Shmuzzy Pick Up

This is a great activity that help develop those little hand muscles needed for writing.  It is also great for sorting, color matching, and problem solving.  I got out our shmuzzy supply and some clothes pins I picked up at Walmart (so many uses for these).  I dumped them into an egg carton added the clothes pins and set it out for the kids.  I sat down with them for a bit and practiced my own fine motor and hand/eye coordination with them.  This kept them busy for quite awhile too!

Zoo Pal Paper Plate Puppets

We made these puppets a couple months ago and the kids have been having soooooo much fun that I had to do a post on it.  We saw them at the grocery store for a couple dollars and I immediately knew we could use them for more than putting food on!  I cut out the eyes and glued a craft stick on the back of it.  Voila, instant mask!  We have been making animal sounds, singing "Old McDonald has a Farm", puppet shows, you name it! Really, what could be more simple! 

 Fun, fun, fun!



Spiky Pumpkin Turkeys

I saw some adorable apple turkeys on Pinterest.  That led to me to set this up for the kiddos.  We had several pumpkins that we have been collecting and I couldn't bring myself to just throw them away.  So, I  bought some wooden skewers in the baking aisle at the grocery store.  They were less than 2.00.  I also bought a box of Fruit Loops cereal,  but any cereal with holes in the middle would work too.  We sorted the cereal into colors first (great math, matching, color experience), then the kids pushed the skewers into the pumpkin.  Took quite a bit of muscle to get them pushed in.  Then the kids went to work putting the cereal onto the skewers.  We used some googly eyes and wooden  pieces to make the faces.  So cute....and spiky too!

Painting with Pinecones

While camping in the mountains this summer, we gathered up some pinecones.  I sealed them up in a plastic bag just in case in buggies hitched a ride in them.  I just broke them out the other day to do some painting.  I taped some paper to the bottom of a deep box.  Then the kids squirted their choice of paint onto the paper.  They tossed in the pinecones and shook, shook, shook!  Instead of changing the paper for each kid, we just squirted in some more paint and passed it on to the next kid.  A good lesson in sharing as well as some great large motor skills.  We definetly shook some sillies out! So if you have some pinecones around, this is a really fun paint activity for your kids.....and YOU!



TP Roll Feathered Somethings

So I set up our creation station with feathers, empty tp rolls, glue, stickers, markers and crayons.  Then called the kids over and let them get to creating.  Below is what they made.  I was thinking...ya know, TURKEYS...but I have learned not to label what they are "suppose" to make and just let them use their imaginations.  I just love listening to them discuss and problem solve and then watch as they create. 

Handprint Turkey Keepsake

I found these little wooden plaques at the Dollar Tree and snatched them up.  They were perfect for making our turkey hand print keepsakes.  A great parent gift.  I asked the kids which colors they wanted and they painted their hands and fingers.  We did use acrylic paint, so we had to be very careful not to get it on our clothing.  When the paint dried, we added eyes, a waddle, beak and drew some feet.  I added "gobble gobble" and "November 2011" at the bottom.



Felt Turkey Finger Puppets

We made these really cute, no-sew finger puppet turkeys to go along with one of our favorite songs

"5 Little Turkeys are We".

They are so simple and the kids really enjoyed personalizing them.  I cut all the pieces out from felt because it is difficult for little hands to do. I cut triangles for feathers and beaks, red waddles, and used brown half ovals (not sure what to call that shape) for the bodies.  Then, the kids glued the feathers onto one side of the brown bodies and then we glued the top body, leaving an opening to put our fingers in.  Then we used googly eyes and the other felt pieces to add faces.  Then we just needed to wait for all the glue to dry.

Here is the words to the song we use them with, but really any song about turkeys would work.

Five little turkeys are we,

We hid all night in the tree,

when the cook came around we couldn't be found,

that's why we're here you see!

Then we take one away and keep going...

Four little turkeys are we,

and so on...

Magnetic Attractions

Here is what is in our sensory tub this week.  I got these magnet wands from Discount School Supplies.  Here is a link (magnet wands). You don't need these, although they are very cool and worth the small investment.  You can just use you refrigerator magnets, your kids alphabet magnet letters or those little round ones found at the craft store.  We cut up several pipe cleaners, added some metal lids and tossed in some of the alphabet letters from our playroom.  We are having so much fun discovering and making "hairy" wands.



Cornstarch Play Dough

We made this wonderful play dough the other day.  It came out so soft and pliable.  It did get a little crumbly, so keep that in mind if you try making this.  Here is the recipe.

2 cups baking soda

1 1/2 cups cornstarch

1 cup of water (add your choice of color to the water)

Mix all the ingredients together in saucepan.  Bring to a boil and cook until thick.  If he dough is too sticky add a little flour or cornstarch and knead. 



Roots and Shoots

I did this experiment every year when I was in the classroom.  This is the second year we have done it at home.  You can find last years results HERE.  Just take one of those gorgeous ears of Indian corn and toss it in a shallow tub of water. Check it daily, because it sprouts quickly.  If you live somewhere warm, you can plant it and it will grow corn!  I promise, we did it when we lived in the warm desert.  It is so fun that the kids can see the roots and the sprouts at the same time.  We change the water every couple days so it doesn't get too stinky and slimy.  Such a great science experiment.