Paper Plate Snowman!

Day 3 of the week - The theme this week is Winter. The letters of the week are t, B, b the numbers of the week are 8,9,10.
Project - Paper Plate Snowman - We didn't have time for a project today -due to our busy schedule, story time at the library and meeting with a realtor to put our house on the market, so I decided to post a craft we did a couple of years ago. Directions - staple 3 paper plates together. Cut out a hat shape, scarf shape, pipe shape and carrot nose shape out of construction paper. Glue on the hate, scarf, pipe and carrot nose. Also, add googly eyes and pom poms down the middle of the middle plate and draw a smile on the snowman. Materials Needed - 3 paper plate, different colors of construction paper, googly eyes, pom poms, scissors, glue

Learning Activities:

Today's Activities:

Handwriting - Staying in the lines on curvy, zig-zag paths

Numbers- the number 10, writing, counting

Reading Readiness -belongs with

Different Shapes -ovals
Writing Letters - Lowercase b

Snowflake Collage!

Project - Snowflake Collage - Connor wanted to make more snowflakes today! He made some paper ones and some made out of tin foil. Again, we folded the paper/tin foil into triangles, and then folded again. Then he cut triangle shapes out of the sides of the paper/tin foil. He glued his snowflakes onto blue paper and wrote the word Snowflakes on the bottom of the paper. He wants to give his finished project to his grandma! Materials Needed - white paper, tin foil, scissors, glue, blue paper, black marker

Connor and his finished project!

Winter Sun Catcher II

Day 2 of the week - The theme this week is Winter. The letters of the week are t, B, b the numbers of the week are 8,9,10.
I will post more pictures tomorrow!!

The semi-frozen product

Project - Winter Sun Catcher II - We did another frozen sun catcher today, in part because Lauren didn't do one with us yesterday, and because I have been wanting to do this particular project for almost 3 years now!! I saw this project in the February 2007 issue of Family Fun Magazine - www.familyfun.com/magazine Directions - Cut orange into slices, place orange slices and pine branches in the bread pan and add enough water to cover them. Then add cranberries(we use Craisins) and any other colorful berry (we also used frozen blueberries). Then lay the ends of rope/twine in the pan (make sure the ends are submerged deep enough). Let the pan freeze outside or in the freezer. Remove the ice block from the pan and hang it outside (you may need to run warm water over the back of the pan). Connor and Lauren were very excited to make this project - they kept on checking outside to see if it was frozen! Materials Needed - rectangular bread pan, one orange cut into round slices, small pine branches, fresh or frozen berries - cranberries, blueberries, Craisins, sturdy twine/ rope

Another view of the Sun Catcher

Learning Activities:
Today's Activities:
Handwriting - Staying in the lines on curvy, zig-zag paths
Numbers- the number 9, writing, counting
Reading Readiness -belongs with
Different Shapes -ovals

Writing Letters - Uppercase B

Winter Sun Catcher and Paper Snowflakes!

Day 1 of the week - The theme this week is Winter. The letters of the week are t, B, b the numbers of the week are 8,9,10.

Project - Winter Sun Catcher - I saw this project in the February 2010 issue of Family Fun Magazine - www.familyfun.com/magazine Directions - Make colorful ice cubes by adding 1 drop of food coloring to the water in each section of an ice cube tray. (We used blue and green) Freeze the cubes completely. Next, fill a round cake pan about 2/3 full of water. Place a plastic cup filled with water in the upper middle of the pan to act as a filler for where the ribbon will go. Place the pan in the freezer for about 1 hour. Then put the colored ice cubes in the pan, and let all of the liquid freeze solid. Remove the plastic cup, and flip the sun catcher out of the pan, then hang it outside with a ribbon. Connor loved doing this project. He had a blast with the food coloring in the ice cube tray and with the frozen colored ice cubes. He kept checking the freezer to see if the Sun Catcher was ready!! Materials Needed - ice cube tray, 2 colors of matching food coloring, water!, round cake pan, plastic cup, ribbon

Project 2 - Paper Snowflakes! Here is a simple - yet fun craft to do with your child - paper snowflakes. I demonstrated how to make a paper snowflake first. I folded my square white paper into a triangle and then in 1/2 again to form another triangle. Then I cut triangle shapes on the outer edges. When I was done, I unfolded the paper to reveal my snowflake!! Next, it was Connor's turn, I had to help him with folding the paper into the initial triangle, but he did the rest on his own. He had fun cutting different sized triangles, but the real fun came when he got to unfold his snowflake. He really loved making paper snowflakes. We even used a smaller piece of paper to make tiny snowflakes. We taped our finished snowflakes on the window to complete our project! Materials Needed - white paper (in a square shape), scissors

Learning Activities:

Today's Activities:

Handwriting - Staying in the lines on curvy, zig-zag paths

Numbers- the numbers 8 & 9, writing, counting

Reading Readiness -belongs with

Different Shapes -ovals
Writing Letters - Lowercase t

Crayon and Watercolor Snowflakes!

Day 3 of the week. The theme this week is Snowflakes. The letters of the week are L, l, T the numbers of the week are 6, 7, 8.

Project -Watercolor and Crayon Snowflakes! Connor and Lauren drew snowflakes on white paper with crayons. Then they painted over the snowflakes with watercolor paint Materials Needed - white paper, crayons, watercolor paint, paint brushes

Learning Activities:

Today's Activities:

Handwriting - Staying in the lines on curvy, zig-zag paths

Numbers- the number 8, writing, counting

Reading Readiness -belongs with

Different Shapes - rectangles

Writing Letters - Uppercase T

Cardboard Tube Snowflakes!

Day 2 of the week. The theme this week is Snowflakes. The letters of the week are L, l, T the numbers of the week are 6, 7, 8.
Project -Cardboard Tube Snowflakes- I found this project in the December/January issue of Family Fun Magazine. http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/retro-ornaments-807089/ I flattened a cardboard paper towel tube and cut into 3/4 inch-wide ring (ten for each snowflake). Then I used a hole punch to make holes 1/2 inch from the each folded edge. Then Connor and Lauren started stringing a white pipe cleaner through the holes to make the inner circle. I twisted the ends of the pipe cleaner together on Connor and Lauren's tubes. Then I twisted two pipe cleaners together for the outer circle of the cardboard rings. Connor and Lauren strung their pipe cleaners through the holes to make the outer circle of the snowflake. I twisted the ends together and trimmed the excess. Finally, I attached a loop of fishing line for a hanger. *you can paint the tubes white before cutting* Materials Needed - cardboard tubes, white pipe cleaners, hole punch, scissors, fishing line

Learning Activities:
Today's Activities:
Handwriting - Staying in the lines on curvy, zig-zag paths
Numbers- the number 7, writing, counting
Reading Readiness -belongs with
Different Shapes - rectangles
Writing Letters - Lowercase l

Macaroni Snowflakes!

Day 1 of the week - The theme this week is Snowflakes. The letters of the week are L, l, T the numbers of the week are 6, 7, 8.
Project -Macaroni Snowflakes- Mix 1/4 cup white paint (I ran out of white so I had to use mostly blue), 2 TB of white school glue and 1/2 cup to 1 cup of wagon wheel macaroni. I dumped the paint, glue and noodles into an old coffee container and let Lauren shake it! Then Lauren made snowflake shapes with the painted macaroni on wax paper (Connor was feeling under the weather today). She also sprinkled the wet snowflakes with white and silver glitter! Make sure you let the macaroni dry for 24 hours. When it is dry carefully remove the snowflakes from the wax paper and string fishing line through to act as a hanger. ***Make sure the noodle are all touching each other. Otherwise, the snowflake will fall apart.***Materials Needed - 1/4 cup white paint, 2 TB white school glue, 1/2 cup to 1 cup of wagon wheel pasta, container to mix in, wax paper, fishing line, white and or silver glitter.

Shaking the Macaroni! Learning Activities:
Today's Activities:
Handwriting - Staying in the lines on curvy, zig-zag paths
Numbers- the number 6, writing, counting
Reading Readiness -Longer and shorter

Different Shapes - rectangles

Writing Letters - Uppercase L

Beaded Snowflakes

Day 3 of the week - The theme this week is Snowflakes. The letters of the week are h, I and i the numbers of the week are 4, 5, 6.

Project -Beaded Snowflakes- I twisted three white chenille stems together. Connor and Lauren strung clear tri-beads onto the chenille stems. I twisted the ends over and hot glued a tri-bead on each side of the middle of three twisted chenille stems (to cover up the white chenille stems). I added fishing line as a hanger for the snowflake. Materials Needed - 3 white chenille stems, clear tri-beads, hot glue gun, fishing line

Learning Activities:

Today's Activities:

Handwriting - Staying in the lines on curvy, zig-zag paths

Numbers- the number 6, writing, counting

Reading Readiness -Different size

Different Shapes - triangles

Writing Letters - Lowercase i

Oatmeal Canister Snowman!

Project - Oatmeal Canister Snowman! Connor and I made a snowman out of our old oatmeal canister, a washed out sour cream container, felt, buttons and glue. I used craft glue to attach white felt around the cylinder oatmeal container. I cut out a circular piece of black felt slightly larger than the cover to the oatmeal container and glued it on top of the cover. I used black felt to cover the sour cream container and glued the container to the circular black cover. Connor added buttons to the snowman and hat. I let him decorate the snowman all by himself - he likes things plain!! He uses his snowman to store things and also has a "winter" decoration. Materials Needed - oatmeal container, sour cream container (washed out), 2 pieces of white and black felt, buttons (various colors and sizes), craft glue.

Craft Stick Beaded Snowflakes!

Day 2 of the week - The theme this week is Snowflakes. The letters of the week are h, I and i the numbers of the week are 4, 5, 6.
Project -Craft Stick Beaded Snowflakes- Connor and Lauren glued 4 blue craft sticks into snowflake shapes. Then the glued clear tri-beads onto the craft sticks.

Materials Needed - blue craft sticks, clear tri-beads, craft glue
Learning Activities:
Today's Activities:
Handwriting - Staying in the lines on curvy, zig-zag paths
Numbers- the number 5, writing, counting

Reading Readiness - Different size

Different Shapes - triangles
Writing Letters - Uppercase I

Q-tip Snowflakes!

Day 1 of the week - The theme this week is Snowflakes. The letters of the week are h, I and i the numbers of the week are 4, 5, 6.

Project - Q-tip Snowflakes-Directions - Cut q-tips into different sizes and leave some whole (adult). Arrange q-tips as snowflakes on blue paper (kids). Glue the q-tips onto the paper (kids). I saw the idea for this project on the website http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Snowflake-Crafts-for-Kids.html Materials Needed - q-tips, blue paper, scissors, craft glue

Learning Activities:

Today's Activities:

Handwriting - Staying in the lines on curvy, zig-zag paths

Numbers- the numbers 4 and 5, writing, counting
Reading Readiness -The same size

Different Shapes - triangles

Writing Letters - Lowercase h

Craft Stick Snowman!

Day 3 of the week - The theme this week is Snowmen. The letters of the week are e, f and H the numbers of the week are 2, 3, 4.
Project - Craft Stick Snowmen-Directions - Glue 6 large craft sticks onto card stock (adult). Paint 1/4 top of craft sticks black and the remaining bottom 3/4 white (kids). Let dry. Glue one large craft stick black (kids)(this is the rim of the hat) Draw an orange carrot nose on orange foam, a yellow star on yellow foam and red strip for the hat on red foam (adult). Glue black craft stick where white and black paint meet (kids). Glue red foam strip above the black craft stick (kids). Glue nose and star onto the snowman along with googly eyes (kids). Draw a black smile on (kids). Materials Needed - 7 large craft sticks, white and black paint, orange, red, yellow foam, googly eyes, black marker, glue, paint brush, card stock.

Learning Activities:
Today's Activities:
Handwriting - Staying in the lines on curvy, zig-zag paths
Numbers- the number 4, writing, counting
Reading Readiness - DifferentShapes - SquaresWriting Letters - Uppercase H