Word Play

I love things that inspire me to think about using words in creative ways. 

I took this photo in a park near New Orleans, LA a few years ago. I love that the sculpture is made up of letters. Can you find any words in it?

Here is a post I found with many ways to say GOODBYE.

Use it to inspire YOU about ways to say something else, like, "good morning" or 'happy birthday" or anything else you want.

Challenge your family members and friends to join in. 

Make a list or a poster like the one shown here. 

Scraps to Hearts - Valentine Craft

While money is tight, people are staying home, and everything can find a NEW use, I thought this Valentine heart project might be a fun activity for your family and friends.

Magazine Hearts -  Find your favorite colors and interesting patterns from pages of old magazines and start cutting all sorts of heart shapes and sizes.

You need:    Scissors

                    Old magazines to cut up (ask permission first)

                    Glue or glue stick

                    Old envelopes, cardboard, boxes, jars, or paper.

The photo above are hearts I cut out in about 10 minutes (finding, folding, and cutting)

THEN: glue onto paper to make your own card, onto a box, or even onto an old jar as a gift for your special Valentine. You can overlap the edges and then glue into place.

Don't forget to clean up your workspace when you have finished.

YOU CAN DELIVER THESE TO NEIGHBORS, OR FRIENDS TO LET THEM KNOW SOMEONE SPECIAL IS THINKING OF THEM.

What a LOVEly gesture. 

Knock Down the Snowman - Indoor Game

Thanks to Dr. Lauren at Valdosta State University for this contribution

Players -  You can play with as many players as you want. 

This is a great game with your whole family, especially for the holidays. 

Materials -

White cups- if you don’t have white cups that is ok as well, any cup will do.

Construction paper- orange and black would be great.

White socks- or any color would be fine.

 Glue.

Scissors.

Set Up -

Begin by cutting the Snowman eyes out of black construction paper. These should be 2 big circles.  

Then cut 4 smaller black circles. This will be used as the Snowman mouth. 

Then cut 1 small orange triangle. This will be the Snowman nose. 

Once everything is cut, decorate your white cup (Snowman) with his nose, mouth, and eyes. Use glue to secure the construction pieces to the cup.

You will repeat the above steps- cutting and decorating your Snowman 5 more times to have a total of 6 decorated Snowman. 

Next, your snowballs will be tightly balled/rolled socks.

Stack the Snowman cups- 3 Snowman cups on the bottom, 2 Snowman cups on top of that, and 1 Snowman cup on top of that. Taks turns trying to roll the socks and knocking down the Snowman. 

You can move further back to make it more difficult. 

That’s it!! Time to PLAY!

Supertruck 

                   Written and Illustrated by Stephen Savage

Do YOU think YOU have SUPER powers? What are they? Find out how this truck helps others.

Read by:  Miss Lorie, Children's Librarian in the Outreach Services Department at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNF_UntFXqs&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1IzXr4Q7E11G8An18fYV9c8sxyj6-U5jgtlgHK486GIGcVb5Swbv4K1to

 

On the Eve of the Epiphany, I want to share the Legend of Old Befana, a tale retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola. Tomie, an outstanding children's author and illustrator, passed away in March, 2020.

I knew I wanted to do something special this year, to honor him and this book. So tonight, I share this Italian tale narrated by Tomie. It was a joy to find this on the internet...

I know he is looking down, and hopefully pleased I have kept this alive in our home. Here is the La Befana I made for Ray.

I miss you Tomie. I hope La Befana has brought you great heavenly treats.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxPReFdoxTw&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2T-9PVmKJLdmOXh0JPl5RDDSspfQHlSY_MjKXJ4l2a2Gma9IcR9S6_Zw0

Welcome to 2021

 Welcome to the New Year... It's 2021 and I needed to take a well-deserved break from teaching, planning, writing, and yes, this blog...

BUT I have missed you all and have many NEW ideas for the year ahead.

Please SHARE this blog site with your friends and families, teachers, and ANYONE who works with children.

My next post tells one of my FAVORITE stories...

I wish you all a wonderful, safe, healthy 2021.  Deb