Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Sand Art!


Materials...

Colored Sand
Old newspapers
Funnel
Thin wooden stick
Different shapes of plastic containers (you can also use small glass jars)

Directions...

Prepare your work space with old newspapers for ease of clean up. Then place the funnel in your plastic container and let your child pour different colors of sand in. You can make different designs by pushing the sand with the stick, you can focus on making patters with your colors or what ever your imagination dictates! When you are done you can decorate your bottle or leave it as is. These also make great gifts that your child can be proud to give! 

Trip to Botanical Garden - Chicago











Materials...

Camera
Glue
Construction paper
Markers / Crayons / Pencils
Materials collected from your trip
Hole puncher / Stapler / Ribbon / Yarn
Laminating paper is optional

Directions...

This is a great project to make with your child to help you remember the trip you took together and reinforce some of the things your child has learned during the trip. If your child is old enough and you're not worried about the camera being dropped and damaged, give your child the camera and allow them to take pictures of the things that are interesting to them through out the trip. Talk about what you are going to see first and what you will do next to aid the child to remember the order of events. For example the first picture we took was at the parking lot, with the number that identifies where our car is located. 

Also you can collect tickets, recites and pamphlets through out your trip. When you come home. Look through the pictures and select as many as you like and print them out. Order the pictures remembering what you did first, second, and so on. On a construction paper have your child glue the pictures and depending on their age/skill level have them write a few sentences (or you can write what they say) about what is happening in the picture, what did they do and learn. 

Use 2 extra construction pages to make the front and back cover of your book. Write the title and author (your child's name,) and the date of your trip. Let your child decorate it to their liking. 

Using your hole puncher, make 2 or 3 holes on the left edge of the construction paper (you can also just staple the pages together if you wish.) If you used a hole puncher, thread some ribbon or yarn through the holes and tie to keep the pages together. 

If you decided to use the laminating paper, which is always a nice touch and helps your project last for year and years, laminate each page before stapling or punching holes.

When you are done, enjoy reading your book to other family and friends!! A great addition to your library!

Have fun!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Bottle cap Patterns



Materials...

Glue
Construction paper
A variety of bottle caps.

Directions...

This is a fairly easy project made with recyled bottle caps. (Please make sure to wash and dry bottle caps before collecting them.) Place the bottle caps on the table and explore making a variety of patterns. Make a sample pattern for your child to see and depending on your child's skill level ask them to make one just like your saying the pattern out loud or challenge them to make a different pattern. You can also make other patterns and play a game of guessing each other's pattern! This is a lot of fun!! 

If solving the pattern is difficult for your child help them out by saying the pattern out loud and helping them figure it out. Never put them on the spot or make them feel bad if they don't understand! Please make it a fun activity so your child will learn while having fun and building a positive self worth! 
For example you can say... "let see if you can guess my pattern... I have blue, blue, black, blue, blue, black, blue, blue....." if the child can't say black.. then extend your pattern to make it easier for them to recognize it and say it together!!

If you want to .. you can glue some of your favorite patterns on construction paper.. and then let your child quiz other family members to figure out what her pattern is!! 

As always have fun! And enjoy your precious time together!!

Pine Cone Painting



Materials...

Pine Cones
Paint
Paint brushes
Container with water
Newspapers

Directions...

Collect pine cones outdoors. They are very common this season. We collect some on our way to and from school :) Place old newspapers on your table for ease of clean up. If you have more then one paint brush you can put out one for each color (in that case you don't need the container with water to clean your brush in between changing colors.) Give your child the pine cone and let them paint it how ever they like! If you have many pine cones.. this is a fun family activity to spend time together. When you are done leave your pine cones to dry. 


Have fun!

Numbers with bottle caps!



Materials...

Glue
Construction paper
A variety of bottle caps.

Directions...

This is a fairly easy project made with recyled bottle caps. (Please make sure to wash and dry bottle caps before collecting them.) Place the bottle caps on the table and explore making numbers. Once you're done making your numbers, glue the pieces onto construction paper. 


Have fun!

Letters with bottle caps!



Materials...

Glue
Construction paper
A variety of bottle caps.

Directions...

This is a fairly easy project made with recyled bottle caps. (Please make sure to wash and dry bottle caps before collecting them.) Place the bottle caps on the table and make the letters of the alphabet or spell out your name! Once you're done making your letters, glue the pieces onto construction paper. 


Have fun!

Bottle cap art!




Materials...

Glue
Construction paper
A variety of bottle caps.

Directions...

This is a fairly easy project made with recyled bottle caps. (Please make sure to wash and dry bottle caps before collecting them.) Place the bottle caps on the table and explore making shapes and pictures. Once you've made up your design, glue the pieces onto construction paper. 


Have fun!


Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Materials...

Brown construction paper
Scissors
Glue
Pencil
or
Regular paper
Pencil
Crayons

Directions...

Depending on the childs age you can either draw for the child or have the child draw his/her own shapes. Draw 2 ovals and a circle on brown construction paper (or you can draw on regular paper and color in with brown crayon.) Next let your child cut out the shapes and glue them to look like an ant. Last draw in the legs, antennas and face!

Fruit Shake - Nutritional Activity

Materials...

4 Medium strawberries
4 Orange sections
1/2 cup sliced banana
1 cup pineapple juice
4 tsp sugar
8 ice cubes


Directions...

Prepare all the items together with your child: washing the strawberries, peeling the oranges, peeling and slicing the banana, measuring the pineapple juice and sugar. Once all the ingredients are ready, pour it all into a blender and blend for about 10 - 15 seconds. Pour into cups and enjoy your nutritious treat!!
(makes 4 servings @ 77 calories per serving)