How I Organize Our Summer
You might not guess it from my posts, but the truth is I am the QUEEN of procrastination. No matter how hard I try there is always a little voice in my head whispering “Why do it now? You have tons of time. Why don’t […]
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Crafts
2 Easy Cards for Teacher Appreciation Day
This year it feel like our family won the teacher lottery. Goose is in school 5 days a week now with a fantastic Montessori teacher while Nugget goes to a twice a week preschool with staff that love him like their own. It can be […]
An Easy Mothers Day Gift – Abstract Art for Kids
We’ve all been there .. you’re strolling through an art museum and you see something that makes you say “Hey, My kid could do that!” Of course, any artist would tell you that the creative process only looks easy because they are so talented. But […]
Autumn Baby Activities: Tiny Tot School
Fall is finally here! It’s my favorite time of year, so I’m usually planning and anticipating by late July. Unfortunately I live in a part of the country where Fall takes a little longer to arrive. Nothing says autumn like 85Ā°F weather and 99% humidity!! But now it’s October and the days are getting cooler, pumpkins are everywhere (and in everything!) and I am ready! This month I’m excited to share our Autumn Tot School theme. I have activities planned for children of all ages … ok not much for the teenagers š but today I’d like to start with some Autumn Baby Activities for our littlest tots.
I like to call it ‘Tiny Tot School’ as these activities are ideal for children 6 – 18 months old. As always, watch your child oh so carefully since EVERYTHING goes in the mouth at this age. You know your child best, so please trust your instincts if you feel your child isn’t quite ready to perform an activity safely. But that’s enough with the disclaimers – let’s have some fun with our littles!
Autumn Treasure Basket
Are you familiar with the Montessori treasure basket concept? I mentioned it here, and I really couldn’t say enough good things about it. The treasure basket is simply a basket full of a variety of objects, usually centered around a theme. Often the baskets focus on providing a variety of textures, colors, or even smells. All you have to do is pick a theme and run through your house with a basket in search of items that fit!
Once your basket is prepared, present it to your child and allow him or her to explore at their own pace. Often this exploration will include tasting as much as touching, so be mindful of your objects and your level of observation. Personally I like to take the lesson a step further and discuss the objects as they are touched.
“That is a pumpkin, it has a pretty orange color! Do you see the stem? How does the pumpkin feel, rough or smooth?”
An older child may be able to answer some of your questions while the littlest tots seem to ignore them, but I guarantee they are all absorbing what you say.
For our autumn treasure basket I included the following items:
- An Orange cotton cloth
- Several Small pumpkins with beaded sides for enhanced texture
- wooden beads strung on a pipe cleaner (and firmly secured!)
- Several yellow andĀ orange spiked rubber balls
- small yellow and red toys
- a plastic toy apple
- An orange bath louffa
- a red ball
- a green toy pear
This was by far baby’s favorite activity. He spent at least 20 minutes working through it all and would probably have spent another 20 if he had the opportunity.
Extension Activities:
Hide objects under the cloth and feel them with hands only, good for older siblings, or play 20 questions with hidden objects.
Pumpkin Sensory Bag
This was such a fun activity, and although baby didn’t love it as much as I expected, Nugget certainly did! The best part of this activity is that the presentation can be easily modified to suit the child’s development. I offered the bag loose to baby, but a child who is interested in standing might enjoy having the bag taped to a window where he or she could stand to squish the contents around. On the other hand, it could also be secured to the tray of a highchair for a less mobile baby. Or try all 3 options and see which your child prefers!
Supplies:
- Large 1 Gallon Size Freezer Bag
- 1 Large container of hair gel – I like LA Looks from Walmart because it’s inexpensive
- Black Fun Foam Cut into Jack O Lantern Features.
- Orange Food Coloring, Glitter optional
- Clear Packing Tape
Instructions:
- Cut out the jack o lantern features from fun foam and set them aside. I keep it simple with eyes, nose and mouth. Make sure they are large enough to be easily visible once they are within the bag.
- Fill the bag halfway with gel and add a few drops of food coloring. Seal the bag and mix together until your desired color is reached. This is also the time to add glitter if you wish to do so.
- Place the foam face pieces inside the bag and seal it with a thick layer of packing tape.
Puff Ball Pumpkins in a Jar
Seriously guys. This may be the easiest tot school activity EVER. I almost feel silly even listing it except it works SO well. This is actually an activity I devised a few years ago when Goose was little. He outgrew it but it has been used again for Nugget and most recently, baby. As you can see in the pictures, it’s just an old juice bottle and a bunch of large orange pom poms.
The idea is to have the child stuff the pompoms into the open lid of the jar. This is a fantastic fine motor activity because it requires a surprising amount of dexterity. It also teaches concepts like object permanence and problem solving as the child attempts to get the pompoms back out of the container. Baby loved this activity although it was quite challenging for him at 11 months, and Nugget still enjoys it at 2.
I have considered cutting a whole in the lower edge to make retrieving the pompoms easier but have feared that the kids would use it as a shortcut and the entire purpose of the activity would be defeated. It’s definitely an option to consider though. Overall just wash an old container, and find some pompoms that are just barely larger than the opening at the top. Show your child how to push the pompom inside and then let her go. You will be amazed by how a simple activity can captivate your child!
Fall Sensory Bottle
You know I love to make sensory bottles out of Voss water bottles and this unit was no exception. I’m constantly attempting to improve my sensory bottles and this one turned out particularly well. My goal was to use some leaf shaped sequins within the bottle and create a mixture that would allow them to slowly fall when shaken. It took a few attempts but the recipe below resulted in a nice relaxing pace, perfect for entrancing an overstimulated child.
Supplies:
- 1 Voss Water BottleĀ or similar
- Super Glue
- Water
- Clear Hair Gel
- Gliter (I used a combination of orange and gold)
- Orange Food coloring
- Small Leaf Shaped Sequins in fall colors
- Light Corn Syrup
Instructions:
- Begin by washing your bottle thoroughly, you don’t want anything growing in it down the road – yuck!
- Fill the bottle 1/3 with water, then add roughly 1 Cup hair gel. Shake to combine.
- Add food coloring, glitter and leaves until you reach your desired concentration.
- Fill the remainder of the bottle with corn syrup, and repeat step 3 if neccessary.
- Screw on the lid and shake the bottle thoroughly to observe the movement within your sensory bottle. Now is the time to make any adjustments if it isn’t quite right.
- Remove the lid and apply superglue to the inside so that it is fully secured.
Did Your Child Enjoy TheseĀ Autumn Baby Activities??
Are you excited about Fall? Have you conquered your Fall Bucket List?
Tell me all about it in the comments!
Preschool Space Activities
Hello! I’m finally back with another full-length Tot School unit! The past month has been so busy with traveling, getting the kids back to school (school started on July 31st here – it’s insane!), and most importantly Goose turned 4! Needless to say I have had my hands full, but even when I wasn’t here sharing content with you I was still brainstorming ideas and I have some AMAZING stuff in the pipeline for you guys. First, is this awesome tot school unit full of toddler and preschool space activities. This will be a longer than normal unit, so be sure to sign up for my emails so you won’t miss a thing. I’ll never spam you but I WILL send you access to my complete library of free resources. Think worksheets, templates, TONS of nomenclature cards and more!
So, the ‘Great American Eclipse’. Did you watch it? I feel like the whole country went crazy with eclipse fever and of course our house was no exception. We were loaded down with our eclipse themed snacks (Moon Pies, Sun Chips, Capri Sun, & Milky Way Bars of course!) and I even made eclipse pancakes for breakfast. After all the hype I feel like the experience was kind of a letdown. We live close enough to experience 97% totality and if no one had told me we were having an eclipse I probably never would have noticed. The one good thing that came out of it though was a newfound interest in space for Nugget & Goose. Now both boys want to be astronauts and fly to Mars.
I created these preschool space activities and tot school unit at Goose’s direct request, so they are definitely kid tested and kid approved. I can’t wait to hear how your kids like them too – tell me in the comments!
DIY Solar System Magnets
These magnets were so much fun to make and require absolutely no artistic ability whatsoever. Best of all, your shopping list only has 2 items on it! This is definitely a project that you could knock out during nap time while you binge on Netflix, or if you have an older child let them help or even make their own. At (almost) 2 and 4 both of my boys have enjoyed working with these magnets. Nugget enjoys the resistance of lifting the strong magnets off the cookie sheet and matching them to the play mat. Goose is able to name all of the planets and is now working on placing them in their correct order.
Edit: It has now been more than a week since I introduced this activity and Nugget is still requesting it multiple times a day. This may be one of my most successful activities ever!
Supplies:
- Sculpey Clay in Assorted Colors (I like this multipack
)
- 1 package of small Round Ceramic Magnets
- An assortment of round objects from around the house in a variety of sizes to use as stencils. I used jars, lids, cookie cutters, and even a pill bottle. Just about anything will work.
)
Instructions:
- Start by laying out your stencil items and making note of which item you will use for each planet. It may help to remember that the sun is the largest, followed by Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Earth, Mars, Venus and finally Mercury.
- Decide which planet you want to start with and select the colors that you feel best reflect your planet’s appearance. I used solid colors for Mars, Mercury and Uranus. Earth was just a solid blue circle that I added some tiny green continents to, and the Sun, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune were made by swirling multiple colors together.
- You’ll quickly learn that this clay is super easy to work with – if you can roll a ball and smash it flat you can do this.Once you have your planets decorated, flip them over and gently press a magnet into the back to make an indentation – DO NOT LEAVE IT THERE! – Remove the magnet and use a thin snake or tube of clay to make a lip around where the magnet will go. You are trying to create a well in the back of your planet to hold the magnet once you are done. This, combined with some super glue should make it more difficult for little ones to pry the magnets loose.
- Once you have finished decorating your planets and creating your magnet housings on the back you can place them on an aluminum cookie sheet and bake at 275Ā°F for 15 min. DO NOT BAKE YOUR YOUR PLANETS WITH THE MAGNETSĀ INSIDE.
- Allow clay to cool fully before handling your planets, then use Super Glue to adhere your magnets to the back of your planets.
- Pat yourself on the back – you just made something awesome and your kids are going to love it!
Notes:
- I highly recommend using Sculpey brand clay for this project. Fimo is an alternate product but I don’t like working with it. The product is too crumbly and difficult to blend.
- When decorating your planets, an easy technique is to lay a thin strip of accent color across the surface and then use your finger to smooth and smear it. The clay blends really easily and this will create a more natural mottled look.
- If you go to glue in your magnets and one doesn’t quite fit, you can use a craft knife to plane out the edges to make room for your magnet.
- I hate that I have to say this in nearly every post, but as always please use common sense. Magnets and broken pieces of clay are just 2 of the many things your child should not ingest so please use your best judgment on when your child is ready for this activity and always supervise them to ensure their safety.
The Best Part:
OK, you’ve spent an hour of your valuable time making these things – what do you do with them? I have that part covered for you! I designed a set of 3 play mats to use with your solar system magnets. The first play mat features all of the planets in our solar system for easy matching. This is a great starting point, particularly for younger children. After your child becomes more comfortable naming the planets and their order you can progress to the second play mat which shows the sun and lines for each planet’s orbit. Finally the 3rd play mat is an image of space with no planets. This is perfect for free-play or allowing a child to fully recreate our solar system on her own. I recommend laminating your play mats for increased durability and using them on a small baking sheet.
Ready for your FREE Printable Play Mats? Sign up below to get access to our free digital resource library full of fun printables and activities!
Toddler Star Sorting Boxes
Size discrimination is an early math skill that builds the foundation for so much later in life. This activity takes those size discrimination skills a step further by adding a fine motor component. When you do sizing activities with your toddler they develop vocabulary (larger, smaller, medium) and communication skills. Would you ever have guessed before having children that putting objects in boxes could be so educational?!
Supplies:
- 1 package of small wooden stars in assorted sizes
- Gold acrylic paint
- 3 small cardboard boxes with lids
- An Exacto knife or box cutter
Instructions:
- Begin by painting your stars gold on one side. Once they have dried, flip them over and paint the other side. Don’t stress about making it perfect – you’re going to be painting at least 30 of these things. Your toddler will never notice a streaky paint job.
- Measure each size star to determine the maximum width between points and draw a line on your box tops to match each size.
- Carefully cut a slit in the lid of each box to correspond to the size of your stars. You should have one large slot, one medium slot and one small slot.
- File the edges of the slot to ensure that it is smooth (and while you’re at it check for rough spots on your stars and touch those up too).
- <Optional> Decorate your boxes with paint, stickers, etc. I left mine plain since I think I will be recycling this activity at Christmas š
I find that the activities I create draw more attention when I present them in an attractive way. This makes it seem ‘special’ and the child is eager to participate. I recommend placing all 3 boxes on a tray along with a small bowl or basket containing the gold stars. When your child is ready, demonstrate the various sizes of stars and show them how to place a star in the slot. As a Montessori-inspired activity it is self-correcting. This means that the child will only be able to fit the large star into the large slot, thereby correcting the child if he or she attempts to place it in the wrong box. Once all the stars are in the box you can show your child how to open the box to retrieve their stars. This will probably be their favorite part.
Nugget had so much fun with this activity. He isn’t interested in the sorting the stars, but Goose really enjoys helping him with that part. In fact, I assumed this activity would be too easy to attract Goose but he really enjoyed helping to sort the stars and experimenting with how many could fit in one slot. Anything that occupies both boys and has them getting along is a HUGE win in my book!
4th of July Tot School Activities: Part 1
Can you believe that it’s already July?! It feels like this summer is just flying by. Next week people all across the United States will be celebrating the 4th of July, and for different people that means different things. It might mean fireworks, a trip to the beach, or a backyard bar-b-que. For me, it means all of those things PLUS an excuse to do a new red, white and blue themed tot school unit. My family loves the 4th of July so we always go all out and this tot school unit is no exception. Keep reading for crafts, Montessori trays and lots of free printables!
Popsicle Stick President: Abraham Lincoln
Seriously, who doesn’t love Honest Abe? I designed this fun popsicle stick craft to honor our 16th president and provide a jumping off point to talk about our country’s history. This is a simple art project that could easily be modified for even younger children. Simply replace the paint with washable markers, and maybe provide a little help with the gluing.
Supplies:
- 7 Plain Popsicle Sticks
- Glue
- Acrylic Paints (black, brown and pink)
- Paint Brushes
Instructions:
- Begin by laying out 6 popsicle sticks side by side, then glue your last popsicle stick horizontally about 2/3rds up to make Abe’s hat brim.
- Once the glue has dried, paint the stovepipe hat black, including the brim.
- Use brown paint to paint Lincoln’s beard.
- Finally, add a face using black paint for his eyes and mouth, and pink cheeks. (This would be a great step to sub in a fine tip marker or even some googly eyes.)
Flag Fine Motor Activity
My boys had so much fun with this activity! I actually did it with Goose last year, and then brought it out again this year. Even though it is much less challenging now he still enjoyed the activity quite a bit. The best part is that it requires almost no prep work!
All you need is a package of toothpick flags (Mine were sold as cupcake toppers!) and a square piece of floral foam. That’s it. See, I told you it was easy! Now let your child poke each toothpick flag into the foam. There is just enough resistance from the foam to build hand strength, which is vital to develop the muscle control necessary for writing.
Patriotic Nomenclature Cards
This set of nomenclature cards features 18 patriotic vocabulary words. There are basics like ‘Fireworks’, ‘Statue of Liberty’, and ‘Bald Eagle’ as well as a few more advanced concepts like ‘Declaration of Independence’ and ‘Revolutionary War’. Of course, as a parent it’s always up to you to decide just how much information your child is ready for. I hope that this free download will help with whatever way you wish to teach your children about the history of Independence Day.
You can download your own free set of Patriotic Nomenclature cards from my Digital Resource Library. Sign up below to get the password!
Montessori Bead Spooning
I continued to work on my boys’ fine motor skills with this easy Montessori spooning activity. I presented a tray with 2 dishes, one of which was full of assorted red, white and blue beads. Then I carefully demonstrated for Nugget how to scoop up a spoonful of beads and pour them into the adjacent dish. He spilled plenty, but he also surprised me with just how well he did. The really wonderful part was when Goose came over and began helping him. Brotherly love at its finest, and it just melted my heart!
Easy Star Clings for Early Tot School
Some of the activities I have listed today are better for slightly older children, so I wanted to include something for the younger siblings as well. I found this set of 4th of July gel window clings in the Dollar Spot at Target. They are VERY sticky and stretchy, so I introduced them with a child-sized cookie sheet (I think it came from this
I think that a child as young as 6th months would enjoy touching and interacting with the sticky texture if you placed them on a cookie sheet yourself. As always, watch your child to ensure that they don’t try to eat them (and if it were me, I would wash hands after handling, who knows what chemicals are in these things – eek!)
Free 4th of July Decorative Printables!
After so many activities for the littles, here is something for the Mamas! This download features 3 separate 8×10 designs, perfect for framing or adding a patriotic touch throughout the house. Visit my Digital Resource Library to get yours, and have a Fabulous 4th of July!!
Don’t miss Part 2 of my 4th of July Tot School Unit!
Farm Themed Tot School: Part II
We are rolling right on through our farm themed tot school unit, and so far we have been having a blast! If you missed Part I, be sure to check it out. There were some really great crafts, recipes and activities for preschool or tot school. Today, our farm unit is going to the birds – literally! All of our crafts and activities revolve around poultry, so we will be feeding poultry, gathering eggs, gluing feathers and much more. Let’s get started!
Feed the Chickens Counting Mats
I think counting mats are such a fun way to combine fine motor skill development with early math skills. Plus, they make counting just a little more fun. I designed these mats for counting up to 20, although you could easily use only the first 10 to match your child’s skill level. On each card I have featured one or more bird from the farm, and these birds are hungry! I recommend using dry corn kernels but you can use any dry beans or small counter that you have at home. As always, any small object (such as corn kernels) can post a choking hazardĀ to small children so use your own best judgement.
While Goose enjoyed working his way through all 20 counting mats, Nugget had fun helping by trying to name what type of birds were on each card. It’s always great when a learning activity can include both an older and younger sibling!
Visit my Digital Resource LibraryĀ to download and print your free copy of my Feed the Chickens Counting Mats. Don’t have an access code? Easy! Just sign up below and one will be emailed to you right away!
Fruit & Veggie Search Sensory Bin
I wish I could take credit for this activity but all the credit for this one goes to Kim at Life Over C’s. Definitely check out her site for some fantastic learning activities and to download the printables for this fun activity.
This activity features a printable mat showing a wide assortment of fruits and veggies, along with a matching set of fruit and veggie cards. A quick pass through the laminator and a few Velcro tabs later and you have a fun and educational sensory bin search! I used Popsicle sticks and card stock to make garden signs that I adhered inside our sensory bin with a hot glue gun. This was definitely one of our cuter activities, and digging through the beans to find each fruit or vegetable kept Goose occupied for quite a while.
When we began I figured this would be one of those short-lived activities that wasn’t challenging enough for Goose but was a bit advanced for Nugget, boy was I wrong! It turns out that Goose’s fruit and veggie vocabulary isn’t quite as advanced as I thought and he learned a lot as he dug out each card and then let Nugget help him find the match.
Of course, soon the tractor was digging out the vegetables, and I had to watch Nugget like a hawk to be sure he didn’t try to eat the black beans, but overall I would call this one a win!
Decorate Your Own Rooster Craft
For this project we decided to create our own pet roosters! Goose named his ‘Captain Picklepuss’, which is of course a very respectable name for a rooster. We decorated our roosters using glue, feathers, crayons, and pretty much anything else Goose dug out of our craft closet. The end result was a rooster that would be the talk of any barnyard, I’m sure.
Visit my Digital Resource LibraryĀ to download and print your free Rooster Printable. Don’t have an access code? Easy! Just sign up below and one will be emailed to you right away!
Egg Gathering Imaginative Play
My boys have very active imaginations and adore pretend play. I think that the creative thinking skills developed during imaginative play are vital to future success, so we put a lot of emphasis on it in our house. When shopping for toys I always avoid what Alton Brown calls ‘Unitaskers’. These toys that can only be played with in one specific way just seem limiting and are rarely the toys that see repeated play.
For this activity I made nests out of paper bags (instructions below) and then filled each nest with a few plastic Easter eggs. We were a little short on stuffed chickens so our nests included a variety of feathered occupants. After staging the nests, I also laid out a cowboy hat for costuming, and an egg carton for additional sorting practice. I gave each boy a basket and encouraged them to gather eggs and just have fun. Not surprisingly, Nugget decided to fill his basket with poultry and lovingly carry them throughout the house, carefully clucking and quacking at each one. This is such a sweet age! Goose took the task a little more seriously and was very intent on gathering all of the eggs, and opening each one in search of leftover Easter candy. As if candy would last that long in our house!
They returned to this activity several times this week, and each time they found new ways to interact with the nests. My favorite was when I walked into the room to find Nugget sitting very carefully on a plastic egg. Evidently his brother told him if he sat still long enough it would hatch! Oh how I hated to burst that bubble!
Supplies:
- Several Brown Paper Lunch Bags
- Scissors
- Glue
- Plastic eggs
Instructions:
- Begin by cutting off the top 2/3 of your lunch bags. You will need 2 bags per nest. (Don’t throw away the tops – I will be showing you next week how to use them for a fun craft!)
- Cut thin slices from the open edge of your bag down to the fold (see images). Don’t worry about making it perfect, messy is great for this project!
- Open your bag and then crinkle it in to a ball. The wrinklier the better!
- Repeat steps 1-3 on your second lunch bag, then open both wrinkled bags.
- Place one bag inside the other and using a rolling / scrunching motion to create a nest shape.
- Fill with plastic eggs, candy, or whatever else your little heart desires.
Our Favorite Farm Themed Books
We had so many farm themed books in our collection, that this was one tot school unit that hardly required a trip to the library. Here are a few of our favorites:
Dk Tractor Shaped Board Book
This is a book that I picked up a few years ago at a consignment sale, and it has been a favorite of ours ever since. It’s pretty short, but the novelty lies in the fact that it places you inside the tractor. It’s a fun short read perfect for a toddler who is just getting into tractors.
Otis by Loren Long
This is the original Otis book, although there are now several in the series. It tells the tale of a sweet tractor and his friendship with a lonely calf. The illustrations are striking and the plot is well-written enough that parents and children should both enjoy this story.
The Grumpy Morning by Pamela Duncan Edwards
This is a cute book about the morning that the farmer overslept. I like the fact that the farmer is a woman, since too many farm books only feature male farmers. It also has a nice rhythm that makes reading it aloud pleasurable.
Moo by Matthew Van Fleet
Matthew Van Fleet is famous for his beautifully photographed and highly interactive children’s books. Each page features tactile stimulation and moving parts, sure to hold even the youngest child’s attention.
Cock-a-Doodle-Doo! Barnyard Hullabaloo by Giles Andreae
Giles Andreae is back again with this tour through the barnyard. Each page features a different animal and a short rhyme. The illustrations are fun and bright and the rhymes are playful. It’s definitely worth adding to your bookshelf.
Lift the Flap Farm by Hinkler Books
This book can be a little tough to find, but it’s worth the effort. It’s chock full of photographs of farm animals, equipment and even produce. My boys love lifting the flaps, and I love the extra questions at the bottom of each page to encourage critical thinking or find hidden extras.
Pass It On! by Marilyn Sadler
This is a fun and silly story about how a message can be distorted as it gets passed from person to person (or animal to animal as it were). It’s great for an older preschooler who can understand the concept of pass it on, but the humor might be lost on younger children.
The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson
I love love love Karma Wilson. Her books never disappoint, and always include an attractive rhyming structure along with a playful plot. If you buy one fiction book from this list – buy this one. It’s just plain fun to read!
Have you enjoyed our Farm themed tot school unit so far? Comment below!
Be sure to check back later this week to see the final portion of our farm unit. Some of the best is still yet to come!
Farm Themed Tot School Unit: Part I
Something about Summer just makes me think of life on the farm.
I don’t know if it’s the slower pace or the long days outside in the sun but it always is enough to make farm life appealing. At least it was until last week. Last week we signed up to have farm duty at Goose’s Montessori school. The school has it’s own miniature farm with chickens, ducks, sheep and miniature donkeys. Since there is a new baby donkey I was quick to sign up to take care of the animals for one week of summer break. Little did I know that I was going to be in WAY over my head!
In way over my head …
The first dayĀ I showed up with a 3 year old and 1 year old thinking it would be a quick visit. We would hand out a little food, pet the baby donkey and be home in time for naps. Nope! I think the highlight was when the sheep got out of their pen and I spent an hour attempting to chase / bribe them back in. Or trying to corral the chickens into the coop …. or was it when I was hauling buckets of water (PS I think it weighed at least 50 lbs!) and a donkey knocked me over and I spilled the bucket all over myself.
Long story short – I have learned that I am NOT cut out for farm life. That hasn’t kept me from designing a super fun farm themed tot school unit. Please forgive the 3 enormous posts this week – there were so many cute activities I got a little carried away!
Nomenclature Cards
It wouldn’t be a tot school unit without nomenclature cards. If you aren’t familiar with these fantastic learning tools I explain them here. I always like to start any new unit with nomenclature cards because they are such an easy way to introduce the new vocabulary that you will be using throughout the unit. I have designed my own set of farm nomenclature cards that you can download for free from my Digital Resource Library. Don’t have an access code? Just sign up below and one will be emailed to you right away!
One of my favorite games with nomenclature cards is to combine them with one or more Safari Ltd. Toobs. I used the Farm TOOB
Is it just my house or does every activity ultimately involve Hot Wheels?
Pigs in Mud Sensory Bin
Now this is one FUN sensory bin! Probably because it’s so messy. We used some pigs from our Farm TOOB
I introduced the activity with this video explaining why pigs roll in mud, and we read ‘Hogwash
Goose prefers to keep his hands clean, but even he was willing to dive into the pudding when he figured out how tasty it is. Nugget, of course, can always be counted on to coat himself from head to toe in any substance he gets his hands on.
Fast Craft: Paper Plate Lambs
Making paper plate lambs is easy, fun and the end results are surprisingly adorable! Best of all this is a craft that a preschooler can complete with minimal assistance from Mom. Elmer’s glue scrubs clean from just about every surface, right? *wink*.
Supplies:
- 1 White Paper or Foam Disposable Plate
- White Cotton Balls
- One printed copy of theĀ lamb template from my Digital Resource Library.
- Elmer’s School Glue
- 2 Googly Eyes
- Scissors
Prep Work: Download my template and cut outĀ the legs, face and ears of the lamb.
**Don’t have an access code for the Digital Resource Library? No problem! Just sign up below and one will me emailed to you right away!
Instructions:
- Use Elmer’s Glue to apply the round head to the center of the plate, then glue all 4 legs to the edges.
- Glue the eyes on to the face (shocker, I know. Unless you have more of a Picasso-esque lamb in mind …)
- Let your child go wild gluing as many cotton balls as they would like to the plate.
- When finished tuck the ears into the cotton and glue in place.
- Admire your adorable lamb – and maybe give it a name.
Milking a Cow Imaginative Play
Ok, I’m going to level with you. This was a super neat activity that turned out far better than I initially imagined, however it might be difficult to replicate at home. I will show you what I did, and then offer my suggestions for how you could possible put your own spin on the activity using things you already have around the house.
To begin with you need a frame of some sort. We made our own out of this Discovery Kids Construction Fort
Next, you need a rubber glove and some twine. Fill the glove with water and use the twine to secure it shut at the wrist opening. Then use your frame to suspend the glove so that it dangles in the opening. When your child is ready to begin ‘milking their cow’ use a safety pin to poke 3-4 holes in the tip of 1-2 fingers. The glove will tend to drip so please keep a bucket beneath your milking station.
Like a real cow, we found that our glove gave us the best results when we used a push-pull motion. If you feel particularly ambitious you could even decorate your frame so that it looks like a real cow. If you do that you officially win the Mom-of-the-Year Award and I absolutely want you to send in pictures!
Delicious Haystack Snack Recipe
Nugget and Goose worked up quite the appetite doing all of our farm activities today so I figured it would be a great opportunity to finish the day with a yummy farm-themed snack. These tasty haystack snacks are a sweet and easy treat!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter (or substitute your favorite nut-free butter if your household has allergies)
- 2-3 Cups Pretzel Sticks, broken into small pieces
- 1/4 Cup White Chocolate Chips
Optional Additions: Slivered Almonds, Nutella, Chopped Nuts, Mini Marshmallows, Caramel Chips, Heath Bar Crumbles.
Recipe:
- Microwave the peanut butter and chocolate chips on high for 1-2 minutes until melted and stir until fully combined.
- If you wish to add any of the optional toppings stir them in now.
- Stir Broken Pretzels into your melted peanut butter mixture and spoon dollops of it onto a baking sheet covered in a Silpat Mat
or wax paper.
- Let cool in a refrigerator for about an hour.
or wax paper.There’s way too much sugar to call this snack healthy, but I think it’s just right as a special treat after working hard and learning all morning.
Did you try any of our farm-themed tot school activities?
Which did your kids like best? Are there any other farm-related activities you would like to see later this week?
Check back later this week to see Part II and Part III of our Farm Themed Tot School Unit!
Two Fun Father’s Day Crafts
Father’s Day is three days away. That means that if you don’t have your gifts yet it’s time to get your fanny in gear. Not to worry though, I’ve got a great card idea and a cool looking mug that will be perfect for Dad, Grandad, or any other special someone who deserves a little recognition. These two fun father’s day crafts should be just the thing to kick off Father’s Day – but if you need more you should check out my post on how to make a ‘Hot Wheels Back Massage Shirt’. Intrigued? You should check it out!
“You Mean the World to Me” Card
Dads are amazing aren’t they? Always ready to step in and kill that spider or open that pickle jar. What would we do without them? Show Dad that he means the world to you with this crafty card!
Supplies:
- Clear Contact Paper
- Blue and Green Tissue Paper
- Construction Paper in two colors (I used black and orange)
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Use 2 plates or bowls (or stencils if you are so prepared) to trace 2 concentric circles on a sheet of construction paper, then trace the larger circle on a piece of contact paper.
- Cut out both circles, including the inner circle on the construction paper. You will have one large circle cut out of contact paper and a ring of construction paper.
- Peel the backing off of the contact paper and stick the construction paper ring to it. This will leave a sticky clear circle in the middle.
- Cut or tear small squares of tissues paper in both colors. This is a great chance for your preschooler to practice cutting with some safety scissors!
- Let your child stick the tissue paper squares to the contact paper to make their very own ‘earth’ design.
- Use your accent colored construction paper to trace your child’s hands and cut them out.
- Tape or glue the hands to the back of your world and use them to write your message to Dad. Here are a few ideas to get your started:
- Dad, you’re out of this world!
- You mean the world to us Daddy!
- Pops, my world would be lost without you!
Colorful Father’s Day Mug
If you have kids, you probably rely on your morning coffee to survive. Unless you’re my hubby who has somehow managed to reach the ripe age of 40 without developing a caffeine addiction. I can’t decide if that’s admirable or just insane. Either way, this coffee mug craft can easily be adapted for your favorite friend or family member. It does require permanent markers though so it might be best to save for preschoolers and older children. Or even make one yourself – they’re easy and fun!
Supplies:
- One White Mug (I found mine at Walmart for $0.87!)
- A set of letter stickers – the color doesn’t matter so feel free to use up some ugly ones that are laying around the house.
- Assorted Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers
- An Oven
Instructions:
- Clean the mug thoroughly, wiping with rubbing alcohol if necessary to remove any oils and residue.
- Use stickers to spell out the name or message that you wish to show on the mug. In this case I spelled out ‘Grandaddy’.
- Let your child use the markers to decorate the mug, be sure to color over the letter stickers thoroughly.
- Once finished allow the mug to dry for 24 hours, then carefully remove your stickers. If they don’t want to peel right off, a shot of hot air from a hair dryer seems to do the trick.
- Set your mug on a cookie sheet and place in a COLD oven. Allow the oven to heat to 400 degrees with the mug inside so that it is gradually warmed. Then set timer to 30 minutes. After 30 minutes turn off the oven and let the mug cool inside. If you absolutely must remove it early, use oven mitts – it will be very hot!
Enjoy your mug! I have read that oil based sharpies will survive the dishwasher but I have chosen to hand wash mine with soap and water and it is holding up nicely. I believe this craft could easily translate to use on a plate or serving dish but I am not sure how food safe it would be. You should be fine with your markings on the outside of your mug though.
How did your mug turn out? Did the recipient just adore it? Tell me all about it and show me a picture in the comments!
Fast and Easy Arctic Animal Lesson
Where I live, this winter was pretty much a dud. Even on a good year we tend to stay pretty warm, but this year we never saw a single flake of snow. It was super disappointing and I’m pretty sure that I’m responsible since I made the mistake of buying my boys a sled this year. That should guarantee we don’t get snow until they’ve completely outgrown it!
Whether it’s warm and sunny or you’re feeling your own arctic chill, this fast and easy Arctic Animal Play Activity is perfect for those days when you’re short on time but still want to throw together a fun learning activity. In 10 minutes or less I will show you how to assemble an easy, arctic environment that your little one will love and a fun snowflake decorating craft. To make life even easier I have included a FREE printable matching game!
How to Create a Fast and Easy Arctic Themed Sensory Bin
What you Need:
- 1 Bar of Ivory Soap
(Note: It is NOT recommended to use any other variety of soap for this project. Ivory Soap is known for it’s high air content that allows it to expand when heated. Other soaps may not expand, or may even scorch and damage your microwave.)
- Blue Food Coloring
- Ice
- Water
- One Large Bowl (for microwaving your soap)
- One Medium Plastic Bin (for creating your play area)
- Several Arctic Themed Figurines (I prefer this
set from Safari Ltd.)
(Note: It is NOT recommended to use any other variety of soap for this project. Ivory Soap is known for it’s high air content that allows it to expand when heated. Other soaps may not expand, or may even scorch and damage your microwave.)
set from Safari Ltd.)What to Do:
- Add 3-4 drops of food coloring to your water to reach the desired shade of blue
- Unwrap your IVORY soap and place in a microwave safe bowl, then heat for 1-2 minutes until it no longer expands. (Warning: it will be HOT!)
- Use a spatula to distribute soap within your plastic bin
- Pour blue water around the soap and add ice cubes as desired.
- Add arctic themed animals and figures and let the fun begin.
How to Make Fun Foam Snowflakes
What you Need:
- Several Sheets of White Fun Foam
- Scissors
- A Printed Copy of the Snowflake Template (Link Below)
- Puffy Paint in Assorted Colors (I used Silver, Light Blue, Dark Blue and Glitter)
What to Do:
- Download and Print the snowflake template from my Digital Resource Library. Don’t have the password? Sign up below and it will be emailed to you right away.
- Cut out the template and trace the design onto your white fun foam.
- Cut the snowflake shape from the fun foam and decorate with puffy paint.
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