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Sunday, January 27, 2013 by Shelley Miles
Book List, February Activities, Science
February 27-Polar Bear Day
Polar bears live in the circumpolar north, including Russia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Norway. Their Latin name means “sea bear,” and indeed these mammals are uniquely adapted for both land and water. Polar bears are excellent swimmers—they have webbed front paws—and have insulating fur and blubber to keep them warm, both in and out of the sea. Though their fur looks white, each shaft is actually clear and hollow. Males can weigh between 700 to over 1500 pounds, while females tip the scales between 300 to over 500 pounds.
Today, cuddle up and read Little Polar Bear with your child—and be thankful you don’t have to swim in ice cold water just to pick up something for dinner! with your child—and be thankful you don’t have to swim in ice cold water just to pick up something for dinner!
For more info on polar bears, go to: Polar Bears International
Saturday, January 26, 2013 by Shelley Miles
Book List, February Activities, Science
FEBRUARY 11-National inventor’s Day (Thomas Edison's Birthday), Don't cry over spilled milk day
There’s an inventor lurking in even the youngest among us! Today, spread an array of everyday items on a table. Then challenge your child to invent something using what’s available, and ask him or her to explain what the invention does. Inventing can be as simple as looking at a familiar object and coming up with an alternative use for it. For example, a sponge can become a trampoline for a small doll or figurine; two empty toilet tissue rolls taped together can be a pair of binoculars.
The main objective is to get your little one to look at the world in new and creative ways. Another great idea for celebrating this day is to take all of those broken toys or parts from broken toys and encourage your child to think up a new use of the parts. You’ll delight in their imagination. Here is a monthly competition for young inventors sponsorted by the National Museum of Education. Student Inventions
Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone has accidents. It's important for children to learn that making mistakes is ok. . In fact, as author Barney Saltzberg points out " It’s OK to make a mistake. In fact, hooray for mistakes! A mistake is an adventure in creativity, a portal of discovery." He explores how accidents can be wondrous and beautiful in his book "The Beautiful Oops" a one-of-a-kind interactive book that shows young readers how every mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. A singular work of imagination, creativity, and paper engineering, Beautiful Oops! is filled with pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, tears, holes, overlays, bends, smudges, and even an accordion “telescope”—each demonstrating the magical transformation from blunder to wonder." Watch Barney explain the wonder of Oops to a group of kids. Beautiful Oops Video
Sunday, December 30, 2012 by Shelley Miles
Crafts, January Activities, Book list
JANUARY 15 – National hat day
Call it a beanie, a beret, a Stetson, a cloche, a bowler or a bucket, January is definitely hat weather. This Easy Fleece Hat pattern is appropriate for kids 6 and up. Make one, and everyone in the family will want one.
One of my favorite winter books is The Hat, by Jan Brett. Enjoy this free Coloring Page based on the book. Sit in front of the mirror with a little one and a big pile of hats. Try different hats on you and your child and then look in the mirror. This is good for lots of giggles.
Sunday, December 30, 2012 by Shelley Miles
Crafts, January Activities, Recipes, Book list
January 19-National Popcorn Day, Clyde Robert Bulla birthday
Popcorn is one of the many foods we enjoy that come from native Americans. Try this yummy recipe for Crispy Nutty Popcorn from Popcorn-Recipes.net.
Leftover popcorn? Try some popcorn art.
Materials
- Construction paper or cardboard
- Popped popcorn
- Glue
- Markers or crayon
How to:
- Draw a picture – a person, a sheep, a tree, a pan etc
- Glue popcorn in the places you’d like texture, for example – the sheep’s wool, a persons hair or fluffy collar, tree leaves, popcorn popping out of the pan etc. Let your imagination run wild!
Happy birthday Clyde Robert Bulla. He has written over 60 titles. Here are three favorites to get started.
Friday, December 28, 2012 by Shelley Miles
January Activities, Book list
JANUARY 12 – Crosby Bonsall birthday
Calling all beginning readers! These fun and funny books will coax early or reluctant readers with their hilarious tales. Check out these favorite titles. "The Day I Had to Play with My Sister", "And I Mean It, Stanley", "Mine's the Best" and "The Case of the Hungry Stranger" These are fun read-together-in-bed-books because adults will love the stories too.
Thursday, November 29, 2012 by Shelley Miles
Book List, Crafts, December Activities
DECEMBER 30 - Falling needles family fest day, Mercer Mayer's birthday
How many of us have grown up on the antics of Little Critter? Mercer Mayer has been delighting us with the antics of Little Critter for over 35 years in over 200 books. Happy birthday!
So the needles are falling and it's time to think about getting rid of the tree. Or, think about feeding the birds in the tree outside.
Check out this wonderful memory and craft from Catherine Wood of Luminarium Learning
In December, my children and I make a lot of treats to share with family and friends. A few years ago, my stepmother (in an attempt to duck the sugar and fat) asked her granddaughters if they would make something festive and special for the birds she feeds in her backyard. After a bit of research, here’s what we came up with:
Pine Cone Ornaments
What you need:
- Pine cones
- 1 Cup chunky, unsalted peanut butter (the less refined, the better)
- 1 cup oats (raw oatmeal)
- 1 cup cornmeal
- Seeds (raw, unsalted)
- Raisins Cranberries (fresh, raw)
- Thread
How to
- Mix together the peanut butter, oats and cornmeal.
- Smear it over the pine cones, rubbing it into the cracks.
- Roll the cones in seeds, raisins and/or cranberries.
- Tie a 12” piece of thread securely around the top of the pine cone, and hang it from a tree or feeder.
The girls grazed their way through the dried fruit, peanut butter and seeds, and I never worried about the nutritional value of these ingredients. And, according to Grandma, the treats were a big hit with the birds.
Monday, October 29, 2012 by Shelley Miles
November activities, November holidays, book list
NOVEMBER 26—Alice in Wonderland published
This is the date that Alice in Wonderland was first published. This classic story about a topsy-turvy world in which anything can—and does—happen was written by Englishman Lewis Carroll and published in 1865. Have an “unbirthday” tea party in honor of the March Hare and the Mad Hatter by filling a teapot with juice, stacking a plate with cookies, and being as silly as you please. A top hat for you and bunny ears for your little one will add to the fun.
Check out this fun Alice in Wonderland iPad app.
And if the National Ballet of Canada's new production of Alice in Wonderland comes to your town - don't miss it.Tour Schedule
It is a ballet for today's generation of multi-media kids. Think classical ballet meets Broadway in terms of spectacular costumes, sets and special effects.
Monday, October 29, 2012 by Shelley Miles
November activities, book list, crafts, November holidays
NOVEMBER 28—Red planet day, Make your own head day
Make your Own Head day is often a spring board for creative self- portrait art projects. Make your own head out of clay, or with Mr. Potato Head. Maybe do paper mache over a balloon, or used a stuffed sock for a base and glue on googly eyes, yarn hair, and a felt mouth. This is something the whole family can participate in. Take a photo of finished "family" and you will have the most original and personal Holiday cards of all your friends.
Whether it's Gullivers Travels, War of the Worlds, Stranger in a Strange Land or The Martian Chronicals, Mars,the red planet has provided an ongoing source of fascination. Mars is present in our lives every week as Tuesday, Martes in Spanish, Mardi in French. Learn more about our nearest neighbor, playing these cool Mars NASA Games . Then go out with your kids, look at the night sky and imagine what life might be like on the red planet.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012 by Shelley Miles
September Holidays, Book List, Recipes, September Activities
SEPTEMBER 15 - Make a Hat Day, Felt hat day, Tomie DePaola birthday
Hats are easy and fun to make. Take a wide strip of construction paper, cut a zigzag edge, staple, and you’ve got a crown! Fold a piece of paper into a cylinder, tape, add a brim, and—presto!—you’ve made a stovetop hat. You can make a wacky hat by taking an existing cloth or straw hat and adorning it with fake flowers, pipe cleaners, toys, or anything else that suits your fancy. Fun Hats to Make
Tomie dePaola has writte or illustrated over 200 books for children. Plus he sings, dances and has an airdale named Bronte. Some of my favorites include:
Strega Nona
Watch Out for the Chicken Feet in Your Soup
26 Fairmount Avenue
Which are your favorites?
Wednesday, August 29, 2012 by Shelley Miles
September Activities, September Holidays, comics, Book list
SEPTEMBER 25 – National comic book day
Have some fun reading today. And what could be more fun than a comic book?
Some fun comic books to enjoy
Archie
Disney
Marvel
DC Comics
Owly Comics
Zeta Comics
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