My Little Pumpkin You’re Gourd-geous!: Investigating Pumpkins and Gourds at the Science Center

Here's for your close-up gourd-geous!: Pumpkin and Gourd Science Center Ideas 

What's Inside Pumpkin Craft/Diagram 

Take a Peek Inside!

Parts of A Pumpkin Chart 

Plump and Juicy Non-Fiction Picks: Pick a Perfect Pumpkin: Learning about Pumpkin Harvests by Robin Koontz 

Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden by George Levenson

Put a Lid on It: Create a Viewing Station With a Plastic Take-out Container.

What child wouldn’t be amazed over the alien-like and colorful appearance of gourds and miniature varieties of perfectly perky and plump pumpkins? You’ll find out if you let your little horticulturist discover autumn’s most whimsical produce at your science center.

Make sure to tell the children that some gourds can be eaten, such as squash, and others are just purely for looking cute as buttons in an autumn display when announcing the center to the class. The mini pumpkin varieties can not be eaten.

Here are some fun facts I found as I searched the Internet. Most of the information was gotten from the specialty foods  magazine website, The Nibble. Check out the site at http://www.thenibble.com/.

• Many years ago people used gourds as instruments and dish-ware.
• People in South America drink a special drink from their gourds called Yerba Mate.
• Residents of the Caribbean and other parts of the world still use gourds for instruments such as drums.

Other uses for gourds include decorative arts such as painting and carving.

Make sure to place plastic tweezers, a scale and magnifying glasses on the table to entice the children to examine the gourds/pumpkins texture, shape, size and weight.

Simple ways to give children a better understanding of gourds and pumpkins are by:

• Making a Parts of a Pumpkin Chart using blue construction paper, a green pipe cleaner that has been twisted around a pencil to create the pumpkin’s tendrils, a leaf shape and flower which can be hand-drawn or traced from a coloring page, and a simple stem shape. Make sure to label all the parts with a black marker after you have glued them onto the page.
• Buy bagged varieties of gourds from your grocery store. If you would like to be able to use the gourds and pumpkins year after year consider buying some faux ones. These can be found at craft stores. 
• Create a What’s Inside a Pumpkin Craft  by using the instructions found at the allkidsnetwork.com site: http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/fall/inside-pumpkin-craft.asp. I used a pumpkin template I had found from one of my Mailbox Magazine Yearbooks. I cut out 2 pumpkin shapes. Dyed yellow yarn orange using craft paint and let the yarn dry. As I was waiting for the yarn to dry, I cut out and glued small white card-stock seed shapes onto one half of the pumpkin. After the dyed yarn was dry, I randomly glued the yarn around the seeds to mimic the stringy material found inside pumpkins. I then laminated this half from the destructiveness of chubby little fingers. Finally, I punched holes with a hole punch and used decorative brads to hold the two pumpkin halves together. Using pinking shears, I created the label What’s Inside? on the outside of the pumpkin.
• I created the pumpkin sequencing activity using a Mailbox Magazine Yearbook worksheet. I cut out and colored the sequencing cards and then placed them in sequential order (1, 2, 3, ).
• For a viewing station, I used an old take out container.

So go ahead and get gourd-geous with these gourd and pumpkin center ideas!

Do You Love Vintage Tablecloths? Check Out My Vintage Tablecloth Heaven Blog Dedicated to My Mom's Tablecloth Collection

Visions of vintage linens await you at my other blog, Vintage Tablecloth Heaven, where you will find the loveliest collection of tablecloths! All of the tablecloths belong to my mom and have been used and loved by our family for several years.

My mom finds joy in collecting these fabulous fabric treasures and the thoughts of family memories created during the many meals and occasions they were used.

Enjoy!

Jennifer

Home on the Prairie: Illinois Art and Lesson Plans for Preschoolers.

Clipart by Phillip Martin

Illinois is more than Chicago, corn and cows! Each mile is chock full of history and quirky charm as shown by this Roadside America page and great food such as deep dish pizza (need I say more!). From giant ketchup bottles, Olney's white squirrels to "The Bean, Illinois has enough pizazz to make even Mr. Lincoln smile.

Preschoolers will be squirming in their seats to get their hands on these ill-luminating Illinois crafts and lesson plans.

Illinois Puzzle Pieces 

Uncompleted Illinois State Puzzle 

Completed Illinois State Puzzle 

Math

• Create State Puzzles by tracing a template in the shape of Illinois onto heavy cardboard or craft foam.  Cut into 4 - 8 pieces depending on your preschooler's ability level. Skills: Math: Spacial concepts, parts of a whole, matching shapes. 
• Mr. Lincoln's Hat Math Mat - Help children begin to identify and recognize numeric amounts and practice their counting/1 -1 correspondence skills by rolling a foam die and placeing the correct number of bingo markers on a cardboard cut-out of a stove pipe hat. 
• Develop non-standard form of measurement concepts, by using plastic corn on the cobs. Hunt within your child's play food to find plastic corn on the cobs and "measure" household items. Popcorn is the state snack, so corn is a pretty important crop!

Getting Squirlley! Olney, Illinois White Squirrel Craft

Art

• Superman placemats (Superman was created by Illinois native) Find clipart of superman and glue to blue or red construction paper. 
• Cardinal hand print bird (State Bird) 
• White Squirrel Doily craft (Olney, Illinois is famous for their white squirrels) Use this link go to DLTK's Autumn Squirrel Wreath template . Print the Autumn Squirrel Wreath Template onto heavy white cardstock. Cut out head, hands feet and body from Autumn Squirrel Wreath Template and set aside. Trace a large paper doily around the body section of squirrel and cut out. Find a large heart-shaped doily and trace it around a piece of cardstock (this will be the tail). Cut out. Remember to also keep heart Shaped doily you used as tracing template. Glue previously cut doilies to both the body and tail. Glue the hands and feet to the body doily. Glue the heart tail doily under the body doily and glue face on top of heart doily. 
• Route 66 Sign 

Social Studies/Geography 

• See if you can locate Illinois on a U.S. Map (Geographical location of Illinois on a map)
• Create a feely box with state symbols (cardinal, violet, popped popcorn in a bag, fake prairie grass etc.) (Investigating Illinois symbols and using sense of touch (science)) 
• Locate famous people who shaped Illinois in a famous people scavenger hunt in your room. (Learning about important individuals who developed and brought publicity to the state). 
• If you live in Illinois, research the town where you live. (State history, recognition of you towns social and civic properties) 

Water Table 

• Fill laminated postcards of Chicago for the children to view using magnifying glasses
• Grab the fast food! Illinois is the birthplace of McDonald's. 
• Flower Power! Find flowers and plants that are native to Illinois. (Identifying and recognizing Illinois native flora) 

Language Arts 

• Create a Land of Lincoln bingo game. (visual discrimination and naming of Illinois state objects) 
• Have children describe (adjectives) famous landmarks in Chicago. Ex. Willis Tower: Big, tall etc.
• Have children who have been to the state bring in photos of their vacation and ask them questions about their trip to create a written memory of their trip. (Language concepts: speaking and recording previous memories and math: logical thought accessed through previous experiences.)
• Students can "send" a postcard to students in Illinois as pen pals.

Science 

• Investigate the importance of wind power near farms. 
• Learn about prairie ecosystems. 

Snacks (Allergy alert: Check to make sure your students are not allergic to any items found on the packaging of these foods. Always ask restaurants what ingredients they have uses to make their foods if you have any doubts.)

Now that's deep: Giordano's Deep Dish Pizza 

• Order or make deep dish pizza. 
• Sweet treat. Eat an ice cream cone.The ice cream cone was developed at the 1893 Chicago World Fair. 
• Good to the last pop! Taste some yummy popcorn. 

I'm feeling Disney: Walt Disney 

Miscellaneous

• Watch a Disney movie! Walt Disney was born in Hermosa, Chicago, Illinois.

Illinois Best Book Bets: See my post about fantastic Land of Lincoln literature at my book blog Pump Up the Volumes http://pumpupthevolumes.blogspot.com/2014/05/il-luminating-illinois-books-about.html

Make a Statement!: Create a What a Statement! Mouse Pad That Celebrates Your State Pride!

Show off your state pride by creating a state mouse pad. It's sure to make quite a statement about your state of mind!  If you would like your preschooler to create this mouse pad, make sure all the items are cut beforehand or have your child use children's safety scissors to cut items out. Laminators should be used by adults only. 

To Make What a Statement! State Mouse Pad 

1. Select two color-coordinated scrapbook papers in different patterns. Cut 1st paper into a large square shape as desired by the surface area available for your mouse pad. Put other paper to the side. 
2. Choose two pieces of colorful cardstock. Cut one a little smaller than the largest square you just cut for the bottom of your mouse pad and glue on top of bottom scrapbook paper. Place your other piece of cardstock to the side. 
3. Find a large metallic piece of cardstock and cut slightly smaller than the piece of cardstock you had glued to the bottom piece of scrapbook paper. Glue the metallic piece of cardstock on top. 
4. Cut the other piece of cardstock you placed to the side in a slightly smaller square than the metallic cardstock you had glued on. Glue the cardstock on top o the metallic piece of cardstock. 
5. Use the other piece of color-coordinated scrapbook paper to create a top focal point. Cut the paper into a small square and turn on its side to create a diamond shape. Glue on top of metallic cardstock. 
6. Find a map of your state. The one I found was on the Rand-McNally site and cut around the state’s shape to give it dimension with scissors. 
7. Use antiquing medium to give your state a burnished, aged old-world look. 
8. Go on the Internet and find some of your states symbols. I found mine by using clipart from clker.com 
9. You can use stamp pads to create colorful embellishments on the state symbols you select, such as the peony (which is Indiana’s state flower) on the right-hand side of the mousepad. 
10. Find out your state’s nickname. Indiana is the Hoosier State and those that reside in Indiana are nicknamed Hoosiers. I used stickers to spell out the word Hoosier and the state name. Other ideas for possible titles include using your state’s admission to the union, a quote made by a famous person who was born in the state or pictures of places you love in the state. 
11. Laminate mousepad for durability. 
12. Place a non-skid pad on the back of the mouse pad. 

Preschool Pep Talk: Want the truth? Speak to a Preschooler

If you truly want to know the truth about something be sure to ask a preschooler. Preschoolers are known for their somewhat biting, less than complimentary, and ulterior-motive free viewpoint of the world. Their innocence and lack of  experience gives them an unskewed and natural look at life. 

Favorite Comments From Preschoolers 

Your name is not Miss Hatcher, your name is Miss “Beautiful” Hatcher. (Perfection, I tell you, perfection). 

I wish I were you. 

You have goofy sunglasses. I like them, but they are goofy. 

I like you, but I love my mom. (This is how it should be. Moms definitely rock.) 

Ponderings of a Preschool Teacher: Kiddie Kouture: Kid's Clothing that Screams Preschool Posh

As a preschool teacher, I often wonder why parents obsess over their children's clothing remaining pristine and utterly perfect after a long, hard day of preschool play. While I do feel smocks are adequate to reduce a great number of messy mistakes, I also feel that the childrens' worry over "keeping clean" limits their overall learning experience.

Getting down and dirty with play-doh, paint and glitter are just some of the wonderful things about childhood. These activities teach them about cause and effect, weight, measurement, spacial concepts, the bending of light within the color spectrum (glitter's prismatic effect), color mixing (creating tints, shades, primary, secondary and tertiary colors) and so on.

I say hooray to the Free Play Movement (Be sure to read Effort to Restore Children's Play Gains Momentum by Hilary Stout from The New York Times to learn more about this movement). Children deserve to smell the daisies, get a little dirty, and use their good old fashion imagination.

I've compiled a list of quality resale shops in the Chicagoland area that help dissuade the "Clean Clothing Epidemic" that is reaching monumental proportions.

These shops offer clean, slightly worn clothing, that are generally free of rips and tears. The majority of the items look brand new and the prices are so low that no one needs to worry if a dreaded grape juice or paint stain occurs.

I've also selected a few commercial department and discount stores that offer new, never worn merchandise.

Resale Shops

The Hope Chest La Grange, Illinois
See my review on my fashion blog: Inpurse-suit of Happiness

The Carousel Shop La Grange, Illinois

Saver's (Various Locations)

Small Change La Grange, Illinois

Goodwill  (Various location)

Salvation Army Stores  (Various Locations)


Department and Discount Stores 

Tuesday Morning (Various Locations)

T.J. Maxx (Various Locations)

Marshall's (Various Locations)

Target (Various Locations)

Put on a Happy Face: It's National Smile Power Day

Image Source: http://bitsofpositivity.com/

First off, Happy Father's Day! Dads everywhere are ripping open packages full of ugly ties and receiving lots of hugs and love on this very special day.

But guess what?.... there's another holiday that we can celebrate today. It's National Smile Power Day, a day when we show our pearly whites off to the world! A day of grinning solidarity. The best thing about smiling is that it is free and it is guaranteed to lift everyones' spirits!

Here are a few smile-worthy ways to make someone grin from ear to ear:

• Pay someone a compliment
• Give them a hug 
• Tell a joke 
• Make a funny face 

See below for more ways to have your family and friends grinning like the Cheshire Cat, including some fun crafts that kids can easily whip up in a flash!

Crafts and other smiley ideas from About.com
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/holidays/p/powersmileday.htm

Artsy Momma  Paper Plate Smiley Face Craft

All Kids Network Smile Button Greeting Card

Games and Activities
http://childfun.com/index.php/activity-themes/people-house-home/233-smile-activity-theme.html#sthash.yxbsnHbs.dpbs

Read your little wiggleworms a snappy, happy book about the joys of a smile!

Bobo's Smile by Seymour Chwast 

Smile, Lily! by Candace Fleming 

Smile! by Leigh Hodgkinson 

I Love It When You Smile by Sam McBratney 

"Smile," says little Crocodile : a Book About Good Habits by Jane Belk Moncure 

Smile by John A. Rowe 

Grandma's Smile by Randy Siegel 

Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein 

How Do You Make a Baby Smile? by Philemon Sturges 

Learn about the health benefits of smiling from About.com

http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongbeauty/tp/smiling.htm

Smiley Face Facts that will make you giddy from the Huffington Post 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/19/smiley-face-facts_n_4810431.html

Make sure to celebrate National Smile Power Day today and the whole year through!

Treasures In Your Attic: A Parent's Alphabet Poem Given To My Parents From A Past Teacher

The following poem, A Parent's Alphabet by Carol Hurst, was found while my mother was dodging dust bunnies during a major attic cleaning. It was hidden away in a box of old schoolwork and mementos that were pushed to a far corner of the room.

Just read the poem in order to learn the Parents' Alphabet.

A Parents’ Alphabet by Carol Hurst 

A is for arms, Arms that hold and arms that support and arms that push when they have to. 

B is for Books, which should abound in every home; and for Boredom, which can’t stay long if books are there. 

C is for the Children, and the Caring and the Crying which sometimes come together all at once. 

D is for Doors, which you sometimes have to help them open and through which they have to go someday never to return unchanged; and for Discipline and Dignity, which you owe every child. 

E is for Everything you hope for them; for the Easier you hope it will be for them; and for Education, which takes place at least as much at home as in school. 

F is for Foolish mistakes you make with your kids; and for the Freedom they must have to make their own. 

G is for Grandparents, who can add tradition and wisdom to children’s lives; and for Growth, which parents and kids can experience together. 

H is for Home, which is only sometimes a house where a child feels wanted and loved. 

I is for Ignorance, which darkens the world and is sometimes mistaken for innocence. 

J is for Jealousy, which creeps into so many relationships; and for Joy, which can push it out. 

K is for Kickball, and tag and hide-and-seek and all those other adult-less games kids need to play; and for Kissing, and hugging, which nobody does enough of. 

L is for Love, of course. 

M is for the Memory all parents have of what childhood was like for them; and for Money, which can never substitute for love no matter how lavishly given; and for Manners which make living easier. 

N is for Nurturing, the giving of love and care which only sometimes comes naturally. 

O is for Occupation, which takes so much of your time; and for the openness which exists when kids and parents really work at it. 

P is for Presents, which are easy to give; and for Presence, which is harder; and for Parenthood, which is only partly biological function; and for the Patience it takes to see you through it. 

Q is for Questions, which are so easy to turn off and so hard to turn back on. 

R is for Rest, which it seems never comes while the kids are young; and for Reward, which you get when you look in their faces or hold their hands. 

S is for Summer, which seems endless; and for School, where you ought to feel welcome; for the Stories you know but seldom tell; and for Shoulders, which sometimes are drenched with tears. 

T is for Time, which there never seems to be enough of; and for Teachers who try to understand. 

U is for the Upper hand, which you try so hard to keep; and for the Understanding that you try so hard to have. 

V is for the Virtue of overcoming all those roadblocks life seems to throw just when everything’s going well. 

W is for the Whys, which can drive you up the wall; and the Wisdom it takes to answer them. 

X is for the X-ray of the broken bone you both cried over; and for the Xtra love it takes to be a parent. 

Y is Yelling, which helps only temporarily, and for being Young which is only partly a matter of years. 

Z is for the end, the end of the alphabets, the end of child-hood, but never the end of love. 

Illinois Kiddie Car-Hops: Daytrips: Cantigny Park

Some of the best sites are right in your backyard! Whether it be in Idaho or Kalamazoo, fabulous family fun is right around the corner. Make sure to look at your local paper, t.v. channels, state visitors guides and websites to see all the fun your missing in your own ‘hood. 

In Illinois, I recently visited Cantigny Park, the former home and gardens of Robert McCormick of Tribune Newspaper fame. I was slightly disappointed, that due to a wedding, I was unable to tour his home and the gardens were lackluster because of a horrific winter for horticultural beauty, but all in all the trip was lovely. The weather was warm, the bugs were at bay and park visitors were happily strolling with strollers and tots in tow. Even the on-site war museum was packed with children enthralled by the military uniforms and chillingly life-like creations of landscapes scarred by wartime battles. 

Below you will find some of the photos I had taken of the gardens at Cantigny Park. So go ahead and investigate the local color and sites with your kids this summer. 

For more Illinois excursions, check out my past post Site Seeing: Cheap and Fun Things to Do With Kids in Chicagoland.

The Idea Garden Puts a Smile on Your Face! 

On the Beaches of Normandy: Picture Books About WWII to Commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day

D-Day is a solemn day when American and other Allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy to fight the Nazi occupation. “More than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded, but their sacrifice allowed more than 100,000 Soldiers to begin the slow, hard slog across Europe, to defeat Adolf Hitler’s crack troops.” (Source of quote: http://www.army.mil/d-day/). 

This picture book list commemorates the heroic and selfless acts of these soldiers, living and dead, whose names are lost in the passage of time. 

All the picture books pertain to events in the 1940’s and depict the struggles of living through one of the bloodiest and most terrifying moments of world history. 

My Daddy Was a Soldier by Deborah Kogan Ray (This was one of my favorite books to read when I was in elementary school). 

Nim and the War Effort by Milly Lee 

A Picture Book of Anne Frank by David Adler

The Greatest Skating Race: A WWII Story From the Netherlands by Louise Borden 

So Far From the Sea by Eve Bunting

The Cats in Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse

Running With the Horses by Alison Lester 

Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story by Ken Mochizuki

The Grand Mosque of Paris by Karen Gray Ruelle 

I Will Come Back for You: A Family in Hiding During WWII by Marisabina Russo

• My selections were based on a book list from LibraryThing. To view the entire bibliography, please click on the following link: http://www.librarything.com/list/400/all/Childrens-Books-about-World-War-II-1939-1945-

Please note that these books may be too graphic or emotionally overwhelming for preschoolers, but would perfectly suit older children such as those between the second and fourth grades. Since I have not personally paged through each of these books, I would suggest that you use your own judgement when choosing picture books based on your child’s developmental level. 

Site Seeing: Cheap and Fun Things to Do With Kids in Chicagoland

School's out and summers in! Time to explore your community through budget-savvy travels!

Has the economic downturn left you feeling "stuck" in a rut? Does it seem like everything fun for kids seems to break the bank? Check out the following Chicagoland gems that will leave your wallet thicker and your kids happier than ever before!

Library Storytimes and Programs: Libraries often offer a wealth of free programs to their patrons from storytimes, lego programs, puppet shows and even foreign language storytimes.  Don't worry  about the shushing of bespectacled librarians which is totally a thing of the past. So go ahead and give your local library a try!

Lincoln Park Zoo: A beautiful zoo nestled in downtown chic and happening Lincoln park that is just a car ride away.

 Historical Societies: Jump into history at local historical societies such as the Du Page County Historical Society in Wheaton. In July, you'll even be able to meet the lovable, mischievous monkey Curious George for free!  Visit: http://www.dupagemuseum.org/ for more details.

Park Districts: Generally most people think of park districts as places for sports and exercise enthusiasts to sweat out it out, but you'd be wrong! Park district's programs are a smorgasbord of kid-friendly programming that won't break your budget. From computer, sports and art programs the park district has you covered!

Forest Preserves: The Little Red Schoolhouse in Willow Springs, Illinois is one of the many fantastic forest preserves found in Cook County which offer a variety of classes for children and adults. Little ecologists will be mesmerized by their upcoming Spittlebug Nature Camp for 5-6 year-olds that costs a measly $25 or go native by creating a Native American Sand Painting. Make sure to take a trek to this naturalist's delight! Take a peek at the Forest Preserve's 2014 Summer Schedule for more enticing programs http://fpdcc.com/events/.

Cantigny (Wheaton, Illinois): Step back into time by visiting newspaper magnate Robert McCormick's estate, gardens and war museum that will leave you and your family breathless with glee! Events for children include a Vintage Baseball Match on June 8th and a bird walk for avid aviary experts 10 and over!  Vist http://www.cantigny.org/ to learn more.

Other Spellbinding Sites: 

Oak Lawn Children's Museum: http://cmoaklawn.org/

Naper Settlement: http://www.napersettlement.museum/ (Living History Museum in Naperville, Illinois)

*All Images from museum and zoo websites*

Perils of the Pink-Eyed Monster: My Plight With Pink Eye

It's the stuff of nightmares people! Imagine a red-rimmed, pink-eyed creature complete with crusty goo and swollen eyes looking you in the face. What's worse is that it is just your reflection. A pure vision of conjunctivitis.

Yes, the dreaded pink eye. A common early-childhood disease that affects the eyes that is more contagious then tears during a Hallmark made-for-tv movie. Yep, and I am the lucky winner of this medical marvel. 

Even the doctors, nurses, and nurse's assistants shunned me after my diagnosis and hightailed it to the nearest sink or hand sanitizing station. Fortunately, through eye drops and time this despicable demon will be broken of its crimson powers.  

If you think you may have pink eye, check out the following links for more info: 

http://www.cdc.gov/features/conjunctivitis/

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pink-eye/basics/definition/con-20022732

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!: Unique Ways to Spice Up Your Easel in ABC Order

I ain't gonna paint no more... at the easel that is!

Check out some unique and creative ways to develop fine motor (use of small muscles in the hands and wrists), creative arts, literacy/language and social studies skills at the all-important art domain known as the easel.

Other subjects covered are math related such as geometry (shape identification and recognition), color identification and recognition and spacial concepts. Your mini scientists will be fascinated as they use their sense of touch and tactile skills.

Hip-hip hooray let's go to the easel today!


Below you will find a list of mostly  no-paint  options listed in alphabetical order. Please note that most of these projects will require a very thick glue such as Aleene's Tacky Glue or Elmer's Non-Toxic White School Glue.

So what are you waiting for, go ahead and get your easel on!

ABC Easel Art Projects 

*Please note some of these items are possible choking hazards or allergens. Always supervise preschoolers and young children when using these objects. Remember to read all ingredient labels before using*. 

A - Ads, aboriginal sand art

B - Buttons, bows, bingo daubers, bookmarks

C - Cards, crayons, cardboard, candy wrappers, catalogs, old CD inserts 

D - Doilies, color-coded sticker dots (found at office supply stores) 

E - Etchings (Use a piece of cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil and a play-doh cutting knife to etch designs.), envelopes

F - Flags (coloring pages or clipart), foam shapes, fabric

G - Glitter mixed with glue, garland, plastic gemstones available at craft stores 

H - Handprints, hearts, horoscope animals, highlighters 

I - Ice pops made from tempera paint (See link about tempera paint at bottom of page), Impressionistic paintings created through use of bingo daubers

J - old, cheap costume jewelry that has been deshanked 

Project idea - Draw an egg shape and create a Faberge egg using jewelry. 

K - Kites, ketchup bottle labels 

L - Leaves, lace

M - Maps, markers, cheap makeup, magazines  

N- Newspaper, decorative napkins 

O - Oatmeal mixed with paint for a bumpy finish 

P- Pom-poms, paper dolls, photos, pipe cleaners

Q - Quilts (Use fabric cut into squares), Play money quarters 

R - Ribbon, Ric-rac, rubbings, receipts

S - Shaving cream dyed using food coloring (eek! dyed hands alert), stamps silhouettes, stencils, shapes, rubber stampers, scrapbook paper, seed packets, stickers 

T - Colored tape, clothing and gift tags 

U - Umbrella cutouts

V - Valentines, vases made out of paper, vanilla- infused paint 

W - Colored water in spray bottles, wooden shapes, wrapping paper 

X - Bright Xerox paper

Y- Yarn 

Z- Zebra stripes made from construction paper

Do you still have a craving for ways to use tempera paint? If so, check out a previous post about fun activities that use a hail and hearty supply of this messy, gooey, preschool staple from a boatload of bodacious bloggers. 
http://glitterandgluesticksforever.blogspot.com/2014/05/watch-you-tempera-whimsical-tempera.html

It's your turn. Do you have any crafty and innovative ideas that would help get our tiny Titians creative juices flowing? If so, please comment below. 

Memorial Day Memories: Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA Tribute

Thank you to all those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. May you rest in peace.

The following song "God Bless the USA" beautifully depicts the importance of our American homeland and those who risk their lives to keep the land of the red, white and blue free. 

Please be sure to read a previous post I'd written for ways to thank military members who have given their spirit, sweat, blood and tears for our great country.

http://glitterandgluesticksforever.blogspot.com/2014/05/may-force-be-with-you-celebrate-armed.html

Happy Memorial Day! A day to remember our fallen heroes, not a three-day-weekend for barbecues, sunshine and flip flops. 

Watch You Tempera: Whimsical Tempera Paint Ideas and Add-ins From Bodacious Bloggers

Tempera paint is a preschool art staple. It gets a thumbs up from crafting cuties everywhere because of its versatility, bold pigments, washability and most importantly messiness till the cows come home.

Inspire your tiny tots to design paint-stakingly super art using a little elbow grease and a lot of imagination.

Let the painting begin!


Tempera Paint Add-Ins, Projects, and Ideas 

• Colored Sand for a gritty finish

• Glitter for a sparkly look as seen in this gooble-licious turkey craft from thekeeperofcheerios.blogspot.com (http://www.thekeeperofcheerios.blogspot.com/2013/11/hand-and-footprint-turkey.html)

• Confetti just a party in a box 

• Shaving Cream, and white glue mixed with tempera paint makes perfect puffy paint (Recipe:http://www.ehow.com/how_8531847_make-paint-shaving-cream-glue.html)

• Create sidewalk chalk by clicking on the link to PlayfulLearning.net  (http://playfullearning.net/make-your-own-sidewalk-chalk/) *Attention: This recipe contains Plaster of Paris* 

 or 

• Readingconfetti.com’s Frozen Popsicle Chalk (http://www.readingconfetti.com/2013/05/frozen-popsicle-chalk.html)

• Make Spice Paint using spices found in your pantry from GrowingaJeweledrose.com (http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/05/ice-play-spice-painting.html)

• Other Add-in sawdust, salt, crumbled leaves from the book First Art for Toddlers and Twos: Open-Ended Art Experiences by MaryAnn F. Kohl (Source: http://maryannfkohl.typepad.com/blog/2012/01/marvelous-homemade-paints-20-recipes.html)

I'm Glad I Was Your Teacher: A Good-bye Poem for the Apples of Your Eye!

The end of the school year is always a difficult time for most teachers. You have seen your students grow from sprouts to beautiful flowers full of knowledge and promise throughout the year.

 The preschoolers you had taught from the previous years are either being shuffled to "big kid kindergarten" or leaving your classroom for their next educational journey.

This year, I created a goody bag for my students which included a certificate that was quite a hoot, good job! sticker badge, a gold medal with the word "winner" emblazoned on its shiny surface, a sweet little pencil and a card with a very special poem tucked inside. 

During their final days, many of the students proudly showed off those "Winner" medals by wearing them as they paraded around the school. 

The following poem from A-Z Teacher Forum simply and cheerfully dictated the message I envisioned for the final journey of their 3-year-old preschool days: 

I'm Glad I Was Your Teacher

I'm glad I was your teacher

I've come to love you so. 

I can't believe the end is here. 

I hate to see you go.

Remember all the fun we had

in all the things we did, 

But most of all remember...

You're a very special kid! 

I hope all the children have a wonderful summer filled with sunshine and joy! I will miss your smiling faces and the winsome words you shared with me throughout the school year. 

Thank You! 

Check out my blog post for 2015 Graduation Day Goody Bags Here: http://glitterandgluesticksforever.blogspot.com/2015/05/oh-goody-teacher-goodie-bags-with.html.

May the Force Be With You!: Celebrate Armed Forces Day May 17th 2014!

Armed Forces Day 2014 Poster from the  Department of Defense 

Be valiant and soldier on! Today is Armed Forces Day. A day when we celebrate the commitment and upstanding contributions that our men and women in uniform endorse by protecting our freedoms in the face of bodily harm, unknown peril and even death.

Thank you for all our soldiers' efforts, living and dead, who have helped make America a stronger and more resilient nation throughout our history. Without you, we would live in a world filled with chaos and uncertainty.

Armed Forces Day is celebrated the third Sunday of every May and combines all branches of the military including the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force and our National Guard.


The following are ways that you can thank a soldier today and everyday:

• Schedule a visit to a local VA hospital. Unfortunately, many who sacrifice their lives for their country are often forgotten and lost to the traumatic effects of PTSD. A kind smile and generosity goes a long way to those in such dire need and pain.
• Volunteer for a local military family operation such as the USO.
• Hang red white and blue bunting or the American flag outside your door.
• If you see a soldier, thank him or her for his or her service.
• Read books to your children about the military. Ask your librarian to locate books which are developmentally-appropriate for your child's age. 
• Teachers can help young children whose parents are in the process of military deployment by printing out this treasure trove of exceptional  and supportive books compiled by NAEYC pertaining to military deployment: http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200803/BTJ_Military_Deploy_Resources.pdf and  Books for Military Children by the Association of the United States Army at http://www.ausa.org/resources/familyprograms/resources/readinglist/Pages/BooksforMilitaryChildren.aspx  Also, read the following poem from Apples4theteacher.com: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/armed-forces-day/poems-rhymes/my-little-smart-trooper.html
• Read the following poems from Apples4theteacher.com : 

We Stood For Freedom

by Roger Robicheau

We stood for freedom just like you And loved the flag you cherish too Our uniforms felt great to wear You know the feel, and how you care In step we marched, the cadence way The same is true with you today Oh how we tried to do our best As you do now, from test to test How young we were and proud to be Defenders of true liberty So many thoughts bind soldiers well The facts may change, not how we jell Each soldier past, and you now here Do share what will not disappear One thought now comes, straight from my heart For soldiers home, whoe done their part I honored to have served with you May Godly peace, help get you through And now I end with a request Do ponder this, while home at rest America, respect our day Each veteran, helped freedom stay ©2002 Roger J. Robicheau Armed Forces Day by Del "Abe" Jones At the urging of Harry Truman The third Saturday in May The new Department of Defense Proclaimed it, "Armed Forces Day". A day to Thank all the Services Who defend our air, land, and sea Who serve our Country Proudly Defending, this Land of the Free. All those young Men and Women And too, all of those "oldsters" Who march, fly, and set sail As Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Soldiers. Some of them serve as "Regulars" And some just do, the weekend But all step forward, Strong and Proud When we need someone to send. The times have been a'changing And missions they are asked to Grow much more complicated Than what, they used to do. They must be Warrior and Diplomat With clenched fist or gentle touch Pass the ammunition, feed the hungry Build roads, hospitals, and such. "A Tradition of Heroes" Is what some people say And, we all owe them a, "Thank you!" On this, "Armed Forces Day"

• Visit a war museum such as the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park in Illinois. This museums incredibly detailed exhibits and walk-through recreations of the battle of Normandy and the sultry and terrifying jungles of Vietnam are absolutely mind-numbing and haunting. Visit their website at http://www.cantigny.org/.

Cinderella Eat Your Heart Out: The Queen of Hearts: A Shape Story by Jean Warren Flannelboard

Welcome to the royal ball! Join The Queen of Hearts as she tries on a bevy of frocks that keep her looking in tip-top shape. The kids had a blast during this fabulous shape recognition and language arts-based lesson plan featuring a queen who "just loved hearts". 

It was perfect for Mother's Day! 

The Queen of Hearts: A Shape Story Flannel board by Jean Warren (Lang. Arts - Retelling a story through a flannelboard and Math- Shape recognition)  (Source: Preschoolexpress.com)

To Do: Use coloring pages or Cricut cartridges to create queen and dresses templates. Give each student one of the shape dresses during circle time. Read the flannel board story, The Queen of Hearts: A Shape Story by Jean Warren and have each student place the appropriate shape dress (shape recognition) on board during appropriate sections as you are reading the story. Continue until all the dresses have been placed on the board. 

*Teacher Tip: You may also use this flannel board if you are doing a royalty or letter Q unit. 

The Queen of Hearts: A Shape Story by Jean Warren 

The Queen of Hearts, she just loved hearts.

She had them all around.

She wore them on her dresses

And on her jeweled crown.

Then one day, she got tired of hearts
Because hearts were everywhere.
So she ordered six new gowns
That sometimes, she could wear.

One was full of triangles.
One had lots of squares.
One was poke-a-dotted,
With circles everywhere.

One was filled with rectangles.
One had lots of stars.
One was sewn with diamonds,
That sparkled from afar.

Now the queen was happy.
She had lots of different gowns.
But always on her head,
She wore her heart shaped crown.

Source: Preschoolexpress.com You have to check this site out! It is a fantastic source for all things early childhood education! 

Blazin' Boards: May Mother's Day Mom's Queen For a Day Bulletin Board

A royally delightful bulletin board was designed for our queenly maidens to partake in their upcoming illustrious and motherly holiday, Mother's Day! Glimmering crowns created by our royal jewelers (ahem students) to honor their upstanding and beautiful moms.

To add an extra heart-y and personalized look, my co-teacher and I added a small photo of the children and their mothers under the crowns. The crown template and cutouts were created using Cricut cartridges. Small foam heart stickers can be added to create a three-dimensional look.

Unfortunately, I cannot show a picture of this board due to privacy issues since photos of the children were used.

See my sample below:

The Heart of a Queen!: Place a photo of the child and his or her mom on heart for a more personalized look. 

Stay in the Present!: A Lovely Gift for National Teacher Day!

Yeah! It's National Teacher Day! Have you thanked your teacher today?

Today, I received one of the loveliest gifts I have ever received in my short years spent as a teacher: a picture frame with a very elegant piece of burlap with the many adjectives that describe moi emblazoned on its humble fibers.

One of the mothers at our school created this simply stunning gift using a word processing program and a special printer that prints on fabric.

I thought that the glorious lunch and dessert was thanks enough, but add in this snappy little gift of gratitude from my students, and you get the proverbial icing on the cake for this perky preschool teacher.

*Take note that one of my kiddos described me as a princess!  Disney eat your heart out! Miss Hatcher has entered the building, but where's my scepter? I already have one very sparkly and glamorous crown!

Treats for Teach: Gift Ideas for Teacher Appreciation Week 2014

Next Week begins Teacher Appreciation Week! Teachers everywhere clamor to find deals at local retailers, restaurants, and museums during this national event.

Why celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week only once a year when teachers dispense knowledge, instill motivation, self-esteem and build confidence in students the whole year through? While we love Starbucks gift cards, which lend a pick me up at the beginning of a hectic morning, we often end up drowning in latte overload.

 Look below to see gifts that keep on giving the whole year through and maybe even years to come!

• Buy a simple picture frame with matting at a local craft or big box store. 
• Find a poem that celebrates the contribution of teachers and frame. 
• If possible, place a picture of your child inside and have them sign their name underneath. If they are unable to write, simply have them use their fingerprint and print their name underneath. 

• Ask the school principal what supplies they feel your homeroom teacher would need on a daily basis. 
• Buy a basket and fill it with the school supplies the principal suggested. 
• Wrap in cellophane and tie with a bow or curling ribbon.
• Variation: Buy a gift card from an office supply store such as Staples or a local teacher store.

• Create a cute little pencil holder by hot gluing colorful, unsharpened pencils to a ceramic pencil holder. 

Happy Teachers Appreciation Week Everyone!

Batter Up Against ALS: May is ALS Awareness Month

ALS is a debilitating neurological disease that devastates and tears apart families during the prime of their lives. Those who receive this devastating diagnosis are relegated to getting their affairs in order and watching each nerve and muscle slowly deteriorate, while being unnervingly aware of how their physical body is betraying them.

Military members and men are the most likely to contract this killer disease. Typically the lifespan of an ALS patient is between 3-5 years at best.

The most prominent figure who had this disease was the baseball player, Lou Gehrig, whose heartfelt speech from an ESPN documentary found below, ignited the fight for a cure.

Please spread the word and visit the ALS Association website for more information on advocacy, walks and charitable giving. Click on the highlighted link: ALS Association