Senin, 30 April 2012

My Body Unit: Parts of the Body

This month our unit plan is My Body. This week we are going to be talking about parts of the body

Art:  

Materials needed: a large piece of paper {or pieces taped together}, washable paint/finger paint, paint brushes or a large plate if they will be dipping their body parts {we painted onto our body, then onto the paper}, a bath tub or shower.


Get ready to get messy! Use your body as a painting utensil and be sure to talk about the body parts your child is using as they paint with each one. {you will also need to be prepared for a good scrubbing in the bath!}

Self Portrait
 Materials needed: mirror, art supplies {crayons, pencils, paper}



Have your child draw what they see in the mirror {themselves}.

Science/Discovery: 


What can our bodies do?
Our bodies are amazing and can do so many things!


What can we do with our {eyes, ears, legs, hands, mouth, etc.}? 


What do our bodies need? {sleep, food, water} How do our bodies tell us? {we feel tired, hungry, thirsty}


What would happen if we didn't have our {eyes, ears, legs, hands, mouth, etc.}? Try pretending you don't have your {eyes, ears, legs, hands, mouth, etc.}. 


What would you do if you couldn't {see, hear, walk, hold, taste, etc.}?

Bug trying to find me with her eyes closed.

How are bodies the same & different from others?
Using photos of people you know or in magazines/books, look at the similarities & differences of their bodies. Be sure to encourage acceptance of our differences!


Math: 


Body Part Patterns 
Materials needed: photos/drawings of parts of the body {make doubles or more!}, index cards or card stock -or- felt, contact paper & velcro -or- magnet strips

Have your child make a pattern using the different parts of the body -or- make a pattern yourself leaving one off at the end and have your child pick what comes next.  


For felt boards: laminate each body part using contact paper and place a small strip of Velcro on the back. For the fridge or magnet board: laminate each body part using contact paper and place a small magnetic strip on the back For tabletops: print/draw photos on index cards or card stock  


How many?
Count how many {arms, legs, toes, ears, fingers, etc.} your child has. You may need to help them count their fingers and toes...I had to help Bug by telling her to hold out all her fingers while I pointed to each one and she counted. 

Sensory/Dramatic Play: At the Doctor
Materials needed: doctor's kit or bandages/thermometer/other household first aid materials, a pretend sick grown up or dolls/stuffed toys.

Pretty self explanatory. Using the doctor kit, pretend you or your child is sick and try to make them better! Have fun and use your imagination. If you have dress up clothes you can dress the part...or use a white button down shirt from a grown up's closet for your little doctor.
 
Bible:  

Health
What we use: Parenting with Scripture page 120 {stay tuned this Mother's Day for a chance to win this book!} & You Version Bible App {we read the NIV version}

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 {NIV}: Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 
Songs/Games:

Simon Says: Here are the rules in case you don't already know them. We just play the simple way where I say "Simon says" with the instruction and Bug follows. No one is out and I always begin with "Simon says". 

Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes:  Here is the song if you don't already know it.

My Body is Amazing:  You can find this song on the Potty Time App from Signing Time. We love this app! It is free to download, but this song with video of signs is just $0.99! 

My Body Beanbag Toss: Draw an outline of your child's body on the ground/large piece of paper. As you name body parts, have your child toss a bean bag onto that part of the body. If you do not have a bean bag you can make your own by filling a balloon with some sand or rice and tying it in a knot. 

 We used a hand bean bag {a filled latex glove}! 

Books: 
 

Vocabulary/Signs to Know:
{would it be easier if I did a video of all the signs instead of linking to each one? If so, let me know in the comments and I will try to get that done. Just not sure how many of you use sign language with the kiddos. We love it!}
  • body
  • eat / food {same sign}
  • sleep / tired
  • drink / thirsty
  • grow {grow up}
  • potty {if you are potty training along with this unit}
  • amazing {the sign for "wow"}
  • you can search parts of the body here at signsavvy {it's our fave resource for a quick look up of ASL signs}: head, shoulders, arms, hands, chest, belly, hips, legs, knees, feet, toes, fingers, eyes, nose, mouth, tongue, ears, belly button, neck, backside {less or more depending on how much in detail you want to go} 

How have you helped your child discover their bodies? Leave your link below in the comments so we can check it out!


Coming up:
Week 2 {May 7-11}: 5 Senses
Week 3 {May 14-18}: Emotions
Week 4 {May 21-25}: Exercising & Eating Healthy
Week 5 {May 28-June 1}: Hygiene

Tot School
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Minggu, 29 April 2012

Leather & Lace {DIY Crochet Leather Cuff}


I seem to be on a roll with crochet tutorials! Sorry for those who don't crochet but this one can be adapted to a sewing project if you'd like! {Oh, and don't mind my veiny arms & hands in the photos...blah!}

I participated in the Make a Splash challenge over at Crafting in the Rain and this months material was leather. See what everyone else made here. Want to sign up too? Click on the button to learn more:


I was a little unsure of what to make with leather. I have never worked with it before. Then I saw my Sharp Crochet Hook and *ding*...I thought I'd try crocheting through leather and what do ya know? It worked! I am loving how this cuff came out and hope you do too!

Here's what you need:

  • a strip of leather {cut to the length that will fit around your wrist plus room to button & as wide as you would like your cuff - keep in mind the crochet trim will add about an inch of width}
  • a sharp crochet hook
  • a 1.8 mm crochet hook
  • crochet thread
  • button
  • needle and thread
  • scissors
If you are planning on sewing you will need the leather and some lace trim. I don't sew but I'm sure this version can work. If you do it and it works out I'd love to see/hear about it!

Here's what to do:


Using your sharp crochet hook, sc across. I didn't count my stitches or make them even...I just eye balled it. You aren't really going to be able to tell but if you are OCD about being even then you will need to sc in multiples of 3 plus 1 for the base row. Like I said, I didn't count and you can't tell because when it's buttoned you can't see the last stitch.


When you're done with your base row you can switch to the small hook, chain 1 and sc across.


Now we are going to start on the trim. I used a pattern from Easy Makes Me Happy which you can find here. It's the Top Layer Edging she has listed. You can easily use any pattern you'd like for the trim. {since I didn't count in multiples of 3 plus 1 sc in the base row I just ended with a dc in the last sc}

Repeat on the other side.


Now you can sew a button onto one side and cut a little slit a little smaller than the width of your button. I'm sure there's a better way to make a button hole but like I said...I don't sew. It's working out pretty well for me this way so I'm good. You can also use snaps if you'd like...or even Velcro! Whatever goes. :)

If you are going to sew it {assuming you can sew leather} you can just sew on the trim. 

Button it, snap it or attach it around your wrist and rock it!  



I hope you like it as much as I do. If you make one please {pretty please} share it on my Facebook page or email me your finished project.

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Planting & Seeds Unit Lesson Ideas


I am going to start making unit plans since Bug is just about preschool age. I am going to shoot for each topic to be posted on Mondays so you can follow along if you wish for that week. During the month of April we learned about seeds! See what we did:

Art:

Seed Mosaics from Teach Preschool


Contact Paper Nature Collage from The Chocolate Muffin Tree {theirs & ours}

 Seed Easel Starter from Teach Preschool {theirs & ours}

Sensory:

 "Planting" flowers sensory table from EtsyKids.
Seeded Play Dough from Teach Preschool

Messy Kids Seed Bomb Tutorial from ReiLynn Designs

Math:
Counting Seeds from Teach Preschool

Science/Discovery:

 We "planted" beans in a plastic bag with wet paper towel and watched them grow.
Coloring Flowers from Teach Mama {theirs & ours}

Seed Matching from The Golden Gleem

Language/Books:





 {Flip, Float, Fly & The Tiny Seed are geared more toward older children - maybe around age 4 or so. My toddler sat through them but got a little antsy during reading them.}

Jumat, 27 April 2012

A Pinteresting Party - Wek 37

Thank you all so much for linking up each week! I hope you all enjoy stopping by and seeing all the lovely works of our fellow bloggers! Don't forget to click around and do some pinning while you are here!

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Most Viewed: Yogurt Bites from Learning to be Thrifty.
1.} Medical Party from vixenMade.
2.} Chicken Wire Message Board from The Winthrop Chronicals.
3.} Making a Magic Drinking Straw Flute from Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational.

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