce little ones to the concept of plants drinking water is with the Color Changing Celery experiment! Children will literally watch as the celery absorbs water, …
Camouflage is the disguising of an object to make it blend in with its surroundings. Animals blend into their environments so they cannot be seen in order to keep themselves safe! Hide your child’s little toy critters all around the yard (Pro Tip: write down how many and where you …
Today, we celebrate Passover, one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays. The eight day celebration commemorates the pilgrimage to freedom of Israelites from Egypt. The Israelites left in such a hurry that the bread they baked did not have time to rise. To remember their plight, we avoid chametz—or leavened grain—for …
Spice up your art activity by heading outside to gather Nature Brushes. Allow children to think outside the box and gather various materials from around the yard to experiment with. Sticks, flowers, shells…anything can be a brush if you really think about it! When sitting down (or standing up, for …
Learning is a multi sensory-process. So, today we are exploring numbers through the sense of touch! Draw circles with numbers in the middle and allow your child to finger paint petals onto the flower that correspond to the number. Check out the image above for a few examples. Has your child mastered …
Back when CMEE was regularly presenting school and after school science, I ordered a mushroom growing package from a science website. I was thinking about growing them for all you CMEE science lovers so I opened the box last week…and surprise! Sometimes these mushrooms get a little damp inside their …
We are living in unprecedented times! One day, our grandchildren and great children will read about The 2020 Pandemic in textbooks. Scientists and Historians often refer to PRIMARY SOURCES when they are gathering information on whatever they are studying. A primary source is a first hand account of an event. Right now, …
What is a haiku?A traditional poemThat has three phrases Haikus are a short form of Japanese poetry that consists of three lines (or phrases) that follows a specific format: The first and last lines have five syllables and the second line has seven. It doesn’t even have to rhyme. That’s it! …
Today, we’re headed to Miss McKenna’s Country Kitchen for a classic recipe that’s as easy to make as it is delicious…deviled eggs! Perfect for picnics (or a good ol’ fashioned family Netflix binge), these tasty treats have been popular for more than 200 hundred years! Ingredients 6 Eggs 1 Heaping …
With signs of spring starting to pop up everywhere, it’s the perfect time to go outside for a family scavenger hunt! This collection of easy-to-spot (and not-so-easy-to-spot) items is wonderful addition to Mrs. Leah’s Springtime Mystery Walk. Simply click on the image below, print it out, and see how many …
Practicing shape and color recognition with your little one? Turn it into a game using blocks and markers. Shapes and colors are easily recognizable for children and help them begin to organize and categorize information. The same skills used to discern shape and color will develop into reading, writing, and math …
Tomato dissection an easy and fun project for you to work on together as a family…particularly during lunch! Here’s all you need for this simple at-home science experiment: Materials 1 tomato (any “seedy” fruit or vegetable will work, really) Plate or cutting board A knife Procedure Before you cut the …
One of the most beautiful times of the year is when birds begin chirping and flower buds begin to bloom. While you are home with your child, take the time to be outside as often as possible! Nature is our greatest classroom. Studies show that outdoor learning delivers many benefits …
Tzatziki…not only is it fun to say, but it’s fun to make! In this week’s In The Kitchen virtual cooking workshop, Chef Liz teaches how to make this staple of Middle Eastern cuisine using just a few simple ingredients and following a few simple steps! Looking for a book to …
We’re delighted to offer families a new Recipe for Play every Monday – Friday at 11am! From art projects to cooking lessons to outdoor games and more…these daily activities are sure to keep children both active and engaged while they’re home from school. Have a tip, suggestion, or idea for …
Every garden has mysteries, especially in the spring. You and your child can seek and find these mysteries together in your back yard or just walking the dog. Do this once and you will see things you never noticed before. Do it once or twice a week for a month and …
We are delighted to offer a collection of coloring pages created by local East End artists! Simply click on a picture, download, print and let your creative minds run wild! We’d love to see and share your work with the CMEE community. E-mail info@cmee.org or tag @cmeegram on your Instagram pictures and …
Sad songs. Happy songs. Silly Songs. Dance songs. Sing-along songs. Everything-in-between songs. Who doesn’t love music‽ CMEE Staff Members have curated a few Spotify playlists (family-friendly, or course) that we think will get your family moving, shaking, or just nodding their heads. Want to recommend a song for our community …
Join your favorite CMEE Educators as they read some of their favorite stories! Want to suggest a story? E-mail Liz@CMEE.org with some of your favorites!
Domino the Bunny is currently spending time with a Museum staff member, but he really wishes he could travel the world right now. Where would you like to see him visit? Download and print out this picture and use your imagination to draw a vacation spot the CMEE’s #1 Bunny …
Teachers have sent home worksheets, books, and suggestions for what to do with your children over the next two to six weeks but, we are missing an essential part of the school experience: the structure. There is something reassuring about the predictability of a school day for a child. They …