Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Fire Safety Week at Our School

Stop, drop and roll is a simple fire safety technique taught to children, emergency services personnel and industrial workers as a component of health and safety training. It involves three steps a fire victim should follow to minimize injury in the event their clothing catches fire.

Stop, drop and roll consists of three components:
  1. Stop – The fire victim must stop, ceasing any movement which may fan the flames or hamper those attempting to put the fire out.
  2. Drop – The fire victim must drop to the ground, lying down if possible, covering their face with their hands to avoid facial injury.
  3. Roll – The fire victim must roll on the ground in an effort to extinguish the fire by depriving it of oxygen. If the victim is on a rug or one is nearby, they can roll the rug around themselves to further extinguish the flame.
The effectiveness of stop, drop and roll may be further enhanced by combining it with other firefighting techniques, including the use of a fire extinguisher, dousing with water, or fire beating one's skin.

 City of Ocoee's Fire Department's Puppet Show.

I snapped these photos of our kids during fire safety week. I have many more than the few that I have posted here for those parents who would like to request copies, contact me or Jenn at the early learning center. The firemen did a marvelous job of sharing and caring for our students during their visit!
 
Every city in America has programs to teach fire safety.

Ringing the bell on the fire truck.

Children have had a big day learning about fire safety.

Local firemen always take time out to teach preschoolers.

Students wait patiently in line to see the fire engine.

Firemen volunteer to teach preschoolers about fire safety.

Firemen help little ones explore the truck.

Young students explore the fire truck with fire fighters.

Children color in their free fire safety booklets.

  
Smokey Unwinds Puzzle 
Help Smokey untangle his secret message!  
Color the string from his baseball from beginning to end.
answer key to "Smokey Unwinds Puzzle."
 

Halloween Party Favor Ideas for The Classroom


       Treat your students this year with care! A beloved TA from our early learning center gifted  a special treat bag made from a plastic glove to each of our students. Inside of each one she stuffed: a glow light for trick-or-treating safely, Smarties for our little scholars, healthy fruit snacks, gold fish, a tattoo, fun foam stickers and a gummy hamburger.

More Halloween Treat Bag & Small Box Ideas:
  1. Batty Treat Holders by Paper Crave
  2. itsy bitsy box!
  3. 4 ideas from parenting
  4. Le Zucche Di Halloween   and Secchiello Pipistrello Porta Dolcetti
  5. Sour Cream Containers
  6. Ghost bags from coffee filters
  7. Halloween Takeout Boxes
  8. I Sacchetti Fantasma and Porta Bon Bon
  9. Halloween Flashback: Cardboard Tube Bat Treat Holders
  10. more coffee filter ghosts
  11. Halloween Treat Boxes
  12. Candy Corn Cone Favor
  13. pixy stick pockets
  14. Treat bags silhouette cello
Candy and Fruits and Other Foods Transformed:
  1. Apples decorated as spooks!  here too from Disneyland
  2. Spider Suckers
  3. Witch's broom sucker
  4. monster eyeballs
  5. Pumpkin Lollipop Holder
  6. Wrapped "mummy" apple
  7. Grape spider and cheese + a cottage cheese "Boo!"
  8. A black olive snake
  9. Eggs-quisite Eats for Li'l Devils
  10. Tombstone Sandwiches
  11. Halloween Five Layer Dip
  12. spiderweb pizzas
  13. A Jack-o-Lantern Hummus Plate
  14. Spooky Spider Snack
  15. Deviled eggs and olives for Halloween
  16. 'Candy Corn' fruit cups
  17. Dracula Pancakes
  18. Candy Corn Dipped Marshmallow Pops
  19. Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops
  20. Ghosts in the Graveyard
Cakes and Cookies For The Classroom:
  1. Halloween Treat Tutorial: Mini-Push Pop Oreo Cookie Shots
  2. Halloween Cake Pops from Pint Sized Baker
  3. Witch's Hat from A Sugar Cone
  4. Skeleton Cupcakes
  5. Halloween Cupcake Decorating - slide show from Better Homes and Gardens
  6. milano ghosts
  7. powdered donut eyeballs
  8. Halloween trick-or-treat snacks for school

Practice Shading An Owl

This owl is wide awake. Give him big yellow eyes and practice shading in all of his little feathers.
       Above is the "digital tracing," of the image. Students may look at the original sample below in order to practice shading techniques on top of the printed digital tracing. After a student learns shading techniques with a number 2 pencil, he or she may choose to try working with colored pencils or even watercolors in order to enhance the digital tracing above.


A jack-o-lantern maze

Find your way in and out of this spooky Jack-O-Latern maze!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

A Safe Place For Trick-or-Treaters to Party

       This past weekend, all of the early learning center teachers and aids assembled at our school's elementary building and hosted the annual Halloween party for both our students and perspective students. Youngsters dressed up in costumes and teachers handed out treats while parent volunteers played games and crafted with kids in the gym.

Elementary students competed in a door decorating contest at our school. I'm not sure what the
winning class walked away with but it's probably safe to assume it
had something to do with food.

The door decorations served to create a festive environment for
trick-or-treaters touring the school

Monday, October 28, 2013

Laura's Life: A Comprehensive Internet Guide to The Little House Series

Laura and Almanzo Wilder pictured with their last home.
       Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder (February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was an American writer, most notably the author of the Little House series of children's novels based on her childhood in a pioneer family. Her daughter Rose encouraged Laura in her writing and helped Laura edit and publish her novels. Read more...
       Little House on the Prairie is a media franchise that started with a series of children's books by Laura Ingalls Wilder that were originally published between 1932 and 1943. Read more...
Rose Wilder Lane.
       Rose Wilder Lane (December 5, 1886 – October 30, 1968) was an American journalist, travel writer, novelist, and political theorist. She is noted—with Ayn Rand and Isabel Paterson—as one of the founding mothers of the American libertarian movement. Read more...
Caroline and Charles Ingalls. Replica cabin.
        Aside from American author Laura Ingalls Wilder's original Little House series, several series of books for juveniles, young adults and adults have also been published. These separate series are fictionalized accounts of the lives of Wilder's great-grandmother Martha Morse Tucker, grandmother Charlotte Tucker Quiner, mother Caroline Ingalls, daughter Rose Wilder Lane's childhood and teenage years and Wilder's own missing adult years. In addition, simplified versions of the original series have been published for younger children in chapter and picture book form. Read more ...
Lesson plans for teachers:
Take a little Field Trip:
Crafts & Activities Perfect for Laura's books:
Little House Lap Books:
Melissa Gilbert, child actress.
       Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert, and Karen Grassle, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show is an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books. Television producer and NBC executive Ed Friendly became aware of the story in the early 1970s. He asked Michael Landon to direct the pilot movie, who agreed on the condition that he could also play Charles Ingalls. Read more...
      Little House on the Prairie is a book musical adapted from the children's books, Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The creative team includes Rachel Sheinkin (book), Rachel Portman (music), Donna di Novelli (lyrics), and Francesca Zambello (director). The musical premiered in regional theatre at the Guthrie, Minneapolis, Minnesota, followed by a tour in 2009-2010 of the United States, starting at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. Read more...
       "The inspirational stories of Little House on The Prairie, one of the most beloved literary celebrations of pioneering America since Laura Ingalls Wilder published the first book of her classic series 75 years ago, take on a brand new frontier in this uplifting new musical. Melissa Gilbert, who we embraced as Laura for 10 years in the much-loved television series, is all grown up and stars as Ma. Through the magic of live theater, audiences will follow the Ingalls family journey westward to make a better life for their children. Recommended for the entire family, Little House on The Prairie, The Musical brings the joys and sorrows of family life during the settlement of the prairie to contemporary America. Families will identify with its life-affirming stories that celebrate the pioneering spirit and the core values on which this country was founded." Visit The Kansas City Starlight Theatre on YouTube

Friday, October 25, 2013

Creative Art Lessons Inspired by Books

Topic - Art and Literacey: Title of The Book and Author: Art Lesson and Teacher/Author: Books are listed in Alphabetical order omitting 'The' and 'A'.
  1. "A" Was Once An Apple Pie" by Suse Macdonald - Apple Pie Pocket for Teaching by Kathy Grimm *
  2. "Andrew Henry's Meadow" by Doris Burn - A Treehouse Collage by Kathy Grimm *
  3. "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorest - A Terrible Horrible Cursive Exercise! by Kathy Grimm *
  4. "The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse" by Eric Carle - Elephant Art Project by Patty Palmer  * The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Mark Warner
  5. "Blueberries For Sal" by Robert McCloskey - Blueberries For Sal by Art Teacher * Blueberries for Sal by Beth Gorden * We made blueberry pie in preschool by Teach Preschool * Potato Blueberry Stamps by little page turners *
  6. "The Bumpy Little Pumpkin" by Margery Cuyler - Paint, Cut and Paste Your Own Bumpy Little Pumpkins by Kathy Grimm *
  7. "The Boy Who Drew Birds" by Jacqueline Davis - Second grade has gone to the birds by Shannah *
  8. "Caps for Sale" by Esphyr Slobodkina -  "Hats" by ExploraStory *
  9. "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin Jr. - "Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom in my classroom" by Kathy Grimm * Chicka, Chika, Boom, Boom ... Happy Friday by Mrs. Steberger's First Grade * Coconut Tree Craft by No Time for Flash Cards *
  10. "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" by Judi Barett - Cloudy With A Chance Of .... by Art Dish *
  11. "Dogs Don't Brush Their Teeth" by Diane deGroat - Dogs Don't Make Art! by Katie Morris *
  12. "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" by Mo Willems - Don't let the pigeon drive the bus by Ashley * pigeon paintings *
  13. "The Dot and Ish" by Peter H. Reynolds - Guide for classrooms by Can (large pdf) *
  14. "Elmer's Special Day" by David McKee - Elmer's Day Parade by Kristin Bolster *
  15. "The Story of Ferdinand" by Munro Leaf - Fiar: The Story of Ferdinand by Kristina *
  16. "Frog and Toad Are Friends" by Arnold Lobel -  Frogs, Toads and Pollywogs for Spring *
  17. "Galimoto" by Karen Lynn Williams - A Galimoto Art Lesson Plan by Kathy Grimm *
  18. "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein - The Giving Tree: A Lesson on Earth Day by Mama in the Kitchen *
  19. "Green" by Laura Vaccaro Seeger - green by Michelle Sterling *
  20. "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss - 10 Green Eggs and Ham Crafts *
  21. "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown - Goodnight Peep Diorama --Peeps Show IV by MaryLea*
  22. "Guess How Much I Love You" by Sam McBratney - Guide by The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia's *
  23. "Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Author Crockett Johnson - Harold and The Purple Crayon by KinderArt * Harold's Purple Crayon by Mrs. Goff * decoupaged frame *
  24. "If the Dinosaurs Came Back!" by Bernard Most - If dinosaurs came back art lesson by Kristin Bolster *
  25. "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Joffe Numeroff - More Mice by Sylvan Hollow Schoolhouse * If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Moose a Muffin or A Pig a Pancake Lesson Ideas by The Virtual Vine *
  26. "I Want My Hat Back" by Jon Klassen - Texture, emphasis, and anthropomorphism *
  27. “Knuffle Bunny Free” by Mo Willems - Summer Virtual Book Club for Kids by Jenn *
  28. "The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper - Kindergarten Shape Trains by Mrs. Weber * * Train Chalk Pastel Art Tutorial by Hodgepodge *
  29. "Leaf Man" by Lois Ehlert - Paint, Cut and Paste a Leafy River Scene by Kathy Grimm *
  30. "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch - Feelings - preschool lesson plans *
  31. "Madeline" by Ludwig Bemelmans - Madeline Chalk Pastel Fun *
  32. "Miss Nelson is Missing" by Harry Allard - Which Witch? by Joanna Davis   *
  33. "The Mitten" by Jan Brett - We did a Readers Theater of the story... by Mrs. Bell *
  34. "Mouse Paint" by Ellen Stoll Walsh - Cotton Ball Easel Painting by MaryLea *
  35. "Possom and Wattle" by Bronwyn Bancroft - Bronwyn Bancroft Inspired Animals by Mary
  36. "The Pot That Juan Built" by Nancy Andrews-Goebel - Clay Slab People
  37. "The Rainbow Fish" by Marcus Pfister - Craft an entire school of "Rainbow Fish from paper plates by Kathy Grimm * Rainbow Fish by tomato * Cupcake Liner Fish * Fish paper plate craft ****
  38. "Rechenka's Eggs" by Patricia Polacco - Oil pastel and watercolor Easter egg art by Buggy and Buddy
  39. "Sandy's Circus" by Tanya Lee Stone - Sandy's Circus *
  40. "Snowballs" by Lois Ehlert - Ice Cube Painting and Salt Paint Snowmen by Michelle * Snow People at Artsonia *
  41. "Snowflake Bentley" by Jacqueline Briggs Martin - 12 Six-Sided Snowflake Templates *
  42. "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats -  The Snowy Day Art Project *
  43. "Stellaluna" by Janell Cannon - Let's Talk About Bats by Dr. Inez Heath *
  44. "Stephen Biesty's Cross-sections Castle" by Stephen Biesty - Poppins Book Nook-Castle Craft *
  45. "Sylvie" by Jennifer Sattler - pink flamingos by Apex E Art *
  46. "Tar Beach" by Faith Ringgold - Quilted Dreams by Cynthia McGovern *
  47. "The Ugly Duckling" by Hans Christian Anderson - Cotton Balls and Fingerpaint by Jennifer Fischer *
  48. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle - Craft a Very Hungry Caterpillar by Kathy Grimm *
  49. "Where The Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak - clay and paint projects from Cheryl Hancock * Wild Things by Mrs Tannert * "Wild Thing" Watercolor Monster by Kathy Barbro *
Collections and Larger Listings:
Excellent Video About Illustrators who work in the Children's Literature Industry and Also About Books In General:
Follow my pinterest board, "Art Lessons Inspired by Children's Books"

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Pumpkin, Pumpkin Pie and Turkey Graphics for Games and Number Books

Tiny Graphics for File Folder Games and Number Books.

Pumpkin graphics for file folder games and number books.

Pumpkin Pie graphics for file folder games and number books.

Turkey graphics for file folder games and number books.

Print and Play An Apple Themed Color Sort Game

An Apple Themed Color Sort Game
      Download and print out my apple sorting game for your early learning center or homeschool. If you have Microsoft Word, you can enlarge these bushels of apples before printing them. I've included one sheet of apple graphics for students to color or for teachers to print onto red, green and yellow papers here.
      After laminating the tiny printed apples on red, green and yellow papers, mix them together inside of a dark sack made of burlap or even a brown paper bag would suffice. Then lay the color printed bushels out onto a carpet and pass the bag of colored apples around a circle of very young students. Ask each child to take turns at pulling a little apple from the sack. The students should then match the color of their apples with the colors of the bushels as they go. This simple early learning game teaches them to distinguish between red, yellow and green.

Red bushel of apples.

Green bushel of apples.

Yellow bushel of apples.

Acorns, Apples and Corn Cob Graphics for Games and Number Books

Tiny Graphics for File Folder Games and Number Books.
Acorn graphics for file folder games and number books.

Apple Graphics for file folder games and number books.

Corn Cob Graphics for file folder games and number books.

"When The Frost Is On The Punkin"

When the frost is on the punkin, and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gooble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the guineas and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he toptoes on the fence,
O, it's then's the times a feller is a feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bare-headed, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin, and the fodder's in the shock.

By James Whitcomb Riley

      What a beauty; I just love this little fall poem and nostalgic picture of a child holding a massive pumpkin! Why not include it in your next fall school newsletter? Be sure to give this blog credit so that other teachers may find use the resources here.