After School Activity: Chalkboard Table & Questions

This post features an easy to put together table for after school snack and skill activities, along with question ideas for how to ask about the day at school. This has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #20MinutesToTasty #CollectiveBias

I feel fortunate that my son attends a school where they have not placed the emphasis on homework – at least in the lower grades. Grades K & 1 have no homework, with only minimal activities being sent home starting in Grade 2. As a former teacher myself, I can’t agree with this philosophy more! My kids work hard at school and when they come home, it’s nice to have a little down-time. We spent the time after school as a family, getting ready for after-school activities. Nothing is more fun than this easy idea for a chalkboard table with questions about the day and tasty snacks.

Instead of homework time, I give the kids simple, fun activities and questions about the day as a part of that much-needed, and always requested, after-school snack. It does not take a lot of time to pull together – in fact less than 20 minutes and you can have a fun tablescape ready for your kiddos. It is sure to grab their attention!

Start with a paper table covering. I like to use fadeless rolls that I find at the teacher supply store. They’re inexpensive and I can have a supply of different colors. I opted for black fadeless to mimic a chalkboard and using a chalk marker, I added questions about their day. I try to think of questions that are designed to get them talking…and past the typical “What did you do today?”…… Child Replies: “Nothing.”

Some questions I like to include:

Share how you showed kindness today.

Share something funny that happened today.

What was your favorite thing in your lunchbox?

What was something you tried new today?

How were you brave today?

Ask questions that are designed to get kids talking about their day – and have fun with it.

In addition to the questions, I put out some simple activities that also “tricks” them into practing important skills – a stack of flashcards, fraction practice game and for my younger ones, some letter and sound practice.

$Math Practice$

Speaking of snacks, that’s probably the most important part of this table. Apples or other fresh fruit is a must and then add in a hot and tasty snack – like Farm Rich Products.

On this day, I prepared two favorites – Potato Skins and Mozzerella Sticks. Both are always a winner with my kids.

With these products, I’m only ever 20 minutes away from a tasty, feel-good snack for the kids. Farm Rich go-to snacks and apps are made with wholesome ingredients. These make tackling that after-school hunger a little easier! With our schedule being so busy this fall, Farm Rich snacks are Real-Life Good – helping us to go with the flow and making the most of the moments we have.

You can find Farm Rich Products at Walmart in the freezer section!