Paper mache spider

Ok here is this years door decoration! A paper mache spider!

Ripping up the construction paper.

Sticking it on the plastic bowl.

More diluted white glue.

Dried body! (Overnight)

Prying it off the bowl by running a paintbrush handle under the paper.

It came off easy!

Adding legs!

Making balls of paper for the eyes to go on!

Glued down eyes!

Attached to our door!

Cute spider eh!

Not so scary door! LOL

Paper mache Pumpkin

Last year we made this paper mache pumpkin to hang on our door! We used two shades of orange copy paper - that was donated by my friend Pam. We tore it into small pieces - which was fun to do - and then covered a plastic bowl with diluted white glue and stuck on all the little pieces. Once all the pieces covered the entire bowl we gave it another good coating of glue - to smooth down all the edges. We finished the look with a traditional jack-o-lantern face! It was fun, easy and turned out great - now we have to think of something great for this year!
I have a little something in mind! Stay tuned!
BTW it peels off the plastic bowl very easily!

A peaceful classroom

I am quite amazed and bless at how peacefully the day starts in our classroom each day. I attribute that to the fact that we have many things of interest to explore and the children are free to explore as they wish. We do have routine activities that I expect the children to be involved in - such as circle time. However the freedom and the variety of age appropriate and individualized activities of interest, assists the children in making good decisions on how to spend their time. There are also enough things for each child to have their own activity without infringing on someone elses freedom to choose.

The photos below were taken on Thursday morning. All the children came in and went directly to the areas which interested them - without prodding - without suggestion. They all played quietly and cooperatively! A smile came to my face when I realized I could hear a pin drop and yet the room was full of toddlers. They were so immersed in play that they had no time for nonsense or trouble making! :)

Some garage sales are a blessing!

I don't think many people can say they went to a garage sale and came home with a pony - a FREE pony!

It neighs and whinnies!

Turns it's head - moves it's mouth and blinks it's eyes!

It's the size of a real pony!

Then I got the regular stuff - but there is a surprise ending here as well - the pony was not the best thing I got today.

Well I do have to organize all my treasures! $1

I grab these all the time.

Great for play dough and other 3D art projects! 10 cents

For my co-workers daughter! 50 cents

Books are a must! 25 cents each

For my French Teacher!

25 cents each

In Montessori school we use trays to present activities! $1

Can never have enough! :) $2

For my French teacher! $3

OK and drum roll please!!

I got these violins for FREE!!!!!

Sadly I knocked the strings off one - I'll have to get it restrung and I do need to buy some bows now!

The cases were free as well!

There are some people you meet who have a heart of gold and send their blessings along with the great items they give to me! They simply want to know their items are going to good use and that children will benefit. We meet the best people when we garage sale!

Crayon resist (attempt)

Today we were going to make crayon resist pictures for Halloween. I was hoping to surprise the tots with jack-o-lanterns and bats - hidden on their page! We used finger paint paper - I drew Halloween pictures with white crayon - gave the children sponges to paint the paper with black paint. The hope was that the images underneath would pop off the page. However the page simply went black. Some images appeared briefly but when the page dried - nothing! Not sure what we did wrong but we had fun using the sponges to coat the pages with black paint anyway!
After all it's about the process - not the result - Right!? :)

Chestnut Streamer Toy

So today I saw this chestnut streamer toy On Red Ted Art's Blog and I thought to myself - this would make a great Fall Fair toy, that I could incorporate into a game! I thought that each child could take a turn tossing the toy towards a pylon and the closest would win a prize. However a paper streamer would not last all morning with 50 or 60 kids using it - so I decided I would make some with ribbon streamers. I sent my son out to pick up some chestnuts while on his evening walk and my husband drilled a hole in each chestnut. I threaded three 1/4 inch ribbons - 24 inches long - through a chestnut - secured it with a bead and put a dab of glue inside to firm it up.

Here is the result!

See the bead in the top.

Hopefully this will work out as a game for our Fall Fair as I envision it. I will test them out tomorrow if it's not raining! I will post pictures of the children using them tomorrow if I have success! :)

Saturdays Garage Sale Finds!

Well sales are really slowing down now - it was freezing today - only about 6 garage sales - but I managed to find some cool things!

This Little Piggy - 10 cents!

Well maybe not so cool! LOL

Let's go from the mundane to the Wow! :)

Steel Magnets - 50 cents

Note pads - 50 cents

Die cuts and stickers - 50 cents

Caddy on wheels - $2

Heat gun - 50 cents

Now I can melt my crayons! :) I'm so happy - I have been looking for one of these all summer!

Pack and Roll - I have wanted one of these forever - but I don't pay retail LOL - $5

For our gym program - I thought the toddlers can tumble over this - $2

I have no idea what it really is - maybe a foot rest?

OK don't be jealous now! Claw machine - for rewards ! Yippy! $2

Now doesn't that deserve a WOW!