We started our day outdoors…YEAH!! We had many runs up and down our favorite hill.
I finished the manuscript of a children’s book entitled, Ella May Finds A Home. I want the kids to grasp the basic concept of how a book comes together. I brought in the manuscript, along with sketches my illustrator friend George Ulrich is working on. I read the book to them and the kids colored in the black and white sketches.
Somewhere in those little fertile brains, bits and pieces of this and that are taking root. And I feel so very blessed to be a part of it.
Category Archives: Winter
Creating Cloth’s Pin Dolls
I am now realizing that we learn by example. I presented the children with a cloth’s pin doll I had made at home. Each child was given a cloth’s pin. After, a mouth and eyes were added and then the fun begins! This winter I have spent a great deal of time silk screening fabric and teaching myself a bit of shibori.
Note the beauty each child was able to create using the bit of fabric.
They may be little but boy are they ” fierce”!
Make & Create!
The idea for our time together was to “make and create” using edibles. YUM!
Melt marshmallows and a bit of butter. Add Rice Krispies, crunched up pretzels, Cocoa Puffs, and a topping of M&M’s. A lot of snacking foods incorporated into ONE BIG SNACK!
We wrote in our journals, shared a book, and had “chitty chat”.
P.S. Don’t forget to feed the birds. They also like to snack!
Building a Warm Winter Home
Let’s ALL build a house to stay “winter warm”.
I created a template from Bristol paper. Each child had their very own house to color. Windows and doors were applied using construction paper.
Styrofoam meat trays were used to hold trees made of crunched up tissue paper.
Paper was taped together, roads were drawn, house lots were included, roofs were added, and so were trees.
This week’s project required a concerted effort by ALL and had a number of components, but we completed it.
The room was ABLAZE with creativity!!!
What a GREAT GANG!
Winter Hibernation
It is the Winter Season and every living creature is trying to stay warm. We have been learning about bears snuggling in caves and sleeping away the winter months.
We made a Bear’s den from a paper bag in which we first made an opening. Then we drew some boulders, glued cotton balls on the bag to replicate snow and finally www placed raffia inside for a bed. I almost forgot… One happy bear who is snoring away. AHHH!
Happy Hibernation Mr.Bear!
Creating Winter Arrangements
Today we headed up to the pine grove to gather greens for our arrangements which we have been doing for years.
It is a winter project as it is important for the children to get a sense as to where things come from.
Back at the daycare the kids become totally engrossed in their work.
The finished arrangements are mini masterpieces.
What A LOT of creative energy fills the room and when I arrive home I need to rest for a bit!!
I LOVE IT!!
Discussing Hibernation and other Winter Activities
The year has been pretty amazing. We have finished our website! Let me know what you think of it. I have published two books and I am in the process of publishing a third book which will become the first in a series of books about nature.
During January and February, we will be busy doing stuff. Since it is cold outdoors, it is a perfect time of year to discuss hibernation and create a den for a bear using a paper bag, some twigs, a cut-out of a sleeping bear and cotton balls glued to the bag to simulate snow. How cool is that? The next week we will build houses. This is where people and pets go in the winter to keep warm. In our next project, we will use our already gathered pine cones, spread them with Crisco (can’t use peanut butter anymore) roll them in bird seed, attach a wire or yarn and we have created bird feeders for our feathered friends. One week I will bring in all sorts of scraps of paper, ribbons, yarn, and with the addition of crayons, glue and scissors we will create all sorts of beautiful and one-of-a-kind get well cards. Oh, we read books, get outdoors when we can, write in our journals and do a bit of cooking. Have a wonderful New Year!
For all your support and participation (as if you can escape my requests) thank-you. After all doesn’t everyone deserve A DITTY DAY?