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Famous Artist Activities, Candy Corn Game, and Pumpkin Fun – Preschool and Kindergarten Community

Oct242014
October 24, 2014 by 4 Comments

Homeschool Preschool: Preschool and Kindergarten Community linkup at Homeschool Creations

 

preschool math game

This fall, work on early numbers (one to six) with this simple, but fun, Candy Corn Roll and Cover Game. Head over to Tot Schooling to download a free copy and see a few different ways to play the game.

preschool pumpkin craft

If you have a few pieces of construction paper and a brad, you have all you need to make this simple pumpkin craft.

famous artist activities

If you’re planning on visiting an art museum soon, or even if you grab some great art books from the library, visit Mini Monets and Mommies. She shares five art activities based on famous artists that are simple, fun, and hands-on.

preschool homeschool day

Sometimes we forget how much we are REALLY doing with our kids and how much they are learning along the way. This post from Suzie’s Home Education is a great reminder and encouragement to the little things we do during the week (and the simple things we often forget).

pumpkin pie playdough

If you’re looking for a way to add the scent of fall to your home and have a little sensory fun at the same time, you’ll want to make a batch of this pumpkin pie playdough.

 

Follow the PreK and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board

Preschool Pinterest Board

Each week I am  pinning many of your links onto the Preschool and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board. I’m a visual person, so having pictures to help me remember posts is super helpful. Be sure to jump over and follow the board – and find some fun ideas at the same time!

 

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Homeschool Preschool

 

Link Up with the Preschool and Kindergarten Community!

Share what you are doing with your kids! Please link your exact blog post to the Mr. Linky below and link back here too! Grab a button for your post and be sure to take a minute to visit the person who linked up before you.

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Filed Under: PreK and K Community, Preschool Corner 4 Comments

Simple Pumpkin Crafts and Activities

Oct222014
October 22, 2014 by 1 Comment

It’s been several years since we first started these crafts and activities, but they are ones that we love and have made repeatedly – so I’m sure you’ll love them too! One will have your house smelly absolutely wonderful as little hands (and big ones) dig in. The other craft will leave you with some cute little pumpkins to decorate your home.

Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe

Pumpkin Pie Playdough recipe

While it may not be the most attractive looking of all playdoughs, this recipe is guaranteed to have your house smelling absolutely yummy in no time at all! We pulled out our pumpkin cookie cutters and the kids had a great time playing with this soft and pumpkin~spiced playdough.

You’ll Need:

~ 2 cups of flour {I had whole wheat on hand}
~ 1 cup salt
~ 4 tsp. cream of tartar
~ 1/4 cup cinnamon
~ 2 Tbsp. cloves
~ 2 Tbsp. nutmeg
~ 2 tsp. ginger
~ 2 cups water
~ 2 Tbsp. oil

pumpkin pie playdough

To Make:

1. Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar, and spices together in a mixing bowl.

2. Add the water and oil to the dry ingredients and mix together well.

3. Transfer mixture to a medium sized saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly.

4. The dough will begin to thicken and form. When it becomes difficult to stir and is more solid, remove from heat and carefully knead the dough. {Note: dough will be hot!}

5. When dough has cooled, have fun playing. Store in the fridge to help the dough last longer ~ this is great for the holidays!!

 

Paper Strip Pumpkin Craft

 
preschool pumpkin craft

 

These little pumpkins are so super-easy to make and all of our kids enjoy making them to hang around our house!

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Orange construction paper cut into 1" strips
  • 1" strip of brown construction paper
  • 2 leaves cut out of green construction paper
  • 2 brads
  • hole punch
preschool pumpkin craft

 

1. Stack the orange strips of paper together. Use a hole punch to put holes in the end of the strips. Depending on how many strips you are trying to punch through, you many need to do it a few pieces at a time.

2. Take one brad, poke it through the hole, and fasten the strips together.

 
preschool pumpkin craft

 

3. Fold the brown strip in half {for the stem} and use the hole punch to punch through the stem, leaves, and the strips on the opposite end. Push another brad through and fasten.

 
preschool pumpkin craft

 

4. Spread or ‘fluff’ out the paper strips until it forms a round pumpkin shape. Hang and enjoy!

preschool pumpkin craft

 

What are your favorite pumpkin crafts and activities? Leave a link and share!

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Filed Under: Crafts, Preschool Corner 1 Comment

Solar Systems, Yarn Apples, and Paperclip Painting – Preschool and Kindergarten Community

Oct172014
October 17, 2014 by 2 Comments

Homeschool Preschool: Preschool and Kindergarten Community linkup at Homeschool Creations

Welcome back to another week of the Preschool and Kindergarten Community. Have you had a fun week with your kids? Over the last two weeks you all have shared some fun ideas with everyone – here are a few of the highlights.

Solar System shaving cream craft

This shaving cream solar system project from Carrot Top x 3 – just absolutely love it. They used shaving cream mixed with glue, so the planets are all puffy. Sprinkle liberally with glitter and you have something super fun and fabulous.

 

yarn apple

Christianity Cove shares an apple yarn craft made out of yarn that is so cute! It would be easy to alter the craft to make little pumpkins as well.

Paper-Clip-Painting3

If you have lots of paperclips on hand, you may want to check out this fun paperclip painting project from Mosswood Connections. Using simple items found around the house, she put together this fun craft.

Apple-Theme and yarn lacing

If you have a lot of yarn left over from the earlier apple craft, 1+1+1=1 has another simple yarn apple to make (and would also work great as a pumpkin). Carisa shares a ton of additional apple themed learning ideas as well.

That’s it for this roundup. Can’t wait to see what you all have been up to this week!

Follow the PreK and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board

Preschool Pinterest Board

Each week I am  pinning many of your links onto the Preschool and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board. I’m a visual person, so having pictures to help me remember posts is super helpful. Be sure to jump over and follow the board – and find some fun ideas at the same time!

 

Were You Featured in the Preschool & Kindergarten Community?

If you were featured in one of the weekly posts, feel free to grab the button coding below and display it on your site!

Homeschool Preschool

 

Link Up with the Preschool and Kindergarten Community!

Share what you are doing with your kids! Please link your exact blog post to the Mr. Linky below and link back here too! Grab a button for your post and be sure to take a minute to visit the person who linked up before you.

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Filed Under: PreK and K Community, Preschool Corner 2 Comments

Preschool Ocean Theme – Preschool and Kindergarten Community

Oct102014
October 10, 2014 by 5 Comments

Homeschool Preschool: Preschool and Kindergarten Community linkup at Homeschool Creations

For the last few weeks our three year old co-op class has been learning about the ocean and having a lot of fun with crafts and sensory bins. Our first week we spent talking about the ocean itself and the second week we learned more about sharks. There were lots of seashells to examine, sharks teeth to touch and feel, and tons of books to read together.

And crafts. Crafts are always fun. Here are a few of the things we did together.

Cornmeal Starfish and Ocean Scene

starfish and ocean craft

There was a lot of glitter and cornmeal involved in this one. The kids spread glue on their starfish and then sprinkled it with cornmeal. We then used paintbrushes to spread glue on a piece of construction paper and they added strips of tissue paper for water and seaweed. Liberally sprinkled with glitter, they were super cute and sparkly when we finished.

Shark Craft

preschool shark craft

Nothing makes a shark more fun than ‘sharp’ teeth and googly eyes. Almost Unschoolers has a great tutorial on how to put this together. We just eyeballed the outline and used a small paper plate for the jaws of the shark.

Ocean Sensory Bin

ocean theme sensory bin

The kids LOVED the ocean sensory bin! Our tub was filled with aquarium rocks and decorative marbles, lots of fun Toob sea creatures, and water. Lots of water. The kids had a blast splashing around and feeding the fish little beads.

homemade beach sand sensory box fun

The homemade beach sand was a HUGE hit as well. Since we don’t live near the ocean, we made something quick and so simple. The kids could dig, build mini castles, and just play in the sand – loved it!

We also made a jellyfish craft similar to this one, made a shark out of an envelope, and made a fun bottle showing the waves of the ocean.

Fun Ocean Play

 

Free Ocean Printables

Ocean CollageIf you’re planning a beach or ocean theme, you might be interested in the Ocean Printable Pack.  Find more fun Preschool Packs on my website along with many other helpful {and free} Preschool Printables.

 

Follow the PreK and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board

Preschool Pinterest Board

Each week I am  pinning many of your links onto the Preschool and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board. I’m a visual person, so having pictures to help me remember posts is super helpful. Be sure to jump over and follow the board – and find some fun ideas at the same time!

 

Were You Featured in the Preschool & Kindergarten Community?

If you were featured in one of the weekly posts, feel free to grab the button coding below and display it on your site!

Homeschool Preschool

 

Link Up with the Preschool and Kindergarten Community!

Share what you are doing with your kids! Please link your exact blog post to the Mr. Linky below and link back here too! Grab a button for your post and be sure to take a minute to visit the person who linked up before you.

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Filed Under: Kindergarten, PreK and K Community, Preschool Corner 5 Comments

Moonjellies, Felt Food, and Rainbow Ice – Preschool and Kindergarten Community Linkup

Oct32014
October 3, 2014 by 4 Comments

Homeschool Preschool: Preschool and Kindergarten Community linkup at Homeschool Creations

You all are sharing some fun and cute ideas!! I love getting inspired to do more and am enjoying going through your links each week! Here are a few from last week to highlight.

felt pizza2

Making felt food doesn’t have to involve sewing or be anything fancy! Check out this felt food pizza from Living Life and Learning – some simple cutting is all it would take to put this together.

night-of-the-moonjellies

We just wrapped up a unit on the ocean with my preschool class, and this moonjelly bottle would have been so much fun! Spell Outloud shares a tutorial and ideas for the book Night of the Moonjellies.

rainbow ice

How pretty is this ice? Better Than I Could Have Imagined shares some great ideas for learning about the Letter Ii, including this rainbow ice – so simple and you know the kids would be playing with it for a long time…well, at least until it melted!

Shape Factory_title 2 tall

If you want to create something out of recycled materials, you definitely need to visit A Little Pinch of Perfect and see the shape factory she put together for her kids – so cute!

Follow the PreK and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board

Preschool Pinterest Board

Each week I am  pinning many of your links onto the Preschool and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board. I’m a visual person, so having pictures to help me remember posts is super helpful. Be sure to jump over and follow the board – and find some fun ideas at the same time!

 

Were You Featured in the Preschool & Kindergarten Community?

If you were featured in one of the weekly posts, feel free to grab the button coding below and display it on your site!

Homeschool Preschool

 

Link Up with the Preschool and Kindergarten Community!

Share what you are doing with your kids! Please link your exact blog post to the Mr. Linky below and link back here too! Grab a button for your post and be sure to take a minute to visit the person who linked up before you.

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Filed Under: PreK and K Community, Preschool Corner 4 Comments

Homemade Beach Sand Sensory Bin – DIY Tutorial

Sep292014
September 29, 2014 by 4 Comments

The last few weeks we’ve been talking about the beach and ocean with the 3 year old co-op class. Talking about it is fun, but getting a chance to play in the sand is even better, right? Unless you live hours and hours from the beach and you don’t want to buy a ginormous bag of sand.

homemade beach sand recipe



Instead we made something quick and so simple (I promise you this is so easy!!), that kids can help make it with you.  AND If they ingest a little, it will be ok too, since it uses non-toxic ingredients!

homemade beach sand sensory box fun

Items Needed for Homemade Beach Sand:

  • 5 cups whole wheat flour
  • 3/4 to 1 cup cooking oil (we used coconut oil)
  • mixing bowl
  • large plastic tub or trays
  • Seashells Toob or real seashells
  • Plastic crabs (I wouldn’t recommend real ones – grins)

Mix the flour and the oil together in a mixing bowl (dear moms, this can be highly therapeutic and relaxing – just sayin’). You can add up to 1 cup of oil to your ‘sand’ – it just depends on how sticky you would like it to be.

homemade beach sand sensory box-1

The kids in our class loved it. We added a bunch of seashells and a mini crab to the bin just for fun, along with a few things to scoop and build little sandcastles. Our homemade beach sand is stored in a 15 quart Rubbermaid container (we made 3 batches).

homemade beach sand sensory box-4

When there were too many kids wanting to play in the bin, we poured some out on a tray so they could continue with the fun. You can see from the picture above that the ‘sand’ does a great job sticking together so kids can form and create, just like they can with real sand!

Free Ocean Printable Pack

Ocean CollageIf you’re planning a beach or ocean theme, you might be interested in the Ocean Printable Pack.

Book Go-alongs


 

Find more fun Preschool Packs on my website along with many other helpful {and free} Preschool Printables. Enjoy!

 

Note: This beach sand recipe does contain gluten, so those of you with gluten-free kiddos will obviously not want to use this. Sorry!

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Filed Under: DIY, PreK and K Community, Preschool Corner 4 Comments