Thursday, November 7, 2013

Germ Demonstration

How germs are spread

Items needed:
Door knob or table
Clear packing tape
Glitter (germs)
Access to a sink, soap, water


Lesson – Ask children how they think germs get from one person to another. Show how germs can be passed from one person to another by touching surfaces by wrapping a door knob with clear tape (sticky side out) Take glitter (germs) and sprinkle glitter on the tape. Let the children take turns and grab the door knob. Some of the “germs” will stick to their hands. When all the children have had a turn, show them how washing their hands can help stop spread of germs.

Hanging Science Center






Hanging Science Center

Objective: Big science in a small space

Items: clear plastic over the door shoe keeper
Various items for the children to explore.

Here are some examples: Binoculars, measuring tape, magnifying glass, pinecones, stick with bug holes, bark, and human anatomy bone, various nut, beans, locust, leaf bug, butterfly, egg shell, pheasant feathers, feathers, rubber fish

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Shampoo Sink for Beauty Shop


Shampoo sink for dramatic play


One of the teachers at our school was so clever coming up with this "shampoo sink".  It is a dish pan, with a curve cut out of one side and fitted with a swimming pool noodle.  The kids always love beauty shop play and this year it was even better with the addition of this sink.


Monday, November 4, 2013

2014 Calendar for Christmas gift

Merry Christmas Mom and Dad!





For this project, you need to start with a calendar template.  After finding a template you like, print it off and the children can add artwork to every month.  This makes a great Christmas gift for the parents.  We jazz up our template with clip art and Bible verses.  We started with the Calendar Wizard on Word. You can access ours here. You can also add birthdays, school holidays, etc...

Sunday, November 3, 2013

"From the desk of my Mom"


"From the desk of my Mom”

(Mother’s Day Stationery)

Traditions can be great, and a wonderful tradition at our school is the Mother's Day Stationery our Pre-K friends give their moms.  When I received mine, some 13 years ago, I was so delighted.  The picture above is of a piece of my stationery; the artist, (my son), is in college now.

 



Supplies needed:
            White 8 ½ x 11 copy paper cut equally into fourths (4 ¼ x 5 ½ inches)
            Fine tip permanent black pens
            Glue stick, teacher scissors
            Colored copy paper
            ¼ inch ribbon or yarn
            White 6 x 9 inch mailing envelopes

Child’s part:
            Give each child ¼ sheet of copy paper.
            Instruct child to draw a picture of himself/herself or his/her Mother using a fine tip permanent black pen.
            Instruct child to write his/her name on same sheet of paper or another piece if needed using black pen. 

Teacher’s part:
            Make “working” copies for masters:
                        Make working copy by printing in landscape form using font of your choice “From the desk of my Mom” at the top left hand corner of 1 piece of white 8 ½ x 11 copy paper; turn paper around and print “From the desk of my Mom” again. Make as many copies as needed.  (You will use 1 sheet of paper for each 2 children.  If you have 20 children, you will need 10 sheets of working copies.)  Set these aside for later.
           
            Shrink drawings and names:
                        1.  Sort drawings according to size.
                        2.  If drawings cover most of the 4 ¼ x 5 ½ sheet of paper, reduce 4 drawings of similar or close size by approximately 50%.  Reductions may have to be made more or less than 50 % depending on the size of the child’s drawing.  Names may have to be reduced or enlarged separately and at different increments, too, depending on the original size.
                        3.  When you are satisfied with the size of the drawing and the child’s name, cut each picture and name in a circle or with curved edges.  (Sharp corners do not copy as well for making the master copy.)
                        5.  Using a glue stick, paste child’s drawing and name to the left and just below “From the desk of my Mom”.
                        6.  Copy each working master and examine for any lines showing from the glued cut edges of drawings/names.  Use white out if necessary and made another copy. 
                        7.  When you are satisfied with a “clean” working copy, then make copies using colored copy paper. 
                        8.  Cut copies in half; tie each child’s stack of stationery with a ribbon.

Wrapping:
            Give each child a white 6 x 9 inch mailing envelope.  Children can decorate their envelope using crayons, markers, stickers, stamps, watercolors, etc.  Allow to dry if necessary.
            Place stationery set in envelope and seal.