Little Fun; Little Learning: October 2007

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

The Fall Y'all Bloggy Giveaway

Rocks in My Dryer has her Fall, Y'all Bloggy Giveaway going on. As of now, nearly 600 bloggers are participating. That's a bunch of prizes. Little Fun; Little Learning is participating too. :)

At Little Fun; Little Learning I'm giving away 3 Winnie the Pooh parent & child read together books. Titles include The Blustery Day, Pooh Helps Out, and The Big Honeypot Rescue. The value of this prize is $20.97. These books are for preschoolers. Here's more info:

based on McGraw-Hill's proven and exclusive sight word curriculum, a fun and lively story about Pooh and his friends develops important reading skills!
You and your child share a unique reading experience that helps your child develop reading and comprehension skills!
Activity pages following the story allow your child to practice the words he or she has learned!

Features:

Engaging story featuring Winnie the Pooh and friends!
Over 30 perforated flash cards with featured sight words that can be removed to help children practice new words!
A 9-page activity section to build language and comprehension skills!
Best of all, because these readers are brought to you by the premier publisher of educational books for grades PreK-12, your child will be preparing effectively for the school years ahead!

To win, all you need to do is comment on this post. It's that simple. The drawing will be some time next week. The winner will be contacted via email and the lucky winner will also be posted here at Little Fun; Little Learning.

I'm sorry, but due to shipping costs, this giveaway is limited to US shipping addresses. Please make sure you leave your correct email address in the box and not in the comments. I'd hate for you to get unnecessary spam.

Good luck!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Make it from Scratch Blog Carnival: The Frugal Edition

The Frugal Edition of The Make it from Scratch Blog Carnival is up at A Penny Closer. I've been so busy these past two weeks that I thought I hadn't submitted anything to the carnival. Looks as though I did. My Fun-Filled Friday fall ideas were included. LOL

Stop by the blog carnival for some recipes, crafts, and other make it from scratch ideas.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Clean Up With Clorox

I remember when I started student teaching. I think I was sick just about every day. Finally, I got smart and started disinfecting the desks every day. Things got better after that.

Through all my years of teaching, I've always been creeped out when students come to class coughing, sneezing, and breathing all over the place. Sure, you're supposed to teach them, but you don't want their sickness! And you only have so many sick days. What's a person to do?

Clorox has always been a reliable source for cleaning. I have always felt confident when cleaning with Clorox that the germs would be gone. When the flu is running rampant, you need something you can count on.

That's why I am glad to tell you that Clorox now has a site for parents and teachers. They are providing tips and tools to help expel germs from classrooms. Parents and teachers can log onto the site to download free "Clean Up the Classroom" lesson plans, children's games, and more.

While you're at the Clorox site, you can also register for a free Clean Up the Classroom kit.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Pumpkin Song

Have You Ever Seen?
by Jean Warren
tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie?

Have you ever seen a pumpkin?
A pumpkin, a pumpkin?
Have you ever seen a pumpkin
That grows big and round?
That grows and grows
And grows and grows.
Have you ever seen a pumpkin
That grows big and round?

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Fun-Filled Friday: More Fall Stuff

Hey you all. I'm leaving for Virginia tomorrow to see my buddy Kelly. She co-authors with me at Thrifty Mommy. This week's Fun-Filled Friday is going to be posted a bit early due to our traveling plans.

I did a little digging today and found some activities from when I teaching a 2-year-old preschool class. There are also some things from when my daughter was in a 1-year-old class.

Top picture:
1. There is an orange leaf shape that has been painted, I think with a string. You just dip the string in paint and let the child move the string across the paper.

2. The second is a triangle that is just colored with an orange marker. Previously, I told you about having a color and shape of the month. In October, our shape was a triangle and our color was orange. I actually think this one was something that my daughter did in her 1-year-old class.

3. Last is a fingerpainted pumpkin.

Next picture:

1. A squirrel with cotton glued on his tail. (Supposed to be his tail. lol My daughter was only 1 at the time.) You can also talk to the children about how the squirrels are gathering food for the winter.

2. Another triangle. This one is painted orange. Something else from my daughter's 1-year-old class.

More fall ideas:

1. Ghosts - This one is more for Halloween. You paint the children's hands with white paint and press them on a black piece of paper. The palm of the hand becomes the top of the ghost and the fingers pointing downward are the bottom of the ghost. Glue wiggle eyes on the palm.

2. Watercolor leaves - Trace a leaf pattern onto white paper. Have the children paint the leaf with water color paints. Glue the leaf onto black construction paper.

3. Squirrel - This is a variation of the one shown above. Cut a squirrel out of white construction paper. Let the children color the squirrel grey. Give the children small white squares of tissue paper to glue on the squirrel's tail. Or you can help them wrap the squares around a pencil to make the paper curled and give the tail a more bushy look.

Hope you enjoyed these ideas. There are more fall ideas at Little Fun; Little Learning that have been posted during the last few weeks. I hope you'll stay and lurk around some. :)

Treats Kids Can Make

Better Homes & Gardens has some really cute treats that kids can make. You don't have to be into Halloween to enjoy a lot of these. Some of them would be neat just for fall. Check out the twinkie owl and the cupcake spider. So cute! You could always make the owl for "O Week" or the spider for "S Week". BH&G always has great ideas!

A Rough Week

Sorry I haven't been around much. As I mentioned last week, we were taking the youth from church to camp for a missions weekend. Before we left, Alligator got sick. We had a few rough nights with her coughing and crying. Then she had to be put on a nebulizer.

Friday evening we got to camp and everything was fine. I had been having some problems with allergies and my voice was a little hoarse. Friday night I tossed and turned all night and could hardly get any sleep. I put Alligator in the tiny bed with me because I was worried about her.

Saturday morning I woke up with hardly any voice and I felt horrible and so tired. Throughout the day I got less and less voice, was coughing a lot, and felt more sick. Sunday morning was no better. I could only whisper. It was all I could do to take care of my own children while we were there. I certainly was in no shape to work at the camp. I just wanted to go home to my own bed.

Thankfully, I was able to sleep well Sunday night in my own bed. Nyquil certainly helps out a lot. :) It has been a hard and tiring week. I think I have a sinus infection. I feel awful, but am getting better. The apple cider vinegar remedy seems to be working.

This weekend we're going to visit my buddy Kelly. She is also co-author with me at Thrifty Mommy. We try to go back and visit once a year. I hope I'm feeling better by then.

Hope you're having a good week.

Listening Song

Here's a little song to help get the children's attention and get them to listen. The teacher sings the lead and the children repeat the words in italics. To the tune of "Are You Sleeping?".

Pay attention.
Pay attention.
Eyes on me.
Eyes on me.
Children are you listening?
Children are you listening?
One, two, three.
One, two, three.

Source unknown

Monday, October 22, 2007

Color Pages at Littlest Pet Shop

At The Littlest Pet Shop website, you can send e-cards, play games, color online, and more.

Char also has a tip for us: Did you know that if you press print before you do any coloring, you get a really nice, large Littlest Pet Shop coloring page that your child can color offline? It works for most of the online coloring sites, too.

Thanks for the tip, Char.

I hope you, I mean your daughter, will enjoy this site. :)

Friday, October 19, 2007

Fun-Filled Friday: Short & Sweet

I'm sorry, but this Fun-Filled Friday post will be short. We've had a rough few days. My 4 year-old daughter started feeling sick this week. First it started with a runny nose and then a squeaky voice. Next came the coughing and waking up numerous times during the night. We've had a few restless nights. Last night was the worst. I took her to the doctor today and they put her on a neubulizer. Thankfully, we already have a machine and medicine from my son. The doctor never really said what was wrong, but from what I gathered, I'm thinking it was a cold that quickly developed into croup.

I'm leaving in less than 2 hours for a weekend missions trip with the youth from our church. Before I go, I'll leave you with this link for Noggin. There are cute videos to watch and my daughter really enjoys the doodlepad. This is one of my favorite sites. It can keep you busy for hours.

Well, I better get. I have a ton of stuff to do in a short amount of time. Have a great weekend!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Thoughtful Thursday

Good judgement comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgement.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

This is Daniel Cook

I found this cute, ok cool website today for preschool aged children. It's about this little boy named Daniel Cook. You click on different things and navigate what he does. I played with the game for a few minutes. I took him outside and built a water slide for him for the pool. Then I let him go down the slide and play in the pool.

Here's what the website has to say:

thisisdanielcook.com puts preschoolers in control with bright symbols, spoken instructions and stimulating games and activities. Featuring an animated version of the real Daniel Cook, the site is built around "This is Daniel Cook's playroom" a warm, friendly, virtual room that maintains a messy and creatively inspiring space for preschoolers.

The playroom is filled with colourful objects -- toys, posters, art,
musical instruments -- all from Daniel Cook's adventures. Each one of these
objects launches a game or is a game itself within the playroom.

I hope you'll enjoy This is Daniel Cook.

Wordless Wednesday: NC Aquarium

Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Fun with Oobleck

This project/experiment meets many parents dreams. It is a learning experiment. It's fun. It's easy to make. It will keep your kids occupied for a long time! What is it? It's Oobleck!!!!

My science methods teacher made this with the class when I was in college. We had tons of fun with it and then when I brought it home, my husband couldn't quit playing with the Oobleck either.

Items to collect:

newspaper

measuring cups

1 cup of dry cornstarch

large bowl or pan

green food coloring

½ cup of water

Directions:

1. Cover your table or counter with newspaper.

2. Put the cornstarch into the bowl or pan. Add a few drops of food coloring.

3. Add the water slowly, while mixing.

4. Continue to add water until all of the oobleck feels like a liquid when you’re mixing it.

5. You will know that you have the perfect consistency when you can tap on the surface of the oobleck and it feels like a solid. If it seems too powdery, add a bit more water. If it seems too wet, add more cornstarch.

6. Play and experiment.

Thanks to 5 Minutes for Mom guest writer, Tara Rison, for reminding me about this fun stuff today. Tara also has a website, The Itty-Bitty Bookworm.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Fall Leaf Songs

Here are two common leaf songs. I'm sorry, but I do not know their source. They are cute songs and children really seem to like them. Of course, you can add hand movements too.

The Leaves on the Trees
(tune of The Wheels on the Bus)
The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown, orange and brown, orange and brown.
The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown, all over town.

The leaves on the trees come tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down.
The leaves on the trees coming tumbling down, all over town.

The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish.
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish, all over town.

The Leaves are Falling Down
(tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
Red, yellow, green and brown
The leaves are falling down

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Fun-Filled Friday: Fall Arts & Crafts

Tanyetta emailed me and asked for fall/nature craft ideas. Here are some that I have used in past years with my preschool classes. The children really seem to enjoy doing these. I hope you enjoy them. If you need help with some ideas or a particular theme, leave a comment and I'll try to help you. :)

Fall Tree

This can be done 2 different ways.
1) Trace child's forearm and hand. Have child color the hand and forearm brown to be the tree trunk and branches. Give the child brown, green, yellow, orange, and red construction paper. Help the child tear the paper into little pieces. Glue the pieces on the tree and on the ground to be the leaves.
Or
2) Paint child's forearm and hand with brown tempera paint. Press the hand and forearm onto the construction paper. This makes the trunk and branches for the tree. Leaves can be made by dipping the child's fingers into different colors of paint (brown, green, yellow, orange, red) and pressing onto the paper.

Fall Collage

1)Take children on a nature walk. Let them collect leaves, gum balls, small twigs, etc. Glue the items onto construction paper.
Or
2) Take children on a nature walk. Collect different types and colors of leaves. Glue them onto construction paper. Label the paper "Leaves are Falling".

Leaf Rubbings

Collect several different types of leaves. Place a leaf on the table and cover it with thin paper. Take a crayon and rub the paper. Use different leaves and colors of crayons.

Leaf People

Collect different types of leaves. Have the children pick out leaves to be the bodies of the people. Glue them onto the paper. Have the children add head, arms, legs, feet, etc to their leaf people.

Golf Ball Leaves

Cut leaf shapes out of construction paper or paper for painting. Put the leaf shapes into a box top (like you would get with a case of copy paper). Dip golf balls or marbles into fall colored paints (using a plastic spoon works well). Put golf balls into the box top and help the child roll the golf balls around, making prints on top of leaf shapes.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Wordless Wednesday: Fun Visiting Grandma & Grandpa

Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

The Blogtoberfest Has Begun

The Blogtoberfest at Thrifty Mommy has officially begun. There are some cool prizes up for grabs. Be sure to check out Thrifty Mommy and the other b5 media Family & Relationships blogs for prizes. There is a list of all the blogs in the sidebar at Thrifty Mommy. I'm so excited to be giving away stuff. Click here to see a list of some of the prizes. Thrifty Mommy will be giving away three prizes. Yay!

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Fun-Filled Friday: Fire Prevention

October is Fire Prevention month, so why not teach your kids something while allowing them to have fun?! Here are some links to some great fire prevention activities:

DLTK Kids

Activity Idea Place

Angel Fire

Preschool Education, snacks, songs.

USFA Kids, here too

Perpetual Preschool

Home fire plan coloring pages

Sparky the Fire Dog

Staying Alive

Apples 4 the Teacher

Do 2 Learn

Firefighters are My Friends Coloring Book - I did this one last year with my preschoolers.

Can You Relate?

My buddy Kelly posted this at my other blog, Thrifty Mommy. I thought it was hilarious and wanted to show it with you. Listen closely to the words.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Wordless Wednesday: Kitty, Kitty

Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Free Stuff at Discovery Learning

I stumbled across Discovery Learning today and found puzzles, lesson plans, clip art, curriculum ideas, and so much more. My favorites were the lesson plans and clip art. Isn't the little girl raking the leaves cute?

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