Sorting Carton

We like to be outside. Little Mister also likes to collect things when we go. If I forget to take along a bucket or bag on our explorations I end up with sagging pockets, or worse yet, having to hold the bottom of my shirt up to create a pouch for treasures! So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and save my wardrobe from ruin!

Objective- Awareness of sorting (MS Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Mathematical Development- places objects in containers 2.3.1)

Materials- egg carton, different color acrylic paints, brush

Procedure-
1. Paint each section of an egg carton a different color. Allow to dry.
2. Take a nature walk and find objects that correspond with all the colors in your carton.

You can do so many variations of this activity indoors or out!
Indoors you can give them a bowl of small various items from around the home and have them sort by colors to match each section in the carton.
Try: pom-poms, buttons, beads, bottle caps, crayons, hard candy, small toys, I could go on and on here!
Outside the list is endless: flowers, rocks, twigs, bugs, dirt, grass, berries, you get the picture!

 

Bleach Spraying T-Shirts

Wanted to make some wearable art! We just had to try this one! Unfortunately, a two year old with a spray bottle of bleach = not to many good pictures to post! Sorry! However, the final result is awesome!

Materials- Solid dark color t-shirt, bleach, water, spray bottle, gloves, cardboard, butcher paper, scissors, iron, misc shapes or letters.

Procedure-
1. Traced shapes onto the non-wax side of the butcher paper.
2. Iron the shapes or design onto the shirt.
3. Cut cardboard to fit inside your t-shirt.
4. Hang on a clothes line of attach to fence outside.
5. Pour small amount of bleach in the spray bottle. You can have several bottles and add water to some to dilute the bleach and change to final effect!
6. Squirt the bleach onto the shirt. We also turned the nozzle on the bottle and misted around our shapes so they would be visible!
7. Allow it to set in the sun for a few minutes then, rinse the shirt in clean water. Peel off the wax paper and check out your wearable art! *** Wash it before you wear it!***

If you use straight bleach then your sun exposure time will be less! Make sure you don't allow the bleach to eat a hole in the shirt!

I'm Ready

before the bleach

Now that's Cool!

Let's Plant some Seeds

What kid doesn't like to play with water and dig in dirt? Mine sure does! As long as there is a wipee close at hand. (Yeah, he's weird like that!) We started our window garden today by planting some seeds.

Objective- Awareness of living things (MS Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers; Scientific Development 3.1.1)

We had to try a few times before we actually got water ON the seeds!

Nature Painting

I am often amazed at the beauty of nature and hope to pass it on to my Little Mister!

Objective- Notices and names characteristics of self, other people, and objects (MS Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Scientific development 3.1.1)

Materials- Nature objects collected from a walk (i.e. leaves, rocks, sticks, flowers, grass), acrylic paints in several colors, card stock, paint brushes

Procedure-
1. Take a walk outside and collect several nature items. We had rocks, twigs, acorn tops, lichen from a tree trunk, pecan leaf and several different species of Oak leaves.

2. Bring items inside and sort on a table.
3. Paint one side of the item and press it onto the card stock.
4. Use different colors and paint and press all the items on the paper.
5. Lay flat to dry.

Simple Bird Feeder

Before Little Mister was born, I often dreamed that he was an avid bird watcher. Which lead me to purchase him little bird picture books and the Young Birder's Guide (Peterson Field Guides). We look at them often! Perhaps one day he will take flight as an astronaut, pilot, engineer or scientist! Whatever he does, I will always support and lift him up!


Objective- Awareness of Living Things, characteristics of objects (MS Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Scientific Development 3.1.1)

Materials- Pipe cleaners, cheerios or fruit loops, short piece of yarn

Procedures-
1. Create a crease in the center of the pipe cleaner by bending it in half and then open it slightly.
2. Thread the cereal onto each half of the pipe cleaner. Remember to leave some room on each end to twist them together. We made three and linked them together and then shaped each into a heart.
3. Add the piece of yarn to the top heart making a loop.
4. Hang outside for a treat!
5. Enjoy watching the birds discover their snack and listen to them singing their sweet little songs. If you have cats, as we do, you might also hear some birds "yelling" and dive bombing their feline stalkers!

Adding some Cheerios to the bent pipe cleaner

Have to sample a few

I'll get it!

Treat in a Tree

Daddy's Beach

My Daddy used to live across the street from the MS Sound when I was a kid. He had a special spot we would always go and it became lovingly known to me as "Daddy's Beach". There was on old pier, of sorts, there that was made of piled up chunks of rubble the city had collected after hurricane Camille in 1969. It was a challenge and loads of fun to actually make it to the end! The pier has been completely re-modeled after hurricane Katrina (out of sheer necessity) and no longer holds the simple thrill of old!

Oh well, we had a good time at Daddy's Beach despite the disappointment of a paved pier!

We brought home some shells and sticks and made a Beach Treasure mobile for our porch. Shells are very easy to poke holes in with a hammer, nail and thick towel. Thread with fishing line and your done!

Found some Hermit Crabs

See the Paved Pier in the background?

Sea Shell Mobile

Bug Hunting

I had almost completed my PhD in entomology before I left the program (cough, cough)! So, it's safe to say that I have a soft spot for bugs! I hope to foster that interest in my son, who is inquisitive on his own! He have had many encounters with insects, some spontaneous while others have been orchestrated. Either way, he has been exposed to one of his mommy's keen interests!

Objective- Exploration and experimentation (MS Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Scientific Development- Feels and examines objects with hands 3.3.1)

Materials- Small insect sweep net

Procedure-
1. Go outside and gently sweep the insect net close to the ground.
2. With the net folded over on itself, look inside to see what you have collected.
3. Try comparing insects you found in a tall grassy area to one's collected under trees.

We collected near water, under trees, in grassy areas and in bald ground spots. We then compared how some were the same and different.
We also collected a grown male cat! Yes, they go in the net easy... It's getting them out that is the tricky part!