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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Patriotic pinwheel tutorial

Today we will be making decorative pinwheels for the 4th of July.


You will need:
decorative paper (preferably double sided)
hot glue
iRock gems (or other centerpieces like buttons)
craft sticks (or popsicle sticks, clothes pins, wooden dowel)


Star banner tutorial

Today we will be making a Patriotic Star banner.

You will need:
red, white & blue craft paper
white yarn
hot glue
hole punch
stapler




Children song file

Over the last month we have discovered so many songs. So today we are going to collect those songs and organize them. You can put them into a recipe card box, laminate them and hold them together with a metal ring, put them into a binder or another way that works best for you.

To see the songs from Children's month just click on the theme below:

Looking for more children's activities

Well, Children's Month is almost over; I hope that I have provided some great ideas to keep your family busy this summer.

Here are some helpful websites:
www.perpetualpreschool.com
www.preschoolexpress.com
www.enchantedlearning.com
www.pbs.org
www.preschooleducation.com
www.childfun.com
www.akidheart.com
www.first-school.ws
www.makingfriends.com
www.rhymezone.com
www.thevirtualvine.com
www.familyfun.go.com
www.theteachersguide.com/Children'sSongs.htm
www.bussongs.com
http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/index.pperl

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

4th of July ideas

Our Country is preparing to celebrate our Independence. So lets decorate and party!

To see my BBQ ideas go here
To see my 4th of July activities go here

Star Garland:
6x11 inches of red, white & blue stationary weight paper
scissors
stapler
pencil
hole punch
string

See my tutorial here
Martha Stewart's directions here

Patriotic pinwheels:
5 inch squares in two sided decorative paper
glue
scissors
map tacks
clothes pins

My decorative pinwheel tutorial here
Martha Stewart's directions here


Sand candles:
sand in red, blue, white
drinking glasses
clear vases or jars
funnel
small candles

directions here


Wind streamers:
empty oatmeal containers
blue & white craft paper
glue
double sided tape
twine/string
red & white ribbon/crepe paper
hole punch

directions here

Centerpiece cans:
clean cans
festive craft paper
double sided tape/hot glue gun

directions here

Flag party favors:
2x10 inch clear plastic bags
round blue candies
red & white candy sticks
string/ribbon

directions here

Martha Stewart gives us these great ideas and more, check them out here.
Family fun has tons of children's crafts and ideas as well, check it out here.

Road trip activities

Car Games:
Alphabet: start with A and end with Z...find words that start with your letter on signs as you drive. Each person gets one letter per turn. First person finds their word that starts with their letter (A...Albertsons), then the next person goes (B....Block).

License plate: can you find all 50 states?

I spy: what is in your car?

Cards: old maid, crazy 8's, uno, war, etc.

Tic tac toe

Word search

Connect the dots

Hang man

20 question's

Sudoku



Toys:
Books
Dolls & barbies
Cars/trucks
Coloring books w/ colored pencils (crayons melt if you forget them in the car)
Mad Libs


Make:
Aluminum foil: see what they make. Crowns, shields, doll clothes, etc.

Pipe cleaner: creatures. What animals/shapes/objects did they come up with?


Songs:
WHEELS ON THE BUS
The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town.
(Roll hands over each other)

The wipers on the bus go "Swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish"
The wipers on the bus go "Swish, swish, swish"
All through the town.
(Put arms together in front of you and
'swish' like windshield wipers)

The door on the bus goes open and shut
Open and shut, open and shut
The door on the bus goes open and shut
All through the town.
(Cover eyes with hands on 'shut' and
uncover them on 'open')

The horn on the bus goes "Beep, beep, beep
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep"
The horn on the bus goes "Beep, beep, beep"
All through the town.
(Pretend to honk horn)

The gas on the bus goes "Glunk, glunk, glunk
Glunk, glunk, glunk, glunk, glunk, glunk"
The gas on the bus goes "Glunk, glunk, glunk"
All through the town.
(Pretend to fill tank using pointer finger as gas nozzle)

The money on the bus goes "Clink, clink, clink,
Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink"
The money on the bus goes "Clink, clink, clink"
All through the town.
(Pretend to put money in cash box on bus)

The baby on the bus says, "Wah, wah, wah!
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah!"
The baby on the bus says, "Wah, wah, wah!"
All through the town.
(Fisted hands in front of eyes
and rub them like baby crying)

The people on the bus say, "Shh, shh, shh,
Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh"
The people on the bus say, "Shh, shh, shh"
All through the town.
(Put pointer finger to mouth to 'shhh')

The mommy on the bus says, "I love you,
I love you, I love you"
The daddy on the bus says, "I love you, too"
All through the town.
(Point to self on 'I',
right hand over heart on 'love', and
point to other on 'you')

Transportation songs here
The Wiggles
Disney songs
Raffi
The Laurie Berkner Band
And for those of you who don't want to listen to children's music the entire way try these songs.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Places to visit

Do you need to get out of the house? Here are some ideas for you and your children to explore this summer.

Amusement park
Aquarium
Art studio/gallery
Bakery
Barber shop
Beauty salon
Beach
Bird sanctuary
Caves
Cemetery
City Capitol
Dance studio
Farm
Fire department
Fish hatchery
Greenhouse
Grocery store
Hair salon
Home Depot: free children's crafts
Library
Mountains: camping, fishing, hiking, etc.
Movie/drive-in movie
Museum
Nail salon
Nursing home: visit with the residents
Park
Pet store
Petting zoo
Pizza restaurant
Photography studio
Planetarium
Police station
Pond
Post office
Orchard
School: high school, college, etc.
State Capitol
Theatre
Theme park
Water park
Work: take them to your work on your day off, show them what you do.
Zoo

Some of these places you need to call ahead to get permission to visit and/or receive a tour.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Summer/Spring outdoor activities

Don't forget to participate in the Ronald McDonald House Fundraiser. We only have 4 days left. Check out all the details here.


PLACES TO GO:
Park: have a picnic
Water park
Zoo
Camping
Hiking
Fishing
Nature Gardens
Sports field to play soccer, baseball, etc.
Beach at the ocean or lake
Swimming pool
Fair
Boating
Outdoor markets
Outdoor movies


ACTIVITIES:
Nature scavenger hunt: check out my blog post with lots of ideas. You can even make spy glasses using paper towel rolls.

Sidewalk drawings with chalk or wet chalk

Rolling balls down a pipe: secure a pipe/tube to a wire linked fence. Have the children roll balls down the pipe so the land in a basket/bucket.

Hopscotch: draw it on the ground using chalk.

Hollering: cut the bottoms off of clean plastic gallon milk jugs. Use them and megaphones.

In the sand box: sand combs (using sand combs or old large hair combs make designs in the sand); sand toys (buckets, shovels, rakes, etc.); water; rubber snakes, lizards or bugs; plastic plants; tongue depressors; plastic animals, toy dishes (cups, plates, etc.).

Car wash: wash the car

Bike wash: wash the bikes/trikes

Target practice: with water squirt bottles aim and shoot at a target. On a windy day try it will bubbles.

Obstacle course: Use old tires, hula hoops, ladders, tunnels, long pieces of 2x4's for balance beams, yarn, objects to climb, etc

Soda can or pop bottle bowling: set up your "pin" are roll a rubber ball. Try a beach ball.

Hose rainbow: arch a water hose and run under it.

Matching shapes: name a shape or for younger children show them a picture of a shape and have them find objects outside that match the shape

Catch bugs: check out my bug blog post here

Footprints: get your feet wet with water and walk around. Or you can make different kinds of footprints by cutting up sponges and using those.

Sort rocks: by size, shape, color

Ride bikes

Rollerblade

Cloud drawing: draw the shapes of the clouds. Do you see a dinosaur? How about a flower? Or a tall glass of lemonade? Or just watch the clouds drift by.

Yoga or other exercises like Taebo, push ups, sit ups, etc.

Color match: find things that are colors of the rainbow

Blow bubbles: try using different objects to blow bubbles like a slotted spoon or spatula. Bubble recipe below under "make".

Woodworking: provide wood or a large stump, nails, hammer, saw, googles, etc. With adult supervision let the children hammer nails into the stump, or screw screws (have nails/screws already started) or saw a piece of 2x4 that is secured in a clamp.

In a water bin/sensory table: egg beaters with liquid soap (make bubbles); plastic water baby dolls, liquid soap, wash clothes (wash babies); doll clothes, drying rack, liquid soap, wash boards or washcloths (wash clothes and hang to dry) rocks with old toothbrushes/scrubbing brushes (clean rocks); cups, funnels, etc.; straws, liquid soap (blow bubbles); fizzy bath balls; plastic fish, boats, fishing nets; tongs, plastic balls.

Parachute: with many people lift a parachute or a large sheet up and down. Bounce balls on top or have a few people sit under it (take turns).

Jump rope/double dutch

Jacks

Marbles

Frisbee

Fly a kite


MAKE:
Bird feeder: use a large pine cone, peanut butter and bird seed. Hang it from a tree with yarn.

Telephone cups: punch a hole in the bottom of two styrofoam cups. Insert a long string through the bottom of the hole. Secure the string by tying it to a toothpick (it will be inside the cup). Talk into the cup. Who do you hear? What did they say?

Wind chime: go here for instruction. You can also check out my windy day blog post for lots of other activities and ideas.

Bubbles: 1 cup Dawn dishwashing detergent, 1 gallon warm water, 3 Tbsp glycerin


GAMES:
Bike freeze: play music and instead of dancing you ride bikes/trikes around a path. When the music stops, they stop. When the music starts, they start.

Red light, Green light

Red Rover, Red Rover

No bears are out tonight

Hide and seek

Capture the flag

Mimes: act out an object in nature. Have others guess what you are

I spy

Water transfer race: 4 plus buckets or bowls. First team to get water from one bowl to the other bowl using a baster wins

Egg race: balance eggs on a spoon and race.

Simon Says

Mother May I

Kick the can

Tag: freeze tag, tv tag, shadow tag, etc.

Hot potato

Friday, June 24, 2011

Art

Stock your art cupboard with:
acorns, ads from the store, aluminum foil, art smocks (old t-shirts work great), pie plates (different sizes), beads (different size, shape and color), bottle caps, boxes (different sizes), brown paper bags, butcher paper, buttons, candles, cardboard, different colors of card stock paper, catalogs, cereal boxes (cracker boxes, noodle boxes, etc.), chalk, clear tape, clothespins, coffee cans with lids, coins, colored pencils, confetti, a variety of colored construction paper, corks, cotton balls, cotton batting, cotton swabs (regular & infant kind), craft sticks, crayons (different sizes for different ages), crepe paper, curling ribbon, duct tape, dried beans, dried pasta (different shapes, sizes, colors), egg cartons, cleaned egg shells, empty jars and lids, envelopes (different sizes), fabric scraps, felt, finger paint, sheets of foam, foam pieces/stickers, gel pens, used greeting cards, glitter, glue/glue sticks, googly eyes, hole punch/three hole punch, different color ink pads, junk mail, lids from plastic gallon jugs/gallon jugs, magazines, magnets (warning: a serious chocking hazard), marbles used for marble painting or stamps(different sizes), markers, masking tape, metal lids from frozen juice cans, newspapers, old clothes, old mittens/socks/mittens for puppets, old telephone books, old toothbrushes, paint, paint brushes, paint sample booklets, paper clips, paper fasteners, paper muffin cup liners, paper plates/cups/bowls, paper scraps, paper towel rolls (not toilet paper rolls...gross), permeant markers, photographs of friends and family, pine cones (different sizes), plastic bowls/lids/bottles, packing peanuts, pencil sharpener, pencils, pens, pipe cleaner, playing cards, popcorn, popsicle sticks, ribbon, uncooked rice, rocks (used for decorating or stamps), rubber bands (different sizes and colors), rulers, sand (used like glitter), sandpaper, child safe scissors (as well as a pair for you), self-adhesive paper, plastic sheet protectors, sponges, spray bottles, stapler, stamps, stencils, stickers, straws (different sizes, width, color), string, tempera paint, thread, thread spools, tissue paper, toothpicks, plastic trays (kind used in the cafeteria), wood scraps, wrapping paper scraps, water color paint, writing pads, yarn
(many of these ideas were taken from The Preschooler's Busy Book and others are my own)


I feel that it is important to provide children with creative materials and let them use their imagination to create! To preserve their creations: take pictures/post them on the refrigerator/frame them/scrapbook them/display them on a shelf.

Please remember that the items here are for all different ages. Please choose items that are age appropriate for your child and supervise art time to prevent chocking and other harmful accidents.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Dance & music

DISCUSS & LEARN:
*Body is made up of bones and muscles. For older children learn about ligaments and the different kinds of way bone connect; for example: ball and joint socket.

*If our bones and muscles didn't allow us movement what would happen?

*Examine different x-rays or a plastic skeleton. Do the bones look similar? Different? Short? Long? Fat? Skinny? Round? Flat?

*What is music like in other countries? Listen to their music.

*What is dancing like in other countries? Learn to dance like they do.


ACTIVITIES:
*Take a dance class: country, jazz, tap, ballet, ballroom, hip hop, etc.

*Take a music lessons: vocal, piano, violin, guitar, etc. Learn to play your favorite song.

*Dance to music! Put in you favorite CD and boogie!

*Shadow dancing: Turn off all the lights on the room, shine a bright lamp at a wall with enough room for you to move and dance between the lamp and the wall. Watch your shadow!

*Freeze dance: play music and dance. When the music stops your freeze in place. Continue dancing when the music starts again...repeat.


MAKE:
*Tambourine: fill a paper/plastic plate with beans or rice. Hot glue a second plate to the top of the plate (rims will be touching). If you want decorate your tambourine. Hot glue ribbons, yarn, foam pieces, etc. onto your tambourine.

*Pie plate tambourine: fill a pie plate with beans or rice. Hot glue a second pie plate on top (rims will be glued together). You can decorate with hot glueing items on or try puff paints.

*Shakers: video here. Use paper towel rolls, clean tin cans, plastic cups, etc. Fill with beans, rice, noodles, etc.

*Guitar: using an empty cardboard cracker box cut a circle shape in the lower bottom section. Stretch rubber bands across the hole.



SONGS:
DO YOUR EARS HANG LOW?
Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them o'er your shoulder
Like a Continental Soldier?
Do your ears hang low?

Do your ears hang high?
Do they reach up to the sky?
Do they wrinkle when they're wet?
Do they straighten when they're dry?
Can you wave them at your neighbor
With an element of flavor?
Do your ears hang high?

Do your ears hang wide?
Do they flap from side to side?
Do they wave in the breeze
From the slightest little sneeze?
Can you soar above the nation
With a feeling of elevation?
Do your ears hang wide?

Do your ears fall off
When you give a great big cough?
Do they lie there on the ground
Or bounce up at every sound?
Can you stick them in your pocket
Just like Davy Crocket?
Do your ears fall off?


HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES AND TOES
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,
Knees and Toes
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,
Knees and Toes

And Eyes and Ears and Mouth and Nose
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

HOKEY POKEY
You put your right foot in,
You put your right foot out;
You put your right foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your left foot in,
You put your left foot out;
You put your left foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your right hand in,
You put your right hand out;
You put your right hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your left hand in,
You put your left hand out;
You put your left hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your right side in,
You put your right side out;
You put your right side in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your left side in,
You put your left side out;
You put your left side in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your nose in,
You put your nose out;
You put your nose in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your backside in,
You put your backside out;
You put your backside in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your head in,
You put your head out;
You put your head in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your whole self in,
You put your whole self out;
You put your whole self in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about.


One of my favorite children's song and dance DVD is from the Laurie Berkner Band, visit their website here.
More action songs for children found here!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Dramatic play

Dramatic play or in other words DRESS-UP...

So fill your dress-up box with lots of different clothes and props. You may need one bucket for each theme.

Themes:

HOUSE:
Kitchen: aprons, pot holders (see my crochet tutorial here), oven mitts, wash clothes (see my crochet tutorial here), cooking utensils, eating utensils, pots, pans, pitchers, empty cardboard boxes (cereal, crackers, rice, etc.), empty plastic containers (sour cream, cottage cheese, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, milk jugs, etc.) and more. Make a stove, dishwasher, oven, microwave, fridge out of large cardboard boxes.

Gardening: gardening tools, kneeling pad, pots, fake flowers, and more. What do you wear when you garden? Do you have special shoes? Clothes? Sun hat?

Cleaning: wash rags (see my crochet tutorial here), wash buckets, empty spray bottles, scrub brushes, old toothbrushes, mop, broom, dust pan, etc.

Family: old adult clothes (suit, dress, pants, skirt, shirts, sweaters, sports attire, old glasses, sun glasses, etc.), jewelry, hats, shoes, etc. What do you wear to work? Around the house? Try providing a large mirror so they can see themselves. What do you do during the day? Add books, tea set, old computer, paper, pencils, etc. Who is in your family? Add baby dolls with clothes, bottles, burp clothes, diapers, stuffed animals (dog, cat, bird, etc.). Add children's clothes (older boy and girl). What do grandma and grandpa wear? (go to your local thrift store and grab some clothes from a couple of decades ago)

Car wash: wash rags, buckets, towels, etc. What do you wear when you was your car? Swimming suit? Make a cardboard car (out of a refrigerator box)


MAIL:
Post office: envelopes, paper, pens, manila folders, small packages, packing peanuts or tissue paper, scale, stamps, etc.

Mail carrier: letter bag, blue or brown uniform, envelopes, manila folders, small packages, stuffed animal (dog), etc.

Writing letters: envelopes, stationary, pens, pencils, stickers, etc.


DOCTORS:
Office: magazines, sign in list, scale, scrubs, stethoscope and other doctor "tools", Band-Aids, cotton balls, stickers or suckers etc.

Dentist: scrubs/white lab coat, plastic dental tools for children (watch children carefully so they don't harm anyone), dental x-rays, dental bib, dentures, etc.

Hospital: scrubs/white lab coat, scrubs, stethoscope, blood pressure cuff and other doctor "tools", medical charts, empty pill bottles, x-rays, cast, etc.


BEAUTY SHOPS:
Barber: large popsicle sticks, empty can of shaving cream (or full), large apron for "customer", clothes for the "barber", combs, etc.

Nail salon: lotion, nail polish, nail polish remover, cotton balls, nail file, nail clippers, etc.

Hair salon: brushes, combs, empty bottles of shampoo and conditioner, pony tail holders, head bands, burettes, hair dryer, sponge curlers, hair net or shower cap, etc.


RESTAURANT:
Fast food: bright shirts and caps, kids meal boxes, french fry containers, and soda cups (ask the restaurant if you can have an unused one or make your own), tissue paper, small toys for the kids meals, trays, paper money, cash register, etc.

Sit down: apron for "waiter", large tray, dishes, silverware, glasses, placemats, menus, name tags, to go boxes, etc.


FOOD:
Grocery store: shopping basket, cash register, paper money, plastic fruit, plastic vegetables, empty boxes of cereal, rice, crackers, cake mix, etc., empty egg cartons, milk cartons, etc., aprons for "employees", etc.

Bakery: plastic rolls, donuts, cakes, pies, etc.

Deli: plastic meat, cheese, rolls, bread, sliced vegetables, etc., empty mayo and mustard containers, etc.


TOWN PROTECTORS:
Police: blue vest, star badge, tickets, cardboard cars (one for the citizen, one for the officer)

Firefighter: black/yellow (or whatever color your community wears) jacket and pants, helmet, black boots, hose, buckets, stuffed dog, cardboard fire truck, cardboard buildings with fire, etc.

Paramedic: blue (or your community color) uniform, doctor "tools", stretcher, cardboard ambulance, etc.


OTHERS:
School: teacher, student
Library: community, school, computers
Nursery (plants)
Daycare
Camping: mountains, desert
Fishing
Beach
Musicians: band, choir, marching band
Fairy tale: prince, princess, queen, king, knight, dragon, castle, etc
Construction
Safari: jungle, Africa
Gym
Veterinarian
Pioneers: Oregon trail
Cowboys
Indians
Tea party
Flower shop
Birthday party
Ice cream stand
Luau: Hawaii, Caribbean, Bahamas, etc
Pet shop
Shoe store
Farmer
Pizza parlor
Mother Goose themes


BOOKS:

Caps For Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Career Day by Anne F. Rockwell
When I Grow Up by P. K. Hallinan
Community Helpers From A to Z by Bobbie Kalman
When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic
Berenstain Bear books by Jan Berenstain (Go To The Doctor, Visit The Dentist, Go Out To Eat, etc.)
Froggy books by Jonathan London (Goes To the Doctor, Eats Out, Goes To School, etc.)


SONGS:

DOWN BY THE STATION
Down by the station
Early in the morning
See the little pufferbellies
All in a row

See the station master
Turn the little handle
Puff, puff, toot, toot
Off we go!

Down by the station
Early in the morning
See the little puffer bellies
All in a row

See the station master
Turn the little handle
Puff, puff, toot, toot
Off we go!


I'VE BEEN WORKIN' ON THE RAILROAD
I've been workin' on the railroad,
All the live long day.
I've been workin' on the railroad,
Just to pass the time away.

Don't you hear the whistle blowing?
Rise up so early in the morn.
Don't you hear the captain shouting
"Dinah, blow your horn?"

Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow your horn?
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow your horn?

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah.
Someone's in the kitchen, I know.
Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah
Strumming on the old banjo.

Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o.
Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o-o-o-o.
Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o.
Strumming on the old banjo.


To see songs about the day go here.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Turtles & Tortoises

DISCUSS & LEARN:
*Differences in a turtle and a tortoise.
*What do turtles and tortoises eat?
*Where do turtles and tortoises live?
*How old can turtles and tortoises get?

ACTIVITIES:
*Act out the tortoise and the hare. Make ears and a shell.

*Play-dough turtles: have large laminated pictures of the ocean, lake, and desert for habitat place-mats. The children can make turtles with the play-dough.


MAKE:
*Baby Turtle Story: find pictures to match this story that I made and make it into a binder story...
"There was an egg in the sand of a beautiful beach. When the egg hatched, out came a baby turtle.
"Then all of the little baby turtles waddled out to sea.
"But! On their way to the water, big birds and crabs attacked the baby turtles, because the birds and crabs were hungry.
"Most of the baby turtles were able to make it safely to the ocean. (sigh of relief)
"Once the baby turtles got into the water they swam away from the birds and crabs.
"The swam around the water looking for small fish, shrimp and crabs to eat, because they are carnivores."

*Paper bowl turtle: paint a paper bowl green. If you want draw lines on the shell or glue on buttons. Add a head, goggly eyes, legs and a tail. You can use pipe cleaner, popsicle sticks, etc.

*Flower pot turtle: paint a small/cheap flower pot and 5 small rocks (head and legs) green. Decorate how you would like: use paint, glitter, markers, pom-poms, buttons, crayons, construction paper, foam pieces, stickers, ribbon, etc. Go here to get more ideas/instructions.

*Turtle maracas: fill one paper/plastic plate with beans or rice. Glue another plate on top with hot glue (rims of plates will be glued together). Add construction paper shapes (head, legs, tail & circles for the shells) to the maraca.


BOOKS:

Franklin books by Paulette Bourgeois
Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss
One Tiny Turtle: Read and Wonder by Nicole Davies
Turtle Splash!: Countdown by the Pond by Cathryn Falwell
The Tortoise and the Hare by Betty Miles
How the Turtle Got Its Shell by Justine and Ron Fontes
Tortoise Brings the Mail by Dee Lillegard

SONGS:
TINY TIM
I Have a tiny turtle, his Name is Tiny Tim.
I put him in the bathtub, to see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water.
He ate up all the soap.
Then my little turtle got a bubble in his throat.
Bubble, bubble, bubble
Bubble, bubble, bubble
Bubble, bubble, bubble
Bubble, bubble, BURP

LITTLE TURTLE
There was a little turtle (make a small circle with your hands)
He lived in a box, (make a box with both hands)
He swam in a puddle, (wiggle hands)
He climbed on the rocks. (climb fingers of one hand up over the other)
He snapped at a mosquito, (clap hands)
He snapped at a flea, (clap hands)
He snapped at a minnow, (clap hands)
He snapped at me. (point to yourself)
He caught the mosquito, (mimic catching a bug)
He caught the flea (same action)
He caught the minnow, (same action)
But he didn't catch me! (point to yourself)


I AM A TURTLE
(by me: Erica)
I am a turtle; I live by the sea
I eat meat don't you see
They call me a herbivore
Yes sir e
I am a carnivore in the sea

I am a turtle; I live in a lake
I eat plants for goodness sake.
They call me a herbivore
Cause i don't eat cake
I am a herbivore in the lake

I am a turtle; I live in the desert
I eat plants and meat from the land
They call me an omnivore
That's where I stand
I am an omnivore in the desert sand

RECIPES:
*Turtle Shells: you will need half a green apple, a large green grape, peanut butter, raisins and other foods to make your turtle. Make a head, eyes, legs and a tail.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Snakes & Lizards

DISCUSS & LEARN:
*Why are snakes covered with plates and scales?
*What is a vertebrae?
*Different ways snakes move.
*Why are snakes jaws not linked together? Do all snakes swallow their food whole?
*Which snakes have teeth? How many teeth?
*Can some snakes smell with their nose? What do all snakes smell with?
*Are snakes carnivores, herbivores or omnivores? What about lizards?
*Which snakes lay eggs? Which snakes give live birth?
*Learn which snakes are poisonous. Are there poisonous lizards?
*Why do snakes shed their skin?
*Learn how to take care of snake bites properly.


ACTIVITIES:
*Go to a pet shop and look at the different snakes and lizards. Compare the size, color, habitats, etc. of each of the snakes and lizards.

*Play-dough snakes: make snakes with play-dough.

*Make lizard prints out of paper or in the dirt. Follow the prints to... (you can make up a fun surprise, scavenger hunt, snack, etc.)


MAKE:
*Snake: Cut out a large circle from a piece of construction paper. Draw a spiral in the circle (the fatter or skinner the spiral depends on how fat, skinny, long or short your snake will be). Cut along the spiral. On one end draw a head. You can decorate your snakes body with marker to make scales.

*Egg carton snake: decorate a egg carton snake. Make it look like your favorite kind of snake.

*Snake length: you will need yarn and scissors. Find out the length of many different snacks. Cut the yarn to represent the length of your snakes. Which snakes are the longest? Smallest? Are there snakes taller than you or your parents? Are there snakes smaller than your foot?

*Pantyhose snake: stuff one panty hose leg with tissue or batting. Add eyes and a tongue. You can draw on the snake with marker to decorate it.

*Check out all of these snack crafts here.


BOOKS:
Don't Take Your Snake For a Stroll by Karin Ireland
The Dangerous Snake and Reptile Club by Daniel San Souci
Snake Alley Band by Elizabeth Nygaard
Hide the Snake by Keith Baker
Slithery Jake by Rose-Marie Provencher
The Greedy Python by Eric Carle
Little Skink's Tail by Janet Halfmann
Leon the Lizard by Hollie Stockman


SONGS:
BOA CONSTRICTOR SONG
I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor,
Boa constrictor, boa constrictor.
I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor,
Now what do you think of that?
Oh no, he's got my toe
Oh gee, he has my knee
Oh my, he's up to my thigh
Oh fiddle, he's up to my middle
Oh heck, he's up to my neck
I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor, boa constrictor, boa constrictor.
I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor.
No! No! No! (In a high squeaky voice)

LIZARD FINGER PLAY
(One hand is in a fist to make a lizard; your pointer finger quickly moves in and out to act like a tongue. The five fingers on the other hand are the bugs that will disappear when the lizard eats them.)
5 little bugs on the forest floor,
Along came a sticky tongue lizard...slurp!!!
Now there are 4
4 little bugs on a kapok tree,
Along came a sticky tongue lizard...slurp!!!
Now there are 3
3 little bugs without a single clue,
Along came a sticky tongue lizard...slurp!!!
Now there are 2
2 little bugs ran a ton,
Along came a sticky tongue lizard...slurp!!!
Now there is 1
1 little bug knew that he was done,
Along came a sticky tongue lizard...slurp!!!
Now there is none.

HAVE YOU SEEN A LIZARD, A LIZARD, A LIZARD?
sung to: "Have You Ever Seen a Lassie"
Have you seen a lizard, a lizard, a lizard?
Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in pink?
With pink eyes, and a pink nose.
And pink legs and pink toes.
Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in pink?

Have you seen a lizard, a lizard, a lizard?
Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in white?
With white eyes, and a white nose.
And white legs and pink toes.
Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in white?

Have you seen a lizard, a lizard, a lizard?
Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in purple?
With purple eyes, and a purple nose.
And purple legs and purple toes.
Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in purple?

Have you seen a lizard, a lizard, a lizard?
Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in blue?
With blue eyes, and a blue nose.
And blue legs and blue toes.
Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in blue?


RECIPES:
Cup of dirt: check out my recipe here, scroll to the bottom.
Rice crispy snacks: shape rice crispy treats into snakes.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Father's Day banner

I hope you didn't think that I forgot Father's Day...today we will be making a quick and easy Father's Day banner. It will add a fun and festive touch to a Father's Day party or just to let Dad know you are thinking of him on his special day!
So lets get started!
You will need:
12x12 pieces of paper (plain or decorative)
White card stock
scissors
glue
brads
pop dots

I folded my 12x12 paper half and cut out two ties from each piece of paper.
I printed out some letters at Lettering Delights...you should check them out they are amazing!
Then, I cut out my letter. I believe Lettering Delights can connect to your Cricut and Silhoutte.
Put pop dots on the back of your letters and place them on your ties.

I just learned this great idea from my mother-in-law...
Take a cream or white or whatever color paper you want to make a shirt. I used a two cream colored 12x12 pieces of paper. Fold your paper in half. Mark every 5 inches. Cut. You should have a card (two for each sheet of paper).
On the crease of the card mark 1 1/2 inches from both ends. This will be your folding line for the collar. Now mark one inch down on from the crease on both sides. Cut on this line 3/4 of the way towards your 1 1/2 inch mark.
Fold the flap inwards creating a collar.
Cut out 4 smaller ties to go on the shirts. Glue the "knot" of the tie down.
Glue the collar down.
This is my husbands first father's day. So I put our sons foot prints in one card, traced his hand prints in two cards and let him color in the fourth card.
Put your banner together with the brads.
Hang it up on the wall!



You can do lots of different banners as well. I chose an outdoor banner because my husband likes the outdoors. You can chose a theme for your banner based on what your husband/dad loves to do. Some examples are:

Golf
Fishing
Hunting
Cars
Motorcycles
Biking
Sports
Gardening
Reading

You can make your ties with paper that matches your theme or don't do ties at all...do shapes that match your theme. Some shape examples would be:

Golf: golf ball, golf cart, golf pants, hat, clubs, etc.
Fishing: pole, lures, tackle box, bait, fish, etc.
Hunting: rifle, targets, animals (bird, deer, elk, moose), etc.


Have fun and be creative!!!
Send a picture of your finished banner to doodlesanddoilies(at)gmail(dot)com and I will post them to share with all of the other Doodles & Doilies readers!


Don't forget to make your wheel of affection for dad...go to my tutorial here.

Pigs

DISCUSS & LEARN:
*Wild pigs vs. tame
*Body parts
*Habitats
*What are pigs used for?
*Why do pigs play in the mud?


ACTIVITIES:
*Play in the mud

*Pig play-dough mats: have laminated mats of habitats for pigs. Let your children make pigs out of play-dough.

*Put a play: The Three Little Pigs

*My mud activities found here, scroll down.

*Go to a petting zoo.

*Finger painting: have coloring pages of pigs and with brown finger paint or chocolate pudding paint the pig with "mud".


MAKE:
*Pig masks, tails, ears, snouts, etc.

*Build the Three Little Pigs homes: one with straw, one with sticks and one with bricks. Which is the strongest? Why?


BOOKS:
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numberoff
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
Olivia by Ian Falconer
Dream Big Little Pig by Kristi Yamaguchi
Babe
Piggies by Audrey and Don Wood



SONGS:
THIS LITTLE PIGGIE
This little piggie went to the market.
This little piggie stayed home.
This little piggie ate roast beef.
This little piggie had none.
And this little piggie went
Wee, wee, wee, wee all the way home.

TO MARKET, TO MARKET
To market, to market to buy a fat pig
Home again, home again jiggety jig.
To market, to market to buy a fat hog
Home again, home again jiggety jog.
To market, to market to buy a plum bun
Home again, home again, market is done.




RECIPES:
*Make pigs in a blanket: wrap hot dogs and cheese in croissant dough and bake.
*Eat bacon with breakfast
*Have ham for dinner or on sandwiches at lunch time.
*Have pork chops for dinner.
*Cup of dirt: my recipe here, scroll down.
*Pig cupcakes: make your favorite cupcake, frost with pink icing. Add candies or more icing for eyes and snout.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Sheep & goats

SHEEP:
DISCUSS & LEARN:
*Difference in a lamb, ewe, and ram.
*Who do we get wool?


ACTIVITIES:
*Shave sheep: print out a coloring picture of a sheep and laminate it. Put shaving cream on the sheep (like wool). Using a popsicle stick shave the laminated sheep.

*Go to a petting zoo.

*Cotton ball sheep: print out coloring pages of sheep and glue on cotton balls for their wool. OR you can make a 3-D sheep using cotton balls for the body, googly eyes, and pipe cleaner for the legs.

*Popcorn sheep: same directions as cotton ball sheep but with popcorn instead of cotton balls.


MAKE:
*Sheep mask using paper plate, cotton balls glue, string, etc.


BOOKS:
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw
Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton


SONGS:
LITTLE BOY BLUE (nursery rhyme)
Little boy blue
Come blow your horn!
The sheep's in the meadow,
The cow's in the corn.
Where is the boy
Who looks after the sheep?
He's under they haystack fast asleep.
Will you wake him?
No, not I.
For if I do,
He's sure to cry.


BA BA BLACK SHEEP
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.

One for the master,
One for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.

Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.

One to mend the jerseys
one to mend the socks
and one to mend the holes in
the little girls' frocks.

Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.


MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB
Mary had a little lamb,
Little lamb, little lamb,
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow

And everywhere that Mary went,
Mary went, Mary went,
Everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go

It followed her to school one day
School one day, school one day
It followed her to school one day
Which was against the rules.

It made the children laugh and play,
Laugh and play, laugh and play,
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school

And so the teacher turned it out,
Turned it out, turned it out,
And so the teacher turned it out,
But still it lingered near

And waited patiently about,
Patiently about, patiently about,
And waited patiently about
Till Mary did appear

"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
Love Mary so? Love Mary so?
"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
The eager children cry

"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know."
Loves the lamb, you know, loves the lamb, you know
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know."
The teacher did reply


LITTLE BO-PEEP
Little Bo-Peep
Little Bo-peep has lost her sheep,
And doesn't know where to find them.
Leave them alone, and they'll come home,
Bringing their tails behind them.

Little Bo-peep fell fast asleep,
And dreamed she heard them bleating,
But when she awoke, she found it a joke,
For they were still a-fleeting.

Then up she took her little crook,
Determined for to find them;
She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed,
For they'd left their tails behind them.

It happened on day, as Bo-peep did stray
Into a meadow hard by;
There she espied their tails side by side,
All hung to a tree to dry.

She heaved a sigh and wiped her eye,
And over the hillocks went rambling;
And tried what she could, as a shepherdess should,
To tack again each to its lamb kin.


RECIPES:
*Eat lamb chops for dinner.


GOATS:
DISCUSS & LEARN:
*What do they eat? Do goats really eat trash?
*Differences in a billy, nanny and a kid.


ACTIVITIES:
*Put on a play of the 3 Billy Goats Gruff. Don't forget to make puppets and set up the stage.

*Go to a petting zoo.


MAKE:
*Goat toilet paper roll craft: go here for instructions. And my I suggest using a paper towel roll that is cut in half. Using a toilet paper roll is gross.

*Goat mask: instructions here.


BOOKS:
3 Billy Goats Gruff: has many authors so pick your favorite.
The Goat Lady by Jean Bregoli
Beatrice's Goat by Page McBrier


SONGS:
BILL GROGAN'S GOAT (song found here)
There was a man
(There was a man)
Now please take note
(Now please take note)
There was a man
(There was a man)
Who had a goat
(Who had a goat)

He loved that goat
(He loved that goat)
Indeed he did
(Indeed he did)
He loved that goat
(He loved that goat)
Just like a kid
(Just like a kid)

One day that goat
(One day that goat)
Felt frisk and fine
(Felt frisk and fine)
Ate three red shirts
(Ate three red shirts)
Right off the line
(Right off the line)

The man, he grabbed
(The man, he grabbed)
Him by the back
(Him by the back)
And tied him to
(And tied him to)
A railroad track
(A railroad track)

Now, when that train
(Now, when that train)
Hove into sight
(Hove into sight)
That goat grew pale
(That goat grew pale)
And green with fright
(And green with fright)

He heaved a sigh
(He heaved a sigh)
As if in pain
(As if in pain)
Coughed up those shirts
(Coughed up those shirts)
And flagged the train!
(And flagged the train!)



For more great farm and farm animal ideas go here.
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