August Review/Giveaway... in September!

Each month, the Guidecraft Educators will share our honest feelings about a Guidecraft product(s) and how these products would fare in an early childhood classroom. This month's selection was our choice.. .something we were really interested in!  I selected the Modular Science Center.

Well... better late than never, I suppose!  Things have been crazy so it took me a while to get this post/review done up - I was so excited about incorporating the Modular Science Center into the classroom that I wanted to show it all set up in my post... and that took a while getting done!

The product I selected for my August review was Guidecraft's Modular Science Center, as I've been trying to get better at incorporating science into my Head Start classroom... it seems to be a real attention-getting area in the room, so I'm hoping that it's more meaningful this year!

The Modular Science Center is a four piece unit that easily comes apart, yet holds together tight enough that the children are not constantly taking it apart!  That's a plus in my room!

I had a helper in putting it together - a five-year old I was watching for the day that had FAR more energy that myself... I decided to put him to work being constructive and he was ALL about using the tools and putting the science center together.  With the exception of my tightening a few places and getting each individual component set up, he put the whole thing together!  That goes to show just how easily this piece of equipment sets up - although there was a lack excitement over the size of the Allen Wrench... according to my helper, we needed a bigger screw driver!

Once the Modular Science Center was placed in my room, it was a matter of deciding what to place on it... when scavenging our storage closet, there really didn't seem to be a lot of appropriate exploratory materials, so I decided to turn the task of filling the science center into the hands of the children.  I sent them all home after the first week of classes with an assignment... the family was to take a Nature Scavenger Hunt and return with a bag of their findings... by far one of my most successfully returned assignments EVER!!!  Many of the families spent more than an HOUR on this... needless to say, our science center is now full of findings and treasures... rocks, flowers, sticks, seeds, etc, and of course, something the children found beautiful and something the children found to be a treasure (one of which is a photo of one of our children with two cousins, as they used the activity as a family get-together)!  The empty shelf in the picture is no longer empty... the scavenger hunt findings are STILL trickling in!

We plan on sending the children and families on many more Nature Scavenger Hunts throughout the year to replenish/refresh our supplies... hopefully they will find them just as enjoyable!

So... what do other 'Guidecraft Educators' have to say about their selected August products??? (we each reviewed a product of our choosing)?

Maureen at Simply Stacie
Andrea at MommyPR
Deborah at Teach Preschool
Carrie from Huppie Mama
Jody from Mommy Moment
Candace at Mamanista!
Lisa from Planet Weidknecht
Vanessa from Pre-K Pages

The Giveaway

Guidecraft is generously offering ONE lucky reader of the Guidecraft Educators a chance to win one of these fabulous Modular Science Centers!!! To enter, comment on this post, sharing one of your favorite science-related items to explore with preschool aged children!

You have until Saturday, September 29 @ 11:59PM eastern time to enter.  Be sure to leave an email address so I can contact you if you are the winner!

Or... if you just can't wait to win one and NEED them now, they can be purchased online at: 

Guidecraft.com or Amazon.com

Tweet If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Penguin Palooza

 Check out the latest penguin reads before heading out to the zoo and seeing what varieties of penguins your local zoo houses!

Cole, Carol.
The Penguin Lady.
February 2012.
Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Penelope Parker became known as the "Penguin Lady" after presenting herself in black and white clothes and waddling while she walked.  Her love of penguins quickly grows out of hand after it becomes known that she has received a gift of penguins from her brother and sister for her birthday.  As the penguin collection grows from 1 to 55, it becomes obvious that Penelope has taken on more than she can handle and decides to donate the penguins to the local zoo.  After the penguins take up home at the zoo, she quickly becomes sad and lonely and looks for a new love... her new love might just surprise readers and pose for an interesting writing topic for older children!

This book is a fun read and will keep children engaged as they wait eagerly to learn what other kinds of penguins exist for Penelope to take in.  10 different varieties are mentioned and will likely spark wonder in children to learn more about each kind, allowing a great opportunity for a little research project!  A great way to encourage learning throughout the summer months!

Lester, Helen.
Tacky Goes to Camp.
May 2012.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

This book was previously released in a hardcover edition.  Check out my review on that product here.  Children are sure to love this latest paperback installment of the popular "Tacky" series and eagerly await the next one to read!

After checking out one or both of these great "Penguin Palooza" titles, head out to your local zoo and spend some time with the penguins!  What species are housed at your local zoo?  What do they look like?  Where do they come from?  What kind of habitat do they thrive in?  It's interesting to learn about all the different species and how they differ and are similar to each other!


Tweet  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Homemade "Melissa & Doug" Costumes

For a couple years I've had my eyes on these fancy Melissa and Doug dramatic play costumes for preschoolers that I've seen for sale at AC Moore (for about $29.99) but have resisted the urge to splurge.  I just couldn't fathom spending ~$29.99 on a single costume... so I decided to get thrifty this summer and create my own versions of several of them.  So far, I've gotten 3 done, but I have about 6 more planned!  I'll continue sharing as I get them done!

I started with the firefighter costume... but chose to make mind slightly different than the one pictured above.  I started at the Salvation Army store and purchased a long-sleeve men's black dress shirt.  When I shop the thrift store, I always look to see what color tags are 50% off on the day I'm there and purchase only items with that color tag!  I got the shirt for $2.00!  I made a stop at AC Moore and picked up a foam firefighter's hat for $2.50 (regular price $4.99 but I had a 50% off one item coupon).  Last stop... Walmart.  I picked up a yard each of yellow and gray fabric from their new $1.00 selection.  After trimming the bottom to square it up and shortening the sleeves, I sewed on the yellow strips first, using a technique similar to single-fold bias tape.  I repeated the process with the gray after all the yellow was done.  To make the shirt easier for the kids to handle, I sewed on some Velcro that I had left over from a different project. 

Time spent on costume: 1hr, 30 mins. 
Total cost?  $6.50!!! 
I have a feeling it's going to be a hit!

Next, I opted for something that I felt would be quicker... and it definitely was!  For the postal worker, I picked up a blue children's dress shirt (size 8, so it would be big enough for the children to wear comfortably over their own clothes during "work time" but not too big).  The shirt cost $1.00 at Salvation Army due to that color-tag sale I mentioned earlier!  I also purchased a small women's messenger bag to use as the mail bag... cost?  $1.99.  I had some leftover Iron-On transfer paper to print on the computer printer.  I found a US Mail patch, rotated it vertically so it was backwards and then printed it twice - one about half the size of the other.  I ironed these on to a scrap of white fabric, cut out the patch and then appliqued them on to the shirt and messenger bag and had myself a Postal Worker costume!

Time spent on costume: 30 mins.
Total cost?  $2.99
This could be one of my favorites so far!

My third costume is the "Salon Stylist."  I could kick myself for not doing this last year, as I had a little girl who was ALL about playing with hair... she would have loved this and when I discovered this costume, I couldn't pass up attempting to make one!  With the smock style, I bypassed finding something workable at Salvation Army and instead hit up the fabric racks at Walmart.  I purchased one yard of pink fabric off the $1.00 rack, chose a 1/2 yard of a coordinating fabric in a "styling" pattern ($2.49).  To go along with the outfit, I bought at the dollar store, two "beauty" kits for $1.00 each.  I started by free-handing a smock pattern on the pink fabric (leaving the fold at the top for the shoulders).  After cutting out the smock, I sewed double-fold bias tape along all of the edges to finish them off.  Using the coordinating fabric, I made a sash that will work as a tie on back in case the outfit is too big for some of the kids and then constructed pockets for holding the salon stylist tools and loop to hold/display the hair dryer. 

Time spent on costume: 1hr, 30 mins
Total Cost?  $5.49 (there's enough fabric left to make another, so technically the one cost ~$2.25)
Perhaps the most challenging, as it was all from scratch, but definitely pleased with the final result!

Up next?  Road Crew, Nurse and Waitress!

 

Tweet

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Bats Abound! It's summertime!

It's summertime... and chances are the bats are swooping in your neck of the woods... I know they are here!  Spend a few minutes learning about the little critters!

Halfmann, Janet.
At Home in the Cave.
February 2012.
Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Baby Bat is asked to practice flapping his wings while his mother sets out in search of food for herself on night with all the other adult bats from the cave.  In anticipation of all that the world holds, Baby Bat is fearful to fulfill his mother's request.  However, while flapping ever so slowly, Baby Bat unknowingly takes flight and lands in what could be a sticky mess.  However, in meeting his new friend, Plurbius Packrat, Baby Bat learns about how bats help out other cave-dwelling creatures and in the end, learns a couple of important lesson - despite their reputation, bats play an important role in our lives and that even though it may be scary to head out into the world of unknown, you can always go home at the end of the day to the familiar. 

Lies, Brian.
Bats at the Beach.
June 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.
**Super Low Price of $3.57 (lap board book)**

As the sun goes down and the evening sky approaches, the bats begin to rise from their slumber for a night at the beach - testing out the ocean waters, building sand castles, burying each other in the sand, pretending to be kites (dipping and diving), munching on bug-treats and roasting bug-mallows.  And, as all good beach days must, the bats night at the beach, too, must end, as they fly away before daybreak.

Children will appreciate the fun, rhyming nature of Bats at the Beach, they'll also be learning a great deal of vocabulary related to bats and their lifestyles (nocturnal habits, foods they feast on, etc). 

There are tons of benefits to housing a bat house in your backyard - check out this article from the National Wildlife Federation to find out about them!  After discovering just some of how bats are useful creatures in nature, work together to construct and decorate a bat house for your own backyard this summer!



Tweet  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Guidecraft Review & Giveaway Link: Steve Light Storybox: Hansel & Gretel

Each month, the Guidecraft Educators will share our honest feelings about a Guidecraft product(s) and how these products would fare in an early childhood classroom. This month's selection is from the new Storytelling-Steve Light product line, a Household Helpers line, storytelling boxes that contain a popular children's fairy tale along with pieces to use in collaboration with the telling of the tale.   These storytelling boxes are absolutely wonderful to use with young children and I can't wait until I have the opportunity to use them with my Head Start kids - I can only imagine the language and imaginations that will run wild while using them!

The Hansel & Gretel Storytelling Box

With all of the pieces neatly packaged inside (as is true of all the storytelling boxes), this compact kit with neatly "chiseled wood" characters and props is sure to be an eye catcher with children!  For the most part, the pieces are large and easily manageable for young children to explore, either in a retelling aspect or in their own story-telling imaginations.  I do worry about the small "crumbs" that Hansel & Gretel leave behind as they set forth to explore the forest... they are small... while most four-year olds know better than to put things in their mouth, there is the slight chance that younger siblings in the classroom could put the pieces in their mouth... that some less mature fours may put the pieces in their mouths.. or that the pieces will just wind up lost.  However, I think given the opportunity to explore with such wonderful materials and shown how to use them properly, children will be "responsible" and will show that they can be trusted to use them properly!  

Thoughts on the Storytelling Boxes

I absolutely love the entire concept of these storytelling boxes!  They are so well thought out and prepared... children are going to love exploring and using these!  Not only do I hope to get my hands on all four of the current storytelling boxes, I'm also planning to "make" some of my own - to expand and encourage storytelling in my classroom.  When children become actively engaged in storytelling they are much more likely to enjoy the idea of "stories" and "reading."  Not only will children enjoy using the pieces in each of the storytelling boxes to retell the fairy tales after they have become familiar with them - I see children using the pieces and creating their own stories - what a wonderful way to encourage vocabulary development and usage!

I hope in the coming weeks to purchase a few of my own boxes, Unfinished Cigar Boxes, and begin grouping objects to place inside them to create my own storytelling boxes, allowing children to use their imaginations and creativity to expand oral language and story telling skills.  I think this would be a wonderful large group activity and that children will really take ownership over - both in creating stories of their own, as well as in listening to the stories of their peers! 

So... what do other 'Guidecraft Educators' have to say about the different storytelling boxes (different 'Guidecraft Educators' have reviewed the different boxes)?

Maureen at Simply Stacie
Andrea at MommyPR
Deborah at Teach Preschool
Carrie from Huppie Mama
Jody from Mommy Moment
Candace at Mamanista!
Lisa from Planet Weidknecht
Vanessa from Pre-K Pages

The Giveaway

Guidecraft is generously offering ONE lucky reader of the Guidecraft Educators a chance to win one of these fabulous storytelling boxes!!! To enter, head on over and check out Vanessa's post at Pre-K Pages before July 30th.


Or... if you just can't wait to win one and NEED them now, they can be purchased online at:
Hansel & Gretel: Guidecraft.com or Amazon.com
Little One Inch: Guidecraft.com or Amazon.com
Rapunzel: Guidecraft.com or Amazon.com
The Girl Who Loved Danger: Guidecraft.com or Amazon.com

Tweet  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Summer Projects "To-Do" List

I have several (okay, more than several!) projects on my "to-do" list for this summer.  Two and a half weeks in, I'm actually surprised by what I've accomplished!  Here's my list at it stands now... I'll probably be adding more as the summer goes along!

1. Baby gift for cousin (baby due in November)
2. Baby gift for cousin (baby due in December)
3. Beach Towel Tote Bags for SEVERAL people... many more requesting/inquiring about these!
4. Shape/Color Pillows for "Quiet Area" in the classroom - idea inspired by some seen on Etsy
5. Spray Painted Clipboards for Student Artwork display
6. Homemade Trash Bag for Car
7. Chalkboard Table for "House Area" in the classroom
8. Kits for Students' "Take-Home" activities
9. Curtain for "Writing Area" in classroom
10. "Remodel" dollhouse purchased for classroom at garage sale for $2
11. "Remodel" garage broken by last years students
12. Decorate pool deck to make it more "friendly"

Check back!  I'll be posting pics of all my accomplished projects!

 


Tweet If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

In the Sea

Elliot, David.
In the Sea.
February 2012.
Candlewick Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

 This book of poetry introduces children to the mystical creatures of the sea.  From the very basic (starfish) to lesser-known creatures like the "Chambered Nautilus," children learn a variety of facts while easily picking up on the rhyming nature of the text. 

While the unique illustrations will draw young children in, the text is a bit more difficult for young children to understand and will likely loose their attention more quickly than that of an older child (7+ years old).  This would be a great book to put out on the shelf and let children "go" with it or to read it if it seems to peak their interests!

Learning Activities:


After reading, visit a local aquarium... see how many of these sea creatures you find within! 





Tweet

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

I Spy Under the Sea

Gibbs, Edward.
I Spy Under the Sea.
March 2012.
Candlewick Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

This take on the classic children's game, "I spy with my little eye..." is sure to have children engaged in the story and eager to guess what is being spied on.  The die-cut illustrations and "under the sea" theme make this book incredibly appealing and fun to look at, both for adults and children.   In addition to appeal factor and desire to reread this story again and again, children will become familiar with the popular game and you'll see them quickly begin to play on their own and start using descriptive vocabulary that will enhance their use of language!

Similar Books:

• I Spy With My Little Eye by Edward Gibbs
• Any of Jean Marzollo's & Walter Wick's "I Spy" series of books

Learning Activities:

Create a set of your own homemade binoculars.  After you've got your "I Spy" gear, set out on an "I Spy" adventure - take turns being "it" and using/building a descriptive vocabulary database for future language use!  If you and your little one(s) are really into, turn the game into a book-making adventure - create a book based on your own game!


Tweet  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!