Here are a few photos from todays class creating Sand Mandalas and Prayer Flags.Here is a list of some of the books we read (thanks Erica!)
Sand Mandalas and Prayer Flags
Peace Birds on MLK Day
This coming Monday , MLK Day we are going to have a special crafting session at CAM (It will kick off our Monday afternoon series but youattend as a one off class)
Monday Jan 21, 2008
2-4pm
$10 per family
(All ages welcome)
Birds for Peace
We will make a beautiful bird “Peace” garland for post holiday home-decorating. We will also create a beautiful bird scene applique that can be sewn onto a child’s item of clothing. (Don’t forget to bring an item of clothing to embellish……it can be a wool sweater (felted is fine) or as weatshirt, a dress. Ideally something thicker than a cotton t-shirt butif that is what you have we’ll make it work)
No sewing skill is necessary.
If you have a sewing kit bring it.
If you have fabric/ felt scraps, we’ll use them!
“LOVE IS THE KEY TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD” MLK
Homeschool Wednesdays
I thought I would share some of the activities we have been up to recently in our homeschool coop. My daughter and I recently read the book “Me on the Map” by Jane Sweeney. A very simple and sweet book that encourages the cartographer in everyone! A great introduction to the world and maps. Thus this lesson plan was created. First we read the book………..It was a hit! Next I gave the group a list that looked something like this
- A airport
- A dump
- A train track/station
- A residential street
- A CSA
- A soccer field
- A horse farm
- A pond
- A hospital
- A school
- A church
and a bucket of toys. Their task was to create a village / town that included all the above. Once the town was created, they were given a large piece of paper and some markers to draw a map of the town. Once this was completed I pulled out this 24 piece “Our world floor puzzle” made by Barefoot books which they worked together to complete. Once completed with talked about the Countries and the Continents and looked for various sites that were pictured on the puzzle.
The next book was
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“My Granny Went to Market A Round-the-World Counting Rhyme” by Stella Blackstone
Next we began making a”Papier-mâché” globe.
What is “Papier-mâché” you ask?
It is French for “chewed up paper!”
We began layering a balloon with our newspaper scraps and using a simple flour water paste to adhere. Once this dried it was painted to look like a globe.
The last book we read was Marjorie Priceman’s “How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World “
The last activity we did was play a round of “Great States Jr”
Our group consists of 4-7 year olds. We are presently looking for a few more families to join us.
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Pumpkins Pumpkins everywhere!
Pumpkins in the cornfields,
Gold among the brown,
Leaves of rust and scarlet
Trembling slowly down;
Birds that travel southward,
Lovely time to play;
Nothing is as pleasant
As an autumn day!
(Carmen Lagos Signes)
(Water colour activity: Sit children at their art table. Place a damp piece of watercolour paper in front of them. Tell this poem 3 times. Then place a small amount of red and some yellow water colour paint infront of them. Give them a paint brush. Retell the poem as they begin to work)
There are a plethera of books on Pumpkin some much better than others! Here are my two current favorites:
Pumpkins by Ken Robbins
Pumpkin Circle:The story of a Gardenby George Levenson
Here are a few links to fun Pumkin activities: (click on the words creatures, snakes, owls and celetrial below for activities)
Pumpkin Creatures: Snakes celestial pumpkins! And here is an owl one.
and here is a recipes for “Autumn Spice Play Dough“
1 cup water
1 T. oil
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
Orange food coloring (2 parts yellow to 1 part red; paprika or carrot juice also make a
nice natural yellow dye)
Mix together over low heat. Knead when cool, adding more flour if needed.
Pirate Books
Here are some for the 3-6 year olds …….
The Night Pirates
This one is my favorite! Rough tough little girl pirates!
Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC
Activities Books:
Rubber-Band Banjos
Homeschoolers this morning had fun making musical instruments; simple bean shakers to more complex plucking instruments several inspired by the book Rubber-Band Banjos and a Java Jive Bass: Projects and Activities on the Science of Music and Sound I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I FORGOT MY CAMERA!!!
For story we read The Drum: A Folktale from India
Next week papier mache characters!
Snowy and Chinnok
Our current favorite book (which we shared with the homeschool coop last Wednesday) is Snowy & Chinnok the third book (our first) in a new series collaboratively produced by Robin Mitchell and Judith Steedman, I am ready to buy Windy (already ordered) and Sunny the first two. A simple story; Sisters Snowy and Chinook are planning a birthday party for their friend Tulip a buffalo on a cold winter morning and trying to find the perfect gift. A perfect mood setting music CD is a bonus. The art work is crafty and creative and very inspring for a child to play/make along. This book will be with us a long time I am sure……and Snowy and Chinnok will re-appear in our lives.
Read it on a snowy evening and wake up to snow, and a hot chocolate and pancake breakfast (recipes included)
Here is a photo of the suncatchers made by the homeschoolers
