Ms Tamra's Bookbag

This book is a favorite at my house.  The simple story of different animals being kind to each other starts with sharing an egg.  Each animal in turn wants to do something kind for a friend.  Sometimes that kindness is shown by giving something, sometimes it is by doing something.  This simple read with bright pictures was a perfect tie in for our theme of the day--eggs, as well as our character trait for the month--good manners.  

K-K-Kick!

The letter K is a really fun letter to talk about with preschool-aged kiddos.  K is for K-K-Kick, of course! Stand up tall, put your arms up and out at an angle and kick with one leg . . . you look just like a kicking K!

As part of our introduction to the letter K, we all gathered around in a circle, sat on the ground, hid our arms, and kicked a large ball back and forth . . . with lots and lots of giggles!  

Then we stood up in a circle and kicked it back and forth . . . naming a word that starts with a K sound with each kick.

  How do you keep the kicks from getting too powerful? Anytime the ball went out of the circle, Ms Tamra gets a point.  That cures it! NO ONE wants the teacher to get any points!

Kool-Aid Playdough

K is for Kitchen . . . and in the kitchen we can make Kool-aid playdough!

I have tried a lot of playdough recipes . . . and this is by far the best.  It turns out great every time, is super soft, lasts forever and smells FANTASTIC!

Here's the recipe . . . 

2 1/2 C. flour

1/2 C. salt

2 pkg unsweetend Kool-aid (I actually used the walmart version of crystal light)

3 Tbl. oil

2 C. Boiling water (make sure only an adult handles the water!)

Mix dry ingredients together (flour, salt, kool-aid).  Pour oil in the center of the dry mixture.  Rapidly, stir in the boiling water.  It will be very sticky at this stage.  Set aside until it is cool to the touch.  Knead well.  It should be soft and smooth and not sticky. 

When doing this with kids, let them help you read the numbers in the recipe, count the scoops with you and help stir.  We also used this as an opportunity to discuss the different states of water (ice, liquid, gas) and the properties it has in each. 

They class had a lot of fun helping with the kneading it out as well!

The best part of course? Enjoying the end result!

"Look teacher, it's a valentine TEXAS!"

He wanted to take it home to show his mom . . . posting a picture on the computer was the next best option :)

Have fun in the Kitchen!

K is for KITE!

Here are some really fun KITE activities we enjoyed as we explored the letter K. . . 

Ms. Kanga Kangaroo's Colorful Kites!

1) As a fine motor center activity, they made paper soup by cutting up paper scraps into little pieces and putting them in a pot.  

2) Later as an art project, they used the pieces of paper from the soup and glued them on Kangaroo Kites.  Tip: When doing an activity like this, encourage each child to put the glue on the kite in small sections and then stick the paper to it before it dries instead of trying to put the glue on the back of each individual tiny piece of paper.

Now Kanga Kangaroo has an armful of colorful K Kites!

The biggest hit of the day, though, was making these super easy bumblebee kites! The class absolutely LOVED these.  

Use this illustration with the super simple instructions below . . . 

1) Have your child color a piece of regular white computer paper. 

2) Fold it in half, but only crease it half way across (the illustrations below will help this all make more sense).

3) Make a mark on the fold at 2.5 inches from the edge and another mark at 3.5 inches.

4) Being careful not to fold it, bend down the top corner on the front and back to the 2.5" mark.  Staple in place.

5) Using a single paper hole punch, punch a hole at the 3.5" mark.  

6) Tie sewing thread through this hole.  

7) The kite is ready to fly indoors or out!!

Let's go fly a kite!