Gobble, Gobble Appetizer

I had to bring a Fall appetizer to this year a friend's house and I wanted to make sure it would be something my kids would eat.  This simple turkey was a hit with the kids!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Half of a pear for the body and rings of yummy snacks around grapes, cheese, cranberries, and pecans.  Adjust to what your kids like to eat.

Mommy and Me Turkey

It is turkey time!  I could just "gobble up" this simple project.  The best part was having my son paint my hand.  I am most thankful for spending time with my little ones.  This project captures this time together.

"We made these little turkeys so everyone will see,
That I am most thankful for my Mommy and Me!"

Today was the last class of my Fall session of mommy and me.  This project was the perfect end to our time together.  I'll be back in December for a very special 2-week session.

Spider Web Paintings

 Another classic art project...
Supplies:
Black construction paper
White paint
Marbles or gold ball
Plastic spoon and small bowl

Place construction paper in the pan.  Pour a small amount of paint into a small bowl and drop in marbles.  Have the child spoon out the marbles

and drop on paper.  The child holds the pan and moves it back and forth to move the marble around to create a web.  Then tape a spider ring or spider cutout on the web.

This is a great project to practice fine motor skills by using the spoon to collect the marbles.

Pumpkin Mosiac

 Now that it is October, it is time to have some pumpkin fun!  Today we made a mosaic pumpkin by applying glue with a paint brush on a pumpkin shape and sprinkling pieces of orange paper on the glue.  My two-year-old had more fun painting on the glue and wasn't too interested in filling up the pumpkin with the orange.

Welcome October!!!

Fall Exploration

Today was a perfect Fall day for a walk.  We brought a bag and collected things we found on the ground: pine cone, acorns, leaves and sticks.  We observed how the leaves and branches moved with the wind, watched the clouds float by and saw birds and airplanes.
After our walk we dumped out our treasures and noticed how some were rough or spikey and others were soft and light.  I poured small amounts of Fall colored paints and then used the tresures as our paint brushes.  It was a great way to take in the change of Season!

Fall is Here

Here are two simple Fall projects to kick off the season:
1.  School House - The start of school is always very exciting!  This simple project is a perfect keepsake.  Depending on the child, paint or ink their hand or foot.  Each heart has information about the child, including their height, weight, name, age, teacher's name, etc.  It would be fun to do this every year and see how they have grown,

Very proud of his first day of school!

2.  Leaf Painting - Cut out a leaf shape and child paints using Fall colors.  It is fun to use red and yellow and have them create the color orange.  My son loved mixing the colors on the paper plate.

NEW Fall Class Schedule

NEW CLASS JUST ADDED at the Lamorinda Theatre Acedemy

FUN FALL PHONICS for students ages 3.5 - 5 years on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:20 beginning September 16!  Each week we will focus on letters, sounds and numbers as we explore the themes of Fall.  Activities include craft, music, stories, games and lots of movement to reinforce learning! 

Mommy and Me Mondays begin September 8 at 9:30-10:20.

FOR MORE INFO:  http://mrsodaniels.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2014-08-25T13:38:00-07:00&max-results=3

Space is limited so register today.  http://www.lamorindatheatreacademy.com/Fall_Class_Schedule.html

Miss Diana is a credential teacher who uses her creativity and enthusiasm to make learning fun and memorable.  

Back to School

My vision of heading out the door this morning and my reality were a bit different!  I found these signs online and thought we could take a cute picture - this is what I got.  Welcome back to school!  http://www.classyclutter.net/2014/07/first-day-of-school-free-printable-sign.html
         Wishing everyone a great school year!

Mommy and Me Mondays this Fall

Fall Mommy and Me Schedule of Classes at the Lamorinda Theatre Academy begin Spetember 8th!!!  Reserve your spot TODAY! http://www.lamorindatheatreacademy.com/Fall_Class_Schedule.html

Mommy and ME - FUN FALL : Ages 18 Months-3.5 years
Come Explore the change of Season through Music, Movement, Stories and Simple Crafts.  *Infants are welcome.  Themes include apples, leaves, pumpkins spiders and more!!!



Dates: Mondays, September 8 - November 3  (8 weeks)
Time: 9:30-10:20 OR 10:30-11:20
Cost: $150 Materials Included  

Thankful

I can't believe that tomorrow is the final Fall Mommy and ME class.  I feel so THANKFUL that I am able to plan and teach these classes.  The giggles and smiles from the students AND their moms are priceless!  Thank you for sharing your Mondays with me.

Final pages to their memory book

See you in December:
http://www.lamorindatheatreacademy.com/Mommy_and_Me.html

Halloween Fun

OK...I am "that" mom.  I thought it would be fun to have a few boys over for some Halloween fun, which included apple munch, spooky dinner and a scavenger hunt.  (I realized that hanging an apple from a string is a great way to get my son to eat apples.  He has been asking for more hanging apples!)  Dinner consisted of grapes on a stick (in a pattern, of course), mummy dogs and/or ghost shaped sandwich, veggie sticks and tomatoes. The drink was red "blood" punch.  They ate outside in candlelight.  After dinner the doorbell rang and the scavenger hunt began with clues and mini lights for each of the boys.  I made up rhyming clues that had the kids go to the neighbors asking for more clues.  They had a blast!

Ninja Pose after the Hunt

I found some eyeball treats at the store and made rhyming clues to go with them.  Have fun making up your own clues.  They are silly but the boys loved it!
Here are my clues...

1.  My eyes have been watching you...Here is a little light to help find
your way tonight. (mini finger lights)  Listen closely to clue number #1 and let us begin a little fun.  I am no longer here, and away I flew to a house that has a one and a ... two.

2.  In case you get in a little trouble, I have for you an eyeball...bubble. (eyeball bubbles)
You need to use your eyes to find another prize. Carefully head next door, if you want to find out...more!

3.  We don’t want to hear any moans, when we give you a bag of...bones.(bone candy)
Now, use your feet and carefully walk across the... street.

4. You deserve something sweet.  Here is a little eyeball... treat.  (chocolate eyeballs)
For your final clue tonight, you will get one last light.
You made it my house number 7, now it’s time to head back to house #...11! (light-up bouncy balls)

The boys ran from house to house, so excited to get the next clue!

Fun Fall Songs Part 2

Here are a few more songs to enjoy this Fall with your little ones...

 

Be sure to register today for the Holiday Express Class - 2 special classes in December where we will be making ornaments and gifts to be treasured and singing Holiday favorites!

http://www.lamorindatheatreacademy.com/Mommy_and_Me.html 

The Chocolate Chip Ghost

"Something dreadful has happened!"

This was one of my favorite stories growing up and I had to make this for my Mommy and Me class and share with my own boys...I found this version online, but you can improvise when you retell the story.  I cut out one mommy ghost and 5 smaller ghosts - one side white and glued another color on the back.  When I tell the story, I flip over the ghosts.  (It is fun to enjoy some chocolate chip ghost cookies at the end!)

Mommy ghost and her 5 white ghosts

Once upon a time, there lived 5 little ghosts and a Mama ghost. As everyone knows, ghosts are white.  The only thing they can eat is vanilla ice cream and the only thing that they can drink is milk. One day when Mama ghost went to the refrigerator, there was no vanilla ice cream and no milk. So she had to go to the grocery store and before she left she said, “No matter how hungry you get, do not eat  anything or something dreadful will happen.” The first ghost became so thirsty and he looked in the refrigerator and saw a little glass of grape juice and thought, “just one teeny sip wouldn’t hurt.” So he took a one teeny sip of grape juice and what do you think happened? He turned purple! The other ghosts looked at him and said “Mama told us that something dreadful would happen and she was right.”  The second ghost became so hungry and he looked in the refrigerator and saw an orange and thought, “just one teeny bite wouldn’t hurt.” So he took a one teeny bite of the orange and what do you think happened? He turned orange! The other ghosts looked at him and said “Mama told us that something dreadful would happen and she was right.”  The third ghost became so hungry and he looked in the refrigerator and saw a banana and thought, “just one teeny bite wouldn’t hurt.” So he took a one teeny bite of spinach and what do you think happened? He turned yellow! The other ghosts looked at him and said “Mama told us that something dreadful would happen and she was right.” The fourth ghost became so hungry and he looked in the refrigerator and saw a bowl of strawberries and thought, “just one teeny bite wouldn’t hurt.” So he took a one teeny bite of a strawberry and what do you think happened? He turned red! The other ghosts looked at him and said “Mama told us that something dreadful would happen and she was right.”  The fifth ghost said, “I’m so hungry but I will not do what my brothers did.  I’ll look in the freezer and see if there is just maybe a little vanilla ice cream left.”  When he looked in the freezer there was some ice cream and it was almost vanilla – it was white with little brown pieces of chocolate in it. So the ghost said, “This shouldn’t hurt me – those pieces of  chocolate are so tiny.” So he ate one spoonful and became a chocolate chip ghost! They were all so scared of getting in trouble they hid behind the door! When Mama ghost returned, she knew something was wrong when she didn’t see her children, so she started looking for the little ghosts. When she found all of them, she said, “Little ghosts, I told you that something dreadful would happen and it did.” Whatever can we do to get you white again for Halloween? She called the ghost doctor and this is  what he told her to do. Keep all the little ghosts in bed for five days and give them nothing but vanilla  ice cream and milk and they should be ready for Halloween. So that is what she did and by Halloween night, the five little ghosts were all white again to go out haunting and spooking and shouting “BOO!” And they never again ate something they shouldn’t.

*There are so many versions of this story, you can have the ghosts go hide behind something, have a different number of ghosts or have them eating different kinds of food.

Brown Squirrel - Getting Ready for Winter

Brown Squirrel, brown squirrel, swish your bushy tail!  Time to start collecting acorns and get ready for winter...or at least have fun exploring squirrels!

Here are a few fun activities to do with your little ones:
*Get outside and look for squirrels, acorns and Fall leaves.
*Collect acorns, count and sort them
*Make a squirrel and sing a song - directions: http://mrsodaniels.blogspot.com/2010/11/nuts-about-you.html
*Bring a paper squirrel and bag of nuts to your teacher or grandparent "I am NUTS about you!"

Apple Stamping

This was the apple project we did in my Mommy and Me class.  I liked it because it was a perfect project for kids between the ages of 18 months and 3 years old.  Easy and cute.  My five year old had fun making one too!  HOWEVER, do not try this with a one year old.  My son picked up the apple on the stick and tried eating it!  Ended up with a mouthful of paint...oops!  He was definitely interested in eating the apple - not crafting with it.

Took a few bites before we even got started!

 

Cut apples in half, stick popsicle stick in each end and dip in paint.  Ready to stamp!

Favorite Fall Songs and Poems - PART ONE

Here are just a few of my favorite Fall songs and poems.  I always like to find the songs that get the kids up and moving.  For the Autumn Leaves are Fall Down, go outside and use real leaves while you are singing the song.  Kids LOVE raking leaves!  They can throw, jump, roll, and dance in the leaves.

September Apple Tree

September Apple Tree

September's "Handy" Treasure!  They can be done with any age and make great keepsakes to show your child’s growth or gifts to send to the grandparents.  You can make these crafts by tracing, painting, or pressing your hands.  If your child does not like to get their hands painted, try tracing their hand instead.  If you have a little one, paint their foot instead of their hand.  

September - Apple Tree

Supplies: brown paper, scissors, glue stick, green and red washable paint, paint or sponge brush, paper plate, white construction paper, and wet wipes

Supplies can be purchased at Michael’s Craft Store

Directions:  I always put down an old plastic table cloth left over from a birthday party as our work space.  Trace and cut out a tree trunk from the brown construction.  If your child is old enough, have them do the cutting.  Glue down on the white construction paper.  Pour green paint on a paper plate and have your child press or paint their hand and put on the paper as the leaves.  Repeat and repaint when necessary.  For a younger child, paint their foot.  Once dry, use the red paint to make apples on the tree using their thumb.  Be sure to write their name and date on the art work.

Remember...Mommy and Me starts Monday, September 9!  Sign Up TODAY!
http://mrsodaniels.blogspot.com/2013/07/fun-fall-schedule.html

Popcorn Turkey Surprise

This year I brought in a turkey for my son's preschool class.  This wasn't your ordinary turkey, it was a popcorn turkey!  It was so fun to watch the eyes of the kids as the teacher carved the turkey.  They all enjoyed their Thanksgiving Feast!

The body of the bird was made from a large grocery bag turned inside out and stuffed with popcorn.  I folded the ends in and hot glued it shut.  The drumsticks were made from two lunch size paper bags.  I formed the bag around my fist first and then filled.  I put a rubber band around the end.  I took a white piece of paper and cut slits on it and attached it to the  end of the drumsticks.  Then hot glue the drumsticks onto the body of the bird.  Place on a platter.  YUM!!!

"Hand" and "Foot" Turkey craft

Gobble, Gobble, this turkey is one of a kind and has a lot to be thankful for this year!
You need construction paper (various colors) glue, scissors, and markers.
The body is made by tracing the child's foot on brown construction paper.
The feathers are the child's hand.  I had my son do 4 feathers to match his age.  He picked his favorite colors.
This craft can be done with any age and parent help varies with the child.  My son is not a big fan of crafts so I cut out the hand prints and did the writing.  He did the rest.  We used "teamwork."  It will be fun to do this project again next year to see what he is thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Edible Witches Hat

 Edible Witches Hats

This year we wanted to make an edible Halloween craft that would be easy, quick, fun and delicious.  Thinking we would do the spider made out of a cookie and pretzel for legs, I found this idea instead. 

Supplies:  ice cream cone, round cookie for the base, frosting, Halloween sprinkles and a gummie worm or spider, plastic knife or popsickle stick to spread the frosting, and paper plate to hold the creation. 

Then it is time to have some fun...put frosting on the cookie and press the ice cream cone onto the cookie and DECORATE! 

Note to self: Find a bigger cookie than the fudge striped cookie so there is more of a brim of the hat to decorate.  Also, use food coloring for the frosting.

Stayed tuned for the ice cream cone Christmas tree - another holiday favorite!
http://mrsodaniels.blogspot.com/2010/12/edible-christmas-trees.html