THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF FINE MOTOR SKILLS

I love simple ideas that make a big impact on my little learners. An assortment of nuts and blots for them to play with gives hours of fun, learning skills and creativity!!! Look at all the things you can do....
Fine Motor skills come into play with the twisting and turning of the nuts onto the bolts
Sorting sizes
Matching the the right size bolt with the correct screw
Lining up small, medium and large
Creating a beautiful mosaic design
Stacking

TREASURE HUNT FOR EARTH DAY OR ANYDAY!!!

For EARTH DAY we went on a treasure hunt for a cool homework assignment  to do with our families!!!! Parents helped their children to locate or do the things listed below:


1 tree bark rubbing (place paper on tree and rub with crayon or pencil for bark design)


Sketch a flower and color it


Collect 3 rocks (are they different colors, shapes or sizes?)


Find 2 different color flower pedals


Find 3 different leaves


Bring in a sample of dirt or sand


Help clean up our earth by putting 3 pieces of garbage in the trash (remember to wash your hands)


Help your child write a summary in their own words as to what they saw while on the treasure hunt.(Animals? Bugs? Worms? A sunny or rainy day? Where did your pick up trash?)


Return items (shoebox) to school on Tuesday for show and share time!!!

 LETTER WRITTEN BY PRESCHOOLER ABOUT ADVENTURE!!

3 ROCKS FOUND ON THE HUNT!!!


 SMALL, MEDIUM AND A VERY LARGE SKUNK LEAF...EEWW!!!

 ROBIN EGGS

BARK RUBBING; SKETCHED FLOWER & JOURNAL NOTES!!!

TEACHING OUR KIDS TO MOVE BECAUSE MOVING FEEDS THE BRAIN!!!

We started our day with a"Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down" game for healthy or not so healthy things to eat and the importance of WATER! Each student got a special clear glass to decorate with water drop stickers to take home as their special water cup!!!

 Kellie Dalan, Teea Time preschool mom and owner of Monte Fitness Center came to our school for a day of Mighty Movers!!
It was a crazy fun time as the kids moved, jumped, tumbled, stretched and used their WILD imaginations as they played!!!
Kellie did an awesome job emphasizing that they were not just playing, but having fun EXCERCISING!!!

I am passionate about educating our kids about health and fitness and wish that I had been better educated as a child. We can give our kids a better, well rounded education by simply
 "TEACHING OUR KIDS TO MOVE, BECAUSE MOVING FEEDS THE BRAIN!!!

Our crafts, cups and some games were provided by Funshine Express
http://www.funshineexpress.com//

DRAMATIC PLAY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Our new dramatic play area turned into a multiple purpose health care system. Depending on the group or individual child determined if the area is a DOCTOR OFFICE, HOSPITAL, DENTAL OFFICE or VETENARY OFFICE.



The Vetenary Office was truly created by the students who asked for the stuffed animals to play with also. I have a few students who are huge animal lovers and it was a perfect fit.

On the other hand I have students who have younger siblings and were well aware of the routine for “Well Baby Check Up’s” and wanted to pretend they were pediatricians.

We have a “Waiting Room,” Reception area, Hearing Aid Center and the list goes on!

I purchased, printed and laminated all the signs, name tags, insurance cards, prescription pads etc… from two different sources from TPT. (See links below)

The hospital was fun as the children pretended to go to the Emergency Room for their broken bones and bloody knees to get patched up and casted. The cutest thing was when they pushed each other around on a chair, pretending it was a wheel chair. Brilliant minds a work!!! (See link below)

Beyond all I want to thank Kathleen Swenson and Dr. Tomlinson for donating the x-ray light box and x-ray’s to our school!!!! This was very generous and one of the best learning tools ever!!!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pretend-Play-Props-Doctor


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Playing-Pretend-Hospital-and-Doctor


http://cfabbridesigns.com/holidays/halloween/fake-casts-for-young-actors/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:FamilyChicFamilyChic&utm_content=GoogleReader

SIMPLE EASTER SENSORY TUB

I purchased precut confetti at Wal-Mart and some cute rubber bunnies and my students had a blast using fine motor skills to open, fill and close the eggs.

GREAT ADVICE FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS IN CAR

I just wanted to share this brilliant idea I found on Pinterest!

Too frequently firefighters come upon a car wreck where the mom is unconscious and there are children in the car who are too young to speak or communicate anything useful to the rescue team. ADVICE: Place a sticker on each child's car seat providing information that can help rescuers. Include: child's name & DOB, parent's names, DOB & phone, emergency contact info, child's doctor, any medical issues.

 http://media-cache.pinterest.com/upload/111886371962025958_Stq7oMgT.jpg