Simple Saturday Prep: Graphing the Winter Solstice

 Years ago I had a student that was fascinated with the Winter Solstice. Each morning, during the months of December and January, he and I would race to the computer to access the sunrise times. Being the computer whiz that he was/is, I asked him to keep record of this by working up a graph. Oh boy! Was his line graph ever elaborate. And, let me tell you that he was so into the project that he willingly did it as winter holiday homework! Can you say "teacher's pet"?

My fascination for the Winter Solstice has never subsided. I love imagining the earth at a tilt causing night to last forever on end, and then - finally, at long last - it gradually becomes shorter. (I know...I'm a nerd. Always have been. Always will be.) 

So gather up a ruler, a pencil, a colored pencil (dark blue is best!) and let's have some fun graphing Old Man Winter's long, long nap. Wanna?

 Oh! I nearly forgot...yawn...we'll also need to use the internet and a printout that will be linked to tomorrow's post.

Come to think of it, 40 winks don't sound that bad.

Zzzzzz.

Simple Saturday: Daisy Chains

Click on the picture for the Indiebound link I feel a teeny-tiny bit sheepish about today's craft inspired by Kelly Bennett's newest book because you can't even buy it until March 2011. Believe me, dear ones, it is worth the wait.

I told you that I felt a teeny-tiny bit sheepish. Not sheepish enough though...let's get started making a daisy chain, shall we? You've got the flowers and scissors, right? (Hope you don't mind if a sip a little coffee while we craft.)

To begin, cut a daisy's stem about 3 inches long. Next, using a fingernail or the scissor's sharp tip, poke a hole in the stem. And then slip the stem of another trimmed daisy stem through that newly poked hole. Repeat the process over and over until either your chain becomes the desired length or you run out of flowers, like I did.

 I have to be honest with you, though I am pleased with the project's end result, the daisy mum stems were a bit stiff to work with. Truly, the best flowers to manipulate are those of regular daisies and good old fashioned clover blossoms.

 Thanks for bearing with me. I know this post featuring daisy mums was a bit off-seasoned in theme. Allow me, if you will, to offer this link as restitution...a Thanksgiving greeting from my granddaughter and myself to you!

Happy holidays!

Simple Saturday Prep: Daisy Chain

This week's post will be short and super sweet. Short because I have a mound of Thanksgiving dishes yet to clean up (and a sliver of pecan pie to nibble upon). And sweet because this post is inspired by a delightful picture book that I'm currently making a guide for....Your Mommy Was Just Like You, written by my dear friend Kelly Bennett. The book is coming out in 2011 and, y'all, it is darling!!!

So, I'm studying the text and the illustrations, right, searching for inspiration to make a craft or two and what do I spy but a charming picture of a precious little brunette busily stitching a flower chain garland to use a decoration for her cardboard box secret hideout! So I say, "Aha! All we need to make a daisy chain are some live flowers and some scissors. Heck, let's do it tomorrow."

Then I took my happy self to Sam's and bought a bouquet of daisy mums to use as a Thanksgiving Day centerpiece. The yellow blooms featured in the china creamer above are the ones I set aside just for YOU!

 I truly hope your Thanksgiving Day celebration was as blessed as mine. See you tomorrow. Gobble, gobble.

Simple Saturday: Winter Writing with Kids

 Some may say that I am rushing the season, but we teachers know that post-Thanksgiving holiday preparation is a MUST! Shoot, once that blinking Christmas  is set up or that menorah begins to blaze...you're sunk. The last thing kiddos are interested in is studying point of view, alliteration, story structure, and the like.

I see you nodding your head. Uh, huh...You know I'm right about this, don't you?

Fear not, my dear Simple Saturday educator friends. Fear not! I'm just about to clue you in on some QUALITY stuff! My new best friend, Darcy Pattison, is generously sharing her winter goodies with us....and they're fat free!

 Access this link to download Darcy's Winter Writing with Kids' free .pdf packed almost as full of treasures as Santa's sleigh!

What kid can resist analyzing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer for characterization, conflict, turning point, and resolution? How about studying Frosty the Snowman for creative use of language and hopeful endings or the Gingerbread Man for the structure of a folktale? What about using Santa Claus to teach character motivation? Lastly, why not use the 12 Days of Christmas to teach the cumulative structure, parody, or strong verb usage?

So, you see, hope has arrived! There is a world of fun stuff to do with Darcy's download.

Hang tough. You'll survive the post-Thanksgiving break duldrums, my dears. You'll be singing Hallejulah before you know it!

Simple Saturday Prep: Holiday Writing With a Flair

 I know what the Post-Thanksgiving-Holiday-Return-To-The-Classroom duldrums are like, my dear teacher friends. Oh...yes. I understand your plight. I truly do.

 Well, fear not! Tomorrow I'll be tossing you a literary lifesaver created by a brilliant new friend of mine, Darcy Pattison.

I don't want to say too much about it now...I don't want to spoil the Simple Saturday suspense factor. 

But before you begin to baste your turkey and bake those pies, you'll want to download the .pdf I'll be sending you tomorrow. Get set for 5 great writing lessons implementing 34 different writing skills starring a holiday line-up of characters to beat the band! Best of all, you'll have some literary tricks up your sleeves to use when the kiddos return to school post Thanksgiving Holiday...just when you need them!

Simple Saturday: Body Paint

Behold  my Simple Saturday Body Painted left hand! Rather than opting to play a rousing game of Connect the Age Spots, I decided to paint a heart just for you...because I love you so.

Here's all you have to do to make your very own artist's palette of Simple Saturday Body Paints. Remember the supply list? The hand lotion, small mixing cup/tray, Q Tips, food coloring, and tissues?

Okay, squirt a generous blob of lotion into the tiny cup. Add just a drop of food coloring to it. (Hint! Too much food coloring may be hard to wash off!) Mix well and...ta da...there you have it! Simple Saturday Body Paint!

Dip those Q Tips in the paint and create something special, all the while keeping the tissues handy. Mama, the nice thing about this type of body paint is that is wipes off easily, clearing your child's flesh-toned canvas for more artistic expression.

And...oooooo...my hand feels silky Simple Saturday smooth. Can't say that Simple Saturday Body Paint does much for age spots, though. Drat!

Simple Saturday Prep: Body Paint

Parents! Teachers! Grammies! This week's Simple Saturday activity is Super Simple with a capital SS! This one is perfect for those long, isolated days when there is nothing to do. It's cheap, creative, and washable!!!!

For supplies you'll need some hand lotion, food coloring, Q Tips, and tissues. I have a little paint mixing tray to mix my body paint in. You might like to snag a few of those small ketchup cups from your favorite fast food joint. Keeping it on the cheap.

Special note: I first used this activity years ago in an art program I directed. We had a blast, I have to say. Imagine, if you will, seventy-five bathsuit-clad preschoolers enjoying a free-for-all body painting session. From nose to toes ... body paint and squeals abounded.

Good times.

Breaking News! Simple Saturday Faux Fall Leaves Hit the Morning Light!

...and they are stunning. A Simple Saturday Faux Fall Leaf

Simple Saturday: Faux Fall Leaves

 This week's Simple Saturday is brought to you by your local, friendly, and down-right yummy Cracker Barrel Restaurant. You see, they totally bailed me out for this project by giving me a kiddie box of crayons. Thanks, CB!

All right! Let's show Mother Nature our season-changing moxie. What do you say?

I forgot to mention that you'd best add a small bowl to the list of supplies I gave you yesterday - the cheese grater, some crayons, waxed paper, newspaper, a hanger, some string, and an iron.

To begin, peel the paper off of the crayons and grate them like you would if you were shredding carrots.

Warning! This part of the project is a wee bit messy. Don't say I didn't tell you so.

 Then take your happy self to the ironing board. (I had to put out a serious A.P.B. for my ironing board. I can't remember the last time I used it.) Heat up the iron on a low setting. Lay out a section on newspaper.  Tear off a square of waxed paper and lay it on the newpaper lining one side of the waxed paper alongside the newspaper fold.

Careful here, my little leaflet. Messy alert!

Spread the grated crayon bits out evenly on the waxed paper. Tear off another square piece of waxed paper and cover the crayon bits with it. Fold the creased half of the newspaper over the stacked pieces of waxed paper. Slowly move iron over the folded newspaper keeping in mind that you are spreading the warm bits of crayons between the sheets of waxed paper.

 Once you've smoothed the melted color between the waxed paper sheets as much as possible go ahead and turn off the iron and let the crayon blob cool. Once all is cool, cut out some leaf shapes. Poke a hole in the waxed paper-crayon leaf stem and run a piece of string through it. Tie the other end of the string to a hanger and -- Jumpin' Jiminies, Bubba! --you have made some Simple Saturday Faux Fall Leaves! Look how mine shimmer in the moon-light. Simply Simple Saturday sensational!!

  You know what? All this season-changing work has made me hungry. How about you? Let's head out to the Barrel and get us a piece of pecan pie and a cup of coffee. Are you in?

While we're there and if you're  lucky, I'll let you beat me in a rockin' game of checkers.

Simple Saturday Prep: Faux Fall Leaves

All around the country leaves are showing off their autumn brilliancy...everywhere except for where I live. Bah-humbug.

Well...that whine isn't entirely true. The scrawny elm in my backyard is beginning to make a weak attempt at showing it's fall colors. I'll give it props for the effort, at least.

But...hey...I'm tired of waiting for the colors. I want some leaves to show their stripes right here and now! I'm anxious enough to take the season in my own hands! Tomorrow let's make some Faux Fall Leaves a la Simple Saturday. You with me?

Here's the list of supplies we need: crayons, waxed paper, newspaper, an iron, a cheese grater, some string, and a wire hanger.

Gather up the goods and we'll take the change of the seasons into our own hands!

Take that, Mother Nature!

Simple Saturday: Ghostly Pops

See...I told you these things are scary. John got the bejeebers spooked out of him so bad he took off running and didn't stop until he reached the community swimming pool. I found him in a terrified huddle in a damp corner of the boy's dressing room. I tell ya...Simple Saturday Ghostly Pops are down-right frightening!

    With clammy hands, I'll brave this post, only because I promised you that I would. Here goes...

It's it kind of crazy that when an everyday sucker, a square of toilet paper, a piece of yarn, and a marker are combined Halloween horror happens. I'm not sure at what point this transformation takes. All I know is that it does.

So, if you dare, all you need to do is drape that square of TP over the sucker. Gather it under the candy and tie it off with a small piece of yarn. Then, simply make two marks for your candy phantom's eyes and there you have it, you very own Simple Saturday Ghostly Pop!

I wonder at which point the magic takes place, don't you? When do these simple items become transformed into ghoulies? Is it at the tie or at the eye?

However, I do know how to break the spell.

Eat 'em!

Simple Saturday Prep: Ghostly Pops

My fingers are trembling with terror as I type this post. Ooo...what if they get me in my sleep?

Let's make this quick. Meet me tomorrow around the side of the house, where it is safe, okay?

What?

Well, of course I'm whispering. You don't want the ghouls to get us, do you?

 Tomorrow bring a few squares of toilet paper, a dark marker, some white thread, and a sucker with you and we'll make some Simple Saturday Ghostly Pops together. That is, if I make it through the night all right.

Oh! Did you hear that blood-thirsty howl? Mommeee!

Simple Saturday: Nuts and Bolts for Wee Ones

 I hope you don't mind that I invited  this nutty band of weekend warriors to join us today as we engage in an activity that will keep even the wiggliest preschooler busy for a long, long time - Simple Saturday Nuts and Bolts for Wee Ones.  

As you can see, I have posted my Lowe's Hardware shopping list on the right. However, if you've got a handful of large to middle-sided nuts and bolts in a cup somewhere, that will do fine.

So, all the kiddies have to do is simply match the nut's diameter to the correct bolt and twist them together. That's it! What were you expecting? This is Simple Saturday, after all, isn't it?

If you want to get all organized about the process (which I tend to do), have the child sort the nuts by classifying them by size. Line them up all neat-like, if you wish.

 Then put those puppies together. That's all there is to it!

 To add to the fun add washers to the mix. Pile 'em all up, sort them out and twist them together.

Can you believe fun like this can be so gosh-darned inexpensive? I love it!

Simple Saturday Prep: Nuts and Bolts for Wee Ones

 This post is being brought to you live from the American Montessori National Convention being held in lovely San Diego, California and Lowe's Hardware, your one-stop shop for every weekend project need!

What do Lowe's Hardware and a project for wee ones have in common, you ask? Trust me. Tomorrow I'll show you.

Get a piece of paper and pencil and jot this Lowe's Hardware shopping list down (Don't worry...all items came in at under $1.00 total!). Here we go: 3 #63301's, 1 #63311, 1 #63324, 1 #63308, 1 #61834, and 3 #63304's.

Hey! I just noticed something! The cute little blue-haired man who was helping me threw in 2 #63308's for free! That was sweet of him, wasn't it?

Wink! Wink!

Now back to the conference...seriously.

Simple Saturday: The TP Roll Kaleidoscope

 Wow! Check out the colors! Watch how the sequins shift and shine! The Simple Saturday TP Roll Kaleidoscope is truly amazing...and super easy to make, too.

It's a good thing I took pictures of the creation progress before giving the final product to John to play with. Just look at the mesmerized expression on his handsome face. He's having so much fun, he'll never give the Simple Saturday TP Roll Kaleidoscope back. Sheesh... 

An inside the tube view...Cool, huh?

 Here's how I did it. For supplies I got a toilet paper roll. a rubber band, scissors, two layers of plastic wrap (cut in...oh...say...5 inch squares), and a pinch of colorful sequins.

 All right...easy does it, here. Lay those two pieces of plastic wrap one over the other. Place a pinch of colorful sequin cluster in the center of the square. Now, place the tube over the sparkling cluster so that those glittering jewels are inside the tube's circle.

 Smooth the sides of your plastic wrap over the curved edge of your tp roll and secure with your rubber band. There you have it! A Simple Saturday TP Roll Kaleidoscope!

To get the glittery mesmerizing effect John is obviously enjoying, hold the sequin/plastic wrap end to the light and slowly turn the kaleidoscope in your hand. The sequins play with the light in the most delightful way!

 If you don't believe me, just ask John.

Hey, John! ...John!

Dang it. Looks like I'm going to have to make my own Simple Saturday TP Roll Kaleidoscope. He's never going to give me a turn.

Simple Saturday Prep: The TP Roll Kaleidoscope

Tomorrow's Simple Saturday post will be another one of those shamefully simple projects. I feel as if I should let you know that I capable of complication, yet prefer the simply sublime.

Here's all that is needed to create you very own TP Roll Kaleidoscope - one toilet paper roll, some cellophane food wrap, a rubber band, and a pinch of some sequin-like shiny stuff. Pretty simple shopping list, eh? 

Hey I know!

Let's ask Lucy in the Sky to join us as we make our very own kaleidoscope eye, shall we?

See you tomorrow!

Simple Saturday: The Word Bottle

I had such a blast making my Simple Saturday Word Bottle. Isn't it fine? Don't you love it?

Remember the materials we need to make this treasure? A smooth-sided bottle, some magazines, glue, and scissors?

Okay, y'all, I must confess...this is another one of those shamefully super simple Simple Saturday posts that incorporate maximum fun and the educational factor all rolled up into one.

So, hey, all you have to do (or all the kids have to do) is cut out words that they like from of the magazine. Words that they can read independently. Words that they can identify with with. Words that build their developing sense of autonomy as readers. You get the picture, right?

 And then glue them on to the bottlein a word cloud-esk fashion. That is it!

Boy howdy! If you got a a resistant reader, this is the craft for you. If the kiddo can read it independently -- the word goes on the jar.

End-o-story.

Simple Saturday Prep: The Word Bottle

 Tomorrow's activity is one that early readers love, love, love!

I hope you didn't put away last week's magazines, glue, and scissors because we're going to use them again to make a Simple Saturday Word Bottle. One other thing that you'll need to track down is a small bottle of some sort - something with smooth sides. I found a spice bottle I'm going to use. 

There's bound to be something around your house you can make a Simple Saturday Word Bottle from. Check the pantry. Scope out the fridge.

Have Pop gobble down that last little bit of picante' sauce molding behind the mayonaise. And tell him to hurry. You need the jar for Simple Saturday!

Simple Saturday: The Color Wheel

 This project was simply delightful to make. I had a ball snipping, gluing, matching, sorting, and organizing. I just wish you could have been here with me. Oh, the chit-chatting we would do!

Here's how I made a Simple Saturday Color Wheel. First of all I gathered up a stack of magazines, a gluestick, a small piece of poster board, a pencil, scissors, and a tasty hot cup of coffee. What's a Saturday morning without coffee?

Also, I found a nice image of the Color Wheel on the web. I printed it out to use as a guide and then, at the last minute, decided to use it as part of the project.

 After I cut the poster board in a circle (Hint: I used a small plate as a template to trace around.) I drew starry triangular pizza-like lines on it. Then I leafed throught the magazines to find colors to snip in tiny mosaic shapes. Following the color wheel guide, I easily glued my colorful mosaic snips in their designated spot on the Simple Saturday Color Wheel.

Lastly, I stuck the downloaded web image on the center of my Simple Saturday Color Wheel and...pop...there you have it!

Dang...now I have the hankering for some pepperoni.

Home Slice, here I come.

Simple Saturday Prep: The Color Wheel

I'm not sure whether it's that I'm busy preparing to speak at the big time American Montessori Conference or that I so miss working with the Color Boxes with the kiddos...but, tomorrow we're going to play with the Color Wheel.

Are your kids learning the names of various colors? Are they working to evaluate the variance between hues? If so, let's make a Color Wheel a-la Simple Saturday style, shall we?

Honestly, my Simple Saturday pal, throughout my years of teaching Montessori with the primary-aged child, I think I had more fun differenciating between colors than the students did. I just acted like the all-knowing adult. And, you know, I think sometimes those rug rats saw clean through me...the little stink pots.

Anyhow...for tomorrow's supplies we will need a piece of poster board, craft glue, scissors, and a collection of old magazines.

Actually, we'll be using that collection for magazines for a few weeks after this one.  Talk about a creative way to recycle!