Valentine's Day Week: Week 21: Thursday!

Valentine's Day Week

Thursday!

Crafts:

• Woven Heart Pocket: White and red poster board, seasonal ribbons, scissors, decorative edging scissors, glue, pencil, thin cardboard

1. Make a large heart template and a slightly smaller one from a piece of thin cardboard.
2. Trace the larger heart onto white poster board.
3. Trace the smaller heart onto red poster board; then cut it out.
4. Fold the red heart in half.  Cut slits in the heart, about a 1/2" to the edge, spacing them one-half inch apart.
5. Unfold the heart and then weave lengths of ribbon through the slits in an alternating pattern.  Trim the excess ribbon.
6. Glue the edges of the red heart to the white heart, leaving the top open to create a pocket.
7. You can use their heart pocket to collect valentines.  Or have him fill it with an edible treat to give to a loved one.

• Bouquet of Love: Thin cardboard, laundry detergent bottle lid, pipe cleaners(cut about 1" longer than the lid height), polystyrene foam block cut to fit inside the lid, craft foam(pink, white, red), pencil or pen, heart confetti or punch-outs, scissors, craft glue

1. Make tracers: Draw a few different heart and flower sizes onto cardboard; then cut them out. 
2. To make a vase, decorate the lid with the ribbon and heart confetti.
3. Trace several hearts and/or flowers on the craft foam; then cut out each shape.  Use a pencil to make a pilot hole in each.
4. Gently poke one end of a pipe cleaner into each cutout.
5. Use a pencil to poke one hole(per flower) into the foam block.  Then insert the free end of each pipe cleaner into the foam block.
6. Press the foam block firmly into the bottom of the vase.
7. Spread out, bend, and turn the hearts and/or blooms to arrange.
8. You can have your child decorate the hearts and flowers with glitter, sequins, and seasonal confetti before putting them in the foam block.

• Candy Kiss: Thin cardboard pieces, white construction paper, 12" square of aluminum foil, permanent markers, scissors, glue, tape

1. Draw a candy kiss onto a piece of cardboard.  Kind of like a heart-shape without the indention of the heart, like the top section was cut off.
2. Trace the candy kiss onto another piece of cardboard.  Cut out.
3. Then gently wrap the foil, shiny side up, around the kiss.  Glue the edges of the foil to the back.
4. Cut out a ribbon shape from white construction paper.  Tape the ribbon to the back of the kiss.
5. Use markers to write your child's name or another name on the ribbon and draw a face on the candy.

• Oracle of Love(Magic 8-Ball): 1-inch diameter styrofoam ball, scissors, white craft foam, permanent marker, hot glue gun; small, clean glass jar with lid(like a baby food jar), teflon tape(if needed), crayola model magic clay

1. Gently form the styrofoam ball into a cube by pressing it against a table with your thumb.
2. Cut six hearts from the craft foam and write an answer with permanent marker on each one, such as "Yes," "No," or "You bet."  Attach these hearts to the cube with hot glue.
3. Place the answer cube in the jar and fill the jar with water right to the top.  Close the lid tightly and test for leaks.  If your jar isn't watertight, wrap Teflon tape around the jar's threads before closing the lid.
4. Cover the jar with Model Magic clay, leaving the bottom of the jar clear. Roll small pieces of Model Magic into snakes, and use them to decorate the outside of your oracle with hearts.
5. To use your oracle, keep it lid-side as you ask your question, then turn it over to learn the answer.
6. Model Magic is recommended for this project because it stays slightly flexible after it dries.  Other clays can crack.
7. Craft was found at www.FamilyFun.com or in the February 2010 edition of Disney Family Fun Magazine.

Activities:

• Hearts and Spades: 2 Decks of Cards

Setup: 

• Remove all the hearts and all the spades from each deck of cards.  You will use only 26 cards from each deck (52 total). Keep the cards from the two decks separate.

Play:

• Shuffle each of these small decks of cards.  Place one deck facedown in the middle of the table.  Using the second deck (dealer's deck), deal four cards face-up in front of each player.
• Players take turns turning over a card from the deck on the table and matching the cards in their hand.  When a match is made, the player puts these two cards facedown on the table and is dealt one more card from the dealer's deck so that each player has a hand of four cards at all times. (If no match is made, the child may place this matchless card facedown at the bottom of the dealer's deck and take another card.) The game continues until all the cards (in both players' hands) have been matched.
• Use a full deck of cards for older children, who are skilled at discerning the difference between spades and clubs or hearts and diamonds. 

• Jigsaw Plate: Sturdy dinner-sized paper plates, Pencil, Markers or Crayons, Scissors

1. Decorate the plate with heart, flowers, etc.  
2. Carefully cut the plate apart into puzzle-shaped pieces.  You might want to lightly sketch outlines of the pieces before you begin cutting.
3. Use a second plate as a base on which to reassemble the puzzle. You may want to draw the shapes  of the pieces on the base plate if it is going to be for younger children.  Store your puzzle in a plastic bag.
4. Could also cut the puzzle pieces into geometric shapes.  Or write a message on the puzzle and give it to a secret pal to put together. 

Snack/Food:

• Mini Grilled Cheese Hearts and Tomato Soup: 

1. Make grilled cheese sandwiches and then use a heart-shaped cookie cutter and cut out mini sandwiches. 
2. Make tomato soup to go with your heart shaped sandwiches.
3. Serve with crackers.
4. For a great creamy tomato soup recipe from all you magazine

Education: 

Letters/Words:

• Word of the Day: Index Cards, Pen

1. And
2. Practice this word with your child. Have them practice spelling it.
3. Write the word on an index card and store it in an index box holder.
4. When reading a story have your child say the word.  

• Rhyme Puzzles: Thin Cardboards, Construction Paper or Writing Paper, Glue, Markers

1. Glue paper onto thin pieces of cardboard.  Let dry.
2. Divide each cardboard into 4 or 5 sections, going down, about 2 inches wide.
3. Down the middle of each section, draw a line, then a shape like a triangle, square, rectangle, then another line. So that each section has a shape dividing it in half.
4. Then on each section, write one word on one half and a rhyming word on the other half.  like Cat on one side and Mat on the other side.  
5. Then cut out each section and cut the halves too.
6. Have your child try to match the puzzles pieces with the rhyming words and the shapes.

• Word Coloring Pages: Coloring pages, pencils, crayons, piece of paper

1. Write rhyming words down on a piece of paper like: cat, bat, hat, mat, pat, fat, nat add color key-codes to each word. Like cat=blue; bat=red; hat=purple, etc.
2. Then have your child color their page according to the color key-code.

Numbers: 

• Magic Wand Fun: Paper towel tube, different colored ribbons or yarn, glue, glitter or confetti

1. Wrap the tube roll with different colored ribbon or yarn.  Draw designs with glue around the wand; then sprinkle on glitter or confetti for a magical sparkling look.
2. Have your child pretend that you are a magician who changes objects with the touch of your magic wand.  Then, look around the room and gently tap 2 things your child sees that are red. Saying one, two, three-presto! What would your child change those 2 red things into?
3. Now have your child move into another room and use their wand to tap 2 things that are blue.
4. Tap 2 things that are round; then 2 things that are square. 

• Three Party: 3 small plastic cups, 3 finger foods(raisins, chocolate chips, peanuts), 2 stuffed animals or dolls

1. Arrange your child's stuffed animals on their bed or table or blanket on the floor near them.
2. Put 1 cup in front of each of their stuffed animals and 1 in front of your child.
3. Have your child count how many cups there are; then have your child place one of each different kind of food in each of the cups, counting each one as they place in cup.  
4. Spill out the treats from each cup, one at a time, counting and eating each piece of food as you go.  Be sure to help the animals eat their treats, too!

• Sort out the remaining foods so that only 1 food is in each cup.  They may want to sort all the raisins in 1 cup and all the peanuts in another.  What other ways can you sort your foods? By color? By shape? Rough or smooth? Salty or sweet? Don't forget to eat your treat!
• Add other types of small foods to the mix; then sort the foods into muffin tins. 

• Writing Numbers: Index cards, Pen, Writing Tablets

1. On the blank side of the 3 index card write the number 1-2-3 on its own index card.  On the other side write the word one-two-three
2. Practice with your child on reading the numbers and words.
3. On three pieces of writing paper, write the numbers one-two-three on its on piece.  Then, have your child practice writing each number word.  

Music: 

• Have your child play their Kazoo they made yesterday and sing Valentine's song.  List on Monday's post.
Reading:
The mitten by Jan Brett
• Glove Puppets: Gray Mittens; Felt(Gray and Pink); 2 small black pom-poms; Pink Pipe Cleaner; Glue; 1 pink pom pom, black string, black permanent marker or black squeeze paint.

1. Cut 2 round gray circles for the mouse's ears.  Cut two pink smaller circles for the inner ear.  Glue together.  Glue onto mittens, one by pinky finger and one by the pointer finger.  
2. Glue a couple pieces of string onto the middle of the mitten for whiskers.
3. Glue a pink pom pom into the middle of the sting. 
4. Glue the eyeballs(2 small black pom poms)
5. Draw a mouth on with a black permanent marker or black squeeze paint.
6. Glue a piece of pipe cleaner onto the side of the mitten for the tail.

Lots of Mitten songs on perpetual preschool

Nursery Rhyme: 
 My Valentine Sing this song to the tune of "The Muffin Man Oh, will you be my valentine? My valentine?  My valentine? Oh, will you be my valentine? And love me every day? Oh, yes, I'll be your valentine, Your valentine, your valentine. Oh, yes, I'll be your valentine, And love you every day. Found on preschool rainbow website
Some ideas were found in the following books:
Big Book of Monthly Arts & Crafts by The Mailbox
Family Fun Magazine
Look What You Can Make With Dozens of Household Items! by Boyds Mill Press
Math Play! by Diane McGowen & Mark Schrooten
Unplugged Play by Bobbi Conner

Valentine's Day Week: Week 21: Thursday!

Wacky Wednesday: LadyBugs!

Wacky Wednesday!

LadyBugs

Crafts:

• Lady Bug Bottles: Glue, Fabric Paint(Black and White), Gogglie Eyes, Black Chenille Stems, 1 Square of Red Felt, 1 Two Liter Plastic Bottle,  2 Round Plastic Bottle Caps

1. Carefully cut the two liter bottle in half at the seam. Set aside.  Glue the plastic caps together with glue and let dry. 
2. Cover the body with red felt and secure at the seam with a low melt glue gun.  
3. Glue the dried bottle caps to the top of the body to form the face.  If you don't have black bottle caps, paint the caps with black fabric paint. Let dry.
4. Use black fabric paint to decorate your lady bug with polka dots.
5. Glue two chenille stems to the back of the head for an antennae.
6. Glue on eyes to the face and paint a smile with white fabric paint.

• Lady Bug Love: Purple foam craft, green and black pipe cleaners, Pom Poms (Red 1", 2 Black 1/2", 4 Red 5mm, 14 black 3mm), four 4mm gogglie eyes, magnet strip, glue, your child's picture.

1. Cut the purple foam into a square.  Cut a square out the middle of the square for you child's picture.
2. Make 2 lady bugs.  Glue a black(head) pom pom onto the red(body) pom pom. Make a little V out of the pipe cleaner for the antennae. Glue little red pom poms onto the ends of the pipe cleaner.  Glue the antennae onto the head. Glue on the eyes.  
3. Glue 7 little black pom poms onto the back of each lady bugs for the spots.  Let dry.
4. Glue little green pipe cleaners onto the frame for grass.  
5. Glue the two lady bugs onto the frame.
6. Put magnet onto back of frame.
7. Tape picture onto the back of the frame.   Place for fridge.

You can make a couple ladybugs and place it on top of a mitten for a hand puppet.  Or on top on the finger tips of a mitten for finger puppets.

• Ladybug Stick Puppet: Red paper, pencil, scissors, black felt-tipped pen, black tissue paper, stick glue, craft stick, paint 

1. Paint the craft stick and let it dry.
2. Fold a piece of red paper in half.  Draw half a ladybug shape onto the paper-- a plump semicircle with a slightly pointed end.  Cut out the ladybug shape.
3. Use the black felt-tipped pen to draw a line down the middle of the red shape for wings and color the head.
4. Roll about eight small balls of black tissue paper and glue them onto the ladybug.
5. Glue ladybug onto the stick.  

• Ladybug Paper-Weight: Air-drying clay, Paint(red, black, and blue acrylic paint), paintbrush

1. Roll a ball of clay about 4.5 cm (1 3/4) wide between your palms.  Roll the ball into an oval, then flatten it slightly.  Set this ladybug shape aside to dry, which takes about a day.
2. Paint the ladybug red with a paintbrush and leave the paint to dry.
3. Paint the front of the ladybug black for its head.  Paint a line along the center of the back to divide the wings.  Paint a black circle on each wing.
4. When the black paint has dried, make dots for eyes on the ladybug's head with blue paint. Leave the ladybug to dry.

Keep air-drying clay in an airtight container to stop it from drying out.

Glue on sequins or beads for eyes, if you wish.

Always wet both pieces of clay with water when you join pieces together(and do it before the clay has hardened).

• Wandering Ladybug: Juice can lid, 12 twist-ties, connected in sets of two,  2 white hole-reinforcer eyes, black craft foam circle(the size of a milk jug lid), 4" length of gold cord(or pipe cleaner), tiny sequins, red felt, black glue-paint(mix together equal amounts of glue and paint), scissors, black marker(for tracing), craft glue, paintbrush

1. Trace the juice can lid onto the red felt.  Cut out the resulting circle; then cut out a small wedge from that circle.
2. Paint the underside of the lid with black glue-paint.  Also paint one side of each set of twist-tie legs.  Let all the paint dry.
3. Glue on the foam circle(head) and twist-tie legs.
4. Glue the red wings onto the lid with the wedge opposite the head.
5. Cut the gold cord in half; then glue the pieces onto the head to resemble antennae.
6. Stick on hole-reinforcer eyes.
7. Glue tiny sequins onto the wings.
8. When the glue is dry, shape the legs and antennae as desired.

Use a clothespin to hold the antennae in place while the glue dries.

• Button Bug: Large and small button, glue, pipe cleaners

1. Use a large button for the bug's body.  Glue on small pipe cleaner pieces for legs.  
2. For a head, loop a small length of pipe cleaner into a ring and glue the edge of it to the front of the bug's body. 
3. Glue a smaller button on top of the loop to complete the head. 

• Paper Plate LadyBug: Paint(Red and Black), Black Pipe Cleaners, 2 Large and Small Paper Plate, Gogglie Eyes, Metal Paper Fastener, Hole Puncher

1. Paint one large plate black and one red.  Paint small plate red.  Let dry.
2. Paint black dots onto the red plate.  Let dry. Cut large red plate in half.
3. Place plate halves(wings) on top of the large black plate.  Then place 1/4 small red plate(head) on top of wings. Fasten together with metal paper fastener.
4. Glue on eyes.
5. Punch two holes in the top of the head for the pipe cleaner(antennae) to go into.  Thread the pipe cleaner into the holes and twist to fasten.
6. Punch four holes onto each side of black large plate for the feet to go into.  Thread the pipe cleaner into the holes and twist to fasten.
7. The wings should be able to open and shut and the head should be able to move too.

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• Bookmark Buddies: Paint, craft stick or tongue depressor, red and black markers or paint, black pipe cleaner, large black pom pom, 2 goggie eyes, glue

1. Paint the craft stick or tongue depressor red. Let dry, then add black spots with markers or paint.
2. Bend a 2-inch piece of pipe cleaner in half to form a V.  Glue the V to one end of the craft stick, pointing up.
3. Glue on pom pom head and gogglie eyes.  Let dry.

• LadyBug Frame: Cardboard; Sticky Red Foam Craft; Black Pipe Cleaners; Finger Paint (Red and Black); Gogglie Eyes

1. Stick red foam craft onto a piece of cardboard.  Cut into a rectangle.  Cut the middle out to form the frame.  Paint the middle red.  Let dry.
2. Take black pipe cleaner and cut in half.  Bend the end to form antennae.  Glue onto top of frame.
3. Glue eyes onto top of frame.
4. Have your child put black spots all over the frame. 
5. Place pipe cleaners into the sides, between the cardboard and foam,  to form the legs.

Activities: 

• Play-doh Ladybug: Play-doh(red and black), Toothpicks or Pipe Cleaners

1. Mold a piece of play-doh into a ladybug.  
2. Place little black dots onto the bug.
3. Place toothpicks or pipe cleaners for the antennae and feet.

• LadyBug Game: Small Butter Tub; Very Small Black Pom Poms; Hole Puncher; Cardboard; Red Construction Paper; Black Marker

1. Place the butter tub upright onto a piece of red paper.  Trace around the tub. Cut it out.  Place paper in tub to see if it fits. Then take the circle, place it onto a piece of cardboard and trace around it.  Cut out the circle.  Glue red piece onto the cardboard.
2. Take paper out and draw head  and draw a line down the middle to form the lady bug.  Punch out holes to form the spots.
3. Place paper back into the tub and add small pom-poms into the tub.
4. See if your child can get the pom pom into the holes.

• Musical Ladybugs: similar to musical chairs but the kids had to fly around the room. When the music stopped they had to find a leaf to sit on.
• More Ladybug Crafts, Games, Ladybug Birthday Cake at Amazing Moms
• Grouchy Ladybug Game by Eric Carle
• Everything Ladybug Website:  They have online games, facts, cookies, poetry, cliparts, products and more.

Snack:

• Jello LadyBug : Plastic circular-shaped salad bowls; Red Gelatin(2 to 3 packages); Raisins; Licorice Sticks; Large Mixing Bowl; Large Spoon

1. Make Gelatin packages according to box in large bowl.  
2. Divide the gelatin mix into plastic circular-shaped bowls.  Refrigerate until ready.
3. Turn bowl upside on a plate.  
4. Have your child add raisins onto the top for the spots and eyes.
5. Have your child push in licorice sticks for the legs and antennae.

Books:

1. The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
2. Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth
3. Ladybug Girl by Jackie Davis
4. Ladybug, Ladybug, What are you doing? by JoAnn Cleland
5. The Little Ladybug by Jourdan Devant

Some ideas were found in the following books:

• Look What You Can Make With Dozens of Household Items by Boyds Mills Press
• Big Book of Monthly Arts & Crafts by The Mailbox
• Creative Crafts For Kids by Hamlyn
• Pom-Poms 50+ Projects by Design Originals     For a color catalog featuring over 200 terrific "How-To" books. Visit www.d-originals.com
• Bottle Cap Activities by Kathy Cisneros

Look What I Found!

Look What I Found!

• Kellogg's Clever Kids: 

1. Number Bites: Fun counting fruit flavored snacks
2. Letter Bites: Fun spelling fruit flavored snacks

I found $1 off tear pad coupon when you purchase 2 boxes coupons with the display stand.  There were also coupons by it when you purchase 2 boxes, you receive $1 off juice boxes.

These are a great way fun way to help your child learn their numbers and letters.  

For more games and tips log onto www.snackpicks.com

• Orbit Mist: Watermelon Spring Flavor:

If you like Watermelon Jolly Ranchers, then you will love this flavor gum, it tastes just like them.

$1 off coupon off multi-packs.

Great Deal on Orbit Mist

Look What I Found!

Tuesday Tips!

Tuesday Tips!

Tips you love to share with your friends over a hot cup of coffee

Hamburgers and Plastic Go Hand in Glove:

• When you're ready to make a batch of hamburger patties for the freezer, here's a way to manage the job without dirtying your hands.  Just grab a few of those plastic bags that you originally used to bring fruits and vegetables home from the grocery store.  Cover each hand with a bag, using the bags as makeshift gloves to form patties.
• Alternatively, spoon the amount of hamburger you want for one patty into a bag.  Form the party the outside so that your hands stay dry.  Then crop the bag with household scissors, leaving one-half inch on each side of the patty.  Fold the plastic around the patty so that it has its own tidy container.  When you are ready to start the barbecue, take the patty out of the freezer and peel off the plastic.

Freeze Burgers in the Round

• Once those hamburgers patties are shaped, what's the best way to stack them in the freezer?  If you're smart, you're probably already stretching that hamburger with oatmeal.
•  Once you've used up the oatmeal, save the cylindrical container it came in. 
•  Use the lid of the container as a guide to form each patty.  
• Wrap the burgers in foil or plastic, then slide them into the cardboard canister.  They will keep neatly in the freezer until you need them.  At that point, you can just open the lid and slide out the number of burgers you need.

Tip found in the book: Vinegar, Duct Tape, Milk Jugs & More by Earl Proulx

This is a very nice book that gives helpful hints like the ones above, its has tips for every room in the house, laundry, sports and more.

I received this book for Christmas and use it all the time for great saving tips.

Tuesday Tips!