• Dramatic Play Beach Props

    While you may not be able to get to the beach this summer, you can definitely make your classroom feel a little more like the beach.  Here are a list of props that you can collect for your dramatic play center to help create imaginative beach days: Beach towels Empty sunscreen bottles Sunglasses Beach umbrellas Sand toys Rafts and inflatable pool toys Beach balls Sun hats Flip flops Snorkel and flippers Your students can help you make a list of all of the things that they would need to take to the beach, they might come up with additional items that you had never even considered!

  • Beach-Themed Sand Play

    We may have hit the official halfway mark for summer when we celebrated the 4th of July last week, but that just means that we still have half of summer left to enjoy! What better way to enjoy all things summer time than with a trip to the beach?! While I would love to live near the beach – and around here we can make a day trip to Lake Erie happen – it’s not exactly a place that you can take a field trip to.  Child care licensing tends to frown on large bodies of water, so we usually have to bring the beach to us.  The perfect place…

  • Friday Freebie – Number Puzzles

    Happy Friday! Aren’t holiday weeks the best?! They go by so fast and then it’s the weekend again. I love these number sequencing puzzles, and this summer set from Klever Kiddos could not be cuter! These are great practice and can be used to focus on the number sequencing, or putting the picture together in the correct order. Go download your set and have a wonderful weekend!

  • Fun Ideas for Star Marshmallows

    I cannot resist holiday-themed treats, I always buy them, use a few for the holiday, and then find them in my cupboard 3 months later.  One thing that I purchase without fail (knowing full well that I will never use) are holiday shaped marshmallows. So this year I thought I would share some fun ideas for using them up, even after the holiday, in the hopes that this list will inspire me to use them up! If you missed out on the 4th of July Marshmallow fun you can probably still find them in the grocery store – maybe even on clearance! So what exactly could you do with these…

  • Happy 4th!

    Image Source Happy 4th of July! I hope that you are all taking time to enjoy your families and celebrate freedom and summer today!I’m looking forward to spending time outside and lots of barbecue.  My family also has a tradition of making homemade ice cream for the 4th and I can’t wait to get my hands on some of that! Enjoy your holiday and your celebrations!

  • Children’s Books for the 4th of July

    I think that 4th of July books often get overlooked because it isn’t a holiday that takes place during the traditional school year.  This is unfortunate because there are some real gems out there.  When it comes to celebrating Independence Day, here are my favorite books to share with young children (all links are affiliates): The Night Before the Fourth of July The Story of America’s Birthday F is for Flag Independence Day Do you have any favorite patriotic books? Feel free to share them in the comments!