What a Hoot!: Owl Unit for Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Kindergartners! Plus Some Owl Facts Too!

Do you give a hoot about owls? I certainly do! Owls are amazing birds whose nocturnal nature has intrigued people since the beginning of time. From their large, luminous eyes to their sharp, curved beaks, their aura of mystery and beauty have made them a whimsical and special creature to many. 

I myself have a Pinterest board dedicated to owls and collect anything owl related. From stuffed animals to an owl purse (I have it). One of my favorite items is this Lucite, owl pen holder that I keep on my computer desk. Isn't he adorable? 

 Here's a look at my Absolutely Owl-Mazing Pinterest Board

That's enough about my owl obsession, let's get to some fun fact about these fantastic flyers. 😀

• Owls eyes cannot move. They have binocular-like vision. 
• An owl's ears are unevenly placed on both sides of their heads. This allows them to hear sounds from many directions. 
• Some owls dine on other owls (such as the Great Horned Owl). 
• A parliament is what you call a bunch of owls. 
• An owl can turn it's head 270 degrees. 

Source: 11 Fun Facts About Owls (Audubon)

If you would like your little ones to learn more about owls, why not take a look at my owl unit for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners?

The Owl Unit for Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Kindergartners includes cute and simple learning activities that can be performed by these ages.

Included in this unit: 

This unit includes:

8 Rhyming Owl Pairs Cards

Owl Symmetry Puzzles

Part of an Owl

How Many Owls Are There? Counting Worksheet

Is It a Sentence? Worksheet

Owl Word Search

Small, Medium and Large Owls Sorting Owls

Tree Owls Sizing Sorting Mats

All Answer Keys Included!

Click on the link below the cover to view the unit! 

Owls Unit

I promise your students and children will have a hoot! 

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Apple Picking, Crafts, and a Preschool Apple Unit! Oh My!

It's apple picking time! Fields upon fields of apple trees are beckoning you to pick these delicious, red, green, and yellow beauties from their branches. If you have a farm nearby, it's definitely your perfect chance to taste fall's natural treasures!

Thankfully, I live fairly close to a beautiful farm in Sturtevant, Wisconsin called Apple Holler. It has a great restaurant with traditional American food such as burgers, ribs, and fried chicken. Oh my God, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. The food is absolutely delicious. I have never picked apples or pumpkins at this farm, but they have been named one of the "10 Best Orchards" by USA today in 2015, so they must be excellent.

I have to say the setting is gorgeous. It is literally in the middle of nowhere. The land is untouched and fabulously rural. It reminds me of a Thomas Kincade painting of true Americana. A time when life was harder, but simpler at the same time.

They offer hayrides for families and have an adorable country store! If you're ever in the Wisconin area you should definitely stop by! You will not be disappointed.

If you can't travel to your local orchard, you can get in the "apple picking spirit" by creating a few of these adorable apple crafts I found!

Creating crafts with students is a wonderful way to spark creativity, encourage critical thinking and  fine motor skills, and improve color identification and recognition.

Take a look at the crafts below to start creating! Click on links below each picture for directions.

Easy Apple Craft  (Paging Supermom) 

                                         Apple Coffee Filter Art (Mom to 2 Posh Lil' Divas)

                                               Bubble Wrap Painted Apples  (Somewhat Simple)

Aren't these crafts so cute. I've done somewhat similar crafts to these with my preschoolers too! It's amazing how few craft supplies are truly needed for these projects. They are really simple and easy to make with just a little preparation and time. 

Okay, I hope you enjoyed the crafts I found, but what about other possible activities that the children can explore in the classroom? Don't worry, I got you covered with the following ideas and my newest Preschool Apple Pack I'm selling on my TpT store! 

Science Center and Science Activities

Cut an apple open and let the children observe the inside of the apple. Place lemon water on the flesh so that the apple doesn't brown as quickly. Provide plastic spoons so the children can scoop out the seeds, too. 

Find  and make a simple applesauce recipe. 

Compare two types of apples and record there differences using a graph or better yet, a venn diagram. 

Taste test different types of apples. (Check for allergies first) 

Math Center 

Count apple seeds. Cut  out a red apple from red construction paper and  apple seeds from brown construction paper. Laminate all of the pieces and cut them out of  the lamination. Have students count seeds using number cards that can be created using index cards at the math center. 

Apple patterning

Cut several apples from scrapbook paper and have students create AB, ABBA, and ABC patterns. 

Dramatic Play Center 

Apple Picking 

Provide plastic bushel baskets, fake apples, paper bags for apple picking and buying apples, a cash register, and play money. 

Bakery 

Writing Center

Apple words 

Create a list of apple-themed words that your children can trace. Words such as bushel, tree, cider, pick, etc. 

Tracing apple trees

Create several apple tree shapes that your children can decorate and trace. 

Art Center

Apple prints

Cut apples in half and let your children dip  them into yellow, green and yellow paint. They then press the apples onto easel paper. 

Apple rubbings

Cut apple shapes from cardboard and have children place a piece of paper on top of the shape. Tell the children to rub a crayon over the cardboard apple shape to make a rubbing. 

Apple hats

Make a headband out  of long construction paper. Have children cut out apple shapes and glue to the headband. Staple the headband around the child's head with a stapler. 

Books

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall 

Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington 

Ten Apples on Top by Dr. Seuss 

  Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray 

You can also purchase my Preschool Apple Unit at TpT for more fun, easy-to-prepare apple centers and activities. Students can sort apples by size, play a color match file folder game, investigate non-standard forms of measurement by measuring foods made from apples using apples and much more! 

 This unit includes:

Things That Start with “A” Tree Mat

Things That Start with “A” Apple Cards

Apple Sizing

Measuring With Apples

Apple Objects to Measure such as an Apple Juice Box

How Many Apples are in the Basket? Math Mat

Math Mat Numbers with +, -, and = Signs

Apple Pieces to Count, Add, or Subtract

Apple Color Matching

How to Make an Apple Pie Sequencing Activity

Preschool Apple Unit

You'll be the "apple of your students' eyes" with these fun and educational activities! 

Making a Little Dough!: Why Is Play Dough a Great Early Childhood Teaching Tool

Let's face it, who doesn't love playing with fun, squishy, pliable play dough? It just makes you happy and brings you back to the days when the most important task of the day was sitting in front of the t.v. watching your favorite cartoons. But, guess what? There is more depth to this doughy solid. It is in fact, a perfect teaching tool for those in ECE.

See the list below of the many ways that play dough can be used to liven up your lessons!

1. Play dough increases eye-hand coordination, fine motor, and critical thinking skills. It is also a great sensory exploration tool. 
2. Teach shapes with play dough by using cookie cutters. 
3. "Write" letters by laminating large, letter tracing sheets. Have your child roll play dough snakes to create the letters. 
4. Let your inner creative genius out! Add buttons, beads and glitter to play dough and design away. Adult supervision should be used with younger children who still like to explore their world by placing items in their mouths at all times. 
5. Buy mini-plastic flower pots and place play dough inside them. Insert dollar store, plastic flowers inside to create a magical flower garden that you don't need a green thumb for! (Science Concepts) 
6. Laminate ten frames and teach children how to count using play dough rolled into balls. 
7. Help children learn about animal tracks by "walking" plastic farm, forest or any other animals through rolled out play dough. 
8. Be a forensic scientist! Have children investigate their fingerprints using play dough! This is a fantastic science center activity! Leave pictures of common fingerprint patterns and magnifying glasses in the area so children can see the many types of fingerprint patterns there are. 
9. Add  child-friendly, play dough tools such as small rolling pins, plastic play dough cutters, cups, and cookie cutters to your child's play dough toys. These tools help children learn about spatial concepts, cause and effect, and physical properties associated with play dough. 
10. Investigate color mixing with play dough! Find a non-cook play dough recipe that can easily be made by you and your students. Separate the play dough into several medium or smaller-sized pieces. Add food coloring to each piece to create primary, secondary, and tertiary colors! 
11. Play dough works well for dramatic play too! Have children decorate play dough cookies and cupcakes! Provide beads and buttons (as previously stated in post), plastic cupcake liners, and cookie sheets so that the students can make their very own "pastries" in their preschool bakery. 

I  have tried many, many, did I say many?, play dough recipes during my teaching. This recipe is by far the best. I even used it when I worked as a youth services assistant at a local library.

Cooked Play Dough

Warning- Please keep little ones away from the stove and if you allow them to knead the dough afterwards make sure it is cool enough not to burn their hands.

Mix together in an aluminum core pot:

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

2 cups water

1/4 cup oil

1 tablespoon cream of tartar

Food coloring (Add to dough after cooking)

Cook these ingredients over medium heat, stirring constantly, until they thicken. You will know it's ready to take off the stove when the play dough pulls away from the sides of the pan (it is similar to the consistency of cream puff dough). Place on a plate to cool enough to handle comfortably. Knead, and then store mixture in an airtight container.

Helpful tip: Place an old acrylic cutting board on the table. (I altered this from parchment paper. It is easier to use and less likely to tear.) When the dough is cool, use food coloring to dye the play dough. Cut the play dough mixture into several large pieces. Place a few drops of different colors of food coloring on each piece of the dough. Knead the food coloring into the dough. Wear gloves when kneading food coloring into play dough to prevent staining your hands. Enjoy your rainbow-colored play dough!

(Source: Introduction to Early Childhood Education Sixth Edition pg. 270 by Eva L. Essa)

Try this recipe. You will absolutely love it! It keeps extremely well when stored in airtight, plastic bags too! 

You can even try out your new play dough on some fun Fall Play Dough Mats that I just created. The play dough mats come in 8 fall designs. 

Designs Included: 

• Owl

•Candy Apple

•Pumpkin

•Squirrel

•Black Cat

•Witch

•Turkey 

•Pilgrim’s Hat

Please click on the link below the cover to view the Fall Play Dough Mats on my TpT store!

Fall Play Dough Mats

It's Tree-Mendous!: Learning About Leaves and Trees

From Maples to Oaks, trees make up a large portion of the plantings of our towns and cities. They are beautiful, ethereal, and majestic. They are truly living history. Can you imagine that some of the trees we see today may have been around when Gold Fever struck America or the Gold Rush occurred? That's pretty amazing, right?

Just check out a couple of these tree facts:

Trees are give us oxygen!
Trees keep us cool by creating shady places to rest!
Trees are used for water purification purposes!

Check out more tree-mendous facts gathered from Arborday.org Tree Facts

Talking about trees, have you ever been to an arboretum? (AKA a tree museum) If one is close to you you should definitely check one out. I am lucky enough to live fairly close to the famous Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. Joy Morton of Morton Salt fame created the arboretum in 1922. It contains 1,700 acres of beautiful trees and plants.

They have art exhibits during the year, festivals such as an upcoming Cider and Ale Fest, a horticultural library, an adorable and magical  children's garden and provide tram rides on the Acorn Express. It is also a great venue for weddings, social, and business events.

I have visited the arboretum several times.I would like to show you my favorite photo from a Lego Block art exhibit they held in 2015. I couldn't believe how detailed each sculpture was! I wish I was that talented! This gorgeous Monarch butterfly looks so real.

The art exhibit they are currently holding at the arboretum is Troll Hunt by Thomas Dambo.

Learn more about the Morton Arboretum here: The Morton Arboretum


If you and your children/students can not travel to learn more about trees at this incredible "tree museum", why not take a look at my Trees and Leaves Unit?

This unit is especially for students in pre-k, kindergarten, and homeschool. I have included many developmentally-appropriate activities that will enliven this fascinating unit.

This unit includes:

How Many Leaves Should I Place on the Tree? Counting Mat

Counting Leaves and Number Cards

Leaf Sorting Mat (Heart-shaped Leaves and Lobed Leaves)

Leaves to Sort

Leaf Acrostic Poem

Leaf Shadow Matching

Leaf Rubbing Decorative Frame Art Project

What Lives In a Tree? (Animal Habitat) Worksheet 

Click on the link below the Leaves and Trees Unit  cover to view on my TpT store!

Leaves and Tree Unit

Lastly, remember to hug a tree today!

Getting Squirrely!: Squirrels, Chipmunks, and Other Rodents Unit for Pre-K, Kindergarten and Homeschool!

Squirrels the quintessential harbinger of fall (and all year for that matter) Do you love seeing  these funny, furry, lush-tailed cutie pies in your backyard? I certainly do! When I was creating the unit, Squirrels, Chipmunks and Other Rodents, I learned that their is more than meets the eye to these adorable, curious little hams.

Squirrel Facts 

Squirrel's  teeth never stop growing?

Squirrels can be found around the world,except for Australia 

The African Pygmy Squirrel is the smallest squirrel in the world. The Indian Giant Squirrel is the biggest. The African Pygmy Squirrel is five inches long and the Indian Giant Squirrel is a whopper at 3 feet in length! Talk about the long and the short of it. 

Chipmunks are ground squirrels. 

Flying squirrels glide, but do not fly. 

Squirrels hoard away food, but often don't find all of it. 

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/squirrels/

Since we're talking about squirrels I need to tell you about my mother (AKA The Squirrel Whisperer). She has been known to gently console the most frightened baby squirrel from the fence for a nut reward.

 She can often be found surrounded by a scurry of both squirrels and chipmunks during all times of the day. They show off their cuteness by standing on their hind legs, hopping, plopping down on hot days on their stomachs in the shade, and placing their paws on their chest in a classic "Who me?" pose. It is truly a sight to behold. 

If you too like me, love squirrels and would like your students to learn more about them and their cousins: rats, chipmunks, and beavers, the Squirrels, Chipmunks, and Other Rodents Pack is for you! 

I thought you might enjoy seeing a few of the cutie pies in my backyard. I recently created flashcards featuring backyard animals. The pack is called It's a Wildlife: Animal Photographic Flashcards. 

Here are a few of the pictures featured in the flashcard pack. 

Fox Squirrel 

Eastern Chipmunk 

Eastern Gray Squirrel 

Click on the link below the picture to see a full preview the Squirrels, Chipmunks, and Other Rodents unit! 

Squirrels, Chipmunks and Other Rodents Unit

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