Celebrating Black History Month 

Elijah McCoy was an engineer and inventor that revolutionized the railroad system by making predictions and using his reasoning skills to solve a problem that disrupted and delayed the railroad system for years. Steam-powered engines of his era had ongoing mechanical problems because the industrial lubricants would quickly wear off, overheat and corrode the machinery. He developed a device known as the “Oil-Drip Cup” which revolutionized the railroad system. He continued innovating this invention and other designs that had a significant impact on the transport industry. 

Guess Who? Family Pictures Version 

Are you ready to bring out your photo albums and go through memories with your family in a new and exciting way? This guessing game will have your child trying to use their memory to make predictions. 

What You Will Need 

Process 

Engaging with Your Child 

Invite your child to play this game by saying “Let’s play a guessing game”. Show your child all the photos you have chosen to use for this game. Ask them if they are ready to start or if they would like to look at the photos again. Begin with placing the photo under the flap and only showing the picture partially. Ask “Do you recognize whose picture is behind the window?”. We want this to be an enjoyable experience for your child so if it is too hard, reveal more of the picture bit by bit so they can see more details until they recognize it. This activity can help your child’s reasoning and prediction skills. This is a necessary skill in math and science. Once your child guesses who is in the photo, give them the photo to analyze it and make room for them to ask questions. You can talk about the places, people and time of the photo. This is a great way to foster a sense of connection and closeness with your family by talking about shared memories, extended family, tell stories and share feelings. This can enrich your child’s vocabulary throughout the game. Take turns and have fun!  

 

Tip: Another variation of this game can be about guessing numbers and letters. This can be a fun way for your child to practice recognizing numbers and letters. Follow the same process and method. Ask questions such as, “Are you able to recognise what number/letter you see?”. With any guesses from your child ask “Why?”, let your child explain what he/she sees and how they made the conclusion.