Kids Pink Yink Drinks by Dr. Seuss

Pix from Kid Independant

This one, I think, is called a Yink.
He likes to wink, he likes to drink.
He likes to drink, and drink, and drink.
The thing he likes to drink is ink.
The ink he likes to drink is pink.
He likes to wink and drink pink ink.
SO...if you have a lot of ink,
then you should get a Yink, I think.
From: One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

Now that's what I'm talking about!

Ingredients Needed:
½ cup frozen blackberries (fresh if available)
½ cup fresh strawberries (if available)
1 cup thawed frozen strawberries
1 tsp honey
1 cup whole milk 

Prep Materials:

Blender, cups, straws, napkins, measuring cups, mixing bowl, large spoon

The Process: 

1. Have the kids place the blackberries in a blender and puree them.
2. Help kids pour the puree into a separate large mixing bowl.
3. Assist the children in measuring and the milk, strawberries and honey back in a blender and quickly puree the mixture.
4. Have you cups ready because you will help the children pour the strawberry mixture carefully on top of the blackberry mixture. This creates two colorful layers.

Note: 

Yikes! I think I missed a step!

the reason we don't mix all the berries together is because the delicious concoction doesn't look so delicious. 

Unless you are doing a unit on the color, 'brown-grey' we humbly suggest the layering method.

No really kids, try it! It's supposed to be pink!

How to Make Kids Friendly Smoothies

Smoothies are easy to put together. Use whatever fruit you have available and add a little milk, some yogurt and some ice cubes. It really is that simple. You can also add extra flavors like sugar or vanilla. We prefer to leave the sugar out the preschoolers not only for health reasons but we want to appreciate the real flavors of the fruits. What I love about smoothies is that they are great for any time of year, and it's a fun way for the children to get their calcium!

 Kids love to cut and wash all the fruits!

Big Blue Fruit Smoothie
Carton of blueberry yogurt
1 cup of milk
1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries, strawberries or peaches
½ cup ice cubes
Have the children add all together in blender and blend until smooth.

The Straw-bana Smoothie
1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
2 cups orange juice
1 banana, cut in pieces
½ cup milk
2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
Have the children add all together in blender and blend until smooth.

The Van-anna Smoothie
1 cup yogurt plain, vanilla or flavored
1 banana or other kid favorite fruits
1 cup milk
1/2 cup ice cubes
Have the children add all together in blender and blend until smooth.

What kinds of smoothies do your kids enjoy?

How to Make a Purple Cow with Kids

The Purple Cow
By: Gelett Burgess
 

I never saw a purple cow, 

I never hope to see one,

But I can tell you, anyhow,

I'd rather see one than be one.

There is a peculiar excitement in the air when word gets out we will be making "Purple Cows' with the kids in the preschool. I love when something so simplistic can make a teachers day and a child's entire week!

How to make a Purple Cow:

1 part vanilla ice cream (optional)

1 part milk or soy milk

1 part grape juice

1/3 cup measuring cups

Ice cream scoop (optional)

Cups (for everyone)

Purple food coloring (optional)

Plastic spoons (for everyone)

Straws (optional)

Process: Have the children sit at a table a measure out the contents in each cup. I give them their own individual spoon to blend each ingredient. I usually have clear plastic cups for the children but it's not necessary. If you do decide to add some purple food coloring it gives it a gorgeous vibrant color that the children 'oooo-dle' over. We usually do give the children straws to drink it. There is something about straws and kids that just seem to go hand in hand.

What We Learned:

• Hand-eye coordination
• Spatial Awareness
• Math and Measuring
• "Cooking" and Creating

Ice and Preschool Curriculum

I love using ice with kids! Kids naturally gravitate toward water play so why not introduce some of its other forms! Here are some different areas of the curriculum we have used ice!

Ice and Preschool Curriculum:
Animal Habitats: What animals live in cold climates? Filling large bins or a table with ice and providing small plastic animals that live in these icy climates will immediately engage preschoolers. Why do animals look the way they do? How do these animals keep warm? Kids can get really creative with answers! We also like to provide real pictures of the polar animals nearby as well a great books they tell kids the real story!
Science Experiments: Did you know simple experiments with salt and ice get kids thinking? Not always understanding exactly how and why through experimentation we motivate out kids by creating a sense of wonder!
Materials: Ice cube, paper plate, table salt, a small length of string

Procedure: Set ice cube on the plate and pour table salt on top. Now lay a string across the ice and wait. Gently lift off the string with both hands and you will be lifting the ice cube as well! What kind of questions would you ask to get kids thinking?
What Can Water Do?: Fill two latex gloves, one with ice cubes and another with water. Ask the kids to feel them. How does each one look? Why does it look that way? Which one is water? Allow the ice to melt on the glove during the day and see what happens.
Making ice pops with kids really helps them to to use all their senses and how the properties of water change.
Art Activity: Color water with different shades of food coloring or Bio Color. Then freeze them in trays. After they are frozen let the kids slide them around on paper to make gorgeous watery art!

What activities do you like with ice?

How to Make Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag

Materials Needed for Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag:

1 gallon sized resealable bag,

1 quart sized resealable bag,

1/2 c Milk

1/ 1/2-2 tbsp. sugar,

1tsp. vanilla extract or cocoa powder,

2 trays of ice cubes,

6 tbsp. of salt or rock salt (the more salt the colder it can get)

winter mittens or oven mitts

Optional: fruits, chocolate chips, syrups or added extracts

This makes a small amount of ice cream but kids love it if you would like to make ice cream in a snap! Kids hands may often get tired shaking the bag so it's best to take turns!

What a great way to have fun with math, measuring and pouring! It's a great science activity because it incorporates all the five senses as well!

Have a great time and enjoy!

Doing a Nature Collage with Preschoolers

 "Creativity is thinking up new things. 

Innovation is doing new things."

~Theodore Levitt

 On a beautiful day I will have the children go on a nature walk with me. We will usually decorate a small paper bag and go outside specifically looking for beautiful things in bloom or something we haven't noticed before. We have a casual conversation about being careful not to disturb out "bug friends" but we all can definitely have a look. Most children really don't stop and notice nature in a world of rushing from one place to another. It's nice to have some time and make a project out of the time we spend together.

Nature Collage Materials Needed:

• Paper bags and crayons to color them (of course this can even be a project in itself!)
• Contact paper (or substitute with tape) 
• Construction paper (any color)
• One marker to write down their words. 
• One Large sheet of newsprint.

Procedure:

This can be done at a table, at a circle time in small groups or done over a period over a few days depending on the number of children you have. The kids love the individual attention and a group is sure to gather to hear the story.

1. Ask the child to empty the bag onto the newsprint and everyone have a look and touch at what was found.It may have a fragrance or weight to it. Ask the child to recall where they found it and what they think it is.
2. Write down their words on the construction paper and tape or place the bit of nature on the construction paper. Use your discretion if there are multiple bits of nature-they can always be placed back in the bag as a treasure.
3. When finished have the child help you place the sheet of contact paper over the collage to seal and press it. Voila, your done.

Activites For The Five Senses in Early Childhood Education

"There are children playing in the streets who could solve some of my top problems in physics, because they have modes of sensory perception that I lost long ago."

~J. Robert Oppenheimer

Listen! Do you smell that?
No…not really. Actually my nose doesn’t work like it used to. I think it needs more chocolate to function, but children' senses have always been another story.
To see, hear, smell, taste, and touch, I can’t imagine going without any of my five senses…even though some seem to be going….ahem. The only preschool activity I can really think of that include all the senses in early childhood education would be cooking with kids. I love that!
One of my favorite things to do is Rainbow Toast:
Materials
*Toaster
*4 Small cups (per child) of water or milk with food coloring (various colors)
*White bread (is best). Get a few loaves they usually make 2.
*1 plate per child
*Q-tips for painting on bread
*Butter/Jam/spreading knives or popsicle sticks

Procedure
Allow four children at a time to freely paint on bread with colored water or milk mixture. Let them know painting softly will not put a hole in the bread. Write name on individual plates as child works. Pop them in the toaster and when the rainbow toast is done I have them eat it at a separate designated table where they can socialize near by. I mark on their plate how many they have made but it is up to you of course.
(It’s best in the morning, but hey…who doesn’t like toast anytime?)
What are some wonderful sensory experiences you enjoy with your children?
I have found we all have our personal preferences, some of us don't like to get messy or cook. Either way, kids still manage to get into things don't they, lol!