Shiny Happy Leaves

Supplies:

Leaves

Cardboard

Glue/Water Mixture

Paint Brush

The leaf hunt may have been more fun than the actual preserving of the leaves. We took an entire hour and a half just walking around the block and neighborhood to find the leaves we wanted to use. I had a stoller full of leaves and no kids. Allow leaves to dry for 24 hours and brush off any dirt.

 

You can recycle old cereal boxes for this project. The cardboard is great for the glue/water mixture and won't tear as easily as construction paper. Lay or glue your leaves into place on the cardboard. Using your glue/water mixture apply a coat to the leaves. Allow your leaves to dry. Leaves will have a gloss to them and be preserved with their colors during the season. You can apply to both sides and create mobiles from the leaves. Use multiple applications of the glue mixture and allow plenty of drying time in between.

Great Uses:
Discuss the process of photosynthesis of leaves.
Preserve leaves and color for the season.
Create a library of preserved leaves to represent different trees.

Manners Please

Who doesn't like getting dressed up and staying in for a nice dinner? No occassion, just getting in our "fancy clothes" and having dinner is fun enough for this family.

Table Etiquette:

Helping to set the table

Napkin on our laps

Using our utencils to feed ourselves

Saying Please and Thank You

Using fancy glasses to drink our juice!

Table Manners Help

Giving Thanks

It's amazing how acts of kindness can really motivate kids. But, sometimes it's pretty amazing how they are rewarded in just the "doing of" these good deeds. We decided one morning to make cookies for the firemen in our city. I created firetruck templates for the kids to cute from, and we talked about what firemen do and how they help us. I asked them each to write a thank you to the firemen. Joey wrote, "Thank you for putting the fires out." I transcribed for Sara, "Thanks (which sounded more like Tanks)"

We also made our hand print thank you cookies for Joe's teachers, which could be a great substite for the servicemen of your city.

When we arrived to deliver the cookies, the firemen had gone out on a call. But, the chief of our city gave us all a grand tour! The kids got to sit in the trucks, and see the fire station. Joe was excited to learn the firemen eat eggs for breakfast and was facinated with their fish tank in the family room. Sara just wanted to sit in the back of the truck and smiled ear to ear.

Fridge Critters

Supplies:
Clothes Pins
Magnet Strip Felt (black/white)
or
Construction Paper
Press On Google Eyes
Glue

This could work for any holiday or event. You can purchase or use magnetic vent covers (they are cheap and cut easily). Depending on the age of your children, you can pre cut the magnet pieces or trace them. Glue the magnet pieces on the back and allow a few hours to set and dry. Meanwhile you can use a template to create symetrical designs or characters. Add a few final touches and of course google eyes and you have some cute useful magnets for the fridge.

Great Uses:

The magnet clothes pins allow for great clips for little fingers to safely display work or use.

You can make colorful clothes pins (just paint) and use the magnets to showcase artwork on the firdge.

Making Baking Clay

Baking Clay

1 Cup Cornstarch
1-1/2 Cup Water
16 oz Baking Soda

Combine in saucepan over low heat for about 20-30 minutes stirring until thickened. Pour onto cornstarch dusted cookie sheet and let cool.

Use cookie cutters or just shape the clay. We decided to use a straw to punch small holes through our shapes to make necklaces for our cousin. Bake clay masterpieces at 300 degrees for about 35 minutes or until dry.

Add you personalized touch to the art. Paint, throw in a little glitter.
And make sure you explain, just because these materials are edible, they SHOULD NOT BE EATEN (my 2 year old certainly wanted to eat them, since we used cookie cutters to make the shapes).

Great Uses:
Joey was assigned a project to make characters from his Eric Carle series from preschool.
Kids love making the connection with objects they can create, see and hold.
Create 3D letters, shapes, animals for kids to paint, learn colors and be able to engage their senses in.

SLIME

1 Cup Cornstarch
1/2 Cup Water
Food Coloring
Glitter

This is by far one our our favorite projects. We got a chance to test this out at the zoo one day and decided of course to make it at home. After struggling with the wrong ingredients (Baking Soda) and really making a mess, we got it right.

Great Uses:

• Teaching letters within a tactile surface like this slime, really engages kids.
• My kids love to look at our window of letters/numbers and practice in the slime.
• Cmon, it's goo, it's fun.

"Mom, I like getting messy!"How To Make Slime Book

Let's See Where This Takes Us

In July of 2011 we decided to test out the "stay at home" gig. As I wanted to name this blog~"Ok, I'm at home, now what?" I believe it may have been taken. So, I'm using this as an outlet to create a collection of inspirational memories, projects and creative creations that I and my two overwhelmingly loved kids take the time to share. As a teacher who walked from tenure, and left on a note of taking a leap of faith, I share my ideas with you. I also borrow a few ideas and do a test run. All in all, we have a bit of a schedule, but trying to just enjoy our own time together.