Green Olives & Ham

My first lapbook

What's a lapbook, you ask?  Or maybe you didn't ask because it's just what it sounds like, right?  A book that sits in your lap.  I'm just going to say that a lapbook can be made using a file folder (I know, I love my file folder games, but apparently that is old school).  You can make a lapbook to help children learn numbers, letters, colors.  You can make a lapbook based on any theme, and you can make them as simple or as complex as you wish.  For more about lapbooks, see the Lapbook Ladies.

I decided to make my first lapbook based on the book "The Mitten" by Jan Brett.  For more about this book, please read my article:  Local children's book author:  Jan Brett and "The Mitten".

Here is the full view of my lapbook:

The first part is to match the mitten that has a large M.  In the pocket are the letters m-i-t-t-e-n.

The second part is to match the mittens based on the numbers.

 
The next part is a visual, so that children can see how difficult it would be to find a white mitten in the white snow.

The last part is to practice hand-eye coordination by stringing the mittens. 

I only filled the inside of the lapbook.  There are other flaps that I can add to.  The most fun part about it (well besides the whole thing) is that it folds up so nicely and is easy to store.

- Michelle

Additional information:

Local children's book author:  Jan Brett and "The Mitten"
Jan Brett's Official Website

Popsicle stick snowflakes

We're sticking with S is for snow and created these popsicle stick snowflakes.  We actually used craft sticks that we bought at the dollar store, but they look just like popsicle sticks.  We glued the sticks onto paper plates, placed them just so on top of each other so they resembled a snowflake, and put glue all over the plate and the sticks.  Then my daughter shook, rattled, and rolled these cool glitter shakers (also from the Dollar Tree) all over the place.

You could also paint the sticks white, but we didn't have any white paint, and they didn't have any at the dollar store (I'm only buying craft supplies from the dollar store, by the way). 

We also punched holes in the top and attached a ribbon, so we can hang them when they're completely dry.

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!  Just kidding.

- Michelle

"Mixed up Seasons" (from Dora the Explorer)

The above title was swiped borrowed from an episode of Dora the Explorer.  Well actually, this whole idea was swiped from Dora the Explorer.  It's the "Mixed Up Seasons" episode and definitely my favorite! 

We printed clip art from KidzClub.  I only did clip art for Winter and Fall, but my daughter really wanted Spring, so we'll add that next time.  I cut out the pictures and simply placed them on a piece of cardstock.  One side for Winter, and the other side for Fall.  I mixed up some of the items and put them in the wrong season.  My daughter then moved the pictures to the right season.

You could also do this activity with all four seasons, which is what we'll do next time.

It was a pretty simple activity that lasted only about ... oh 5 minutes.  But my daughter was pretty excited because it is "Mixed Up Seasons" and that is so Dorable!

- Michelle 

Fall Bingo

You may say Autumn, but I say Fall, and we've been working on some great Fall activities.  Here we have "Fall Bingo".

- Print out or create your own Bingo sheets and call cards.  We found some great Bingo sheets and call cards at DLTK. 

- Decide what you're going to use for markers.  We just used the call cards, since it was only my daughter and I playing.  Once I picked the card out of the cup, I gave it to her.  If the picture was on her sheet, then she'd place it on top.  If the picture was not on her sheet, then she'd place it to the side.  You can also use coins or make your own markers.

- Find a cup, box, basket, or hat to place all the call cards in.  We used an orange cup (to stick with the Fall theme).

- Play B-I-N-G-O.

My daughter did not completely understand the free space, or she may have understood it, but really didn't care for that idea.  So next time, we'll play without the free space.

You can also turn these into Memory games.  Just print out duplicate copies of the call cards.

- Michelle

Welcome Fall: Leaf Lacing Cards

Happy first day of Fall!!! (or Autumn). 

Up until this point, we have kept our distance from lacing cards.  Although I've tried them once or twice (using lacing cards that we made out of old greeting cards), I don't think my daughter was too interested.  But we can't argue that lacing cards do help to improve a child's hand/eye coordination, as well as, their fine motor skills.  So to celebrate the almost start of Fall, we decided to do some Leaf Lacing Cards.  And to be completely honest, my daughter is still not real interested in lacing.

Draw or trace a tree and some very colorful Fall leaves.  We (again) used the Mailbox Magazine Big Book of Patterns.  I punched holes in the leaves and showed my daughter how to thread the ribbon through the leaves.  Once the ribbon was through, I tied a knot in the ribbon, and my daughter glued (using a glue stick) the leaves to the tree. 

We'll keep trying our hand at lacing, but in the mean time, we'll be searching for leaves, and apples, and pumpkins, and everything else that is so festively Fall.

For more Leaf activities, please see:  Preschool lesson plan:  Fall leaves.

- Michelle

The start of our Spring bulletin board

We are so almost there.  One day until March 1.  I know what you're thinking.  I'm so excited about March 1, but it doesn't automatically become warm on March 1, does it?  Well today was in the 50's, so I am looking at the glass as half full.

Here is the start of our Spring bulletin board.  It's pretty simple, but my daughter loves rainbows, so she'll love this when she wakes up from her nap.  I still need to put some pretty flowers up there, and maybe a pot of gold under the rainbow, and then I need to put the children's names somewhere, as well.  It's important, I think, to have the children's names written out.  No matter how old the children are -- if they see their names often enough, and we tell them what it spells -- they'll eventually recognize it, which is important.

And here is the start of my ode (did I just say ode, hmmmm?) to National Nutrition Month:

Oh my, I think I just heard thunder.  It couldn't possibly be ... thunder.  But I would be happy if it were.  Just another sign that Spring is on its way, no matter what that groundhog says ... or does.

It was a good blog week, I think. Have a great weekend!

- Michelle