Search results matching tags 'science' and 'go green'

Print, Stamp and Stencil with Kids

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:15:00 GMT

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary."

~Pablo Picasso

Tired of the same old printing activities? Before you draw a chalk outline around you art curriculum and call it kaput keep in mind that there are always fresh ideas live on the blogosphere! As a young child I had always figure when it came to art, "where there's a will there's a way!" Us kids used whatever was available!
We would love to hear your ideas as well!

TP rolls
Fruit or vegetables
Toilet plungers
Corks
Bubble wrap
Cookie cutters
Cardboard
Play dough Toys
Wood blocks
Leaves
Balloons
Corn Cobs
Combs
Textured Fabric
Toy cars
Lace
Hands and Feet
Doilies
Styrofoam Shapes
Body Puff
Lip Stick
Loofah
Mini muffin tins
Pie tins
Sponges
Stamps
Fly swatters
Plastic forks
Stencils
Plastic lids from containers (to make circles)
Lego's
Bingo ink blotters
Strawberry Baskets

Super Easy Homemade Finger Paints

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:03:00 GMT

Finger paints disappear so fast! I had to find and easy-piesy-lemon-squeezy way of having them and not blowing my budget. Homemade really is the go! We have a great recipe that can be put together in a snap with household products we already have!

How To Make Super Easy Finger Paints for Kids:

Materials Needed: 2 cups white flour, 2 cups cold water, food coloring or Bio Color
The Process: Put water into a large bowl. Slowly add the flour, while the children are stirring. Once it's all mixed together, divide into smaller bowls and add food coloring or Bio Color. Kids just love to be a part of making and creating new things. Art and creativity, science and measuring; we can never underestimate what kids are actually learning with well planned activities!

We aren't afraid of kids getting a bit messy. How about you?

25 Things to Do With Kids This Summer!

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 11:05:00 GMT

Nothing to do this summer? Don't let it happen to you....use your summer wisely with 25 tips to kick off your creative thinking! Let's see where it takes you!

25 Things to Do With Kids to Kick Start the Summer:
1. Catch fireflies or bugs in a jar, study them and then let them go.
2. Take pictures of the kids having fun and make a scrapbook!
3. Eat watermelon outside, and let the juice run all over the place!
4. Walk in the grass barefoot with the kids.

5. Use lotion, soap, or shampoo that smells like coconuts.

6. Make homemade popsicles in paper cups and eat them on a hot day.
7. Get out the kids' watercolor paints and paint a picture of summer means to you.
8. Collect seashells and save them with some sand in a decorative bowl.
9. Make strawberry shortcake.
10. Make thank you cards for everyone who has helped you out.
11. Eat your favorite summer fruits and berries.
12. Go swimming as a family.
13. Have a water balloon fight.
15. Go for a nature walk along the beach or a wooded path.
16. See the sunrise.
17. Have a picnic.

18. Watch the sunset.
19. Make playdoh.
20. Read a chapter book aloud to your kids.
21. Make homemade ice cream in a Ziploc bag.
22. Sit outside and sip iced tea.
23. Make fresh lemonade.
24 Camp out in a tent in the yard.
25.Make a commitment to learn something new!

Make a Thematic Soda Bottle Terrarium With Kids

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:22:00 GMT

We live to have plants in the classroom. There are so many ways to make terrariums and we have done some in a huge tank as a class and others in small soda bottles. We have even created themed terrariums by putting small plastic animals, dinosaurs or knick-knacks inside from party supply stores. It's a fun economical way to include plants within your theme! Here is what you will need to make actual soda bottle terrariums with kids!

How to Make Soda Bottle Terrariums:

Materials Needed:
One 2-liter bottle of soda (with cap)
Potting Soil
A handful of small pebbles
Small themed toys (Dinosaurs, animals, etc.)
A Sharpie or black marker
Scissors
Seeds (OR)
Seedlings (small plants under 6 inches) this is optional if you want to start right out with plants in your terrarium, but this is what we use for really young kids who love to see instant results.
The Extras: If you want to make a really good terrarium you would also use activated charcoal and spaghnum moss. They prevent bacteria, rot and smooth water flow to give the plants a long healthy life.You can find it in garden or pet stores.

The Process: This is the order you will have the kids put the materials in. Again, some of this is optional, but great for a healthy terrarium!
1. Pebbles
2. Activated Charcoal (Optional)
3. Spaghnum or Spanish Moss (Optional)
4. Soil
5. More moss (Optional)
6. Plants or seeds. Pick plants that grow no more than 6 inches.
Prep Work: Draw a line around the bottle about six inches up. Use a neat little trick to make a nice straight line. Rest the marker on the top of an upside down coffee cup then I rotate the 2 liter bottle. It makes a nice straight line. Cut the bottle along the line with a pair of scissors. You may need to start a small hole in the bottle before you can cut it with the scissors.
Ready Set Go!: Kids can place a handful of stones in the bottom half of the bottle. About 1-2 inches deep is just fine. Have the kids place the other materials in the bottle in order. The charcoal then the moss then the soil. If you are not using charcoal or moss then put just the soil in. fill it to about 1 inch from the top.Now Plant your seeds or plants! You should plant 6 to 10 seeds and later as they grow you can pluck out some of the weaker ones and leave the 2 or 3 best ones. Gently arrange your themed toys in the soil. Now place the top on. We recommend you squeeze the top onto the bottom so the top is on the outside. It will slightly overlap. If you have trouble fitting the two pieces together you can cut a slit about halfway down the bottom half of the bottle. This will help it close up a bit and make it easier to fit the top over it. Voila, your done.

Taking Care of Your Soda Bottle Terrarium:

Sunlight: Explain to the kids that there are two important factors you have to consider when it comes to your terrarium: the amount of sunlight it receives and the amount of water that is already inside.
Once the plants have sprouted you should make sure it gets sunlight but do not leave it in direct sunlight the entire day. It is a closed environment and it can get very hot inside.
Water: Look carefully at the soil in the terrarium. It should look moist but not soaked or too dry. Beads of water should form on the top inside near edge and these will drip down the sides and continue to water the soil. If it appears to be too wet you can take the top off and leave it uncovered for a day or two.

Outdoor Fun with Kids and Plastic Bottles

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:03:00 GMT

We love water play days! We found a great way to keep kids happy and cool while using them with the tricycles outside! We thought we would share it with you just in case you haven't tried it! Be sure to let us know how it went!

Having Fun with Plastic Bottles:
Materials Needed: Plastic bottles of all sizes (have kids and parents bring in a few, different sized funnels (optional), duct tape, scissors, a hose connected to a water source, small ice pick or knife to poke holes with, tricycles, kids in swimsuits and water shoes, a big outdoor area to ride trikes.
The Procedure: Punch one or more holes in most the plastic bottles (putting a few aside), remember the bigger the hole the faster the water will pour out. Use duct tape to adhere a number of bottles to the front and back of various tricycles the kids will be riding. We circle the duct tape on a few revolutions to make sure it's secure!
Let the fun begin!: Turn on the hose and let the kids fill up the bottles on the tricycles water will shoot out of the holes as they ride. Kids have often pretended it's a gas tank and they need a fill up! Extra bottles and funnels can be used for more pouring!
Have a great time!

15 Great Things to Do With Kids and Coffee Fitlers

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:20:00 GMT

"I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living."

~John D. Rockefeller

We are always looking for economical ways to use what we have around the house. Keeping costs low with little ones on the go has always been and issue.
Here are some great ways to utilize coffee filters for projects, clean up, or any other creative way we could think of!

1. Start using them as a kiddie's disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, crackers, etc.
2. Hold your tacos or burritos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
3. A great way for kids to weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
4. Clean off muddy kids shoes or apply shoe polish with them. Simply ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

5. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking with kids and clean up small counter or table spills.
6. Have kids use them to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies. It definitely saves on having extra bowls to wash.
7. Kids can use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.
8. Kids can clean windows, mirrors, and chrome. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling and streak free.
9. When doing potting projects with kids you can stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
10. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and tie it off with a rubber band. Insert into Shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
11. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flower projects.
Kids can place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book..
12. Use them to remove kids fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
13. Prevent the kids Popsicles from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
14. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, french fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease and is cheaper than paper towels.
15. Kids can make beautiful artwork by water coloring directly onto them or cutting them into snowflakes!

Painted Foil Sculptures

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 03:15:00 GMT

"Let me ask you something, what is not art?"

Sculptures are great activities that really stimulate creativity and hand eye coordination!
This is a great activity to do on a nice warm day. This sculpture comes out surprisingly beautiful and shiny but needs time to dry in the sun.

How to make painted foil sculptures with kids:

Materials: Aluminum foil (all lengths and sizes of used scraps), stiff card board or small paper plates, glue paint: mix glue and tempura paint or bio color for various shades, small paint brushes, glue gun (optional for adults)

The Process: Have children form sculptures from the various lengths of aluminum and an adult mounts the sculptures with a glue gun to the cardboard foundation.
Allow children to freely paint the sculptures with the glue paint. The metallic luster shines through the glue for a beautiful effect. Set sculptures in a sunny place to dry.

More Notes:
*This project can be affixed to the cardboard with white glue but it does take time to dry. If you decide to use a hot glue gun, we recommend keeping a cup if ice water handy to dip your fingers. It cools a burn in a jiffy.
*Bio Color gives a more translucent effect while tempura paint offers a more opaque finish.
*Add fine glitter of the top for dimension
*For a long term project you can have children add scrap materials during the week (wood scraps, tissue paper, feathers, etc.)

What would you add?

Exploring Nature With Preschoolers

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 11:03:00 GMT

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."

~Lao Tzu

Kids love the outdoors. But even the great outdoors can get boring if we don't plan ahead with our little ones. I remember my mother telling me to go outside and play but what did that truly mean? Sometimes providing a bit of guidance will get our preschoolers on the right track and stay out of trouble. Some things my parents encouraged me to do outside really sparked my interest in nature.
The nice thing about nature is that it has a way of slowing us down. I have yet to see anyone smell a flower or observe a butterfly in a hurry....

Exploring Nature With Preschoolers
(Here's what kids can do):
*Learn the names of their favorite plants and animals.

*Learn about environmental diversity.
*Understand what ecosystems are.
*Grasp the elements of a habitat.
*Understand changes in the environment.
*Learn mapping techniques.
*Name different sources of energy and energy transformation.
*Identify basic survival needs.
*Learn how the human community is dependent on the natural environment.
*Identify environmental changes that occur over a period of time.

Once I am familiar with what preschoolers can do with nature it is fairly easy to plan preschool curriculum around it!
What are some great activities you do with nature?

How to Make Recycled Paper With Preschoolers

Anonymous — Mon, 03 May 2010 02:47:00 GMT

"Trees are your best antiques."

~Alexander Smith

This is a favorite because it is so tactile and hands on or preschoolers. Okay, and for us grown ups, too. I usually send a nice letter home asking parents to save white paper or newsprint. Sure, I could do it all myself but the children love coming in with paper they have reminded their families to save. We keep the 'recyclings' in a big basket until that special project day comes. It all builds to the excitement we have been discussing all week. I will usually show them a sample paper that we will be making and they will go absolutely bananas for it.

Materials You'll Need:

• A blender
• Newspaper gives off a gray tint to the finished recycled paper. Another option is to leave it out all together. Sprinkling small bits of crushed potpourri into paper gives it a elegant look
• A framed screen that will fit inside the baking pans
• Scissors
• 2 disposable baking pans (you can find them at a dollar store/foil)
• Small rolling pins/Adult rolling pin
• Sponges for the children and yourself
• Glue (optional-any kind)
• Pitcher of water
• Smocks for yourself and children
• Potpourri (optional)
• Large bowl

You may want to create your ‘pans’ ahead of time. I have also seen more seasoned teachers do without the pans after they have done this a few times. Your pans can be as big or as small as you want them but remember, the thickness of the paper effects drying time.

Making the Pans:
1. Use your scissors to cut the bottom of the baking pan out, leaving only about an inch or two around the edge of the bottom of the pan. Place this pan inside the other one.
2. Put the screen into the pans.

Now here is where you and your smocked children have to most fun.
The Process:

1. Everyone begins generously tearing or cutting the recycled papers they have collected into small bits.
2. Place clipping in the large bowl and mix carefully with hands.
3. When adding glue, be sure to ask the children what they think will happen when glue is added, be sure to use your spoons afterwards!
4. Place in blender and mix with pitcher if water to a wet mashed potato consistency (add potpourri)
5. Pour out on screen evenly lifting screen and to allow water to drip off and using sponges to soak up excess water. Place a sponge at the bottom of the screen. Ring sponges into large bowl or sink. Repeat and continue.
6. Flip screen onto a flat surface for next step
7. Roll out evenly with a rolling pin to get out excess water and to flatten evenly
8. After it has dried you may use your paper!

It makes a wonderful gift all by itself with a but of ribbon strung though it holding a poem or a photo of the child.

Happy Earth Day

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:28:13 GMT

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