Magnetic Letters and Numbers

CAT, BAT, RAT!  Another fun activity for little learners is to put a basket filled with magnetic letters and numerals onto a table.  When we play with our letters and numbers we place them onto a magnetic cookie sheet to contain them.  Let the children “free” play with the letters and numbers.*

* Adult Supervision Required!

Ask them to find,

– the letter A…

Magnetic Letters and Numbers

Magnetic Letters and Numbers

– the letters in their name

– a number that represents their age

We purchased our magnetic letters and numbers at the Dollar Store for practically a song!

Marvelous Magnets

Here are two activities, easy to create and guaranteed to delight your little learners.  Most of the items can be found at home or in a classroom setting. We sourced our magnets, canvas and dinosaurs from a local Dollar Store.

These are Science based activities so we begin with a discussion about Magnet Safety.  Adult Supervision Required!

Another talented teacher created this “favourite” activity~  The Dinosaur Maze.

... take a dino for a walk

… take a dino for a walk

You’ll need-

• a small canvas- Dollar Store

• permanent felt marker to draw a maze* onto the canvas

-* the maze can be simple or difficult

• two plastic dinosaurs

2 round medium sized magnets

-attach a round magnet (use a glue gun to secure the magnet to the dino) to the base of each dinosaur

• horseshoe magnet or strong magnet wand

Take the dino for a walk along the maze!

The Discovery Bottle

You’ll need-

1 two litre clear plastic bottle

lid- I taped the lid with washi tape.

pipe cleaners cut into pieces- the glittery, the better

bolts, nuts, large sized paper clips

pom poms

a powerful horseshoe magnet or bar magnet

Place the above items into the clear bottle.  Tighten the lid!

Let the children use the bar magnet to discover which items can be pulled within the bottle!

Discovery Bottle

Hello, December!

December is one of my favourite seasons.  Here, in the northwest we often experience snow in December!  Put on a warm jacket, wrap a scarf around your neck for warmth, place a toque on top of your head and join me for a wonderful month of fun and learning!

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

BOO to You!

To all my little Ghouls and Goblins

Have a spooktacular  Hallowe’en!

Remember to,

• wear a safe costume (remove your mask to see clearly)

• trick or treat with an adult

• say, “thank you” when you take the treat

• let an adult check over your treats at home

• have fun!

Sort your candy. How many chocolate bars did you collect?

Glitter on the Pumpkin!

Glitter up your pumpkins for some sparkle about the room!

I have always maintained that glitter is a teacher’s “friend” and I stand by this statement!  Glitter sparkles up the simplest of art projects.  To create some simple Hallowe’en sparkle, paint a pumpkin– from mini to large, with thick, white craft glue or Mod Podge.  Sprinkle on the glitter!  Simple, glittering pumpkins are certain to sparkle up any room!

Pumpkin light, Pumpkin bright, first pumpkin I see tonight. Wish I may, wish I might...”

Could you think of words to complete this wish?

 

Math Extension Idea-

“Estimate” or “Guess” the amount of seeds in your classroom pumpkin?  Does size matter?  Do bigger pumpkins have more seeds? Hmmm!  Practice estimating handfuls of candy corn, counters, “jewels,”plastic spiders, chestnuts… Chart the estimations and discuss the “thinking” involved-  “How do you know?  Tell me more…”  Scoop out the pumpkin seeds, estimate and record the amount of seeds, dry them overnight  and discover ways to count them!

“Boo to You…”

by renowned children’s author, Lois Ehlert, is the perfect Fall book to read to your class.  Simple, yet humorous text, captures children’s attention.  Pay attention to the delightful paper art.   “We can do this, too!” I suggest reading this book and using the illustrations as a “springboard” to inspire creative artwork from your little learners.  Note that children can just “tear” the paper into interesting shapes; they do not need to use scissors to cut with.  “Watch out for the creep we didn’t invite!”

An extension activity–  Have the children complete a simple sentence frame to complete their paper artwork.

Boo to __________!

-the black cat

-the floating ghost

-the orange pumpkin, etc.

Little Entomologists!

Particle Pete came to visit us today!  Pete is an engaging scientist with the,”High Touch High Tech- Science Experiments That Come To You,” group.  The children learned how scientists use their powers of observation to study creatures.  They classified plastic insects into groups, learned a song that taught the three Insect body parts- “Head and Thorax, Abdomen.  Abdomen. Abdomen. Head and Thorax, Abdomen.  I’m an Insect!” We wiggled and giggled like insects at the end of the song!  We made gluey spider webs, learned about arachnids, and even trapped a plastic insect!  Here’s an amazing fact!  The common housefly has compound eyes enabling it to see 4,000 “yous!We used “looking glasses” to view the room with our newly discovered compound eye! Pete brought some of his favourite insect friends.  Milly the Millipede was adorable, curled up in her earthen bed with bits of lettuce to feast on!  Charlie the Madagascar Cockroach was a popular insect! Cockroaches are resilient and this one was massive!  It was an exciting science event and as emerging scientists, we are now ready to use our powers of observation and classification to sleuth out insects in our neighbourhoods!  Thank you to our families for supporting this exciting and stimulating learning event!

 

• View a video clip about “arthropods-” the Cockroach! 

The Cockroach

 

Check out the High Touch High Tech site and consider signing up for some summerscience fun!  http://www.sciencemadefunbc.net/birthday.cfm

 

“The creatures that inhabit this earth–be they human beings or animals–are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.”
― Dalai Lama XIV

 

 

Keep voting to host author, Jan Brett! Don’t give up!

We are presently in fifth place and need many votes to catch up with the first place leader.  We are “calling out” to all of our “friends,” colleagues, and community members to help us out.  We believe this literacy opportunity to host beloved Children’s Author/Illustrator, Jan Brett, is a worthy one and we are prepared to “battle” for the votes!  How can you help?  Spread the word and ask all of your “friends” to support our dreamThank you!

Please link to the Jan Brett site below.  Remember- You will need to know the school name, City, and Postal Code.

http://www.janbrett.com/index.html

Sparkle Pumpkins

This afternoon the children completed our last Hallowe’en art activity, Sparkle Pumpkins!  Each child received a “foam” pumpkin and small Hallowe’en “foamie” shapes.  They were encouraged to stick the shapes onto the pumpkin shape,  any way that pleased them.  Of course, we added sparkles!  I’m sure that you’ll agree, our sparkle pumpkins are bedazzling!

Hallowe’en Centres

We had a wonderful morning!  The children participated in the exciting

Shake, Rattle, and Roll those dice!

centre activities planned by the PAC and the teachers.  From skeleton dice roll to encourage mathematical thinking to the Pumpkin Games in the gym, we all had so much fun!  In the afternoon we paraded, in costume, around the school!  It was a glorious Autumn day and we got to show off our costumes and wave to our friends.  The treats provided by the teachers and parents were delicious!  Thank you to everyone who helped to make this day a magical one for all to enjoy!