Paper Plate Art
When I tested the sound of pasta in these paper plates last night , my son who was already in his PJs and ready for bed jumped up from his dad’s lap where he was reading and ran into the kitchen begging for it!
- Gather your materials. You will need 2 paper plates of the same size, some uncooked pasta, a stapler, some ribbon, tape and whatever you choose to decorate your tambourine. We used a sponge paint brush , paints and glitter paint.
- Mix your paint colors if you are using paints. I love doing this because it’s an easy hands on color mixing lesson , and my son adores to ” mix mix mix” !
- Start painting both paper plates. I am using a sponge brush because it helps keep the paint very very thin, and it will dry faster so we can make music asap! Let both plates dry.
- Add on the ribbons, I am taping them to hold them in place when I staple . Also this way your child can choose where to put them!
- Scoop pasta onto one plate. I am using big penne pasta so that I can space out the staples and nothing will fall out. You can use rice, dried beans etc… but you will have to staple or glue it together carefully so you aren’t vacuuming up rice for the next week!
- Place the 2nd plate on top and staple away!
- Now go make music!
- Gather your Materials. Grab some yellow paint, crayons or markers, some paper cut into a circle or a paper plate, and something to make the rays. I am using left over streamers from a party, but painted strips of newspaper , regular paper cut in triangles or even ribbon would be cool. Glue or tape to keep the rays in place and the most important thing of all, sparkles.
- Let your child go nuts covering the body of the sun as much or as little as they want. My son loved these foam paintbrushes I got at home depot for under a dollar each.
- With older children have them decide how many rays they want, ask them the number and ask them to count the rays out as they are putting them on. Remember if your child is counting incorrectly, don’t freak out just say something encouraging like ” Oh you almost got it! “- and model the correct counting.
- Once the rays are on, spread some glue on the sun and make it sparkle! Let it dry and give it a good shake on the porch or over a sink before letting your child play with it if you want to avoid a sparkly house.
- Remember to talk to your child about what they are making, you don’t need to lecture them about the earth and the sun, but you can ask them what they know about the sun, ask them how it feels when the sun is out etc… but as always don’t push it. Kids especially toddlers and preschoolers resist learning when pushed.
Mr. Sun, Sun Mr. Golden Sun,
Please shine down on me!
Oh Mr. Sun , Sun Mr. Golden Sun,
hiding behind a tree!
These little children are asking you ,
to please come out so we can play with you,
Oh Mr. Sun, Sun Mr.Golden Sun,
Please shine down on me!
Books!
” Toes Ears & Nose” by Marion Dane Bauer
“Clap Hands” by Helen Oxenbury
“Diggers” by Fiona Watt and Rachel Wells
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- Gather your materials. For this craft you will need a paper plate, some paint and paint brush, some paper, glue , scissors and crayons.
- Paint the outside of your paper plate, I am using a foam brush because it minimizes mess , and isn’t that always a plus with young children?
- While your child is painting the plate ( and possibly your table too) fold a piece of paper in at least 4, draw a shape of your choosing. I chose hexagons but any shape would do. Some shapes are hard to find in the real world so incorporating them into a craft like this is a great way to learn.
- Cut the shape out.
- Glue the shape on to the painted plate to create a cool shell!
- While your child is gluing the shapes on , fold another piece of paper in 2, and draw the outline of four feet, a tail and a head. If you want you can have your child color these and add eyes and a mouth too!
- Cut these out and glue them on the inside of the paper plate.
” A Mama for Owen” by Marion Dane Bauer tells the true story of a baby hippo who was orphaned during the 2004 tsunami. Maybe because I am a mom but this story brings me close to tears every time I read it. The beautiful illustrations will keep your children interested as you read this ultimately heartwarming story of adoption.
” The Foolish Tortoise”
by Richard Buckley and Eric Carle is a tale about a tortoise who decides that his shell is holding him back- only to discover that being slow isn’t as bad as he thought! “
“Owen & Mzee – Best Friends”
by Isabella and Craig Hatkoff is a board book with real photographs of the friendship of orphaned baby hippo and his 130 year old adoptive tortoise named Mzee. The Text is simple and perfect for toddlers. I like that it shows animals being affectionate , something we don’t often see.
- Gather your materials. You will need a paper plate, 3 sections of an egg carton , scissors, some pink paint ( or red and white) , a paint brush , some black paper and glue.
- Mix your paint, I know I have been saying this a lot lately but this simple step of mixing colors is such a fast and easy color lesson and kids love to mix things!
- Paint the paper plate .
While your child is doing this cut the egg carton into 3 pieces, one whole cup and two half ones.
Also cut 2 small black circles and two tiny rectangles for the eyes and nostrils out of the black paper. - Paint egg carton piece
s. You need to paint the inside of 2 egg carton pieces and the outside of the other. - Glue on the eyes.
- Glue on the snout.
- Glue the nostrils on.
- Glue on the ears.
Three Little Pigs
Three little pigs rolled in the mud,
Squishy , Squashy felt so good,
The farmer took one pig out,
Oink oink oink, the pig did shout!
Continue with 2, 1
No little pigs rolled in the mud,
They all looked so clean and good,
The farmer turned his back and then,
All the little pigs rolled in the mug again!
Books
” Pigsty” by Mark Teague is more my kind of book. Silly but with a good message. Wendell has a messy room and his mom calls it a pigsty, soon enough pigs start showing up! At first it’s cool , Wendell has fun with the pigs but it’s not long before the pigs are too much and even Wendell can’t take it. I think this book has a great message about responsibility, and how sometimes fun gets to be too much .
” Piggies” by Don and Audrey Wood is a great counting book for little guys. Toddlers love this book. You will probably notice your child touching their fingers as you read this delightful story about little piggies.
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