Hot Colors in the Desert

It is nice and hot outside right now, here in the desert.

This is the perfect weather to melt crayons in.

I am not referring to accidentally melting crayons, like those stray ones that you find on the floor of the car, or on your car seat (usually after you have sat in the waxy puddle...just me?).

When it gets hot I like to take all my old and broken crayons that I have saved (again...just me?) and melt them together to make new crayons.

Simply peel off the paper (have the kiddos peel off the paper...practice those fine motor skills), and put all the little pieces of crayon into cup cake liners. Set the crayon filled liners on a cookie sheet and place the cookie sheet outside in direct sunlight. Depending on the day, the crayons will melt into a multi-colored liquid fairly quickly. (This liquid is hot and messy - be careful!). Put the cookie sheet in the freezer for 20-30 minutes, and - wah-la! - new crayons.

There are many variations on this...using mini cupcake liners, silicone baking trays, etc...let your kiddo come up with what shapes they want their new crayons to be.

Have fun and stay cool!

Rhyme all the Time

Identifying words that rhyme is a building block to reading and spelling for young children. Rhyming teaches them sound discrimination and exposes them to phonological awareness (the ability to hear sounds within words). These skills will be used as they learn to read and write.

So rhyme, rhyme all the time!

Young children love to rhyme, and love to figure out what rhymes and what doesn't. Find opportunities to practice rhyming every day. If rhyming is a new concept, nonsense words are acceptable. As they develop their rhyming skills, and they come up with a nonsense word, ask them what they think the word means. For example, if they rhyme "fit" and "jit", ask them what "jit" means. Their explanation will more than likely be amazing.

Keep a running list of rhyming words your child makes, making the connection that spoken words can be written. Plus, young children love seeing their words in print.

There are a myriad of books out there that include rhymes. When reading these books, have your child identify the rhymes they hear.

Once a young child figures out rhymes, they will continuously rhyme everything. While it can be exhausting, know they are practicing to be amazing readers.

Have fun, everyone! (See what I did there?)

Word Search

As young students discover the concept that print has meaning, they become more aware of words in their environment. Giving a child a piece of paper and a writing utensil and asking them to go find 10 words around the house heightens their awareness of print, and gives them practice with using a utensil. Plus counting to 10! Math!

Neatness doesn't count
Spelling doesn't count

Making the connection that words are everywhere we look is what counts.

Don't Throw Away Those Markers!

One of my favorite mediums to paint with is liquid watercolor. Purchasing liquid watercolor is pricey, but thanks to Pinterest, I discovered a cheap way to always have liquid water color on hand. If you soak dried up washable markers in water...waa-laa! Liquid water color. It takes about 24 hours to get a nice, brilliant color; the longer the markers soak, the more brilliant the color.

In my classroom, we always have cups with dried out markers soaking, so we always have a ready supply of liquid watercolor.

Yay for recycling!

I Spy!

Making an I Spy bottle is easy and inexpensive, and lends itself to so many activities.

All you need is...

• clean, dry plastic bottle
• rice
• lima beans

With a Sharpie, write letters on the beans. Put beans and rice inside the bottle and seal the bottle (I use glue to insure I don't have beans and rice in places I don't want it).

Use your new I Spy bottle for the following literacy fun with your kiddo!

• For every letter found, say the associated sound
• Write each letter as it is found
• Cut a picture out of a magazine that has the same beginning sound as the letter that is found
• Cut a letter out of a magazine for each letter that is found
• Find the letters in your name, Check them off as they are found
• Find something in the room that starts with the letter that is found
• Say the ABC's up to the letter that is found

Variations:

• Use plastic alphabet beads instead of writing letters on beans
• Write letters on pebbles instead of beans
• Use numbers
• Use numbers and letters
• Use both upper and lowercase letters
• Let the kiddos make their own, have them write their own letters on the beans. Giant lima beans work well for this, Provide spoons and funnels so they can scope in their own rice.
• Add other items (sparkles, rocks, jewels, etc)

Spy on!

It's Raining!

It is raining!!

In June!

In Phoenix!

In my little part of the world, rain in June is unheard of. So why not break out some fun rainy day activities?

One of my all time favorite rainy day things to do is watercolor rain painting. Use watercolors and create a design. Put your painting outside in a light drizzle for a little bit. Watch the amazing effects and designs that occur.

Catch a rain drop! I love doing this, and then painting the raindrops once they are baked.

Make a rain gauge. It is so interesting to see how much rain actually falls; sometimes it feels like a foot of rain has fallen from the sky when actually only 1/4" came down, Using a recycled 2 liter bottle with measurements marked in Sharpie is an easy, free way to create a rain gauge. Place rain gauges in different parts of your yard. Do all the gauges have the same amount of rain?

The absolute best, all time favorite rainy day activity is to simply play in the rain. Forget all that other stuff. Just go play in the rain.

Have fun!!

Corn Starch is the Best

Corn starch is such a cool substance. It can help make a terrific gravy, as well as provide hours of fun for kids (and their grown-ups).

My all time favorite use of corn starch is to make ooblek. Use equal parts of water and cornstarch, mix it together and then play! Ooblek is fascinating because it can be both a liquid and a solid. When you squeeze it, it feel hard, but once you let it go, it oozes through your fingers. I can play with this stuff for hours (and I have!).


Another favorite corn starch recipe is corn starch dough; a soft, silky play dough which shares some of the properties of ooblek. Plus it makes your hands super soft.

Start with:

• 1 cup corn starch
• 12 oz bottle of super cheap hair conditioner (choose a favorite scent!)

Mix until dough forms, and play away.

You can also make your own Moon Sand; why spend the money when you can whip up your own?

Start with:

• 4 cups sand
• 2 cups corn flour
• 1 cup water

Mix together. You can also add glitter and food coloring to jazz up your moon sand.

Working with corn starch is MESSY!!! But so worth it!


Have fun!!