Trumpet craft and jazz music lesson for preschoolers, kindergarten, or elementary kids, focusing on Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. Great for Black History Month!
Easy printmaking ideas for preschoolers! These simple kids projects are great for playgroups, older kids, and multi-age homeschool
Rainbow walking water science experiment for kids. An easy science project for kids with free printable walking water worksheet. This walking rainbow experiment is perfect for preschoolers learning about colour mixing.
Do your children need an introduction to scissors and cutting? Practice using scissors while creating Henry Matisse-inspired art!
This free printable can help kids practice spotting differences and improve their short term memory! Simply Print, Cut Out and Play!
I love self-portraits. It always amazes me how much each child's personality comes out in their drawings. I constantly have parents asking me, did my child draw that?! The answer is yes! With the right directions/facilitation you can help each child do their best. I love the results of this project and it's simpler then it looks. This project usually takes us about two days. I begin by giving the child a blank piece of paper. (I use white card stock Then I ask each child to think about what their face looks like. Is it round like a ball? Oval like an egg, etc. Then I ask them to draw their head. It's important to use permanent marker, because washable markers will run when painted over. Then I ask the child to think about what they have on their head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, etc. DON'T DRAW HAIR it will be added later. Last, I have them draw two lines down from their chin to make their neck. Then, we look at our multi-cultural paints together and choose the shade that matches the closest. (You can find multi-cultural paint through discount school supply) They paint all of the white space on their head/neck. I cut out their portrait after it has dried and glue it down on a piece of white card stock. Then we work on their hair. I use blonde, black, and brown yarn. I ask them about what color their hair is, is it long or short, does it need to be braided, in a pony tail, curly, etc. This part is very teacher directed. Some accessory ideas; colored yarn for hair ties, barrettes, streamers folded up for bows, pipe cleaners for head bands, jewels or beads for earrings. Then, it's time to paint in the eyes if necessary. I use white acrylic, because the tempera paint lets the color underneath seep through. Then the child adds a dot with the color of their eyes. We added writing to our art that says "My name is ______." You can read about adding writing here. We display our self-portraits all year in the classroom and then send them home in portfolios at the end of the year. Fall weather has FINALLY arrived here in St. Louis! I'm enjoying a lazy Sunday with the windows open and Cardinal baseball on TV. If you like the ideas found on my blog, please leave a comment and follow me! :)
This splat art is a fun way to help kids explore science through art. Take the splat painting outside for even more creative possibilities.
These coffee filter butterflies are such a classic craft! I love how easy they are to make and how the bright colours of the Mr. Sketch markers blend together to make gorgeous looking butterfly wings! (Don't worry, you can use regular washable markers too). Do you remember Mr. Sketch markers from when you were a kid? I was walking down the craft aisle at Walmart last year and saw them on display -- I was so excited to see that they still make them! I opened up the package, took the lid off of one of the markers and smelled
Learn more about the symbols of Australia with this FREE and easy to use flip book. Students cut and paste symbols...
Do you need a hands-on, sensory lesson to teach about kind words? You will love this! Perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and even older kids! Also part of the Virtual Book Club for Kids!
Download this FREE printable writing paper for kids - complete with 20 different style sheets, including dashed line for little kids and and regular line for older kids. Great for creative writing, handwriting practice, or writing stories and letters.
Check out all of my faith-based Easter crafts and recipies for kids here! We tried our hand at salt paintings, and it was so much fun! Easy, fast, and seriously... did I mention fun?! To
50+ Simon Says Ideas for kids. Easy ideas for toddlers and older kids! Free printable pdf included with the list of the Simon Says actions.
Awesome canvas art ideas for kids to make throughout the year! It's a fun way for kids to explore and display art. Perfect for collaborative art, too.
I'm so excited to share with you my newest TPT product! I'll be teaching a human body class this upcoming semester at our local co-op. I needed a human body project for kids in my class that will allow them to organize and store the information we learn. I came up with this file folder
Your early learners are absolutely going to LOVE this school clip cards printable! Perfect for quiet time or free time in your early childhood classroom.
These 51+ fun and easy camping crafts are perfect to get the kids excited about camping - preschoolers to big kids will LOVE these camp inspired activites!
Looking for easy outdoor art projects your kids will love? Check out these creative and colourful art activity ideas for kids of all ages!
This moon craft is great for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, or older kids. It's a great art extension during a space theme in the classroom.
Discover how to create stunning bubble art with your kids! Our step-by-step guide to bubble painting makes this fun and easy activity perfect for young artists. Learn the best tips, tricks, and
Fun! Giraffe science project! This science experiment is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and even older kids learning about capillary action!
Your skin is the largest organ! Isn’t that crazy to think about? Have you ever wondered about what lies beneath your skin? What does it look like under there.. Well here’s a fun craft t…
Celebrate Columbus Day for kids this October with these cute crafts, activities, and worksheets for preschool, kindergarten, and grade 1!
In Montessori, children learn to write before they learn to read with help of the Sandpaper Letters. After practicing letter formation using those letters, students need to continue handwriting exercises […]
Looking for ways to bring fun and engaging sensory experiences into your classroom? We have just the idea for you! I just love these sensory bags. Making them is just as much fun as feeling and playing with them... The How To To make these really cool sensory bags, all
I put together a simple and fun Humpty Dumpty Craft for my kids yesterday. You can download and/or print my worksheet HERE. Directions: Help put Humpty Dumpty
Tissue Paper Flowers are perfect for spring or summer crafts for kids to make and moms will love them on Mother's Day!
Fun STEM activity for outdoor play and makes a great science lesson! (Includes a printable rocket template).
Kids will have fun while learning where do I Live with this printable activity perfect for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten students.
Need ideas for quiet activities for kids? Want just TWO MINUTES to yourself? Here are 14 easy quiet time child, tween and teenager activities
Here is a quick inspired-by-Dr. Seuss thunder science experiment! This science project is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and even older kids--who can make the best thunder?!
A great directed line instruction drawing of the classic children's book, Giraffes Can't Dance. Children learn to create funny, personalized cut-out giraffe
Learn about stars for kids with this handy, free printable Constellations Booklet to learn about star patterns in the night sky.
I love busy bags to provide a quick activity for the kids. In our house I often use busy bags as transition activities between one set of activities and another. Busy bags are also super
This flower tessellation activity for kids combines art and math! Print the flower template, color the flowers, cut them out, and assemble the tessellation.
Discover the top 10 hand-clapping games for kids that boost coordination, rhythm, and cognitive skills—perfect for preschool and kindergarten.
Project/Inquiry Based Learning has been a passion of mine ever since I discovered it about 5 years ago. Since then, I have stepped out of my comfort zone and transformed the way I teach from a typical Thematic Based style through baby steps taken each year and with the help of an amazing on-line community of teachers with the same passion (you all know who you are!). My first baby step was taking themes and science/social studies standards and making them more student lead and project based. I got rid of the two week time limit each theme had in the past and allowed more time for students to dig deeper. I found that students would take my broad theme (oceans) and desire to dig deeper into more specific parts of the theme (sharks, jellyfish, ect.). As time went on, I was able to take the biggest step and totally let go of my themes and allowed the children's interests drive my instruction, incorporating the standards through those interests. I am blessed enough to also teach in a district that does not mandate the curriculum I use. Curriculum programs are purchased to use as tools for our toolbox but not required. Us teachers are trusted and encouraged by our superintendent to write our own curriculum as long as the standards are met. My building principle also has that kind of faith in us as professionals! They know that when it comes to children learning what they need to learn, we are the experts! Project/Inquiry Based Learning is highly encouraged in all grades Pre-K through 12. Some wonder how I plan for this style of teaching and how it flows. Here are some of the tools that I use. Once I notice an interest from the students (usually found out through experiences set up for them to explore during play) , I find out what their knowledge and misconceptions are about the subject. Kind of like a KWL chart! I list all that they know about the subject we will dive into. Then I ask what they wonder. I list all of their questions. NOW I can plan! I take their wonderings and create a web map showing the different directions they want to take the inquiry and possible experiences that will help them find answers to their wonderings. I got this web map from the amazing Joanne Babalis and her amazing blog http://myclassroomtransformation.blogspot.com. On the back I have all of the Literacy and Math Standards listed so that I can highlight the ones we will focus on through the inquiry and project. I add any Science and Social Studies Standards to the bottom of the web map. Here is the link to the web map if you would like it: Web Organizer Here is the link to the Common Core Standards Sheet for Kindergarten Language and Math: Kindergarten CC Standards Once I organize my thoughts, I create my inquiry plan using a template I created based on one I found from a Texas school district. It was so long ago I have no memory of which district but if I find out I will add them to give them credit. Their form was 3 pages long. I tweaked it to fit it all on one page. I use this to show the objectives and vocabulary, plan the investigations and materials I will need, show how they will organize the data about what they have learned, possible projects that could result from the inquiry and how we will present the project to the community. Here is the link to this inquiry planner if you would like to download it: Inquiry/Project Planner The next step is to start the investigation phase. In early childhood I set out experiences for them to explore and document what they notice. We also do whole group and small group investigations through books, videos and hands-on experiences. As we answer questions, we add the answers to our wonder chart to show our new learning. We organize this data in a web map format for all to see. The start of an inquiry wall. Information is added to it as we learn. Once we have investigated we use organizational maps to show what we learn. In kindergarten it usually consists of web maps, circle maps, tree charts (can/have/are maps), and brace maps (to show part to whole). We will chose one or two to organize our data. The next step is the project. We take what we learn and create something to show it! The projects can be individual, small group, or whole group. Some examples of projects in our room have been turning an area of our room into an ocean, forest and sky to show how animals adapt in the winter. The kids signed up to be on the migration team, adaption team or hibernation team. They each became experts on their part during the investigation and worked on their part of the project. A cave, forest, sky and ocean were created to show what animals do in the winter. Animals were created, labeled and added to the habitats. A group interested in map making and migration created this map showing migration patterns of monarchs, geese and grey whales. Another project was our The Sound Exploration Area created for our school. They saw a need (an area to explore sound) investigated different ways of creating sound, organized the data and designed a Sound Exploration Area! An area for everyone in our school to explore sound which is in our science standards. They have also turned the inside of our room into a great hall and medeival kitchen and the outside of our room into a castle wall complete with moat and drawbridge after investigating castles! The outside of our castle. A map created by a group interested in maps and where different castles were found in the world. A big book created by a small group about who lived in castles. A small group project during our castle inquiry. They have created murals and big books to show their learning also. A mural planned and created by Kindergartners. The last step is the presentation to show what they had learned. The kids LOVE this part and I've never had a child refuse to present! They are so confident of what they have learned and proud of what they have done that they cannot wait to share it! I am always so impress with their speaking and listening skills during these presentations! Sometimes small groups go to other classrooms and present what they learned, sometimes we invite parents or other classes to our room to see our presentation, and sometimes we create a video to share with others. They create maps, big books, and, get to show off the projects created at this time! Showing what they have learned through these projects gives the projects an even bigger sense of purpose! They can't wait to show others what they have learned and done! Presenting different weapons used during medieval times. I have never had so much fun teaching in my 22 years as I have he past four years! I could never go back to the way I had done it I the past. The benefits of this way of teaching are not only meeting the standards (the old way did that too) but the 21st Century Skills they are forced to develope when they learn in this type of environment. When inquiring, investigating and creating within thier own interest, they are motivated to collaborate, problem solve, handle frustration, persist if things don't work the first time, and learn from their mistakes. They have to use critical thinking skills and develope research skills. When kids develop these skills, they can learn ANYTHING! My new passion that I am learning to incorporate in my classroom is Playbased Learning! I have been amazed by the learning taking place in this way also....but that's another post! SaveSave
These outdoor education activities will allow your kids and/or students to continue learning outside while they burn off energy!
