Paper Bag Pumpkin

Looking for a simple Halloween craft activity that can double as decorations on a party table? This paper bag pumpkin is simple, cute and lots of fun to make. After reading one of our favourite Halloween Books Too Many Pumpkins we got busy making our own!

What you need:

• Paper Bag
• Orange Paint
• Black Marker Pen
• Green tissue paper
• Newspaper

Instructions:

• Draw a scary pumpkin face on a paper bag in black marker pen
• Stuff the bag with newspaper or any other paper you have spare
• Paint the bag with orange paint
• Wrap green tissue paper around the top

Pumpkin Carving

Today we set aside the afternoon to carve our Pumpkin. After initially resenting the fact that I had paid $20 for this pumpkin, the learning that took place with this activity was worth every dollar! Such an amazing opportunity to use lots of descriptive words: orange, heavy, big, small, oozy, slimy. Master 4 has been very particular about the design that he wanted on the pumpkin (thankfully it wasn't too hard!) after we spent the weekend reading a number of Halloween related books.He planned his pumpkin face, talking about shapes and drawing it on a paper to plan. Before we started we weighed the pumpkin on our scales (8.4kgs ) and measured around the pumpkin using a tape measure. This brought about lots of mathematical language with Master 4.We discussed what we were going to do: measure, weigh, count. He was very excited when we weighed him and he realised that he weighs as much as two of our pumpkins!! So the three of us had great fun scooping out the inside of the pumpkin as it has a very distinct smell when cut open. Both boys enjoyed touching the rough exterior, helping to scrape the insides of the pumpkin, and collecting the slippery seeds. We roasted the pumpkin seeds to taste for afternoon tea along with a pumpkin faced sandwich I made the boys.

Activities that you can do with a pumpkin are:

• Cut different sized pieces of pumpkin and see if they sink or float?



• Weigh and measure your pumkin before and after you have scooped the contents out



• Weigh the contents of the pumkin



• Roast the seeds and talk about the change in texture before and after they are roasted



• Make Pumkin Soup, Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Scones

Pumpkin Pop-Up Card

I remember being on a course last year about Children's Literacy and we were told, research finds children learn less from pop-up books than they do from old-fashioned volumes illustrated with photos.It is thought that while pop-up books “may have their place as entertainment,” their “bells and whistles” approach appears to be counterproductive to learning. “When attempting to convey information to young children,” they add, “less is more.” Well yes I can see their point from a learning aspect, but in our house we love pop-up books. I don't particularly have a lot of them on our shelf, but the few we do have my boys really enjoy. Maybe it is the novelty, a change, either way they still bring ooohs and ahhs as each new page pops up.

This week for Halloween I bought a fun pop-up book called Snappy Little Spooks. The boys really enjoyed it and we decided to have a go at making our own pop-up Jacko-lantern card. Even better, Master 4 came up with the plan to make a thank you Halloween card for his little Friends who are hosting a Halloween party we are attending on the weekend.

What you will need:

a square piece of black paper or cardboard

print out of a Jack-O-lantern

Stickers

Marker pens

Scissors

Glue

Instructions:
Cut out a square using black paper or cardboard. (cardboard is best!)

Print off a Jack-o-lantern template or draw your own.

Fold your square in to quarters.

Glue the jack-o-lantern onto the bottom half of the square. Draw a small rectangle from each side of the jack-o-lantern.

Fold on the vertical line that runs between the pumpkin.

Partially cut around the pumpkin so it will lift. Make sure you don't cut over the rectangle on each side.

Open so your card is flat.

Now fold the card on the horizontal line at the pumpkin. Make certain to let your pumpkin out!

Cooking with Young Children

All young children enjoy cooking. Sometimes they like the product, but even if they don't, they always appreciate the process. It's fun to do something that is a grown-up activity, and discover that kids can do it too! I like to tie cooking projects to other themes that we are working on. E.g. Reading The Gingerbread Man. Cooking with your children teaches them so many valuable skills whilst spending time together.

Cooking teaches children:

1. Following Directions: Teach your child what a recipe is and that one must "follow the directions" in order for the recipe to work. Children learn that you must read directions and follow them in a certain order to get the result you want.

2. Simple Numeracy: Compare amounts. Are we putting in more flour or more baking powder? What is bigger, a half cup or a whole cup? How many half cups do you need to equal a whole cup? Develop his sequencing skills. Ask him, "What do we do first...second...last?"

3. Sensory Awareness: Use ingredients with a variety of textures, smells, and tastes. Let him feel the difference between rice and beans. Let him taste the difference between sugar and salt. Have him smell the differences between various spices and the sweet smell of vanilla.

4. Vocabulary Enrichment: Enhance your child's knowledge of ingredients and items found around your kitchen. Flour, sugar and eggs may seem like everyday words to you, but they are not basic to your three-year-old.

5. Concept Development: Improve your child's understanding of concepts: Hard vs. soft, liquid vs. solid, hot vs. cold, raw vs. baked, in the bowl vs. out of the bowl, fast vs. slow, etc.

6. Cause and Effect Relationships: Increase your child's ability to answer questions like: "What happens if . . . (you add juice instead of water, you use bananas instead of strawberries)?" Children can learn how adding, leaving out or changing one ingredient can change the entire product.

7. Cooperation: Improve your child's ability to work together with you and with other children. This includes waiting for his turn and having fun in a joint activity.

Heading on a Road Trip?

While the idea of driving hours with a car full of children may send shivers down the spine of even the most patient of parents, a family road trip doesn’t have to be a stressful endeavour. There are lots of games you can play with your children that will keep the "are we there yets" at bay. Best of all, they won’t cost you a thing. As you plan your road trip, make sure you take some time to plan activities and games for the small travellers in the car! Here is a list of some road trip games and activities you can play with young children.

The ABC Game: Objective is to complete the alphabet first. As you see the letters on billboards & license plates you shout out your letter and point. Once a letter has been claimed other players cannot use the same letter. Make it harder by limiting to only license plates or billboard signs.

Alphabet Signs: [A variation of the ABC game above]
One person chose the right side of the road and the other person had the left. The object of the game was to cite all of the letters of the alphabet ,in order, from a to z. You could only use a sign for one letter. The person on the left side usually had to sit sideways and read signs as they receded. The first person to z won.

Animals: Take turns naming animals from a-z. (I keep at each letter until we have exhausted all animals!)

The Cow Game: This is a car game called "The Cow Game". Works well if you are a family of four, so 2 of you take the right side of the road and 2 the left. You keep a count of all the cows you pass throughout the day. But every time you pass a cemetery on your side of the road, you lose all your points. The winner at the end of the day's drive gets a treat!

License Plate Bingo: To play this game you’ll need to bring along a few writing utensils and have paper to use for game cards. Write down random letters and numbers in your BINGO squares. As players see the letters and numbers on passing license plates they cross them off. First player to get 5 in a row wins, and it might be a good idea to keep a few prizes on hand for the lucky winner

The Banana Game: Single out yellow vehicles with the banana game. Players get points for each yellow car they point out passing. Double points are awarded for buses and larger yellow vehicles. Be prepared, this could get competitive!

Map Monitors: One easy way to keep children entertained on the road is to engage them in the process of travel. Give each child a map of your trip and allow them to keep track of your progress using stickers, coloring or something else your child enjoys.

Find 10: Occupy your kids with counting using Find 10. Choose a colour or object and keep counting until you reach 100. Try counting churches, red cars or anything else you can think of. Mix it up by giving each player a different object to find 10 of and race to see who can finish first *Younger children can be given a smaller number like 2

Listen to an E-Story on a CD : There are a number of well known stories for kids now available on E-Book

Listen to Children's Music: Get yourself some good kids CDs with familiar rhymes and songs on them a so that the whole family can have a sing-a-long.

Have some old and some new (unseen) books: Children will be content to look at familiar books for a while and also be intrigued at new ones. New books can be good when mum jumps over the back for a read along!! I also like Eye Spy Books whenever we are travelling.

Here are some of my top picks on items that will hopefully help eliminate the "Are we there yet?" question

LeapFrog: Tag: Interactive Books for Kids

Travel size Etch A Sketch and Magna Doodle.

Kid Knex Bucket of Buddies

I also like to have the kids things organised in a neat and tidy compact way when we are travelling. This way the kids can easy access their books, toys, games, drink bottles, snacks etc

My Top 100 Favourite Books for Kids!

Here is a list of my Top 100 Books for kids. Tried and tested over and over again in my house and the classrooms I have taught in over the years! I have to say it wasn't easy narrowing it down to 100.

1. The Rainbow Fish by Michael Psiffer
2. Sharing a Shell By Julia Donaldson
3. Commotion in The Ocean By Giles Andrea
4. Mrs Wishy Washy By Joy Cowley
5. Duck in the Truck By Jez Alborough
6. Farmyard Hullabaloo! By Giles Andrea
7. 1,2,3 Zoo By Eric Carle
8. The Tiger Who Came to Tea By Judith Kerr
9. Giraffes Can’t Dance By Giles Andrea
10. Night Monkey, Day Monkey By Julia Donaldson
11. Greedy Cat and The Gold fish By Joy Cowley
12. Dogger By Shirley Huges
13. Elmer the Elephant By David Mc Kee
14. Farmyard Jamboree By Margaret Read Macdonald
15. The Very Busy Spider By Eric Carle
16. The Bad-Tempered Ladybird By Eric Carle
17. Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd
18. The Very Quiet Cricket By Eric Carle
19. The Runaway Train by Benedict Blathwayt
20. Owl Babies By Martin Waddell
21. Rumble in The Jungle By Giles Andrea
22. The Animal Boogie By Debbie Harter
23. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? By Eric Carle
24. Little Mouse, the Red Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear By Don and Audrey Wood
25. We’re Going on A Bear Hunt By Michael Rosen
26. Who Sank the Boat? By Pamela Allen
27. The Boy on The Bus By Penny Dale
28. Choo Choo Clickety-Clack! By Margaret Mayo
29. The Little Yellow Digger By Betty Gilderdale
30. From Head to Toe By Eric Carle
31. Oliver’s Fruit Salad By Vivian French
32. The Giant Jam Sandwich By Vernon Lord
33. The Tiny Seed By Eric Carle
34. The Very Hungry Caterpillar By Eric Carle
35. The Fidgety Itch By by Lucy Davey. & Katz Cowley
36. Dinosaurs Galore! By Giles Andrea
37. Dinosaurs Roar By Harriet & Paul Stickland
38. Room on The Broom By Julia Donaldson
39. The Magic hat By Mem Fox
40. Jolly Postman’s Christmas By Allan Ahlberg
41. The Gruffalo By Julia Donaldson
42. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
43. Stickman By Julia Donaldson
44. Shoes From Grandpa By Mem Fox
45. Pirate Pete By Kim Kennedy
46. Dear Zoo By Rod Campbell
47. Winnie The Witch By Valerie Thomas
48. Mrs Honey’s Hat By Pam Adams
49. The Big red Bath By Julia Jarman
50. The Mixed-Up Chameleon By Eric Carle
51. Dream Snow By Eric Carle
52. Grandpa and Thomas and the Green Umbrella By Pamela Allen
53. The Wonky Donkey By Craig Smith
54. What’s The Time Mr Wolf? By Colin Hawkins
55. Jasper's Beanstalk by Mick Inkpen
56. Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins
57. Handa's Surprise by Eileen Browne
58. Monkey Do! by Allan Ahlberg
59. My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes by Eve Sutton
60. Ten in the Bed by Penny Dale
61. Walking Through the Jungle by Julie Lacome
62. Handa's Hen by Eileen Browne
63. Funnybones by Janet Ahlberg
64. Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne
65. Night Noises By Mem Fox
66. Hamilton’s Hats By Julia Donaldson
67. Imagine By Alison Lester
68. The Light House Keeper by Ronda Armitage and David Armitage
69. Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell
70. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? By Eric Carle
71. I Love You, Blue Kangaroo by Emma Chichester Clark
72. Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore
73. Orange Pear Apple Bear By Emily Gravett
74. A Curious Clownfish by Eric Maddern
75. The Teeny Weeny Tadpole by Sheridan Cain
76. Old Bear by Jane Hissey
77. A Squash and a Squeeze By Julia Donalson
78. Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet Ahlberg
79. Dogs By Emily Gravett
80. Captain Duck by Jez Alborough
81. Mr. Gumpy's Motor Car by John Burningham
82. Where the Forest Meets the Sea by Jeannie Baker
83. I Don't Want to Go to Bed! by Julie Sykes
84. Aliens Love Underpants! by Claire Freedman
85. The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson
86. Tiddler: The story-telling fish by Julia Donaldson
87. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
88. There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake by Hazel Edwards and Deborah Niland
89. A House for Hermit Crab By Eric Carle
90. Mr Seahorse By Eric Carle
91. Possum Magic by Mem Fox
92. Wilfrid Gordon Mcdonald Partridge by Fox Mem
93. Where Is the Green Sheep? by Judy Horacek and Mem Fox
94. Wombat Divine by Mem Fox
95. Time for Bed by Mem Fox and Jane Dyer
96. Koala Lou by Mem Fox and P. Lofts
97. Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley
98. Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle
99. Pancakes, Pancakes! By Eric Carle
100. Mr. Wolf's Pancakes by Jan Fearnley
     

Creating New Christmas Traditions

Whether you are a new parent looking to start your own special Christmas traditions with your new family, or experienced parents looking for a new tradition to add some fun to a tired Christmas holiday, these ideas can be for you. Spending special time with family and friends during the Christmas season is an important thing to keep in mind when considering what traditions to add to your family routine.

Christmas Eve Traditions

• Purchasing your children new pjs and allow that to be the Christmas Eve gift so that they can wear their new pajamas to bed. Although they will soon come to know what is in the package, they will continue to be excited about it. It is all about creating Christmas magic and memories.


• Watch a Christmas DVD/Carols on TV together as a family and drink hot milo with a slice of white Christmas that you made with the children earlier in the week.


• Most churches hold Christmas Eve services that include Christmas carols, reading the Christmas story from the Bible and cookies. A family service usually focuses on including the children in the congregation as well, making it a fun way to spend some time together on Christmas Eve.


• Drive around your local neighbourhood looking at all the lights


• Read 'The Night Before Christmas'. When your kids have grown and moved away, send a tape of yourself reading the book along with a beautiful copy of the book to share with their future children. A loving note in the front cover will mean so much. Christmas Photo Album- look through the previous year's album and talk about the wonderful year you have had as a family. I have a scrapbook just for Christmas and create a double page spread each year.

Christmas Traditions that I have started in my house!

• Decorate the Christmas tree on December 1st


• Spend a day at home making fun Christmas Craft with the boys


• I have a special basket I pull out each year on the 1st December and load it up with all of our Christmas books (winter and snow ones too). It is our Christmas tradition to read a book from this basket on a daily basis in the month leading up to Christmas.


• Christmas movies and music always get our family into the Christmas mood. My boys absolutely love watching the Christmas classics as well as the newer movies that have quickly become favourites. The Polar Express became an instant favourite in my house of Train Lovers! We play music throughout the day and the kids sing along both in the house and in the car! The Christmas tradition of movies and music is an easy one for kids to enjoy.


• Christmas baking is a special day with my boys. We pick a day and write it down on the calendar – Cookie Day! We go shopping together for the ingredients and come home and spend the day baking.


• Advent Calendar – Another Christmas tradition in my house, we have an advent calendar. My boys love counting down to Christmas. Each day when they check their calendar, we talk about the special meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it today.


• Decorating the Christmas tree and putting the Manger scene together is another Christmas tradition we share with our boys. Even Master 2 can hang ornaments on the tree. My boys love checking out all of our favourite ornaments each year. They get to find a good place on the tree for the ornaments and hang them up. The manger scene is special because it gives us the opportunity to talk about the meaning of Christmas and the story of Jesus’ birth. We talk lots about this in the lead up to attending mass on Christmas Eve.


• SANTA'S NOTE - a note from Santa, in his special handwriting is pinned to the Christmas tree itself. All notes from the previous years are kept in 'The Night Before Christmas' book and re-read each year.


• Buy an ornament that reflects their interest each year. As memories fade with time, this is another great way of creating memories for both you and the kids.


• Buy a personalised ornament for each new baby born into the family. Great keepsakes for the future too. I also have a Christmas Star ornament made each year with a photo of each child on Christmas Day, I hope to give these to them when they leave home.


• Make some one's holiday very special. You and your kids can play Secret Santa to a different person every year. Or, if you choose, the same person. The idea is to pick someone who may be struggling financially or is lonely this Christmas season, and make them smile.Or, you can play the 12 days of Christmas with the chosen person or family. Each day of the 12 days of Christmas you can do something or give something special to that person. You would put the gift on the front porch or desired location. For example, on the 12Th day of Christmas, the (put your name here) family gave to me, 12 Christmas cookies. Of course, this is a secret, so don't tell!This will help your children learn the joy of giving without expecting anything in return.

Countdown to Christmas

Christmas can easily become such a stressful time of year - too many events and not enough blank boxes on the calendar, too many people on the gift-giving list and not enough in the wallet. Too many expectations, real or perceived, and not enough hands to do it all. The idyllic holiday scene in your mind usually doesn’t match the living room scene. So even though we still have 10 weeks until Christmas, it’s not too early to get your busy calendar nailed down, and start the preparations. I find the lead up to Christmas can become very over whelming for the kids, so I try to stick to bedtimes and limit the number of events we attend in the evenings. Writing yourself a 10 week plan can help relieve some of the stress in the lead up to Christmas and make for more quality Christmas Time with the kids and family as a whole. Below is a 10 week outline of things to gradually get done in the lead up to the day:

10 Weeks To Go

• Write a list of every person that you need to buy/make a gift for and decide on the amount you will spend. This way you can check out weekly specials in stores and compare prices online.
• Start your name/address list for your Christmas Cards. One of the reasons I haven’t sent cards out in years is because all those addresses are located in various places…it’s time now to write them in your notebook so that when you are ready everything is right there for you in one place.

9 Weeks To Go

• Start making Christmas cards. If you get personalised cards printed take/choose your picture and send away for cards to be printed.
• If you plan on giving calendars as gifts organise photos you will use and upload and order.

8 Weeks To Go

• Make contact with family members and decide on what needs to be organised for Christmas Day. If you are hosting it at your place have a list ready of what you need family members to make and contribute towards the day. If you are going to a family members house for the day, make contact with them or drop them an email to see what they need you to bring
• Post any overseas Christmas Cards or presents.

7 Weeks To Go

• Have a big sort through the kids toys and cull any that are broken or they no longer use, as we all know they will soon be replaced by new ones on Christmas Day!
• Review Christmas Day food menu so that you can start buying things when they are on special.

6 Weeks To Go

• Encourage your children to think about the community groups that make a difference in their lives by donating a few coins, or by doing a few jobs around the house in exchange for a donation to a group. Ask them to pin-point toys they have outgrown that they would like to contribute to a community group that works with children.
• Buy an extra toy or present this Christmas and put it in the collection box at your local shopping centre, office or church. Many department stores, such as Kmart (under the Wishing Tree) collect presents to be distributed to disadvantaged groups by community organisations.

5 Weeks To Go

• Finish Christmas tags and handmade gifts ready to wrap next week.
• Get the kids to make wrapping paper - nothing cuter than paper with the kids hand prints on it!

4 Weeks To Go

• Spend the week decorating the house inside and out with the children. Go out as a family to choose the Christmas Tree if you're having a real one.
• Start your Advent Calendar.
• Pick up any last minute gifts you need and wrap all your presents.

3 Weeks To Go

• Order Christmas hams, turkey, chicken and seafood.
• Check your list of gifts and make sure everyone is accounted for.
• Make a Christmas craft as a family

2 Weeks To Go

• Cooking Christmas treats such as decorating gingerbread man, white Christmas, rum balls.
• Many schools and community groups hold concerts at this time of year - lend your support by going along and clapping loudly. You could also offer to help make costumes or sell tickets.

1 Week To Go

• Spend time as a family visiting close friends and family members.
• Drive around and look at Christmas lights
• Watch A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol, Christmas Vacation, or The Nativity Story
• Attend Christmas festivities that you have planned yourself or by the local community.
• Do your food shopping early in the week to avoid being disappointed if what you want isn't available!

Christmas Day - relax and enjoy the day with your loved ones!

• relax, laugh, and play games with extended family

My Number One Tip:

Save your receipts in one central location - I have a container that I keep them all in and put the person who the gift was purchased for on the back. You can guarantee someone will call you after Christmas looking for a receipt!

The Little Red Hen

We spent reading time this afternoon reading one of our all time favourites "The Little Red Hen." We then had great fun acting out the story with some masks and later on with a set of hand puppets. Master 4 suggested that we could actually make our own bread and ALL help unlike the characters in the story!

For young children, the realities of life are those within their own spheres of experience. By presenting children with lessons which are not only verbal but include a multiplicity of sensory experiences, we can amplify children's understanding and enjoyment of a concept. I have always wanted to make bread with the boys but have been a bit daunted by the process, so when I came across this easy bread recipe, I thought....why not. We put on our aprons and got kneading, making a loaf of homemade whole wheat bread.Whilst the whole family ate the bread and it was really quite nice I am not so sure anyone would actually pay for it!

Ingredients

2 Tsp. honey
2 2/3 Cup lukewarm water
4 Tsp. dry yeast
3 Tbsp. Molasses
5 Cups whole wheat flour
1/2 Tsp. salt
1/4 Cup wheat germ
1 Tbsp. Oatmeal (optional)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 400 Degrees F.


2. Stir 2 teaspoons honey into 2/3 cup lukewarm water.


3. Sprinkle yeast over the mixture. Set aside for 10 minutes.


4. Combine 3 tablespoons molasses with 2/3 cup warm water and combine with yeast mixture.


5. Stir into flour. Add salt, wheat germ and 1 1/3 cups warm water. Dough will be sticky.


6. Pour dough into a non-stick loaf pan.


7. Smooth top with wet spatula.


8. Sprinkle Oatmeal over top of loaf, if desired.


9. Allow to raise to top of pan.


10. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.


11. Cool 10 minutes on a rack, then turn out of pan.


12. Cool before slicing.


13. ENJOY!

Baking bread is a great way to teach a science lesson, while having fun in the kitchen!

Rhyming on the Run

It’s funny how when your toddler or pre-schooler asks you to sing a song, you can’t think of any or you forget all the words! Having all your favourite songs quickly at hand can be a real help. Why not copy this list and place in a protective cover and put it on the pinup board or make a colourful "songs we know" chart and put it up on a wall in your child’s room. I even like to keep a copy handy in the car for Grandparents to use when I'm busy driving!

We use nursery rhymes in early childhood education because research consistently shows that children who have memorised many nursery rhymes become better readers. Recite these rhymes with soft and loud voices, happy and sad voices. Sing the rhymes, march to their rhythms, and often pantomime their actions. Nursery rhymes are an important part of our literary heritage. Many have survived since the time of Shakespeare. Children continue to love these rhymes because of their delightful rhythm, nonsense, and imagery!Memorising rhymes, songs, and verses is a strategy that will give your child a storehouse of language to call upon when he is asked to fluently read, write and speak the English language.

Twinkle Twinkle
Twinkle twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky

Twinkle twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are

Round and Round the Garden
Round and round the garden

Like a teddy bear

One step, two step

Tickle him (her) under there

Eensy Weensy Spider
Eensy weensy spider climbed up the water spout

Down came the rain and washed poor Eensy out

Out came the sunshine

And dried up all the rain

And Eensy weensy spider

Climbed up the spout again.

Ring a Ring a Rosies
Ring a ring a rosies, a pocket full of posies,

A tissue, a tissue, we all fall down

When our mother calls us we all jump up

Three Jelly Fish
Three jelly fish, (rpt)

Three jelly fish sitting on a rock

One fell off (OH!)

Two jelly fish……

One jelly fish……

No jelly fish…… one jumped on.

HOORAY

Five Fat Sausages
Five fat sausages sizzling in the pan

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, (rub hands together) and one went bang! (clap!)
Four fat sausages………

This is the Way We
This is the way we go to bed, go to bed, go to bed

This is the way we go to bed, it’s time to go to sleep. (sweep, jump, dress, clap, wave, etc)

My Hands Are Clapping
My hands are clapping, clapping, clapping

My hands are clapping just like this. (Repeat with: arms waving, feet stamping, head nodding, legs marching, etc.)

I Went To Visit A Farm
I went to visit a farm one day

I saw a cow across the way

And what do you think I heard it say?

Moo, moo, moo. (repeat, using different animals/sounds)

If you’re happy and you know it
If you’re happy and you know it

Clap your hands (rpt all)

If you’re happy and you know it

Then you really ought to show it

If you’re happy and you know it

Clap your hands (If you’re sad have a cry, If you’re angry stamp your feet)

Roley poly

Roley poly, ever so slowly, ever so slowly,

Roley poly, faster, faster, faster, faster, STOP!

The wheels on the bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round.

The wheels on the bus go round and Round, all the way to town

The driver on the bus says "tickets please".

The babies on the bus cry, boo hoo hoo.

The parent’s on the bus go, shh, shh, shh.

Take you riding in my car
Take you riding in my car, car (rpt x 3)

Take you riding in my car.

Engine it goes brmm, brmm (rpt x 3)

Horn it goes beep, beep

Windscreen wipers go swish, swish

I have two eyes to see with
I have two eyes to see with

I have two feet to run

I have two hands to wave with

A nose I have but one

I have two ears to hear with

A tongue to say g’day

And two red cheeks for you to kiss

And now I’ll run away.

5 Currant Buns
5 current buns in the baker’s shop

Round and fat with a cherry on the top

Along came (child) with some money one day

Bought a current bun and took it away.
4 current buns………

Miss Polly had a dolly
Miss Polly had a dolly who was sick, sick, sick

So she called for the doctor to come quick, quick, quick

The doctor came with his bag and his hat

And he knocked on the door with a Rat-a-tat-tat

He looked at the dolly and he shook his head

He said "Miss Polly put her straight to bed"

He wrote on the paper for a pill, pill, pill,

"I’ll be back in the morning, yes I will will will"

Glumph went the little green frog
Glumph went the little green frog one day

Glumph went the little green frog

Glumph went the little green frog one day

And it’s eyes went glumph, glumph, glumph

But we all know frogs go la-dee-da-dee-da la-dee-da-dee-da, la-dee-da-dee-da

We all know frogs go la-dee-da-dee-da

They don’t go glumph, glumph, glumph.

Clap your hands
Clap your hands, clap them so

Make it fast, make it slow

Clap up high, clap down low,

Clap your hands like me

Here is the bee hive
Here is the bee hive, but where are the bees?

Hiding away where nobody sees

Watch them come creeping out of the hive

One, two, three, four, five.

Teddy bear, teddy bear
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around

Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground

Teddy bear, teddy bear, stand on your head,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, go to bed

Teddy bear, teddy bear, wake up now

Teddy bear, teddy bear, take your bow.

Head, shoulders, knees and toes
Head and shoulders, knees and toes knees and toes, knees and toes

Head and shoulders, knees and toes We all clap hands together. (Eyes and ears and mouth and nose…)

Roley poly, Roley poly
Roley poly, Roley poly, up, up, up

Roley poly, Roley poly, out, out, out

Roley poly, Roley poly, clap, clap, clap

Roley poly, Roley poly, lay them in your lap.

Parachute Games

Toddler Activities
'Touch the sky!' - everyone raise the parachute up as high as they can
'Touch the floor' - bring it down to the ground
'Wave!' - flap the parachute in the air
'Foot inside!'- everyone put one foot under the canopy
'Walk!' - the group walks round in a circle
'Underneath!'- all children run under the parachute

Mushroom

This is not so much a game, more an essential starting point for parachute play. Get everyone to spread out the parachute and hold the edge, spaced out more or less evenly so they're standing in a circle. Pull the chute taut and lower it to the ground (or knee level). On the magic word (e.g. Mushroom!) everyone pulls the chute upwards (don't let go). It will fill with air and rise up like a giant mushroom - or igloo. To get it as high as possible everyone must take a couple of paces towards the center as the chute rises. It's good to practice this so that the group can learn to work effectively as a team and get the chute really high. It won't work without co-operation.
Variations on Mushroom Once you've mastered the basic mushroom it's fun to experiment. See what happens if:
· Everyone mushrooms and then runs to the center, still holding the chute.
· Everyone mushrooms, and then let’s go, especially outdoors on a windy day!
· Everyone lets go at exactly the same time. If there isn't any wind, the chute will retain its perfect mushroom shape and rise straight up in the air. Indoors it may go up to the ceiling. To get this right it's best for someone to shout "One.. Two.. Three.. Go!", or similar, immediately after the "Mushroom!" instruction. For everyone to let go at exactly the right instant will take practice and concentration.
Groups of children who haven't played with a parachute before will probably be delighted and fascinated by the effect for quite a while before you move on to any other games. It's particularly spectacular when the sun is shining down through the chute.

· Rollerball

Everyone holds the chute taut. Place a large ball near the edge. Try to make the ball roll around the edge of the chute. To do this someone starts the ball rolling. As it comes towards you, you lower the edge you are holding, and as it goes past you raise your edge. When all the players do this in synchronization it creates a wave going round the edge, pushing the ball round in front of it in a smooth, steady circle. It can not be done without concentration and co-operation! However, it is very rewarding for the group to eventually achieve a smooth, continuous motion. Once you've done this try speeding up - or change direction.

· Big Turtle

Have the children get on their hands and knees under a large "turtle shell" and try to make the turtle more in one direction. As a cooperative game, children have to work together to get the turtle to move. Variation: Have the turtle go over a hill or bench or through an obstacle course without losing the shell.

·The Ocean

We pretend the parachute is the ocean. I have them give me the name of an ocean. Children move the parachute in response to the 'weather report' they heard. (Encourages children to be creative). For example, I'll say, "I heard on the weather report this morning that there was a slight breeze over the Atlantic. What would that look like?" The children respond by making small waves in the parachute. Other suggestions have been - high winds, snow (we would have to pull it tight to make the ice), twisters, etc. Once they get the hang of it the possibilities are endless.

· Jaws

Everyone sits on the floor in a circle holding the parachute stretched out with his or her legs underneath it. The chute is the sea and they are sitting on the beach, happily dipping their toes in the water. By shaking the edge of the chute realistic ripple or wave effects can be generated. Once the waves are going well someone is selected to be a shark and disappears under the chute. They move around underneath and because of the waves it will be difficult to see where they are. The shark chooses a victim and grabs him or her by the feet. The victim can give an appropriate scream before disappearing under the chute. This person now becomes a new shark. To prolong the game you can have the original shark revert to being a bather - or to make it more lively you can have several sharks in there at once. To finish the game you can choose 'once a shark, always a shark' - so everyone eventually becomes a shark. You can introduce freak weather conditions - or even a killer whale!

· See-Saw

Pull from a sitting position, have the children pull the chute back and forth in a see-sawing motion.

· Make Waves

While gripping the parachute, everyone moves their arms up and down to make small and large waves.

· Ball Roll

Have the children try to roll balls into the hole in the center of the parachute.

· Chute Lift

Ask the children to lift the parachute high over their heads and down again. Talk about the soft sounds and breezes that are created. Move the parachute faster and notice the different effects.

· Mushroom

From a standing position, lift the parachute from the ground to waist height, counting one (lift) and two (lift). On three (lift), have everyone raise the parachute high over their heads and then crouch down, pulling the parachute tightly behind them. A mushroom effect is created as the parachute settles.

· Parachute Tag

Lift the parachute high overhead. Call one child's name and have her run (skip, hop, twirl or crawl) to the other side before the parachute comes down and tags her.

· One Hand Run

Have each child hold the parachute with one hand, extending the opposite arm out for balance. Run around in one direction, then change and run around in the other direction. A variation would be to use music as the cue for changing direction (i.e. direction can be changed every time the music stops).

· Parachute Run

Have the children take turns running on the parachute as it lies on the ground, while the other children make waves. See how long the children can maneuver on the waves before falling down. The length of turns can be determined by songs that the children choose to sing (i.e. every one's turn lasts the length of one song).

· Popcorn

Place a number of beanbags on the chute. Shake the chute to make them rise like popcorn.

· Poison Snake

Place four to six pieces of yarn on the chute. By shaking the chute, try to make them hit the players on the other side. Keep track of who gets bitten. Put the pompoms in the middle. Sprinkle various sized pompoms in the top of the shoot and try to get them into the middle pocket. You could have teams with different colours and count how many they get in.

· Shaking the Rug and Making Waves

Shaking rug involves rapid movement either light or heavy. Making waves are large movements to send billow of cloth up and down like waves. Waves can be small, medium or large. Kids can alternate turns to see who can make the best waves.


· Merry go Round

Turn the body so that the chute is held with only one hand, walk, hop, jump, skip around holding the chute. It looks like a merry-go-round.

· W A V E

Where one person puts hands up and person next to her follows action. (like the wave at a baseball game)

·Cathedral

Everyone lowers the chute and then on the count of three raise their arms high once the chute is quite high - everyone takes 3-4 giant steps toward the center and pulls the chute behind them and sit down with their bottoms on the edge of the chute.

·Cat and mouse(although some might find this dangerous - just make sure the cat is crawling on all fours and not running upright)

One child - the mouse - is under the chute, everyone is shaking it - quite close to the ground and another child (shoes off) crawls on top and tries to hunt and tag the mouse.

·The Ocean

We try to let everyone who wants to have a turn 'in the ocean'. Everyone is standing and one or two kids (shoes off) go toward the center and lie down - then we all make waves - it's a neat sensation.

· Merry Go Round Variation

It is also neat to let one lie in the middle and go for a ride - when everyone is holding with one arm and facing the same direction and walking.

· Running by Numbers

If the chute is a large one...the kids love to run underneath and switch places with others - could number them 1 through 5 around the circle- and then call out a number. (Lots of screams for this one.)

Tent Pole
While you're in the tent, try this: One person is selected to be a tent pole and stands in the middle, holding the centre of the chute as high as possible. The tent-pole person calls out some one's name and goes and sits down in that person's place. The person called has to rush to the middle and take up the role of the tent-pole before the chute comes down. Repeat the procedure as long as you feel like it.There's also a variation of Tent-Pole, which is called Jellyfish. In this version, all the seated people sway about as much as possible for the tent-pole to stay upright. From the outside, the chute should look like a gigantic quivering jellyfish.
Upside-down tent

An alternative way to make a tent is to have everyone lie on their backs under the chute, heads to the middle with their feet up in the air. Stretch the chute tight and tuck the chute under your backs so it holds your legs up. You can bring in a soft ball and use your hands to bounce it around inside the tent.

Air Conditioning
This game is good for recuperation after an energetic game. Hold the chute stretched out and have about a third of the people lie on the ground under it (best with heads near the middle). The rest mushroom the chute up and quickly pull it down again repeatedly.Air rushing in and out cools those underneath like a giant fan, and the sensation of watching the chute rise up and then come down on top of you is very strange.

Chute Ball
This game is best played with a large beach ball. You simply place the ball in the middle of the chute and by pulling upwards and outwards, throw the ball as high in the air as possible. This game can also be played by replacing the ball with a small child or doll.

Competitive chute ball
Mark a line across the diameter of the chute. Have equal teams hold the edge of the chute on either side. Throw a ball into the middle. The aim is to get the ball off the chute on the other team's side of the line, and stop it coming off your own side of the line. (i.e. to throw it over the other team's heads). You mustn't let go of the chute or touch the ball with any part of the body. Keeping score is optional.
After several minutes of wild flapping and little progress the group should realise that co-ordination and strategy are needed to flick the ball off the chute.

Bouncing balls
Start as above and this time have two or three children under the chute. The children under the chute have to try and push off the balls while every one else tries to keep them bouncing.

Change Over

Mushroom the chute and call out a command, e.g. "Change over if you are wearing red". Everyone wearing red has to run under the chute to the opposite side, before the chute lands on them (although that is part of the fun).

Music less Chairs
Number the children by threes around the chute, so that you have an equal number of ones, twos and threes evenly spread out. Mushroom the chute, then call out a number and also a description of who you would like them to act as.
For example, if you call out: "Mushroom... Number ones are ballerinas", all of the number ones have to cross under the chute, acting like ballerinas on the way

Washing Machine
We do a washing machine routine - 1/2 the children are the machine; 1/2 the washing.
Just like washing routine: in goes the washing (children sit under the parachute) in goes the powder - and mix - give the parachute a good shake. The washing turns one way - run around in a circle turning the parachute - then the other. Rinse (shake) turn (circle) again. Shake and then dry - Up and down in big movements.
Repeat - reversing roles of children.

Para-swap
Number the children around the circle, say one to six. Lift the chute and on the third go shout a number, these children then have to swap places under the canopy before it falls to earth. They need to be told to head for gaps, keep their eyes open and try to avoid bumping into one another. Make sure that those who remain around the edge allow the canopy to fall rather than pulling it down hard.

Para-shuffle
Simply passing the chute round in a circle rather like hauling in a rope.

Para-ball
Place a light-weight football on the chute surface and experiment with moving it. What happens when you shake the parachute, can you flip the ball off over people's head? Can you develop a wave technique that will cause the ball to move in a circle? Using a small ball (tennis ball) can you drop the ball through the hole in the middle, can you stop the ball disappearing? These demand fairly sophisticated co-ordination skills, but in short spells can be fun.

Para-seek
One volunteer on top, one beneath, with the idea of the top one catching the other, a bit like cat and mouse only in a different dimension. This can be surprisingly difficult.

Para-sight
After lofting the chute several times everyone steps inside, bringing the fabric taut behind their body, either to shoulder height or to ground level with each person sitting on the edge of the chute, thus creating a sort of tent with everybody tinder the canopy.

Para-circle
Simply an adaptation of any circle game, fishes in the sea, 1 sent a letter etc. using the chute to maintain the circle form. These sort of games consist of one or more people racing around the circle and back to their space, or any free space.3

Para-ble
Using the parachute as an aid to story- telling. You have the attention of all because they are holding, the Chute, commence the story using the parachute as an aid. 'One day Jesus and his friends went out in a boat on the sea of Galilee, little waves lapped at the shore (up minute ripples in the taut chute). They all climbed into the boat and set out into deeper water, the sea was like glass, not a wave anywhere. (chute held taut and motionless.). The disciples, used to boats, soon settled down, but then a gentle wind began to blow ruffling the smooth water (chute gently moves.). Slowly the waves got a bit bigger, just a little tiny bit around on a rough sea (suit actions to story). Jesus struggled to his feet, the boat was pitching up and down. He looked at the boisterous waves and told them to be still, he commanded the wind to stop, and suddenly all was calm (chute held taut). The disciples were amazed, they had been frightened of the storm, but now they felt frightened of Jesus as they realised just how powerful their friend was.'
You will find that the children soon get the idea of following the story and they will almost automatically stop the storm actions at the appropriate time. You can add details, like hauling on ropes or rowing with appropriate actions. You can illustrate Peter's faith by a person walking on the chute surface.
Jonah's story - listening to parachute instructions - listening to God; obeying instructions - Jonah didn't; a storm at see, as above; man overboard, under chute; Jonah inside the fish, para-sight; out to Nineveh shade of the week etc.
It is possible to twist all sorts of stories to use the parachute, however a good idea soon palls if it is used continuously, and we need to be wary of using a parachute rather than telling the story, so it is very much a case of first find your story and then see if it is appropriate.

Shoe Shuffle
Number around the circle 1 or 6 as before. All of one number remove a shoe and throw it under the canopy. On a count of 3 the canopy is lifted, mushroomed up on the third lift and all those missing a shoe go into the middle, retrieve their shoe and get back to their place.

Round The Plughole
If your canopy has a hole in the centre place 3 or 4 light small balls (tennis balls) on the surface and keep them moving around the canopy avoiding dropping them through the holes.

Bouncing Balls
The canopy is held taut at chest height with 2 or 3 foam footballs on the surface. 3 or 4 children underneath the canopy have to try to knock the balls off whilst those around the canopy try to keep them on.

Football
This works best if the canopy is marked in segments or halves; i.e. 2,4 or 6 teams. Stand around the canopy holding the canopy in both hands at waist level. It can be rippled up and down whilst holding it. Roll a football under the canopy. The canopy must be held tight at all times and the ball kicked under the canopy, a goal being scored when it comes out on any side.

Lucky Seven
This is an adaptation of a country dance but works well with the canopy. Number off round the canopy A, B, A, B etc. Use a lively 'jig' tune which repeats AA BB AA BB etc. When the music starts: A Hold The parachute with booth hands, circle 8 paces clockwise B Holding the parachute with both hands, circle 8 paces anti-clockwise B A's turn to face clockwise; B's turn to face anti-clockwise. A's let go of parachute and to the music go under the arms of the B facing them. They do this seven times until they arrive facing, the eighth 'B'. B Holding the parachute with both hands all go into the middle twice mushrooming it each time. When You are tired on a count of 3 lift the canopy as high as possible, mushroom it and bring it down behind you and sit down. In this way you can make a rather hot airless tent supported on the heads.

And to Finish....
When you have finished quickly grasp the canopy at the centre, twist it slightly into a rope, wind it round your arm and stow it in the bag. This can be done very quickly and very cleanly even on damp ground. Or ... (indoors), tell everyone that on 3 they are to let the canopy go and STAND STILL. Mushroom it to a count of three, let go when it is fullest so that it soars to the ceiling. You should be able to step into the middle, catch the centre and deftly stow it before anyone moves!

Handa's Surprise

Handa's Surprise by Eileen Browne is one of my favourite books to use with young children. It is a story so luscious it seems almost edible!Handa puts seven delicious fruits in a basket to take to her friend, Akeyo. But as she walks, carrying the basket on her head, various creatures steal her fruits. A monkey takes the banana, an ostrich the guava, a zebra the orange, an elephant the mango, a giraffe the pineapple, an antelope the avocado and a parrot the passion fruit. Handa walks on, wondering which of the fruits her friend will like best, oblivious to the fact that her basket is now empty. But then, behind her, a goat charges into a tangerine tree and fills Handa's basket with the fruit. "Hello, Akeyo," she greets her friend. "I've brought you a surprise." But when she lifts off her basket, it's Handa who gets the biggest surprise. Akeyo, meanwhile, is delighted, because tangerines are her favourite fruit!I have been doing lots of activities to do with this book with Master 2 and Master 4 as I'm trying to expose them to a variety of fruits, like most young children they tend to want the same over and over again!

We set out this morning (in the rain!!) to the Farmer's Market to source out some exotic fruits so the boys could try some new tastes and also we could use them for our storytelling and role-play.

I love making masks to act out and role-play stories with the boys. I found once I started collecting and making masks you quickly get yourself a great collection that can be used for many different stories.

We had some ripe banana's in our fridge so decided to make a banana cake for our morning tea. I like using cooking as a way to get the boy's to work together, and particularly learn to take turns!

While our banana cake was cooking for morning tea we had some fun thumb painting to make a pineapple. Both boys really enjoyed this painting activity and the end product looks cute.

We're Going on a Lion Hunt

In the jungle, the mighty jungle The lion sleeps tonight... we watched The Lion King for our family movie night last week, which has sparked a real interest in Lion's from Master 2 and Master 4. We have been reading this fabulous book about a teacher and her class going on a lion hunt...but can they find the hiding lion? This book is an hilarious twist on the classic We're Going on a Bear Hunt. From here we have done some craft, cooking and healthy lion sandwiches.

Pasta Craft - Paint a paper plate with orange paint and then add pasta spirals to form the lion's mane. This was a fun and simple little activity for Master 2.

I love getting creative and making the kids fun sandwiches to eat! Check out his lion sandwich using ham, grated carrot and raisins! So healthy too!

This is a fabulous book about a teacher and her class going on a lion hunt...but can they find the hiding lion? This book is an hilarious twist on the classic We're Going on a Bear Hunt.

Going on a lion hunt.

I'm not afraid.

I'm going to catch me a BIG lion!

(Spread arms to demonstrate the word "big" as you say the word.)

But look!

What's that ahead?

(Raise your head to your forehead, as though you were looking far away.)

Uh-oh.

There's mud ahead!

Can't go over it.

Can't go under it.

Can't go around it.

Better go through it.

(Make sloshing sounds and move hands and feet as if wading through mud.)

Uh-oh.

There's a lake ahead.

Can't go over it.

Can't go under it.

Can't go around it.

Better swim through it.

(Make swimming motions.)

Uh-oh.

There's a gate ahead.

Can't go over it.

Can't go under it.

Can't go around it.

Better go through it.

Gesture as if you open a gate, walk through, and close it.)

Uh-oh.

There's tall grass ahead.

Can't go over it.

Can't go under it.

Can't go around it.

We'd better crawl through it.

(If room permits, children can crawl around.)

There's a cave ahead.

Can't go over it.

Can't go under it.

Can't go around it.

Guess we'll have to walk into it.

It's dark in here.

I see two shining lights.

feel something furry.

I feel a c-c-c-cold nose.

I feel s-s-s-sharp teeth.

It's a lion!!!

(Shiver and make terrified faces.)

Run out of the cave!

Crawl through the grass!

Open the gate!

Swim across the lake!

Wade through the mud!

Run into the house!

Close the door!

Run up the front stairs!

Crawl under your bed!

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson Dairy

Out of the gate and off for a walk went Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy.... and the rest I think we can pretty much recite off by heart in our house! For anyone who is not familiar, Hairy Maclary is a fictional dog, the hero of many books written for children. The character was created by the New Zealand author Lynley Dodd. They generally involve Hairy and his friends in adventurous scenarios pitched against local cats, with an implication that the cats are more clever. Be sure to check some of these fun reads out next time you are on a visit to the library or book shop! Master 2 is obsessed with the series and has taken a shine to old Bottomly Pots (all covered in Spots). Today I pulled out some plastic lids I had collected. I blu-tacked a small stick to one of the lids, gave Master 2 some black paint and an outline of a dog and left him to creating his spotty dog!

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy

Hairy Maclary's Bone

Hairy Maclary Scattercat

Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper

Hairy Maclary's Rumpus at the Vet

Slinky Malinki

Hairy Maclary's Showbusiness

Slinky Malinki Open The Door

Schnitzel von Krumm’s Basketwork

Schnitzel von Krumm Forget-Me-Not

Slinky Malinki Catflaps

Hairy Maclary, Sit

Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack

Scarface Claw

Schnitzel von Krumm, Dogs Never Climb Trees

Zachary Quack Minimonster

Slinky Malinki's Christmas Crackers

Hairy Maclary's Hat Tricks

Hairy Maclary, Shoo