Vacationing on a senior income doesn't have to be difficult. These cheap summer vacation ideas for seniors could be just the ticket for you!
My daughter is in first grade and her class is a little obsessed with cootie catchers (aka fortune tellers). She likes to make them a lot, and other kids her grade and a little older do, too. Which…
It’s starting to feel like Fall round here and to get ready for the new season, we are working on some fun fall and Halloween crafts! Each of these crafts can be done with little ones as well as older children. Kids can practice their scissor skills when cuting out the construction paper to make this fun pumpkin and acorn crafts. Lets get crafting:1. Print our Printable onto construction paper. Then Color it in. 2. Cut out the Printable. 3. Glue the leaf on the first pumpkin shape.4. Now fold th
This project is so much fun, and it's a great way to get in a little cutting practice, think about composition, and even throw in a bit of color theory. With very young children, and kids who are new to using scissors, it's a great introduction to cutting paper, because there really is no &
Invite kids to create art in the style of Leo Lionni to go along with the book Pezzettino.
When we first moved to the country, we had no TV, and things were really just fine. After that, we opted for Netflix, but just for Madeline, John, and I—not the little ones. Well, that lasted a little while but then the draw of the TV set in. Not for the kids—for ME! It's such
This easy pencil grip trick will help your child learn how to hold a pencil correctly and you can use what you already have at home!
DIY Paper Dinosaur Hat- Craft for preschool, kindergarten, or elementary kids.
Make a cardboard dinosaur craft for your dino loving kids with this super simple cut and slot method of construction! Great for older kids to do alone or to make for little ones to decorate and play with on a rainy day. Cardboard truly is the BEST art material available as far as I am...Read More »
Here are some ideas for Spring Art – covering trees, […]
UPDATED: I fixed the freebie so you should be able to download now! :) As most of y’all know, I LOVE me some science. This is how I introduce science in my classroom. We do
Let your mind wander into the fancy world of the Smurfs with this super soft crochet Smurfette! Use our free Smurfette Amigurumi Pattern to create the lovely toy for your little ones :)
Elegant. Refined. Poised. Do you want to be all of these things? I think we could all use with being a little bit more elegant. When you are a classy
dusty skinblend - by squea a little skinblend i been working on in a while. its quite similar in appearance to my cicada skinblend so if u like that one youll hopefully like this one! its quite maxi…
You can get all the details for this very creative, engaging project HERE!
Catholic Color by Mass Item Coloring Pages - the fun and engaging way to teach your students about the items we use during Mass. Because there are five versions included, this is perfect for little ones, young children and older children as well. Perfect for your Catholic school, religious education, or Sunday school classroom. Help your students identify the items they see in church with these awesome coloring pages. Click to try out a FREE SAMPLE!
All my readers must be familiar with my easy baby girl dress pattern. This is my most famous pattern to date, having been repinned over 150,000 times. The pattern has been available only
Hello everyone! Before I announce the results to the giveaway I wanted to show you this little guy. It's a figure template that artists use to help draw the body in different poses. Now you can buy a plastic version at art supply stores but I thought I'd show you how easy it is to make one. Let's get started. MATERIALS REQUIRED: - paper, pencil and eraser - my template pattern, optional - black marker - cereal box - scissors - press or hole punch, or an awl, or even a sharp pencil - paper brads PROCEDURE: Now you can use my pattern if you want or you can make your own. With older kids I would have them make their own. When I start a figure pattern I first draw a vertical line on the paper. This helps me gauge the size of the figure. I then start sketching the head and body. Then I start on the arms and legs. When I have it the way I want I trace around the body parts with a black marker. I then put a piece of paper on top of the one I outlined in marker. Hold them up to a window if needed and trace the figure shapes onto the new page in pencil. I choose which arm and leg parts I like the best and trace around those. Using scissors cut out the shapes you traced in pencil. Now trace your paper shapes onto a cereal box or lightweight cardboard (chipboard). For the arms and legs you DO NOT need to turn the pattern over for the second set. Cut out. With a new pattern I place the cardboard shapes into position and mark where I need the holes. Play with the positions a bit before you mark the hole. The ones you need to watch is the shoulder joint and the hip joint. It might look great in the first position you put it in but then as you move it you realize it's in the wrong place. Use your punch, an awl, or even a sharp pencil to poke your hole. If you used my pattern just follow the dots. Put your figure together using paper brads for the joints. Your template is now ready to go. For drawing place the template on top of paper and trace out positions. If it moves too freely before you can finish tracing you can just use a little tape to tack it into position. Another neat thing you can try is using it as a splatter resist. Place on top of paper in position you want and then splatter paint on top. Then carefully remove the template and you have your image. Blot the template figure with a kleenex and then try again in another position. You'll find lots of different positions to try. So now onto the giveaway results for "Art Lab for Kids" by Susan Schwake. I had a total 209 entries and by random draw the winner is: Here are your random numbers: 79 Timestamp: 2012-08-24 16:29:30 UTC which works out to be Lila who left me this comment: Thanks for all your helpful pictures. Yes, quietly I thought about getting back to school today to set up a new art room in a new school with whatever supplies there is. Thanks for this resource and for sharing. That is what I do too! When I find a good source, I tend to use it all the time and don't want to give it up. Thanks for blogging about it. Thanks everyone for entering. I can't believe all the nice comments I've been receiving! I would love to answer you all back but then I wouldn't have any time for art. I read every one of them and they make this all worth while! Take care everyone and I'll see you next week.
As we grow older, we often become accustomed to our environment and lose interest in the little things in life. However, some people don't grow out of their wonderous childlike minds and find the mystery in the ordinary.
This splat art is a fun way to help kids explore science through art. Take the splat painting outside for even more creative possibilities.
Do your children need an introduction to scissors and cutting? Practice using scissors while creating Henry Matisse-inspired art!
As a child, few things are more exciting than your birthday. And while many older children won’t admit it - birthdays are even better when they fall on a school day. You have a classroom full of people ready to celebrate and - if you’re lucky - you have a teacher who’ll make you feel super special. I can never get enough of celebrating birthdays! Today I thought I’d share a bunch of easy and affordable ideas for celebrating birthdays in the classroom. They won’t break the bank, but they will have your little learners beaming from ear to ear. Love this door display @mrs.dellios has put together using the Boho Rainbow range. You could add a matching little birthday note too, like @teachingwithmisskiersten. 1. Start With a Birthday Display The best place to start your planning is with a Birthday Display. Not only do they serve as a visual reminder of what birthdays are happening when (honestly, who can keep up!) they’re also fantastic for filling space in your classroom decor and solidifying the overall aesthetic of your classroom. Adore these spaces by @wise_in_first and @brittanyraebecraft! But most importantly? Students love to see that they’re being included and celebrated. I always loved seeing kids would quietly and proudly point out their names on the Birthday Display to their parents visiting the classroom. Your birthday display be can an extension of your broader classroom aesthetic, just like the Boho Rainbow items here. I’ve created a whole bunch of different birthday displays to fit every classroom theme - there’s neutral tones, pastels, brights, rainbows, spots and so much more. I might be the tiniest bit biased, but I think they’re well worth a look ;) Did I mention I love birthdays?! Having way too much fun with the Spotty Brights Birthday Display! 2. Crown Them Birthday Boss I’m not sure if it’s the same across the world, but here in Australia, many families have a cheeky approach to birthdays. A simple but effective Modern Rainbow display from @misszandthefirsties, goes so nicely with the Boho Rainbow range. Let’s say you’ve been asked to put your dishes in the dishwasher, for example. If you reply “Ah, birthday girl!” you’re given a free pass. The idea is that you can be lazier, cheekier and more spoilt on your ‘special day’ and get away with it. It has its limits of course, but it’s effectively a one-day free pass to do as you please. Absolutely adore the mixture of tones and textures in @primary.diaries’ Boho Vibes display. You can adapt this slightly for the classroom, with what I like to call, ‘Birthday Boss.’ You simply nominate the birthday kiddo as ‘boss’ for the day and they get to ‘choose’ the activities, books and games for the day. Of course, you pull the strings by presenting only a few choices that you approve of, but it’s a wonderful way to give the children a sense of autonomy and control.You can also give them the option to choose their favourite class job - it’s also a great way to rotate the best gigs between the students. Ah, birthday girl! Image via @missmeg_04 and @teachingwithmisshonner 3. Have a Stockpile of Simple, Affordable Rewards While a little gift isn’t necessary - there are so many other ways to make the day memorable - it does go down a treat! To keep it simple and affordable, I’ll usually pop to a dollar store at the start of the school year and buy one item in bulk. Whether it’s a fun straw and topper, a little stuffed animal, a key ring, slap band, pen or a fidget toy, I’ll get a few colour options for the children to choose from.I then pop them all in a draw, add my little Happy Birthday Labels and the job is done! Honestly, if I had to go out and buy separate gifts for each birthday I’d never remember. How cute are those flower-shaped highlighters from @miss_chahoud? You can really attach these Birthday Balloons to just about anything! 4. Create a Slideshow and… a Disco?! One of my absolute favourite ways to celebrate a child is with a customised slideshow. It takes five minutes to pop together but can make them feel so loved. A simple slideshow can do wonders! Images via @teachingwithalexia and @learning-withemma. Using my Google Slides templates, simply add a few photos, share a few kind observations about the child's strengths and include some wishes from the class. When you turn the lights down low to watch the slideshow, there’s a fun twist you can add for extra memorability.If you have a disco light (which is a rarity for the average population, but surprisingly common among teachers!) it can be so fun to pop it on, add a music track to the slideshow and have a little dance. You can call it a Birthday Boogie and make it a little tradition for your class. While the surprise factor only lasts for one birthday - the fun factor will never cease! 5. Decorate the Birthday Throne This next tip is so simple it feels almost silly to type it! But one of the simplest and most impactful things you can do to celebrate a birthday is to decorate the student’s chair. For a day, that tiny and humble plastic chair becomes a throne. The newest Birthday Display on the block, the Boho Plants range! Even just a single helium balloon attached to a chair can really mean so much. But why not go all out and add wrapping paper, big bows, feather boas - anything you like! It’s a fun way to signify to the class that a VIP is in the house and help any visitors to the room know that something special is happening. Also, the other students may get a real kick out of helping you decorate the night before. Love this classic Birthday Display (left) from @miss.christiansen. And doesn’t this shot from @missglassroom just make you feel happy? 6. Create a Lucky Dip Did anyone else read Babysitters Club Books as a child? If you did, you’ll remember that they had a ‘Kid Kit’ which was a tub filled with activities for the kids they were babysitting. It varied from week to week and always surprised and delighted the children. Now, I know it was fiction but for some reason that idea really stuck with me, and I made a variation for my own students and it was such a hit. Simply start by grabbing a small tub, container or drawer. Fill it with small and cheap reward items, like fun stationery or fidget toys, or little treats. We love a versatile label! Then, using my trolly cart labels, or my general classroom labels give it a catchy name. For instance - you could call it a Birthday Box, or a Kindness Container, or a Terrific Tub. When you see behaviour that’s kind, terrific - or, in this case - there’s a birthday, you can whip it out and the children can choose a special treat. Its varied and spontaneous nature of it makes it a real drawcard and makes it feel quite special. Such a fun use of lace and bunting from @mrsfrantzenkinder! And ditto on the right - super fun use of my Spotty Brights Classroom Labels! This idea works at any time of the year as a fantastic tool in your reward and recognition system. Hope this has helped, BFFs! So there you have it BFFs, those are my six favourite tips to celebrate your student's birthdays. If you need any help choosing from my collections, drop a comment below or shoot me a DM, I’m always here to help!
These FREE Printables and Unit Studies for Eric Carle's Books will help you expand on what your kids are learning through these beloved books.
Take one part geometry, one part riddle, and one part partner work and what do you have? A little gem of an activity. We have entered into our Geometry unit and started looking at angles and their measurements. I wanted to give the kids some hands-on use of the protractors, but also some fun. So, I came up with this little activity that the kid really, really loved. First, we talked about angles and their measurements. Using their math notebooks, we created a few samples and had a little hands on exploration with actual protractors. Then, once that was done, for a little extra practice, I gave the kids this little printable (ok, worksheet...but printable sounds so much better, doesn't it??) with a whole bunch of protractors on it. I wanted the students to really think about what they were doing so for each angle I asked them to list the following: 1. What type of angle is it? acute or obtuse 2. Knowing the angle type, will it be greater or less than 90 degrees? 3. Next, looking at the protractor, what are the two angle degrees that it could be (based on where the arrow is pointing) 4. Choose the correct angle degree and circle it. The kids did this for every.single.problem. Tedious? Yes. Time consuming? Yes. Get the most out of the printable so the kids are able to justify why they are choosing the angle measurement? YES. I had them work in partners on this, which made the assignment seem extra fun. Then, they solved the riddle and, viola, protractor practice complete. Click here to get the printable to use in your own room. What are some things you have done to get your kid interested in math AND practicing the skill at hand?
Looking for a spooktacular Halloween activity for kids? Download these free printable ghost coloring pages! From cute ghosts for toddlers and preschoolers to creepy ghosts for older kids and teens, these free printable coloring pages promise hours of ghostly fun for different skill levels and ages! Whether you want to use this at home, in the classroom, or at a Halloween party, these free printable coloring pages will surely be a big hit with your little ghouls.
Heading to a music festival this summer? Check out our top festival hairstyles to get you in the party mood.
Fine motor skills need practice and learning numbers takes practice, so voila. I made some number lacing cards for my little guy. You can download a PDF of these free 0-10 Lacing Cards from Google Drive here. I printed ours on heavyweight cardstock and laminated them for extra durability. Then I cut them apart and used my handy unconventional hole punch. To make the lacing strings, I cut lengths of yarn. I clipped toothpicks, added a dot of glue in the center and tied a knot around the middle. This prevented the yarn from being pulled through the first hole. At the other end of the yarn, I used clear tape to carefully and tightly wrap the end to prevent fraying and make threading the yarn through the holes a little easier. Now all that was left to do was hand over the cards to my youngest son. I had him start each card at the star and end at the colored hole. He concentrated so hard to weave the yarn in and out of the holes and was so proud to finish a card. I love the combination of math and fine motor practice he gets with these cards! Enjoy!
Bursting with colour and style, these retro style trainers from Little Bird by Jools Oliver will be a charming addition to their summer wardrobe. Designed with a soft upper finished in a rainbow of shades, the running style trainers also have two touch and close fastened straps and a cushioned footbed that will ensure a comfortable and secure fit throughout the day. Team them with their favourite summer outfit for the perfect playtime look.
My, what fuzzy ears you have! Have a fun alphabet review with your little monster while you color this capital letter E.
I am not an overly creative person, as people keep telling me. I just a little fish swimming in the SEA OF PINTEREST. Yes, I have ideas. Yes, they are inspired by things I see and hear. But, in order to implement them, I need help. I want to acknowledge the help I got on putting on two bridal showers this weekend, and many office parties over the years. I could NOT have made any of this happen without my friends and family. So here goes a partial list of the other fish in my world. 1. Karen R. She helps hang banners, bake with me, shop, move tables, listen to ideas, and just be there all of the time. 2. Patty G. She does everything Karen does, but even loads rubber band guns for four hours. We are talking YEARS of helping for these two people. 3. My twin Annie. She spent all week at my house baking bar cookies for favors, helping me with my old dogs, running errands, organizing, cutting out printed objects, and many other things. Kisses for this Michigan hero. 4. My sister Patty. She has been cutting out magazine ideas (before Pinterest) for years and being a cheer leader with a check ready for years. 5. My girl scout troups. They were always ready to pitch in before they grew up and had husbands and babies. Now they cheer me by saying lovely things on Facebook. 6. My husband. He spent FIVE HOURS in Office Depot for the Chili Contest when the printer didn't work waiting for the posters. He prints, totes, moves office furniture, gets carry-out when I am too busy to cook, moves supplies and decorations from home to work and back, puts up with piles of supplies all over the house pre-party, along with many more little things. 7. My daugher Maryanne. She SHOPS for the supplies. She's an expert at this now. She knows every color of fun foam that exists. She helps load the car, make flower arrangements, and hold down the fort when I am at my busiest. Then she takes pictures of everything for my blog. 8. Jane W. and Helene W. sat on the floor way late into the night at Maryanne's grad party blowing up balloons and making balloon poles. Their daughters weren't graduating. 9. For all the friends who came to my door last year to pick up "teeny weenies" to bake in their ovens and bring to the Margarita Party. 10. My sister-in-law Lois. She comes to every party and just runs the kitchen and event so that I can relax and have fun with my guests. This shower, she even enlisted her sister Susan to help cook the entire dinner for my niece's shower after the afternoon one. Susan taught me how to tie a perfect package bow, something I had never conquered. They ran the kitchen at the afternoon shower also. Kisses and hugs. 11. My daughter Annie. She helps me with graphics, baking, making new friends, and just overall admiring me and cheering me up when I am exhausted. 12. The teachers at Floris Elementary School. Thank you for letting me come in to do programs at school with your kids. No idea is too big. Your encouragement keeps me running. 13. My niece Sarah and her new husband Fernando. They have both worked my parties when no one else was available. Sarah's feet needed massages after many events. It was trial by fire for Fernando, but he is such a good sport. Sarah, thanks for the cupcake and cake books for all of their ideas. 14. Everyone of my friends and relatives who think I'm creative and say so. Ha ha. You didn't know I was fooling you. That I'm just the little fish inside all of the other fish swimming in the sea. It is so wonderful being surrounded by love and helpfulness. 15. Last, but not least, my sister's Terry and Mary Lou. Even though you are long distance, you've never once said those dreaded words, "Oh, Jani. WHAT do you want us to do now?" IF I HAVE FORGOTTEN ANYONE, WHICH I AM SURE I HAVE, LIKE MY AUNT CLARA WHO IS THE GURU OF CREATIVENESS, PLEASE FORGIVE ME. LET ME KNOW SO THAT I CAN GIVE YOU A LIST OF THINGS TO DO FOR THE MARGARITAVILLE PARTY COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER. (ha ha). THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
Catholic Color by Mass Item Coloring Pages - the fun and engaging way to teach your students about the items we use during Mass. Because there are five versions included, this is perfect for little ones, young children and older children as well. Perfect for your Catholic school, religious education, or Sunday school classroom. Help your students identify the items they see in church with these awesome coloring pages. Click to try out a FREE SAMPLE!
Give your energy a boost in just 8 minutes with this fun Texas Hold 'Em dance workout for seniors!
Use this one page sheet as your student interview for your special education evaluations! It will give you important information about how they see themselves, their social connections, second language use, academics, extracurricular interests, current goals, and future plans after high school. This...
