fun4kids

How to Make a home-made pinata out of a paper bag

2009-07-17T08:26:00.008-05:00

My friend from Costa Rica taught me how to make this home-made pinata using a Target brown paper bag, a poster board, a Mylar balloon, tape, Elmer's glue, crepe paper(streamers), staples, and string.

On my second pinata, I made the character cardboard cut-out a little smaller so that more of the colorful crepe paper and paper bag would be exposed to make it easier to break open.

First you need to find a pot lid or a bowl lid that is the exact size you want your character cut out to be in the front and back of the pinata. It can't be bigger than the Mylar balloon. (Make sure you get a Mylar balloon that has two sides or you will need to buy two balloons so you have a picture for the front and back). Cut the balloon around the edge to separate the balloon back and front.

Cut out a small semi-circle from your poster board.

Trace your lid two times on the poster board so that you have two large circles. (You may need two poster boards depending on the size of your lid you are tracing and the size of the poster). Then, using the small semi-circle, trace a scallop edge on the inside of your circle. I used a smaller scalloped edge, but you can make your semi-circle any size you want for a larger scallop. (See the Scooby Doo pinata at the top for a larger scallop look).

Cut out both of your scalloped circles and place on the back of one of your Mylar balloon halves. Wrap the balloon around the scalloped edges and tape down. Pull tight so that the front of the balloon doesn't wrinkle.

In the inner part of your scallops you will need to cut a small slit to allow you to tape the balloon flat around the curved edges.

Tape around the the whole cut out.

Repeat the process so that you have two balloon-covered poster cut-outs when you are done. Making these cut-outs can be time consuming, so you may want to break up the project and make the cut-outs one day and then proceed to the next step of decorating the bag with crepe paper another day. Another quicker option is to buy large paper plates featuring the character of your choice and use those as your cut-outs for the front and back of the pinata instead of making your own with the balloon. The only draw back is that the paper plates are usually pretty small.

The next step is to staple a piece of twine or string along the outside of the bag to help hold the weight of the candy.

Start at the top of one side, bringing the string around the bottom of the bag and to the top of the other side of the bag. Staple at the top and bottom of each side of the bag.

Staple a second piece of string next to the first, going under the bottom of the bag and to the other side, so you have two pieces of string running along the sides and under the bag a few inches apart.

Next, wind you crepe paper around and around until you have a 9 inch wide flat stack of crepe paper.

You are now going to cut the decorative fringe by starting at the two ends. Find the center layer and carefully put your scissors through the loop and snip 2/3 of the way to the top of each folded end.

Then finish cutting the fringe by cutting through all the layers 2/3 of the way to the top spacing your cut a little less than an inch apart.

Now you can start gluing the the crepe paper to the bag, starting at the bottom of the bag and working your way up.

If you are using several colors of crepe paper, glue down two rows of each color all the way around the bag and then proceed to the next color. Continue this pattern all the way to the top.

I left a little bit of the bag exposed where the poster cut-out was going to be placed.

Put some tape on the back of each of the cut-outs and tape in place on the front and back side of the decorated bag.

Then staple in place as far as your stapler can reach on the sides and top of the cut-outs.

Tie the string together at the top where the handles meet to help reinforce the weight of the candy when hanging and to prevent the handles from breaking.

To decorate the bottom of the bag I just glued long strips of the leftover streamers (not the fringed cut pieces) on the bottom, scrunching them up to make a textured look as I glued it down.

Place the candy into the bag once it's completely dry and then staple the top of the bag shut. You can add curly ribbon to the top to finish it off (see the scooby doo pinata at the top).

Vacation from blogging

2009-05-06T22:33:00.002-05:00

Sorry that I have not posted new ideas for a while; I enjoyed my vacation from blogging too much! Unfortunately, I have no interest in starting back up again any time soon. Now that the weather is warming up, I am having fun being with my kids outdoors and doing other kinds of activities. I might begin posting again in the fall, but I don't want to make any promises. I started the blog knowing that it would be a temporary thing for me. I have been able to put the time into doing it because of my present stage of life (one child in school and one preschooler at home who still naps); but I am anticipating several changes to my present circumstances (my soon-to-be 3 year old is really fighting taking naps these days, my 5 year old will be out of school soon for the summer, and I am thinking about having baby #3). I hope that this blog has served you well (even if for just a short time), and that I have helped, in some small way, spark a love for reading with your children and an excitement for learning. Sincerely, Amy R.

Sorry--No Easter Week 2

2009-04-08T07:21:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone. I'm sorry but I will not be able to post this week. I intended to do another week of Easter ideas for you, but I am leaving on a trip today to visit family and just haven't had any time to do it before I leave. I will not be posting again until April 27th. I wish I was so on top of things that I could do advance postings and have them ready to go while I am gone; but I am not that organized. :) Hope you all have a Happy Easter!!!!

Easter/Spring- week1

2009-03-31T08:33:00.008-05:00

Book Ideas:

Owen’s Marshmallow Chick by Kevin Henkes
"Oh what joy it is Easter morning and Owen's basket is full. He can't wait to start enjoying all of the goodies. Among his favorites are the jellybeans, which he promptly devours, then the gumdrops, next the butter cream eggs and another favorite, the chocolate bunny. There is only one item left, a yellow marshmallow chick that looks just like his fuzzy yellow blanket. Owen plays with his chick all day and when evening comes, he puts it on his shelf with a sweet kiss goodnight. After all, it really is his favorite Easter treat."

Five Little Chicks by Nancy Tafuri
This little chick went to the garden.
This little chick found a worm.
This little chick eyed a berry.
And this little chick gave a squirm!
With counting, fun, and vibrant illustrations, acclaimed storyteller Nancy Tafuri brings the farmyard to life.

The Surprise Visitor by Juli Kangas
One morning, Edgar Small discovers a blue, speckled "roundish thing"-an egg-on his front step. Who could it belong to? Edgar visits several animals, but the roundish thing does not fit in with any of them. All of the animals are willing to help, though, and they decorate the egg to make it more attractive. With a coat of fresh yellow paint, a smiling face, and a big bushy tail, the roundish thing is looking quite handsome-but when the egg finally reunites with its mother, will she recognize it as her own?

Arthur’s Jelly Beans by Marc Brown
Arthur wins the jelly bean hunt at Muffy's Spring Fling party in an unexpected way.

Last One in is a Rotten Egg! by Diane deGroat
Gilbert and Lola are excited that their cousin Wally is coming to help with the Easter egg hunt in the park. But when Lola finds the prized golden egg high up in a tree and asks tall Wally to help her retrieve it, Wally claims it for himself. But Gilbert finds a way to set things right.

The Grumpy Easter Bunny by Justine Korman
Hopper does not share the other rabbits' enthusiasm for their Easter rounds and instead of hiding his share of goodies, he eats much of them himself, before learning the real joy of Easter.

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Edible Nests

Read one of the book titles about chicks or birds ("Owen's Marshmallow Chick", or "Five Little Chicks", or "The Surprise Visitor") and then let your child build their own tasty bird nest.

You'll need some chocolate chips, La Choy crunchy ChowMein Noodles, gummy worms, jelly beans, and a marshmallow chick.

All you do is melt some chocolate chips in the microwave and then dump in some chowmein noodles and stir until their coated in the chocolate. Then spread the chocolate covered noodles out on a tinfoil or wax paper lined plate and stick it in the freezer for a few minutes. Then let your child press the noodles into a nest shape and decorate with the candies.

Idea #2: Crayon Resist Egg

Read one of the stories and then design your own Easter egg using heavy white paper, crayons, and watercolors.

Draw a large oval, using a crayon, on a piece of white cardstock or construction paper.

Have your child draw whatever designs they want, using crayons. Remind them to press hard so that the crayons will show well after they add the paint.

Next, let them paint with watercolors right over the top of their crayon designs.

When done, set aside and dry. Once dry cut out the egg. Here is an example of a two year-old's work and a five year-old's.

Idea #3: Toilet Paper Roll Rabbit

Read one of the stories and then make this fun little Easter Bunny.

Here are the items you'll need to have ready, as seen in the photo:

1 toilet paper roll

2 large back leg cut-outs

2 small front leg cut-outs

Bunny ears

Circle- for bunny head

Googly eyes

pink nose

1 cotton ball
(I just drew the body pieces onto cardstock paper)

Let your child assemble the head first. Glue the ears to the back of the circle. Then let them glue the eyes and nose to the face and draw on their own whiskers and mouth, however they want.

Next, squeeze glue around the rim of one of the toilet paper roll ends and place the head on top.

Then, glue on the front and back legs and the bunny tail. Set aside to dry.

Idea #4: Jelly Bean color sorting and counting

Read "Arthur's Jelly Beans" and then practice counting and sorting jelly beans by colors.
Ask your child to group all the greens together, and all the yellows together, and so forth... then count up how many are in each group. Make a guess which has the most before counting them. Count how many jelly beans their all total for practice counting in the double digits. These are all important skills to practice before going to school.

Idea #5: Egg Hunt

Read one of the books and then, using plastic eggs, send your child on an egg hunt. Hide some eggs around the house and have your child find them. This is a great activity to reinforce colors or counting. You could have your child find a specific color of egg or find only a specific number of eggs to see if they can keep track and count on their own.

Wind/Kites

2009-03-23T09:06:00.007-05:00

Book Ideas: The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins
The wind blew, and blew, and blew! It blew so hard, it took everything with it: Mr. White's umbrella, Priscilla's balloon, the twins' scarves, even the wig on the judge's head. But just when the wind was about to carry everything out to sea, it changed its mind!

Someone Bigger by Jonathan Emmett
Sam's dad says that he is too small to fly their new kite, but when Dad, the postman, a bank robber, and some zoo animals get pulled up into the sky, only Sam can save them.

One windy Wednesday by Phyllis Root
When the wind blows so hard that it blows the quack right out of the duck, the oink out of the pig and so on, Bonnie Bumble works hard to get each animal's sound back where it belongs.

Elmer Takes Off by David McKee
On a very, very windy day Elmer, the patchwork elephant, assures all the other animals and birds that nothing could ever blow him away.

Kite Flying by Grace Lin
A girl describes how her family makes and flies a kite.

The Kite Festival by Leyla Torres
One Sunday morning, Fernando Flórez, his parents, grandparents, and sister head to a random destination for an outing--San Vicente. When they arrive in the center of the town, they see many people preparing for a kite festival. The Flórez family waste no time joining in the fun. Unfortunately, all the stores are closed, so buying a kite's out. But by using their ingenuity--along with found objects--they successfully put one together.

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Blow Art

Read one of the stories and talk about how we can't see the wind, but we can see it move things. Then pretend to be the wind and paint a picture using your breath and a straw.

Water down some tempera paint until it is really runny. Then drop some of the watered down paint on a piece of paper.

Give your child a straw and let them make designs and mix the colors by blowing the paint with their breath. If you worried about them accidentally sucking up the paint, you can make a small hole in the side of the straw that will make it hard to suck up the paint, but will still allow them to blow the paint.

Idea #2: Cotton Ball Race

Read one of the stories and talk about how we can't actually see the wind, but we can see the effects of the wind move things. Pretend to be the wind and have a race to move a cotton ball with your breath, using a straw.

Build a maze with some blocks or legos. Create a start and finish line and have your child blow a cotton ball through the maze using their breath and a straw. Another variation of the game is to set the cotton ball on the floor and see who can blow the cotton ball the farthest with one breath, or see who can blow the cotton ball from one side of the kitchen table to the other first.

Idea #3: Kite Roll and Color Game

Read one of the stories and then play this dice and coloring game.

You will need to print-off the kite coloring sheet, first. Then roll the dice and color the corresponding number on your game sheet. Whoever gets their whole kite colored first wins.

Idea #4: Kite Math Matching

Read one of the stories and then play this number matching game.

First, you will need to print-off the kite matching cards. Then cut them out and have your child match the numerals at the top with the correct number of kite tail bows.

Idea #5: Fly a kite

Read one of the books and then go fly a kite together. If you don't have one and want to make one together, here is a good tutorial on how to make a simple home-made kite that your child can decorate.

Idea #6: Wind Observational Drawings

Read one of the books and discuss how you can't actually see the wind but that you can see it move things. Go outside with some paper and a pencil and observe signs of the wind moving things. Draw the objects you see moving in the wind. Make sure to help label your child's drawings.

St. Patrick's Day- Green

2009-03-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

Book Ideas: Jeremy Bean’s St. Patrick’s Day by Alice Schertle
"Shy Jeremy Bean forgets, much as to his humiliation, to wear green to school for St. Patrick's Day."

A Fine St. Patrick’s Day by Susan Wojciechowski
"Two towns, Tralee and Tralah, compete in an annual St. Patrick's Day decorating contest which Tralah boastfully always wins, but when their hearts are put to the test by a little man with pointed ears, Tralee wins with no effort at all."

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
"Sam-I-am won't give up! He keeps trying to get the grumpy grown-up in the story to taste green eggs and ham. No matter how Sam-I-am presents the green eggs and ham (in a box, with a fox, in the rain, on a train), the curmudgeon refuses to try them. Finally, Sam-I-am's pesky persistence pays off. A crowd of open-mouthed onlookers watch in suspense as the old grouch takes a bite. And?...SAY! The old sourpuss's face is wreathed in smiles as he gratefully acknowledges, 'I do so like green eggs and ham. Thank you, thank you, Sam-I-am!' ."

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni
"Little blue and little yellow share wonderful adventures. One day, they can't find one another. When they finally meet, they are overjoyed. They hug until they become green. But where did little blue and little yellow go? Are they lost?"

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Emergent Reader Leprechaun Book

Read one of the books and then color and put together this emergent reader book. Read it together, pointing to the words as you read them. Then let your child try reading alone. The text is repetitive up till the last to pages. Teach them good reading strategies like looking at the pictures for clues as to what the words say. To print book click here.

Idea #2: Explore mixing Blue and Yellow to make Green

Read one of the books and then explore mixing colors to make green. Pour a little corn syrup into a small ziplock bag. Have your child drop a few drops of blue and yellow into the bag.

Zip the bag closed and then let your child squeeze and massage the bag till the colors mix and make green.

Idea #3: Green collage

Read one of the stories and then look through magazines and newspapers to find green things. Cut them out and glue them onto a large piece of construction paper to make a collage. If you don't have any large paper, cut open a large brown grocery bag and use that as your paper.

Idea #4: Green Jello Art

Read one of the stories and then make your own green pictures using green jello powder and glue.

Have your child draw a picture on a piece of paper and then trace over their drawing with glue.

Pour some jello powder in a small bowl and let your child sprinkle the powder over the glue using a spoon or their fingers. Dust off any loose powder and set aside to dry.

For toddlers, let them just create designs with their glue rather than drawing a picture. Then let them sprinkle the jello powder over the glue and then dust off any loose powder.

Idea #5: Play Red Light/Green Light

Read one of the books and then play the game red light/green light. Create a starting point and have your child stand at the start. Stand several feet away from the starting point with your back to your child. When you say green, your child runs towards you. When you say red you turn around and face your child, and your child has to stop and freeze. Ideally, you would play with more than two people; and the first person to tag you is the winner.

St. Patrick's Day- Shamrocks/ Pot of Gold/ Leprechauns

2009-03-08T08:54:00.007-05:00

Book Ideas: Lucky Tucker by Leslie McGuirk
"When Tucker the terrier wakes up on Saint Patrick’s Day, he gets off on the wrong paw. Nothing is going his way until he rolls in a bed of clover —- a bed of four-leaf clovers, that is, which just happens to belong to a leprechaun! Lucky Tucker! From snatching a falling scoop of ice cream to wrestling with his best friends to getting a whole box of new toys, Tucker is now the luckiest dog around!"

Hooray for St. Patrick’s Day! By Joan Holub
"It's Saint Patrick's Day, and time to join in the celebration. Children can lift the flaps for interactive fun as they see the children in this book make holiday crafts, taste traditional Irish food, perform a play about Saint Patrick, and even march in a Saint Patrick's Day parade. As an added bonus, they can search for the hidden leprechaun on each spread."

Clever Tom and the Leprechaun by Linda Shute
"Clever Tom Fitzpatrick thinks his fortune is made when he captures a leprechaun and forces him to reveal the hiding place of his gold, but the leprechaun is clever too."

Leprechaun’s Gold by Pamela Edwards
"Old Pat, a kindhearted harpist, and his ill-spirited companion, Young Tom, set off to compete in a contest for the title of the finest harpist in Ireland. When Young Tom recognizes that Pat is truly a better musician, he spitefully breaks one of the strings on Pat's harp. With the help of a leprechaun friend, Old Pat is able to compete in the contest. This classic Irish legend is a lesson about the power of kindness and good deeds."

That’s What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting
"The three leprechauns have a job to do. They must race to where they've buried the pot of gold and dig it up before the rainbow comes. The clouds are already gathering, so there'll be no time for mischief along the way. But, the three clever fellows can't resist having a little fun. For, in addition to putting a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, mischief is what leprechauns do!"

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Pots of Gold Math

Read one of the stories and then practice some basic math with this counting and number recognition activity.

Print off the pot outline and trace onto black construction paper. Cut out the pots and glue on half sheets of cardstock or construction paper. Write numerals on each pot using a white crayon (choose numbers that child needs practice on). If you would like to save these for future use, you may want to laminate the cards or cover them in clear contact paper.

Give your child some yellow playdoh, a rolling pin, and a small circle cookie cutter (our playdoh set came with a small sized circle, but you could use a soda bottle lid or film canister etc..) Give them the pot cards and have them put the right amount of "gold coins" in each pot (see top photo).

Idea #2: Leprechaun

Read one of the stories and then color, cut, and glue together a silly leprechaun. For older preschoolers, you can have this be an activity to practice their fine motor skills, using scissors. Click here to print the leprechaun coloring pages.

Idea #3: Shamrock Sorting

Read one of the books and then practice the concept of size using the words small, medium, and large. You will need to cut out shamrocks in three different sizes and let your child sort them under the right words. Here is a shamrock outline if you want to print it.

Idea #4: Lucky Charms Graphing

Read one of the stories and then practice counting, sorting, and recording information using Lucky Charms cereal.

First you will need to make a simple chart of all the marshmallows.

Give your child the chart and a small bowl of cereal. Have them sort and count the different marshmallow shapes and decide which had the least and the most.

Idea #5: Find the Four leaf Clover game

Read one of the stories and then play a little hide and seek game using shamrocks. You will need to print out a bunch of 3 leaf clovers and one 4 leaf clover. Send your child out of the room and hide them. Your child has to find the 4 leaf clover. To print a 4 leaf clover click here. To print a 3 leaf clover print here.

Sorry!

2009-03-03T23:58:00.003-06:00

Life has been busy for me over the last couple weeks. The blog has had to take less of a priority. I try to be consistent about posting every Monday, but occasionally that just can't happen. Sorry!

Rainbows/ Colors

2009-03-03T22:33:00.007-06:00

Book Ideas: The Teeny, Tiny Mouse by Laura Leuck
“A teeny, tiny mouse and his mommy point out objects of various colors all around their teeny, tiny house.”

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? By Bill Martin Jr.
“Children see a variety of animals, each one a different color, and a teacher looking at them.”

A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman
"A small boy imagines what it would be like to have his own rainbow to play with."

A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
"The charming story of a chameleon searching for his own color, who ends up finding a true friend."

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
"Three white mice discover jars of red, blue, and yellow paint and explore the world of color."

Dog’s Colorful Day by Emma Dodd
"Dog starts off the day with one black spot on his ear. But it seems that wherever he goes, he runs, rolls, and trots right into colors. As he wanders around town, Dog collects spots made of red jam, blue paint, pink ice cream, and more. When he finally arrives back home, Dog has ten different colored spots. And then it's bath time for this colorful canine, who makes learning colors and numbers easy, messy, and fun! "

Activity Ideas:

Idea#1: "Color a Rainbow" Dice Game

Read one of the stories and then play this rainbow game.

You will need crayons, dice, and a numbered rainbow printout.

Take turns rolling the dice and coloring the corresponding number on your rainbow paper. (Example: if you roll a six than you color-in the rainbow band numbered 6.

The first to color all the bands on their rainbow wins.

Activity #2: Paper Plate Rainbow

Read one of the stories and then let your child paint their own rainbow using all the colors talked about in their books.

Cut a paper plate in half and then cut a small semi-circle at the bottom. Draw lines arching across the plate.

Give your child colorful paints and a paintbrush and have them paint each band a different color. This is good fine-motor skills practice to see if your child can steady the brush as they paint between the lines.

Activity #3: Rainbow Mosaic

Read one of the book titles and then make a rainbow Mosaic.

First draw a simple rainbow outline like the photo above.

Next, cut small pieces of paper in each color.

Squirt glue, one row at a time, and have your child smear the glue around using a q-tip. Then let them sprinkle and press down the various colors in each row.

Glue on Cotton balls for the clouds.

Activity #4: Rainbow Toast

Read one of the stories and then paint some edible rainbow toast.

Fill small containers with milk and add a few drops of food coloring to each.

Using a clean basting brush for cooking, let your child paint on the colored milk to their bread. Make sure to tell them only a thin coat of "paint" (Don't let them saturate the bread or it won't toast well). You can use a paint brush if you are not going to eat it afterwards.

Once your child has covered the bread in the colors they want, place the bread in the toaster (you may have to put it in a couple of times to dry out the bread). Enjoy!

Activity #5: Paper Towel Tie Dye

Read one of the stories and explore colors further by making your own colorful designs using a paper towel and some watered down food coloring.

Mix the water and food coloring and place in small bowls or cups.

Scrunch up various sections of a paper towel and loosely place rubber bands around each. Then let your child dip the sections in various colors. You may need to ring out the paper towel to squeeze out the extra liquid before opening up their paper towel to lay flat and dry.

****Another way to do this activity is by using an old medicine eyedropper. Lay the paper towel flat on the table and then let your child squeeze little drops of the colored water on the paper towel in various patterns.

Activity #6: Color Guessing Game/Eye Spy Color Game

Read one of the stories and then play a guessing game. This can be done two different ways.

Version 1- Give your child small paper squares of various colors. Then tell them a clue and have them hold up the correct color square. Here are some possible clues:

"I am thinking of a color that tells us it is night"

"I am thinking of the color of a sunny day"

"I am thinking of the color of fire"

"I am thinking of the color of grass" etc.....

Version 2- Play "Eye spy" using colors as clues. For example: "I spy something orange" and then your child would make a guess of something that is in the room that is orange and continue guessing until he/she guesses the item you were thinking. This is a really good way to assess what colors your child knows.

Weather- Clouds and Rain

2009-02-23T08:20:00.009-06:00

Book Ideas: Cloudy with a Chance of meatballs by Judi Barrett
“Life is delicious in the town of Chewandswallow where it rains soup and juice, snows mashed potatoes, and blows storms of hamburgers--until the weather takes a turn for the worse.”

Raindrop, Plop! By Wendy Lewison
One little raindrop, dark, dark sky. Two little raindrops, clouds go by...
“A spirited rhyming text that's ideal for reading aloud and cheerful illustrations capture the unexpected pleasures that a little wet weather can bring to a young child's day.”

The Police Cloud by Christoph Niemann
“In this funny and tender picture book for the youngest child, a fluffy cloud gets a job (with the help of his friend the police helicopter) as a police officer. But no matter how hard he tries, the qualities that make him a cloud seem to get in the way of his duties. He blocks the sun at the park instead of helping people and obscures traffic at an intersection instead of directing it. Upset, the cloud starts to cry. And it's his streaming tears—which inadvertently put out a fire in a burning building—that lead him to his true calling in life: as a firefighter!”

It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
“‘Sometimes it looked like a Sheep. But it wasn't a Sheep.’ So what was it? In this imaginative book, a cloud appears to be a bird, a tree, an ice-cream cone, and other objects familiar to children. The white images set against a deep blue background are striking. This wonderful book can be used as a guessing game or gentle read-aloud.”

Little Cloud by Eric Carle
“The clouds drift across the bright blue sky-all except one. Little Cloud trails behind. He is busy changing shapes to become a fluffy sheep, a zooming airplane, and even a clown with a funny hat.”

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Cool Cloud Book

Read "Little Cloud" or "It Looked like Spilt Milk" and then sponge paint your own silly cloud shapes and make your own cool clouds book. You will need some cookie cutters, pencil, scissors, old cereal box, piece of sponge, blue paint, white paper, 1 piece of construction paper, stapler, and markers.

First you will need to trace 5 different cookie-cutter shapes onto an old cereal box or plastic yogurt lids (whatever you have on hand). Cut them out.

Next, Cut 3 pieces of white paper in half. Squirt some blue paint on a paper plate. Place one of your shape cut-outs on your paper. Dip your wet sponge in the paint. Holding the shape in place, press your sponge around the edges of the shape. Lift off the cardboard shape and you should see the outline of your shape. Continue making a different shape outline for each page until you have done them all. Set aside to dry.

Once dry, staple together the pages with a piece of construction paper on the top and bottom for a cover. Add the title, "Cool Clouds," to the cover and the predictable text to each page: "Clouds that look like a _______." (Fill in the blank with whatever shape you have on that page). On the final page, write "Cool clouds are everywhere".

Idea #2: Cotton Ball Clouds

Read one of the stories and then make your own rain cloud. You will need, 1 piece of white cardstock or construction paper, cotton balls, glue, 1 Gallon Size Ziplock Bag, silver glitter glue, tape, hole puncher, and string.

First, draw a large cloud shape on your white paper and cut it out.

Next cut 1 inch strips out of your gallon-sized Ziplock bag.

Tape the Strips to the back of your cloud paper, at different lengths (In the photo, we had already glued our cotton balls, but it would be better to tape them to the back first).

Squirt a glob of glue on the cloud shape and let your child spread it around, using a q-tip.

Completely cover your white cloud with cotton balls.

Dot the clear strips with silver glitter glue to make raindrops. (If you don't have any glitter glue, you could cut out raindrops from tinfoil and glue them onto the strips). Set aside and let dry.

Punch a hole in the top and attach a string for hanging.

Idea #3: Water Color Umbrella

Read one of the stories and then make your own colorful umbrella. You will need one paper towel, watercolor paint set, scissors, tape and a piece of construction paper.

Cut your paper towel into an umbrella shape.

Let your child drip water colors and paint designs all over the paper towel. Set aside to dry.

Cut out a handle out of construction paper and tape it to your paper towel umbrella.

Idea #4: Paper Towel Tube Rainstick

Read one of the stories and then make your own paper towel tube rainstick. For step by step directions click here. (This is a much safer version than most home-made rainsticks using sharp toothpicks or nails). When done, decorate your stick.

Idea #5: Early Writing: I wish it would rain _______.

Read one of the stories and then have your child "write" (draw) about what they wish it would rain. Make sure to label the picture.

Ice/Winter

2009-02-16T13:16:00.010-06:00

Book Ideas:

Kumak’s Fish by Michael Bania
On a beautiful Arctic morning when Kumak and his family go ice fishing, Kumak hooks what seems like an enormous fish, and the entire village gets involved.

Diamond in the Snow by Jonathan Emmett
One wintry afternoon, Mole finds something smooth and sparkly sticking out of the snow. It must be a diamond! As Mole rushes to show his new treasure to his friends, it keeps changing shape in his hands. Could the diamond be magic?

The Ice Child by Nick Ward
a classic tale of friendship and fitting in to society. Villagers discover a lonely ice child and take him into their village. When people learn about his special "talent," they turn against him one by one, and he retaliates and starts turning everything and everyone to ice. Eventually a young girl befriends him, and he gains an invaluable companion.

Pearl’s New Skates by Holly Keller
Pearl has new skates. They are real skates (not double runners), and she can't wait to try them. Pearl inches out onto the frozen pond. But instead of twirling, she topples. Instead of spinning, she falls -- splaaat! Will Pearl ever skate in real life the way she skates in her dreams?

Omar on Ice by Kovalski
Omar loves drawing pictures and wishes he could be as good at it as his classmate Elsie. But his teacher, Ms. Fudge, can never figure out what Omar's pictures are- no matter how hard she tries. When the whole class goes ice-skating, however, Omar's true talent emerges. He shows Elsie how he can glide and whirl and spin.

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Ice Art

Read one of the books and then paint with colored ice.

First you will need to freeze some colored water in home-made Popsicle containers (ice cube trays with a craft stick stuck in the center works fine too). I just added drops of food coloring to the water (it works best if you add a lot of drops so the color is nice and dark).

Let the Popsicles melt a little before using them or run them under water. Give your child a piece of white cardstock or construction paper and let them paint the paper with the melting, colored ice.

Set aside to dry.

Idea #2: Wax Paper Ice Skating

Read one of the stories about ice skating and then "ice skate" in the house. All you need to do is tear off two pieces of wax paper (one for each foot) and then slide around the house like your ice skating. Put on some music while you slide across the room. (Works on carpet or hardwood flooring).

Idea #3: Ice Fishing

Read "Kumak's fish" or one of the other books about ice and then pretend to go ice fishing.

You'll need a large plastic container (Yogurt, cottage cheese etc..). Cut out a whole in the top of the lid and then cover both the container and lid with tinfoil, to look like ice.

You will also need some sort of magnetic fishing pole. I have one from a magnetic puzzle. If you don't have one, make your own homemade one (a string and magnet will do). You will also need to print-off and color several fish onto cardstock (you'll need to make the fish smaller).

Write a different summer or winter activity on the back of each fish and attach a paper clip to each one. Here are a few ideas:

Summer: Going for a picnic, swimming at the lake, riding bikes, playing at the park, mowing the lawn

Winter: Skiing, building a snowman, playing hockey, sledding, shoveling the snow, Ice skating

Place the fish inside the container and let your child go "Ice fishing" for fish.

As you pull out the fish, read the back and have them sort the fish under either summer or winter activities.

For Toddlers, you may want to just reinforce their colors by asking them what color the fish is as they catch each one.

Idea #4: Ice Science Experiment

Read "The Diamond in the Snow" or one of the other stories about ice and talk about what they think makes ice melt. Show your child a tray of ice and ask them to think of different ways to melt each cube. Make a list of the methods they suggest and ask your child to predict which method will make the ice cube melt the fastest and/or slowest. Here are a few ideas: Place one ice cube in cold water and one in hot water.

Sprinkle one with coarse salt.

Sprinkle one with sugar.

Sprinkle one with sand.

Your child may enjoy wrapping the ice cubes in different materials and predicting which cubes will melt the fastest. You can use aluminum foil, plastic wrap and cloth. Remember to write their predictions down, do the experiment, and then refer back to what the children had thought would happen.

Idea #5: Sugar Cube Igloo

Read one of the stories and then talk about how some people live in houses made of Ice and Snow. Then make a sugar cube igloo. For directions go click here. (I haven't tried this activity-- but if I were going to do it, I would probably let my child just build their own "ice house" out of the sugar cubes, however they want, rather than following the specific directions.)

Valentine's Day/Love

2009-02-11T14:14:00.008-06:00

Book Ideas: I love you because you’re you by Liza Baker
"Describes, in rhyming text and illustrations, a mother's love for her child no matter how he feels or what he does. Reassuring quatrains ("I love you when you're sad/ and need a kiss and hug./ I love you when you're playful/ and rolling on the rug") convey her unconditional love."

If you’ll be my valentine by Cynthia Rylant
"A young boy makes valentines for those who are special to him: his dog, his cat, his grandmother and other family members, his teddy bear, and even the bird who sings outside his window."

Mama, Do you Love Me? By Barbara M. Joosse
"Mama, do you love me? Yes I do Dear One. How much? In this universal story, a child tests the limits of independence and comfortingly learns that a parent's love is unconditional and everlasting."

My Love for You by Susan L. Roth
"In this wildly popular board book edition of Susan Roth's successful counting book, two mice walk together-and find that their love is bigger than 1 bear, taller than 2 giraffes, and larger than 3 blue whales. As they journey from 1 to 10, they discover that their love is greater than anything they can imagine."

I Love You More by Laura Duksta
"This cleverly conceived flip story, which ends in the middle and starts from either side, will show you what love looks like from both a child and a parent's perspective. With a simple, touching story, rhyme and rhythm, and vibrant child-like illustrations, this book will be treasured by anyone who has ever said "I love you" and heard the best response in the world: 'I LOVE YOU MORE'."

Guess How Much I Love You by Same Mc Bratney

"During a bedtime game, every time Little Nutbrown Hare demonstrates how much he loves his father, Big Nutbrown Hare gently shows him that the love is returned even more."

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Paper Plate Valentine Holder

Read one of the stories and discuss the idea of Valentine's Day being a special day to show friends and family how much we love them. Then, make a paper plate valentine holder for each member of the family so you can leave "love notes" or special treats inside for each other, leading up to or on valentine's day.

You will need 1 full sized paper plate and one paper plate cut in half.

Turn the half plate over so back of the plate is facing the top. Set on top of the full-sized plate. Holding the two plate together, punch holes around the edges where the plates meet.

Wrap some tape around the end of a long piece of string. This will make it easier for your child to push and pull it through the holes.

Put the string through the first hole and tie a double knot to secure it. Then, helping your child hold the plates together, let them practice their fine motor skills by lacing the string in and out of the holes.

Knot the string on the other end and trim.

Then decorate the plate with stickers, ribbon, rubber stamps, glitter pens, doilies (whatever you have on hand). Punch a hole at the top and tie on a string for hanging.

Idea #2: "The People I love..." Book

Read one of the stories and discuss the idea of Valentine's Day being a special day to show friends and family how much we love them. Make this homemade predictable, beginning reader book. All you need is some colored paper, stapler, marker, and some old, extra photos of family members and close friends.

Staple colored paper together to make a book. Title the front: "The People I love...".

Let your child glue the photos at the top of each blank page, in any order they want. Then go back and label the photos with the words: "I love _______". See photos below for more page examples.

Let your child practice "reading" their books over and over, showing all the people they love.

Idea #3: Make homemade Valentine Cards

Read one of the stories and discuss the idea of Valentine's Day being a special day to show friends and family how much we love them. Make homemade valentine cards for friends and family. Use whatever you have on hand: Stickers, doilies, felt, paper, rubber stamps, paint, glitter etc....Be creative and have fun!

Here is a list of ideas in making cards with cute sayings (You can print off the specific clipart and then let your child color it and glue it on colored paper):

Monkey- I go bananas over you!

Car- I never "tire" of your friendship!

Bear- You are beary cool!

Toad- You are "toad"ally awesome!

Lion- You are Grrrreat! No Lion!

Fish- I'm "hooked" on you!

Clown- No clown'in around, you're cool!

Cat- You're Purrrrfect!

Airplane- I'd fly high for you!

Rabbit- Some bunny loves you!

Valentine's Day/ Hearts

2009-02-02T10:01:00.017-06:00

Book Ideas:1, 2, 3 Valentine’s Day by Jeanne Modesitt
In this rhyming counting book, Mister Mouse goes house to house distributing valentines to his animal friends ("Three big badgers, whistling a tune,/ Open the door and get a balloon). Each house has one more inhabitant than the last.

Sweet Hearts by Jan Carr
A young girl celebrates Valentine's Day by making and hiding paper hearts around the house for her family to discover. (Short rhymes great for toddlers).

Valentine Foxes by Clyde Watson
Mama Fox wants this Valentine’s Day to be a special one, so she sets her for cubs to making cards for each other, while she bakes a valentine cake for supper. But one thing after another goes wrong, soon it’s late and nothing is ready. Disaster looms, until Little Dilly fox wakes up—and saves the day. (There is a cake recipe included in the back that is really yummy!!!)

Heart to Heart by George Shannon
Oh no! It's Valentine's Day and Squirrel forgot to get a card for his best friend, Mole. Run for paper, glitter, lace, and lights! But as he searches for the scissors, Squirrel discovers much more and makes Mole a gift that only Squirrel could create.

Valentine Surprise by Corinne Demas
It’s only a week until Valentine’s Day, and Lily wants to make the perfect heart-shaped valentine for Mommy. But every time she cuts out a heart, it’s either too pointy, too round, or too skinny. As the days go by, Lily tries again and again, and when Valentine’s Day finally arrives, she has a heart for each day of the week! Which one will be the perfect valentine surprise for Mommy?

Queen of Hearts by Mary Engelbreit
Ann Estelle is so busy creating the most beautiful Valentine mailbox in class, she forgets to make cards for her classmates.

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Wax Paper Hearts

Read one of the books and then make some colorful hearts to decorate a window.
You will need: wax paper, crayons, pencil sharpener, old cereal box, newspaper, scissors, iron and ironing board, and some string.

The first step is to make a bunch of crayon shavings using some old crayons and a handheld pencil sharpener. (Depending on the age of your child, you may want to do this part in advance).

Then, let your child sprinkle the crayon shavings on a large piece of wax paper.
(In the photo, our shavings were sprinkled a little too thick in the middle of our wax paper. It works better if you sprinkle the crayons sparsely, without getting too close to the edge of the wax paper.)

Then, carefully take the wax paper over to the ironing board that is covered in newspaper (to protect it from any leaks that might occur during the melting process).

Keeping your kids at a distance from the iron, put a 2nd piece of wax paper sandwiched over the top of the crayon shavings and layer another piece of newspaper over the top of that. Heat your iron on the lowest heat setting and iron over the top of the newspaper for literally 2 seconds. The crayons will melt quickly. If the melted crayon is thick in certain spots, rub your iron over the newspapered surface again and spread the melted crayon in the direction you want it to go.

This is how it will look when the shavings are melted. Set the wax paper aside to let the melted crayon cool for a minute or two.

While the melted crayon is cooling, grab your cereal box and cut out two sizes of heart shapes to use as stencils.

Place your heart stencil on the cooled wax paper and then have your child draw around the stencils. (For toddlers, help them hold the heart in place and let them draw around it.) Cut out as many heart shapes as you can.

Have your child cut out the hearts, punch a whole in the top, and then tie on a string.

Make a window garland by stringing all your hearts together on a long string and hanging it in window.

Idea #2: Heart Animal Collages

Read one of the stories and then let your child's creativity go wild by making as many animals as they can out of various sizes of hearts.

Cut out various sized hearts from a cereal box to use as stencils.

Trace a bunch of hearts onto colored paper and cut out. This can take a little while, so you may want to have the hearts ready to go before you start the activity. You will need lots of hearts in different sizes and even different colors.

Below are some ideas of animals you can make. Let your child be creative and do whatever they want. if they are having a hard time getting started then you could say "Do you think you could make a butterfly?" ...and then proceed to talk them through what they could use for the wings etc... Once they do one they will have an easier time thinking up more.

Idea #3: Heart Math Game

Read on of the stories and then play this beginners addition and subtraction game that will introduce the plus and minus signs to your preschooler.

First you will need to make a couple of these heart game boards for each player. Just copy and paste the heart image into a word document, resize it, and copy and paste the image over and over to fill the page with hearts. Print it out on cardstock or heavy construction paper.

You will also need to make some home-made paper dice. Print off two copies of the dice templates on heavy paper and cut out, fold, and glue the cube together.

On one dice, draw on 3 plus signs and 3 minus signs covering each side. On the other dice you can either write the actual numerals 1-6 or draw dots representing the numbers (as seen in the photo).

You will also need uncooked beans to use as markers, or small scrapes of colored paper etc...

To play the game, each player gets a playing card of hearts. Take turns rolling the dice. So if you roll a plus sign and a 3, then you would cover three hearts with beans. If you were to roll a minus sign and a 5, then you would have to remove 5 beans from your card. The first person to cover all their hearts on their card is the winner.

Idea #4: Heart Counting

Read one of the books and then practice identifying numbers and then counting out that many hearts.

You will need to place small pieces of paper in the bottom of a muffin tin and then number each hole.

If you want to save time and don't want to cut out small circles, then just use paper cupcake liners and write numbers on the bottom of each.

Then, give your child a bunch of candy hearts and have them count out and place the right amount of hearts in each circle.

Chocolate/Valentine's Day

2009-01-27T09:45:00.008-06:00

Book Ideas:

Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory by Margret Rey
"George's curiosity causes a problem at the chocolate factory, but his quick thinking and speedy action on the assembly line help save the candies."

Lilly’s Chocolate Heart by Kevin Henkes
"Decked in fuzzy green slippers and pink housecoat, a crown-wearing Lilly has one Valentine's Day chocolate heart and wants to keep it safe. Unfortunately, several locales aren't quite right: under the bed is dusty, inside the dresser is messy, and behind the radiator is warm. Where will she put it? Not to worry, for with a look of satisfied resolution, Lilly decides the best place is right in her tummy."

Chocolatina , I love you by Kraft
"Tina eats so much chocolate that she wakes up one morning and finds that she has turned to chocolate. "

(This is a cute book, but I should warn you that one of the pages in the story might scare a more sensitive child--Her mean teacher tries to take a bite of her when she has turned to chocolate. You could either skip that page or make something else up. My daughter didn't have a problem with it, but I just wanted to give you a warning.)

Oh, Ducky! By David Slonim
"When a rubber duck gets stuck in the chocolate-making machine, Mr. Peters dons his diving suit to investigate the pipes and swims through chocolate sharks, ships and sea chests to save the day."

The chocolate Cat by Sue Stainton
"In a drab village nestled between the mountains and the sea, an old chocolate maker lives alone with his cat, making uninspired chocolates to display in his dusty shop. One day he does something different and makes chocolate mice with crunchy pink-sugar tails--but he won't eat them. Cat soon discovers there's something truly special about these little mice, and everyone who tastes them is inspired to create something new and different, something the little village has never seen."

Chocolate by Jacqueline Dineen
Informational book that defines what chocolate is, where it comes from, how it is made, and more.
(There is too much information in this book for preschoolers, but it has some great pictures of the cocoa tree, cocoa pod, and cocoa beans, as well as the process of how the beans are made into chocolate. Any juvenile non-fiction book about chocolate should have some photos of the plant and process).

Activity Ideas:

As you read the books and do the activities make sure to talk about how chocolate relates to Valentine's Day. Discuss how chocolates, flowers, cards etc... are often given as gifts to people we love. Make sure to ask them why they think chocolate would be a good gift. Discuss what makes something a good gift.

Idea #1: Chocolate Chip Counting

Read one of the books and then have your child practice their math skills in this chocolate chip counting activity.
You will need a brown grocery bag, a small cup for tracing, a pen, some scissors, a piece of construction paper and a black marker.

First you need to trace a bunch of circles on the brown grocery bag and cut them out. Glue them on a piece of construction paper, leaving a little room to the right of each cookie.

Then, using a black marker, draw on the desired amount of chocolate chips (the younger the child, the lower the amounts should be). Then draw a line to the right of each cookie, as seen in the photo, so that your child can record the number.

The great thing about this activity is that it can be adapted to whatever you think your child needs practice on. My five year old doesn't always remember how to write her double digit numbers, so I made sure to draw on chocolate chips in the "teens" so that she could practice counting above ten and writing down those numbers. For my 2 year old, I only used numbers 1 to 6 and let her practice one-to-one correspondence, as she counted each chocolate chip and we wrote them together.

If your child needs practice identifying numbers then you could do the activity this way, as seen in the photo. Have your child identify the numbers next to the blank cookie and then draw on, or glue on (You can use hole punch circles to glue on as the chocolate chips)the right number of chocolate chips.

Idea #2: Chocolate Pudding Finger Paint

Read one of the books and then let your child finger paint with chocolate pudding.

Make the pudding just like the instructions detail on the box. Cover the table with newspaper and make sure to cover up your kids clothes (or even better, just strip them down to nothing:) ).

Then, you can either let your child create some artwork by painting on a piece of construction paper(as seen in the photo above), or .......

.....put a glob of pudding on a piece of wax paper and let them "draw" pictures in the pudding with their finger. You can have them practice writing their alphabet, by saying "can you draw me a 'B' or a 'G' " etc... This will give you a good idea of what letters your child knows and which letters you may need to work on.

This is what it will look like dry. The wax paper works a little better for the younger ones because they will end up just swirling the pudding around on their whole paper until it is soaking wet. This is a tactile experience for the kids so they may not really want to make a picture, but just enjoying feeling it squish between their fingers.

Idea #3: M&M Graphing

Read one of the book titles and then explore recording and graphing information, using chocolate M&Ms.

Make a graph paper, like the above photo before you start.

Then give your child a small bowl of M&M's.

Have them sort the colors into piles (sorting is a very good skill for preschoolers to practice). You may have to remind them to wait to eat them until the end of the activity.
Then have them count each of the piles and fill in the circles on their graph paper for each of the colors (one circle representing one m&m).

When they are done ask them which color had the most and the least and have them circle that group.

Idea #4: Chocolate Candy Patterns

Read one of the books and then practice making patterns using chocolate candies.

Idea #5: Chocolate Candy Collage

Read one of the book titles and then let your child make pictures using the chocolate candies. (We used the M&M's, but you could used a variety of chocolate candies).

You could glue the candies down if you wanted to, but I think that is sort of a waste of good chocolate:), so we just set them on a piece of paper and then started from scratch each time they made something new.

Chinese New Year

2009-01-25T09:44:00.005-06:00

Book Ideas:Happy New Year Everywhere by Arlene Erlbach
Through interesting text and colorful, dynamic illustrations, this excellent offering briefly describes traditional New Year's celebrations and customs in 20 countries.

The Dancing Dragon by Marcia Vaughan
A rhyming story that describes a typical Chinese New Year celebration.

Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin
This exuberant story follows a Chinese American family as they prepare for the Lunar New Year. Each member of the family lends a hand as they sweep out the dust of the old year, hang decorations, and make dumplings. Then it’s time to put on new clothes and celebrate with family and friends. There will be fireworks and lion dancers, shining lanterns, and a great, long dragon parade to help bring in the Lunar New Year. And the dragon parade in our book is extra long–on a surprise fold-out page at the end of the story.

D is for Dragon Dance by Ying Chang Compestine
From firecrackers to noodles, from red envelopes to the zodiac, young readers are introduced to the exciting traditions of Chinese New Year in this accessible and visually stunning homage to the holiday.

Activity Idea:

Read one of the book titles and talk about how different places around the world celebrate the New Year in different ways and at different times. Make your own Chinese Lantern in honor of the holiday.

Click here for instructions on how to make your own lantern. (I didn't have the crepe paper so I just used a strip of tissue paper instead)

Animals in Winter- Hybernation/ Penguins/ Polar Bears

2009-01-22T15:43:00.001-06:00

Book Ideas: Over in the Arctic by Marianne Berkes
“Over in the Arctic, the snow goose ‘honks’ and the wolf ‘howls.’ Children too will joyfully honk and howl while they count the baby animals and sing to the tune of ‘Over in the Meadow’.”

Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming
“When Bear notices that winter is nearly here he hurries to tell Snail, after which each animal tells another until finally the already sleeping Bear is awakened in his den with the news.”

When it starts to snow by Phillis Gershator
“What if it starts to snow. What do you do? Where do you go?" So begins this winter story, as each animal--from a mouse to a bear--tells us what it will do and where it will go when the snow starts to fall. Each takes cover in its own special home, except for one. Can you guess who?”

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett
“A wintry spin on the Goldilocks tale set in the Artic. A polar bear family leaves its igloo for a walk to let Baby Bear's soup cool just as Aloo-ki, an Inuit girl, runs past, searching for her team of huskies, which have drifted away on an ice floe. Distracted by the aroma of the soup, Aloo-ki wanders into the igloo, and the rest is (not quite) history.”

The practically perfect pajamas by Erik Brooks
“Percy gives up his beloved footed pajamas after the other polar bears tease him about them, but then he realizes how useful they were.”

My Penguin Osbert by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
“When a boy finally gets exactly what he wants from Santa, he learns that owning a real penguin may not have been a good idea after all.”

Sergio Makes a Splash by Edel Rodriguez
“Sergio is a penguin. He loves fish, soccer, and water. He loves drinking water, bathing in water, spraying water, just about anything with water! But he has one big problem; he can't swim. So when his class takes a field trip to the ocean, Sergio must decide whether he should face his fear or avoid something he loves.”

A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis
“Edna the penguin only knows the three colors that surround her: white ice, black night, and blue sea. She is convinced there is something more out there. So she sets out on a quest—a quest for color. When she finally finds what she's been looking for, it's everything she hoped for and more. But that doesn't mean she will ever stop looking.”

Songs and Rhymes:

Five little Penguins
5 little penguins sat on the shore
one went for a swim and then there were four

4 little penguins looked out to sea
one went swimming and the there were three

3 little penguins said “how do you do?”
One spied a fish, and then there were two

2 little penguins sat in the sun
One swam off and then there was one.

1 little penguin said “This is no fun”So he dived in the water and then there were none

Polar Bear

(Tune of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean")

The polar bear lives in the Arctic

He never gets cold in a storm

He swims in cold icy water

His heavy coat keeps him warm

Warm, warm, warm, warm

His heavy coat keeps him warm

Warm, warm, warm, warm

His heavy coat keeps him warm

Camouflage!

The polar bear has a white fur coat,

Sometimes he walks quite slow.

It's hard to see just where he is...

He looks just like the snow!

Hibernation Song

(to tune of wheels on the bus)
The weather's getting cold so bundle up,

bundle up, bundle up

The weather's getting cold so bundle up,

winter's coming soon.

The bears in the cave sleep all the time............

The squirrels in the trees get lots of nuts...............

The frogs and toads go deep in mud.......

The ducks and the geese go flying south........

The people in the town wear hats and gloves..........

Hibernation –sung to “Alouette”
Hibernation.

Time for Hibernation.
Hibernation.

Time to go to sleep.
In the winter where’s the bear?
Sleeping in its cave or lair.
Where’s the bear? cave or lair. Oh!

In the winter where’s the frog?
Sleeping by a pond or log.

In the winter where’s the snake?
In the mud beneath the lake.

In the winter where’s the bat?
In a cave is where its at.

Here is a Cave
Here is a cave. (make arch with one hand)
Inside is a bear. (using other hand, put one finger in cave)
Now he comes out. (pull finger out)
To get some fresh air.
He stays out all summer
In sunshine and heat. (fan face with hand)
He hunts in the forest (crawling motion with hands)
For berries to eat. (fingers to mouth)
When snow starts to fall (wiggle fingers like snow falling)
He hurries inside.
His warm little cave (make arch with hand again)
And there he will hide.(put your finger inside)
Snow covers the cave
Like a fluffy white rug.
Inside the bear sleeps (hands to side of head like sleeping)
All cozy and snug.

Winter animals
Winter is cold (hug yourself and shiver)
There is snow in the sky (flutter fingers above your head)
The squirrel gathers nuts (Pretend to gather nuts)
And the wild geese fly (flap arms)
The fluffy red fox (Cup hand over had to form ears)
Has his fur to keep warm (Stroke arms as if stroking fur)
The bear’s in her cave (form a arch with your arms)
Sleeping all through the storm (fold hand under cheek and pretend to sleep)

I’m a little Penguin

tune: I’m a little teapot

I’m a little penguin, look at me,
Fishing and swimming in the deep blue sea.
My wings are black and my tail is white.
And I like sliding down the snow so bright!

Little Penguin

(I’m a little teapot)

I’m a little penguin black and white
Short and wobbly, an adorable sight.
I can’t fly at all, but I love to swim
So I waddle to the water and dive right in!!!

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Animal Winter habitat poster

Read "When it starts to snow" or "Time to Sleep" and then discuss how various animals get ready for winter. Some animals migrate to warmer climates, some animals find a warm home and then hibernate and sleep all winter, others are active or awake all winter long and try hard to gather food. Then have your child sort and glue the animals in their winter habitats. You will need construction paper, crayons, markers, scissors, glue, and cotton balls.

First, you will need to tape one and a half pieces of construction paper together (on the back) to use as the habitat poster background. Then flip back to the front side and draw a scene similar to this photo.

Then, copy and paste the cave, log, and tree images into a word document and re size to fit the dimensions of the poster paper scene. I printed them out on colored paper to save time, but you could use white paper and color them in. You will also need to cut, or draw, a bare tree with no leaves out of brown paper (see next photo).

Once you've cut out the trees, cave, and log glue them down to the background scene (I didn't put glue along the side of the tree, log and cave where the animal will be tucked in, but still put enough on the other edges of the cut-outs to keep it glued down to the paper). The last thing you should do is write in the title and labels for the poster.

Now you can copy and paste each animal clip art from the list below into a word document and re size the images to make them smaller. You should be able to get them all on one page and then print (double check the size of the animals in ratio to their habitat so you know they'll fit in each spot before you print).

Animal Clip Art

Raccoon

Have your child color the animals and discuss as they're coloring if they think that animal is active in the winter, migrates or hibernates. Cut out the animals together and then glue them in the right spots on the poster.

Pull apart some cotton balls and add them to the poster to look like snow.

Idea#2: Traced-shoe Paper Penguin

Read one of the penguin books and then make a cute paper penguin. You'll need colored paper, googly eyes, scissors, glue and a pen.(this project is a little more "cookie-cutter" than I like, but can be purposeful by allowing your child to practice their fine motor skills of cutting and tracing)

First have your child trace around one of their shoes, on black paper. Then have them cut the shoe print out. Tracing and cutting are good fine motor skills for your child to develop. It doesn't matter if the cutting isn't perfect.

Next have them draw(if they can) and cut out three small triangles out of orange paper. While they are doing the orange triangles and the black foot print, you can cut out a small white oval for the belly(I traced the shoe on the white paper and then cut it a little smaller than the traced lines) and two long and skinny black triangles for the wings.

Now, let your child glue the pieces together, starting with the black body, then the white belly and so forth.

Idea #3: Mini Cardboard Bear Caves

Read "When it starts to snow" or "Time to Sleep" and discuss what hibernation means. Then make your own mini cardboard bear cave.

Re size the snoozing bear image by copying and pasting it to a word document and then dragging the image inward. Print off the image and let your child color their sleeping bear.

Next you will need a small cardboard box. We used an instant oatmeal packets box and a microwave popcorn box. A small tissue box would work great----what ever you can find around the house. Cut off the top flaps and then cut an arch in the front side.

Next, you will need to trace 4 sides of your box (back, two sides, and the top) on a brown paper grocery bag. Cut out the pieces and glue to the box, covering all the outer sides of the box, except the front arch side (the photo shows my daughter gluing the paper on to the sides).

For the front, you will need to cut lots of small scrap peices of the grocery bag, in various sizes, to look like stones or rocks. Spread a bunch of glue on the front side of the box and then randomly add on the scrap pieces.

Lastly, cut out your sleeping bear and glue him to the inside cave wall.

Idea #4: Polar Bear Habitat/Camoflauge

Read one of the polar bear books and the poem titled "camoflauge". Talk about how some animals live in winter weather, all year long. Then have your child do the following activity and figure out which habitat is best for the polar bear and why.

Print off the habitat scenes from the list below and have your child color them(all except the arctic scene). You may need to discuss with them what colors you would find in each of these habitats as they are coloring. You will also need to re-size and print a polar bear image and cut it out.

desert
tropical

mountain/forest

marsh/swap
arctic
polar bear

When your child is done coloring have them place their polar bear cutout on each scene and talk about why this would not be a good home for a polar bear (heat with heavy fur coat, sticks out like a sore thumb).

The polar bear blends right in to the wintery back ground. Talk about why camouflage is helpful to an animal.

Idea #5: Textured Polar Bear

Read one of the Polar Bear books and then do this simple art activity. Print off the polar bear image and then give him some textured "fur". Spread some glue on the polar bear, using a q-tip, and then sprinkle either coconut flakes or rice (which is what I used) over the glue and let dry.

Idea #6: Dance Hybernation Game

Read "Time to Sleep" and then play this musical dancing game. Play some music and when the music stops your child needs to "go to sleep". When the music plays, they dance around again. You can even have a pillow or layout a blanket for your child to lay on each time the music stops.

I need some feedback!

2009-01-18T16:04:00.003-06:00

So when I started this blog, I intended to make it much more simple (Post a book, with an activity to go with it). As I got going with all the holiday stuff, it just kind of developed into a post with a theme etc...I felt it was important to give you more than one option for the book selection just in case one wasn't available (plus, I love children's books and get excited to share good ones that I find). Anyway, I am just wanting a little feedback from those of you who use the site regularly to find out what is most helpful to you. Have you been borrowing the books to go along with the activities? Have you liked the book selections? Are they accessible at your libraries most of the time? Should I only give you my top two choices or do you like checking out all the suggested books?

I like the way that the themes have been going, but in trying to simplify, I am thinking about getting rid of the songs and rhymes section, because it sort of gets time consuming. Have you been using this section much? I know I haven't really given you ideas on how to use them with your preschoolers. Let me know what you think? Any specific feedback, in general, about what has worked or not worked for you would be helpful, so I know where to focus my energy and limited time. Thanks so much!!!

Winter Clothes

2009-01-14T15:32:00.019-06:00

Book Ideas: Sam’s Winter Hat by Albert Lamb
“Sam Bear is prone to losing things when he goes out to play. When he loses his red winter coat, his best friend Billy brings it back. When Sam loses his green fuzzy mittens, Papa Bear finds them. Then a package from Grandma arrives--with a new woolly hat inside! Sam can't wait to show Billy. But when Sam loses his new winter hat, his whole life goes wobbly! Where is the hat that Grandma made him?”

Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London
“Rambunctious Froggy hops out into the snow for a winter frolic but is called back by his mother to put on some necessary articles of clothing.”

The Mitten by Jan Brett
“Several animals sleep snugly in Nicki's lost mitten until the bear sneezes.”

The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shriley Neitzel
"Rhyme follows rhyme as layer after layer of winter clothing ('bunchy and hot, wrinkled a lot, stiff in the knee, and too big for me!') is first put on and then taken off to the relief of the child bundled inside."

One Winter’s Day by M. Christina Butler
“When a fierce windstorm blows away Little Hedgehog’s nest, he puts on his winter clothes and sets off for Badger’s warm house. On his way, Hedgehog meets his friends, all shivering in the wind and snow. One by one, Hedgehog gives away his cozy mittens, hat, and scarf.
But will Little Hedgehog make it through the storm to safety without his warm clothes?”

Under my Hood I have a hat by Karla Kuskin
“A young girl describes all the layers she is wearing as she takes them off piece by piece. She then takes a break on a wordless double page, sharing a snack with her dog. Then more layers are added, until she is ready to go outside in the snow.”

Songs and Rhymes:

Boot Prints
Up and down the yard we go
Making boot prints in the snow
Big steps, little steps
Around and around
Oh what fun with snow on the ground!
Black boots, white boots
Red boots bright
Isn’t it strange our boot prints are white?

Snowy Day
“Oh Mom,” I said on a snowy day.
“Must I wear my boots to play?”
“Yes my dear!” my mother said.
“And your hat, and your scarf and your mittens red!”

Winter Weather
Let's put on our mittens
And button our coats;
Wrap a scarf snuggly
Around our throats.
Pull on our boots,
Fasten the straps.
And tie on tightly,
Our warm winter caps.
Then open the door
And out we go
Into the soft and feathery snow.

Mitten Finger play
Here is a mitten, (hold up one hand)
A snug, fuzzy one- (rub palms together)
With a place for my fingers (wiggle 4 fingers)
And a place for my thumb (wiggle thumb)
Here are two mittens, (hold up two hands)
A colorful sight. (hands back and forth)
One for the left hand (hold up left hand)
One for the right. (hold up right hand)
Here are OUR mittens, (hold up two hands)
As soft as can be (stroke the back of one hand)
A warm pair for you (point to the neighbor)
And a warm pair for me (point to yourself)

Winter Pokey (Hokey Pokey)
You put your mitten in, you take your mitten out….you do the winter pokey…..etc..
You put your boots in, you take your boots out….
You put your coat in, you put your coat out…
You put your hat in, you put your hat out….
You put your scarf in you put your scarf out….

Dressing for Winter
This is how we dress on a cold Winter’s day.
We put on our snowsuit to go to play.
Then we put on our boots for walking in the snow.
Next, our hats and our mittens.
‘Cause the wind begins to blow.
And now we’re all ready to go out and play.
We’ll stay nice and warm on this cold Winter’s day.

Mitten Match
Find your mittens, new or old.
Help your fingers fight the cold.
Red or yellow, green or blue—
Put your thumb and fingers through!

Mittens
Mittens for the snow time
When the world is white.
Mittens for my two hands.
Mittens left and right.
Mittens with a thumb place.
Mittens warm and snug.
Mittens make me feel like
A bug inside a rug

Losing Things
I'm very good at losing things,
Especially things in twos.
Like socks and gloves and mittens,
And even boots and shoes.
There's always one - that seems to stay.
And always one - that hides away!

Activity Ideas:

Idea#1: Winter Clothes Book

Read one of the book titles and then help your child make a "Early Reader" predictable book. These books are great for preschoolers because it is a simple repetitive text that has only one or two word changes, with a picture as a clue to the new word. You'll need to print off the clip art from the list below(copy and paste them into a word document and drag the image to change the size. Some of the images wouldn't let me copy, so I had to save the image and import it into my word document). You will also need four pieces of construction paper, all in the same color. Fold the paper and staple on one side to make a book.

Each page in the book will go something like this (click on the links to see the clip art):

This is a blue coat.
This is a purple mitten.
This is a red scarf.
This is a white sock.
This is a yellow boot.
This is a green hat.
This is a brown sweater.

(The clip art includes two socks and boots, but you only need one of each for the book)

You can either tell your child which crayon to use for each item, or let them choose. Just make sure that they use a different color for each article of clothing. Let them color each item and cut them out. Then glue one on each page.
You can write in the text before or after they glue. Then have them read you their book. Do it together once, saying "This is a ...." and let them say the color and item on each page. After you've done it together see if your child can do it by themselves. Remind them to look at the pictures for clues. My two year old loved this and wanted to "read" her book over and over (she needed a little help on the colors, but loved to shout out the clothing item on each page). I titled the cover: "Winter Clothes".

Idea #2: Retelling of "The Mitten"-Dramatic Play

Read "The Mitten" by Jan Brett and then have your child help retell the story by acting it out. We used a white pillowcase as the mitten and gathered up a bunch of stuffed animals to play the various animals. Have your child be the bear and give a big sneeze and then make the animals fly out of the mitten. If you don't want to act it out, you can print off a paper copy of the animals and mitten and retell it using paper props, instead.

Idea #3: Mitten Collage

Read one of the stories and then let your child decorate their own mitten. All you'll need is a large printout of a mitten (on cardstock or construction paper) some scissors, glue, and some leftover Christmas wrapping paper or scarps of scrapbook paper in various colors. I just cut up the wrapping paper into small pieces.

Squirt some glue onto the mitten and let your child spread out the glue covering the whole mitten, using a q-tip.

Then have your child make a collage by sticking the scarps of paper all over their mitten.

Idea #4: Symmetrical Mittens

Read one of the stories and then play a little shapes game to build your child's understanding of symmetry. First you will need to copy and paste a bunch of shapes into a word document and print them off in various sizes. I colored each shape a different color and then cut them out.

You will also need to copy and paste two mitten outlines into a word document and print. (I had to do a little photo editing to get a mirror image(or a right mitten) of the left mitten clip art. Then I taped them together, so the thumbs were touching.

To play the game, I built a design on the left mitten using the paper shapes, and then had my daughter see if she could make the exact same design on the other mitten(see photo above).
Then we switched roles, and my daughter made a shape and I had to copy her design on the other mitten.

Below are some examples of the different kinds of patterns we made.

The last two photos show a common mistake that your child will make in trying to copy your design. Symmetry is a concept of higher level thinking. Your child might not be at the age or understanding to fully grasp it. If you would like to try and extend your child's learning, continue to read the explanation below.
In order for it to be symmetrical, the design has to be a mirror image of each other, so that if you held up each mitten facing each other the design would match up. In this photo my daughter replicated the design exactly the same as mine, with the orange triangles pointing right, instead of the triangles pointing toward the thumb like in the photo below. If you think your child has the understanding and you want to extend their learning, help them begin to gain an understanding of symmetry by gluing down the shapes so that they can see that when you fold it in half the same shapes and colors should match up.

Idea #5: Winter Clothes Memory Game

Read one of the book titles and then play a winter clothes memory game. Someone will be chosen to be the "snowman" that you have to dress. Put scarf, mittens, etc. on the snowman and have the others close their eyes. Change one clothing item ( e.g.. put a different hat on) or take a clothing item away. Ask the others to uncover their eyes and guess what is different about the snowman.

Idea #6: Winter Clothes Experiment

Read one of the book titles and then do a little science experiment to show the importance of wearing warm clothes during cold weather. Fill 2 jars with hot water. "Dress" one of the jars in a sweater/jacket and hat. The other "wears" a T-shirt. Place both jars outside for an hour or two. Then bring them inside, open them up, and test the water temperature.

Snowman/Snowmen

2009-01-11T09:00:00.002-06:00

Book Ideas:

Snowball by Lois Ehlert
Some children create a family out of snow. Children will love poring over Lois Ehlert's bold, funny illustrations and identifying the common (and not so common) objects she uses to decorate her snowy family.

All you need for a snowman by Alice Schertle
Lists everything that one needs to build the perfect snowman, from the very first snowflake that falls.

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Beuhner
Snowmen play games at night when no one is watching."

The biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll

When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! They work and work, but their snowmen just aren't big enough. Soon they have an idea. As the day of the contest approaches, Clayton and Desmond join forces to build the biggest snowman ever.

Frosty the Snowman by Bedford and Malvern
Who can resist the tale of children enjoying the fun of building Frosty, when suddenly to their astonishment, he comes alive! The children in the neighborhood have never had a better winter of sledding, ice skating, and building snow houses, until one day, a warm wind blows. What will happen to Frosty?

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
It is a wordless story about a boy who builds a snowman and has a series of adventures with his new friend.

Songs and Rhymes:

Snowman

A chubby little snowman

Had a carrot nose;

Along came a rabbit

And what do you suppose?

That hungry little bunny,

Looking for his lunch,
Ate the snowman's carrot nose...

Nibble, Nibble, Crunch!

Melting Snowman
Here’s a snowman round and fat; (make circle with arms)
Out comes the sun and melts his hat. (touch head)
Here’s a snowman with a scarf of red’
Out comes the sun and melts his head. (touch chin to chest))
Here’s a snowman, fit as a fiddle;
Out comes the sun and melts his middle. (touch stomach)
Here’s a snowman who waits for dawn;
Out comes the sun and he’s all gone!

I’m a little Snowman
(I’m a little teapot)

I’m a little snowman, short and stout,
Sticks for arms and a carrot snout.
When the weather warms up, gosh, oh gee!
I melt and there’s no more of me!

Snowman

(Sung to “I’m a little teapot)

I’m a little snowman, round and fat
Here are my buttons, here is my hat.
When the sun comes out, I run away
Before I slowly melt away.

Five little Snowmen
5 little snowmen standing in a row.
Each had a hat and big red bow.
Out came the sun and shone all day.
1 little snowman melted away.
(continue until you have no snowmen left)

Snow friend
Pack a snowball.
Make it round.
Roll it, roll it, along the ground.
Make one big ball, and one of middle size;
Then roll a smaller ball. Add a nose and eyes.
Give him a broom and a scarf of blue.
Now there’s a friend to play with you!

Frosty The Snowman

Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul,

With a corncob pipe and a button nose

And two eyes made out of coal.
Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale, they say,

He was made of snow but the children

Know how he came to life one day.

There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found.

For when they placed it on his head

He began to dance around.

O, Frosty the snowman

Was alive as he could be,

And the children say he could laugh and play just the same as you and me.

Thumpetty thump thump, Thumpety thump thump,

Look at Frosty go.

Thumpetty thump thump, Thumpety thump thump,

Over the hills of snow.

Frosty the snowman
knew the sun was hot that day,

So he said, "Let's run and we'll have some fun

Now before I melt away."

Down to the village, with a broomstick in his hand,

Running here and there all around the square

saying,"Catch me if you can."

He led them down the streets of town

Right to the traffic cop.
And he only paused a moment when

He heard him holler "Stop!"
For Frosty the snow man

Had to hurry on his way,

But he waved goodbye saying,"Don't you cry,

I'll be back again some day."

Thumpetty thump thump, Thumpety thump thump,

Look at Frosty go.

Thumpetty thump thump, Thumpety thump thump,

Over the hills of snow.

Once there was a snowman

(LDS children’s song book #249)

Once there was a snowman, Snowman, snowman
Once there was a snowman, Tall, tall, tall
In the sun he melted, melted, melted
In the sun he melted, small, small, small.

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1:Roll-a-Snowman Game

Read one of the snowman books and then play a dice game. You will need paper pencils and some dice.

Make a Roll-a-snowman reference paper as seen in the photo so that you can refer to it as you play.

Give each player a piece of paper and pencil. Take turns rolling the die. The first one to roll all six numbers and draw a finished snowman is the winner.

Idea #2: "Magic" snowman pictures
Read one of the book titles and then explore with chalk, making chalk-transfer pictures.

You will need half a piece of dark blue or black paper, one full sheet of paper(any color), and a piece of white chalk. Fold the full sheet of paper in half. Using the chalk, have your child color

the inside half of their folded sheet of paper (as seen in the photo). Place the dark sheet of paper inside the fold and have your child draw a snowman on the outside cover, pushing hard so that the chalk will transfer on to their dark paper inside.

Their drawing will "magically appear" on their dark paper. Let them explore using this new technique as many times as they want.

Idea #3: Build a Snowman outside

If you live in a place that snows, read one of the book titles and then build your own snowman outside. If you live in a warm place, build one out of sand or use your imagination and pretend to build one by acting it out.

Idea #4: Popcorn Ball Snowman

Read one of the book titles and then make yummy popcorn ball snowmen together.

Popcorn Ball Recipe:

15 cups popped popcorn

1/2 cup butter or margarine

2 10-oz. packages of marshmallows

Pretzel sticks, raisins, candy, fruit roll-up (for a scarf) etc..

Pour the popcorn into a large bowl and set aside. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the marshmallows, stirring constantly until melted. Pour over the popcorn and stir to coat. When cool enough to touch, rub butter on your hands and form popcorn balls.

Idea #5: Snowman Math Estimation

Read one of the books and then have your child guess how many "snow balls"(cotton balls) it will take to fill in the snowman outlines.

Draw one small and one medium sized snowman outline on a piece of paper. Leave space to write the words "Guess" and "Actual #" next to each outline so that your child can record the numbers.

Starting with the smaller snowman, show your child the cotton balls and ask them to guess how many snowballs he or she will need to fill the inside of the snowman. Write their guess down. Then have them glue the cotton balls down and count the actual # of cotton balls that it required. Record your findings. Repeat the process for the larger snowman.

Idea #6: Marshmallow Snowman/snowgirl

Read one of the book titles and then make a snowman using paper, mini marshmallows, pretzel sticks, and candies.

First you need to draw the basic snowman outline on a piece of construction paper. In advance, cut-out a paper scarf and hat.

Then, Glue down the paper scarf and mini marshmallows on the snowman outline.

Next glue, on all the face, arms, buttons, hat etc... with anything you have around the house.

My older daughter wanted to make a snowgirl. She added angel hair to hers.

If you want to add a finishing touch, dip the end of a marshmallow into white paint and stamp falling snow onto your paper.

Winter- Snow/Snowflakes

2009-01-02T16:00:00.015-06:00

Book Ideas: The snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
"The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day."

One snowy night by Nick Butterworth
"On a snowy night when a park keeper takes the animals into his hut for warmth, things get too crowded for comfort."

Snowball Fight! By Jimmy Fallon
"Snow day! School's closed! And somewhere out there, a snowball fight is waiting to happen! From carefully packing the snow to launching an all-out attack, everyone loves a snowball fight."

Millions of Snowflakes by Mary McKenna Siddals
“As snow begins to fall, a child counts the flakes, enjoying every one”

Snowy, Blowy Winter by Bob Raczka
“The simple, playful rhymes make this celebration of winter a solid choice for sharing with toddlers and beginning readers alike. With just one word or phrase per image or page-turn, this makes for a quick, rhythmic read.”

Songs and Rhymes:

Winter Time Poem
by Mary Ryer
Icy fingers, icy toes,
Bright red cheeks and bright red nose.
Watch the snowflakes as they fall,
Try so hard to count them all.
Build a snowman way up high,
See if he can touch the sky.
Snow forts, snowballs, angels, too,
In the snow, so white and new.
Slip and slide and skate so fast.
Wintertime is here at last.

Snowflakes falling down
Sung to “row, row, row your boat”

Snow flakes falling down, (wiggle fingers downward)
Falling on the ground.
Gre-e-e-at, bi-i-i-g white flakes (make circles with thumbs and forefingers touching)
That do not make a sound. (finger to lips and shake head ‘no’)

Snowflakes falling from the sky
Sung to “Mary had a little lamb”

Snowflakes falling from the sky,
From the sky, from the sky.
Snow flakes falling from the sky, to the earth below.
Watch them as they dance and whirl,
Dance and whirl, dance and whirl,
Watch them as they dance and whirl,
Soft, white winter snow.

Walking in the snow
Let’s go walking in the snow.
Walking, walking, on tiptoe.
Lift your one foot way up high.
Then the other to keep dry.
All around the yard we skip.
Watch your step or you might slip!

Snowflakes Falling
Sung to “up on the housetop”

Snowflakes are falling on the ground
On our houses and in our town
On my nose and in my hair
Snowflakes are falling everywhere.
Oh, oh, oh, out we go
Oh, oh, oh, in the snow-oh!
Making snowmen
Sledding too,
There is so much that we can do.

Red Nose
Where did you get that little red nose?
Jack Frost kissed it I suppose.
He kissed it once.
He kissed it twice.
Poor little nose as cold as ice.

A sledding we will go
Sung to “A hunting we will go”

A sledding we will go,
A sledding we will go,
We’ll hold on tight and sit just right,
as down the hill we go---Wheee!

A skating we will go,
A skating we will go,
We’ll twirl around and not fall down
As over the ice we go!

A skiing we will go,
A skiing we will go,
We’ll stop when we get the Mountain top (Pause)
Then down the Mountain we’ll go---Swoosh!

It is snowing
Tune: “Frere Jacques”

It is snowing, it is snowing,
Falling down, falling down.
Winter winds are blowing,
Drifts are slowly growing,
All around, all around.

I love snow
Tune: Three Blind Mice

I love snow, I love snow.
Soft white snow, soft white snow.
It falls on the ground so soft and white
Sometimes it falls all through the night
Did you ever see such a beautiful sight
As soft white snow?

Snowflakes and Cupcakes
(Tune: Raindrops and Lemon Drops)
If all the snowflakes were chocolate covered cupcakes
Oh, what a snow it would be!
I'd go outside with my mouth open wide (open mouth and stick out tongue)
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
If all of the snowflakes were chocolate covered cupcakes
Oh, what a snow it would be!

***Alternative words: If all of the snowflakes were candy bars and milk shakes

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Snow Ice cream

Read one of the snow books and then make some snow ice cream. You will need to wait until the next snow fall to put a bowl or tray out to catch some of the clean snow (for those of you who don't live in a place that snows, shaved ice can be a substitute). Her is the recipe:

Snow Ice Cream
4 cups fresh, clean snow
1/2 cup whole milk (or half & half)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Put the snow in a mixing bowl. In a smaller bowl, mix the milk, sugar, and vanilla until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the milk mixture over the snow and mix well with a stirring spoon. Add more snow if needed for desired thickness. Enjoy!

Idea #2: Indoor Snow ball fight

Read the book "Snowball fight" by Jimmy Fallon and then have your own indoor snowball fight, using crumpled paper balls. You can set a timer or play music and throw as many balls as you can until the timer goes off or the song is over.

Idea #3: Puffy Foam Snow Scene
Read one of the book titles and then make a fun snow scene using shaving cream foam and glue.
First have your child draw a winter scene with some hills and a bare tree or a snowman etc..(I drew the picture for my two year old). Mix together equal parts of shaving cream and Elmer's Glue on a paper plate.

Using craft sticks, have your child spread the foam mixture onto their snow scene. ***Important: Make sure to tell them not to taste the foam or rub it into their eyes!!!

Then you can add snow flakes by dipping the end of a plastic spool of thread into white paint or using your child's thumbprint.

When the mixture dries, it will dry nice and puffy!

Idea #4:Paper Snowflakes

Read "Millions of Snowflakes" and then make your own paper snowflakes to hang in your childs room. You can fold and cut your own designs or you can print off the templates you see in the photo below.

To print these snowflake templates, click here.

Cut the basic shape and fold on the lines. If your child is old enough to use scissors let them try and cut some of the simpiler patterns. If they don't have the coordination yet and are getting frustrated, then you cut them and let them open the flakes when your done cutting to reveal the pattern (my daughter's reaction to each snowflake she unfolded was fun).

Here is what the different patterns look like, once cut and unfolded. Talk about how every snowflake is unique and different.

If you want, you can let your child decorate the snowflakes with silver, blue, and white glitter, beads, buttons, or pom poms etc...Then hange them by some floss in a window or over their bed.

Idea #5: Painting the Snow

Read one of the book titles and then go outside and paint the snow.

All you need to do is fill some squirt bottles or spray bottles with water and add a few drops of food coloring to each.

Go outside and "paint the snow" by squeezing or squirting the colored water on the snow.

Have your child explore mixing primary colors together.

Idea #6: Winter scene with Salt and flour paint

Read one of the stories and then make a winter scene using the special recipe below:

Mix together 1 cup salt and 1/2 cup flour and 3/4 cup water (this made way too much paint, so you should probably 1/2 the recipe) in a bowl.

Using a paint brush, Let your child paint a snow scene with the mixture (the thinner the better--It looks like it will hardly show, but it will dry faster and won't crack off later)

When it's all dry it will look like this.

New Year/Months in the year

2008-12-29T13:59:00.010-06:00

Book Ideas:

(I had a hard time finding good New Year books--Most were Chinese New Year stuff which I'll probably do later in the month. The idea of a new year can be a hard concept for preschoolers to understand. I've included a few book selections talking about the concept of "months in a year" to help your child's understanding of what it means to begin a new year.)

Goodbye Old Year, Hello New Year by Frank Modell
Marvin and Milton want to celebrate the coming of the new year but fall asleep before midnight.

P. Bear’s New Year’s Party by Paul Owen Lewis
P. Bear has sent invitations to all of his friends for a New Year's Party. On the big day a variety of animals arrive, starting with one whale and ending with a dozen penguins. The book is filled with black-and-white animals, and each page shows a clock as readers count the hours up to midnight.

Twelve Hats for Lena by Karen Katz
Lena creates hats appropriate for each month of the year.

My Love for you all Year Round by Susan L. Roth
Two mice describe their love in terms of the special characteristics of each month of the year.

Jump into January by Stella Blackstone
This seek-and-find book is full of things to look at as you journey around the changing year.

Songs and Rhymes:

HAPPY NEW YEAR
Tune: “Happy Birthday”

Happy New Year to you.
May all your wishes come true.
Happy New Year my friend.
Happy New Year to you.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING DOWN
Tune: “The Farmer In The Dell”

The clock is ticking down.
Get ready for the sound.
Boom, Bang, it’s 12 o’clock
Fireworks all around!
(Hold up large clock. Move hands to 12 o’clock. Have child blow horn or use other noise makers.)

TOOT YOUR HORN
Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

Toot, toot, toot your horn,
Toot it loud and clear.
Toot it high and toot it low
To welcome the new year!

(Add additional verses, such as, Bang, bang, bang your drum; Ring, ring, ring your bell; Clap, clap, clap your hands; Stomp, stomp, stomp your feet.)

BELLS ARE RINGING
Tune: “Frere Jacques”

Bells are ringing.
People singing.
New Year’s here.
New Year’s here
Happy, Happy New Year
Happy, Happy New Year
Let’s all cheer.
New Year’s here!

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: New Year's Noise Maker
Read one of the new year stories and then make a paper plate noise maker. Talk to your child about how it is a tradition to make loud noises when the clock reaches 12 midnight on New Year's Eve and people shout out Happy New Year!

Have your child decorate the back of a paper plate with crayons, markers, stickers, confetti, etc...

Then fold the plate in half and staple half way around the plate edge. Then let your child put a handful of dried beans or dried pasta noodles in the open half and then continue stapling the plate closed. If you want to add some ribbon, punch a few holes with a hole puncher on the edge and knot it. Then shake your noise maker. Practice counting down from 10 and then shaking your noise maker.

Idea #2: New Year's Horn

Read one of the New Year book titles and, again, talk about some of the noisy traditions that occur when the clock hits midnight. Then make your own New Year's Horn.

You will need a toilet or paper towel roll, a rubber band, and a small square of wax paper.

Cut one or two holes about one inch away from the bottom end of the tube. Put the wax paper square over the bottom end and keep it in place with the rubber band.

Then let your child decorate the tube. (You could have them decorate or paint it, before putting the horn together--either way). Then hum into the open end like a kazoo.

Idea #3: New Year Party Hat

Read one of the New Year books and then make a crazy party hat to wear on New Year's Eve.

You will need to print off a set of clocks, cut out two small rectangles of colored paper(I used the clocks to help me judge the size of the rectangles), two pipe cleaners, and a paper plate.

Cut your paper plate like the photo above and write Happy New Year or 2009 on the middle. Fold the middle part forward so that it will be standing up on your child's head. Have this ready before you start the activity with your child.

Next, (do this part in advance too), staple the pipecleaner to the inside of your rectangle and glue closed by folding the rectangle in half. Do the same thing to the other side. You may need to put something heavy on it to keep it closed until it dries.

Give your child the paper plate and a bunch of art supplies that you have on hand and let them decorate their hats however they want. They can color it, they can glue things to it, they could paint it---whatever they want to do to spice it up. Set it aside and let it dry.

Once it is dry add the clocks to the front of the rectangles and attach the pipecleaners to the rim of the hat.

Idea #4: Mini Month Book--A year at a glance

Read one of the book titles that talk about the months of the year and then make your own mini calendar book to help your child understand the sequence of events that happens in a year. This is a great way to help young children understand what it means to begin a new year since time is sort of hard for them to understand. Holidays and celebrations are a good reference point for understanding a continuum of time for kids. You will need 4 pieces of construction paper, each piece cut in four so that you have 16 small rectangles. Staple 13 of the rectangle pages together to make a book. Write the title "A month for everything" on the cover.

Label each page with the a different month, starting with January and continuing on in order.

Copy and paste each of the clip art pictures listed below into a word document, dragging the photo so you can fit 4 clip art pictures on a page. Then let your child color the pictures and cut them out.

January-snowman OR New year horn blower

February- valentine

March- leprechaun

April- Easter bunny

May-Rose and butterfly (can symbolize mother's day or spring)

June- Father's day1 or Father's day2

July- Flag

August- Beach

September- Fall Leaf OR Apple

October- Jack-o-lantern

November- Turkey

December- Christmas Tree
Birthday month- Cake

Helping them with the order, let your child glue the pictures on the right month. (Glue stick works best so that the pages don't get all stuck together with wet glue). Say the months out loud as your child is gluing. When their book is complete ask them questions like: "Can you tell me what holiday comes after Halloween?" (let them reference their book to find what picture comes after the Halloween page). For my 2 year old I simply would ask her to show me in her book where her birthday month was, or which one was Christmas etc...

Christmas Nativity

2008-12-21T20:50:00.009-06:00

Book Ideas: What star is this? By Joseph Slate
"As Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, another journey was taking place. High above the earth, a comet flew through the atmosphere with a purpose. Past smiling planets and reverent constellations it flew -- a magical light to show the way for the Wise Men to find Baby Jesus."

Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson
"Unhappy in his cramped, cold hole, Mortimer Mouse moves into a nativity scene thinking it is the perfect home for him, until he discovers who truly belongs there."

The Christmas Story by Patricia A. Pingry
"This little book, in only about 200 words, tells the story of the trip to Bethlehem, the birth of Christ, and the angels' announcement to the shepherds of the birth of the Savior."

Songs and Rhymes:

Silent Night
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin
Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Away in a Manger

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head
The stars in the heaven
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Paper Angel

Read one of the Nativity Books and then make an angel art project. You'll need white paper, yellow paper, a paper doilie and a yellow pipe cleaner. (If you don't have the doilie or pipe cleaner, just substitute it with colored paper or whatever else you might have that might give a similar look). Cut out a small circle from the white paper, a large triangle from the yellow paper, and cut the paper doilie in half.

Have your child glue all their pieces on colored paper.

Let them decorate their angel with glitter glue, sequins, etc.. and draw on a face.

Idea #2: Mini Manger

Read one of the book titles and then help your child make their own mini manger and baby Jesus. You will need an empty juice box(any small size box will do), some brown paper, glue, some toilet paper, some spanish moss or raffia for the hay (If you don't have either of these on hand, use more toilet paper or whatever. It might even be fun to ask your child what you could use around the house for the hay and see what they come up with), and some sort of round head for the baby(I used a wooden dowel end because I had it on hand. Find something around your house--A bottle cap, a round walnut, a large button, or even a thick cardboard circle cut from an old cereal box).

First you will need to trace all the sides of the juice box, so you have enough cutouts to cover the inside and outside of your box. Cut out one of the large sides of your juice box. Rinse it out and dry with a paper towel.

Cut out all your brown side pieces (If your child is 3 and up, let them help cut and practice their fine motor skills). Then let your child glue all the brown pieces on the inside and outside of the box. (You definitely don't need as much glue as my daughter used in the photo!)

Then glue in some "hay". I let the girls choose either spanish moss or raffia. Again, use whatever you have on hand and ask your child to help brainstorm what you could use.

Then, roll up some toilet paper into a little bundle and glue the head on the top, pushing it down inside the bundle a little. I used a wooden dowel because I had it on hand. Again, use what you can find around the house for the head--A bottle cap, a walnut, a large button, a circle cut out from a cardboard cereal box etc...

Add a face and lie your baby Jesus in the manger. My 2 year old was kissing her baby and singing to it by the time it was completed.

Idea #3: Craft Stick Star

Read one of the book titles and then make a star like the one at Bethlehem. You'll need six craft sticks, yellow paint, and some glitter and sparkles to make your star shine.

Glue the star together in advance and let dry. (I painted the back of the sticks too, but you don't have to).

Give your child the star and let them paint it yellow.

Decorate it with sequins or glitter and then let it all dry. (We put glue right on top of the wet paint).

When it's all dry you can put a string through it and hang it.

Christmas Presents/Gifts/Giving

2008-12-18T09:15:00.008-06:00

Book Ideas:

Emily’s Christmas Gifts by Cindy Senning
Emily loves everything about Christmas, especially giving gifts. Her favorite kinds aren't those that can be wrapped up and put under the tree, but are the true treasures of kindness and consideration.

Little Rabbit’s Christmas by Harry Horse
When the Christmas Rabbit brings the red sled he's longed for (the one that goes "Whoosh!"), the small animal refuses to let anyone else play with it. Instead he pulls it far up a hill, much too far, so that when he whooshes down again he crashes and the sled breaks. It takes his friends to fix both the sled and his attitude, and everything ends happily.

The twelve Days of Christmas presents by Harriet Ziefert
A clever children’s variation on a favorite song. Instead of the old-fashioned partridges, maids-a-milking, and lords-a-leaping, youngsters will find colorful hula hoops, wind-up toys, furry bears, trains-a-tooting, and jelly babies.

The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau

A gifted quiltmaker never sells her wares, but gives them away to the poor. When a greedy king demands a quilt, she agrees to make a quilt, only if he gives away all that he has. The king finally learns the joy of giving and what happiness really feels like.

The Christmas Box by Anee Stewart Wetzel
When Father is stationed with the military in Japan, he sends his family an intriguing wooden box at Christmastime.

Rhymes and Songs:

Christmas Presents
See all the presents by the Christmas tree. (Hands in sweeping motion.)

Some for you (Point to children.)

And some for me. (Point to self.)

Long ones, (Hands spread wide apart.)

Tall ones, (Measure from the floor.)

Short ones, too. (Hands close together.)

And here is a round one (Make circle with arms.)

Wrapped in blue.

Isn't it fun to look and see

All the presents by the Christmas tree? (Nod.)

The Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me

a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the third day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fourth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Five Golden Rings, Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens,

Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Six Geese-a-Laying, Five Golden Rings, Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens,

Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Seven Swans-a-Swimming, Six Geese-a-Laying, Five Golden Rings,

Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves,

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Eight Maids-a-Milking, Seven Swans-a-Swimming, Six Geese-a-Laying,

Five Golden Rings, Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens,

Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Nine Ladies Dancing, Eight Maids-a-Milking, Seven Swans-a-Swimming,

Six Geese-a-Laying, five golden rings, Four Calling Birds,

Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Ten Lords-a-Leaping, Nine Ladies Dancing, Eight Maids-a-Milking,

Seven Swans-a-Swimming, Six Geese-a-Laying, Five Golden Rings,

Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves,

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Eleven Pipers Piping, Ten Lords-a-Leaping, Nine Ladies Dancing,

Eight Maids-a-Milking, Seven Swans-a-Swimming, Six Geese-a-Laying,

Five Golden Rings, Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens,

Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Twelve Drummers Drumming, Eleven Pipers Piping,

Ten Lords-a-Leaping, Nine Ladies Dancing, Eight Maids-a-Milking,

Seven Swans-a-Swimming, Six Geese-a-Laying, Five Golden Rings, Four Calling Birds,

Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

12 days of Christmas Hawaiian Style (I grew up with this version:) )

Numbah One day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

One mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Two day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Two coconut, an' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Tree day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Tree dry squid, two coconut, An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Foah day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut, An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Five day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Five beeg fat peeg(oink, oink)...

foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut, An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Seex day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Seex hula lesson, five beeg fat peeg (oink, oink), Foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,

An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Seven day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Seven shrimp a-swimmin', seex hula lesson, Five beeg fat peeg (oink, oink), foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut, An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Eight day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Eight ukulele, seven shrimp a-swimmin', seex hula lesson, Five beeg fat peeg(oink, oink), foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut, An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Nine day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Nine pounds of poi, eight ukuleles, seven shrimp a-swimmin',Seex hula lesson, five beeg fat peeg(oink, oink), foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,

An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Ten day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Ten cans of soda, nine pounds of poi, eight ukuklele, seven shrimp a-swimmin'

Seex hula lesson, five beeg fat peeg(oink, oink), Foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,

An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Eleven day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Eleven missionary, ten cans of soda, nine pounds of poi, Eight ukulele, seven shrimp a-swimmin', seex hula lesson, Five beeg fat peeg(oink, oink), foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,

An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Twelve day of Christmas, my tutu give to meTwelve TELEVISION, eleven missionary, ten cans of soda, Nine pounds of poi, eight ukulele, seven shrimp a-swimmin',Seex hula lesson, five beeg fat peeg(oink, oink),Foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,

An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree!

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Secret Santa Gift

Read one of the stories and then put together a plate of treats and deliver it secretly, without the person or family knowing who left it. Here is an easy treat that we love to make every year at our house. You'll need Pretzel Rods and Wiltons white candy melts (you can get them at Walmart or at Michael's craft store) and some holiday sprinkles or crushed candy cane.

All you do is melt the candy melts in the microwave, and then dip the pretzels (I sort of tilt my bowl to the side and roll the pretzels in the white chocolate. Then you set it on some wax paper or tinfoil and let the kids sprinkle on the toppings. Let them sit to harden before you bag them.

Idea #2: Explore with wrapping materials

Let your child wrap something- either an empty box or a real present that they got to pick out for someone at the dollar store. Let them explore using the tape and scissors and bows etc... Believe me your kids will love to do this all by themselves! My two-year old needed a little help getting started, but a child 3 and up will get into this.

Idea #3: Make homemade wrapping paper

Read one of the stories and then make your own wrapping paper using a paper grocery bag, some paint, and some Christmas cookie cutters.

Cut and open the paper bag so that you can lay it flat on the blank side. Then let your child have fun dipping the cookie cutters into the paint and stamping them onto the paper bag.

Let them have fun doing it however they want. My two-year old started rubbing the cookie cutters from side to side on the paper. She loved doing this all by her self. Let it dry and then use it to wrap one of their presents in it.

Idea #4: Make a coupon book

Read one of the books and then discuss that the best gifts don't have to be bought in a store. Brainstorm together ideas of things your child could help do for someone and make a coupon book of service activities your child could do for that person.

Santa and Reindeer

2008-12-15T08:25:00.003-06:00

Book Ideas:Santa’s Stuck by Rhonda Gowler Greene
"When Santa becomes stuck in the chimney of a house on Christmas Eve, the dog, the cat, the reindeer, and a mouse try to free him."

What could be keeping santa? By Marilyn Janovitz
"When Santa fails to appear even though his sleigh is packed and the reindeer stand waiting, he has a very good reason for not being ready."

Choose your favorite version of The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore

Songs and Rhymes:

Santa's coming
Sung to: "Frere Jacques"

Santa’s Coming,
Santa’s Coming,
Sleigh bells ring,
Sleigh bells ring,
It is Christmas eve,
It is Christmas eve,
Ding-Dong, Ding
Ding-Dong, Ding

I'm a Little Santa
Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a little Santa short and fat,
Here is my beard and here is my sack,
On Christmas Eve I hop in my sleigh,
With a "Ho ho ho" I'm on my way.

~ Santa ~

When Santa comes down the chimney, (downward motion with hands)
I should like to peek. (peek through fingers)
But he'll never come, (shake head)
Until I'm fast asleep. (palms together beside head)

Christmas

We are the elves. We work all day.
To make the toys so children can play. (Elves pounding toys)
We are the reindeer, around we go
Prancing, prancing through the snow. (use hands on head for antlers)
Here is Santa, delivering the toys,
He has something for good girls and boys. (put hands in front making a big belly and then pretend to pass out toys)

Santa Claus is Coming to Town
You'd better watch out!
You'd better not cry!
You'd better not pout! I'm telling you why,
Santa Claus is comin' to town.
He's making a list and checking it twice.
He's going to find out who's naughty and nice.
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town.
He sees when you're sleeping.
He knows when you're awake.
He knows if you've been bad or good.
So be good for goodness sake!
Oh, You'd better watch out!
You'd better not cry!
You'd better not pout! I'm telling you why,
Santa Claus is comin' to town.

Up on a Roof Top

Up on the housetop reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down through the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones, Christmas joys

Chorus:
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go!
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go!
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down through the chimney with old Saint Nick

Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer
You know Dasher and Dancer
And Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid
And Donner and Blitzen.
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer(reindeer)
Had a very shiny nose(like a light bulb)
And if you ever saw it(saw it)
You would even say it glows(like a light bulb)
All of the other reindeer(reindeer)
Used to laugh and call him names(like Pinocchio)
They never let poor Rudolph(Rudolph)
Play in any reindeer games(like Monopoly)
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say(Ho Ho Ho)
Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?
Then all the reindeer loved him(loved him)
And they shouted out with glee(yippee)
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer(reindeer)
You'll go down in history!"(like Columbus)

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Letter to Santa

Read one of the book titles and then have your child write a letter to Santa. We decorated the paper with stickers and then I had them draw a picture of what they wanted towards the bottom of the page. Depending on their abilities you can write the words for them or let them sound out the letters and write the words. I'm not sure if every Macy's department store is doing this, but our local store has a mailbox in their store to mail letters to Santa.

Idea #2: Cotton ball Santa

Read one of the books and then make a Santa with a cotton ball beard. You will need to print off a large Santa face (I had mine already printed and saved in my teaching files so the link is not the exact same clip art as the one seen in the photos). You will need to copy and paste it into a word document to make it as big as you can fit it on the page.

Let your child color the hat and face first with crayons.

Then squirt a blob of glue on the beard and let your child spread it around using a q-tip, until the whole beard and mustache are covered with glue. Then give them a pile of cotton balls and let them cover the entire beard.

Idea #3: Reindeer Treats

Read one of the stories and then work together to make some yummy reindeer cookies.

Here is the link to instructions for version #1. Here is the link to instructions for version #2.

(I think it would be a lot cuter to put a red nose instead of a green nose. I've even seen a version where they broke the pretzels to make the antlers more branch/twig-like).

Idea #4: Reindeer Prints

Read one of the stories and then make a reindeer using your child's foot and hand prints.

You will need colored paper, glue, scissors, a crayon, googly eyes, and a pom-pom nose (a button or paper could be used too)

Trace your child's hand prints on one piece of colored paper. Then trace one foot on a darker brown paper. If your child is 3 or older, let them practice their fine motor skills and help cut out the hand prints or footprint.

Then, let them glue down the paper prints, eyes, and nose. Guide them, but let them glue it down how they want.

Idea #5: Christmas stocking math/science game

Read one of the stories and then explore the concept of volume and size, using 3 different size stockings. (If you don't have various sizes of stockings on hand and don't want to buy some, just do the second option, listed below)

Option 1:

Gather a bunch of items of various sizes and lengths and have your child explore which of the stockings the items would best fit. Have them make a prediction and then see if they are right by trying to fit the item in the stocking. Obviously some of the smaller items will fit in any of the three stockings so make sure to emphasize which stocking would be best or most suitable for something that size.

Option 2:

For this version you can use just one stocking or all three. You will also need a large amount of some item, like blocks or Legos, that are all the same size. Have your child guess how many blocks (or whatever items you are using) will fit in the various size stockings.

This picture is sort of hard to see, but I had my 5 year old draw the 3 different sizes stockings and divide them with lines. Then she wrote her prediction of how many blocks she thought would fit, in pink, and then the actual amount that fit in brown. Recording and organizing information is an important skill for children to develop. Predicting and recording data is not an age-appropriate activity for my 2 year old. For younger children, let them just play with filling the stockings with items. This exploration will help them gain a sense of volume and size of objects. (My two year old had a blast filling up the stockings with blocks, over and over).

Christmas Bells

2008-12-12T08:25:00.003-06:00

Book Ideas:

Jingle Bells by Iza Trapani
"Presents the words of the familiar Christmas song, plus extra verses and brief descriptions of the Christmas traditions of Mexico, Sweden, the Philippines, Poland, Italy, and Kenya."

The polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
"A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa."

Why the chimes rang by Raymond Macdonald Alden
"Two brothers prove to the world that the greatest offering that someone can make to honor the Christ child is not in gold, silver, or even a king's crown, it is in compassion, sacrifice and reaching out to others."

Songs and Rhymes:

Ring the Bells It's Christmas Time
Tune: London Bridge

Ring the bells it's Christmas time,

Christmas time, Christmas time.

Ring the bells it's Christmas time,

Merry Christmas time!
*Play the drum it's Christmas time

*Stamp your feet it's Christmas time

*Clap your hands it's Christmas time.

Hear his bells

Sung to: "Are You Sleeping?"

Are you sleeping?

No more peeking,

Or I'll tell, or I'll tell.

Santa Claus is coming.
Santa Claus is coming.

Hear his bells.

Ring the Bells

Sung to Row, row, row your boat

Ring, ring, ring the bells,

Ring them loud and clear.

Christmas time is finally here

So spread some Christmas cheer.

Silver Bells

Verse 1:

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks.

Dressed in holiday style

In the air there's a feeling of Christmas

Children laughing, people passing

Meeting smile after smile

And on ev'ry street corner you'll hear....

Chorus:

Silver bells, silver bells

It's Christmas time in the city

Ring-a-ling, hear them ring

Soon it will be Christmas day

Verse 2:

Strings of street lights

Even stop lights

Blink a bright red and green

As the shoppers rush home with their treasures

Hear the snow crunch

See the kids bunch

This is Santa's big scene

And above all this bustle You'll hear....

Repeat Chorus

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow

In a one horse open sleigh

O'er the fields we go

Laughing all the way

Bells on bob tails ring

Making spirits bright

What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh

Jingle bells, jingle bells

jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh!

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Dance and freeze game with bells

Read one of the books and then put on some Christmas music and dance around with some jingle bells. You can even play the freeze game (When the music stops you freeze and when the music is playing you dance and shake your bells).

Idea #2: Mini Plastic cup bells

Read one of the book titles and then make your own Christmas bell. You will need some string or yarn, a jingle bell, a mini plastic cup (clear applesauce cup or kid's size yogurt cup etc...), some scissors, and items to decorate your bell (stickers, glitter, paint). If you use a cup that is not clear, you may want some tinfoil to cover the outside of the plastic cup.

Assembling the bell is too hard for most kids to do. You should assemble the bell first and then Let them decorate it however they want. If you want to involve them in the making of it, let them hand you the supplies as you need it, or let them wrap the cup in tinfoil before you start.

First, if your cup needs to be wrapped in tinfoil, do it now. Then, string your bell with a piece of yarn or string. Using a slip knot, knot the string an inch or so away from the bell. This will be the knot on the inside of the cup to help keep the string from sliding through the hole and allow the bell to hang low inside the cup.

Next, being very careful, open your scissors and push a small slit or hole through the center of the cup (an exacto knife would work well too). Then, push the yarn ends through the cup and knot it again, this time on the outside of the cup (you may have to use the tip of your scissors to help push the yarn through the hole). So in the end you should have one knot just above the hole, and one knot just below the hole on the inside of the cup.

Now, let your child be creative and decorate their bell. Provide a variety of materials to make the project more fun. Stickers, glitter glue pens, paint, etc..

(We were in a rush to do this project so they didn't have a lot of time to decorate them.)

Idea #3: Paper bell Wreath

Read one of the stories and then make a bell wreath using a paper plate, green paint, a sponge, some paper, scissors, glitter and glue.

Before you start, print off the bell outline and the bow outline. You may want to copy and paste the image into a word document so that you can change the size and then copy and paste it several times to print several on a page.

Cut out the center of a paper plate and then let your child sponge paint it green. Set it aside.

Next, let your child spread glue on their bell and bow outlines and then shake on glitter.

Then, glue the bow and bells onto the wreath (we glued them on even when the paint was still wet. Let it all dry.

Gingerbread Man/House

2008-12-08T01:09:00.008-06:00

Book Ideas:The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst

"Like her older brother, the Gingerbread Boy, who was eventually devoured by a fox, the Gingerbread Girl eludes the many people who would like to eat her but also has a plan to escape her sibling's fate." (Any girl will love this version)

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
"A young boy and his mother bake a gingerbread baby that escapes from their oven and leads a crowd on a chase similar to the one in the familiar tale about a not-so-clever gingerbread man."
Gingerbread Mouse by Katy Bratun
"An accident sends Mouse in search of a new home at Christmas time and she finds what seems to be the perfect one inside of a much larger house, but she meets a new friend with a better idea."

Songs and Rhymes:

5 little Gingerbread Men

5 little gingerbread men lying on a tray.
1 jumped up and ran away!
Catch me, catch me, if you can.
I run really fast.
I’m the gingerbread man!

(continue to count down to 1 little gingerbread man)

Gingerbread Man

Stir a bowl of gingerbread (stir as in a bowl)

Smooth and spicy brown
Roll it with a rolling pin

up and up and down (Pretend to roll)
With a cookie cutter, (pretend to cut out)

make some little men.
Put them in the oven (place them in the oven)

till half past ten!

Four Gingerbread Men

Four gingerbread men sat on a tray

The first one said, "Let's run away!"

The second one said, "Where will we run?"

The third one said, "We'll have some fun."

The fourth one said, "We'll be eaten if we stay."

So the gingerbread men all ran away.

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Decorate a Gingerbread House

Read a story above and decorate a gingerbread house. I made my own from scratch but if you don't want the hassle you can either use graham crackers or buy a pre-made kit (If you have an IKEA close by, they have a real gingerbread house kit for $5.99) Here is the recipe I used for the pieces of the house:

Gingerbread

4-41/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp ground ginger
pinch of cardamom
pinch of nutmeg

Mix the above ingredients and set aside.

1 stick of butter
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup unsulphured molasses
1 tsp cold water
1 egg

Cream butter, sugar and molasses together. Then add egg, and cold water. Then mix thoroughly. With mixer on low, add flour and spices gradually. Roll dough out with a rolling pin until dough is ¼ inch thick. Cut into desired shapes.

Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Build the house using icing to keep it together. This icing recipe will keep it together like glue, but probably shouldn't be used if you plan on eating it since it has raw eggs in it.

Royal Icing

1 lb. powdered sugar
2 egg whites
¼ (more or less) cup water
½ tsp of cream of tarter

Place all the ingredients in the mixer. Begin at low speed, gradually increasing speed to high. Beat icing until it is thick and fluffy. Use right away. I spoon mine into a zip lock bag and cut the corner tip to use as a frosting bag.

Have a supply of candy ready for decorating.

Let your child decorate however they want.

Idea #2: Gingerbread boy Scavenger Hunt

Read any version of the Gingerbread Man/Boy and then have your child go on a scavenger hunt to find the gingerbread boy. First you will need to make a gingerbread boy out of paper and write 5 clues on small pieces of bright paper. Here is what my clues said:

I'm sorry for being knotty, but I had to go to the potty! (hide the next clue in the bathroom)
My stomach is grumbling just a smidge; so maybe you'll find me in the fridge. (hide the next clue in the fridge)
My feet are getting tired and red; maybe I'll try out your bed. (hide the next clue in their bed)
Hey there's no need to rush, I'm just using your toothbrush. (hide the next clue by their toothbrush)
Ha, ha, ha, you can't catch me, unless you find the right DVD! (hide the paper gingerbread man inside a DVD case)

Idea #3: Sort and Count Gingerbread Cookies
Read one of the gingerbread books and then sort out the cookies in the box of these seasonal Pepperidge Farm snacks. Put all the daddies together, all the mommies together etc... Then count them and find out which pile has the most.

Idea #4: Gingerbread Man writing activity

Read any version of "The gingerbread man" and then ask your child:

What would you do to catch the Gingerbread Man?

Write the question at the top of a piece of paper and then have your child draw a picture of how they would catch the gingerbread man. When they are all done, label their "story" with a caption.

Idea #5: Cookie cutter Match-up Game

Read one of the books and then play this matching game. You will need several Christmas shaped cookie cutters, a marker, and some paper. Trace the shapes onto some paper before hand. Lay out the paper outlines on the floor. Then give your child the cookie cutters and have them match the shapes by putting the right cookie cutter on top of the correct traced cookie outline.

Christmas Ornaments

2008-12-04T08:28:00.007-06:00

Book Ideas: Max and Ruby’s Christmas Tree by Penguin Young Readers Group
"It's Christmastime, and Ruby is teaching Max how to hang ornaments on the Christmas tree. But for every traditional ornament that Ruby hangs, Max hangs a silly one of his own."

Koala Christmas by Lisa Bassett

"When Wally and Carrie Koala break their Christmas tree bulbs and balls, Piper the lorikeet helps them make 'magic' decorations."

Merry Christmas, Mouse! By Laura Numeroff
"Join Mouse from 'If You Give a Mouse a Cookie' as he decorates his Christmas tree in a holiday counting adventure."

The Silver Christmas Tree by Pat Hutchins
Squirrel is decorating his tree for Christmas and is not satisfied with how it looks until a star magically appears at the top of his tree. When he wakes up, the star is missing. So squirrel goes in search of his star and asks all his friends if they've seen it.

Songs and Rhymes:

Christmas Candy

I took a lick of my peppermint stick (Pretend to lick candy)

And was it ever yummy! (Lick lips)

It used to be on my Christmas tree. (Form tree shape with hands.)

Now, it's in my tummy!(Rub stomach)

Deck the Halls
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

Troll the ancient Yule tide carol, Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Plastic Ornaments

Read one of the stories and then have your child decorate their own plastic ornament ball.

I found some clear plastic ornaments at Michael's craft store that open in half, but any plastic ornament will do (My mom found some colored ones at the dollar store). You'll also want some stickers, paint, glitter glue, string or pipe cleaner etc...

Have your child decorate the ornament with stickers

Then have them paint around the stickers (or on top of them like my two year-old did:) )

Then decorate with glitter glue and set aside to dry.

Attach a string or pipe cleaner for hanging and place it on the tree!

Idea #2:"Stained Glass"Ornaments

Read one of the stories and then make your own "Stained Glass" ornament.

You'll need glue (diluted with water), a paint brush, one piece of wax paper (cut into a circle), and small squares of tissue paper.

Using the paint brush, paint on some diluted glue onto the wax paper. Then add tissue paper squares until the whole circle is covered.

Paint more glue over the top and set aside to dry.

When it's all dry, cut around the circle to make a clean edge and then punch a hole through the top and add a string for hanging.

Idea #3: Styrofoam Ball Ornaments

Read one of the stories and make a homemade ornament. You'll need one Styrofoam ball, a paperclip, paint, sequence or glitter glue, etc...

Put some glue on the end of a paper clip and push it into the top of the ball. This will be used for hanging as well has a handle for the kids to hold while they paint and decorate their ornament.

Paint the ball.

Add sparkles or whatever else you want--ribbons, buttons, jewels...

Let dry and then hang with a string.

Idea #4: Ornament Patterns

Make ornament patterns using Christmas stickers. I started a few patterns on a piece of paper and had my daughter finish the pattern. This is too hard of a skill for a toddler to do. 3-5 year-olds are just beginning to understand this concept with practice. Do it together, saying:"Green, green, orange. Green, green, orange. Green--What comes next?"

Idea #5: Decorate a tree with ornaments

Read one of the stories and let your child have fun decorating a tree with ornaments. I had a hard time giving up control of my living room tree; so I got a mini tree for her to decorate with some of my old ornaments.

Christmas Trees

2008-12-01T09:22:00.006-06:00

Book Ideas:

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert E. Barry
"When Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree is so tall that he has to cut the top off, he unwittingly provides trees for various people and animals."

Merry Christmas, Geraldine by Holly Keller
"Geraldine the pig has her heart set on getting a really big Christmas tree--no matter what."

Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini
"Moose thinks he has all his Christmas preparations taken care of, but at the last minute he must come up with a substitute for the Christmas tree."

The After-Christmas Tree by Linda Wagner Tyler
"Family members take their Christmas tree into the back yard and decorate it with edible trimmings for the wild birds and animals. "

Songs and Rhymes:

5 Little Christmas Trees

5 little Christmas Trees
Standing all alone
Their heart were very sad
'Cause they hadn't found a home.
Then chop went the ax
And down fell the tree
And off they went with a happy family!

(continue from 4-1 Christmas Trees)

No little Christmas Trees
Standing all alone
Their hearts were very happy
'Cause they all found a home!!!

O Christmas Tree

Verse 1:
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer's here,
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!

Christmas time is here
(Sung to: "The Farmer in the Dell")

Christmas time is near.
Christmas time is near.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Christmas time is near.

It’s time to trim the tree.
It’s time to trim the tree.
Merry Christmas everyone.
It’s time to trim the tree.

It’s time to wrap the gifts.
It’s time to wrap the gifts.
Merry Christmas Everyone.
It’s time to wrap the gifts.

It’s time to hang the stockings.
It’s time to hang the stockings.
Merry Christmas everyone.
It’s time to hang the stockings.

Santa will soon be here.
Santa will soon be here.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Santa will soon be here.

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Christmas Tree Surveys

Make the following survey:What do you have at the top of your tree? angel, star, other? OR, Do you have a real tree, a fake tree, or none? Read one of the books and have your child survey neighbors, friends, family (calls on the phone work great) to find out which of the categories has the most. Child can use x's or simple line to record the answer. Ask them to guess which is going to be the most before you begin the survey and see if their guess is right.

Idea #2: Ice Cream Cone Christmas Trees Read one of the stories and then make your own edible Christmas tree.
Supplies: Sugar Cones, Green Frosting, Small round candy (mini m&m's are a great size, but I couldn't find any when I went to the store).

Take a sugar cone turn it upside down and spread green frosting all over it. (You may need to help a little). You need a thick layer of frosting so the candy will stay on the tree.

Push candy into the frosting to decorate it. You could also add licorice laces or sprinkles etc...

Idea #3: Exploring colors

Read one of the books and then talk about the color of Christmas trees. Discuss how you can mix two colors to make green. Let your child explore by mixing blue and yellow paint with a q-tip and see what happens.

Idea #4: Hole-punched Christmas Trees Make a pretty light catcher to hang in a window. You'll need green construction paper, tissue paper, glue, scissors, a whole punch, and a piece of string.

First, fold a green piece of construction paper in half and draw a simple Christmas tree outline.

Cut-out the tree outline so you have two identical trees.

Line-up the two trees together, one on top of the other, and punch out a bunch of holes using a hole puncher. You may need to fold the paper to get to the middle of the tree. The holes should line up exactly on the two trees. I tried to involve my kids in this step, but the hole puncher was too hard for them to use. It might just be better to have the tree with the holes already punched out and prepared before you start the activity.

Cut various colors of tissue paper into small squares.

Read one of the book titles and then give your child one of the tree cut-outs and have them spread glue all over one side of the tree. (For less mess, Use a q-tip to spread the glue)

Have your child place the squares of tissue paper on top of the glue, until all the holes are covered. Trim any extra tissue paper hanging off the edge of the tree outline.

This next step is important!--Before you spread glue all over the 2nd tree outline, make sure you figure out which side of the tree the glue should go on so that the holes will still match up with the first tree outline when you press them together. If you don't have the holes matched up then you won't be able to see light through the tissue paper.

Punch one hole at the top of the tree and attach a string for hanging. Hang the tree in a window and see the beautiful colors.