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!

Fun in The Sun

When I was a little girl, my parents would pack us up every year to spend a week or two at the beach. Some of our favorite vacations included cousins and aunts and uncles, as well.  My siblings and I have decided to continue the tradition and we all vacation together. It's a fantastic fun filled week with 3 generations sharing one roof. (I'll admit, it's hectic, busy and often not quiet, but still zen in it's own way.) One of the secrets to success is to make sure you have a house big enough to accommodate everyone.

As the resident preschool teacher, I have assumed the role of planning activities to keep the kids busy and have been given the honorary title, "Auntie Ayn, Activities Director". Many of the fun things we do are spontaneous or thought up by the children, but I do plan a few activities for those times when parents need a little break from the beach or the littlest ones need a nap.This year, some of the crafts I brought included decorating pre-made kites to fly afterward, decorating water bottle holders, flashlights, visors and backpacks.

(And apparently there was a manicure activity, as evidenced by this picture!)

 

We played lots of volleyball, frisbee, catch and kickball. (Our kickball games usually commence at dusk after dinner so my pictures did not come out.)

We did playdough, painting and even some cupcake decorating.

We played on the beach, made sandcastles and jumped the waves.

We watched the fireworks on the Fourth of July and the Dads even set off a few of our own. (The picture makes it look like the kids are right on top of the fireworks, but they are actually a VERY safe distance away.)

One of the highlights of the trip is our scavenger hunt. We hid clues up and down the beach and the kids must find the and decipher them to determine where to go next. There is a treasure chest with lots of goodies in the end!

At the end of our childhood vacations, we would always have to pose for the infamous "FAMILY PORTRAIT". It, too, was a family tradition, so we repeat it, and laugh and joke about how this was torture when we were small.

My daughters, my husband and myself. Our first real family picture in years!

Me and my siblings.

I LOVE my small family! 

I can't wait for next year so we can all be together again. I love seeing how the children have grown and how much they connect when they are together. These are the true blessings in life!

Wednesday's Wisdom....Life's Little Pleasures

Wednesday's Wisdom is another one of those chain emails that we all get from time to time, but the message is something that bears repeating.

Don't forget to stop and enjoy the little pleasures in life. They are the things that we build our memories on.

The Simple Pleasures Of Life

Think about them one at a time BEFORE going on to the next one...

Especially, the thought at the end.

Friends.

The beach.

Giggling.

A hot shower.

Getting mail.

Sweet dreams.

Hot chocolate.

A bubble bath.

Falling in love.

A special glance.

Swinging on swings.

A good conversation.

Watching the sunrise.

Laughing at yourself.

Road trips with friends.

Playing with a new puppy.

Running through sprinklers.

Laughing at an inside joke.

No lines at the supermarket.

Making chocolate chip cookies.

Taking a drive on a pretty road.

Laughing so hard your face hurts.

Knowing that somebody misses you.

Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.

Having someone play with your hair.

Making eye contact with a cute stranger.

Your first kiss .

Hearing your favorite song on the radio.

Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.

Midnight phone calls that last for hours.

Holding hands with someone you care about.

Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.

Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.

Having your friends send you home-made cookies.

Chocolate milkshake. (or vanilla or strawberry!)

Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.

Making new friends or spending time with old ones.

Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.

Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.

Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.

Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.

Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.

Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.

Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

Happy Wednesday! Don't forget to try to find a little gratitude for the simple things in life each day!