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