The Mom I Want to Be

Create your own treasure stones

 

1c flour

1c used coffee grounds

1/2c salt

1/4c sand

3/4c water

 

Mix it all together (dry first, then add the water) until it forms a dough. Break off pieces and form a ball, press a ‘treasure’ into the middle and seal with some extra dough. You can either bake them for about 15-20 mins at 150 degrees or air dry for 2-3 days until hard.  Arm your kids with some little ‘tools’ and let them chip away until they find their treasure. We’ll be trying ours out in the next few days.

  

 

Vocabulary:

 

Ancient

Archeology

Area

Artifact

Assemble

Buried

Classify

Date

Dig

Discover

Earth

Excavate

Fossil

History

Locate

Mummy

Pyramid

Reconstruct

Sample

Shard

Sift

Uncover

 

Props:

 

Backpack

Boots

Hats

Magnifying Glass

Maps

Bandana

Notebook

Objects for discovery (large dog biscuits for bones, broken pottery, rocks, small pots, marbles, etc)

Sand Strainer

Sunglasses

Tools (little shovels, brushes, rulers, hammers, and so on)

 

Archeological Magazines

Baggies

Camera

Canteen

Dolls and Gauze to make Mummies

Drawing Tools

Florist Stones for Gems

Microscope

Pictures / book of Dinosaurs, Pyramids, Mummies

Pith Helmet

Tape Measure

  

Additional Activities:

  

Bury Objects in the sand table or sandbox and let them dig and discover

Watch a video about archeological digs and discoveries

Hide objects for discovery outdoors and let them go on a hunt

Supply different sized dog biscuits to measure and record sizes

Create artifacts to bury using clay or play dough

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Kidlet has already been exposed to the idea of states of matter.  We’ve talked about solids, liquids and gases for a while now, done experiments with water, ice, gelatin, and so on.  I created this folder to review, and to quiz him on his understanding of states of matter.

The labels for the envellopes came from Instant Display.  I glued them onto the envellopes, and then attached the envellops to the file folder using double sided foam tape to raise them up slightly and make it easier for the tokens to slide into place (below)

The tokens came from all over the place.  Some were individual images that I sought out with google image search (when I was looking for a specific thing like “clouds”), others came from an image search for “states of matter” where I snagged a few collections of images, and still more came from a different FFG posted at 4shared (only a few of those those; the resolution is kinda yucky on them).  Most are images with a caption written on them, some are simply the name of an item that he has to read to sort (ie “Apple Juice” you see in the picture) and a few are even more difficult — a written description of a property of a solid, liquid or gas (as in “this state has a definite volume” token you can see in the photo). 

He has had no trouble sorting these at all.  Occasionally he’ll have to think a little bit (like where does he put the Sun, now that TMBG has told him that its plasma, not gas LOL), but overall, he has got the concept down.  I guess next its time to talk about the water cycle, or changing states of matter.

 

When you can answer “yes” to most of these questions, it’s time to start.

 

• Can your child follow directions?

• Does he understand words like “wet” and “dry” and distinguish between the two? How about “toilet” or “potty”? Does he recognize words for urinating or defecating?

• Can she tell you where to find the toilet in your house?

• Is he in a stage where he wants to please you?

• Does she stay dry for 3-4 hours at a time? Are her bowel movements regular?            

• Can he recognize when he has to use the bathroom?

• Is she itching for independence?

• Does he dislike having a dirty diaper?

• Does she imitate you when you use the bathroom?

• Does he want to wear underwear?

• Has she expressed an interest in using the toilet?

• Is it a relatively stable time in your family life? The stress brought on by big changes (such as a new baby or move to new house) can spell setbacks so it’s better to wait until he feels comfortable and secure.

 

 

•Tell each child, “I love you.”

•Communicate love through gentle touch.

 •Keep track of your kids; notice when they come and go.

•Talk up what your children do that’s right.

•Notice small steps toward competency.

•Ask your kids their opinion.

•Answer their questions patiently and thoroughly.

•Expect age-appropriate responsibility.

•Provide situations where your child gains confidence.

•Surround your kids with loving relatives and friends

1. Read, read, and read to your child for at least 15 minutes every day. Take turns reading with your older child — you read one page, she reads the next — or establish a family reading time when everyone reads her own book.

 2. Encourage him to express his opinion, talk about his feelings, and make choices. This will build his confidence to participate in school discussions and activities. Be sure to establish parameters for his choices, since you don’t want to criticize his decisions.

 3. Help her develop hobbies and interests, and ensure she has the tools she needs to pursue them. For example, if she loves to check the mailbox, give her a magnifying glass and album and show her how to start a stamp collection.

 

4. Provide him with play opportunities that support different kinds of learning styles — from listening and visual learning to sorting and sequencing. Stock your closet with supplies that will encourage him to be creative and express himself.

 

5. Point out the new things you learn with enthusiasm. Discuss the different ways you find new information, showing her that learning is both fun and challenging.

A few years ago a friend passed on a great tip on how to manage all of the candy that your kids haul in from trick or treating.

Enter the Switch Witch.

Switch Witch is a very kind witch (we don’t like things too dark or scary here) who comes by after Halloween to take away extra candy and instead leave a more sensible goodie.  The beauty of the Switch Witch is you get to decide everything about her.  Unlike the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, etc., your kids have probably never heard of her, which is awesome!  Because it means you are not hemmed in by preconceived notions or expectations–how fantastic, right?  It’s fun to make your own tradition.  Here’s what we do.

The boys come in after a fun night of trick or treating, their bags holding an impossible amount of candy.  We dump and check the loot and they get to eat a few pieces on the spot.  Then we take out their small containers (we decorate empty plastic peanut butter jars) and they can fill them with whatever candy they choose (to be consumed later per some house rules).  I try not to candy-shame them into picking what I consider the “good stuff”–but it’s hard (I have to ask, in what universe does a roll of Smarties trump any candy made with real chocolate?).

The rest of the candy is set out for the Switch Witch, who takes the candy and leaves a non-candy treat.  In years past we’ve done books or small toys.  This year I found some nifty rotating toothbrushes that the boys wanted–I figured a toothbrush “toy” would be a perfect switch for candy!

It wasn’t until last year that either of the boys asked what happened to all of the candy.  I told them she takes it to others to share (I left out that the “others” were my then-officemates).  This year the loot is headed to my husband’s office. 

Greet your Halloween night callers with a row of mini pumpkins perched along your windowsill.

 

 

cardboard egg carton

orange craft paint

black or yellow craft paint (or black marker)

green twist tie or piece of chenille stem

newspaper

scissors

craft glue

rice, beans, or candy to place inside the pumpkin

 

optional: green silk sleeves, or leaves cut from felt or construction paper

 

 

Cut two cups from the bottom of an egg carton, then trim around the top edge of each cup to make it even and tidy. Spread newspaper on your work surface, then turn the two cups upside down on the newspaper. Paint the cups orange and let dry. Turn the cups over and partially fill one with a little rice, beans or something similar to add weight and stability to the pumpkin.  Apply glue to the rim of the bottom cup and put the top cup in place. If necessary, touch up the orange paint around the center line. Use the tip of the scissors, or a pencil point, to poke a small hole in the top of the pumpkin. Cut a length of chenille stem, or a twist tie, to use as the pumpkin’s stem. Dip the end of the stem in a little glue, then insert into the hole at the top of the pumpkin. Paint a face on the pumpkin to look like a Halloween jack o’lantern (or use a black permanent marker).

 

Variation: If you wish, replace the rice or beans with a few candies to use the pumpkin as a party favor, place setting, or Halloween treat.

Kid friendly friday is hosted at I Blame My Mother.  Check out this weeks linky to see the projects and ideas that other mom’s have posted!

I think that making book marks is a great activity for kids.  We’ve done it a number of times over the years.  It lends itself to many different themes and mediums. One Christmas I had kidlet make them as gifts, using holiday stamps and glitter.

At my son’s harvest party yesterday I ran an activity table, and bookmarks are what I chose to offer.  I used scrapbook supplies.  I cut card stock and patterned paper to size, gathered up a bunch of embellishments, ribbons and some small rubber stamp alphabets and let the kids decorate them as as they liked.  I have a Xyron Creative Station, so I bought a fresh roll of lamination for it, and took that to help make the bookmarks a little more durable and permanent.

Everyone turned out very different.  (Hopefully I’ll be able to add some process shots later.  I was so busy I didn’t get to take any myself, but another mom did and she said she would email the photos to me).  Here’s a few of them finished:

Several of the kids in the class (Kindergarten) said they were starting chapter books and were already using bookmarks and were very excited to have one they made themselves.  Plus, my husband complains about my leaving my books propped open all over the place, so I plan to snitch one of my son’s to use.  I think he’ll get a kick out of mommy using his work!