Our awesome winter theme!

Two days in a row! -- Are ya'll as absolutely thrilled as I am?

I'm diving more into our current Winter theme. This is a project from another teacher and I just loved the look of it. The project consists of blue and purple paint, plus two doily cut outs. You could totally modify this into a valentines day theme with a heart shape doily too. Put the doily down, paint it and then pull it up leaving the shape!

You could easily do this project with multiple kids at a time, which makes a happy preschool teacher.

This is our science table this week. We got in these AMAZING coffee filters that are absolutely huge. This just screams put watercolor paints on me and watch them bleed! I put some rock salt in the bottom of the filters to absorb just a little extra water, because you know it's been all about the colors! Plus I always leave a paper towel roll at the table, just in case!

Speaking of huge coffee filters we managed to make these super cool snowflakes too. Of course with my obsession I ran them thru the lamination machine so they flattened out & went up on the wall easier. The is definitely a process over product project and there is A LOT of science talk that comes out of it.

Happy Valentines Day!

Okay, first of all I know, I know, I know... I haven't written for awhile. What can I say, life has been BUSY around our household. I completely regret not sitting down and writing something over the holidays because the classroom was amazing and the kids had a blast -- In the words of a CoWorker of mine, it is what it is... and I'm sitting here writing now.

Valentines Day is quickly approaching ( we're only 17 days away people ) and I'm finally getting some stuff up in the classroom, I have a new and amazing technique that will change your outlook on glitter forever, plus maybe i'll toss in some bonus alphabet crafts too! I know your drooling in anticipation now, right?

Valentines Day! The day of shoe boxes, candy and hyped up kids. We did a super fun craft for Valentines day a few days ago, which also incorporates my new glitter policy... This is what we made:



 Valentines Day Sun Catcher! -- This is a super simple project and the kids love it. Make sure you cut out the hearts before the project starts. They kids will be so excited they won't want to wait while you cut (trust me, found this out the hard way!).
First thing is first, cover the entire work area with clear contact paper. I covered two tables put together, but I have 10 kids in my room so you'll have to use your judgement depending on how many your making. On a table next to it I put tissue paper, glitter and sequins. Then place the heart cut out on to the contact paper and let the kids go to town! They have a blast putting all kinds of stuff on to the paper and the glitter doesn't go anywhere because it's stuck to the paper! Toss another piece of contact paper over the top (or i'm lucky enough to have a laminate machine at my work, so I cut them out & laminated over it, way easier with so many hearts) and ta-da your done! Super easy & super cute!

Now, as I mentioned before i'm going to tell you the BEST secret for containing any glitter project. CONTACT PAPER - this stuff is amazing. It catches the glitter before it gets a chance to spew all over. Then clean up is as simple as pulling the paper up and tossing it away, or cutting cute little shapes out of it. Love, LOve, LOVE this concept. It works every time and makes glitter doable with a large amount of kids!

Every week we do a different letter in the classroom, last week our letter was V. Originally I was going to have the kids cover the letter V in Velcro but that just seemed so boring, so we made vases instead.

V is for vase!

My February resolution (hahaha, I know, i'm late at everything!) is to write more so hopefully you'll be seeing more Outside the Preschool Box ideas!

Pretty peacocks

Okay - I admit it - this is my first cellphone post... We made these adorable peacocks in class today. I just let everyone lose with glitter and they had a great time creating! We also spent some time talking about the same but different.

From paper plate to animal

There are so many super cool things you can do with a common, everyday paper plate. I truly don't think i've ever worked in a preschool that doesn't have paper plates! This week at my center we are focused on animals and the paper plates are disappearing from the kitchen at an abnormal rate!

Today we made these adorable birds that started with separating a paper plate like so...



Okay... I admit it, I traced a paper plate because I didn't want to wait for paint to dry and cut the plate apart. I'm impatient, I know it... ANYWAY -- When glued together we used the extra construction paper to make some eyes and some great feathers to glue on to the bird. Every bird turned out different and the kids had a blast making them. Here's the final project, I also made some curves on the tails and wings to help the kids realize what was a head & what was a wing or tail.

 

Next on the list of paper plate to-do is FISH.  Super, super simple and open to anyway you want to decorate!

 

Paper plate fish look adorable hanging from any celing and they are great for collages. Any child will be proud of their glittered, tissue papers, painted, colored fish. Remember, process over product and watch what the kids are learning from this great activity.

I've got a million (okay, maybe not THAT much, but a lot) of pictures on my camera that i've taken and haven't blogged about so keep posted & i'll get them up and online sooner than later! Plus fall is coming up, trees, leaves and apples are in the near future!!

Beautiful Blossoms!

 

 It's the little girls' favorite time of year. The cherry trees that come over the playground are sharing their flowers every time there is a little wind. I came up with this project last week when a handful of girls were outside picking up the blossoms and pretending to have a wedding. It was a great opportunity to talk about where the blossoms come from and how they fall from the tree.

My phone evidently didn't like this project, as the pictures aren't the greatest. They do make an adorable board and the kids adored the project. Even the boys got in on it !