Tagged with 'holidays'

DIY 4th of July Slime!

Patria Lincoln Posted On Jun 21, 2018 | STEM

Happy Birthday, America! A Salute to Slime

All hail the red, white, and blue! When it comes to the Fourth of July, America comes together to celebrate these three colors in a big way. And why not celebrate with a little science? Salute America’s birthday with this patriotic-themed slime!

But why do we applaud the colors of red, white, and blue? It is believed that our country’s colors were actually “borrowed” from Union Jack, the flag of Great Britain. Our founding fathers were simply used to red, white and blue. But over the years, each color began to symbolize a different virtue of America:

Red = hardiness, valor

White = purity, innocence

Blue = vigilance, perseverance, and justice

Interesting! Now, let’s get down to the slimy stuff we all want! To make three different types of Fourth of July slime, you will need:

Ingredients:

3 cups of warm tap water, divided

½ cup of white glue

Themed confetti½ cup of clear glue (unless you can source out blue glue)

½ cup of red glitter glue

Contact Lens Solution

Measuring cups, spoons, and mixing bowls

Craft sticks to stir

To make the white, confetti slime:

Measure out a ½ cup of white glue.

Pour it into your mixing bowl. You might need a craft stick to move the glue along. DIY Slime

Add a ½ cup of warm tap water. Keep stirring until it is all incorporated. DIY Slime

Now is the time to add your confetti!

Using a ½ cup of warm tap water, mix in ½ teaspoon of contact lens solution. The solution will be cloudy. Small particles at the bottom are okay.

Slowly add the solution to the glue/water in the mixing bowl. At this point, it’s all about the stirring. Keep the slime moving until it forms a clump. Then begin to mix with your hands. DIY Slime

For the red slime:

If you are lucky enough to find red glitter glue, follow the steps exactly like above. The only difference with clear glue (and this red is considered clear glue) is that you add ¼ teaspoon of Borax to the warm water instead of a ½. DIY Slime

If you can’t find red glitter glue, add 3-4 drops red food coloring and glitter during step 4 from above.

For the blue slime:

Lastly, for the blue slime, use clear glue and blue food coloring for Step 4(unless you can find blue glue). Honestly, the kids delight to watch the food coloring incorporate, so it is a fun step! DIY Slime

Great results! Now it’s time to play!

Happy 4th of July!

DIY 4th of July Slime!

Happy Birthday, America! A Salute to Slime

Red = hardiness, valor

White = purity, innocence

Blue = vigilance, perseverance, and justice

Interesting! Now, let’s get down to the slimy stuff we all want! To make three different types of Fourth of July slime, you will need:

Ingredients:

3 cups of warm tap water, divided

½ cup of white glue

Themed confetti½ cup of clear glue (unless you can source out blue glue)

½ cup of red glitter glue

Contact Lens Solution

Measuring cups, spoons, and mixing bowls

Craft sticks to stir

To make the white, confetti slime:

Measure out a ½ cup of white glue.

Pour it into your mixing bowl. You might need a craft stick to move the glue along. DIY Slime

Add a ½ cup of warm tap water. Keep stirring until it is all incorporated. DIY Slime

Now is the time to add your confetti!

Using a ½ cup of warm tap water, mix in ½ teaspoon of contact lens solution. The solution will be cloudy. Small particles at the bottom are okay.

Slowly add the solution to the glue/water in the mixing bowl. At this point, it’s all about the stirring. Keep the slime moving until it forms a clump. Then begin to mix with your hands. DIY Slime

For the red slime:

If you can’t find red glitter glue, add 3-4 drops red food coloring and glitter during step 4 from above.

For the blue slime:

Great results! Now it’s time to play!

Happy 4th of July!

Top 10 Mother's Day Off Ideas!

Patria Lincoln Posted On May 11, 2018

Top 10 Mother's Day Off Ideas!

DIY Mother's Day Gifts!

Patria Lincoln Posted On May 7, 2018 | Social-Emotional Learning

Mother’s Day is May 13^th, so you still have plenty of time to create a handmade gift that shows the mother in your life just how much you and your family love her! The DIY art projects below are sure to make meaningful memories that Mom will truly cherish – and they’re fun! So, gather your little ones and get ready to create some truly adorable keepsakes!

Lots of Love Sun Catcher

Mom will go to pieces when she sees this sweet gift!

Materials:

Sheets or squares of colorful tissue paper

Coordinating-colored construction pape

rContact paper

Craft scissors

Hole punch

Ribbon

Cut a heart-shaped frame out of construction paper. Write your kids’ names and the year along the edge and include a Mother’s Day message, if you like.

Unroll your contact paper until you have a sheet twice the size of your heart frame and peel away the backing.

Place the heart frame at the top of the sticky side of the contact paper.

If your child is old enough to use safety scissors, have them cut the tissue paper into small squares. Younger children can tear the tissue into small pieces (and develop fine motor skills at the same time!). Let your kids place the tissue pieces wherever they like, within the heart shape.

Fold the bottom half of the contact paper over the heart, bringing the bottom edge up to the top edge. Press and smooth the contact paper flat and cut it away, about ¼ inch away from the outer edge of the heart frame.

Punch a hole in the top of the frame, string with a ribbon bow, and hang in a window as a sweet Mother’s Day surprise.

Fun with Fingerprints Heart Frame

Leave a permanent print on Mom’s heart with this sweet fingerprint photo frame!

Materials:

Raw wood frame

White, pink, and purple paint

Paintbrush

Permanent marker or Sharpie

Paint the front and sides of your frame white and allow to dry completely.

Pour the pink and purple paints onto a paper plate.

Show your child how to roll their pointer finger into the paint and press twice, overlapping, to form a heart shape on the frame. (You may have to help ????)

Continue until frame is full of heart-shaped fingerprints, leaving a space on the bottom edge for a message in marker, if you like.

Beautiful Palmprint Butterfly

Mom’s heart will soar when she sees this colorful art piece made from her little one’s palmprints!

Materials:

Large white construction paper

Colorful markers

Colorful paints

Plate

Aluminum foil

Paint brush

Use your markers to outline a long oval topped with a circle – these will be your butterfly’s body and head. Your child can color the head and body in with the markers and add antennae.

Cover a plate with aluminum foil and drop various colors of paint, filling the center of the foil-covered plate.

Press your child’s hand flat into the paint, making sure to cover the hand thoroughly. You should hear a squish as you press down. The lift your child’s hand straight out of the paint.

One at a time, press the palm, wrist-side to your butterfly’s body, down on the paper. Use your hand to press the fingers and palm down firmly, then help your child lift their hand straight up and off the paper. Have your child write their name and age and “Happy Mother’s Day” or other sweet message, if they’re able.

Happy Mother's Day!

DIY Mother's Day Gifts!

Lots of Love Sun Catcher

Mom will go to pieces when she sees this sweet gift!

Materials:

Sheets or squares of colorful tissue paper

Coordinating-colored construction pape

rContact paper

Craft scissors

Hole punch

Ribbon

Cut a heart-shaped frame out of construction paper. Write your kids’ names and the year along the edge and include a Mother’s Day message, if you like.

Unroll your contact paper until you have a sheet twice the size of your heart frame and peel away the backing.

Place the heart frame at the top of the sticky side of the contact paper.

Punch a hole in the top of the frame, string with a ribbon bow, and hang in a window as a sweet Mother’s Day surprise.

Fun with Fingerprints Heart Frame

Leave a permanent print on Mom’s heart with this sweet fingerprint photo frame!

Materials:

Raw wood frame

White, pink, and purple paint

Paintbrush

Permanent marker or Sharpie

Paint the front and sides of your frame white and allow to dry completely.

Pour the pink and purple paints onto a paper plate.

Show your child how to roll their pointer finger into the paint and press twice, overlapping, to form a heart shape on the frame. (You may have to help ????)

Continue until frame is full of heart-shaped fingerprints, leaving a space on the bottom edge for a message in marker, if you like.

Beautiful Palmprint Butterfly

Mom’s heart will soar when she sees this colorful art piece made from her little one’s palmprints!

Materials:

Large white construction paper

Colorful markers

Colorful paints

Plate

Aluminum foil

Paint brush

Use your markers to outline a long oval topped with a circle – these will be your butterfly’s body and head. Your child can color the head and body in with the markers and add antennae.

Cover a plate with aluminum foil and drop various colors of paint, filling the center of the foil-covered plate.

Press your child’s hand flat into the paint, making sure to cover the hand thoroughly. You should hear a squish as you press down. The lift your child’s hand straight out of the paint.

Happy Mother's Day!

Celebrate Astronomy Day with Kids

Patria Lincoln Posted On Apr 20, 2018 | STEM

Each year Astronomy Day is celebrated worldwide. The stars have fascinated humanity for literally centuries, and even to this day captures the imagination of kids of all ages. Celebrate this event with them this year and don't worry if you don't own any expensive telescopes. These DIY activities use real life discoveries to inspire your little astronomers!

Track the Phases of the Moon

Bone sticks from across Europe and Africa dating back as long ago as 35,000 BCE that tracked the moon’s phases. Use a simple number line with your kids to track the phases of the moon over the course of a month, from full moon and back again. Do it for several months and see what patterns they begin to observe.

Depict a Celestial Phenomenon

A celestial phenomenon is a astrological event that involves one or more objects. The earliest example depicted was discovered in Germany in 1999. The Nebra Sky Disc dates back to 2000 BC and it depicted a star cluster, phases of the moon and the rising sun.

Use a black paper plate, or even just black paper, and encourage your children to depict their own star formations. If they can’t stay up to observe them at night, project some indoors with this Shining Stars Projector.

Astronomy to Keep Time

The Chinese astronomers kept detailed observations beginning about 600 BC, for the primary purpose of timekeeping. Their records allowed them to predict eclipses, and include the first record of events such as supernovas and comets.

On the other side of the world, the Mayans developed their own astronomical tables for predicting the phases of the moon, eclipses, and the appearance of the other planets. They used these and the cycles of the Sun, the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and constellations to establish the Mayan calendar.

All of the above astronomy was without a telescope, and you can still observe these astronomical events with your kids today. Check out this astronomy calendar and pick a full moon, eclipse, planetary event, or meteor shower to observe as a family.

Try this simple astronomy experiment to help kids as young as preschoolers understand what makes night.

Just because ancient astronomers did all of this without a telescope doesn't mean your little ones have to! All of the above activities can be done with the naked eye but if you feel like shooting for the stars check out Learning Resources Big View Telescope. How will you celebrate Astronomy Day?

Celebrate Astronomy Day with Kids

Track the Phases of the Moon

Depict a Celestial Phenomenon

Astronomy to Keep Time

Try this simple astronomy experiment to help kids as young as preschoolers understand what makes night.

En Garde! DIY Peep Jousting!

Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 29, 2018 | Easter

En Garde! DIY Peep Jousting!

Our Top 5 Easter Basket Bright Ideas!

Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 23, 2018 | Easter

Think “outside the basket” with a new kind of Easter treat! Our spring-themed educational toys help your children learn while they play (and go great with chocolate eggs and jelly beans!)

This year they will discover their inner engineers with STEM-inspired building sets with endless creation possibilities, while also learning early color, number, and matching skills! Your kids will have fun learning something new while making lasting holiday memories that you can share for years to come.

These “out-of-the-basket” toys are sure to make your little bunny’s imagination soar!

Build & Spin: Farm Friends

NEW for 2018! A trip to the barnyard is just a few spins away with this adorable gear set. This portable playset’s sturdy base comes with spaces for eight chunky gears complete with friendly, farm-themed toppers. Make friends with a jumping sheep, prancing horse, newborn chick, and more! Each kid-sized piece snaps securely into place, therefore encouraging hands-on play that builds fine motor skills. Ages 2+

Counting Dino-Sorters Math Activity Set

These aren’t your average Easter eggs! This set of 10 crack-apart dinosaur eggs contain tiny dino counters, so get ready for some counting fun! Each numbered and colored egg holds a corresponding number of dinos inside, so children learn about matching, sorting, and number correspondence every time they play! Ages 3+

Gears! Gears! Gears! ® Build and Bloom

Spring is in the air! Mix, match and create your own beautiful, spinning flower garden while sharpening your STEM skills! Set of 117 includes: colorful gears, flowers, butterflies, bees, ladybugs, wiggly stems, and more! Since parts are all interchangeable, there are endless combinations and designs. Let your imagination blossom! Ages 4+

Lil’ Lemonade Stand Off™

Build memory skills with this fun interactive game! Two to four players compete to win by earning coins at their lemonade stand. Just draw a card, look at the order of the yellow and pink cups, and then re-create it from memory. The stand with the most coins wins! In addition to sharpening memory skills, this game is also great for counting and recognition skills! Your kids will love this warm weather game almost as much as real lemonade! Ages 5+

Jumbo Farm Animals

Moo! Oink! Baa! Your little one will have fun learning animal names while they play with this barnyard crew! Realistically detailed farm animals provide hours of imaginative play and are also perfect for vocabulary development. These durable animals are sized just right for small hands and can be wiped clean. Set includes a horse, pig, cow, goat, sheep, rooster, and goose. The gang’s all here! Ages 3+

Happy Easter from all of us at Learning Resources!

We hope you enjoy these choices, because learning is where we play!

Our Top 5 Easter Basket Bright Ideas!

Think “outside the basket” with a new kind of Easter treat! Our spring-themed educational toys help your children learn while they play (and go great with chocolate eggs and jelly beans!)

These “out-of-the-basket” toys are sure to make your little bunny’s imagination soar!

Build & Spin: Farm Friends

Counting Dino-Sorters Math Activity Set

Gears! Gears! Gears! ® Build and Bloom

Lil’ Lemonade Stand Off™

Jumbo Farm Animals

Happy Easter from all of us at Learning Resources!

We hope you enjoy these choices, because learning is where we play!

Magically Mathematical Lucky Charms!

Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 12, 2018 | Math

Magically Mathematical Lucky Charms!

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

Why gratitude?

What is a “Gratitude Wall”?

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

5 Spooktacular Halloween Learning Activities from the Busbys

Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Oct 23, 2017 | Halloween

Adam and I are always looking for activities to do with the girls, and there’s plenty of learning and fun to be had this Halloween. It can be as simple as counting and sorting Halloween candy, drawing a spooky picture, or making a paper plate spider web. The learning is always there – you just have to look for it!

1. Pumpkin Coloring Contest

Get out the crayons, print out this pumpkin picture, and watch your little artist’s imagination come to life! Points for the silliest, spookiest, and most creative pumpkins.

2. Paper Plate Spiderwebs

Fall trees aren’t just full of leaves – they’re also full of spiders! Garden spiders are most active in the fall so you’re likely to see more of their elaborate, beautiful webs in the trees in autumn, too. Join the fun and spin your own spider webs out of a paper plate!

Cut the center out of a paper plate.
Let your kids color the outer edge of the plate with beautiful fall colors like red, orange, and yellow.
Using a single hole puncher, punch 12-14 holes around the edge of the hole.
Tape one end of a length of yarn to the back of the paper plate and wrap tape tightly around the other to form a ‘needle’.
Demonstrate how to weave the yarn back and forth through the holes to create the web, then hand the plate over to your child.
Once, the web is spun, remove the pin from the end of the yarn and tape that end to the back of the plate, too.

Add a pipe cleaner spider for the perfect fall finishing touch – cut four black pipe cleaners in half and twist to create an eight-legged creepy crawly!

3. Frankenstein Fun

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
Once the outline of Frankenstein is complete, kids can go crazy with details – add bolts, scars, etc. Outline the creation in Sharpie, and color him in with crayons, colored pencils, markers, even watercolor paints. You’ll be surprised how differently each of your children’s drawings are!

4. Spooky 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!

5. Skeleton Puzzle

This double sided skeleton puzzle not only makes a great Halloween activity, it’s also a great way to teach your kids about the name of bones! It also makes a great front door decoration to help greet your trick or treaters.

Happy Halloween!

5 Spooktacular Halloween Learning Activities from the Busbys

1. Pumpkin Coloring Contest

Get out the crayons, print out this pumpkin picture, and watch your little artist’s imagination come to life! Points for the silliest, spookiest, and most creative pumpkins.

2. Paper Plate Spiderwebs

Cut the center out of a paper plate.
Let your kids color the outer edge of the plate with beautiful fall colors like red, orange, and yellow.
Using a single hole puncher, punch 12-14 holes around the edge of the hole.
Tape one end of a length of yarn to the back of the paper plate and wrap tape tightly around the other to form a ‘needle’.
Demonstrate how to weave the yarn back and forth through the holes to create the web, then hand the plate over to your child.
Once, the web is spun, remove the pin from the end of the yarn and tape that end to the back of the plate, too.

Add a pipe cleaner spider for the perfect fall finishing touch – cut four black pipe cleaners in half and twist to create an eight-legged creepy crawly!

3. Frankenstein Fun

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
Once the outline of Frankenstein is complete, kids can go crazy with details – add bolts, scars, etc. Outline the creation in Sharpie, and color him in with crayons, colored pencils, markers, even watercolor paints. You’ll be surprised how differently each of your children’s drawings are!

4. Spooky STEM Sculptures

5. Skeleton Puzzle

Happy Halloween!

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Tagged with 'holidays'

Happy Birthday, America! A Salute to Slime

Red = hardiness, valor

White = purity, innocence

Blue = vigilance, perseverance, and justice

To make the white, confetti slime:

For the red slime:

For the blue slime:

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Birthday, America! A Salute to Slime

Red = hardiness, valor

White = purity, innocence

Blue = vigilance, perseverance, and justice

To make the white, confetti slime:

For the red slime:

For the blue slime:

Happy 4th of July!

Lots of Love Sun Catcher

Fun with Fingerprints Heart Frame

Beautiful Palmprint Butterfly

Happy Mother's Day!

Lots of Love Sun Catcher

Fun with Fingerprints Heart Frame

Beautiful Palmprint Butterfly

Happy Mother's Day!

Track the Phases of the Moon

Depict a Celestial Phenomenon

Astronomy to Keep Time

Track the Phases of the Moon

Depict a Celestial Phenomenon

Astronomy to Keep Time

Build & Spin: Farm Friends

Counting Dino-Sorters Math Activity Set

Gears! Gears! Gears! ® Build and Bloom

Lil’ Lemonade Stand Off™

Jumbo Farm Animals

Build & Spin: Farm Friends

Counting Dino-Sorters Math Activity Set

Gears! Gears! Gears! ® Build and Bloom

Lil’ Lemonade Stand Off™

Jumbo Farm Animals

Why gratitude?

What is a “Gratitude Wall”?

Infuse autumn with thankfulness – make your own gratitude wall

Set up your gratitude wall

A little thankfulness every day

Why gratitude?

What is a “Gratitude Wall”?

Infuse autumn with thankfulness – make your own gratitude wall

Set up your gratitude wall

A little thankfulness every day

1. Pumpkin Coloring Contest

2. Paper Plate Spiderwebs

3. Frankenstein Fun

4. Spooky STEM Sculptures

5. Skeleton Puzzle

1. Pumpkin Coloring Contest

2. Paper Plate Spiderwebs

3. Frankenstein Fun

4. Spooky STEM Sculptures

5. Skeleton Puzzle

Come Learn with Us!