Kindergarten Cookie Math Plate

Kindergarten Cookie Math Plate

One of my son's favorite subjects in school is math. Which, unlike his mother, is very good at it! New York State has just revamped their credentials for what a Kindergartener is expected to know by the first grade. No longer can my son {or any other child in Kindergarten for that matter} use his fingers and toes to figure out simple math equations- he must now answer all by memory. Everyday he brings home flash cards and he (we) get bored with it quickly. To make memorizing math fun again, we created this Cookie Math Plate.

What you need:

• Paper Plate
• This free Cookie Printable
• This Free Number Paper Strip printable
• Black Permanent Marker
• Scissors
• X-ACTO Knife
• Crayons, markers, water color, etc.
• Laminate 

What to do:
1. Print out all the free prinatables required for this project.

2. Write numbers 0-20 (one number per cookie) with black permanent marker and have your child color or paint in the cookies.

3. Cut out the number strips and laminate. Cut out and laminate the number cookies as well.

4. Cut slits into the plate about 1" long and 1.5" apart vertically so the strip easily slides into it (see photo). Then write a "plus" (+) sign and cut slits into the plate again just as before. Then write an "equals" sign (=).

Cut slits into the plate to fit the number strips accordingly.

5. Slide the laminated number strips into each opening so they can easily move up and down inside the box. I taped small pieces of tag board to either end of both strips to act as a stopper.


6. To play: either you or your child make a mathematical equation and use the correct number cookie to solve it!



Have fun with math!

Easy Wooden Turkey Craft

Easy Wooden Turkey Craft

Want a fun craft that is super easy to do for yourself or your child for Thanksgiving? If you have 10 minutes then you have more than enough time to make this fun little figurine that will sit nicely on a shelf or as part of a centerpiece for the dinner table at your Thanksgiving feast.

Classified: Easy and is an easy project for preschoolers and moms to create together!

What you need:

• 2" Unfinished Wooden Eggs
• 3/4" Wooden hearts- 4 of them
• 2 3/4" Wooden Heart
• Wiggle Eyes
• Orange and red pipe cleaners
• Acrylic Paint- brown, orange, red and yellow
• Black marker
• Glue gun and glue sticks

Quick tip! A great place to order your craft supplies is Factory Direct Craft found at http://www.factorydirectcraft.com/ . I have ordered from there several times and was very impressed with the quality, price and how fast I received my shipments!

What to do:
1. Paint the oval egg, large heart and two small hearts brown and set aside to dry. Paint the two remaining small hearts orange for the turkey's feet.

2. Paint in details as you see fit with the red, orange and yellow paint. See the turkey above for an example.

3. Please Note! Parents if you are working with younger children, do not allow them to use the glue gun- assembly is only done by an adult.

• Glue the two orange hearts together to form the feet.
• Glue the brown egg to the feet to form the Turkey's body and head.
• Glue the small brown hearts upside-down to either side of the Turkey's body to make the wings.
• Glue the large heart to the back of the Turkey's body to form the tail.
• Glue on two wiggle eyes.
• Cut and shape the orange pipe cleaner into a triangle and glue it just under the Turkey's eyes.
• Cut a small piece of red pipe cleaner and glue it under the beak.

4. Add details with black marker.

 Helpful hint- to get the glue gun strays away- take a blow dryer to your finished turkey.




Disclaimer- this is a sponsored post. Please visit my PR & Disclaimer page for more details. All opinions and project ideas are my own.

Art Around the World- Russian Nesting Dolls

Art Around the World- Russian Nesting Dolls

As I said, I am fascinated with learning about different cultures and their art. Originally made from wood, Russian Nesting Dolls are a very symbolic and are still treasured today. Read more of the fascinating history here.

As you may know I have three young children, so this post is something I created for them. If I were still teaching art (or if you want your child to make this at home) I would suggest creating this with either the 3rd or 4th grade student. However, my children still have fun playing with the Russian Nesting Dolls and helped as much as possible.

Classified: Difficult due to time, and knowing how to paint in details of the face. I suggest children 8 and up would be able to do this entirely on their own.

What you need:

• Plastic or paper cups of various sizes
• Scissors
• Newspaper
• Papier Mache PAste (see recipe below)
• Paint
• Paintbrushes
• Permanent or paint Marker (optional)

What you do:
1. Prep- make papier mache paste and tear up strips of newspaper. You may have to trim down a cup or two to make the sizes go from largest to smallest. Also, make certain that each cup fits into another.

Papier Mache Recipe:

·         1 part flour to one part water. For a stronger mold add some white glue.

Some of the cups that I used

 

 2. Papier mache the inside and outside of each cup- carefully; especially if it is a paper cup. Allow 24 plus hours to dry.

3. I sketched out what each Russian Nesting Doll would look like before I painted. If you teach this to a group of students, or at home, I strongly urge them to do the same. 

4. Paint in the figures accordingly. I used acrylic paint. Allow to dry and add details.

My 3 year old helped as much as she could!

5. When all dry, the Russian Nesting Dolls should fit nicely into one another!

Fitting into one another- all 5 are inside!

6. Don't forget to get your passport and mark off Russia!

Linking to these fabulous parties.

Design your Own Keepsake Hand Palette Art Smock

Design your Own Keepsake Hand Palette Art Smock

Whether your child is going back to school or doing art projects around the house, this simple Hand Palette Art Smock  is a great keepsake and is fun to create! Great for letter recognition and spelling with little ones!

Classified: Easy and is fun for kids of all ages!

What you need:

• Acrylic Paint- red, orange, yellow, green, blue, brown, black and white.
• Letter stamps - or - potato. We carved the letters A-R-T out of a potato (see photo for example)
• Paintbrush
• Tee-shirt
• A piece of sturdy cardboard
• Masking Paint
• Clean-up materials

What you do:

1. Prep- we cut the letters A-R-T out of potatoes because we do not own letter stamps. You can do this as well. Just remember to allow them to dry out after you cut them into shape and  before you begin to stamp them! Fit the shirt around the sturdy piece of cardboard and cut into shape (see photo). This is important so the paint does not bleed through to the back of the shirt.

Fold your tee-shirt snug around a piece of sturdy cardboard

Cut Letters out of potatoes for shapes

2. To make Palette:  Paint your child's hand and fingers brown. Paint each finger tip a separate color (ROYGB) and print onto the center of the shirt. Add details if needed.

Palette hand print.

3. Have your child print the words A-R-T onto their tee-shirt with the letter stamps. Assist if needed.

5. If your child is old enough- they can paint out (or using paint markers) the word S-m-o-c-k and his or her name.

6. My 3-year old wanted to add some paint splats because she saw Mom's art smock from when I was a teacher. Needless to say it was very colorful.

7. Dry and wear with all our art projects!

Art Around the World- Japanese Hand Fans

Art Around the World- Japanese Hand Fans (3 of them)

Japanese Hand Held Fans have been a representation in Japan for many centuries. "The fan itself is symbolic, with the small end representing birth and the blades symbolizing the many possible paths leading away from this beginning. The colors on the fan are also significant. Red and white are considered lucky, and gold is thought to attract wealth." (Read more at E-How (source)- great article!)

You can decorate your Japanese fan with traditional symbols. Today we created a triptych using three pieces of paper to tell a story that has a beginning, middle and end.

3 year old's creation

Classified: Easy and is great for 4 year-old and up.


What you need:

• Color copy paper- NOT construction paper (any color at least three sheets)
• Craft Stick
• Crayons
• Watercolor paint
• Popsicle Stick
• Tape

What to do: 

1. Show your child images of traditional Japanese fans. Discuss the history of Japan and show them where in the world it is located!
Suggested Reading: The Magic Fan

2. You can have your child decorate their fan using traditional Japanese symbolism- or have them tell a story of their own. Each "panel" (piece of paper, vertically) will each tell a segment of the story (beginning, middle and end). my son drew a picture of himself asking his friend to play. The second "panel" showed his friend saying "yes." The final "panel" illustrated them playing together.

Drawing the story

Mom's traditional design- flowers

3. Once the drawing is completed with crayon, have them paint it in with watercolor and set aside to dry.

Painting the story with watercolor

5 year old's creation

4. Have your child (with help if needed) fold each panel of the fan back and forth. Do this all with all three "panels" and tape them together and then to the popsicle stick.

Mom's Creation

5. Complete a Japanese Fan Dance for fun!

Japanese Fan Dance

Japanese Fan Dance

6. Don't forget to get your passport and mark off Japan!

Linking to these fabulous parties.

A summer fun lesson in art- Abstract Expressionism

"Kool Summer Fun #1" By the kids of Aimee @ Classified: Mom

There is so much to learn about the world of art. For the young, making art is simple to them. There are no rules, no restrictions- simply the pleasure of creation is at their fingertips. Many artists have tried to convert to the simplest, spontaneous form in their own artwork.

Abstract Expressionism is an art movement post World War II. Many great artists arose from that time, one being Jackson Pollock. What I personally love about Jackson Pollock and his "drip paintings" is that you can actually feel and see his movements within his large canvases. Pollock would to listen to music, particularity Jazz, when he created his master pieces.

Today, we will turn the music up-roll out a sheet of canvas and "dance around the canvas" as we create our own drip painting- with a twist!

Classified: Easy and as you will see in my post any age can do this. I taught this to my 3rd graders when I was an art teacher.

What you need:

• Canvas (muslin fabric is cheap and will work just as well)
• Canvas Stretchers 
• Staple Gun (adults only)
• Acrylic Paint- various colors
• Paint brushes
• Tubs for paint
• Water
• Optional: Kool Aid (a variety of colors)
• A spray bottle
• Acrylic Sealer

What to do:
1. Spread your canvas (muslin) on the floor. I would suggest going outside- it is going to get messy!

2. Please note: for this lesson we used Kool Aid. You do not need to do this and may just use paint.
For a little preschool (and younger) twist, we took packets of Kool Aid (different colors) and sprinkled them onto the canvas. To our surprise, it looked as though nothing was there! My children were very amazed at what they saw when they began to spray the canvas with a water bottle (and then the garden hose)! Note: Do not do this on a windy day!

4. We then discussed what Abstract Expressionism was, and because they are very young (5 and under) I laughed immensely as they tried to pronounce it. I kept it short, just discussing what it was and how Jackson Pollock listened to music and danced with paint (action painting at it's finest!). We then turned the radio up and went to "work."

5. *** Note: For best results mix the acrylic paint with water in a separate container**** Demonstrate (like you will need to) how to "dance" around the canvas and paint. Get into the music and have fun! Allow them to enjoy the painting- there is no right way to paint this!

6. Allow to dry.

7.  Adults: Once dry, put together the desired canvas stretchers and stretch and staple the canvas. If you worked with Kool Aid and are afraid of fruit flies (as I was), put a couple coats of acrylic sealer over the finished product.

My 1 year old had fun!

Useful Links on American Expressionism:
PBS
ARTCLYCOPEDIA

Linking to these educational parties

April Art and Craft Ideas

Spring Chick Baby Craft - Create a fun Spring Chick Baby Craft with your baby (or toddler)! My little man loved painting and printing his hands as well as playing and gluing the feathers. Great sensory play!

April Showers Watercolor- Everyone knows the old saying "April showers bring May flowers!" Why not create an artwork that reflects April's weather- rain? Discuss the importance of rain and how rain is created. Think about what activities you can still do outside while it is raining: playing in puddles, taking a nature walk, etc. and share them together. 








Earth Day Mobile- Earth Day is held on April 22 each year to enhance awareness of the Earth's environment and to help show appreciation of the world around us. It is also a wonderful time to instill great habits in our children on how to keep the environment clean and protected for years to come.

Earth Day Tissue Box; A Functional Piece of Art- 
Classified: Environmentally Friendly!
After finishing up our Papier Mache Bunny Basket, and being in the Papier Mache mode, my children and I decided to make a flower box using a tissue box, newspaper and a plastic bag as our recycled materials.

Kid's Craft- Earth Day Mobile

Earth Day is held on April 22 each year to enhance awareness of the Earth's environment and to help show appreciation of the world around us. It is also a wonderful time to instill great habits in our children on how to keep the environment clean and protected for years to come.

Classified: Easy and is great for preschool and older.

Books: The EARTH Book by Todd Parr
Internet: PBS Kids- Earth Day

What you need:

• White, blue and green paper
• Blue and green paint
• Sponge
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Crayons
• Yarn or thread
• Palette
• Glue stick
• Tape or hole puncher
• Optional: smocks, towels or anything else for clean up. 
• Optional: Plates, circular container tops to trace circles.

What you do:
Preparation: Trace 1 circle for the Earth, 3 (or more) hearts out of white and 3 (or more) hearts out of blue and green paper that is slightly larger than the white.

1. Discuss with your children (students) about the steps you can take to protect the world and help save the environment. Enhance the lesson with books, posters and Web sites (like PBS Kids) that discuss the importance of Earth Day.

2. Trace a circle onto a white sheet of paper to represent the Earth. Using a sponge, have your child sponge paint the entire "Earth" blue.

3. While the blue paint is drying, ask your child what he or she can do to save the environment (recycling, plant a tree, turn off the water, etc.). Write a brief explanation that your child gives onto each heart. Have them illustrate each explanation.

4. Before you continue painting the Earth, your child should now glue the illustrated white hearts onto the blue and/or green hearts.

5. Using the green paint and a sponge, and some land to the Earth's surface. Discuss with your child how the Earth is mostly made of water.

6. Allow to dry.

7. Depending on the age of your child, have them cut out their "Earth" using kid-friendly scissors.

8. Assemble the mobile together either using tape or a hole puncher. I gave two options below.

Without wire coat hanger

With Wire Coat Hanger

Vocabulary: Earth Day, Mobile, environment, recycling

April Showers Watercolor Kids Craft

Everyone knows the old saying "April showers bring May flowers!" Why not create an artwork that reflects April's weather- rain? Discuss the importance of rain and how rain is created. Think about what activities you can still do outside while it is raining: playing in puddles, taking a nature walk, etc. and share them together.

My example.

Classified: Easy and is great for ages preschool - first grade.

Vocabulary- weather, rain, watercolor, watercolor technique wet-in-wet
Website to try: http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html
Book: The Magic School Bus Wet All Over: A Book About The Water Cycle

What you need:

• Watercolor or heavy white paper
• Scissors
• Crayons
• Watercolor paint- blue
• Paintbrushes
• Spray bottle with water
• Cup of water

What to do:

1. Cut a raindrop out of the white watercolor paper.

2. Have your preschooler-first grader discuss with you about April Showers. Have them draw a picture of what they understood from the discussion. For example, my preschooler was upset when he thought that he could not play in the rain. Then we talked about what we actually could do outside when it is raining. He then drew a picture with crayons.

3. When the drawing is complete, spray the entire raindrop with water. You want it soaked. It's okay for some puddles but make sure it does not start to tear the paper.

4. Using a paintbrush, have the child add some water and dip it into the blue watercolor paint. Then slowly drop the blue watercolor from the paintbrush onto the wet raindrop. Watch as the paint spreads and bleeds as you use the wet on wet watercolor technique.

5. Allow to dry and display!

My 5 year old playing outside in the rain with a friend.

My 2 year old's flowers growing on the grass.

What do you like to do in the rain?