Thursday, January 31, 2013

Copy Kids DVD Review and #Giveaway



Copy-Kids is a great DVD to help introduce your children to fruits and vegetables and to encourage them to eat them!



My kids(age 6, 3, and 2) found the DVD very entertaining, and they were eating their carrots and broccoli right along with the kids on the TV.  

I recommend this DVD for anyone that is having a hard time getting their children to eat their fruits and veggies!   My kids are fairly good eaters, but there are those few veggies that I have a hard time getting them to eat....this DVD got them eating them!  

All you need to do is put out a plate with the fruits or veggies they are showing on the DVD (you can pick on the menu which fruit or veggie you want to show, only one type shows at a time).  Then sit back and watch in amazement as your children 'copy' the children they see on TV.  You may not get results with the first showing, but most kids will be eating their veggies and fruits just like the kids they see on the shows!



Copy Kids has graciously offered a DVD for one of my readers!  Enter using the Rafflecopter form below and GOOD LUCK!  Click on the link if the form isn't showing.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The Snowy Day Unit Study


Here is a sneak peak at the preschool curriculum I’m working on!

It is titled -

Montessori Inspired, Manipulative Rich, Literature Based, Hand’s On Preschool Curriculum for ages 2-5
by Jennifer Altman MEd/ECE
Each Month there will be several suggested books as well as many suggested activities.  Since the curriculum is designed for ages 2-5, you will not do every activity each week.  Just pick the ones that interest you and your child and are on your child’s level.  The themes for each month tend to go together, so activities can carry over from week to week as well.  Here is a sneak at one week for January -

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(Click image to go to book website)
Other books: The Snow Day by Keatts, The Mitten by Brett

Letter Recognition: 
Letter S Box/Tray – Fill with items that start with the letter S.

Cooking:
Make Snow Cones

Lots of snow themed snacks http://www.childfun.com/index.php/activity-themes/seasonal/267-snow-activities.html?start=3

Cognitive:
Snowflake Match (see attached)

Provide several pairs of gloves and/or mittens for your child to try on and match.

Science:
Freezing – fill a small plastic bag half full with water (or have your child do it) and put in the freezer to see what happens, after frozen remove it and observe the ice melt. You can even put toys or fruit in it before freezing and then try to get the objects out of it when frozen. Watch Sid the Science Kid MY ICE POP - http://www.pbs.org/teachers/includes/content/sid/change/frozenfruit.pdf

Make Borax Snowflakes http://chestnutgroveacademy.blogspot.com/2011/08/alaska-state-study.html#.UPtz1CdZWSo

Hot or Cold File Folder Game

Sensory -
Sand & Water Table – Fill the water table (or a large basin) with snow (bring in from outdoors if you have some) or blocks of ice (freeze in a variety of sized containers) if snow is not available or fill a bin with InstaSnow  Use mittens to stay warm. Provide Artic animals for play.

Fill the Water Table with sudsy water and white puff bath sponges http://mysmallpotatoes.com/2012/11/29/weekly-kids-co-op-bubbly-bowl-of-snowballs-a-wintery-themed-sensory-activity-for-babies-and-toddlers/

Put some plain shaving cream on the table to play in. (It’s great for cleaning the table too!)

Freeze colored water in ice cube trays and then paint on white paper with them

Art:
Paint with white paint on blue paper to make snowy pictures

Draw with white chalk on black paper

Make Snow Glitter Puffy Paint – Mix 1/2c Flour, 1/2c salt, 1/2c water and put in a squeeze bottle. Squeeze onto paper.  It dries 3D and sparkles! You can paint over it after dry for another effect.

Use a Q-tip as a paint brush (dot paint) to make a wintery snow scene

Make snow paint and paint a snow man (or other winter scene) – it’s made from glue and shaving cream http://hojosteacherstore.blogspot.com/2012/01/finally-completed-pinterest-project.html

Make snow globes with small jars (Stage 3 baby jars are perfect) use a small tree or other winter type object, add water and glitter then seal the lid with hot glue http://chestnutgroveacademy.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-activities.html#.UPtk_ydZWSo

Fine Motor
– Using coffee filters or white paper and scissors your child can cut out snowflakes

Look through magazines find and cut out pictures of things you would wear in cold weather. You could also look for pictures of things to wear in warm weather and sort them. Or use the Hot or Cold – What to Wear cards from Montessori Print Shop

Snow Dough – add rock salt to playdough for texture, or make frosty fluff snow with cornstarch and shaving cream
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Courtesy of Keepin’ it Kool in Kinderland

More Snowy Playdough Recipes and Ideas http://livingmontessorinow.com/2013/01/14/montessori-monday-montessori-inspired-winter-playdough-activities/

Salt Tray Writing – Put some salt into a tray, or shoebox lid (or something else similar).  Your child can practice writing with his/her finger or using a craft stick. Depending on their age and ability, use the Prewriting cards in the printable links below for them to copy the forms in the salt.  So for younger kids, have them make lines (curved,straight, diagonal), when they master that move onto letters.  When forming letters have them start at the TOP.

Snowman Playdough Mats http://www.prekinders.com/2011/12/snowman-play-dough-mats/

Math:
Cut snowflakes of various sizes and have your child put them in order by size

Using wagon wheel pasta or honeycomb cereal as snowflakes, count out the number of snowflakes as the number on the snowman card (use could also use cotton balls or white pompoms). For older children they can add the numbers. (see attached)

Make snowmen and/or snowflakes using pattern blocks http://www.prekinders.com/2009/11/christmas-pattern-blocks/

More Snow Themed Math Ideas http://prekandksharing.blogspot.com/2013/01/montessori-inspired-winter-math-activities.html

Music and Movement:
Play Musical Freeze – Play the music, when it stops FREEZE

Dance with white scarves and pretend to be snowflakes

Play “Hot and Cold” Hide and Seek – Hide something and then give clues of Hot and Cold to say if they are close or not close to the object.

Let your child ‘ice skate’ in his/her socks on an uncarpeted floor surface
Have an indoor snowball fight http://frugalfun4boys.com/2012/12/21/indoor-texas-snowballs/

Printables on the web:

The Mitten Printables http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.net/2013/01/the-mitten-printables/
More Mitten Printables http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2012/01/printables-for-mitten-by-jan-brett/
The Mitten Odd and Even Number Sort http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2013/01/the-mitten-even-and-odd-number-sort/
The Snowy Day Printables http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2013/01/the-mitten-even-and-odd-number-sort/
Winter Themed Pack http://3dinosaurs.com/wordpress/index.php/free-winter-pack/
Snow and Ice Pack http://www.2teachingmommies.com/2012/01/snow-ice-expanded.html
Winter Fun Pack http://www.2teachingmommies.com/2012/01/winter-fun-expanded.html
Winter Themed Tot Packs http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/WinterFunTotPack.html




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Saturday, January 26, 2013

First Grade (week 20)

Here is what we did fun this week!

Echinoderm unit with Pandia Press Life Science 
This project actually called for the use of a banana peel, but we didn't have any bananas (they go fast in this house) so I fashioned some ribbon to use, to demonstrate how Echinoderms are made of 5 parts.

Echinoderm 3 part cards from Montessori Print Shop - with real sea star, sea urchin and sand dollar

Getting in on the playdough sea urchin fun

Practicing rounding to the nearest ten from filefolderfun.com

We read
 

C read 
and

Friday, January 25, 2013

Preschool Wrap-Up (week 20)

 We had such a busy week this week that "school days" were few and far between, and the littlest one was sick!  Next week is going to be another short one!  But even when we aren't doing 'school' we are always learning and having fun! :D
Here is what they enjoyed this week!

Sea Urchins with a colander and pipe cleaners

Sea Urchin Transfer with spoon and tongs
Sea Urchin out of playdough

 Open and close boxes, find the sea star

To all that was in the workboxes this week visit my weekly workboxes post.  You can also follow along on Pinterest and at my preschool curriculum outline for the year.  

I'm linking up with Tot School and several other hops (see the right sidebar)


YW lesson–Godhead–Who am I?

I was recently called to Young Women’s as a First Counselor and I am soooo excited! 

I made some hand outs for my lesson this week with the new curriculum, that I thought I would share.  I know it’s the end of the month, but maybe you can still use it!  I teach earlier in the month for February.

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*The quote in the handout is from the video clip.  This handout was made with My Memories Suite Software with images from What Goes On kit by OGREN

Also, I love this idea from the Red Headed Hostess of ‘Passing and Writing’, and decided to use it, but with a different talk.  I took an excerpt from the talk You Matter To Him by President Uchtdorf.

yw lesson-001

*This handout was made with My Memories Suite Software

And then for their weekly assignment I printed an excerpt of President Uchtdorf’s talk on Happily Every After, with a note to write their own idea of what they want their happily ever after to be.  You can get that HERE

*To print the other two images click on the image to enlarge, then right click and save image, then print. 

Field Trip #71 Friday Blog Hop


Field Trip Friday!
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A Blog Hop designed to share 'FIELD TRIP' related Blog Posts

(does not have to be a 'home school field trip', can be any trip to any place with your children!)

This week we went to the Otsuji Farm.  We took a tour and had a very yummy, healthy lunch!  The kids got to pick their own beets, and we all enjoyed the beautiful views from the farm. 
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**NOTE:  Before linking up please review guidelines HERE

    Wednesday, January 23, 2013

    In a rut?

    Ever get in a cooking rut?  I’ve been there!  There are so many things we have to do every day as a mom and a wife, and then it’s dinner time…..and you have NO IDEA what to make!!  Ahhh!! 
    Enter in Emeals!!   What a blessing!  I love that the planning is done for me, the shopping list is done for me…all I have to do is shop and cook! 
    The meals are always yummy, very rarely is there something on the menu that does not appeal to my family. 
    I love to print of my Emeals menu each week and head to the grocery store!  It saves me so much time, and so much money! 
    New-Year-New-You_Why-Organize
    I am never at a loss for what to make for dinner!  It’s great!
    It’s flexible too, I mean you don’t have to follow the menu to a T or day to day (like Monday’s meal is on Monday) if you don’t want too.  For example, we had a picnic dinner out the other day, so we made the sandwich meal (“Grab and Go”) that was listed later in the week.  On a day I know I’m going to be extra busy I’ll make the “Crock Pot” or “Easy Meal”! 
    A few of our favorite meals so far – Apple Bacon Burgers and Gobbler Sandwiches!!  But there honestly has not been anything we have made that we didn’t like!
    Every week there are more delicious meals to cook!
    Why don’t you make your life just a tiny bit easier and get Emeals!
    There are 9 meal plans to choose from, including special dietary needs like Paleo, Gluten Free and Vegetarian!   They also have Lunch and Breakfast plans! Check out their sample menus!
    Save 15% NOW with coupon code “newyear”

    Out in Nature

    We hit some different tide pools looking for Sea Urchins and Sea Cucumbers, but to no avail.  All we found were some sea snails and a few crabs and fish…but the kids still had tons of fun!

    It was a beautiful day as well, with beautiful views!  Got to love life in Hawaii!

    tide pools 019 - Copytide pools 024 - Copytide pools 028 - Copytide pools 047 - Copytide pools 049

    Tuesday, January 22, 2013

    Weekly Workboxes - Week 20 (Starfish & Sea Urchins)


     This week for First Grade we are learning about Echinoderms (Starfish, Sea Urchins, etc..) So as always, I have carried that over into our Preschool Lesson.  We kept a few things in the boxes from last week, and here is what is new this week:

    Sea Urchin balls - gross motor activities

    Colander and pipe cleaners - making a sea urchin

    Sea urchin transfer with tongs or spoon

    Playdough sea urchins

    Where is the starfish?  Open and Close boxes

    Letter U tray

    Starfish stamping

    Starfish size sequencing from filefolderfun.com

    Books with starfish finger puppet

    See more fun at the weekly wrap up!

    Follow my preschool board on Pinterest !!