Kids Crafty Bottle Bird Feeder

Materials list for the Kids Crafty Bird Feeder

1. Empty Liter Bottles with Lids
2. Bulk Wooden Spoons (Available at the Dollar Store)
3. Bulk Wild Bird Seed
4. Scissors
5. Sharpie Marker
6. Masking Tape
7. Small Eye Hook Screw(s) (Enough for each lid)
8. Twine or yarn
9. A nice shade tree with sturdy branches

The Process

Teacher Prep: Use a sharpie and mark two sections per spoon you would like to have them placed. Make sure your "entrance and exit" Sharpie marks are parallel to one another. After you punch small holes in the marks with the tip of your scissors, place one more just above one of the holes. This third hole will disperse seed in the bowl of the spoon.
Get the lid, and screw in the eye hook in the center of the lid. Make sure it's secure.

The Kids Part: Give the children the wooden spoon(s) and allow them to figure out how to put them through the proper holes. This is a great fine motor exercise. When they are finished have them clip a piece of masking tape to cover the 'third seed dispensing hole'.

Allow the children to fill the bottle with the seed and place the lid on top. They will place a length of twine through the whole and tie it.
We love to go out as a group and pick our branches to tie them to. It's then that we take the tape off and allow the bowl of the spoons to fill with seed.

Be sure to get a camera. The kids love to show their families proof that the birds came!

Bird picture found on Facebook from All it Takes is a Can Opener & Crockpot.

Kids Nature Fine Motor Fun

My kids just love nature and chasing birds. We put together a great fine motor nature activity that not only satisfied their love of their feathered friends-but strengthened those little fingers! Hope you love it as much as our kids do!

Materials for Kids Nature Fine Motor Fun

1. Small plastic tubs or use a Large Sensory Table
2. Bag of white rice-enough to fill tub at least 1/3 of the way.
3. Brown food coloring or Bio color
4. One large Ziploc bag
5. Newsprint paper
6. Clothes pins
7. Pipe Cleaners (green, yellow, brown) or any color that could represent a nice juicy worm.
8. Optional: Rubbing Alcohol
9. Scissors
10. Small Paper Cups
11. Scotch Tape

The Process: (The kids love to help with the set up)

1. Place rice in Ziploc and add small amounts of food color or Bio color. Zip the bag shut and knead in the color until it's a nice brown color. Lay it out on newsprint to dry-it usually takes about 30 minutes. I you want faster drying time add a bit of rubbing alcohol as you knead in the color-we found it also makes the color a bit more vibrant, too.
2. Cut small 2 or 3 inch lengths of pipe cleaner (the more the better)-these will represent the worms. We found an adorable way to make worms with the kids, too (check out Alexandra Wishes for her great idea)
3. Each child will have a clothes pin-this is the birds beak. Some of the children really wanted to decorate their 'birdies' and that turned into another activity all together-of course, we were happy to oblige and they trotted off the the art center and used magic markers and wiggle eyes.

The Procedure: Place the dry rice in the sensory table and hide the "worms" inside. Our sensory table comfortably accommodates six children so we taped six cups along the inside wall of the tub with a plain clothes pin inside.
 Let the children know they are the hungry birds that need to find the worms in the "brown dirt". They can put their 'worms' in the cups and we count how many they found.

OMG! We love this chubby worms from Alexandra Wishes

Note: You may want to purchase extra clothes pins because many of the children insisted it would be better if they decorated their own bird beaks to use outside and take home. Don't you just love it when kids are so involved in the curriculum.

This activity also works great in small individual tubs-but for great socialization opportunities, use the a giant sensory table.
We just love kids spring crafts, how about you?

Kids Ocean Wave Bottles Craft

 

There is nothing like taking a bit of the beach home with you. As a California girl, myself I love to bring the ocean and science into the classroom to share with the children.

I used to make wonderful wave bottles for used plastic water bottles, however, times being what they are businesses use much less plastic (great for our environment), but not when it comes to the durability of our kids projects.

The families and I found a great option that the children love; we use these ocean bottles as staple pieces in the classroom, as well gift ideas! Here is a craft I guarantee your preschoolers and families will love!

How to Make Kids Ocean Theme Wave Bottles

More Ocean in a Bottle Ideas!

Cheap clear baby bottles (We go to a local Dollar Store)

Bags of small shells (Any dollar or craft store has these)

Soft clean sand or washed pea gravel (Just enough to settle nicely on the bottom of the bottle)

Small Rubber Sea Creatures (Optional but the kids love them)

Large container of Baby Oil (Optional-give you that wave effect)

Blue Food Color or Bio Color

Silver Glitter (Optional but very pretty)

Masking Tape

Funnel

Water

Procedure: Keep the lids and allow the children scoop in a couple spoonfuls of sand or gravel. Allow children to select 3-5 shells depending to the size and one sea creature to place in the bottle.

Have the children mark a halfway point with the masking tape on their bottle. Let the kids add in their water to the mark and funnel in the baby oil almost to the top. Be sure they are holding it securely so it won’t spill.

Add in one drop of food coloring and a dash of glitter. Now securely tighten the bottle with the bottle plug minus the rubber nipple.

There! Now you're kids have captured the ocean in a pinch!

Kids Newspaper Sun Hats

Have you ever had those activities where you just simply had to do them every time the season rolls around? Okay, twist my arm, the sun is out and the kids can now make their new paper sun hats!

I can show you a great  modification for the boys that will give it that cool-factor, too!

How to Make Kids Newspaper Sun Hats:

Materials Needed: 

1. Tons of Newspaper (Have parent start saving)
2. Masking Tape
3. Had Picked Flowers (from a nature walk)
4. Phone Books (Optional is you would like to make the flowers)

The Process:

We do this in a small group activity so have the children standing and gathered around the the child that will go first.

1. Have all the children drape large opens sheets of newspaper over the child's head. We tell them to be sure we can't see their face or head! The children love this part because they play peek-a-boo, and 'Guess-who' under the newspaper.
2. I wrap a strip of making take around the child's head two or three times, once we have all smoothed down the newspaper. It is best to start about where the child's eyes are so be sure to hold them close to you during this process. We forewarn them it the tape will sound a bit loud but we are all looking out for them! We even have the group hold the child's hands to steady them because they won't be able to see for a few seconds.
3. As a group we begin rolling up the loose newspaper up the the masking tape strip while it's still on the child's head. Ah, at last! Now they can see and have a wonderful new sun hat!



Pix from Folding Tree!

4. Flowers: We use old phone books for the flowers of these hats. This project can go on for quite some time decorating them! We actually have a hat parade for the parents so we don't mind taking our time. If you decide to paint them be sure to allow a few days to completely dry.
5. Modifications for the Boys: While some boys didn't care for the same look the girls had, they did come up with a clever idea. The Fire Hat! We used the same process but didn't roll the back part of the hat and trimmed it to square it off. Kind of a paper mullet look, but paint it red and you have that cool-factor both boys and girls love.

Bone-ified Dinosaur Activities for Kids

Preschooler have always had a fascination with bones and fossils. Dinosaurs are a great way to introduce an amazing sense of wonder through the science of it all. How bones are found and collected tell us so much about these great leviathans. With young children, by simply peeking their interest and fascination, you can take your preschool curriculum to new levels of learning. Here are some of the best bone and fossil curriculum we gathered to share with you and your classrooms

Dinosaur Bone Activities Kids Will Love

Milk Bone Dig

Materials needed: Paper bags, Markers, dinosaur stickers (optional), Boxes of Dog Milk Bones (from the dollar store), an outdoor sand box, digging tools and old clean paint brushes (any size)
Procedure: Adults bury milk bones in the sandbox and set out buckets and brushes. Children decorate bags and explain to children how dinosaur bones are found and cleaned by archeologists. Let the children know you will be going on a bone hunt and to walk carefully as they dig. We love to share our stories of our finds after the dig! Bones can be brushed clean and taken home to a very lucky dog!

Dinoaur Tar Pits

Materials Needed: Cornstarch, water, black food coloring or paint, large plastic dinosaurs, sensory tub, smocks
Procedure: Mix cornstarch and water with enough black food coloring for a nice gooey tar effect. Place your "Tar Mixture" in a large sensory tub with the dinosaurs. Dinosaurs will actually "stick" in the tar mixture which gives the kids a really good idea how difficult it could have been to escape.

Clay fossils 

Materials Needed: Modeling clay (you can purchase it in bulk at the art stores) or Air Dry Clay works nicely as well. Small plastic dinosaur skeletons, work trays, smocks, Optional: glue/water solution, paint brush, and with iridescent glitter
Procedure:  Distribute wet clay on tray and have the children make a flat thick slab with their hands. (I give the children time to explore the clay before we actually begin) After the clay is flat the children press the dinosaur skeletons in the clay and we let it dry. It creates wonderful fossil-like impressions what look great brushed with the glitter and glue solution!
Bone Explorers

Materials: Saved bones parents have saved, cleaned and bleached dry-Chicken and beef work really well. Dinosaur skeletons, potting soil, sensory tub, clay work tools and small paint brushes (for sweeping debris from bones), magnifiers, rocks and bits of twigs
Procedure: Arrange bones and dinosaurs hidden in the potting soil in a large sensory tub. Rock and bits of nature really add to the look and feel of and actual archeologists bone dig!
Make a Bone: How about making your own dinosaur bone? Check out The Yellow Fence on blogger!

Teaching Young Children About Bugs

"I loved being outside. We'd hold lightning bugs in our fingers and pretend they were diamond rings."

~Loretta Lynn

It's that time of year again. All kinds of bugs and insects are sure to be stuffed in children's pockets and endlessly poked at. I have complied some tips that not only the bugs would appreciate, but the parents as well.

Tips for Teaching Young Children About Bugs

"Okay kids, guess who this is?"

Small Group Learning: I like to gather the children into small groups and help them make a list of all the bugs they can think of on the white board. I'll draw very simple pictures for them as they discuss what insects they have seen and describe what they look like. In order to help children recognize the insects, I collect photographs I have downloaded from the computer.

Tell Bug Stories: Yes, there are wonderful books out there but nothing beats our own stories and experiences when it comes to sharing about bugs. The kids love to hear how I was never afraid of spiders and how one once got stuck in my hair. It also encourages stories from the children so you may want to have a tape recorder or pen and paper handy.

Keeping Learning Simple: we discuss what the bugs do, how they look and perhaps why they are made the way they are. We always go back to relating to ourselves, and why we are made the way we are, too!

"Iron Cross Blister Beetles are mommies, too!"

Creating Bug Compassion: Sounds kind of silly, but it is necessary in studying bugs with young children. Often our prized study subjects will get smashed by will meaning preschoolers thinking they are nasty little intruders. I use friendly bug puppets and have conversations about the similarities between us and nature. Bugs have mommies, daddies, babies. Bug have favorite foods, live in bug houses and make friends....
Sounds pretty simplistic, but it works. I have often heard the children saying, "This bug is somebody's mommy, don't squish her!"

Growing in the Preschool Classroom

I love growing in the preschool classroom. I think that is why I have always have bits of nature, critters and assorted plant life perched somewhere. Growing seeds is a wonderful process for preschoolers to see all year round because it truly demonstrates that all things take time grow, and go through a process to mature.
In a world of fast food, microwave dinners and artificial whats-its, it's a nice reminder that through: patience, care and cultivation- good thing come to those who wait.

Fish Tank Growing

In all my years I have never been short of a fish tank. The kids use these for group growing projects all year long.
Come Spring and Summer we do catch and release of little insects and wiggly finds.

Classroom Jar Growing

Avocados take time to grow. I have the children take turns caring for them by changing the water supply regularly, and checking for sprouts.
The children may not ooodle over them, but they know their there and require care and love.

Paper Towel Growing

Preschoolers love this one. What could be simpler than wetting a paper towel, keeping it moist, and letting thee seeds take their course? The children love using a squirt bottle to freshen them up.

These are lemon seeds but any seed will do.


Growing in Cups

I avoid crafty projects when when I really want the children to experience the science of how things grow.
No stickers or wiggle eyes here, because it can sometimes take away from the organic beauty of nature.

Growing in Plastic Bags

This activity goes so smoothly and quickly the children will often forget they actually did it!

We found a remedy for that by having them water them daily with a squirt bottle and marking the growth with a black sharpie.

I never thought this idea would catch on with the children but it did when I suggested they name their sprouts.

This one is affectionately named, "Sugar Pie".
FYI: These definitely have a shelf life of about two weeks in the preschool room. After that 'Sugar Pie' won't live up to the sweet smell of her name....

Recycled Kid Craft Projects



TP Roll Seed Pots from Bonzai Aphroditie

I love recycled arts and crafts. The idea of doing so something to reduce waste as well as making something beautiful really appeals to me! I also use this as a time to let kids know and be aware that there are so many creative crafts they can to with supplies from home!

Be sure to share easy ideas with families by posting them in your newsletters! Parents are not only grateful, but see that we are saving them money, too!

Here is another Honorable Mention shout for those bloggers and sites that will help you get your recycling on!

Kids Bee Bracelet by Kangaroo Boo

Sssss-nakes from Play Pennies

From Kangarooboo

From the Ramblings of a Crazy Woman

Just one of 3 crafts showcased @ My Plum Pudding

From cuffs to spiders, check out Family Crafts

The egg carton bouquet

Woolly Sheep from Kids Craft Weekly

Crafts and Things for Children

Kids Nature Walk Terrariums

Look what we found!

I love going on nature walks. Especially, when the weather is nice. I will usually take out my group of kids; paper bags in tow, and we march along singing every song we know while picking up bits of nature. By the time we get back: share our finds, and are ready for a nap, nature has made a lovely fragrant carpet all over the classroom!

Now, we have found a lovely Nature Terrarium project that the parents won't mind the children taking home.

What You'll Need Before Your Nature Walk: 

• Assorted clean small jars with lids
• Moss (At local pet shops or craft supply stores)
• Small bowl of water or squirt bottle of water
• Magnifiers (optional)

What the Children Should Look for During the Nature Walk:

• Pine Needles
• Leaves
• Twigs
• Flowers
• Bark

Pix from ourbigearth.com

The Process: Spread out all your findings on a table and inspect them with magnifiers. Gently dampen pieces of moss and securely cover the bottom of the lid with it. from there the kids can make nature arrangements with their findings in the moss.
Once they are finished, help them fasten the lid over their work. The jar helps hold the moss and everything in place!
How to care for you Nature Walk Terrarium: Place it in a lovely place in the classroom to showcase them in indirect sunlight.

Thank you Robbin Rivers from ourbigearth.com for this great idea!



Favorite Kids Melted Crayon Gift Projects

Crayon Melted Rock Paperweights and much more! (This photo is from pepperpaints.com)

By far, some of the easiest and most beautiful gift project ideas have always been the simplest. I haven't quite figured out if the beauty is in the simplicity or that its just so beautifully fun and economical. I suspect a bit of both I guess.

How to Make Melted Crayon Paper Weights:
I am modifying this original post for Hot Rocks because I was really trying to figure a way to do it with the youngest of children without any ouchies. I mean, you say to a group of preschoolers, "watch out, sweetie, it's hot." Someone is bound to test the 'how-hot-is-it-theory'. Have kids create their own crayon shavings by crushing them in bags or with cheese graters and then the children can arrange the shaving on a rock before it goes in the oven. Bake it at 130F for about 5-7 minutes and let it cool. It makes an awesome paperweight gift!

Heat pottery and color it! Great gift idea!

How to Make Melted Crayon Pottery:

Materials Needed:

• Crayons
• Oven
• Small Ceramic Flower Pots
• Old Mittens for the children
• Adult Oven Mitts
• Table covered in newsprint
• Handy bowl of ice water
• Black Marker for names

Process: Write the children's names on the inside of the pot before baking. Heat the flower pots in the oven at approximately 130-150F. Any young children doing this product must wear mittens for protection while they freely color the pottery with crayons. As you can see, it's a beautiful effect.
We keep ice water handy for the tempted little ones that feel temp checks are needed. For any toasted little fingers~they quickly take the plunge!

Gift Idea: After it has completely cooled, place colored tissue papers inside with a handmade card or a seedling that the child has helped sprout.

Extension: Standard crayons look great, but if you add a few glitter crayons it really adds that special touch!

Homemade Kids Math Activities

I try to never fight a child's natural inclination towards nature. By playing into their natural curiosity it has made for wonderful and economic classroom materials. Kids math activities don't have to be expensive. I have always loved bringing as much nature into the classroom as possible!

Materials You Will Need:

1. Polished Rocks
2. White Paint Pen
3. Small bags or simple plastic containers

Note: I personally like to purchase small individual bags for the children to have as group math activities. There is something about having materials of their own to use. It was just so economical I couldn't resist! OF course it can also be made as a wonderful  shared math activity, as well.

Rock Dominoes @ marthastewart.com

Here is How to Make Homemade Kids Math Activities From Rocks:

The Process: Draw numbers and  the matching specific numbers of dots on each of the rocks. The Paint Pen allows for plenty of fingers handling it as well as occasional touch ups once the math has been loved off of it. I usually put numbers on one side and the corresponding dots on the other.

The Procedure: Once they have dried, place them all in mini bags for the math activities!

We found some other creative links for rock activities such as Mod Podge Rocks! 'Love Rocks' by Amy. Brilliant and great for matching and serration!

There are so many great ways to make children's math activities.
What ways are you Recession Chic in your classroom?



Kids and Rainy Days

Make no mistake.
Never simply ask your children what they would like to do on a rainy day.
We can almost guarantee that what they feel like doing,
you won't feel like managing.

Unless........
You really aren't in it for the money.

Preschool Kids Q-Tip Snow Flake Craft

Snowflakes glittering from the sky

Snowflakes, snowflakes, up so high

Snowflakes, snowflakes, soft and white

Snowflakes, snowflakes, a beautiful sight!

Q-Tips are so versatile! We we always keep them on hand for engaging crafts for our preschoolers. A winter time favorite is cutting Q-Tips to make beautiful, unique snow flakes. The kids love to cut them all themselves so there is minimal preparation on the teachers part.
Here is what you'll need to get started.

How to Make Q-Tip Snow Flakes With Preschoolers:

• Lots of Q-Tips
• Small cup of glue
• Blue construction paper
• Scissors
• Pictures of snow flakes

The Introduction: Be sure to show the children pictures of snow flakes. This is a great opportunity to give them some really great facts on snow flakes and really finding out what they know about them. Each snow flake is unique and beautiful, just like they are!

The Process: Allow children to freely cut the Q-Tips. They love this part! Pass out small cups of glue and let children arrange them on the paper. Allow them to figure out how they will glue it down to adhere on the paper.
What Skills Kids are Learning: Spacial awareness, fine motor, problem solving, counting and math, balance and symmetry
Extensions: 

• Instead of colored construction paper have the children paint their own winter sky as the background.
• Use clear of silver glitter for a celestial effect!

What other successful snow flake project do your children enjoy?

Ten Fabulous Fall Leaf Activites For Kids!

Take advantage of these ten fabulous fall leaf ideas for kids! Whether you work in a classroom or are looking to keep a little one busy; these ideas will surely warm up the chilly days of Fall!

Ten Fall Leaf Activities to Look Forward to This Season:
1. Make a leaf compost for a garden!
2. Make a lovely fall wreath by painting a shaped paper plate with orange glue paint. The more leaves the better!
3. Make a leaf collection to display. We love to have the children create a graph and we work to categorize them by shapes and colors!

4. Go on a fall nature walk to crate a leaf bouquet. We love to wrap our bouquets in orange and yellow tissue paper and tie them off with raffia bows or corn husks. Many fall leaves are very fragrant and the children are always excited to give them as gifts!
5. Use contact paper or packing tape and seal the leaves inside to make a special book mark. Adding bits of fall confetti or stickers add a special touch!
6. Create leaf rubbings! Place them under white paper and use the edge of a crayon to shade them in. It's an instant masterpiece even for very young children to try.
7. How about raking up a pile and simply jumping in! A great way to get the wiggles out as well as laugh with all your friends.

8. Make a fall collage with leaves, sticks, and corn husks on a small sheet of tag board. We add to it throughout the week as the children cut out fall images from magazines. Got a story to tell? When the project is finished be sure to take dictation from them about their beautiful fall art.
9. Feeling really crafty? How about decoupaging fall leaves on a votive glass to make special gifts for the holidays.
10. Make your own fall leaf print handkerchiefs. Simply cut squares on muslin fabric from a fabric store (very inexpensive). Lay the fresh picked leaves in a pattern on the floor and place the fabric over it. Now gently pound the leaves with a mallet and the colored moisture from the leaves will show through on the hanky! Yes, it's washable but avoid 'bleaching' the lovely colors by using a color safe bleach detergent.