Number Matching Game

Today we played an extra-fun numbers matching game...we used hearts because of Valentine's Day...but we plan on using them over and over, because we LOVE numbers!  :)

First, cut out the hearts by folding construction paper in half and using our staple method to cut them evenly.  We cut 12...but are going to add more, up to 20 for now, and then maybe up to 30.

Cut the hearts in half:

Pick your numbers out, as well as stickers for the picture part of it.

Put the numbers on the right side of the heart, and the number amount of stickers on the other side.

We laminated them, so they'll last!

We sat in a circle and gave each kiddo one of the left side of the heart...they needed to count the objects and know how many there were...then, when it was their turn, they chose the corresponding number and put the heart together.

This is great for visual learners who need to see to learn...and also a great way for them to associate an amount with a number.

The kids loved this fun game!!  :)

Valentine "Love Bug" and Yummy KISS cookie recipe

Today we started off the new week with a new letter...V...and it's even more fun that V is for Valentine.

In circle time this morning, while we were talking about the words that we know that start with "v..." violin, vest, van, vulture, vampire...when one of the kiddos came up with soap.  No, sorry bud, soap doesn't start with "V."  His response?  Yes, we have a bottle and it's a vampire and it's "hanitizer" soap.  Well, when you put it that way, who can argue???

So...here is a step by step of today's Valentine, a LOVE BUG complete with a v-shaped mouth.

First, gather your red and pink construction paper, red or pink pipe cleaners, big googly eyes and glue.  We printed a handwriting practice sheet to glue it to that said "V is for Valentine."

Fold a few pieces of red paper in half, draw a half-heart on one side.

Use our awesome trick and staple around the edges so you can cut it out without slippage.

Do the same thing with the pink paper to cut out the "V" shapped mouths.

Now cut out small pink and red hearts, for the nose and the hearts at the end of the antenna.  

Assembly...glue on the large red heart, the mouth, nose and googly eyes, then the antenna and end with the hearts at the end of the antenna.

Pretty darn cute...and the kids loved them and were all so excited to give their moms a Valentine!

And as an added bonus?  It was baking day today, so we made peanut butter cookies and topped each one with a Kiss!

You can get the super yummy and easy peanut butter cookie recipe HERE on Janette's cooking blog.

Enjoy!!  :)

Valentine's Day Hand Print T-shirt

This week we will have our PreK Valentine's Day Party...YAY!!

Here's a sneak-peek at my favorite craft we do that day...

This sweet hand print is made by sticking a small heart sticker on the t-shirt and then after painting the kiddo's hand red...place it over the heart and voila!!  Sweetest hand print ever.

We are also making this cute "Blowing you kisses" favor for each of the kids, too.  

You can download the topper really easily HERE.

Who doesn't love bubbles and chocolate??

SUPER CUTE Valentine's Party Favors

Today our MDO class had their Valentine's Party.

Ms. Janette and I always like to send the kids home with a cute party favor that is cute enough to save.  This year we saw a cute hand print cutout on Pinterest from THIS blog, and decided that it would be perfect!

We traced some small hand prints onto pink paper and used our handy trick to cut out enough for all our kids.

We also cut out some hearts...cuz, you can never have too many hearts at Valentine's Day!!

SOOOO darn cute!!

We took a sweet picture of each of the kiddos and got them printed at the CVS right around the corner...it literally takes seconds at their photo kiosk.

We added a couple of hearts and laminated them...

...and gave them their picture card along with some kisses and bubbles, with this cute download that says "BLOWING you KISSES this Valentine's Day..." that we got HERE.  We think it turned out adorable!! 

Super cute and fun favor...one for the kids and one for the moms!!

P is for PIG

Love the visual cuteness of this P is for PIG craft!

Grab your stack of pink paper (HA!!  Pink Paper starts with P, also!!)

  Fold them in half, draw a large P on the paper.

Staple around the edges of the P, so the paper doesn't shift while you cut...

Be sure and staple in the middle of the P...use a knife or the edge of the scissors to poke a whole in the center, then cut the center out.

Do the same thing with the pink paper in a modified triangle, for the outer ear and in circles for the snout.  Cut some small white triangles for the center of the ear.

Other supplies you'll need are googly eyes (medium large ones), and some yarn or pink pipe cleaners for the tail.

We like to have them glue them on a worksheet, but you can do it on a plain piece of paper.  Use a black marker to color the nostrils on the snout... 

...and curl the tail.  Cutest little piggy I've seen in a while!!

Chinese New Year...Year of the Snake

February 10, 2013, is Chinese New Year.  And 2013 is the Year of the Snake...so we thought it would be fun to celebrate with a couple of fun Snake Crafts (ewwwww!!)  

We read Stone Soup in November around Thanksgiving time, but it would be a fun Chinese New Year tradition also.  You can click on this link to get our Stone Soup recipe.  Stone Soup is about three Chinese Monks who go to a selfish village in an attempt to teach them what real happiness is.  They teach them that happiness is found in sharing with others.  We use the Scholastic version:

For the first "snake craft," you're gonna need some different colors of construction paper, cut into strips the short way:

You'll need some green construction paper, cut in a circle about the size of a mug.  In fact, we used a mug! 

Fold the paper in half and then in thirds, so that the circle is at the top of a stack of paper, and you'll end up with 9 circles.  Follow our "paper cutting trick" and staple the corners to keep it stable while you cut:

Now, depending on the skill level and age of your kiddos, you can make a small paper chain using staples, tape, or glue.  (We always use Tacky Glue, it is so much better than Elmer's for paper crafts!!)

Fold your green circles into a big snake mouth:

...And staple it to the end ring.  Then cover the staple with glue...

...for the tongue.

Cut some orange and red papers like this...and glue them to the back of the "mouth" like so...

Cut a small piece of white paper to look like "teeth" and glue them to the inside top of the snake's mouth...and add some googly eyes (of course!!)

And there you have it!!

A colorful snake craft for Chinese New Year's!!

Another fun project uses just a toilet paper roll and a small slip of red construction paper for a mouth.

Cut a head shape out of the top of the toilet paper roll and then follow it around with a spiral cut all the way to the bottom...making a skinny tail.

Then decorate it...depending on the age and skill (and patience) of your kiddos, you can let them paint, color with crayons or markers, glue dots or sequins on the snake...

We just colored it with markers.  But it would be cute with glitter, too.

Finish him up with a tongue glued to the bottom of his mouth...

...and add some googly eyes, and there you have Snake #2!!

What are you going to do for Chinese New Year?  We'd love to hear!