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DIY Fluffy Peppermint Holiday Slime
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Dec 11, 2017 | STEM
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STEM
1-2-3 Build It! An Engineering Adventure by Land, Sea, or Air
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Dec 8, 2017 | STEM
Calling all junior engineers! Learning Resources’ 1-2-3 Build It! toy speaks to the inner creator in all kids. Children can easily assemble a racecar, boat, or airplane within seconds. The neatest part? The pieces fit together for durable play but simply pull a part when your child wants to change it up (and change it up they will). Absolute genius!Let’s see what this land-sea-air toy is all about!
The box, bursting with possibilities, is filled with 15 interchangeable pieces. The parts are a good size, just perfect for little, engineering fingers.
The biggest question: what do we build first?!
Yes! Totally! The airplane it is!
A few snaps and its ready for flight! By simply looking at the completed picture of the plane on the box, this three year old figured out what she needed. No directions required!
That propeller really moves![insert video]On to the boat. The pieces easily came a part and snapped right in for our next adventure.
We discovered that within the packing was some extra blue cardboard, which served as the perfect “lake” for our boat.
To round out the 1-2-3, we built the fast racecar.
Making a construction paper drag strip for our car really got things zipping along.
After assembling all three, we tried to figure which were the key pieces for the project? In other words, which part were needed for each transport vessel?
The boat, plane, and racecar all required the main blue cone and the wheels. And let’s not forget the blue building buddy. He’s not just along for the ride – kids can turn him upside and use him like a screwdriver for the wheels.The 1-2-3 Build It! is a guaranteed hit, sure to be pulled out time and again.
The box, bursting with possibilities, is filled with 15 interchangeable pieces. The parts are a good size, just perfect for little, engineering fingers.The biggest question: what do we build first?!Yes! Totally! The airplane it is!A few snaps and its ready for flight! By simply looking at the completed picture of the plane on the box, this three year old figured out what she needed. No directions required!That propeller really moves![insert video]On to the boat. The pieces easily came a part and snapped right in for our next adventure.We discovered that within the packing was some extra blue cardboard, which served as the perfect “lake” for our boat.To round out the 1-2-3, we built the fast racecar.Making a construction paper drag strip for our car really got things zipping along.After assembling all three, we tried to figure which were the key pieces for the project? In other words, which part were needed for each transport vessel?The boat, plane, and racecar all required the main blue cone and the wheels. And let’s not forget the blue building buddy. He’s not just along for the ride – kids can turn him upside and use him like a screwdriver for the wheels.The 1-2-3 Build It! is a guaranteed hit, sure to be pulled out time and again.
1-2-3 Build It! An Engineering Adventure by Land, Sea, or Air
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Calling all junior engineers! Learning Resources’ 1-2-3 Build It! toy speaks to the inner creator in all kids. Children can easily assemble a racecar, boat, or airplane within seconds. The neatest part? The pieces fit together for durable play but simply pull a part when your child wants to change it up (and change it up they will). Absolute genius!Let’s see what this land-sea-air toy is all about!The box, bursting with possibilities, is filled with 15 interchangeable pieces. The parts are a good size, just perfect for little, engineering fingers.The biggest question: what do we build first?!Yes! Totally! The airplane it is!A few snaps and its ready for flight! By simply looking at the completed picture of the plane on the box, this three year old figured out what she needed. No directions required!That propeller really moves![insert video]On to the boat. The pieces easily came a part and snapped right in for our next adventure.We discovered that within the packing was some extra blue cardboard, which served as the perfect “lake” for our boat.To round out the 1-2-3, we built the fast racecar.Making a construction paper drag strip for our car really got things zipping along.After assembling all three, we tried to figure which were the key pieces for the project? In other words, which part were needed for each transport vessel?The boat, plane, and racecar all required the main blue cone and the wheels. And let’s not forget the blue building buddy. He’s not just along for the ride – kids can turn him upside and use him like a screwdriver for the wheels.The 1-2-3 Build It! is a guaranteed hit, sure to be pulled out time and again.
The box, bursting with possibilities, is filled with 15 interchangeable pieces. The parts are a good size, just perfect for little, engineering fingers.The biggest question: what do we build first?!Yes! Totally! The airplane it is!A few snaps and its ready for flight! By simply looking at the completed picture of the plane on the box, this three year old figured out what she needed. No directions required!That propeller really moves![insert video]On to the boat. The pieces easily came a part and snapped right in for our next adventure.We discovered that within the packing was some extra blue cardboard, which served as the perfect “lake” for our boat.To round out the 1-2-3, we built the fast racecar.Making a construction paper drag strip for our car really got things zipping along.After assembling all three, we tried to figure which were the key pieces for the project? In other words, which part were needed for each transport vessel?The boat, plane, and racecar all required the main blue cone and the wheels. And let’s not forget the blue building buddy. He’s not just along for the ride – kids can turn him upside and use him like a screwdriver for the wheels.The 1-2-3 Build It! is a guaranteed hit, sure to be pulled out time and again.
Introduce Kids to Coding with the Code & Go Robot Mouse
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Dec 1, 2017 | STEM
Are you looking for a fun toy that will help kids practice important skills for the future? You’ll want to check out the Code & Go™ Robot Mouse Activity Set. Programming the robot mouse is a wonderful, screen-free introduction to coding for kids. It works on if-then logic, problem solving, correcting errors, and critical thinking. These skills will help kids be successful innovators and leaders in the future.
The Code & Go™ Robot Mouse Activity Set is recommended for ages 5 and up. My daughter is 3 and half and she loves playing with the robot mouse, too. The way she plays is a lot different than the way my 7-year-old son plays. She needs more support and can’t really play by herself. This makes it a great activity for us to do together.
The goal is to help Colby, the robot mouse, travel through the maze to reach the cheese. You can choose one of 20 activity cards to design a maze or create your own. The set comes with 16 green maze grids, 22 purple maze walls, and 3 orange tunnels. Push buttons on the top of the mouse to tell Colby which way to go. The set also comes with coding cards to help you lay out your program.
To help Lily program the mouse, I had her walk the mouse through the maze. We used the coding cards to write down the program. The cards have arrows on them that correspond to the buttons on the mouse. In the picture above, you can see Colby moving through the maze. He went forward, turned right, and moved forward again to reach the cheese.
The activity cards start simple with needing only a few steps to reach the cheese. Then, they get more difficult. There are often multiple ways to reach the cheese.
For larger mazes, Lily likes to program one step at a time. She pushes one button and then presses the go button. Then, she programs the second step by pushing the next button. Lily places the mouse back to the start and presses go. The mouse will complete both steps. We continue adding steps and starting at the beginning to check our progress. I recommend using the coding cards to keep track of your steps with this method. If you make a mistake, press the yellow circle to clear the program and start over. You can read the coding cards to program the mouse again up to the point you made a mistake.
Creating mazes for the robot mouse is something my kids like to do together. They often build their own mazes and then figure out how to get the mouse to the cheese.
I think the tunnels are my kids’ favorite part of the maze. They love watching Colby go through them. Aiden designed the maze below with the cheese just after the tunnels.
Colby is on his way to the cheese!
You can change the arrangement of the maze tiles. They don’t have to be in a 4X4 grid. You can make a lot of different paths with the maze tiles.
The robot mouse can travel on different surfaces. He doesn’t have to stay on the maze tiles. My kids like to use the purple maze walls and tunnels to create mazes on the floor.
They also found out that Colby will push or pull the cheese around.
They thought this was extra fun. I love it when my kids create games on their own with these imaginative toys.
Introduce Kids to Coding with the Code & Go Robot Mouse
READ MORE
Are you looking for a fun toy that will help kids practice important skills for the future? You’ll want to check out the Code & Go™ Robot Mouse Activity Set. Programming the robot mouse is a wonderful, screen-free introduction to coding for kids. It works on if-then logic, problem solving, correcting errors, and critical thinking. These skills will help kids be successful innovators and leaders in the future.
The Code & Go™ Robot Mouse Activity Set is recommended for ages 5 and up. My daughter is 3 and half and she loves playing with the robot mouse, too. The way she plays is a lot different than the way my 7-year-old son plays. She needs more support and can’t really play by herself. This makes it a great activity for us to do together.
The goal is to help Colby, the robot mouse, travel through the maze to reach the cheese. You can choose one of 20 activity cards to design a maze or create your own. The set comes with 16 green maze grids, 22 purple maze walls, and 3 orange tunnels. Push buttons on the top of the mouse to tell Colby which way to go. The set also comes with coding cards to help you lay out your program.
To help Lily program the mouse, I had her walk the mouse through the maze. We used the coding cards to write down the program. The cards have arrows on them that correspond to the buttons on the mouse. In the picture above, you can see Colby moving through the maze. He went forward, turned right, and moved forward again to reach the cheese.
The activity cards start simple with needing only a few steps to reach the cheese. Then, they get more difficult. There are often multiple ways to reach the cheese.
For larger mazes, Lily likes to program one step at a time. She pushes one button and then presses the go button. Then, she programs the second step by pushing the next button. Lily places the mouse back to the start and presses go. The mouse will complete both steps. We continue adding steps and starting at the beginning to check our progress. I recommend using the coding cards to keep track of your steps with this method. If you make a mistake, press the yellow circle to clear the program and start over. You can read the coding cards to program the mouse again up to the point you made a mistake.
Creating mazes for the robot mouse is something my kids like to do together. They often build their own mazes and then figure out how to get the mouse to the cheese.
I think the tunnels are my kids’ favorite part of the maze. They love watching Colby go through them. Aiden designed the maze below with the cheese just after the tunnels.
Colby is on his way to the cheese!
You can change the arrangement of the maze tiles. They don’t have to be in a 4X4 grid. You can make a lot of different paths with the maze tiles.
The robot mouse can travel on different surfaces. He doesn’t have to stay on the maze tiles. My kids like to use the purple maze walls and tunnels to create mazes on the floor.
They also found out that Colby will push or pull the cheese around.
They thought this was extra fun. I love it when my kids create games on their own with these imaginative toys.
DIY Kids' Learning Tree: Fun with ABC's
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Nov 22, 2017 | STEM
Smarts & Crafts: Practicing Thankfulness with a Gratitude Wall
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Nov 7, 2017 | STEM
Instilling gratitude in children is not an easy task and it doesn’t just happen by accident. While teaching kids to be polite and say “please” and “thank you” are important social norms, this will not necessarily help them understand gratitude or develop the internal motivation to be grateful.
The autumn season is the perfect time to instil the practice of gratitude among children. As Thanksgiving approaches, it is natural for families to reflect on what they are thankful for. Take time this year to make a gratitude wall and teach kids the value of thankfulness by bringing it to life.
Why gratitude?
Research continues to show that practicing gratitude is associated with increased happiness and better health in adults. Being thankful is a practiced discipline, one adults and children alike, must learn. For kids, they learn an attitude of gratefulness in their families by watching their parents.What is a “Gratitude Wall”?
A gratitude wall is a daily family activity that helps everyone reflect on what they are grateful for. It is a dedicated space in the family home where everyone takes time together to reflect on the things they are thankful for and remember them visually. It can be as simple as a piece of poster paper or a large blank canvas decorated with words and hand drawn pictures. The visual representation of a gratitude wall is less important than the regular rhythm of practicing gratitude together.Infuse autumn with thankfulness – make your own gratitude wall
What you’ll need:
- Poster paper
- Tape
- Markers, pens or crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
- Magazines or flyers
Set up your gratitude wall
Tape or tack poster paper or canvas up on a wall at home. Choose a location that is accessible and easy to interact with. The goal is to add a new reflection or idea every day.A little thankfulness every day
Set aside time every day throughout the autumn months to discuss as a family what everyone is grateful for. Choose a time that works for the household. Supper time may work for some families while bedtime might be better for others. Then take time together to add a word, a short sentence of reflection, a sketched drawing, or a cut-out photo from a magazine, to the gratitude wall.
For younger children, their concept of gratitude will still be developing. They may be thankful for a pet or a special toy. The rhythm and practice of being thankful, and seeing other family members model gratitude, is more important than the specific content.
The gratitude walls of families of preschool-aged children may not look Pinterest-worthy. These may have a smattering of stick figures and jagged letters, and that is okay! The primary objective is to instil the practice of gratitude into normal family life.
After several weeks, each gratitude wall will have a collage of experiences, people, and objects that reflect what each person in the family is thankful for. And perhaps, there will be some newly established family rhythms that help everyone understand and practice gratitude regularly.
Smarts & Crafts: Practicing Thankfulness with a Gratitude Wall
READ MORE
Instilling gratitude in children is not an easy task and it doesn’t just happen by accident. While teaching kids to be polite and say “please” and “thank you” are important social norms, this will not necessarily help them understand gratitude or develop the internal motivation to be grateful.
The autumn season is the perfect time to instil the practice of gratitude among children. As Thanksgiving approaches, it is natural for families to reflect on what they are thankful for. Take time this year to make a gratitude wall and teach kids the value of thankfulness by bringing it to life.
Why gratitude?
Research continues to show that practicing gratitude is associated with increased happiness and better health in adults. Being thankful is a practiced discipline, one adults and children alike, must learn. For kids, they learn an attitude of gratefulness in their families by watching their parents.What is a “Gratitude Wall”?
A gratitude wall is a daily family activity that helps everyone reflect on what they are grateful for. It is a dedicated space in the family home where everyone takes time together to reflect on the things they are thankful for and remember them visually. It can be as simple as a piece of poster paper or a large blank canvas decorated with words and hand drawn pictures. The visual representation of a gratitude wall is less important than the regular rhythm of practicing gratitude together.Infuse autumn with thankfulness – make your own gratitude wall
What you’ll need:
- Poster paper
- Tape
- Markers, pens or crayons
- Scissors
- Glue
- Magazines or flyers
Set up your gratitude wall
Tape or tack poster paper or canvas up on a wall at home. Choose a location that is accessible and easy to interact with. The goal is to add a new reflection or idea every day.A little thankfulness every day
Set aside time every day throughout the autumn months to discuss as a family what everyone is grateful for. Choose a time that works for the household. Supper time may work for some families while bedtime might be better for others. Then take time together to add a word, a short sentence of reflection, a sketched drawing, or a cut-out photo from a magazine, to the gratitude wall.For younger children, their concept of gratitude will still be developing. They may be thankful for a pet or a special toy. The rhythm and practice of being thankful, and seeing other family members model gratitude, is more important than the specific content.
The gratitude walls of families of preschool-aged children may not look Pinterest-worthy. These may have a smattering of stick figures and jagged letters, and that is okay! The primary objective is to instil the practice of gratitude into normal family life.
After several weeks, each gratitude wall will have a collage of experiences, people, and objects that reflect what each person in the family is thankful for. And perhaps, there will be some newly established family rhythms that help everyone understand and practice gratitude regularly.
Shining Stars Projector: A Galaxy in the Palm of Your Hand
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Nov 3, 2017 | STEM
Make your own indoor shining stars fun!
Space. Stars. NASA. Astronauts. Moon landings. Spaceships. If any of these terms are major buzzwords in your house, feed your child’s natural curiosity with as much astro-centric info you possibly can. Unlocking the heavens for them is easy with the Shining Stars Projector – a take-it-with-you planetarium. Right out of the box, it is easy to hold and easy to explore. Let’s get this light going!
Pop in the batteries and watch the discovery begin. There are three discs that serve as slides, each labeled by number with a key in the manual. The discs are easy for little fingers to pull in and out.
Soon everything in your house becomes a possible projectable surface. That beam of light sparks imagination and space exploration!
Why not make your own planetarium at home? We grabbed an old play tent, a dark throw from the couch as a backdrop, and some pillows from the bed to make a super cozy dome of learning right in the living room!
Situating the Shining Stars Projector in the pillows, we shot the beam of the light right in the middle of our screen, held up by clamps from Dad’s workbench. It was fun for the little ones to adjust the projector to the right angle and change the slides. Can you name all the planets?
Our planetarium was set up all day, but we couldn’t resist one more viewing before bedtime. There’s always time for one more view of the galaxy!Happy stargazing!
Shining Stars Projector: A Galaxy in the Palm of Your Hand
READ MORE
Make your own indoor shining stars fun!
Space. Stars. NASA. Astronauts. Moon landings. Spaceships. If any of these terms are major buzzwords in your house, feed your child’s natural curiosity with as much astro-centric info you possibly can. Unlocking the heavens for them is easy with the Shining Stars Projector – a take-it-with-you planetarium. Right out of the box, it is easy to hold and easy to explore. Let’s get this light going!
Pop in the batteries and watch the discovery begin. There are three discs that serve as slides, each labeled by number with a key in the manual. The discs are easy for little fingers to pull in and out.
Soon everything in your house becomes a possible projectable surface. That beam of light sparks imagination and space exploration!
Why not make your own planetarium at home? We grabbed an old play tent, a dark throw from the couch as a backdrop, and some pillows from the bed to make a super cozy dome of learning right in the living room!
Situating the Shining Stars Projector in the pillows, we shot the beam of the light right in the middle of our screen, held up by clamps from Dad’s workbench. It was fun for the little ones to adjust the projector to the right angle and change the slides. Can you name all the planets?
Our planetarium was set up all day, but we couldn’t resist one more viewing before bedtime. There’s always time for one more view of the galaxy!Happy stargazing!
Make Your Own Gourd Volcanoes!
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Oct 18, 2017 | STEM
[video width="2000" height="2000" mp4="https://www.learningresources.com/media/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PumpkinVideo_v2-1.mp4"][/video]
This fall, take the classic vinegar/baking soda experiment for a spin inside a gourd by making your own pumpkin volcanoes!
Here’s what you will need to make exploding gourd volcanoes:
- Gourds or small pumpkins that can stand upright
- Carving materials
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Food coloring
- Baking sheet or tray
Have an adult cut the top of the gourd or pumpkin. Clear it out completely.
Next, fill the pumpkin about half full with vinegar. Add few drops of dish soap (for extra bubbles) and food coloring. Stir it all together until coloring is dissolved.
Place your gourds on the tray. Depending on how many little hands want to take part in the experiment, fill bowls with baking soda and hand out measuring spoons.
On the count of three, have your little scientists pour in about 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the pumpkins. The chemical reaction is always a crowd pleaser.
The pumpkins or gourds easily wash off for another round of color mixing and explosion fun!
What is the science behind gourd volcanoes? Mixing baking soda and vinegar together produces a reaction of carbon dioxide bubbles. The dish soap adds to the “wow” factor by making the solution foamy, as well as slowing down the chemical reaction. Gourd volcanoes are a scientific way to kick off fall with a bang!
Make Your Own Gourd Volcanoes!
READ MORE
[video width="2000" height="2000" mp4="https://www.learningresources.com/media/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PumpkinVideo_v2-1.mp4"][/video]
This fall, take the classic vinegar/baking soda experiment for a spin inside a gourd by making your own pumpkin volcanoes!
Here’s what you will need to make exploding gourd volcanoes:
- Gourds or small pumpkins that can stand upright
- Carving materials
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Food coloring
- Baking sheet or tray
Have an adult cut the top of the gourd or pumpkin. Clear it out completely.
Next, fill the pumpkin about half full with vinegar. Add few drops of dish soap (for extra bubbles) and food coloring. Stir it all together until coloring is dissolved.
Place your gourds on the tray. Depending on how many little hands want to take part in the experiment, fill bowls with baking soda and hand out measuring spoons.
On the count of three, have your little scientists pour in about 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the pumpkins. The chemical reaction is always a crowd pleaser.
The pumpkins or gourds easily wash off for another round of color mixing and explosion fun!
What is the science behind gourd volcanoes? Mixing baking soda and vinegar together produces a reaction of carbon dioxide bubbles. The dish soap adds to the “wow” factor by making the solution foamy, as well as slowing down the chemical reaction. Gourd volcanoes are a scientific way to kick off fall with a bang!
3 Fun and Educational Halloween Themed Activities
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Oct 8, 2017 | Halloween
What with all the costumes and candy, Halloween seems like pure, pumpkin-spiced fun. But there’s loads of learning to be had, too! Halloween is the perfect theme for countless educational activities you can do at home with your little ones. So, break out your scissors and crayons and let’s get learning with the smarts & crafts, story starters, and STEM building activities below!
Elementary-aged kids can actually write their own terrifying tales, with the help of some simple story starters. Give them an opener, like the one above, or ask a question like “If you were a mad scientist, what kind of being would you create?” or “Have you ever heard a scary noise? What did you imagine was making the noise?” Remind your writer(s) to use descriptive language, idioms, onomatopoeia, and personification. Add some pictures to complete these monster-ific masterpieces! 
There’s plenty of learning and fun to be had this fall. Sneaking an educational element into your child’s day can be as simple as counting and sorting Halloween candy, collecting leaves for crayon rubbings, or weaving a paper plate spider web. The learning is always there – you just have to look for it!
Directed Drawing
Sharpen those listening skills, practice following directions, and sneak in some simple math vocabulary with a directed drawing activity! Start with a blank sheet of paper, then guide your kids, step by step, to draw Frankenstein’s head. Instructions are below:- Draw a large rectangle, short sides up and down, long sides on the sides, to form the head.
- Add a rectangular ear on either side of the head.
- Add a zig zag line just below the top of the head to make hair.
- Draw two parallel lines coming out of the bottom of the head to form the neck.
- Add the start of another rectangle beneath the neck to form the top of the body.
- Draw two circles for eyes and two half circles inside the circles to form pupils.
- Add rectangular eyebrows at an angle over the eyes.
- Add a rectangular mouth.
- Using the bottom of the mouth as the base, draw three triangles, then connect the pointed tops of the triangles to the top of the mouth’s rectangle to form teeth.
- Shape a nose between the eyes and the mouth, however you like.
Spooky Stories
Halloween is prime time for spooky storytelling and writing! Next time you’re in the car, waiting at the doctor’s office, or sitting in a restaurant, try starting a spooky story. Open with something like “The little boy creeped up the front steps and knocked on the door of the spooky, spooky house. When the door opened he saw…” Then pass it on to the person to your left!Elementary-aged kids can actually write their own terrifying tales, with the help of some simple story starters. Give them an opener, like the one above, or ask a question like “If you were a mad scientist, what kind of being would you create?” or “Have you ever heard a scary noise? What did you imagine was making the noise?” Remind your writer(s) to use descriptive language, idioms, onomatopoeia, and personification. Add some pictures to complete these monster-ific masterpieces! STEM Sculptures
Put all that Halloween candy to good use, with STEM sculptures! Use candy pumpkins and toothpicks to create STEM structures designed to introduce early math and science principles like gravity, balance, angles, and more. Younger kids can try building a simple tower with a three-pumpkin base supporting a single, floating pumpkin. Challenge older kids to create a taller tower, pyramid, spiral, or spider web! There’s plenty of learning and fun to be had this fall. Sneaking an educational element into your child’s day can be as simple as counting and sorting Halloween candy, collecting leaves for crayon rubbings, or weaving a paper plate spider web. The learning is always there – you just have to look for it!
3 Fun and Educational Halloween Themed Activities
READ MORE
What with all the costumes and candy, Halloween seems like pure, pumpkin-spiced fun. But there’s loads of learning to be had, too! Halloween is the perfect theme for countless educational activities you can do at home with your little ones. So, break out your scissors and crayons and let’s get learning with the smarts & crafts, story starters, and STEM building activities below! Elementary-aged kids can actually write their own terrifying tales, with the help of some simple story starters. Give them an opener, like the one above, or ask a question like “If you were a mad scientist, what kind of being would you create?” or “Have you ever heard a scary noise? What did you imagine was making the noise?” Remind your writer(s) to use descriptive language, idioms, onomatopoeia, and personification. Add some pictures to complete these monster-ific masterpieces! There’s plenty of learning and fun to be had this fall. Sneaking an educational element into your child’s day can be as simple as counting and sorting Halloween candy, collecting leaves for crayon rubbings, or weaving a paper plate spider web. The learning is always there – you just have to look for it!
Directed Drawing
Sharpen those listening skills, practice following directions, and sneak in some simple math vocabulary with a directed drawing activity! Start with a blank sheet of paper, then guide your kids, step by step, to draw Frankenstein’s head. Instructions are below:- Draw a large rectangle, short sides up and down, long sides on the sides, to form the head.
- Add a rectangular ear on either side of the head.
- Add a zig zag line just below the top of the head to make hair.
- Draw two parallel lines coming out of the bottom of the head to form the neck.
- Add the start of another rectangle beneath the neck to form the top of the body.
- Draw two circles for eyes and two half circles inside the circles to form pupils.
- Add rectangular eyebrows at an angle over the eyes.
- Add a rectangular mouth.
- Using the bottom of the mouth as the base, draw three triangles, then connect the pointed tops of the triangles to the top of the mouth’s rectangle to form teeth.
- Shape a nose between the eyes and the mouth, however you like.
Spooky Stories
Halloween is prime time for spooky storytelling and writing! Next time you’re in the car, waiting at the doctor’s office, or sitting in a restaurant, try starting a spooky story. Open with something like “The little boy creeped up the front steps and knocked on the door of the spooky, spooky house. When the door opened he saw…” Then pass it on to the person to your left!Elementary-aged kids can actually write their own terrifying tales, with the help of some simple story starters. Give them an opener, like the one above, or ask a question like “If you were a mad scientist, what kind of being would you create?” or “Have you ever heard a scary noise? What did you imagine was making the noise?” Remind your writer(s) to use descriptive language, idioms, onomatopoeia, and personification. Add some pictures to complete these monster-ific masterpieces! STEM Sculptures
Put all that Halloween candy to good use, with STEM sculptures! Use candy pumpkins and toothpicks to create STEM structures designed to introduce early math and science principles like gravity, balance, angles, and more. Younger kids can try building a simple tower with a three-pumpkin base supporting a single, floating pumpkin. Challenge older kids to create a taller tower, pyramid, spiral, or spider web! There’s plenty of learning and fun to be had this fall. Sneaking an educational element into your child’s day can be as simple as counting and sorting Halloween candy, collecting leaves for crayon rubbings, or weaving a paper plate spider web. The learning is always there – you just have to look for it!
Fall into Gardening
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Sep 11, 2017 | STEM
Planting bulbs is a fun way to prepare for winter and learn the life cycle of perennial plants.
As summer wanes, the smells and sights of autumn are beginning to fill our minds. The leaves are turning, the weather is getting cooler, and pumpkin spice and apples and cinnamon are on the menu.The last thing we are thinking about is springtime, but spending a bit of time this autumn planting tulip bulbs will have its reward a few months down the road. After several months of winter weather, seeing the first tulips start to shoot up from the earth feels magical and hopeful.
Planting spring bulbs in autumn is a fun and tactile way for kids to learn about the life cycle of perennial plants. Plant a bulb now and wait for it to surprise you the spring!
How do tulip bulbs work?
Perennial plants have a unique life cycle that is different from annuals – their root systems can withstand cold winter months. While everything above ground dies in freezing weather, including the stalk, leaves, and flowers, the tulip bulb itself is alive and well, waiting to grow in the spring.
Tulips and many other springtime bulbs actually require a season of cold weather, called wintering over. Without this patch of cold, they won’t bloom! Tulips, daffodils, crocus and several other types of springtime bulbs need at least three or four months of near freezing temperatures. In colder climates, this is easy – simply plant bulbs in autumn.
If you don’t live in a cool climate, you can force tulip bulbs into a wintering over phase by keeping them in the fridge for several weeks prior to planting.
Choose your bulbs
The best time to purchase tulip bulbs is in late August or early September. For people living in a climate with cool winter that lasts several months, plant your bulbs between September and November. For those living in milder climates where the winter months are shorter, you can wait as late as December to plant your springtime bulbs.Choose tulips that are large and firm and avoid bulbs that are soft, moldy, or missing their papery cover.
Now it’s time to get planting!
What you’ll need:
- Gardening Trowel
- Watering Can
- Tulip Bulbs
Planting Time: Dig in!
Plant the bulbs.
Place tulip bulbs pointy side up in the hole. If the bulb gets turned around, it can still grow but needs to turn itself around before it flowers in the spring.Tulip bulbs can be planted in groups. Get creative with color combinations.
Scoop soil back over the bulbs until they are covered. Add a bit of mulch on top if you’d like to keep the soil moist.
Newly planted bulbs need a good drink of water to set in the soil and prepare for a long winter ahead. Now it’s time to wait! Over the winter months, the tulip bulbs will "winter over". Come spring, you can expect tulip flowers in your garden.
Water your bulbs
Fall into Gardening
Dig a hole roughly three times as deep as the bulb’s height, around 6-8 inches.
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Planting bulbs is a fun way to prepare for winter and learn the life cycle of perennial plants.
As summer wanes, the smells and sights of autumn are beginning to fill our minds. The leaves are turning, the weather is getting cooler, and pumpkin spice and apples and cinnamon are on the menu.The last thing we are thinking about is springtime, but spending a bit of time this autumn planting tulip bulbs will have its reward a few months down the road. After several months of winter weather, seeing the first tulips start to shoot up from the earth feels magical and hopeful.
Planting spring bulbs in autumn is a fun and tactile way for kids to learn about the life cycle of perennial plants. Plant a bulb now and wait for it to surprise you the spring!
How do tulip bulbs work?
Perennial plants have a unique life cycle that is different from annuals – their root systems can withstand cold winter months. While everything above ground dies in freezing weather, including the stalk, leaves, and flowers, the tulip bulb itself is alive and well, waiting to grow in the spring.
Tulips and many other springtime bulbs actually require a season of cold weather, called wintering over. Without this patch of cold, they won’t bloom! Tulips, daffodils, crocus and several other types of springtime bulbs need at least three or four months of near freezing temperatures. In colder climates, this is easy – simply plant bulbs in autumn.
If you don’t live in a cool climate, you can force tulip bulbs into a wintering over phase by keeping them in the fridge for several weeks prior to planting.
Choose your bulbs
The best time to purchase tulip bulbs is in late August or early September. For people living in a climate with cool winter that lasts several months, plant your bulbs between September and November. For those living in milder climates where the winter months are shorter, you can wait as late as December to plant your springtime bulbs.Choose tulips that are large and firm and avoid bulbs that are soft, moldy, or missing their papery cover.
Now it’s time to get planting!
What you’ll need:
- Gardening Trowel
- Watering Can
- Tulip Bulbs
Planting Time: Dig in!
Plant the bulbs.
Place tulip bulbs pointy side up in the hole. If the bulb gets turned around, it can still grow but needs to turn itself around before it flowers in the spring.Tulip bulbs can be planted in groups. Get creative with color combinations.
Scoop soil back over the bulbs until they are covered. Add a bit of mulch on top if you’d like to keep the soil moist.
Newly planted bulbs need a good drink of water to set in the soil and prepare for a long winter ahead. Now it’s time to wait! Over the winter months, the tulip bulbs will "winter over". Come spring, you can expect tulip flowers in your garden.
