Swat that....Paint?

Sticking with the bug theme, I found some great painting fun. Beware, this is messy. I did it outside. Make sure your little one is covered, if you don't want paint all over them.

For the project you will need:

Washable paint

flyswatter

paper plate

paper

optional bugs

Pour your paint colors onto something that a flyswatter can easily be dipped into. I used paper plates. Have the child get some paint on the flyswatter and swat the paper. They can use all the colors or stay with just one. It leaves a great pattern. I only had one flyswatter here with one pattern, but if you have swatters with different patterns that would look great too.

You will see lots of rocks on my papers and plates. Of course the wind decided to kick up as I was putting everything outside. These rocks are optional.

I must tell you I actually had a good time doing this. I swatted all the colors on, then just kept swatting to mix them all up. Great way to take out your frustrations. It was funny, a young mom was taking her little one for a walk and there I am in the driveway swatting a piece of paper with paint. I'm not quite sure what was going through her head:).

My oldest then said that it would look neat with some bugs on it. And, guess what? I just happened to have some left over from bug camp. I had two kinds; flat foam sticker bugs, and small beading bugs--a little more 3D. I let my little guy add some bugs to the paper (he only wanted the flat stickers).

We were wondering what it would look like if we put the bugs on first and then swatted them, but I already had the materials away. If you do this I would love to see it?

Happy Swatting!

The Yummy Ladybug

If you notice, the title for this post is similar to the Eric Carle book, "The Grouch Ladybug." I must admit, that I have seen this book forever, but never read it. So, when I stopped into camp today I picked it up to read it. It's an Eric Carle book--what more can I say. A very cute story about a ladybug who tries to be a big shot--reminded me of a bully type story. He goes around asking all the bugs and animals if they want to fight. When they tell him, "If you insist." He always tells them they are too big and goes looking for someone bigger. It's really neat how the text gets larger as the creatures get larger. It's also done using times, and all the pictures have the sun moving to a different area according to the time of day. Finally, he ends up back where he started accepting friendship and being happy.

The craft I have is a ladybug made from an apple. You will need:

an apple

raisins

marshmallow

toothpick

licorice

peanut butter or cream cheese

Cut the apple in half from top to bottom. You could get two ladybugs from one apple. I used peanut butter to attach my raisins to the ladybug. I dipped my raisins in the peanut butter--easier than spreading, then stuck them on the back of the apple. (Remember I was out of raisins).

After the ladybugs spots are on, take a marshmallow to use for the head. Push a toothpick into the marshmallow and straight on through to the apple. Now for the antennae, here is where the licorice comes in ( I didn't have licorice). I think black licorice would be best. Take two pieces and push them into the marshmallow. Finally, add two raisins for eyes. I went back and forth with this, Should the eyes be on the top or the front? You will see I settled for the front, but I'm not sure if they look right. Maybe you don't add eyes at all? I'm sure it's up to you.

The last step is to gobble that yummy ladybug up. Enjoy.

They had another tasty snack, but I didn't have any of the ingredients except the peanut butter, but I thought I would pass it along. It was called "Ants of a Stump." You need: a rice cake, raisins, and peanut butter. I'm sure cream cheese would work here too in case of peanut allergies. The idea was to stick the raisins to the rice cake using the peanut butter. All these wonderful ideas are courtesy of the "The Preschool Almanac," by Scholastic.

Anne at Teaching Two has a great edible ladybug too. There's a bit of a difference which I think I like better. Thanks Anne.

Favorite Vacation Spot

This week for the ABC and 123 picnic it's all about vacation! I'm sure if you have read my blog before you already know the answer to this question. What is my favorite vacation spot? South Nags Head in North Carolina. The whole Outer Banks of North Carolina are great, but South Nags Head offers a quiet retreat, while still keeping you close to lots of fun activities.

I don't know about you, but the week before vacation is AAHHH! I am one of those people that get worried I will forget something. The whole week before, my dining room table becomes the vacation table. I divide it into sections--one area for food, one area for the medicine bag, one are for the toiletries, one area for beach towels, flashlights, beach blanket, etc. Nothing like telling everyone who walks in my home I am soon leaving for vacation. My poor husband comes home from work, (he's our packer), and I can just see him thinking, how am I supposed to fit all that in the van? Every year he says, "Why don't we just do the grocery shopping down there?" and every year I say, "Okay, I'll just pack a few staples so we don't have to run out right away." My few staples usually end up being every meal for the week, 2 coolers worth of food along with 2 big boxes of food--and we still end up at the grocery store about 3 times during the week.

I know this has already gotten read a lot, but I forgot the best part. After my husband packs up the van he puts on the bike rack, then loads 6 bikes on the back. By now the van is about 1/2 inch off the ground. It was so funny on the way down, you could actually see pople counting the number of bikes on that rack!

Then we take our van, put two carriers on the roof, pack them tight, pack the back the best we can, and shove all the children and ourselves in last. I must say, this year my oldest son drove down in his car so I was able to pack his car tight too--it did alleviate the need for 2 roof carriers this year.

Now off we go! It usually goes pretty smoothly. If we drive straight through it takes about 7 hours (like that's really going to happen). But once we get there---to me heaven. It's quiet, there's the clean beach with the beautiful ocean, pelicans flying overhead, dolphins in the water(not everyday), just wonderful.

While we are there we will visit Jockey's Ridge--the great sand dune. We always go miniature golfing, bike riding along the bike path, a visit to the Elizabethan Gardens, a visit to the aquarium, we may even take a day on the sound. The sound is something too. You have this vast expanse of water, but you could probably walk from one land mass to the other. We rented kayaks this year and went out on the sound. The kids kept jumping out to see if they could stand--and they always could.







So there you go. It's a place I will always want to return. Now off to visit all the places you find great!

Simply Scrumptious Spiders

This week is Bug Camp. I am not really involved with it, but I thought I would look for some fun things to do concerning bugs. I found some really neat ideas in the Preschool Almanac put out by Scholastic.

The first couple are food items. Today I thought I would share the spider creations with you.

You will need:

Round crackers (like Ritz's)

spreadable cream cheese or peanut butter (or both)

pretzel sticks

raisins

spreading knife or spoon

This is a simple project, but they turned out so cute.

Take a cracker and spread either cream cheese or peanut butter on it--whatever you fancy. Now get 8 pretzel sticks and press them into the cream cheese or peanut butter, arranging them like legs. Finally, take two raisins and use them for eyes. (Dont' look too closely, you will see I was out of raisins)

The final step is to enjoy. These are so easy to make you could make a bunch of them in no time!

Center Number 5

(photo courtesy of Microsoft Office)

Well, here it is. Some of you are probably saying it's about time. Way to keep us on pins and needles! Do you know what it is? Have any guesses? Let's see we have the Block Center, Family Center, Cooking Center, Art Center...hhmmm. What could it be? Okay, okay, if you haven't already guessed, it's the Quiet Center.

Quiet Center? In a child care facility. Who came up with this? Actually, you probably already have this center. This would be the place where the child can go and just sit down. Away from all the hustle and bustle of the other centers. You may call this the Book Center or the Library Center. This center is important because sometimes everyone needs a quiet place to retreat to, sometimes just to regroup before building the next big masterpiece.

I have always called this the Book Center. We have a large carpet with some shelves of books, plus a shelf of easily seen books which coordinate with what we are doing in the classroom at the time. The children come here and just take some time out to sit and look at or read a book, or just lay on the carpet. I used to have big pillows in the area, but they got used for things other than relaxing with a good book.

Our Quiet Center has also taken on the aspect of picnic center the last couple of years. I think because it is a big space everyone can spread out for a picnic--at least they are having fun.

We have now finished all the primary centers that a childcare facility should have, according to Ms. Maxine Cornwell. Have fun creating these great centers. I am in the midst of redoing my block center and family center. I'll send pictures along soon.

An Awesome Thank You

Nicole over at The Activity Mom was awesome enough to give me an awesome award; Queen of All Things Awesome!!!!!

I am supposed to list 7 things that make me awesome. This is a bit difficult for me--I have trouble complimenting myself. I'll see if I can figure something out....

1. I am lucky enough to have an awesome husband!

2. My teaching job is pretty awesome--I love it there.

3. I'm pretty pleased with my blog.

4. People say my lasagna is awesome.

How's 4? I can't think of any more.

Thanks Nicole!

Catalog Chaos

(photo: Microsoft Office Clipart)

Hi everyone. Shh. Don't tell anyone I'm here. I'm going to whisper. Do you remember where I'm supposed to be? That's right, the basement. Guess what? I haven't stepped foot in there yet. I'm like a kid being told to clean his/her room. I am finding every reason in the book not to go in that room. I know, I know...buck up and get going. I will, I promise---soon.

Anyway, I was telling Momma Young yesterday that I had to get the order for the nursery school done. I usually finish the upcoming year's order by the end of June, but for some reason this year didn't contain the month of June, or is that just me?

I will tell you this is not one of my favorite "director" jobs. I dread spending money because I am always afraid I might spend too much. I never want to go over budget, but boy there are some great things out there.

Here is how my ordering chaos goes: First every school store in the nation has sent me a catalog that I have piled up over time. I make a list of what is needed, and what I would like. Then I go through every catalog to try and find the best price. I make a list from each catalog and then do some comparison shopping---TAKES FOREVER!

And you know what? I usually end up going with the old favorites anyway. (I strayed last year and boy was I sorry). My dilemma always comes when there is a certain item or items only available in that catalog you never used before. Do I order them? Do I wait and see? Do I really want to pay shipping and handling on that one item?

Next is to add everything up and see if I have gone over and have to take things off my wish list:(. Of course, this year after reading the manuals from all those great courses, my wish list is a bit long. Now, I have to go back take some things off, and get new totals.

Time to order. I try the online thing, but do you know how long it takes to punch numbers in for an order over $600.00. So, I call the establishment--which I must say I am usually very pleased by how pleasant and helpful these people are. We're all ready and I start reading numbers--WAIT--is that a 4 or a 7? Is that a D or an O, P or an R? You get the idea. I'm hoping you are getting the gist of why this is not one of the favorite parts of my job.

Well, I am finished--mostly. There are a few odds and ends I have to get, plus my big Wal Mart shopping spree for paper products, cleaning things, and various others.

Here is my question to all those other wonderful people out there that has a job like this: Is there a way to make this easier? How does your ordering process go? Anything to make this task more palatable. Thanks.

Bursting into July 4th

I know it's a bit early, but I thought I would do my Summer Picnic post now. I am hoping to get the back of our basement organized. It's the room that catches just about everything, just about anywhere. My fear, I'm going to go in there and get lost. If you don't hear from me in a few days, you might want to call the authorities.

This week's picnic is, of course, the celebration of July 4th. I know it may seem silly, but as soon as I hear July 4th it's fireworks! Our public fireworks have been cancelled the last two years because of rain, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this year!

This is a unit I have never done before so I went to that trusty Mailbox and found some great ideas--along with a simple one of my own.

I have a few different July 4th ideas so this post may get a bit long. I hope I can keep your attention. Also, I am not at school much so I'm scrounging around for materials, but I think everything worked out well.

Homemade Fireworks

For this project you will need:

a film canister

glue

paint brush

glitter

curling ribbon

The hardest part of this project may be finding a 35mm film canister. I'm lucky I have some hanging around here still.

Poke a hole in the lid of the canister with some scissors. Have your child cut some curling ribbon they like--it can be any color. Your part is to feed the ribbon through the hole and knot them together underneath.

While you take care of the ribbon, have your child paint the INSIDE of the canister with glue. Let them pour in some glitter and shake it up to cover all the inside of the canister.

Pop the lid on and let them through it high in the air. Hooray!

Glitter Fireworks

You will need:

Construction paper

glue

glitter

This one is pretty easy--mine of course, very basic. Give your child some glue to draw a firework. Sprinkle glitter over the glue drawing and shake off the excess. If they like they can add more fireworks in different colors. Remember you have to do one at a time if you are doing different colors.

Tissue Paper Fireworks

You will need:

Tissue Paper

Construction Paper

Glue

This project turned out pretty cute. I wasn't quite sure at first, but it gave a pretty good bang for the buck. One caution--it can be time consuming for little ones. You might want to make small fireworks.

Again, draw a firework with glue. Take some tissue paper and let the little ones rip it into pieces, make a ball out of it, and then stick it on the glue. (I only had white tissue paper at home. I think this would have looked great in color, or smaller fireworks with different colors).

Our final project:

Exciting Streamers

I had trouble with a name for this project. My family came up with shaker, firework shaker, streamer, shaker streamer thing, pop pom, so take your pick.

You will need:

Crepe paper

straw

pipe cleaner

scissors

glue

I was lucky to find some red and blue streamers, but I think you can use any color. I took two lengths of about 1 foot then cut each length into 3 strips--so I had 6 pieces.

Take the pipe cleaner, fold it in half, and twist together the ends--you want to have a loop in the top. Take the part that you twisted and push it down into the straw.

Take one streamer and lay it down. Place the loop on top, put a dot of glue on a piece of the crepe paper and fold it over to glue it to the loop. (I'm hoping the picture is more understandable than that explanation--I'm not sure I even understand that.) Do the same with all the rest of the crepe paper pieces.

Now pick it up and shake it around. I thought it might be fun to take to the parade.

I hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July. I will probably be back before that, but this seems like a good time to offer good wishes.

Oh, I almost forgot, don't forget to check those fabulous fireworks I made a while back.