image via makingfriends.com
I printed out this Spring Bingo game for one of the centers in my son's kindergarten class. Since it was an Easter party, we used jellybeans for markers; at home, we use pennies, buttons, or Legos.
Showing posts with label 15 Minutes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 15 Minutes. Show all posts
Monday, April 25, 2011
Friday, October 22, 2010
15 Minutes : Play It : Pin the Face on the Pumpkin
Another one of the center activities for my son's class party: Pin the Face on the Pumpkin. So simple and classic that I wonder why I needed the internet to think of it.
But to be fair, this site reminded me how to play.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
15 Minutes : Make It : Pasta Skeleton
So, despite the fact that I'm going to have a baby any day now, I am supposed to organize--not attend, just organize--the centers for my kindergartener's Halloween party. (Believe me, this year I am definitely the reluctant room mother. But when they lay on the guilt...)
This is one of the activities I have planned for the party: just your basic skeleton made out of assorted pasta. Very easy and self-explanatory, but if you want more details, I found them here.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
15 Minutes : Read It : Stone Soup
The classic folktale, Stone Soup, is a beloved of mine. I love the lessons of working together, of selflessness, of community--it just never gets old. Here are two versions I particularly like:
Stone Soup, by Marcia Brown. You just can't go wrong with a Caldecott winner. This version is the perfect, traditional intro to this story if you're not already familiar with it. Marcia Brown's simple illustrations and text are masterful no matter what the book.
Stone Soup, by Jon Muth. Same story with a fantastic Asian flair. The villagers add their Chinese ingredients to the pot in this beautiful watercolor version.
images via bn.com
Thursday, October 7, 2010
15 Minutes : Read It : Autumn Books
My very favorite picture book to start off the fall season is Ox-Cart Man, by Donald Hall. Another excellent one is In November, by Cynthia Rylant. But since I've already reviewed both of those, I thought I'd share a couple others that are regulars at our house this time of year...
Pumpkin Moonshine, by Tasha Tudor. It's another name for jack o' lantern, for those (like me) who had never heard this old-fashioned, New England name. And really, does anything bring autumn vividly to mind like old-fashioned, New England illustrations?
Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic, by Steven Schnur. Beautiful, detailed poetry combined with intricate woodcut pictures; and an ABC book as well. Someday I'll help my kids come up with their own acrostics.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
15 Minutes : Make It : Lunches
image via anotherlunch
Have you heard of Bento lunches? I like the ideas at the deliciously beautiful site, AnotherLunch, though I wonder if some of them would be too light a meal for my sprouting sixth-grader.
I like sending my kids with home lunches for so many reasons, but I have made the compromise of allowing them to buy lunch once a week (pizza day, of course). Amazingly, after years of this pattern they are finally tired of pizza day, and are more interested than ever in trying new combinations. My second-grade daughter is especially happy to help out right now.
I haven't fully embraced the Bento ideas just because our lunch boxes aren't the right shape. However, I have added a cold pack plastic box full of vegetables or fruits; I don't know if it's the box or the fact that the food is chilled, but the kiddos are loving it.
Monday, September 20, 2010
15 Minutes : Play It : Memory
image via here
After spending five whole minutes tracking down the whereabouts of my very mischievous three-year-old, I decided we needed to have a little sit-down-and-focus time this morning. We played Memory--twice. We have the sweet, teeny Mini-Memo by Haba, but I also have visions of creating my own set like this one I saw at homemade by jill (though, technically the tutorial is on Or So She Says).
P.S. Little boy was out in the garage, hiding with various keys to various locks that were specifically placed to keep him out of trouble. Yes, we have child locks on our doors; no, that doesn't stop him; no, he doesn't respond when I call him; yes, I was doing something very quick and responsible--making my bed--when he sneaked away.
Monday, September 13, 2010
15 Minutes : Play It : Listening
image via hereStill working on listening skills...
One day as we sat on the back porch, I asked my two youngest to close their eyes very tightly and just listen. My kindergartener knew instinctively what to do and described what he could hear: helicopter, birds, kids playing, a bumblebee flying past his face. The three-year-old had more trouble focusing (and keeping his eyes closed), so I told him to listen for specific sounds. "Can you hear the car going by? Where do you think that bird is chirping?"
We also tried to be completely silent for one minute. Ha--way harder than it sounds. Did you ever play "The Quiet Game" when you were little? I think it's easier to be still when no one is telling you to be still. Once there's a goal or a requirement, the temptation to talk is just too much. Our silent minute looked more like giggles about to erupt.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
15 Minutes : Read It : Nonsense Books
Sometimes we just need some of those books that are so ridiculous and silly that my kids actually hoot out loud when we're reading them. I know any mention of underwear sends even my three-year-old into giggles, but I try to steer clear of those. (There's plenty of that without bringing it home from the library too--*sigh*) Here are a few of our favorite (non-potty-humor) nonsensical picture books...
The Runaway Dinner, by Allan Ahlberg. I love the rambling, conversational style of this one. It's told just the way a kid would tell a story.
The Monster at the End of this Book, by Jon Stone. This oldie from my childhood continues to pack a good, silly punch.
The Cow Loves Cookies, by Karma Wilson. The expressions on the characters' faces make me smile too.
Silly Sally, by Audrey Wood. Sing-song, predictable words make this one stick in their heads for days.
images via bn.com
What books guarantee a laugh from your kids?
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
15 Minutes : Read It : School Books
We like to give the teachers a new book on the first day of school. These are the ones we picked this year:
One Smart Cookie, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Each page uses a part of the cookie-making process to demonstrate qualities such as prompt, curious, prepared. Love the illustrations, love the concept. 
This School Year Will Be the Best! by Kay Winters. A classroom full of hopes and wishes for the new year. My son likes the page that wishes for great field trips...and is illustrated with children floating around inside a space shuttle.
Ranger's Apprentice, by John Flanagan. When my sixth-grader saw that his teacher didn't have this, the first in his favorite series, he knew he wanted to give her a copy. We've enjoyed the series together this past year. He loves the action/adventure; I'm glad to see a book with good, loyal, smart, hardworking characters. Plus, the mentor-apprentice relationship is so beautifully played out. I highly recommend this one for the 10-15 year-old male crowd. 
images via bn.com
Monday, August 30, 2010
15 Minutes : Play It : Listening Lotto
Am I the only mom who repeats myself dozens of times a day? I'm especially working with my two youngest children on their listening skills. We've been playing Outside Listening Skills Lotto together almost every day in the past week. I don't know if they're paying better attention to my voice yet, but I feel good knowing we're working on it.
We picked up this game from our library, but it's also available at Amazon. You might even check to see if your school loans out games like this.
Friday, April 9, 2010
15 Minutes : Play It : Handwriting Activities
image via hereMy son and I have been focusing on improving his handwriting. For the sake of review, I print out a basic tracing worksheet of a certain letter. Somedays we choose a worksheet that has a picture; others he wants a word search. When he's finished with that, we turn the paper over and he lists and draws other pictures that begin with the same letter. Since he's often a reluctant writer, I've been trying to discover ways to encourage him. Today this worked: He loves filling papers with "roads"--continuous lines that swerve, curve, and veer. So, I tried describing the letter he was writing as a road for his car. "First the road is straight, then, oh no, the road suddenly turns the other way! And then it's going back this way again." He loved it.
I find our basic tracer page (with picture) at First-School.ws. The site is kind of painful to navigate, so here is letter A for you; you can then find the rest of the alphabet from that page.
(On the chart, I choose from the Handwriting column, SB--meaning standard block style, and then ask my son which picture he likes.)
Here is our tracer page that comes with a word search. Same site, same messy story.
What handwriting sites do you like? How do you make this kind of practice more interesting?
What handwriting sites do you like? How do you make this kind of practice more interesting?
Thursday, April 1, 2010
15 Minutes : Make It : Easter Printables
A few free printables I found for Easter:
A simple card from the talented Olliegraphic (remember her beautiful Valentines?). I really like that her designs have cutting guides on them.
Tags or small notecards from babalisme. Don't you think these are boyish enough for my sons to give to teachers and grandparents?
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
15 Minutes : Make It : Bunny Envelopes
Here's a fun Easter craft project to make with your kids. Fill the envelope bunnies with small toys, candy or hand-written notes and deliver to friends and family!
Monday, March 15, 2010
15 Minutes : Read It : Alphabet Books
image via hereI love alphabet books, and there are so many amazing ones out there. Small Magazine did a beautiful layout highlighting a few of their favorites--which include some of my favorites as well as unfamiliar ones. (Be sure to look at both pages of their feature.)
A few more alphabet books I like:
Thursday, March 4, 2010
15 Minutes : Read It : The Curious Garden
image via bn.com
The Curious Garden, by Peter Brown, is a family favorite all year long, but it seems particularly appropriate for spring. It tells the story of a little boy who lives in a gray, dreary city...dreary, that is, until he nurtures a tiny, forgotten garden until it fills the city not only with greenery, but also with newly-inspired gardeners. My kids especially like to flip back and forth between the sad city in the first illustration and its vibrant twin on the last page. The whole book makes us want to plant something.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
15 Minutes : Make It : Heart Envelopes
image via marthastewart.com
Clever folding. I wonder if my daughter would like to make these for her class. If not, I'm sure her creative little mind will find other reasons to give away these heart notes.
Friday, January 29, 2010
15 Minutes : Make It : Snail Valentines
image via zakkalife
I think these will be perfect for my 5-year-old to create and give away. Find the free printable template at ZakkaLife.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
15 Minutes : Play It : Bubbles
My kids--even the school-age ones--love blowing, catching, stomping, and clapping bubbles. I don't know what happens when you blow bubbles on a cold winter day, but scholastic.com recommends trying it.
As for the random bubble questions that are bound to be posed, Bubblesphere provides more information about bubbles than I ever needed to know--and possibly enough facts for my curious kindergartener. For instance: What is the biggest bubble ever made? Why do bubbles pop? What is the best bubble solution?
As for the random bubble questions that are bound to be posed, Bubblesphere provides more information about bubbles than I ever needed to know--and possibly enough facts for my curious kindergartener. For instance: What is the biggest bubble ever made? Why do bubbles pop? What is the best bubble solution?
We're going to be bubble experts after this activity.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
15 Minutes : Play It : ABC Puzzles
I have both of these puzzles sitting in my Amazon shopping cart. I can't decide which I'll get for my son's third birthday. I like the Alphapatterns puzzle (above) because each letter is its own piece; but I also like the gorgeous pictures on the Crocodile Creek ABC puzzle (below). Would it be too boring to get both? He loves puzzles, we're working on ABCs, they're both well-made puzzles that will last forever...now I'm just looking for reasons to make it a puzzle birthday.
Alphapatterns available cheap here, and also at Bambino Mountain.
Alphapatterns available cheap here, and also at Bambino Mountain.Crocodile Creek available at Amazon.
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