Playing and Learning with Shapes

Learning the shapes is fun. In our learning cabinet I keep different baskets containing manipulatives, amongst them there is a bag full of wooden shapes like stars, squares, circles, and triangles.  There are many ways we use them and I try to keep it different for the kids. Often times, they use them during their free-play time at the table and build towers. So fun. I love hearing them giggle as they try to keep the tower from falling. 

This time I got out the shapes, paint, and brushes to make a  Colorful Shapes Collage.

Supplies:

• wooden shapes
• washable paint
• brushes
• paper
• painting smocks
• towels

Instructions:

1. Set the paint on the table and let the children choose their colors.
2. Demonstrate (if necessary) how to paint using the brush.
3. Stamp the paper
4. Have fun! 

This was a fun, very hands-on, and interactive activity. 

Happy learning!

 Fabi

Folder Game Free Printable

Folder Games can be real life savers! I use them while I am cooking, quiet time, or for those times when I just need a little bit of quiet. 

Here are two different sets of memory games. One has cars in different colors and the second one has monkeys doing different actions. 

Cars: It can be used as a memory game, teaching color names in any language. 

Monkey: Memory game focusing on details. 

How to Download: 

Right click each image and choose "Save image as". Save it to your computer and print! 

***Steps***

• Print on cardstock, paste onto a second cardstock to add a fun background color to your cards.  
• Laminate for durability at Staples, Office Max, etc.

Have fun! 

~ Fabi 

Homeschool: Calendar Wall

I went back and forth for several weeks whether to have a calendar wall in our dining room or not. In the end, I decided "why not!?" Sure thing, I went to Jo-Ann's, my go-to store for school supplies, and got several teaching posters at $1.99 each.  

Why posters?

1. It's a constant teaching aid. The kids are able to choose to count, review the colors, or shapes several times throughout the day. Sometimes my oldest (almost 5) helps my (almost) 3 year old with the shapes and colors. They also take breaks from playing to go look at their posters. 
2. I placed them at their eye-level. Easy for them to read, touch, point at.  
3. I do have a younger child, age 1, who is interested in the pictures and imitates his older siblings. So far, he is doing really well at not pulling them down. So I think it'll work out well. 

We have also included a Fruits and Vegetables poster to help remind us of healthy things to eat.  During meals, the kids have asked if the foods we are eating are some of the ones in the poster.  I feel like it is encouraging the kids to try more fruits and vegetables because they are constantly reminded to eat healthy. 

Directly above the posters, we have the days of the week. Each day of the week is written in English and Spanish. We review the names, everyday, in both languages.  We also use a paper clip with a ribbon to mark which day of the week it is.  

I hung the posters using 3M's Clear Adhesive hooks  (affiliate link). 

Sunday or Monday, Which is the first day of the week?

Now, about the days of the week, I had to decide whether to have the first day of the week be Monday or Sunday. You see, in Chile the first day of the week is Monday and that's how it is in all calendars.  However, here in United States, Sunday is the first day of the week. Therefore, I decided I would keep Sunday as the first day because 1) we live in the US, 2) the calendar starts with Sunday here 3) to avoid confusion. 

Do you have a calendar wall at your home?  Or do you have one  that you can easily pull out for school time? 

Happy Teaching!

~ Fabi