You Can Do This Too!

On the preschool front: Dr. Seuss was fun! I have to say I'm still not the biggest fan of reading Seuss, but the kids liked it. I'm glad I made the artwork project go 3 days.

The only bummer was a barfer all over the lunch table while we were eating Thursday.... yep. My coworkers kinda laughed at me when they said they could tell by my voice that it wasn't good when I talkied for help. I moved everyone and let two other helpers clean up the mess while I stayed with the non-barfers who kept right on eating, while discussing everyplace they've ever barfed. I, however, lost my appetite and just listened and watched them chew (safety requirement) and tried in vain to redirect the conversation. The vomit clause in my contract allows me to skip that clean up duty and also I don't do spiders or insects that crunch if stepped on. But, my contract also states that if there's a problem with a bird in a classroom, a lost hamster, or a lizard on the wall, and other unforeseen incidences and happy/unhappy accidents, my number will be up, and I'll cheerfully take care of it. (There's not really a contract in writing, just so you know... it's just common knowledge!)

There are lots of Dr. Seuss books in the library center and I'll leave them there for the whole month. The next unit is weather. I'll take 2 weeks for sure on it. Maybe 3 depending on how cooperative Mother Nature and the kids are. It's anyone's guess which will be the deciding factor.

We will learn about clouds, wind, rain, thunder & lightning. I hope we see real clouds, jump in real rain puddles, fly a kite, and play in some mud. But if it's nothing but sun and blue skies, I found a couple apps for thunder and rain that should be fun without the tornadic excitement of last weekend. And you know, we could always jump in a kiddie pool with 2 inches of water in it. And then add dirt after we're done jumping in it to make mud pies. Sure hope all the kids have galoshes. The parents have been warned to hold off on those pretty spring dresses and new duds for the next couple weeks. I have lots of stuff to do within the unit - games, art, food, etc. I think I'm firing all cylinders for the Creative Curriculum we follow (math, literacy, social studies, technology, science, art & music).

All that should last a good 2 or 3 weeks! And I love it, but I really can't wait to get my old job back!

Ok, so I just made Cloud Dough for the sensory table which has a great consistency to it. It's like moon sand if you've ever felt that. It's something that kids will dig into and not leave for awhile. Easy to make too. I also saw a recipe to try for Rainbow Playdough. I'm going to compare it to my favorite playdough recipe, but what I liked was the tip to get food icing for the rainbow colors and this recipe has you add the color at the end, whereas mine it all goes in at the cooking stage.

For the curious:

Cloud Dough

8 cups flour

1 cup oil (baby oil suggested but I used regular canola blend because baby oil is toxic).

Squish

the consistency is crumbly until you squish or form it into something, until it crumbles again. It's soft and feels good!

Rainbow Playdough

2.5 cups water

1 1/4 cups salt

1 1/2 tsp cream of tartar

5 tbsp vegetable oil

2.5 cups flour

wilton food icing for color

The example was shown with 4 colors. It's probably on Pinterest somewhere. I'm not all that saavy with it yet. Anyway to make it, you mix it all together except the coloring. Cook low heat until smooth. It will be lumpy. Mix frequently until the water absorbs and sticky dough turns into a dryer looking ball not stuck to the sides of the pot anymore. Put on a counter with something like parchment paper to protect from coloring. Knead and then pat out portions and drip on color. Knead til smooth. Repeat for more intense color if needed.

Bubble Art

small cups

bubble solution (purchased or your own mix of 1 tbsp liquid soap to water)

4 tbsp paint

straws (if you take a teeny knick out of the straw below where the mouth will go to blow bubbles it will prevent soap from being accidentally sucked up).

You blow with a straw air into colored bubble solution until there's tons of bubbles overflowing. Place a piece of white paper on top of the bubbles and pop 'em. Repeat until paper is covered. You can cut out different size circles to make bubbles for hanging artwork on fridge, classroom wall, etc.