Activities

We dug up potatoes in the garden and then decided to try an experiment. We planted a potato in a big, glass jar, hoping we’ll be able to see potatoes forming on the roots. . I don’t know how well this will work, but we can watch the roots even if we don’t get to see potatoes on them. :)

Today we got to watch the boom truck lift shingles way up in the air to the roof!

Roof replacement began on our house today. It’s creating a mess in our play yard, but we’re making the best of it. This afternoon we took the toy workbench and tools outside and joined in on the hammering, including a real hammer and a plethora of golf tees to hammer into a big block of Styrofoam. They loved this activity and first thing the next morning asked if they could do the “golf nails.”

We found some Black Swallowtail caterpillars munching on the dill, and captured two of them to watch them grow and transform.

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I had a lot of scraps of paper in different colors and used them to talk about colors. I wrote the names on them as we named them. I then got a piece of card stock and we glued the color scraps onto it and matched sticker colors to the paper colors. There’s a photo album here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.402179519792575&type=1

The lettuce is doing fantastically. Here are a some pics: http://www.sharonsgarden.com/lettuce-update

Today we planted lettuce indoors.

We filled the boxes with planting medium

then decided which kind to plant first.

This one!

We sprinkled the seed onto the dirt, covered them over, and watered them.

... and now we wait

Craft foam hands and (wheat-free) salt dough ornaments. There’s a photo album here.

Craft foam hands

1. Trace children’s hands on the back of glittery craft foam
2. Children decorate foam with glitter glue (want whatever else you’d like)
3. Let dry
4. Cut out the hands
5. Write child’s name and date on the back
6. Add ribbon for hanging

Wheat-free salt dough
1C Rice flour
1/2 C salt

1. Add water a little at a time until dough is formed. Roll to about 1/4″ thick. Cut shapes using cookie cutters.  I used a bowl to cut the circles for the handprints.
2. Poke a hole for the ribbon while dough is still wet.
3. Allow ornaments and handprints to dry
4. Paint and/or seal
5. Add ribbon

Note: The indentations in the star ornaments are children’s fingerprints. This adds a special touch.
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This craft is great for all ages, but my instructions here describe how I did it with a two-year old.

Materials

• Construction paper
• Glue
• Glitter glue
• Other decorations as desired

Instructions

1. Select paper in the colors you want to use for your chains.
2. Cut the paper along the short edge into 1/2″-3/4″ strips, depending on how wide you want your loops, or decorate the sheets first and then cut them into strips.Have child decorate the strips or the full sheets of paper, using glitter glue, stickers, glitter, paint, lace, ribbon, stamps or any other  craft items.
   - We used glitter glue in various colors. She chose the colors and did the squirting. I helped her keep the dispenser moving so it didn’t end up in one big puddle. (She is 2)
3. Allow decorated paper to dry thoroughly before forming chains.
4. If you decorated full sheets, cut the decorated paper into 1/2-3/4″ strips along the short edge of the paper. (I used half sheets of construction paper so our loops would be small).
5. Have the child choose a strip to start the chain. Add a touch of craft glue to the end of a strip and loop the opposite end around. Have the child help you pinch the ends together.
6. Hold the loop and have the child insert the next strip through it to form the next link. Add the glue and have the child help you pinch the ends together.
7. Continue until the chain is as long as desired.
8. Allow chains to dry before hanging.

We made small chains with just 4 links as ornaments.

Decorating a chain

Decorating the little tree

Concepts: shapes (circle, round), colors, in & through, small motor skills