Here’s a quick and easy project to make with the kids in your care. Simply print the animal templates onto heavyweight paper and cut them out. Attach the top and bottom of the heads to clothespins to make puppets that can open their mouths. You Will Need: Puppet TemplatesPrinterHeavyweight PaperScissorClothespinsHot Glue What to Do: 1. […]
“Coyotes All Around” to Teach Rounding Numbers and Coyote Craft

“Coyotes All Around” by Stuart J. Murphy is perfect for teaching rounding numbers to first, second, and third graders. Clever Coyote thinks it’s time for lunch — and also time to show her friends how, with some simple rounding, she can add up numbers in her head. If only she were as good at hunting […]
Painting Sea Shells
I allow children in my care to collect a few shells every summer at the beach and take them home to paint them. If you can’t visit the beach you can buy shells online. Older children can also use pencils and Sharpie markers to help decorate sea shells. Kids can make pendants and hair clips […]
Kool-Aid Play Dough
The children in my care love making homemade play dough and this week we made this great scented Kool-Aid play dough from the Hoosier Homemade web site. Also be sure to try out making other homemade play dough recipes including: Jell-O play dough, frosting play dough, edible peanut butter play dough, cream of tartar play […]
Black Glue and Water Color Painting
Just mix white or clear glue with black acrylic paint or buy black glue paint to make fun water coloring paintings with the kids. Trace the templates we used of a rose, a butterfly, or a rainbow with black glue or make your own drawing. Then have the kids use water color to finish the […]
Chalk and Pastel Fourth of July Fireworks
I had planned to just use red, white, and blue sidewalk chalk to have the kids make Fourth of July fireworks on black paper while reading, “The Night Before the Fourth of July” by Amy Wummer, “Fireworks and Freedom” by Educational Parade, and “Fireworks” by Lori Haskins Houran. But I allowed them to let their […]
Patriotic Paper Plate Purses
After reading “The Fourth of July Story” by Alice Dalgliesh, “Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols” by James Cross Giblin, and “Apple Pie Fourth of July” by Janet S. Wong I helped my Nanny Kids make these patriotic paper plate purses to prepare for the Fourth of July. You […]
Action Water Painting with Kids
Jackson Pollock was a modern, abstract artist that painted the way he felt by dripping, pouring, and splattering paint all over large canvases on the floor using sticks and dowels. He showed an abstract expression of his feelings through his art. Some people called them drip paintings. Some called them action paintings. I read the […]
Dad Father’s Day Cards
I found these free Father’s cards from thebestideasforkids web site. There are six different themes to choose from for these printable Dad cards. Simply print them, than have the kids color, cut, and write their special message inside for Dad this Father’s Day! You Will Need: PrinterCard TemplatesWhite Card StockCrayons and Colored PencilsScissors What to […]
Peanut Butter Play Dough

The children in my care are on a homemade play dough kick. Two weeks ago we made Jell-O Play Dough. Last week they absolutely loved making and playing with Frosting Play Dough. This week they asked to try edible Peanut Butter Play Dough. I found this play dough on the busylittlekiddies web site can also […]