Archive for October 2011
My husband loves math the way that I love art . When he talks about numbers his voices changes just a little bit the same way mine does when I start telling someone about the first time I saw a favorite painting in person. Well my son seems to be gearing more towards that side of things so I have been trying to come up with math activities that fit themes , have an art element if he wants to help me make them and most importantly are fun.
- Gather your materials. You will need a paper towel roll or two, some green painters tape , a black markers( one permenant and a regular washable one), drinking straws, stationary labels and scissors.
- Start by cutting your paper towel rolls into smaller tubes.
- Next color the top of the roll black. Just use a regular old marker.
- Next wrap green painters tape around the bottom of the rolls. Add faces with permenant marker, regular marker will smudge.
- Now cut the drinking straws into smaller pieces. Make sure they are long enough to be seen and grabbed above the rolls.
- Write numbers on the stationary labels. Make sure you write some numbers that are “easy” and many that are a challenge for them too. The balance of challenge and success builds their self confidence.
- Place the Frankensteins on the table with the labels infront. This do not stick to my table but I don’t want to be responsible for wrecking yours, so if you are worried pop down a placemat before the labels. If it’s too late try goo-gone that stuff is a preschool teacher’s secret weapon.
- Give your child the straws and let them count and fill! My son loved that he was putting brains into Frankenstein… nice eh?
- It was during this lesson that I introduced my son to double checking his work. Here he is counting a 2nd time.
- Peel the stickers off and put new ones on. Count and re-fill .
Halloween Counting Book
10 Trick-or-Treaters
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I want to thank everyone who links up here for linking activities real parents and real teachers can do with real kids. The activities shared here are consistently awesome! So often online I see gorgeous , beautiful “kids’ crafts” that I couldn’t replicate if I had 3 hours to myself with unlimited budget for craft supplies. I get wowed by the beautiful crafts I see on pinterest too but remind myself that the goal has never been beautiful, it’s always been learning, building confidence, and fun. So thank you to all who link up things with those same goals in mind, your posts inspire me from the inside out.
If you are new here jump in ! Everyone is welcome to add your best post from the previous week, this linky is a cheat sheet for my many readers and the longer the list the better!
Have a great week.
If an I-Spy book and a sensory bin had a baby this is what they would wake up at 2am to feed. My son’s interests are geared mostly to games and pretend play these days and while most of our time is spent doing funny accents I like doing these fun games that work on a bunch of skills in a short amount of time. This works on handwriting , reading and observation skills.
- Gather your materials. You can use almost anything , easy right? You need toys, and other small objects that your child can read but that aren’t too easy or it’s not going to be a 5 minute sparkler , it will be done in 30 seconds. So go around your house and trust me you’ll find things pretty fast. If your child is not a reader use colors or just the first letter. You will also need a bin, marker, sheet of card stock , and a crayon.
- Write out the words of all the objects on the card stock with marker.
- Pop the toys in the bin, hand your child the list.
Stick around so if words are tricky you can help them try different strategies like using the objects for clues, sounding out the word or passing on to the next to return to it after. 
This is my favorite time of year and even though I have some new fall crafts to share I can’t ignore these old favorites we made in the past that may even be new to you.
Cut and Paste Indian Corn Craft
Mini Pumpkin Prints
Foam Handprint Turkey
Falling Leaves
Coffee Grinds Sensory Tub
If you are a long time reader you know I love these marshmallow crafts. For good reason, my son who you may know has done a lot of crafts is still very enthusiastic to do these. I like them because I add in drawing, counting and fine motor skills while he just thinks he’s having fun. Last year we made a ghost, this year we got a little more complicated because he’s older and able! Always make sure that you are in that sweet spot where a project interests and offers some challenge but doesn’t frustrate because it’s too hard.
- Gather your materials. You will need some mini marshmallows, white glue and a white crayon.
- Start by drawing an outline of the skull. I did this for my son but if your child wants to have them do it.
- I did encourage him to draw the eyes nose and mouth and was happy that he was eagerly doing it. I am glad I started it off for him by doing the outline, I am not sure he’d be as eager to draw the face if I’d given him a blank page and said draw your skull. Your child might so do what works for yours.
- Time to add glue. This is great for hand eye coordination.
- Marshmallow Time! Before you ask, yes my son ate marshmallows but we have a system.
- He has to count to a certain number before he gets to eat one from the bowl.
- More counting…a little more eating and then let dry.
Books About Bones!
Dem Bones
Skeleton Hiccups
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