Frame Magnet

Day 1 of the week - Our theme this week is School - again! The letter of the week is J, j and the numbers of the week are 0 and 1.
Project - Popsicle Stick Frame Magnet. Connor and Lauren each painted 4 (wide) Popsicle sticks. After the paint was dry, they glued the 4 sticks together to make a square. Then they decorated the outside of the frame with buttons. After they were done decorating, I glued a magnet on the back of the frame. Connor used his frame to frame one of his drawings on the frig! Materials Needed - wide craft sticks, paint, paintbrushes, craft glue or hot glue, buttons or other decorations, magnets

Connor and Lauren having fun with their frames!

Learning Activities - I have been using the workbook Everything for Early Learning Preschool workbook. (I purchased it at Wal-Mart)
Today's Activities:
The letter J, j - writing, recognition
The number 1 -recognition, writing, counting, following directions
The concept less - following directions, recognition
The concept different - recognition, following directions,
The concept over - recognition, following directions, cutting, pasting

School Countdown

Day 3 of our week - Our theme this week is School. The letter of the week is I, i and the number of the week is 2.
Project - School Countdown. I got the idea for this craft from the September 2009 issue of Family Fun magazine. I cut 6 cardboard tubes in descending half-inch increments, starting at 5 inches (the magazine did 7 starting at 5 1/2 inches) I had Connor and Lauren sponge the tubes with 2 different paint colors. Lauren used purple and pink and Connor used brown and white. After the tubes were dry I lined one end of each tube with craft glue and stuck them to a cardboard base (a cereal box). Then I trimmed around address labels with fun craft scissors and stuck the labels onto the cardboard tubes. Connor and Lauren took number stickers and placed the stickers on the tubes in descending order. Then, I wrapped small school supplies, and treats and put them into the tubes. Connor and Lauren will unwrap a package each day until their first day of preschool. Materials Needed - cardboard tubes, paint, sponge, craft glue, cardboard - cereal box, sticky labels, numbers (stickers), prizes for each tube.

Connor and Lauren with their School Countdown Craft!

Lauren's Countdown

Connor's Countdown!


Connor and Lauren painting their tubes

Learning Activities - I have been using the workbook Everything for Early Learning Preschool workbook. (I purchased it at Wal-Mart)

Today's Activities:

The letter I, i - beginning sounds

The number 2 - counting, writing, recognition

The concept same - recognition, following directions

The concept more -recognition, following directions

The concept on and off - recognition, following directions, cutting and pasting

Backpack Zipper Tags

Day 2 of our week - Our theme this week is School. The letter of the week is I,i and the number of the week is 2.

Project - Backpack Zipper Tags. Connor and Lauren start preschool next week, so they will be using and getting new backpacks. Connor has his heart set on a Star Wars backpack. I thought it would be fun for them to make a zipper pull for their new backpacks. I cut a circle out of cardboard and then two larger circles out of craft foam. I poked a hole in the middle of the cardboard circle and strung beading wire through the hole. (you could use any sturdy string, fishing line or wire) Then, I hot glued the craft foam circles on both sides of the cardboard circle. Connor and Lauren used, foam letters, beads pom poms . . . . to decorate their foam circles. Then I twisted the beading wire around a keyring clasp. (this is used to attach the zipper pull to the backpack zipper) Materials Needed - craft foam, cardboard, scissors, hot glue gun, beading wire - or other sturdy string or fishing line, key ring - or keyring clasp, decorative materials for the zipper pulls - beads, foam letters or shapes, pom poms.

The Zipper Tags

As you can see, Lauren put a little dazzle into her project

and Connor took a more simple approach

Learning Activities - I have been using the workbook Everything for Early Learning Preschool workbook. (I purchased it at Wal-Mart)
Today's activities:
The letter I, i - recognition, writing, following directions
The number 2 - recognition, following directions
The concept more -recognition, following directions
The concept same - recognition, following directions
The concept off- recognition, following directions, cutting, pasting

Handprint Magnets

Day 1 of our week - Our theme this week is School. Connor and Lauren are starting preschool next week, so I thought we should do some back to school themed projects this week. The letter of the week is I, i and the number of the week is 2.


Project - Handprint Magnets - I thought this was an appropriate project for the kids to do, so they have someway of displaying the things they come home with from preschool.
Connor and Lauren covered their hands in paint. Then they pressed their hands onto colored construction paper. After the paint was dry, I wrote their name on one hand print and the word art on the other handprint. Then I cut around the hand prints and laminated them. Finally, I glued a magnet on the back of the laminated hand prints, so they can be placed on the refrigerator. These hand prints will act as display magnets for Connor and Lauren's projects/art from preschool. Materials Needed - paint, construction paper, permanent marker, scissors, laminating sheets (optional), magnets

The handprint magnets

Learning Activities - I have been using the workbook Everything for Early Learning Preschool workbook. (I purchased it at Wal-Mart)

Today's activities:

1. The letter I, i - recognition, writing
2. The number 2 - recognition, writing, counting
3. The concept more -recognition, following directions
4. The concept same - recognition, following directions
5. The concept on - recognition, following directions, cutting, pasting
   
   

Clothespin Stegosaurus

Day 4 of our week - Yes, we had an extra day this week. The theme this week is Dinosaurs. The letter of the week is H, h and the number of the week is 3.


Project - Clothespin Stegosaurus. I found this idea on the blog http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/ I drew a dinosaur shape on a piece of cardboard (the back of a Kix Cereal box). Connor and Lauren used sponges to "sponge" the dinosaur with green paint. They also "sponged" 5 clothespins the color green. Once the dinosaurs were dry, I cut them out. Then Connor and Lauren glued on a googly eye and drew a mouth (Connor made a tongue) and clipped on their 5 clothespins. They thought their Stegosaurus' looked great. This was a really fun project and easy too. It took very little prep work and the kids loved using the sponges. Materials Needed - cardboard, green paint, black permanent marker, clothespins, sponges, scissors, glue, googly eyes

Connor's Stegosaurus

Lauren and her Dinosaur

Creating their dinosaurs

Learning Activities - I have been using the workbook Everything for Early Learning Preschool workbook. (I purchased it at Wal-Mart)

Today's Activities:

The letter H, h - Recognition, following directions

The numbers 3 and 4 - writing, one-to-one correspondence, following directions

The concepts bottom and top - following directions, recognition, cutting and pasting

Dinosaur Book

Day 3 of our week - Our theme this week is dinosaurs! The letter of the week is H,h and the number of the week is 3.

Project /Learning Activity - Dinosaur "Color" Book - I printed this mini book off the website http://www.prekinders.com/dinosaurunit.htm Connor and Lauren colored each dinosaur and had fun reading the book back to me. They are really getting into letters and asking me how to spell different words, so they can write their own words by themselves.

Dinosaur pages

The cover of the book

Learning Activities - I have been using the workbook Everything for Early Learning Preschool workbook. (I purchased it at Wal-Mart)
Today's Activities:
The letter H, h - beginning sound
The number 3 and 4- counting, one-to-one correspondence, following directions
The concepts first, second and third - following directions, sequencing,

Dino Hands

Day 2 of our week - The theme this week is Dinosaurs! The letter of the week is H, h and the number of the week is 3.

Project - Dino Hands - I found the idea for this project on the blog http://www.notimeforflashcards.com I drew a dinosaur on white construction paper and traced Connor and Lauren's hands on the construction paper too. Then, Connor and Lauren painted the dino and hands with green paint. After the paint was dry, I cut the hands and dino's out. Connor and Lauren glued the dino and hands onto black construction paper and added a googly eye. Simple, easy and fun! Materials Needed - white construction paper, pencil, green paint, black construction paper, scissors, glue, googly eye

The Dinosaurs

Learning Activities - I have been using the workbook Everything for Early Learning Preschool workbook. (I purchased it at Wal-Mart)
Today's Activities:
The letter H, h - recognition, writing
The number 3 - counting, one-to-one correspondence, writing, following directions
The concepts first, second and third - following directions, sequencing, cutting, pasting
The concept on bottom - recognition, following directions, cutting, pasting

Dinosaur Skeletons

Day 1 of our week - The theme this week is Dinosaurs! The letter of the week is H, h and the number of the week is 3.

Project - Dinosaur Skeletons - I found the idea for this craft on the website http://www.prekinders.com/dinosaurunit.htm under the dinosaur link. I printed off the dinosaur skeleton template and cut it out (Dinosaur Skeleton Printable). Then Connor and Lauren glued the paper skeleton onto a 12/18 piece of construction paper to form a dinosaur. They used dry elbow macaroni for the spine, neck, tail and toes, rigatoni for the legs, fettuccine for the ribs and a medium shell for the head. They glued the shells on top of the paper bones to form a dinosaur. They added leftover shells as decorations. Connor made a tree for his dinosaur to eat using fettuccine and green pipe cleaner.

Material Needed - 12x18 construction paper, dinosaur paper template (found on the above website under the dinosaur theme unit), various shells, elbow macaroni, medium shells, fettuccine, rigatoni, craft glue, glue sticks

The Dinosaurs
Lauren and Connor gluing pasta onto their dinosaurs

Learning Activities - I have been using the workbook Everything for Early Learning Preschool workbook. (I purchased it at Wal-Mart)

Today's Activities:

The letter H, h - recognition, writing

The number 3 - recognition, counting, one-to-one correspondence, writing, following directions

The concepts first, second and third - following directions, recognition, cutting, pasting

The concept on top - recognition, following directions, cutting, pasting

Chocolate Chip Cookie!

Day 3 of our week - No theme this week, but I think the theme became painting! The letter of the week is G, g and the number of the week is 4.

Project - Chocolate Chip Cookie - I saw this project on the blog http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/ under Puffy Paint Cookie. It looked like fun and easy too!! All of the directions are on the blog, but here is my condensed version. Me and the kids, mixed 3/4 cup shaving cream, and 1/4 cup white glue in a bowl. Connor and Lauren had a blast mixing it. Then we added brown paint and mixed again. Connor and Lauren glopped the mixture onto paper plates. Connor used a spoon, Lauren used her hands! This tells you a lot about their personalities. :) While they were spreading the mixture, I was cutting out round "chocolate chips" from brown construction paper. Finally, Connor and Lauren took the chocolate chips and arranged them onto their cookies and they were done!! Materials Needed - shaving cream (white), white glue, bowl, mixing spoon, brown paint, paper plates, brown construction paper and scissors.

Connor and Lauren spreading the glop!

The Cookies!!

Learning Activities - I have been using the workbook Everything for Early Learning Preschool workbook. (I purchased it at Wal-Mart)
Today's Activities:
The letter G, g - writing, recognition
The number 4 - one-to-one correspondence, following directions, writing
The concepts up and down - recognition, ,following directions, cutting, pasting

Finger Painting - outside scene!

Day 2 of our week - No theme this week. The letter of the week is G, g and the number of the week is 4.

Lauren's finger painting

Project - Connor and Lauren haven't used finger paints in a long time, so I thought today would be a great day to have fun with the paints. I gave them each a blank piece of 11/13 white construction paper. I squeezed red, yellow, blue, and green finger paint onto plates. I set out paintbrushes, Popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners and dinosaur cookie cutters to create with. I asked them to make an outdoor scene (What do you see outside?) They had a lot of fun painting their pictures. * We used dinosaur cookie cutters, because they are really into dinosaur stuff this week!* Materials Needed - 11/13 white construction paper, finger paints, paint brushes, Popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, cookie cutters.

Connor's Painting

Learning Activities - I have been using the workbook Everything for Early Learning Preschool workbook. (I purchased it at Wal-Mart)
Today's Activities:
The letter G, g - writing, beginning sound
The number 4 - recognition, one-to-one correspondence, following directions
The concepts first, second and third - recognition, matching,following directions
The concept down- recognition, following directions, cutting and pasting

Birdseed Biscuit

Day 1 of our week - I am back from a mini vacation with my husband (that is why there was only 2 posts last week). I feel refreshed after a much needed vacation without the kids. They had a wonderful time playing with both sets of grandparents.
No theme this week! The letter of the week is G, g and the number of the week is 4.

Connor with the finished biscuits

Project - Birdseed Biscuit. I found this project in the February 2009 issue of Family Fun Magazine. I let Connor and Lauren choose 2 cookie cutters each. Lauren chose a bunny and a butterfly and Connor chose a ghost and a bat (Halloween Theme!) I doubled the recipe shown in the magazine to make 4 biscuits. The recipe in the magazine only makes two biscuits. Connor and Lauren each dumped in 3/4 cup of birdseed, (1 1/2 cup total) 1 tbsp of flour, (2 tbsp total) and 2 tbsp of water (4 tbsp total). Then thy mixed it all together. I sprayed the cookie cutters with cooking oil and placed them on a foil covered baking sheet. Connor and Lauren used plastic spoons to fill their cookie cutters with the birdseed mixture. I packed the mixture in with the spoons and Connor and Lauren pushed 1/2 a straw into the mixture near the top to create a hole for hanging. Then I baked the biscuits in a 170 degree oven for a little over an hour (or until the biscuit is hard). I let the biscuits cool, removed the straw and threaded fishing line through the hole, so the Birdseed Biscuits can be hung outside on a tree! Materials Needed - cookie cutters, birdseed, flour, water, measuring cup, tbsp measuring spoon, large bowl, mixing spoon, small spoon, baking pan, tin foil, cooking spray, plastic drinking straw, scissors, fishing line or ribbon, oven

Lauren and Connor mixing the birdseed mixture

Learning Activities - I have been using the workbook Everything for Early Learning Preschool workbook. (I purchased it at Wal-Mart)
Today's Activities:
The letter G, g - writing, recognition
The number 4 - recognition, one-to-one correspondence, following directions
The concept first - recognition, following directions
The concept up - recognition, following directions, cutting and pasting

Key Tag Name Picture Frames!

Day 2 of our week - The theme this week is Our Name. The letter of the week is F, f and the number of the week is 5.

Key Tag Name Picture Frame

Project - Key Tag Name Picture Frames. I was trying to think of a fun project that involved the kids names and would be appealing to the eye. I had a bunch of these key tags and different letter stickers. While I was in Wal-Mart I saw the foam craft frames and voila' the whole project came together!! First Connor and Lauren found the letters for their names and stuck the stickers in order on the key tags. I hot glued one end of some fishing line onto the top corner of the frame. Then, we strung the key tags on the fishing line to spell Connor and Lauren. Then, I hot glued the other end of the fishing line to the frame. Connor and Lauren chose stickers and decorated the rest of their frames. (this was their idea) I stuck stickers over the ends of the fishing line to hide the hot glue. Now all we have to do is find pictures to go in the frames. Materials needed - foam craft frame (or other type of frame), key tags, fishing line, hot glue gun, scissors, stickers.

Connor searching for the letters in his name

Lauren looking for the r for her name

Learning Activities - I have been using the workbook Everything for Early Learning Preschool workbook. (I purchased it at Wal-Mart)
Today's Activities:

The letter F - recognition, writing, beginning sounds, following directions

The number 5 - recognition, one-to-one correspondence, writing, following directions

Shape Review - recognition, following directions

The concepts beginning and first - recognition, following directions

Magazine Letters Name Room Sign!

Day 1 of our week. The theme this week is Our Names! The letter of the week is F, f and the number of the week is 4.

Magazine Letters Name Room Sign

Project - I found the idea for this project on the blog http://notimeforflashcards.com/ I thought this week would be a great week to really focus on Connor and Lauren's names. They have been writing their names for 7-8 months now and they know all of their upper and lower case letters, so a names theme is just perfect. First I had wrote Connor's Room and Lauren's Room on a sheet of green paper. Then, Connor and Lauren looked through magazines to find the appropriate letters. I helped them cut out the letters. They placed each letter over the letters I wrote on their paper. Next, they glued the cut-out magazine letters to the green paper. Then, I cut each letter out into a rectangular or square shape. Finally, Connor and Lauren took the finished letters and glued them onto a blue/pink piece of paper to form the words, Connor's Room/Lauren's Room. At the end, I traced around the block letters with permanent black marker to create a border. Now they both have a sign for their bedroom door! Materials Needed - magazines, scissors, glue stick, 2 different colors of construction paper, black permanent marker.