Christmas Is Almost Here!
Whoops! The holiday season has been so busy, I missed a Thanksgiving blog! I'll have to include some of the fun things we did in next year's fall entry. I know Christmas also seems right around the corner, but it's not too late for some fun art and learning projects! I hope you will enjoy these ideas that are great for all ages!
Christmas Handprint Door Hanger
This project works well for infants and preschool age children! If you have a young toddler like me, you may need to work fast! LOL. I had my work cut out for me on this one!
First, I took a piece of plain cardboard, or you could use heavy cardstock, and cut a rectangle with a circle big enough for a doorknob to fit through.
As you can see, the Santa is a handprint! Paint the bottom portion of palm and stem of thumb red, leaving thumbprint for white (ball of Santa's hat), middle section of palm whatever skin color you like, and fingertips white! So cute!
Just A Fingerprint Wreath! And variation as a gift for grandmas!
To make this wreath, I simply let my toddler go to town painting a large piece of paper green, and one red. I set them aside to dry and when they were ready, I cut the wreath and ribbon shapes out myself. Very easy!
As a variation (not pictured here), I then glued the wreath to a heavy piece of cardstock. Inside the inner circle of the wreath, I placed a picture of my son. Below the wreath, I wrote "Grandmas Make Christmas Special". I then hole punched the two top corners and strung red raffia through them for hanging. This year Emmett made one for both of his Grandmas. It was a big hit!
Snowman Circles-Counting, Sequencing and Seriation 
I glued small, medium and large white circles to cardboard to teach my son about small, medium and large, while making a snowman! Also, counting to 3. Older kids can try making these on their own. Once children master stacking in order, cut each circle in half for matching.
Two New Christmas Songs For Kids!
I wrote this first one for my very young students as something fun that incorporated lots of movement!
The Gingerbread Man(chant)
First you mix me in the pot (pretend to mix)
Bake me 'til I'm hot hot hot (clap hands on "hot")
Run so fast with ginger feet (run in place)
Catch me (hug self) and I'm good to eat! (rub tummy)
I'm a little Snowman
(tune of I'm a little Teapot)
I'm a little snowman, short and fat
Here is my carrot; here is my hat!
When the sun comes out and shines all day
Down, Down, Down I melt away. (slowly fall to the ground)
(spoken) I'm a puddle!
And Finally...TWO great Suggestions!
File Folders for Songs (or games, activites, etc.)
This is something that I, and many other teachers I know, have done for years to help remember to incorporate songs or activities into the day. When you get an idea for a new song or activity, it's very helpful to write it down with markers/crayons/etc on the inside of a file folder. At the top, it's fun to illustrate a picture that represents the song or game, etc. Older kids can help with this task. Also write the title in the appropriate tab on the folder.
Then, you can fasten the open file folder to the fridge or other prime spot that you are apt to see it. That way, you will be reminded to do the activity with your child. The best part is that when you are ready to move on to something new, you can close the folder and file it easily into a filing cabinet, box, or drawer with the rest of your folders. It's a great way to organize themed learning for your child!
LEFT OVER WRAPPING PAPER TUBES? Ball Tunnels!
I save these tubes and recently fastened one to the wall at an angle so that my son could watch balls roll down and out of it. All I did was hot glue it (if you are afraid to do this, you can tape it, or just hold the tube yourself) to the wall at an angle, low enough for him to reach the top hole, and then I placed a basket underneath the bottom hole for the balls to drop into. Cheap fun on a snowy da
