May 14, 2013

How can I teach my kids or preschool class about the wind?

It has been awhile since I’ve done a dollar store finds on this blog and last week I finally had a chance to run to the dollar store and search for items to make the perfect dollar store finds post. Luckily, I was only looking for about two minutes before I found the perfect items. I first saw a little wind chime, and then I saw a cute flower pinwheel. Little Bear has been asking a bunch of questions about the wind recently so when I saw those two items, I knew they were perfect for a lesson on wind.

I didn’t write out a formal lesson plan, but this activity is perfect for preschoolers and even Kindergartners  If I have a bunch of people request a wind lesson plan, then I will make one. For now, here is the fun process we went through to have an awesome lesson on the wind.

Materials (all from the dollar store!!)

• Wind Chime
• Flower Pinwheel
• Palm Leaf Table Topper
• Hula Skirt

Begin the wind lesson by asking students a simple question, what is the wind? Ask, Can you see it? Can you hear it? Can you feel it? Get a quick discussion going about the wind. Tell students (or your kids) that they will be making observations about the wind.

Start by choosing one item (we did the wind chime first, but in retrospect, I would have done the hula skirt first. It wasn’t extremely windy outside and the wind chime didn’t really chime.). Hold up the item while inside and have your students observe what the item looks like. Now ask students how they think the item might change when they take it out in the wind.

Go outside and hold the item up and observe the item. Have students explain how the item is different now that it is in the wind.

Go back inside and observe the last three items while inside. Go outside and observe the items while they are in the wind. Through the lesson, talk about what the wind does and answer the questions, Can you see it? Can you hear it? Can you feel it?

This lesson is perfect for a preschool class, but it is also perfect to do just with your kids. I did this activity with just my two children and they really loved it. I was surprised at how much Little Bear learned and how much he observed. This was a perfect activity for a slightly windy, but warm day.

We've found some fun people with great linky parties. You might just see this post linked up on one of these amazing sites! Link and Learn from No Time for Flashcards Sunday Showcase from Train Up a Child Share it Saturday from Teach Beside Me Tot School Gathering Place from 1+1+1=1 Montessori Monday from Living Montessori Now Tuesday Tots from In Lieu of Preschool Show and Tell from ABC & 123 For the Kids Fridays from Sun Scholars Finished Friday from All Our Days Weekly Kids Co-op from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails Preschool & Kindergarten Corner from Homeschool Creations TGIF Linky Party from 123 Homeschool 4 Me

May 9, 2013

What is a fun way to teach shapes to my preschooler or toddler?

I have been working on shapes with Smiley Man for several weeks now and he really having fun. For this week, I really wanted to have an activity that could fit in a busy bag. If you don’t know what a busy bag is, check out this great post on hosting a busy bag exchange. Or just search busy bags on Pinterest and you are sure to find a wealth of information.

I don’t use busy bags a ton with my kids, but I do use them. Unfortunately, Smiley Man has been getting a little bored of the busy bags that I currently have for him, so I wanted to make a new one. Since we are already learning about shapes, I figured it would be perfect to have a shape themed busy bag. I found some great ideas like this felt shape matching game, these hot glue crayon rubbing designs (4th one down), or this clothespin and popsicle stick shape matching game (9th one down)

In the end I decided to go with something simple that I knew Smiley Man would love. I just made some shape lacing cards. Making these cards is very simple. First, print off the shapes using this printable that I made. Next, laminate the shapes. Usually I say laminating is optional, but I have tried lots of different options (using contact paper, using packing tape, gluing the picture to cardboard or a cereal box) and honestly, nothing works as well as lamination. If laminating is absolutely not an option, I would glue the picture to a thin piece of cardboard (like a cereal box), then cover both sides with packing tape.

Once the shape is laminated hold punch holes in the edges about one inch apart. Now, add a shoelace or yarn with tape on the end. I always use yarn and tape because I like to save money, but you can usually find a big pack of shoelaces at the dollar store and shoelaces do work better. You can tie one end of the yarn or shoelace to the lacing card if you want, but that is optional. I usually tie one end to the lacing card because my kids are still young and I don’t like the yarn getting lost.

Now, show your toddler (or preschooler) how to thread the end of the shoelace or yarn through each hole. Smiley Man requires a lot of help with lacing cards, but for some reason he still absolutely loves them. I usually try to cover most of the holes except the one he needs to put the yarn through. He also has a really hard time switching hands when it is time to pull the yarn through the other side, but I just show him how each time and he gets it. Someday he’ll be able to do it alone. ;)

This is a great way to teach shapes because Smiley Man really explores the edges of each shape while using the lacing card. Plus, these lacing cards fit perfectly in a gallon size ziplock bag which is what I use for busy bags.

We've found some fun people with great linky parties. You might just see this post linked up on one of these amazing sites! Link and Learn from No Time for Flashcards Sunday Showcase from Train Up a Child Share it Saturday from Teach Beside Me Tot School Gathering Place from 1+1+1=1 Montessori Monday from Living Montessori Now Tuesday Tots from In Lieu of Preschool Show and Tell from ABC & 123 For the Kids Fridays from Sun Scholars Finished Friday from All Our Days Weekly Kids Co-op from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails Preschool & Kindergarten Corner from Homeschool Creations TGIF Linky Party from 123 Homeschool 4 Me

May 7, 2013

How can I help my preschooler memorize bible verses? What will help my child memorize sight words or colors?

Several months ago I was looking for a way for Little Bear to memorize the Articles of Faith and I came across an amazing scripture memory system. The system is from Simply Charlotte Mason. Check out her scripture memory system post with complete instructions, a video, and even some printable divider cards with tabs.

Basically, here is the system. There are four sections of tabs: daily, odd/even, days of the week, and days of the month. You start with only one scripture, but eventually when all the tabs get filled up, you will be practicing four scriptures a day. One will be a new one, but the other ones will be old ones and you can just review them quickly. We usually say each scripture 2-3 times to practice it.

Select a bible verse for kids to memorize. You practice one scripture every day until it is fully memorized. It took one-two weeks for Little Bear to memorize each article of faith. Once that scripture is memorized, you move it back one tab and put a new scripture in the daily spot. Now you had a scripture in the Odd tab and one in the Daily tab. So, you practice the scripture in the Daily tab every single day and you practice the scripture in the Odd tab on all the Odd days. When your new scripture is fully memorized, move it back. Now you have a scripture in the Daily tab, the Odd tab, and the Even tab. If you still don’t get it, just check out the scripture memory system on Simply Charlotte Mason. There are much better instructions there.

I have to say, this system really worked to memorize scriptures. The even better news is that is works well to memorize anything. In order to test this theory out, I bought some color and shape flashcards from the dollar store and I printed some sight word searches from Confessions of a Homeschooler. For Smiley Man we work on one color a day until he can name it without any hints. Once he can do that, I move it back a tab.

For Little Bear, I put one sight word search into the Daily tab. I helped him sound out or name the sight word, then he did the sight word search with some dry erase crayons. Once he could say the sight word without any help, I moved it back and tab and put a new sight word search in. Now, Little Bear only does the actual sight word search for the Daily tab, but he still practices the sight words in the other tabs according to the scripture memory system.

We have only been practicing colors and sight words for a few weeks, but I have already seen a lot of progress. I cannot rave about this scripture memory system enough. Little Bear learned all 13 Articles of Faith in a few months and now he is learning sight words. I am excited to see what else we can memorize in the future.

We've found some fun people with great linky parties. You might just see this post linked up on one of these amazing sites! Link and Learn from No Time for Flashcards Sunday Showcase from Train Up a Child Share it Saturday from Teach Beside Me Tot School Gathering Place from 1+1+1=1 Montessori Monday from Living Montessori Now Tuesday Tots from In Lieu of Preschool Show and Tell from ABC & 123 For the Kids Fridays from Sun Scholars Finished Friday from All Our Days Weekly Kids Co-op from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails Preschool & Kindergarten Corner from Homeschool Creations TGIF Linky Party from 123 Homeschool 4 Me

May 6, 2013

What are some Montessori inspired tot trays that will teach my toddler about spring?

Our toddler school for these two weeks is all about spring. Spring has been brimming all around us and this was a great way for Smiley Man to have some toddler school activities that were related to all the spring changes around us. Without further ado, here are the spring tot trays.

Smiley Man is 23 months old.

Button Snake

Well, this one I never actually made. :( I was really excited about it, but the past few weeks have been crazy and somehow I didn’t realize this one was missing until Cassidy and I were taking pictures of the tot trays. Instead I will provide you with some awesome links that show you how to make a button snake. Awesome tutorial here, another great tutorial here, and a button snake here that you can buy from etsy.

Torn Paper Sun

To see instructions for this activity check out our paper candy corn and pumpkin craft. We did this one the same way, but with a circle outline for the sun and yellow and orange construction paper.

Vertical Flower Puzzle

I made a flower with construction paper and it covered three playdough containers when they were stacked. The tray just had the play-doh containers and Smiley had to stack them in the right order to make the flower.

Flowers in Ice Cube Tray

I got these flowers and the cute ice cube tray from the dollar store. I just pulled the flowers off of their stems and Smiley Man practiced his one-to-one correspondence and put one flower into each ice cube tray opening. By the way, the ice cube tray openings look like flowers so of course that made me feel extra clever. ;)

Flower Arranging

I was worried Smiley Man wouldn’t be interested in this tray because he is a ball and bugs kind of boy, but this ended up being his favorite tray of all! I got the flowers from the dollar store and cut each flower so it had its own stem. Then I put them on a tray with some Styrofoam. Smiley Man loved putting the flowers into the Styrofoam!

Shape Activity 5

(Each shape activity is only on the tray for one week. The rest of the activities are on the trays for two weeks. That means I go through two shape activity, but only one of all the other activities.)

2 Part Shape Puzzles

Shape Activity 6

Cut and Paste Shapes

Spring Tot Book

I read this book at least once during the time that these trays are out. If Smiley Man uses this tray while I am working with Little Bear, he can color the pictures or just look at the pictures as he turns the pages. I do not in any way expect Smiley Man to learn how to read by looking at this book. This book is simply for exposure to words and letters and concepts of print.

Printables

Flower 2 part puzzles (Spring tot pack page 10), Coloring Flowers (Spring tot pack pages 11-13).

Featured Toy

Pop Up Animals

Themed Books

It’s Spring! by: Susan Swan

Mouse’s First Spring by: Lauren Thompson

Marley: Marley Springs Ahead by: John Grogan

Spring is Here! by: Heidi Pross Gray

Water Painting Rain

This tot tray had a picture on blue construction paper with clouds at the top and flowers at the bottom. There was also a small container of water and a paintbrush. The idea is to paint rain onto the picture using the water.

Muffin Tin and Bugs

On the tot tray was a muffin and several bugs, frogs, and butterflies. This was another tray for Smiley to practice one-to-one correspondence. Smiley took the objects and put one into each opening in the muffin tin.

I am so excited about how much Smiley Man is learning. We have only been doing toddler school since January and already Smiley has learned so much about one-to-one correspondence, colors, shapes, and his fine motor skills have improved dramatically. I am so grateful for the Montessori inspired materials that we use and for the fact that I know my toddler will be ready for school when that time comes. Have your toddlers been learning as much as mine?

We've found some fun people with great linky parties. You might just see this post linked up on one of these amazing sites! Link and Learn from No Time for Flashcards Sunday Showcase from Train Up a Child Share it Saturday from Teach Beside Me Tot School Gathering Place from 1+1+1=1 Montessori Monday from Living Montessori Now Tuesday Tots from In Lieu of Preschool Show and Tell from ABC & 123 For the Kids Fridays from Sun Scholars Finished Friday from All Our Days Weekly Kids Co-op from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails Preschool & Kindergarten Corner from Homeschool Creations TGIF Linky Party from 123 Homeschool 4 Me

May 2, 2013

What is a cut and paste activity my child can do that will teach shapes?

I’ve been itching to do some cut and paste and activities with Smiley Man for awhile and I realized it would be the perfect activity for practicing shapes. Smiley Man is way too young to use scissors by himself, but he does like to use them when I help him. And he LOVES using glue sticks. He doesn’t necessarily use them correctly, but it takes time to learn. I made some shape sorting color, cut, and paste pages and they are a great way to teach shapes.

Of course, when it came time for picture taking, Smiley Man was no longer excited about this cut and paste and activity and he refused to do pictures. Luckily, these are also a great to teach shapes to kids of all ages, so I had my preschooler, Little Bear do the pictures instead.

There are four cut and paste shape sorting pages. I suggest doing one at a time and if your child is older (preschool or Kindergarten age) and wants to do another page, then let them do another page.

This color, cut, and paste activity is very simple. Just cut out the squares on the bottom of the page. Next, glue them onto the correct side of the sorting chart. If you child wants to color the shapes, then have him color them.

This activity is wonderful because it give practice in so many different areas. You child is learning shapes and what they each look like. He or she is also learning how to sort or discriminate differences which is a very important math skill. And of course, you child is getting some great fine motor practice by cutting and gluing.

I was excited about how these cut and paste pages work so well for toddlers and preschoolers. Granted, my toddler needs a lot of help with the cutting, gluing, and even with the sorting. I make sure to talk a lot about the differences between the shapes and why each shape goes in a certain place. Little Bear loves doing this page all by himself and I love that he gets practice strengthening his fine motor skills and practice with sorting. Enjoy the shape sorting cut and paste activity!

We've found some fun people with great linky parties. You might just see this post linked up on one of these amazing sites! Link and Learn from No Time for Flashcards Sunday Showcase from Train Up a Child Share it Saturday from Teach Beside Me Tot School Gathering Place from 1+1+1=1 Montessori Monday from Living Montessori Now Tuesday Tots from In Lieu of Preschool Show and Tell from ABC & 123 For the Kids Fridays from Sun Scholars Finished Friday from All Our Days Weekly Kids Co-op from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails Preschool & Kindergarten Corner from Homeschool Creations TGIF Linky Party from 123 Homeschool 4 Me