summer
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Preschool Bee Theme
I’ve shared some amazing ideas for learning about bees, but this is definitely one subject where the item being investigated can’t be easily brought into the classroom. Here are some bee themed materials that can be used to safely support learning. All links are affiliates. National Geographic Kids Bees Book Bee Habitat Honeycomb Ice Cube Tray Bee Science and Sensory Materials Beekeeping Dramatic Play set
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Exploring Bees in the Classroom
Bees are an excellent topic to explore in the classroom because so many children have a fear of them – and the best way to combat fear is with knowledge! That said, there is a reason to have a healthy fear of bees, being stung HURTS and for some children being stung can come with dangerous allergic reactions. Many preschoolers have never been stung by a bee, so they don’t know if they’re allergic or not – which adds to the uneasiness surrounding bees. All of this means that bees are a topic that requires additional safety considerations when being studied in the classroom. Here are some ways to safely…
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Preschool Theme – Bees
Children have very strong opinions about bees – usually related to the fear of being stung. That’s understandable, most adults spend a fair amount of time warning children to stay away from bees so that they don’t get stung. There is so much more to bees than their defense mechanism though. They’re a super important part of our ecosystem, which makes them a great topic to explore in the classroom. Here are some easy printable activities to support children’s learning in this area. Click on the picture for more information.
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Summer Science – Ice Tie Dye
My daughter and I tried ice tie dye earlier this summer and it was such an easy way to create really awesome tie dye art. Usually I’m NOT a tie die fan because you just can’t avoid a serious mess. Ice tie dye was totally doable with minimal mess. Here’s the idea – You either band the item you want to tie dye just like you usually would OR just crumple it up for a different look. Then you set the item on a baking rack and balance the entire rack over a bin (you’ll want something to catch all the dye as the ice melts). After setting all of…
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Classroom Recipes for Summer
One of the most useful tools for the classroom that I’ve ever put together is my Classroom Recipe Book. This collection of recipes gets used over and over again throughout the school year, but summer is a time when they can really shine! Summer gives us the opportunity to slow down a bit an really play. Play with all of these ingredients, make messes, explore and then explore again, and try something totally different. That’s what these recipes are all about. Some of my favorite recipes for summer (that are included in the book of course) are: All of these are wonderful to use outside and kids absolutely cannot resist…
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Things to do the week before summer camp
‘Twas the week before camp and all through the house… I’m sure there’s a great poem there, but that’s not my style. It is however the week before camp at our house and that has come with a super long to-do list! Here’s what needs to be tackled before I send my girl off for the week. I’m sure that I’m forgetting something, but hopefully I’ll have it all under control by the end of the week.
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Preparing Kids for Summer Camp
We’re deep into packing to send my girl to overnight camp for a week, and we’ve been doing some other things to make sure she’s prepared too. Any new camp can be a big deal for a child, no matter how old they are. It means new people, different schedules and expectations, and situations that they’ll have to figure out. Going to camp is a great opportunity for children to build independence and learn more about themselves, but it can also bring a lot of anxiety. Here are some of the things to consider as you prepare your child for any new camp experience. Know your child. A shy child…
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Preschool Summer Themes
There are so many fun themes to explore in the classroom during the summer! If you’re looking for a little inspiration , or some easy resources click on the images below – they’ll make the planning easy so you have more time to do a little relaxing by the pool!
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Hiking with Kids
One activity that my daughter and I both enjoy is hiking. We have very different definitions of “fun” hikes – she prefers the most adventurous physical trails, while I like a chill scenic vibe – but we’ve both learned a lot about planning for a day on the trails. Here are some of the things that I always consider before heading out for a hike. Know your limits. All of our local hikes are pretty flat – we don’t live in a mountainous or hilly area at all. This means that our bodies are used to a fairly steady elevation. I’d have no problem spending an entire day in a…
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Camping with Kids
We just got back from a weekend camping trip and we are all exhausted because we played HARD. Camping has always been a favorite for our family – our daughter’s first camping trip was when she was only a month old. Over the years we’ve learned so much about camping with kids at different ages and stages. Here are some of the things that work for us. Pack intentionally. We try not to take TOO much stuff with us when we camp (that’s kind of the point), but there are definitely things that make life easier when you’re traveling anywhere with little ones. The areas that I really focus on…
