Bright Ideas ****Hey! I've Got to Try That!*****

I haven't posted many new ideas this summer. I've really tried to take the summer off and even though I wasn't successful in taking the entire summer off, I wasn't in charge of planning or implementing activities with the kids. I have my new class list and official pre-planning begins tomorrow. I have been browsing sites this summer and have seen several of those "I've got to try that" ideas. Here are a few of my favorites that I can't wait to try once school gets underway.


Deborah at Teach Preschool has been introducing her nephew to art materials and I loved this one called, "Chalk Paint and Print-Making with Preschoolers and Toddlers". It's important for me to remember that while some of my new friends are "seasoned veterans" of daycare/preschool art materials, but for some of the new friends, they may be experiencing these materials for the first time.

Superheros and Princesses has this great post, "We Made A Cloud" about making a cloud in the classroom using the book,  Shapes in the Sky: A Book About Clouds (Amazing Science: Weather)

Over the years as a preschool teacher, I've made a variety of fishing poles/fish as learning games, but I've never thought of doing this.Check out this "Easy Fishing Game". Valerie always has great ideas at Frugal Family Fun, but I'm not letting this one get away!

I always get good ideas from Scott over at Brick By Brick, and I love his post "Jumping Off Each Other's Ideas" about the sharing we do in our little blogging community of teachers. I also love his airport and I'm gonna introduce this idea in our block center soon and see where the kids take it. I can't believe I haven't done this one already, since I grew up an airline brat and was always around airports and planes.

I love this game, Lids-Usage #1, that Brick By Brick posted earlier this summer. The game board looks awesome and might not be too difficult to make. I think the kids will really love this!

Every year, inevitably, I will end up making a little volcano to erupt and we explore painting with various materials like marbles. This year, I've been inspired to try to make more of both of these activities. My friend, Teacher Tom, shows both of these great activities on a grand scale in his post, ""The Volcano Erupts and Our Marble Paintings Go Super Dooper". (Tom, I'll let you know how it goes.=)

"Dry erase...Crayons?" by Pre-K Pages introduced me to a new medium by Crayola that I just can't wait to put my hands on. After asking around, I hear that they work pretty well and will be a great alternative to dry erase markers for the kids.

 

Crayola 8ct Dry Erase Crayons Large Size

Over at Centers and Circle Time this summer, the kids did some Fourth of July Fence Weaving. I thought this might be a great team building activity to try at the beginning of the year.  I can't wait to try it!

This year, we will build a new Wee World with new little friends shaping the landscape. I'm curious to see how they'll manage the materials and build a land they envision. My friends last year really explored the concept and made it a place for imaginations to roam wild. I hope whatever these new friends create, that it will give them a way to express themselves and create a venue for outdoor imaginative play.

Happy Bright Ideas!