Wordless Wednesday - Jump, Jump Everybody

Ocean - Part Two

The rest of our activities for oceans.

Practicle Life

 Math

I found a blank ocean scene, added stickers, and used contact paper so the stickers couldn't be moved.

 Literacy

Lakeshore Learning has these laminated pockets that wipe clean. 

Pink Series - Inital sounds

Rather than use these as three-part cads, we used them for memory.

 Art

Michaels had these a pack of 3 stencil sheets on clearance for $.99. 

Science

Finding Fish

I saw this activity when I was knee-deep and lost in the Internet and I apologize to the children's art blog that had creating fish from leaves.

First I soaked some blue sidewalk chalk in water and Mister and Ladybug colored their paper using the wet chalk.  I had them use the side of their chalk to make thick lines.

Next we took a walk outside to collect leaves and sticks that had fallen on the ground

I made a fish out of the leaves and they called out with excitement that I made a fish.  They were eager to start their own fish.  While Mister was playing with his leaves and created a sting ray and Ladybug followed.

Fresh From the Neighbor's Garden

My neighbor came over last week and told me that she planted kale thinking she would eat it, but it turns out she doesn't like kale and to have as much as we wanted.  The offer was on the table, so a few days later I put on my husband's sandals (I already had on his pajama pants and t-shirt) and picked some kale for our smoothies.  With the leftover smoothie we made popsicles and they were awesome.

• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 cup strawberries - we used frozen
• 1 frozen banana
• 6 -8 kale leaves - rib removed
• Splash of juice

Mix in a blender and enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday - All Summered Out

Paint and Clean

About 2 years ago my mother-in-law gave use bath body paints and for the most part they have been put away because they smell ... unnatural.  Mister and Ladybug rediscovered these last week and been practicing their body art in the tub.  Being the youngest, Wee One never gets a chance, so I gave her one to make a blue picture.  Apparently she didn't think they smell as bad because she took a big inhale and gave it a taste and another taste because it must have tasted good too. 

When I am not as tired, my husband has been out of town, I am going to find a way to refill these with paint.   Better yet I am going to have him refill them with paint.  I will tell him it's a chance to use power tools.

Mr. Seahorse

During our ocean study we have read Eric Carle's Mr. Seahorse many times and one day I noticed Mister and Ladybug discussing the pictures, so did our own Mr. Seahorse. First we watched a few videos on his art and then set out to create our own.

This was our second attempt at water color on tissue paper.  First we tried doing it Eric Carle way, but all we had was ripped paper.  I found folding it an having Mister and Ladybug do dots was more effective.

I love the way the colors spread and mixed on the tissue paper

I taped a printout of a seahorse onto their tissue paper and cut it out. 

On a pice of contact paper tissue paper was used to make seaweed.



Here is Ladybug's Mr. Seahorse. 



Ice Cube Painting

Disclaimer: Do not, I repeat DO NOT do this activity the day before pictures.  How do I know this?  I did this the day before pictures and the result was a lengthy bath that involved baking soda and vinegar. 

Mister, Ladybug and I made these ice cubes from a candy mold using water and food coloring.  If you use a candy mold you will need to tape the opening closed or all the water will spill out.  I know this because it took a few attempts to get the water to stay in mold.  I found that it was best to top it off after I put it in the freezer.  I know I am full of advice today.

After a few days I took them out and let the Wee One paint.  When I gave her the ice cubes I told her the color and the name of the ocean animal.  She painted a little, tasted a little, and painted a little more.

Wordless Wednesday - Sisters

I wish I was a fishy in the sea...

Gather around everybody it's art project time!

Last week we made wet-into-wet ocean scene using watercolors, crayons, contact paper, tissue paper, and sand.

First Ladybug and Mister used a crayon to make seaweed and used water to wet their paper.

While the paper was still wet, they used watercolors to create the ocean. 

As you can imagine, wet-into-wet watercolor takes a lot of time to dry, so they ripped tissue paper and stuck it to clear contact paper.  When the contact paper was covered, I put another piece on top to seal it and cut out fish.

Mister and Ladybug added sand the their ocean floor and finally the fish.

This picture doesn't do it justice because when the sun streams in the window the fish sparkle. 

It's Sew Cute

My niece turns 7 this month and she is a crafty thing.  She is really into sewing, so I put together a birthday bucket for sewing.  She was so excited to get her very own fabric and sewing book. 

• Galvanized bucket
• Ribbon for handle, bucket, and to tie fabric
• Paint for initial, name, and polka dots on handle
• 3 fabrics ranging (1/2 yard - 1 yard)
• Spool of matching thread

Speachless Wednesay - Have a Beer with Your Toy

Ocean - Part One

Here's what we are doing this month.

Math

Seahorse wood cutouts from Michael's pained with numbers.  Mister and Ladybug put as many shells as the seahorse has on the body.

Seashell button sorting. 

Sensory

Hello Goodwill!  Here are some lacing cards you can print and laminate or use clear contact paper.

Science

I made shark three-part cards. 

Viewfinder

Practical Life

Literacy

Art



Michael's clearance section.



Busy, Busy Toddler

The Wee One loves penguins and it all started with Busy Penguins.   We read this book 4 to 5 times a day and she loves telling the penguin, "Night, night" and kissing them hello.  So when I asked Mister to collect all the ocean animals he cold find, he came up with the penguin and I knew it had to go on the Wee One's shelf. 

Dramatic Play - Post Office

Mister and Ladybug's little dramatic play area has been really untouched this summer and I can't blame them since we are actually able to be outside.  However, we have had some hot days and have had to play inside.  During our run of hot days, I created a post office in their playroom and presented it with great enthusiasm.

Before I set up their new post office, we wrote letters to friends and mailed them at the post office.  Unfortunately, the man working at the post office didn't seem interested in playing up our visit.  Ladybug told me that night she didn't really like the post office. 

Sadly, the dramatic play area has been a flop too but it's cute.

On the far wall are stamps.  The mailboxes have letter stickers for putting the correct letter into the mail slot. 

Mister and Ladybug painted a diaper box and I cut out a hole in the front and back for letter mailing and retrieving.

Treasure Basket - A Day at the Beach

This is the Wee One's August Treasure Basket.  If we can't go to the beach, then we will just have to pretend at home.

• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Beach bag
• Sunglasses
• Camera
• Photos (2)
• Boat
• Driftwood
• Towel (snippet)
• Smelling bottles ("ocean" scent and coconut oil scent)
• Fish
• Seashell
• Beach bottle

Beach in a bottle - The Wee Once can roll this around and shake it to revel the shells, driftwood, and other things from the beach.  If only it smelled like the beach.  I guess she will have to settle for stir fry garlic and ginger paste.

August Sensory Box - Ocean

This month we are all about oceans.  If you do a search you will find many ocean sensory bins and there are some great ideas, but I wanted to do something a little different.  This another sensory bin that should be kept outside.  Happy Playing!

• two aquarium plants ($.99 at the Pet Store)
• sand
• water tinted with one drop of blue food coloring
• sand"pearls" from a broken bracelet
• two nets (already owned)
• shells (already owned)
• pretend fish ($1 for pack of 6 at the Dollar Store)
• Safari Toob coral reef figures (already owned)
• Grow capsules - sea creatures ($1)