Sharing Corner
Providers and Teachers share activities and ideas-from the Child Care Lounge newsletter.
For those who have a team of teachers: Many digital cameras have a video feature or you may use a tape recorder, or the sound recorder on a computer as well. Make videos or tapes of teachers reading etc The children enjoy seeing a video clip of their teachers reading or singing. The sound recorder can also be used and have children try to guess what teacher is speaking. Also let the children speak and guess who is who. You can also video clip the children doing an activity.~Kelly H.
Cornstarch Finger Paint
3 tbsps. sugar 1/2 cup cornstarch
2 cups cold water
Food coloring
Soap flakes or liquid dishwashing soap
Mix sugar and cornstarch in medium saucepan over low heat. Add
cold water and stir until mixture is thick. Remove from heat.
Divide into four or five portions (in muffin tins or cups). Add a
drop or two of food coloring to each portion and a pinch of soap
flakes or soap. Stir and let cool. Store in airtight
container.~DRP
One royal penguin . .feeling very blue (hold up one finger) Called for his brother then there were two (hold up two fingers) Two royal penguins. . .swimming in the sea (swimming motion) Called for their sister then there were three (hold up three fingers) Three royal penguins waddle on the shore (waddle) Call for their mother, then there were four (hold up four fingers) Four royal penguins learning how to dive (Make diving motion)?Call for their father, then there were five (hold up five fingers)~Amber
Lacing Cards Cut colored poster board into different shapes and punch holes around the edges. Children can lace yarn or a shoestring into the cards. ~Dona
This a simple recipe for children to make. The weather is colder and we are serving more soups and stew. Children enjoy making and eating these muffins. Sour Cream Muffins (Yield 24 small muffins or 12 large muffins) 2 cup self-rising flour 2 sticks butter, melted 1/2 pint sour cream Combine all ingredients and spoon into small, un-greased muffin tin. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes at 350 Degree ~ Mary Cleckley
The wind was full of tricks today. It blew my brother's hat away. It made the trees bend and dance. It made the leaves twirl and prance. It chased our paper down the street. It almost blew me off my feet! ~ Polly G.
I'm A Little Valentine
I'm a little valentine
Red and White
With ribbons and lace
I'm a beautiful sight
I can say, "I Love You"
On Valentine's Day
Just put me in an envelope
And give me away
~HRW.
Green Eggs and Ham
To celebrate Dr. Suess's Birthday, we do a cooking activity and
let the children add food coloring to make real green eggs and
ham! Do this after reading the book and see how many children
will try them!
~Helen
Swat the Flies
Take some old panty hose and cut the leg's off at the top. Make
the foot part of the panty hose look like a fly (Stuff toe
and add wings). Hang them around the room. Give each
child a fly swatter and tell them to get the flys. This is a
great large muscle thing to do. ~EllisonE2
One year, I had noticed that the kids were having problems with identifying and quantifying any numbers beyond 3. As a result, I created two projects: A. Ice Cream Cones. Cut out brown paper cones for each child in your class. Then cut out tons of pink, white, pale green, yellow, and brown circles to represent the ice cream. Be sure that the circles are wider than the "opening" of the cone. Put some handmade flashcards into a container, and let the children choose one with their eyes closed. Make sure the smallest number is no smaller than 3; anything else will be too easy, no matter what the kids have you thinking. If their card reads 9, then they have to count out 9 scoops of ice cream and glue them in a stack on their cone. After it's dry, write the number of scoops on the cone, and hang up on a bulletin board. I kept this to about 10 scoops. B. Gumball Machines. I used numbers from 9 to 20 for this project. Use red paper, and cut the base, and use white paper for the globe, which should have about a 7" diameter. Then, trace a nickel or a quarter, or the inside of a Scotch tape circle, and cut out a kabillion different colored gumballs. Again, have the children close their eyes and draw a number out of a container, this time making sure that the smallest number is 10! Let the children count out the exact amount of gumballs and glue them into the globe. Write the number on the base of the gumball machine, then display on a bulletin board. ~Aunt Gnatty
One little cat on a sunny day Put on his hat and went out to play Two little cats when it started getting dark Put on their hats and went to the park. Three little cats when the sky was blue ?Put on their hats and went to the zoo. Four little cats by the kitchen door Put on their hats and went to the store. ?Five little cats on a sunny day Put on their hats and they all ran away?~Pamms
Clean Crayons Mix 2 parts Ivory Snow powder with 1 part water until thick and creamy. Add a desired food coloring drop. Let harden in small molds, or ice cube trays.~Teri L.
Cornstarch Finger
Paint 3 tbsps. sugar 1/2 cup cornstarch 2 cups cold water Food
coloring Soap flakes or liquid dishwashing soap
Mix sugar and cornstarch in medium saucepan over low heat. Add
cold water and stir until mixture is thick. Remove from heat.
Divide into four or five portions (in muffin tins or cups). Add a
drop or two of food coloring to each portion and a pinch of soap
flakes or soap. Stir and let cool. Store in airtight container
~Helmastots
1,2 You know what to do. 3,4 Sit on the floor. 5,6 Your feet you fix. 7,8 Sit up straight. 9,10 Let's listen again. ~TraceyB
One little cat on a sunny day Put on his hat and went out to play Two little cats when it started getting dark Put on their hats and went to the park. Three little cats when the sky was blue Put on their hats and went to the zoo. Four little cats by the kitchen door Put on their hats and went to the store. Five little cats on a sunny day Put on their hats and they all ran away ~Monica
5 little hot dogs frying in the pan the pan got so hot that 1 went BAM ! 4 little hot dogs frying in the pan the pan got so hot that 1 went BAM ! 3 little hot dogs frying in the pan the pan got so hot that 1 went BAM ! 2 little hot dogs frying in the pan the pan got so hot that 1 went BAM ! 1 little hot dog frying in the pan the pan got so hot that 1 went BAM ! No little hot dogs frying in the pan ~ Whitney
We may not be able to enjoy the fun of a pool, but we can enjoy the items used in a pool. Pool Rings-We use them to sit on to dry after sprinkler fun, we place them around our bellies and run around the play yard pretending we are driving a car-if they fall it cushions them, we hang them from a tree to use as a bulls-eye game, we roll them down the play yard like you would a tire, they are really fun to just throw up in the air and try to catch-if they land on someone's head no harm done. Pool Noodles-T-Ball (directions sent in previous email), hang a hoola-hoop from a tree and use the noodle as a javelin, play tug of war, use as a balance beam (secure both ends with a long tent stake(green end removed)-or cut into lengthwise and lay flat end on ground, use the small connectors to play nose roll across the yard, older ones can learn to balance them in their palm. Beach Ball-attach a wide piece of elastic to ball and hang from a tree or awning and play battleball, a great exercise is to lay over the ball and rock back and forth, set up an obstacle course they can kick the ball through, play over-under ball while reciting a chain gang chant. Of course all pool toys can be used in your water table year round, most of them are great for sink and float experiments. ~swpreskool
Red Apple
A little red apple
Hung high in a tree
I looked up at it
And it looked down at me
"Come down, please" I called
And what do you suppose---
That little red apple
Dropped right on my nose!
~CKBarnet
Here is an idea that we do in my class. It is very quick and simple as long as you have the ingredients available. We make playdough! 2 cups of flour 1 cup salt 4 tsp cream of tartar 1 cup hot (very warm) water 2 Tbsp cooking oil food coloring (optional) Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and knead. Add food coloring or mint extract or anything else that may go with your theme. After the first time I did it I made a copy of the recipe, put some playdough in a bag, then I sent it home with the kids. The parents enjoyed getting the recipe. Many said this playdough lasted longer than the store bought stuff. I took this recipe out of a book but I don't remember the name of it. ~Jennifer
As a beginning of the year activity I get 2 white pillow cases. (I have 2 pillows in the book area). During the first week I have the children use fabric paint/markers to decorate them. Then I put the book area for them to use while looking at books. The children always seem to be attracted to these and often ask to use them at rest time. ~Kelly
Do you get bored with the same projects everyday painting and coloring well I did a new painting project and my kids were in awe to see what happens. First get a salad spinner and cut a piece of paper to fit inside. Then let the children pour a little of 2 or 3 paints inside. put the top on and let them spin the top. The face they make when the cover comes off is so worth it. ~Whitney
The rhyming song the bear went over the mountain and then make binoculars with toilet paper rolls as you sing the song. ~Michelle
You get a brown construction page and a green one. Cut the bottom of the tree and the green wood be the top have kids glue the 2 parts together and then give them a zip lock bag and go outside and look for small leaves that have fallen then have them pick them up and go back inside and glue them to the green construction page. ~Lisette
First of all, I love your newsletter, I find them very informative and very useful! Here are some things that I do around Halloween time in my class: Ghost cookies: Items needed: Nutter butter cookies, white frosting, chocolate chips Spread the white frosting onto cookies and add chocolate chips for their eyes. Spider cookies: Items needed: Oreo cookies, black licorice strings, red hot candies, white frosting cut black licorice strings to about 3inches in length, give each child 8 of them--4 go on each side of cookie, (they slide into the creme center fairly easy)- then a small amount of white frosting in 2 small places on top of the cookie to be eyes, add a red hot to the center of each white frosting dot. One of the kids most favorite Halloween arts and craft activity is the foot ghost, they love having their foot painted white and stepping onto black construction paper., and then they add eyes and nose, mouth whatever they want to once dry. I also have the Wee Sing Halloween music cd, and we listen to it all thru out our day!! during the month of October. I also like doing the spider web as one of our centers on Halloween day: I get 2 bags of spider webbing, and a bag of spider rings, the kids have to pull it and glue a spider web onto black paper and add a spider to it, they love this and its a good fine motor activity! I hope that someone will be able to use some of these things, I have a lot more and will send some more ideas from time to time! ~Wendy
PROP BOXES
"WITHOUT" A THEME
Mystery Prop Box: "What can I do with this box?"
Choose a plain shoebox—plain is the key because you
want the child to think about it and in doing so, create
something from basically nothing and make it interesting.Inside
the box, put a few items at random that you think might spark
your child’s imagination. You might have a thought based on
the items you put into the box, of what you think the children
might do with it but be prepared….you just never know what a
child is capable of until you give them an opportunity to express
themselves in their own time on their own terms.I started my
children off with a box at circle to give them an idea of what
they might be able to do with the box and items inside…then
let the children do one themselves the next day. Of course it
immediately was a group effort because all the children were
curious. I was amazed to say the least, what these children would
do with the items in the Daily Mystery Box. When they came to
class, they could hardly wait to get a chance at the Mystery
Box!So…..Prop Boxes can be done in different ways.I became
just as excited making up the Mystery Boxes as did the children
exploring them!
~Deborah Evans (Tdeb), ImaginationPlay/TdebCreations http://www.freewebs.com/tdebcreations/
During fire safety week, I make cell phones from empty juice boxes. I use file (circle) stickers, label 0-9, and practice calling 911 and giving our addresses~Cathy Atwood
Albuquerque
Turkey (tune: My Darlin Clementine)
Albuquerque is a turkey
And he's feathered and he's fine
And he wobbles and he gobbles
And he's absolutely mine!
He's the best pet you can get yet
Better than a dog or cat
He's my Albuquerque turkey
And I'm awfully proud of that!
And my Albuquerque turkey
Is so happy in his bed
'Cause for our Thanksgiving Dinner
We have spaghetti instead
~Sylvia C.
Tom Tom Turkey
tomTom turkey
run away run away
Thanksgiving day is coming
Thanksgiving day is coming
Yum Yum Yum
Run Run Run
~ michelle Peterson
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!!! ~Beckie
The day after New Year's, we usually have a New Year's Party. It helps bring the spirits back up after the Holiday let-down. At Noon, we blow horns, jump on bubble wrap (it sounds like fireworks) and have fortune cookies. It's a great way to start the New Year in our Child Care, the children get to have a New Year's Party, just like the grown-ups did, but without the hang-over's, LOL. ~Judy Patterson
Cute as a Button Photo Frame You can start with a cheap frame of make one from sturdy cardboard or craft sticks. Attach the lettering "I am cute as a button!" to the top of the frame and allow children to choose from a variety of small buttons to glue around the perimeter of the frame. ~ME
5 LITTLE VALENTINES
5 little valentines
from the grocery store
I sent 1 to mother,
now there are 4
4 little valentines
pretty ones to see
I gave one to my brother
now there are3
3 little valentines
red, yellow and blue
I gave one to my sister
now there are 2
2 little valentines,
my we have fun
I gave one to Daddy,
now there is 1
1 little valentine,
the story is almost done
I gave it to mother,
now there are none
~TraciV
Snow Paint Mix water and food coloring in a spray bottle, Go out in the snow and paint away! ~Sylvluv
Valentine Mouse
Directions: Cut out a heart Turn it upside down, this is the
body. Cut a smaller hear for the head. Glue it to the body. Add
small hearts for the ears and smaller ones for the eyes. A heart
turned upside down makes the nose and mouth. Cut some strait
pieces for whisker, And a long strait piece for the tail. Put a
small heart at the end of the tall.~kit
Ice Paint
Have children sprinkle dry tempra paint powder on their paper.
The "paint brush" is an icecube on a popsickle stick
you made in advance. Have children glide the ice over the paint
powder and watch the colors run when the ice melts. ~Davenna
Rainbow Toast
Set out small cups of milk. Add a drop or two of food coloring to
each color. Children then paint white bread with the colored milk
using clean brushes or Q-tips. Set under a broiler to toast.
~Yvonela
Paper Plate Kite
Have your children draw a design (or make
one with tissue paper) on the paper plate. Next have them glue
foot long streamers on the paper plate. Finally punch a hole at
the nose of the plate and tie a piece of yarn through it. Wrap
additional yarn around a craft stick (tape the yarn to the
stick). Now your children have a kite that will really fly on a
windy day. ~Jilly
Me Mobile
Paste a sheet of paper around the side of a milk carton to cover
it .Then paste yarn on the top of the carton for hair.Draw a face
on one side.Draw pictures of favourite foods one side,favourite
games on the next and have child dictate words about themselves
on the next.Poke a hole in the top of the carton .tie string
through it ;now hang up~GUL HABIB
What you Need:
Rice Cakes
Cream Cheese
Food Coloring
Mix the cream cheese with the food coloring (make sevearl
different
colors)...give each child a rice-cake and a craft stick (dull
plastic
knife if they are older)..... allow them to "paint a
picture" on the
rice-cake using the colored cream cheese...eat and enjoy ~Julie
Regalbuto
Tip to share:
I keep a set of headshots of all of the children in my care on
hand. If
they are good, colored quality then even black/white photocopies
look
quite nice. I personalize a lot of my art projects with the
photos, such
as making the kids pilots, drivers, animals, angels, whatever the
moment
suggests. The kids and their parents always LOVE the personal
touch. ~Heide www.thewriterslife.net/Kaminski.html
Today our group made binoculars out of dora/diego dixie cups.We cut out the bottoms then stapled twice in the middle together.We then followed the rest of the instructions from the toilet paper roll ones from the earlier posts.We also put stickers on and colored paper bags.After all this we took our creations on a nature hunt and found lots of neat stuff,most important of which was fist sized rocks we will be washing this afternoon and tomorrow will turn into pet rocks. ~Christopher Ratliff
I have great idea for spring for you. My kids love Mr or Mrs Hairy Head Take knee high panty hose and fill toe part with grass seed. Take ball of poly fill stuffing and put in new on top of seed. Need the stocking down when doing. Cut off some of the knee high to not real long. Tie it off to form a person's head. (rubber band, string, twist tie) Now stand upright and you have the beginning of a person's head. Add some wiggle eyes or felt, depending on your kids ages, can use paint or sharpies to make face. Can tie off couple small pieces on either side to make ears if you like. Sit in dish of shallow water, (toe is on top now where hair will grow out) and watch your hairy head person grow hair. Kids like to use the scissors and cut the grass (hair) when gets too long ~Kim Glaubitz