Making Tracks

This is an oldie but a goodie! Run toy cars through paint to "make tracks". Look for toy cars, trucks, and other vehicles that have interesting tire patterns. Use a large sheet of bulletin board paper with dump trucks outside. It's quick! It's fun! It's art!

Pinterest

Have you discovered Pinterest? Get ready to be addicted! Pinterest (http://pinterest.com) is a virtual bulletin board that allows you to organize photos, websites, blogs, etc. that you find on the internet. You can use it for styles, home decor, or planning special events. I use it (mostly) for ideas for my classroom. The cool part is that you can browse through other people's bulletin boards and repin their ideas. You can create several (unlimited???) boards so that you are actually able to find what you need.

Pinterest is currently an invitation only site. If you need an invitation, I am a member. Let me know in your comments below. Also, please share your favorite ways to use Pinterest!

Happy Pinning!

Nursery Rhyme Quiz

Let's try this again! How well do you know your nursery rhymes? NO GOOGLING ALLOWED!

1) Who went up the hill?

2) Who called for his pipe, bowl, and fiddler's three?

3) Who received the tree bags of wool?

4) Who lost her sheep?

5) What was growing in Mary's garden?

6) What did Mother Hubbard give to her doggie?

7) What time did the mouse fall down the clock>

8) Where did Little Boy Blue sleep?

9) Who tried to put Humpty Dumpty together again?

10) What were the occupations of the three men in the tub?

Mini Cereal Box Book

Environmental print is the print all around us. It is usually the first print that young children can read, such as Wal-Mart or McDonalds. Children are naturally interested in this print so it is a great motivator for colors, shapes, letters, numbers, words, etc. Environmental print is easy and cheap (if not FREE) to collect!

I created a cereal box book. I used mini boxes of cereal. After eating the cereal (my son was super excited about this step!), I cut the front face off the boxes. I simply laminated them and bound them on the side.

Quick, easy, and very interesting to young children!

Teacher Mailboxes

My students are constantly making drawings, paintings, cards, and letters for me and my assistant. We needed a place to put these treasures so they did not sit in a pile & clutter up the room. I decided to make a set of teacher mailboxes.

I started with an old wooden letter holder (Hello, 1970's!!!) that my mom gave me. I cut tan cardstock into a circle and two rectangles. I used letter stamps and brown ink to print the word "mail" and our names on the cardstock. Then I attached the cardstock with heavy double sided craft tape.

It's perfect to go in the writing center or next to the student's mailboxes! And it is a way to "upcycle" something that might have been otherwise thrown away.

Border Book

Make a simple book out of bulletin board borders. This one is to teach the colors. It was super easy to make! I cut the border, laminated it, and bound it into a little book. It's perfect for little hands and one of my students' favorite books. You can make multiples for beginning of the year guided reading. There are many cute borders and you can even find them at the dollar store! Cheap and easy reading fun!

Salad Spinner Art

Looking for a fun way to paint without a brush? Try salad spinner art! You can get a salad spinner in the kitchen section of the discount store. Try to find one without holes in the bottom. Otherwise, the paint will leak out. If you have to get one with holes, make sure to put it on a tray! I use mini paper plates. They fit inside and I don't have to cut paper. You can let the kids use spoons or small squeeze bottles to put on the place. Encourage younger children to work with a partner. One to hold the salad spinner and one to spin. The plates turn out great! My salad spinner has spent a lot of time in a hot car going to workshops so it is a bit warped and all of the paint goes to one side. My students still like it and yours will, too!