After teaching preschool, preparing my own kiddos for school, homeschooling 2 preschoolers and their 2 older siblings, I know it can be hard to decide on a preschool curriculum. Setting up a preschool curriculum is a little tricky. You want to teach your 3 year olds and 4 year olds what they need to know for learning success. You do not want to overwhelm these young ones with a … [Read more...]
Kid-Made Teacher Appreciation Cards
{Guest Post by Tracy Murdock} We really love making cards around here. It is a wonderful way to say thank you and uplift our community in a small, yet meaningful way. These cute teacher appreciation cards are fantastic for showing teachers how thankful you are for them teaching all of our kids. Being a teacher myself (resigned for now to be a stay at home mom) I am still … [Read more...]
Rainbow Ice Painting Preschool Activity
{Post by Tracy} With Spring arriving in much of the country, this is a great time to celebrate the colors of the rainbow. This hands-on sensory activity for kids uses favorite science concepts in a rainbow ice painting preschool activity for kids! It's easier than you think to create multiple learning activities that are fun for your kids. With simple materials you have … [Read more...]
Heart Butterfly Craft
Today we made such an adorable butterfly craft! It could be cute for Valentine's Day, birthday cards for a loved one or a cute gift for Mother's Day too. I love these little butterflies so much, I have them up on our fireplace mantel to stare at every night. It's just so fun to see my little kids as little love butterflies, because they really do spread so much love to my … [Read more...]
So Much Snow Day Fun!
I miss the snow in winter...just a little bit. The magical crystals of white blanketing our yard always looked peaceful and beautiful. We have not lived in an area where snow falls-and sticks-for over 3 years now, so our snow day fun has to be a little more winter activity-inspired. :) Snow days bring a break from the routine, a mini vacation for fun and enjoying the weather … [Read more...]
Snowflake Foil Craft for Kids
{Guest post by Tracy Murdock} We have been all cooped up inside due to the cold weather and all 3 of my kids having colds. What a better way to get their imaginations stirring and help them feel a little better, than with a fun art project that can be fun for all ages (even for moms)! Plus, this Simple Snowflake Foil Craft for Kids helps break up the day. … [Read more...]
Hands-On Division Activity
My second grader has been learning more about multiplication and division. I wanted to give him a hands-on division activity to explore. I was teaching him that multiplication and division are opposites. They are both focused on how we group numbers together. As a former teacher, it is exciting when I get to use activities I once created for my students at home with my own … [Read more...]
Learning to Tell Time: Hands-On Clock
Create a hands-on clock to help school age kids learning to tell time. Whether your child is home-schooled or learning common core math, a hands-on math manipulative turns worksheet-based lessons into math games. When we can get the learning into our child's hands it can help them think about more complex problems with a much more clear view. This hands-on clock for learning … [Read more...]
Alphabet Fridge Magnet Letter Match
I created a really, really simple alphabet fridge magnet letter match activity that can be used on the front of the fridge with alphabet magnets. You only need 3 supplies to create this. There is also a simple no-stress assessment that works for checking your child’s letter knowledge built in. I know assessing preschoolers causes much debate, but I do it in simple play-based … [Read more...]
Hanger Scale DIY Toy
Helping children explore the scientific method, creating conversations about weight and numbers, and doing it all inexpensively is a lesson worth teaching. Whether you homeschool or supplement your child's learning at home, this DIY toy scale made out of a hanger is simple and engaging. You can make it in 3 simple steps! Use the hanger scale to compare the weights … [Read more...]