Elmer the Elephant Easy Kids Craft

There is something about Elmer the Elephant all kids seem to relate to and love! I find drawing of Elmer strewn all over the art table after we read this story to the kids. The drawings make a lovely patchwork of their own on the table. Here is a really easy Elmer craft we discovered made from plastic milk the parents we saving for us. They came just in time and the preparation was well worth it!



Material for Elmer the Elephant Easy Kids Craft:

We recomend you do this with the leftovers!

1. Colored tissue paper the children cut into squares 
2. Large plastic milk cartons (with a handle) 
3. White Glue
4. Water and Small Cups (enough for everyone)
5. Paint Brushes 
6. Wiggle Eyes
7. Scissors

 The Process

Pre-cut the milk carton's, just so, and make 1 part water, 2 parts glue solution in cups for each of the kids. 

They love helping with this!

After the children have cut out all the tissue squares give them the cartons and cups with paintbrushes.

Ta-Da! Here He is!

After the kids begin gently painting the cartons they can apply the tissue paper and gently paint it down with the glue solution. 

Try not to soak Elmer or the tissue will slide off.

The children are guaranteed to be delighted! Be sure to put on his eyes after he is dry!

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.

Just Do It

When I was a little girl I really wanted to be a ballerina. I was about 4 years old and I only had to see the Nut Cracker one time before I know that was it. My foundation was sent and I had wrapped re-bar around that notion.
My parents didn't have much money but made a way for me to go to ballet lessons. I was very small for my age and my sister joked that my tutu was more or less a one-one. I worked really hard but my teacher finally confided that I would be too small to ever really dance.
I was heartbroken.
My parents sat down with me and told me that whatever I had a mind to do. Just do it. Don't listen to what anyone has to say. That conversation really changed my life. I decided later that I wasn't going to pursue ballet about a year later. The Olympics came on and I saw the gymnasts. That was it again!
I am glad my family really supported me through my hundreds of career ideas. I never would have known what to do unless I gave it my all.

What dreams did you have as a kid?

Making Your Own Watercolors

I love the look of watercolors. It is a very soothing activity for kids to do when they will be indoors and away from the elements. I had often thought of ways to extend on watercolors and finally found a way. I'm sure it's not original but it's a great way for kids of all ages to enjoy art as well as science.

How to make your own watercolors:

Materials: clear plastic cups (mini butter cups will do, too) have at least 3-5 for each child, warm water (it activates color faster) in a pitcher, various shades of colored tissue paper (starting out with red, blue and yellow is best), white paper, thin paint brushes
The Procedure: pour small amounts of water in each cup and allow children to select a few sheets of different shades of tissue paper. Children will need to tear small pieces of tissue and place them in the water.
The Process: The children will see the tissue colors bleed into the water as it creates their watercolors. Mixing various tissue colors in the water will change the colors! When your desired color is reached, you may begin painting.

Some kids never get past the color mixing process. We are always sure to have plenty of water on hand so kids can start over with their colors when they like! This art will produce a bit of texture left over from the tissue. Some kids like the effect but some may choose to pick the tissue of the remaining paper.
What we love about this activity is it stimulates fine motor skills, cognitive thinking, and promotes language development.

What are some things you like about creating your own colors with kids?

What Kids Like

Kids like

mud and noise

and democracy and experinemtation

and wheelbarrows and shovels

and hammocks and wagons

and drums and gongs

and magnets and mirrors

and sticks and timers

and clocks and stopwatches

and spontinaity and unafraid teachers

and visitors and singing

and animals and sand and water

and making things and coconuts and hammers

and cooking and weighing

and measuring and balancing

and feeling a hundred of something

and climbing trees

and walking in the rain

and play spaces they make for themselves

and umbrellas

and baking their own birthday cakes

and digging holes and being outdoors (without coats)

and soft things for quiet moments

and wondering

and teachers who like them.

Going Fast

I was thinking....
Being in early childhood education is a big responsibility. Children tend to learn what they live. In a world of fast food, instant mashed potatoes and canned curriculum...
For goodness, sake we have lemonade made from artificial lemons and furniture polish made from real lemons. Well, I said all that to say it is not only important for us grown folks to take time and smell the roses but our kids, too.
Going fast and getting everything instantly isn't always such a good thing.
My mom always said it's good for the soul when you sit and wait for something that's coming slow...

Making Word Maps With Preschoolers

I know I have a difficult time reading maps. I still agonize over which way is north or or south. I will usually get frustrated and ask for visual landmarks. My word maps consist of, "If you pass the yellow dog in the yard you have gone too far, go just beyond the blue house and our location is where the green truck in the driveway is."
I wondered how I could teach very young children about following directions while making it fun. Word maps came to mind. Here is how we do it in preschool.

How to do word maps with preschoolers:
Materials: mini toy compasses (optional, but can be bought in bulk at party stores as party favors), paper,strips of paper, tape, a large room, pen, scissors, your imagination.

Process: Draw a simple map of the room where you would what the children to go. Pick 5-7 areas of the room to begin with, once the kids understand what is going on they will definitely want you to extend this activity and do it again.
Cut paper into strips and write clues for exactly where you want the children to look. Keep the first clue and tape the rest in a hidden spot on the location they are to look. This will be in a sequential order so numbering your clues might help.

As kids guess, they can walk over as a group or individually to search for the taped clue in the area they are looking. I like to use colored paper and love to rhyme my clue, but that's not necessary.We all clap and cheer when we are finished finding all the clues. Sometimes I leave a prize at hidden with the last clue (individual bags of fruit loops, stickers, etc.). We worked as a team and are rewarded as a team.
As an extension I introduce compasses and show the children how they work. We use them while finding the clues and I will write down the results in the map.
Word maps are great ways to enhance preschoolers cognitive skills, language development, spacial awareness, sequencing, memory and recall, even motor skills.
Sometimes we all wind up outside depending on the clues. At the end of the circle time activity we try to recall all the places we went!

Creating an Environment for Kindness with Kids

"No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure."
~Emma Goldman

I had once began to get a bit overwhelmed with teaching when I first started. There was a lot to do with little or no time to do it. But as I began working with the kids I realized they we capable of much more than I was giving them credit for. As I began to show them how to do simple tasks and give them responsibilities as a group or as individuals I noticed the children began to take initiative on their own. They gained confidence in solving their own problems, cleaning up messes, and seeking out help from their peers. I encouraged it, commended them for it, and cheered them on. It almost was like I wasn't necessary at times until I realized that wasn't really it. Creating an environment for preschoolers to work in such ways was part of my job. I believe whenever kids are given the opportunity to work together they will rise to the task. The patience, encouragement, and good examples I give them are always up to me....well, perhaps up to all of us.

astounding!

 "If we all did the things we are capable of doing, 

we would literally astound ourselves."

~Thomas Alva Edison

Believing is half of the achieving....
Have an astounding day!

the best of things

"Things turn out best for the people who make

the best out of the way things turn out."

~Art Linkletter

Kids are fearless artists. I have always wondered why as we grow up we stop doing what comes naturally as a child. That built in confidence of making the best of things.
Perhaps if we all took their approach there would be a lot more creativity in the world.
That.....and a big shortage of crayons.

success lifestyle

"Success comes in cans, not cant's."
  

Milestones of children's development are wonderful opportunities to cheer them on through life. A baby's first step, their first tooth, and what's even better is when they begin to have an awareness of how their brain works in connection with their body. Although we cannot see the mind like the brain kids are learning how it works as well. How they view their successes, their failures, and how we react to them really shape the mind.

When we teach them that a failure or a mistake is merely a stepping stone in life experience for success we give them a mindset for a success lifestyle.

Taking a chance or trying something new is no longer so scary, but an opportunity to do great things.

Skip!

Skipping is just jumping for joy, step after step."

~Jessi Lane Adams

It's impossible to skip and not smile at yourself. It seems like it's a built in reflex or something. Kids are naturally wiggly, fidgety, and a bit bouncy. I suppose we all can feel that way at times; you know, that nervous energy that makes the mind refuse to sit still.
When I see kids skipping I love to join in.
Skipping for me is a lot like life. You go up, down, even bounce around.
But through it all I can't help but smile....

you are the guy...

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.

You're on your own.

And you know what you know.

You are the guy who'll decide where to go...

~Dr. Seuss

The Cheering Squad

"A true teacher want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be."

 I am often told about many concerns about children's development and an Early Childhood Educator. Many children have been labeled as delayed, special needs, even some conditions that require medication.

I listen intently, give a nod and smile.

Seeing children at the finish line in the beginning of the year makes them all winners. Now that we are nearing the end of semester many of the labels and tags have fallen away.

I am glad to have part of the cheering squad!

When a Preschool Teacher Gets Sick

 "Warning:  Humor may be hazardous to your illness." 

~Ellie Katz

I’ve been sick. The great thing about when a Preschool Teacher gets sick are all the sticky glittery cards in the mail and the phone calls. You know, the raw unbuttoned version of ‘Get Well Soon’ howled out to the tune of ‘Twinkle, Twinkle”?
It’s kind of nice when I think about it.
If antibodies were in the amount of glitter I have in my hallway right now, I will never be sick again.

Successful Clean Up Times and Transitions In Early Childhood Education

"The average man is a conformist, accepting miseries and disasters with the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain."  ~Colin Wilson

Ah…The dreaded clean up time.
That part of the day where most preschoolers all have to go to the bathroom, start missing their parents and mysteriously need comforting or simply disappear all together. The pendulum of moods defiantly swings, doesn’t it?
In early childhood setting there are many thing a teacher can to make this transition time smooth. The first thing is to defiantly plan for transitions and clean up times as you would a circle time or any other aspect of preschool curriculum.
Here are some fun and easy tips how to prepare your preschoolers for clean up:
* Sing a song or play a special CD to let the children know there are 5 more minutes until clean up time.
*Let them know at the AM circle time you have a game to play just before clean up time.

*Have a helper of the day ring a bell or blow a kazoo to start clean up.
*Every one help-including the teacher. Hand the children toys as you go and applaud all there efforts and mention each child by name as they work.
*As you finish look around the room as a class when you are done and comment on how you think your room looks. Clap as a class when you are done.
I have always seen some very sad frowns eventually turn upside down during this time....

Here are some of my successful clean up time transitional attention getters:
*Dead Ants
When you need the kids attention fast- call out “DEAD ANTS!” All the children should drop to the floor (including you) with your legs up and slightly twitching.
Oh…Explain this to the kids first or you will feel pretty silly on the floor by yourself….lol.
*Freeze
This is the most simplistic and I think nearly everyone does it but kids love to freeze like statues. Works every time.


What are some of favorite and successful ones that have worked for you?

Creating a Love for Words and Language in Early Childhood Education

 

“An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.”~Martin Buber

When I was young my dad read us the book, 40 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary. I still remember some of the words and the meanings….I was in grade school.
Every now and then I give the preschoolers a word to use though out the month. I will use it in a sentence in different ways…point out its uses…and listen for opportunities when they use it.I like to incorporate it as part of the preschool curriculum. I have really noticed a difference in their language.
The word this month was, IMPRESSED.
As a class we clap for one another and they share with the group when they use it.
I found Marko staring at ‘Sushi’ the Fish. He was making faces at her and I walked over and asked him what he was thinking about.
“Ya know what, Ms. Barbra.”
“What would that be, Mr. Marko?”
“Well, I really like Sushi, here…you know why?” He said puckering and making faces at her in the tank.
“Actually, I was waiting for you to tell me….”
“Because she always looks impressed.” He said still puckering.
“Hey everyone! Let’s give Marko a hand!” I called out.
We all began clapping.

Language Development in Early Childhood Education

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. 

There is no cure for curiosity."

~Dorothy Parker

Kids inquire many questions of us big people…. But do we as adults challenge kids with questions?

I am not talking of the usual eight plus three, or the capitol of Alaska scenario… oh-no, no, no. I mean questions only ‘they’ can answer….which means the asker’s job is to listen.
I do this every now and then at circle times for language development...or when things get a little too quiet.
The children sometimes have answered these questions in silly, humorous, logical or very thought provoking way. I leave it up to them.
Being preschoolers….I’ll ask whatever comes to mind....you know, improvise. I may even amuse myself.
Here are some examples of questions we have come up with over the years.

Great Language Development Questions 
That Will Really Get Kids Thinking;
“What sound does a goldfish make?”
“Why does your nose run and your feet smell?”
“Who turns on the light when you open the refrigerator?”
“If a carrot is orange why don’t we call it an orange?”
“Where does baby oil come from?”
“Where do teachers sleep?”

Most kids will actually answer you…and will keep elaborating if you ask more questions.....

The Honorable Mention: Successful Clean Up Times with Kids

 “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
~Henry Ford

Kids look up all the time. Why? They’re little doesn't mean "small"...just ask a Hersey's Kiss.
How do I know this?
I, myself…am vertically challenged. Petite…...ahem. But, I am a giant among the wee ones so please don’t break the news to them.
There are so many things I could be doing in the room that would be quicker, more convenient, and more efficiently done if I had done them all by myself….but I have a certain culture I wish to create in my classroom.
Teamwork.
Culture is like a seed. You must be take care in what you plant…because it can take over, like beautiful flowers or like thorny thistles.
We have small wash cloths, squirt bottles, and brooms for clean up times. The children use them often and were shown with care how to use them properly.
Parents were surprises when they first saw a clean up station set up in a preschool class. They initially thought the children weren’t allowed to touch it. When they saw children working with the materials they said.....
“Wow, so how do they know which of the clean up materials to choose? Option A, B, C or D?” They joked.
“As long as they use the materials together with purpose, they can choose all of the above” I laughed.

Changes in Routine in Early Childhood Education

 
“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
-Bruce Lee

How flexible are we when it comes to changes within our own early childhood environments? How about routine changes. If I am having a bad day…do the preschooler know it? Should they know it?
I really like quotes for this reason….they make you think.