We’ve all had our share of rainy days this spring. So, what to do when the temperature plummets (yet again), the wind whips and rain drums against the windows? I squeezed into three layers of clothes, dreading my three hours in the raw, biting cold. Happily upon arrival, I discovered that Stephanie, our expert farmer, […]
How often have your kids turned their noses up to new foods-especially when they hear “Vegetable?” One of the major benefits of having children grow food: when they grow it they tend to try it. AND they usually like what they eat! We did a straw poll in each class over the past several weeks […]
A nice way to get students re-energized, have fun and build critical foundation skills all at the same time is by introducing a simple balloon. Before you roll your eyes and click to a new site, consider what can happen with this inexpensive object when structured the right way. Benefits: Visual attention and visual tracking […]
Back in prehistoric times (that is before electronic devices…) I spent large swaths of my summer vacation figuring out how to spend my time. When I had early morning trips to the park and the purchase power to buy “GIMP,” I’d spend the afternoon covering wire hangers decoratively with the plastic laces or making perfectly […]
Parents and teachers frequently ask, “What’s the best way to introduce drawing and writing?” My knee jerk response: “Throw away the pencils and workbooks!” Exploration through a variety of mediums is a great way to get a child loving the creative process of drawing and eventually writing. Dot art is a perfect way to start […]
Even though my children are grown up, no mater where I travel, I always find my way to the toy stores to look for new, interesting toys. Museum shops have the best! I discovered this Spinner at The General Store in Vermont during a ski trip. It’s harder than is looks and captivates the interest […]
This project uses the spinner in the classroom. It is a great way to incorporate art and science into one fun activity! Benefits: The spinner provides a fascinating visual experience. This helps draw children’s visual attention to the activity. Placing the greens into the bowl helps develop eye hand skills and stimulates touch receptors. For younger children position both […]
I love when I find an activity that works for all ages. With the right amount of help even the littlest hands can manage this simple project. It is easy to do and materials are inexpensive. Benefits: The sponge should be held between the thumb, pointer and middle fingers. This strengthens the muscles used for […]
When beauty meet utility we have a perfect creation! There are so many great things going on (developmentally speaking) as a child “creates” this work of art. Introduce concepts of science and you have a block buster learning experience! For example: Collecting specimens on nature walks Learning the concepts of “natural dyes) […]
Age old simple toys are often packed with the most benefit. Take the Dreidel, a simple gift found during the holiday season. These toys offer a fine motor challenge that refines the pincer grasp and increases coordination of the fingers. Benefits: Visual focus: holding the toy correctly requires guidance from the eyes and visual attention. […]
Ever wonder why every preschool, kindergarten and first grade have a myriad of cut and paste projects? There are so many integrating skills that develop when using scissors. In a perfect world, early childhood programs would throw away all the pencils and have the students cut out strips of paper and combine to form all […]