Make & Take Monday

Happy New Year! I have taken some time off and am ready to begin 2012. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season.

Paper Roll Bird Feeders

It dawned on me that January is bird feeding month and these poor creatures could use some food. So why not have your students create these simple bird feeders.

Materials:
Paper rolls (toilet paper, paper towel, or wrapping paper cut into smaller pieces)
Peanut butter (no sugar added)
Bird Seed
paper plates or newspapers
plastic knives

Directions:
1. Sprinkle bird seed on paper plate or newspaper
2. Spread peanut butter using plastic knife onto paper roll (or you could roll the paper roll in peanut butter) For a sensory experience spread the peanut butter with your hands!!
3. Roll the paper roll covered with peanut butter in bird seed. (Pat it on just for fun!)
4. Once the paper roll is covered with bird seed run a piece of string or yarn through the roll and hang it on a tree limb.
5. Watch the birds enjoy the seed!

Photos taken from The Moffatt Girls

Workshop Wednesday

Bubble Fun!

Try this activity in your science center or for some outdoor fun.

Replace ordinary bubble wands with kitchen utensils for some fun bubble-blowing experimentation! Stock your science area with a shallow pan of bubble solution and a variety of slotted utensils, such as those shown. A youngster visits the center and explores making bubbles with the different utensils.

Make & Take Monday

Rainstick Discovery Bottle

Make your own rainsticks in a bottle! This is a fun and safe alternative for the youngest child.

Materials: water bottle; toothpicks; colored rice; glue & glue gun

Directions:
1. Dry the empty water bottle
2. Add toothpicks (1.5 boxes if small box, 1 box if it is the bigger box)
3. Add colored rice (rice, food coloring and rubbing alcohol) until you get the sound of rain falling as they float through the toothpick
4. Glue lid on with glue gun (do not use glue gun around children)

This is an easy activity the children can make. Then put them in your discovery area and music area.


Taken from Welcome to our Wonderland



Make & Take Monday

Gel Molds and Color Mixing

Use plain Knox Gelatine and mix 3/4 cup of boiling water per package.  So if you’re doing the entire box of four, get 3 cups of water nice and boiling and then stir in the packages to dissolve. Add one at a time and stir to dissolve.  Pour the mixture into a container (muffin tins, empty Cool Whip or yogurt containers, bowls, etc.), or better yet, several containers.  It’s always helpful to have several gel molds made up so that you can replace them as they become used up in the bin.  Chill the molds in the fridge overnight.  To loosen, you may need to run around the edges with a butter knife.  (Oiling the containers or using a cooking spray beforehand also helps with an easier release.)  Place the molds, containers of colored water and pipettes or small eye droppers in a small bin. The children fill the droppers, insert them into the gel, and squeeze to release the color in a newly created crevasse.  The color mixing and overall effect is just awesome and intriguing, even for grown ups.