tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74727411690542164542024-03-18T23:33:16.122-06:00Children's Learning ActivitiesValerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.comBlogger568125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-29588243795472500402014-12-05T11:48:00.000-07:002014-12-05T11:48:51.899-07:00We have been quiet...and for good reason!Hello! We have been super quiet around here lately. I am sure you have noticed. We have good reason. Raegan and I have been writing a book! We have been working for years to write a preschool curriculum book. We wrote it so it can be used for any ages from a baby on up to a five year old. Check out our website for more info: Babes, Tots, and Kids.
We are running a giveaway today on Chronicles ofValerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com81tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-33807034211282004602013-07-15T01:00:00.000-06:002013-07-15T01:00:01.300-06:00Simple Summer: Mind Blowing Science
My mom got a Mind Blowing Science Kit for my son for Christmas. He has enjoyed it over the months and has especially enjoyed it this summer. This kit comes with everything you need to do do 11 different experiments. The instructions include prompts on making hypothesis as well as an explanation as to why things happened the way they did. This is a great kit to get for days you need Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-11714586994344741192013-07-01T12:31:00.001-06:002013-07-01T12:32:14.409-06:00Simple Summer: Face Painting with Colored Pencils
At a recent birthday party, my girls had their faces painted. But the mom at this party did it the genius way--she used colored pencils. Just regular old colored pencils. What you do is take your colored pencil and dip it in water until it is soft enough to write easily on skin. Then you paint away. Not messy! So much so, that I let my girls do it to each other at home, which thrills them. Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-85483726231928688502013-05-29T01:00:00.000-06:002013-05-29T01:00:11.322-06:00Simple Summer: Simple Preschool Cirriculum
source
While browsing my online library, looking for eBooks, I cam across this section that has a lesson plan for you for every month of the year. I thought it would make a great resource for simple summer learning! I find the biggest time suck for learning activities is the actual planning and preparing--not the doing--and in the summer, I really don't want to be sitting and planning and Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-78830478531026555742013-05-15T11:24:00.001-06:002013-05-15T11:24:29.481-06:00Teacher Appreciation Meal
I am fortunate to have a friend who is a master at serving food to large groups of people. She always helps me with the meal for Teacher Appreciation Week. This year, we did Navajo Tacos. This is a fried scone (Utah style...I think often called "elephant ears" in different parts) with meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream...whatever you might put on a taco. We bought all of the Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-62075859622202812252013-05-14T15:57:00.002-06:002013-05-14T15:57:28.525-06:00Teacher Gift: Pamper Set
We wanted to give the teachers something they could use to just pamper themselves.
We did a lufa, nailpolish, bubble bath, hand lotion, and chap stick. We were able to get a lot of the things from AVON for a really reasonable price. Here is a link to the gift tag: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B984Wp7G0yTWbUVwSDkwSEcyMDQ/edit?usp=sharing
Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-68284515069333242532013-05-09T01:00:00.000-06:002013-05-09T01:00:05.281-06:00School Supply Gift
To go along with the theme of "You've Colored Our World, Now Let Us Brighten Yours," we gave the teachers a school supply kit with the colors of the rainbow. We included crayons, glue, pens, pencils, pencil top erasers, notebook, tissues, and sanitizing wipes, all in a cute bag. We bought most of these supplies last summer during the sales that lead up to the school year Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-39219479733038966082013-05-08T01:00:00.000-06:002013-05-08T01:00:18.988-06:00Teacher Appreciation Week: Door Decorations
Here are the door decorations that went with the theme: You've Colored Our World, Now Let Us Brighten Yours
Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-40998773585436699752013-05-07T11:23:00.000-06:002013-05-07T11:52:06.680-06:00Teacher Appreciation Week: You've Colored Our World, Now Let Us Brighten Yours
Our theme this year for Teacher Appreciation Week is: "You've Colored Our World, Now Let Us Brighten Yours."
This is the gift we gave Monday to all faculty and staff in the school.
Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-20408027276044466092013-04-10T01:00:00.000-06:002013-04-10T01:00:17.138-06:00Dinosaur Diorama
The diorama! Can you believe I have been a parent for almost nine years and have not yet done a diorama? Truth be told, I am not all that "into" artistic things, and neither is my first born. My second born, now five, however, is a major artist. She loves, loves, loves to do art. She found this in a book and immediately wanted to create it. This is found in the book Cats Sleep Anywhere Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-21329544435253114422013-04-01T01:00:00.000-06:002013-04-01T01:00:18.685-06:00Play Doh Fine Motor Work
Play doh is a great activity for working many learning areas. You have sensory, art, creativity, colors, and fine motor work. You can easily add in even more.
When I had only one child who played with toys and made messes, I thought play doh was such a huge mess and cinged when that activity came to the forefront. Now it is my favorite! The children sit in one spot and play for Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-84685509288924858812013-02-28T01:00:00.000-07:002013-02-28T01:00:01.080-07:00Clover Handprints
McKenna made this at a friend's house. I love crafts with the child's handprint! This is simple, you just have the child dip her hands in green paint and then make a clover. You can do three handprints or four. Then use a finger to make the stem. You then have a cute craft decoration!
Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-48155203028618512042013-01-31T01:00:00.000-07:002013-01-31T01:00:09.580-07:00Hibernating Polar Bear
This is a fun winter craft. This is an art project that works fine motor skills and adds sensory input.
Supplies:
Blue or black construction paper
White paper
Crayons
Cotton balls
Glue
Scissors
Polar bear printable
Activity
Have your child color the polar bear. Cut out a white mound of snow. Have your child glue cotton balls to the snow. Your child can color the construction paper Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-41604975839066104272013-01-23T01:00:00.000-07:002013-01-23T01:00:06.015-07:00Ice Skate Craft
This activity provides a fun winter decoration while working fine motor skills.
SUPPLIES
Yarn or string
Popscicle sticks
Aluminum foil
Construction paper
Scissors
Glue or tape
Paper hole punch
METHOD
Cut out skate shapes (older preschoolers and older can do this step).
Punch holes for the "laces."
Have your child wrap the popscicle sticks with the aluminum foil. Tape or glue one toValerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-35219810187057467442013-01-16T09:53:00.002-07:002013-01-16T09:53:45.026-07:00Pattern Block Piece Picture
First off, sorry about my very long hiatus! I really needed a break from worrying about getting posts up here, so I took it. Sometimes you just need to let things go, you know?
We of course didn't let doing learning activities go, so on with the posting!
This is a great activity to work math skills.
SUPPLIES:
paper
glue
crayons (optional)
scissors
pattern blocks or pattern Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-9497299113600665532012-11-30T15:14:00.000-07:002012-11-30T15:14:18.432-07:00Santa Christmas Countdown
My mother-in-law made these with my kids over the weekend and I wanted to share it with you all! It takes so little--lined paper, red construction paper, and white construction paper. Add some scissors and glue. Then you just number the paper lines! Cut one line off each day.
Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-20603339706551508092012-11-12T01:00:00.000-07:002012-11-12T01:00:20.956-07:00Turkey Lacing Craft
This is an art project and a fine motor skills project all in one!
You need:
paper bag or brown paper
colored paper
glue
scissors
hole punch
yarn
Cut out the pieces. Punch holes around the perimeter of the turkey.
Have your child assemble the turkey. When she is done, have her string the yarn through the holes.
Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-9172525032789858082012-11-05T01:00:00.000-07:002012-11-05T01:00:20.501-07:00Thanksgiving Round-up 2012Here is the round-up for our previous Thanksgiving posts:Apple Turkey
Cute, yummy, fruit, fine motor development, patterns...all good.
Cornucopia of Thankfulness
Focus on what you are thankful for this year.
Pilgrim Cookies
A ymmy treat.
Thankful Basket
For teaching Gratitude.Paper Plate Turkey
This is a super cute craft that teaches colors, counting, Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-59194764036691968902012-10-22T01:00:00.000-06:002012-10-22T01:00:15.110-06:00Monster Family
Here is a fun way to make monsters.
Have your child splatter blobs of paint on a piece of paper. Before it dries, add eyes. Then she has made her own monster family :)Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-86372648113056571332012-10-16T13:09:00.000-06:002012-10-16T13:11:22.509-06:00Bringing out the artist in your childOne of my daughter's extra-curricular type activities is an art class at the co-op we go to on Tuesdays. Each week they learn a little about a new artist and do some sort of art project. I was thinking about easy ways to extend what she has learned to help her remember and I came across a website (I wish I could remember where....) that took famous works of art and turned them into color sheets Raeganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07028895351558409317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-43398720574997400902012-10-15T01:00:00.000-06:002012-10-15T01:00:22.604-06:00Go Away Big Green Monster! (book and activity)Go Away, Big Green Monster! is a fun book to read this time of year. It is also very helpful if your child is having fears of something scary being around (like monsters). It helps give the child the idea that she is in control, not the monster.
Here is a fun activity to go along with reading this book.
Your child can make her own monster.
Supplies needed:
construction paper
Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-28662709925830569552012-10-12T06:00:00.000-06:002012-10-12T06:00:07.280-06:00Seasonal CloudsI don't know if you've ever noticed before (I hadn't until my husband pointed it out), but the sky seems to change as the seasons change, too. The Fall and Winter sky looks different than the Spring and Summer sky. We've had many night already to just stand in awe and watch the amazing colors and cloud shapes.
My personal experience is that the summer sky seems to be great for Raeganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07028895351558409317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-76641529811498271802012-10-08T01:00:00.000-06:002012-10-08T01:00:18.616-06:00Top 5 Pinterest Halloween FindsHere are some great ideas for Halloween!
50 Spooky Treats
by Sixsistersstuff
Pumpkin Scented Paint
by Growing a Jeweled Rose
22 Fall Sensory Play Ideas
by Your Kids Table
55 Halloween Crafts
by I Heart Naptime
31 Ideas for an Active October
by Toddler Approved
See more of what I pinned for Halloween here: http://pinterest.com/valplowman/learning-ideas-holidays/ andValerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-27971916862716599852012-09-26T01:00:00.000-06:002012-09-26T01:00:02.419-06:00Letter Tracer Pages
DLTK-teach.com is a great resource for learning activities. I recently ran across their tracer pages and had a great idea. I have been printing them off and laminating them. I print them double sided--so A and B are on the same paper, C and D, and so forth. Then I laminate. Then my girls can use either a dry erase or a wet erase marker and practice letters. You can also use a permanent&Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7472741169054216454.post-33448576136353219182012-09-19T01:00:00.000-06:002012-09-19T01:00:07.031-06:00Simple for Mom: Do a Dot Letter
Since I have a newborn at home, I need activities that can be fast for me to prep yet fun for my 3 year old to do. She loves do-a-dots right now. One day, I quickly wrote this block letter M out on a paper, gave her the do-a-dots, and let her decorate the M (the first letter in her name). She fully loved it!
Valerie Plowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171277174254238573noreply@blogger.com5