Category: Ages 2-6
Tot School
We had a wonderful weekend camping and I’ll share more about that soon. Today is DD’s birthday, though, so I won’t spend much time on the computer today. Last night I needed a few more ideas for ED and checked out a website I really enjoy. It’s truly a wonderful resource if you have a toddler or young preschooler. This Mom shares a wonderful assortment of activities for her son...
Diaper Wipe Flowers
The Crafty Crow mentioned this great flowerproject. You can find more information about how to makethese flowers at —http://filthwizardry.blogspot.com/2009/08/kitchen-paper-and-baby-wipe-kanzashi.html Dry out some diaper wipes. Cut them into a large square.I then cut square into four pieces. Fold the small square into a triangle. Then fold the endsup. Fold and sew the two points and middle section togetherand sew five or six pedals together tightly. Staple the back sides together. Paint...
Painted Cornstarch Flower Beads
After letting our cornstarch beads dry for a few days,we painted them and strung them on string to makenecklaces. Here’s the link again to cornstarch clay:http://thehomeschoolden.blogspot.com/2009/09/cornstarch-clay.html
Flower Activities — Planting Flowers
We went to the nursery and bought flowers to plant in ourplanters. Every winter I stop watering the outside plantsand (gasp!) they die off. Everyone really enjoyed going tothe nursery and LD was very excited as I let him get aVenus Fly Trap (usefulu here in the Outback!!)
Flower Activity — Arranging Flowers
The girls really enjoyed the flower arranging this week. Theidea to use pipe cleaners and foam beads came fromhttp://mymontessorijourney.typepad.com/my_montessori_journey/2009/04/my-entry.html
Alien Eyes
When we were on holiday the kids saw a showcalled “Playschool.” LD saw how to make alieneyes and yesterday he got all the materials heneeded and made himself and the girls alieneyes. I didn’t help in any way shape or form (noteven to find the glue)… a first!!
Map Treasure Hunt
Every now and then we bring out this map activity (fromwhen we studied pirates, maps and treasure hunts). Forthis activity we map out our house with all the rooms and thebasic furniture. They get a favorite toy and I hide it somewhere inthe house. Then I put an X on the map to mark the spot wherethe item was hidden. They are real pros at this activity now andI have...
Flower Unit — Hammering Flowers! Flower Window Decorations
When we were in Canberra we went to Floriade, a yearlyflower festival. DD decided that she wanted to do a flowerunit when we got home. Today was our first day of activities.We collected flowers from our yard and from our neighbor’sbeautiful garden (with permission, of course!) We used theflowers to hammer them into cards. They turned out reallypretty and you could use this for a symmetry activity as well.We also...
Cornstarch Clay
Yesterday we made our own cornstarch clay (idea fromhttp://scrumdillydo.blogspot.com/2009/06/clay-prints-in-two-parts.html)I really like the consistancy of the dough (though it’s saltyso I had the kids wash their hands with sorbolene afterthey were done). LD made jets and DD made necklaceornaments. We poked holes in the cutouts with the end ofa paintbrush. Of course, ED enjoyed working with us andpoked holes in her clay! 1 cup cornstarch1 cup baking soda1/2 cup table salt1...
Other general activities
I haven’t had a chance to reload our workboxes yet, butthey were still full from before our trip. What was terrificyesterday was that the kids selected activities from the workboxesall afternoon (these pictured below AND the basics like math,piano, writing, reading, etc.) The kids have “fallen back to oldhabits” which in this case is just wonderful! I love workboxes!
Copy Me — Preschool Symmetry Activity
To introduce the concept of symmetry to my preschoolerwe played the “copy me game.” (That’s what I called it.)First I put down an object and she had to put one in it’smirror image (I showed her how if I folded the paper overit would be right in that spot where the paper touchedon the other side.) Then she had to put down an objectand I had to copy her. We...
