Fall Apple Tree Sewing Activity (18 months-Grade K)

I adapted my own version of this sewing activity from the apple thematic unit that I found on Pinterest.

Source: thecraftycrow.net via Candice on Pinterest

 

Apple Tree's for Sewing:

*  Drew the tree top and then the stump on two different types of scrapbook paper.  You can use construction paper or even newspaper!

*  I then sliced up a cereal box to provide more support for the tree (you can use a cardboard box.. a cereal box is thinner so it's easier to cut)

*  Modpodge your tree and stump onto the cardboard and wait for it to dry.

*  Cutout after they have dried.

*  Glue tree onto stump.  (this is entirely optional, but much easier if you are making these for sewing)

*  Grab your hole punch and start punching!  :)

*  Measure your yarn (I found that threading the tree's was the easiest way to go about this so you could figure out just how much yarn you're going to need)

*  I cutout felt apples for Harmony's complicated sewing apple tree.  For the smaller tree I cutout circles and then stems.  I glued them onto baby food jars that I've had saved up for art projects so Mark Jr. (18 month old) can handle the smaller pieces more easily AND so he doesn't eat them.  He loves doing that.  :)

It was super easy!  My hand is killing me, however, from having to punch all of those holes for Harmony's tree.  I kept Mark Jr.'s (on the left) simple so he could get accustomed to stringing it through without becoming frustrated.  I can't wait to see what they think tomorrow!

What other types of fun sewing activities do your little one's enjoy doing?

Candice S

Shapes Worksheet

Shapes Prek-K

This is a shapes worksheet that I whipped up tonight.  Harmony needed to practice her shapes, which included the trapezoid and the hexagon.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find many worksheets offering this so I decided to get creative!  :)  You can have your child trace the shape and then draw it by free hand.  I also had Harmony practice writing the shapes name underneath when she was completed with the each set.

Enjoy!

Candice S

Tot Spot: Montessori Sensory Basket

I read How To Raise An Amazing Child the Montessori Way at the beginning of the year and fell in love with quite a bit of Dr. Montessori's methods for teaching small children and the emphasis of importance she placed on supporting the learning environment from birth and beyond.  Simple techniques are discussed, as well as ideas's for extremely simple sensory play examples using items from the home.

  Creating a nature basket is an idea that is recommended for babies.  I have found that most of our learning toys, textures, and objects laying around the house have become favorites for our basket.  About once a month I change out the books, toys, and textures so we can explore something new.

Sensory Basket

Straws with a small, medium, and large cup used for nesting.  My 18 month old loves nesting cups and placing objects (straws) inside of them so this idea was super simple and he LOVES it! 

Pom Pom Game.  A recycled tub of butter becomes a game by stuffing pom pom's inside the hole, which promotes coordination.  Mark's attention span is astonishing while playing this game.

Texture Swatch/Sample.  A sewing swatch with a picture on it for Mark Jr. to feel, see, and explore.  The picture is of Mommy and Ni Ni (Sister)

Nesting Caps.  Various bottle cap sizes to use as a nesting toy.  **Beware of smaller bottle caps as babies enjoy placing these in their mouths.

V Tech Record and Learn Photo Album is definitely one of our favorite items.  You can record a personalized story and change out the photo's as often as you'd like.  This product also plays music and explores sights and sounds... 

I included some our Sock Puppet's for role play.. and to use while reading the following stories!  Mark loves using these and growling..  "Rooooaaarrr"





What are some of your favorite activities to do with your toddlers?

Candice S

Sight Words: Colors and Sentence Recognition

Harmony is now in Kindergarten and she loves it!  She is doing very well and comes home every day with a wonderful story.

  Surprisingly, she gets quite a bit of homework.  She has been tasked this week in practicing her "color" sight words, and the word "the".  

I made these sight word cards for her on Microsoft Word then I printed them out and Mod Podged them onto scrapbook paper.

I made sure to include sentence use on the back so she could see how the word is properly used in text.  We have been using them all week and I feel that she is doing really well with absorbing the information.

Here is the free template for the Sight Words.  I made them small so they wouldn't be overwhelming.  You can each item on a 2 x 2 inch piece of scrapbook paper.

Autumn's coming! :)

Candice S

Sight Words Colors 2011

Tot Spot: Creative Play with Upcycled Cardboard Box

Harmony started Kindergarten this week so I have been planning toddler/tot curriculum and activities for Mark Jr.  We are just enjoying each other right now, trying to keep "happy" and "calm" without Big Sister to play with.  I have saved this box for a few weeks now because Mark has really enjoyed tossing it around and playing with it so I decided today, that we would make it into a car because his favorite toys are firetrucks and cars. 

"Vrrrooooommm vrooooom", Mark Jr. loves to say.


You start by cutting the flaps off of the sides of the box with a razor blade.

Trace the shapes with things around the kitchen, such coffee tins and cookie cutters.

You can use scrap cardboard to cut out the steering wheel and then attach it with wire, a tact, or use a paper clip.

If you want to get super creative then you can even make straps and attach them to the sides of the box so your little one to walk around with their new car zzzzoooooooming all over the house!


There are so many fun things you can do with recycled materials!  My 16 month old loves his car, but I can tell you that as cute as the steering wheel is.. it isn't going to last five minutes!!  I love it!










Have a great weekend!

Candice S

School Ready: Organizing Children's Room with Picture Labels

All too often I hear, "MOM, I can't find my socks!" Or, "My underwear are missing!!" Most days Harmony enjoys being independent and gathering up what her daily necessities; her undergarments being number one on the list.. But lets face it, organizing a five year old's room is not easy. We have established putting toys away and picking up after we're through playing, not that it always happens. Although we have the basic methods of cleaning grasped, putting things totheir actual places has still been a little difficult. I made these labels to help Harmony to know where to put her most used and basic items. The labels have detailed pictures and words, as she is learning to read. I thought it was especially important to make detailed labels for her dresser because she is starting school next week.

I made labels for her larger quantity items, such as her ponies, barbies, and their accessories. Since Mark Jr. was born, we have made it an attempt to keep small barbie accessories off the floor. Those pieces have been aimlessly thrown into the toybox where they become unused or out of reach. Therefore, Harmony was excited to see her favorite babies shoes and hair pieces all in one spot! 

Once I finished with Harmony's room, I knew that I was one a roll and that there are several, equally important things that we use on a daily basis, such as our toothbrush and toothpaste.  These are basic words that she'll need to learn and that way she gets a visual tool daily..

Lastly, I made labels for the kitchen because Harmony enjoys fixing herself something to drink or occasionally making a sandwich.  She tries to be independent in the kitchen with the supervision of an adult, which we allow within reason.

Do you need some help getting your children organized for school?  If you are interested in using these basic labels, I have included them so you can download and then print them right out!  We have been using the label system for a few days now and Harmony has done excellent with it!  She has direction in her room, and so does her belongings.

Have a great day!

Candice S

HarmonysRoomLabels

Spunky Ramona- The Book Collection

Beverly Cleary started writing the Ramona series with the first book "Beezus and Ramona" setting Ramona's age at four years old.  Harmony and I have been reading this collection based off of our love for the movie that came out in 2010, Ramona and Beezus .

Ramona is full of love, character, and spunk.  She and Harmony are very much alike (which is why Harmony adores the books).  Ramona is always finding herself in predicaments or conflicts because of her curiosity, and often, she is told that she just needs to "grow up".  You can read about her adventures through Pre-K until she is much older.  This series is also about family, siblings, and unconditional love no matter what your transgressions might be.

The best part of all?  It leaves my little five year old wanting more, chapter after chapter! 

What chapter books do you enjoy reading with your children?

Candice S