icecream sensory play

We went to a friend's birthday party last week and we took a really fun gift.  Our little buddy likes to play restaurant and loves when we loan him our sensory bins.  We combined the two and made an ice-cream parlor kit.
 

 
He loved it! Like, really loved it!
 

 
Most of the items came from the dollar store or hobby lobby.  If I was doing this for preschool or my own kids, I could have reused things from home and it would have been cheaper to put together.
 

 
Here's what we included (and approximate prices in case you're figuring out if this will be affordable for your kiddos)
 
1 large bag of white pom poms (Hobby Lobby  {HL} $2.99)
2 medium bags of brown pom poms (HL .99 each)  -I had wanted pink too, but had to put some back- I was going over budget)
2 small bags tiny multi colored pom poms for sprinkles (99 cents each HL)
2 bananas ($3.00 each from HL in the floral arranging area)
ice-cream scooper (25 cents from goodwill)
1 package (2 in pkg) of baked potato dishes for banana split containers (Dollar Tree {DT} 1$)
1 pack (3 in pack) little blue bowls (DT 1$)
1 pack multi colored baby silverware (DT $1)
1 birthday shot glass (DT 1$)
1 large bowl to hold ice-cream (DT -wedding area 1$)
1 bunch of fake flowers (DT 1$)
plastic salt and pepper shakers for sprinkles container (DT $1)
Red pom poms and plastic jar- from home added at last minute for cherries)
frame from IKEA $1
menu cards- I made myself at home using Word.
 
 

 
If I was making this for preschool, I would not let them pour out the tiny pom poms.  It was time consuming to pick them all out to reset.

 

 
Other than the free for all with colored M&Ms at the party I think the icecream was the most popular item!  At one point the birthday boy was missing and he was found up in his room playing ice-cream parlor. 

valentines table activies- preschool style

We're looking at more valentines day things today.  In April.  We're running the air conditioner at this house today. 

So here are a few things from the preschool tables. 

I had out these heart erasers and little heart shaped containers.  The kids poured and closed up containers and shook them, and opened containers and dumped them out and did it again and again.  I think the containers and erasers are from the Target dollar section in years past.

I mentioned these missing number activity last year, they are from Musings of Me. They used to be a free download, but are now part of a bigger Valentines Day pack available in her TPT store.

The sensory box was random pink, purple, and white pom poms and feathers.  This class particularly likes the sensory boxes.  They're all about pouring the beans.

We left out various little paper hearts to color.  They came in handy as we had to make some last minute valentines for a friend who forgot on party day.   The kiddos made pretty hearts for their parents for a whole week.   The are available to print for free here at Creative Classroom.

This poor Valentines bingo is several years old and had been played at both Bee and Lou's parties as well as in my classroom.  I think we did play it whole class one day, but in the mornings, they just covered up the calling pieces with a bingo board.

Every year a few friends bring me chocolates in tins for valentines day.  I devour them happily.  Lou usually helps.  Bee's too picky for the unknown.  Some were set out with old conversation hearts and tweezers for a transferring activity.

A few others were set out with chocolate scented play dough.  We used coco powder to flavor the play dough which was made using this recipe.   The kids made the play dough into chocolates and placed them in the little dividers. 

Kids used their hands to work on this one-to-one correspondence activity. Previous years, we've played this with rolling a dice.

These pieces were also just set out for filling containers and closing and opening them.  I had so many of the big heart containers and was just glad that I found something to use them with.

Think were' done with valentines day... think again. 

whats on the table- preschool in the winter

Here are a few things out on the tables for our morning table activities.  I've got a little something on the light box, but apparently have taken no photos.

I printed these out last year, from 1+1+1=1. I printed out the black and white and color version.  The kids seem to like both equally.

These little cupcake toppers were found on clearance somewhere last year. Instead of foam, we are using gingerbread playdough.  The kids have been making a lot of birthday cakes with it.

The idea for these snowflake counting cards came from Preschool Alphabet.  I just printed off a snowman clipart I found online and added a cut out paper number.

The snowflakes are noodles that I colored white with some paint and rubbing alcohol mix.  There's glitter in there too, but it really didn't have the result I was looking for.

This winter card with matching picture cards is just a little something I made up using clipart online.

We have set out several copies of this little snowman book.  I'll have to double check where I found this online.  Only a few students choose to color and work on these.

I added a little to the winter sensory bin from last year.  I'm pretty sure that's a puffin in the box, but no one seems to care.

Last year I said that the kids weren't that interested in this sensory tub.  This years classes seem to like it just fine.  Someone has even been biting the foam snowballs.  I wish I could catch my sneaky biter. 

This is my favorite snowflake table activity.  I like it more than any of the students do.  It's pictures of real snowflakes.  Kiddos can use a magnifying glass to help them match them.  I made this set, but stole the idea from My Montessori Journey.   All the photos are from this snowflake and snow crystal photo gallery website. 

I put the farm set out and the kids are practically fighting to play with it.  Thankfully, Lou, is alright with me taking his old toys into school.  Last year I had to beg and sometimes sneak them.  I even had to on occasion rent them for $1. 

Christmas table activites- preschool style

Here are some random table activities that have made their way out the past two weeks.  Also, I've got a bunch of Christmas ideas from the past four years or so and they are easier to find now.  I have a Christmas tag as well as a J tag (for Jesus).  Those are over on the right side (web version only), down the page a little way.

The DIY light box got some new items on it.  I drew some Christmas trees on some overhead film my sister passed on to me.  We used the plastic dot pieces (formerly used as bingo pieces) to give the trees ornaments.

These baking tins are from My grandma.  She knew I'd use them.  I have green and red glass beads in the basket.  The tweezers are from the 'ants in my pants' game. 

These stars are those plasticy ice cubes.  They are from a red, white, and blue set, but I just pulled the red and white. The tongs are kitchen tongs purchased at goodwill for a quarter or less. I think the icecube trays were from there or a garage sale.

Our little people nativity set found a spot on the table.  I feel like there is a missing piece, but am not sure.  I think the shepherd is playing the part of Joseph. He must have skipped town.  The kids haven't said anything.

The Christmas sensory box has been a favorite.  

This one has an eye spy sheet with it and the kids seem to enjoy that.

This wasn't technically a table activity, but we tried the toothpick 'poking' with the younger kids and most thought it was fun.  It's one of those activities where some classes love it and others are like, 'I don't get it, why are we doing this?'  There are always a few kids that love it and can't get enough of it though.

With the pre-k kids, we usually do letters, but I went with a picture for the younger ones.  It helps get them in the correct pencil hold position as well as works on fine motor practice.  It quiets them nicely and keeps them in one spot, which is usually a plus. 

For this page, they liked looking at the back to see the poking design.  That doesn't work as well for letters because they're backwards.  We even had some team work action going on. 

This is a circle time activity turned table toy.  One day during circle time, I placed a cookie cutter in a stocking and had a kiddo feel it.  They made a guess which shape might be inside, then pulled it out.  They found the right spot for the cutter on our poster and the next friend got to have a turn with a new cutter placed inside the stocking.  Now it's out just as a matching activity.

I just made these letter cards up this weekend.  They'll only get one week to be out this year. The letters are from Confessions of a Homeschooler.  Hers are big enough to glue on a bottlecap.  These were printed out with two pages on a printed sheet, so they came out smaller, just the right size for my clear glass beads.  I modge-podged them on the flat side.  The pictures are from Prepared, Not Scared and the cards are from Moms Have Questions Too.

This felt tree came out on candy cane day and has been out all week.  The kids can just decorate as they choose. 

Last year after Christmas, I got boxes of cards for 10 cents.  I bought all they had!  They've been out for the kids to make Christmas cards for family and friends. They are really enjoying it.   I have to keep an eye on one friend; she grabs a marker and draws waves on as many cards as she can find.  One day she went through at least half a box of 36 cards.  Good thing the cards were cheap!

I have many other Christmas things to get up here, but I've have about 27 projects going on, with little sign of slowing down.  I can't even share most of the projects yet, as many are gifts.  Hopefully I'll get time over break to get caught up.  We'll see. 

Again, here are some other preschool Christmas ideas from my blog last year..     And some others Here   

random preschool

Here are several random preschool related items.  

I'm just so in love with this journal entry.  I think this is why I go to school a lot of days. 

Next item.  I found this 9 piece puzzle at a garage sale and it's been perfect for a behavior plan for one of our little friends.  He earns pieces for good behavior and when all 9 are earned, he earns a prize at home.  Some days are five piece days, others not so much.

The 'vet' stuff is at school this week.  The kids are loving it! Last month we had the mail center out.  

The fixed light board has lasted so far.  Beats the old record of one day.

We set out the jars and glass beads for the sensory box.  It was loud.  They filled and dumped and refilled those jars.  loudly. 

The kiddos collected can goods in November.  Our room collected 198!  One of the preschool grandma's happens to be the leader from the group we collected for.  The kids helped her load up the van.

Oh my goodness, our friends are loving the Pete the Cat books. Those books get read and read and read.  They can read it themselves now.  I come a lot of days for that too.

apple day -preschool style -deja vu

I'm trying to get back into a routine that allows time for blogging.  Since school started, if I want to make sure there is food prepared, clean clothes to wear, a somewhat tidy house, and homework completed, the end of the day is here and I'm off to bed without a second thought to the computer and potential blogging.  Add soccer and piano lessons and errands and parent emails and a suddenly muddy 5 year old and I'm a hot mess before the sun goes down.

Anyway, I'm enjoying this school year.  I am able to use many items from previous years, which is making this year doable.  I have two classes, which is fun.  One class I find easier.  those 3 year olds are challenging.  Everything about school is new.  and hard.  and not what they necessarily want to do. 

This week we had apple day, which is always a favorite. This was for the Pre-K class.  They are 4ish.  I did several things from last year, but had to rework parts, as this class isn't as strong in math as last year's. 


On the table for arrival time was the new apple stringing activity.

This apple matching activity from last year:

This apple pie activity from two years ago.  

I get asked about the pies on the original post sometimes. They aren't clip art, I just drew them up on construction paper.  It's a brown piece of paper and a white.  The red part is just marker.  People ask.   UPDATED:  Here's a link to a printable version of the pie.  It's black and white, you can trace it onto construction paper or copy and color it.   I'm new to google docs, so let me know if it's not working.

These apple mats for making playdough worms.

 My co-teacher set out the neatest contact paper activity.  I didn't get a picture, but we taped a huge sheet of contact paper to the table, allowing the sticky side to be assessable.  She had cut out a bunch of red apple shapes, green leaf shapes, and brown stem shapes from foam paper.   The kids assembled apples and silly apple pictures on the contact paper.  The best part was that the foam paper peeled right off and we were able to use them another day.

We also had out the apple sensory tub.  This photo is after our play.  It's cute and tidy before they get to it. 

My favorite item in it is these little crocheted apples.  It's a free pattern from Planet June.
  

I read this book again:

We made applesauce again.  Every time I use the rest of my stash of baby food jars, I inherit more.  This summer my dad brought me about 150.   I'm slightly sentimentally attached to them, which is another story, but I'm not letting it stop me.  They got a really good wash and we used them. 

 We cook it in the crock pot all morning long.  

The kids help cut the apples at arrival time.  We give them sliced apples and they use a table knife to dice it up.  It doesn't really matter how tiny they get them. 

Then the leader helps add cinnamon, a little water, and helps me mash and stir a few times.  It cooks up fast.  In about 2 1/2 hours it's done.  I spoon a little into each jar about 1/2 hour before dismissal so that it cools a bit.  Last year, I didn't let it cool.  They were too hot to hold!

 
We sent this sheet home:  (available here)

 I really want to share about our journals, I'll have to take more pictures.  I'm taking them on as my little pet project.  I'm just so excited about them.  We are aiming for one project a week.  I get a few kids to work on it each day and get them all through the week. This week's was apples on Aa.  

They used their little fingertips to stamp red dots and we turned a few into apples. Mostly they love gluing the page into their journals. 

We sang this song with 10 apples on the felt board:

      (add them as you sing)
      1 little, 2 little, 3 little apples
     4 little, 5 little, 6 little apples
     7 little, 8 little, 9 little apples
     10 apples hanging on the tree.
  
    (remove them as you sing)
     pick 1, pick 2,  pick 3 apples
     pick 4, pick 5, pick 6 apples
     pick 7, pick 8, pick 9 apples
     pick 10 apples from the tree.

     peel them, slice them, stir them, bake them, let's make apple pie!

We also sang this little song and I used 5 apples velcroed on a glove for this one, but you could use a flannel board again.

       __5___  red apples, high in the tree,
       apples always taste so good to me.
      So I shake the tree,  one falls to the ground.
      Now there are   ___4___ red apples, juicy and round. 


 Instead of a craft, we made apple pies.  The kids cut up apple pieces again and put them on top of a piece of crescent roll.  They added a bit of butter and a shake of cinnamon sugar.  They pulled up the edges of the crescent roll and put them on foil. We baked them and let them cool and then devoured them. 

I missed doing Apples Up On Top, but it just didn't fit in this year.