Ideas

I have a bunch of feedback from the last giveaway and I thank you for your ideas, I was wondering if anyone wanted to contribute by being another author or if you all like the random format that is provided.

I am not doing the letters in order because I want my kids to learn the Alphabet independently and letter by letter rather than in a specific order. I also am trying to do fun activities sprinkled in with a theme because I am not doing a preschool just fun stuff to bust the boredom.

I don't believe in preschool before 3 so that is the main reason for the randomness of the posts.

Do you want more themes?
Do you want more of a specific thing, like math/manipulatives or science?

Please let me know, I am excited for your feedback!
Valerie

Aboriginal Clap Sticks

Here's a twist on the rhythm sticks that Australian aborigines use in ceremonial dances: decorated paint stirrers that let your kid be a one-man percussion section, clapping along to his favorite music.

What you need: Paint Stirrers and paint and Q-tips.
Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours. To make a set, paint one side and all the edges of the 4 sticks with a base color, then let them dry.

2. Next, use other colors to paint on decorative bands and squiggles. Use Q-Tips to add dot accents.
My sister and I used the back side of the paintbrush to scrape the paint and make cool designs too.

3. Once all the paint has dried, clap them together and dance around.

I found the story of Dot painting online:
The indigenous people of Australia, or Aborigines, use dot painting as a form of storytelling. With dots of paint traditionally made from natural pigments, they create patterns and images of plants and animals that represent their culture's creation myths, which date back tens of thousands of years.

Magnetic Puzzles

Melissa and Doug have a series of magnetic puzzles. For Christmas I usually pick out a cool one for my kids. These two have poles to fish with and my kids love them. Here is L and K having a good time with them. Here is their site to look for others that you may like for your children...

MELISSA AND DOUG

Resist Leaf Rubbings

This is another Fall Activity, with a twist.

Collect some leaves.
Tear off the paper of a crayon.
Stick the leaves under the paper.
Rub with the side of the crayon until the impression of the leaf appears.
Watercolor over the entire paper so the crayon is above the paint.
Like this. Then let dry. Let the kids feel the difference of crayon to paint. It is so neat!

Apple Sushi

When I think of fall I think of Apples, mmmm. L had A over for a snack playdate.

This was one of my favorite fall activities when I worked for the District.

What you need...
Bread, Peanut Butter, butter knives, Apple
Here is what we did...
Cut the crusts off then SMASH the bread flat. This is a very important step. The crusts will be used later.
SPREAD the peanut butter generously over the bread.
Slice the apples thin and put 3-5 slices on the top of the bread.
ROLL it up "like a cini-mon roll"
Cut like sushi, eat like sushi.
With the left over crusts and apples DOLLOP some Peanut Butter on the plate and use it as dip.
Delish!

Letter L - L is for Leaf

After a snack, we looked at our leaf collage from the other day and decided to re-identify the parts of the leaf...the stem, the veins, the tips, etc.

Then I cut a bunch out and we glued them to the letter L.
Then I let the kids draw the veins and stems.

Since L is the first letter of my boys name we went on an L hunt too. They liked that. We also practiced writing the letter L on the chalk boards. :)

Leaf Sorting

I don't know about you but I love the Fall, so this weeks stuff is all about Fall. Last week's Thumbprint Trees, and Apple Prints really got me going! :)

So again when my sister was in town (for the day) we treked through the rain in our snow gear to hunt for leaves.

I love this baby so I am posting this picture because...well it's so cute! :)

After we enjoyed the fall foilage we came home dried the leaves and then made a chart. Put a piece of Contact paper sticky side out on our window and began to sort...
This activity lasted about 25 minutes and then we counted the leaves that were each color...
As you can see...yellow won! I then put another piece of contact paper over the leaves and hung it in my kitchen on another window. As the leaves turn brown we will be able to watch them everyday without the crumbling mess that usually follows. So, if its not snowing where you are, go outside and collect some leaves!