Here is another pre-handwriting activity for your kiddo: Sandbox Writing. I've seen this same idea (sandbox and cards) for alphabet writing, but I wanted something for Simon to help him practice basic handwriting strokes and shapes. I created a set of 28 cards for him to use with the sandbox. You can snag your own […]
Super Simple Cookie Cutter Stencils
Simon doesn't complain about his pre-writing pages; I think he might even like them. But I wanted to add a little spice & jazz to his fine motor options. Something simple. Something easy. Maybe stencil tracing. I didn't want to buy stencils {cheap!}. I didn't really want to make stencils {lazy!}. While I was washing […]
Pre-writing Pages for Preschool and Kindergarten
Simon isn’t quite ready for handwriting practice even though he is five-years-old. I try to be sensitive to my kids and what they CAN do versus what they aren’t ready for, and a handwriting book would send this little guy over the edge. Right on over. Kerplunk. I don’t want to send him over the edge, but […]
Monster Masterpieces
Last week was "Monster School" for Simon {complete post coming tomorrow}. For extra fun, the boys used Play-Doh + other random craft supplies to make little monsters. Supplies on the table include: Play-Doh clay tools pipe cleaners yarn google eyes toothpicks scissors A few finished creations I love easy fun! Looking for more Monster […]
Alphabet Tic-Tac-Toe
I want some fresh alphabet games and phonics activities for Simon. He enjoys tic-tac-toe, so I made this alphabet game for kids to help him learn his letter sounds. This game is tic-tac-toe with a twist! If you or your student wants to play on a certain spot, you have to think of a word that starts with […]
Cooking Art
Fantastic books + fun food = one of my favorite classes ever. Cooking Art. You'll find the syllabus below. Click on it to read through the course description, target age, outline of classes, and supplies needed. I don't see the materials fee on this class, but I charged $12 per student for the food. My […]
Let’s Make a Mess!
Let's Make a Mess! Yes, that was the name of the preschool art class my friend and I co-taught at our homeschool co-op. Did the class live up to it's name? I'll let you decide. The inspiration for this class was a direct result of Mary Ann Kohl's book, The Big Messy Art Book. You will […]
Fun with Patterns ~ Veggie Kabobs
If your preschooler needs a little more practice making patterns, this one is for you! You need some bamboo skewers and an assortment of brightly colored veggies. We used black olives, cucumbers, pea pods, yellow & red peppers, and carrots. I don’t recommend the carrots, though. They are hard to get on the skewer. Before […]
Weaving Art for Preschool
This idea came from MaryAnn Kohl's book, Preschool Art, where you are sure to find many more great preschool art ideas. This is an easy way to keep your preschooler busy while building fine motor skills and making some pretty art. Supplies for Weaving Art cardboard yarn scissors one preschooler Directions First you […]
Simon’s Strawberry Smoothie
My littlest chef has been cooking since he was a tot. He loves to be in the kitchen, and he was super-duper excited when it came time for his first LIVE cooking class last week. (I think he’s doing the happy dance in this picture!) We made strawberry smoothies with Mixing Bowl Academy. The class […]
Snap Paintings
Supplies old picture frames (we used 8×10) or smallish cookie sheets thick, strong rubber bands paint brushes assorted tempera paint colors cup of water (to wash & change paint colors) paper old towel (not necessary, but a good idea) Get your paints ready. Tip: Use an egg carton or muffin tin to keep paint colors separated. […]
Prickly Tickly Book
This is a super fun sensory activity that will cultivate curiosity about nature. Your preschooler will create a book with special objects he finds in nature. When he's finished, he will have a book he can "read!" Supplies: 6 Ziploc freezer bags (quart-sized) Stapler My Prickly Tickly Book Pages printed (on different colors of paper, […]
Finger Painting Prints
Here is a process art activity I facilitated at co-op a few weeks ago, and Simon asked to do it again at home. He's not the only one who loves this one–I do, too! I like it because it saves on paint and because you don't end up with those gooby-globby-over-heavy-never-will-dry fingerpaint masterpieces. Supplies a cookie sheet finger paint […]
Our Fancy Paintbrushes for Preschool Process Art
I have had the wonderful opportunity to co-teach a preschool class at co-op this fall– Let's Make a Mess! (a process art class). In preparing for this class, the co-teacher and I have been gathering all these fun tools to use as paintbrushes! Last week we had our first "free paint" and the kids used all […]
Runaway Art
Here is another example of process art. This idea is adpated from MaryAnn Kohl's fabulous Preschool Art book. This project is a little messy, but so enjoyable to create! My little artist was very serious about this one. He may look unhappy in some of the photos, but he is just concentrating! Set-up: Put a large piece of […]
Simon and Symmetry
We’ve done at least four different activities so far from Family Math for Young Children, and we LOVE it! Simon says, "Mom, let’s do one of my math games!" We chose "Copy-Cats" to do on Tuesday. It is a simple activity that promotes spacial reasoning and gets children thinking about symmetry (and no, you don’t […]
V is for Vegetables
If you are new to Read to Me & ABC, please start here. Read to Me Our book of the week was Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert. Alphabet Art- Valentine V Supplies V Pattern cut up valentine cards glue Glue the card pieces to the V and you'll have your Valentine V! Lessons & Lapbook I used the lessons and […]
T for Teddy Bear
If you are new to Read to Me & ABC, please start here. Read to Me Our book of the week was Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom. Alphabet Art- Toothpick T Supplies T Pattern toothpicks glue markers Simon colored all over the T with markers. Then I put a strip of glue on […]
Preschool Take 2
We are just a hop, jump, and skip away from finishing Read to Me & ABC. What comes next for Simon? Lots of fun! Handwriting Without Tears — Get Set for School I can’t wait to Hokey Pokey, bark through the alphabet, create play-doh letters, and wiggle my toes with Handwriting Without Tears. I obviously had […]
X for Fox
If you are new to Read to Me & ABC, please start here. Read to Me Our book of the week was Oh, A-Hunting We Will Go by John Langstaff. X is a tough letter because we don't use the true /ks/ sound at the beginning of words. I emphasized the x sound on the end of words. […]