Summer Tot-School Themes

I’m still in planning mode for tot-school (preschool?), beginning next Monday.  I think it will help my brain if I scribble my thoughts down here, and maybe even pull links to resources and whatnot. 

So here’s what I’m thinking (these are brainstorming ideas, assuming that I have an unlimited amount of money to spend-which I don’t.  We won’t be doing all of these things—just ideas to kick-off on!  Also, a good old google search will probably happen prior to each week’s theme.  There are endless possibilities!):

-ocean/beach

• Confessions of a Homeschooler's "O for Octopus"
• Carisa’s Ocean Animals Tot-book
• Ocean file folder game on filefolder.com
• scoop and play fishing game
• magnetic fishing puzzle (or the target brand equivalent)
• water play activities (perhaps with some dollar store ocean animals?)
• "F is for Fish" by COAH

-caterpillar/butterfly

• "B is for Butterfly" by COAH
• "C is for Caterpillar" by COAH
• caterpillar art
• coffee filter butterflies

-birds

• birds preschool pack by 1+1+1=1
• "N is for Nests" by COAH
• Listen and watch for birds on a nature walk

-frogs/ponds

• Totally Tots Sensory Tub
• "Pond Life" preschool pack by Homeschool Creations
• Frog/Turtle sort (printable made by me)
• "T is for Turtle" by COAH
• “Five green and speckled frogs” song
• visit a creek

-birthday

• birthday puzzle
• birthday dramatic play (party hats, pretend to wrap presents)
• bake cupcakes/cake
• The Mini Birthday Pack by Homeschool Creations

-garden/flowers

• Garden preschool Pack by Homeschool Creations
• plant our own flowers
• dirt/watering can/tools to use in outdoor sensory box

-bugs

• magnetic bug puzzle
• Insect & spider theme box
• pretty bugs preschool pack by 1+1+1=1
• "A is for Ant" by COAH
• "L is for Ladybug" by COAH

-zoo

• "E is for Elephant" by COAH
• "M is for Monkey" by COAH
• visit our zoo!

-Camping

• dramatic play-set up a tent, flashlights, make a pretend camp fire
• make s’mores!
• talk about moon/stars/constellations

 

Hmmm… maybe I’ll just try to stick with those 9 and spread them out/allow myself extra time (and hopefully by the end of summer, I won’t feel guilty that I didn’t squeeze in everything that I wanted to).  I can also add in more if I need to.  And if I can manage 9 themes each season, that’s 36 total.  Seems like a good goal, right?  I would love to hear your ideas as well!  What are your summer tot-school/preschool plans? 

Photos from the past month

This month has seemed to fly by!  I feel like I say that a lot, and it’s true!  I can’t even tell you what has been filling our days and time lately.  A few “big” things (like a last-minute trip to Tennessee over labor day weekend!), but as far as the day-to-day happenings go, I find myself wondering what we’ve actually done this month (you know, beyond the normal—raising a toddler, cooking, cleaning, growing a baby… that kind of stuff). 

Instead of a “tot school” entry today, I mostly just have photos.  I think I’ve said before that we’re kind of “on again, off again” with tot-school.  Some weeks (or months!) are better than others.  Anyway, onto photos! 

This one is just cute.  Ella, 26 months old:

We went to the zoo last month for Wes’ annual family picnic.  It was fun, although rainy toward the end.  We didn’t end up walking around the zoo much, since we have passes.  Plus, it started at 1pm, which is usually Ella’s naptime, so she skipped a nap that day and was asleep in the car within about 3 minutes of leaving.  :) 

It was raining lightly that day, so naturally, she found the puddles she could stomp in…

 

   …and riding the carousel is always a favorite! 

She painted this cute little birdhouse that she picked out at JoAnn’s (on clearance for $1). 

Her new favorite thing to do when Wes gets home (or sometime before bed), is to dance with Daddy!  He seems to like it too.  :) 

He made her these silly glasses out of pipe cleaners.  She thought it was hilarious.  :) 

We took a last-minute trip to Tennessee to visit Wes’ parents over labor-day weekend.  While we were there, we went on a pontoon boat!  Ella’s first boat ride! 

She even got to “drive” with daddy!  

Football season started!  …but she was more interested in Blue’s Clues stickers than watching the game.  :) 

…and then something smudged on my camera, and my pictures are blurry after this!  I need to find something that is safe to use to clean the lens! 

(And then I need to commit to taking photos more often!)

Wes’ Company Picnic!

(written yesterday, 8.22.09)

Wes’ company picnic was today—and it was a lot of fun!  It was at the Columbus Zoo, and it was BEAUTIFUL today!  When we arrived, the car thermometer said 72 degrees!  It did start to sprinkle toward the end, but we were in a pavilion/shelter, so it didn’t matter. 

A week or so ago, Wes mentioned that we needed to bring a dessert that would feed 2 dozen people.  Then, yesterday morning, he also mentioned that there would be a dessert contest!  He said that we didn’t have to enter, but honestly, it sounded like fun to me!  So, all day, I tried to think of something creative to make.  I asked friends for ideas, searched the internet, looked at other people’s creations for ideas—but when I went to bed last night, I still didn’t know what to make. 

So, this morning, I woke up before Wes and Ella, and laid awake in bed for 45 minutes thinking about this.  And then I had an idea!  So, I went to the store, spent more money than I should have on decorating supplies, and ended up with this: 

Now, I can’t take credit for actually decorating it!  We were running short on time, so Wes did the decorating while I finished getting myself and Ella ready. 

There weren’t many desserts that were decorated—only a few.  As a result, our little Script Ohio Sheet Cake won 1st place for presentation!  Our prize was a gift card to PF Chang’s!  Yum! 

Since I spent the majority of the morning baking, Ella missed her morning nap.  But, when she’s tired enough, she never fails to fall asleep on Wes…

After eating, the zoo brought out some animals for us to look at close-up!  I wish I had more pictures to share, but the only animal we took pictures of was this BEAUTIFUL Snow-Leopard!  He is 4 months old! 

 

 

A fun day was had by all.  :)