This is a fun activity for children learning to alphabetize words. Cut out clothing shapes like socks, pants and shirts or if you want to keep it simple use index cards.  Write words appropriate for your child or just the ABC’s for the young children.

Tie string from one chair to another (or what works in your house or classroom) and have child use clothespins to hang the words in alphabetical order.

Other ways to use the Hanging Out activity:

Number Order: 1,2,3,4…

Skip Counting:5,10,15,20….

Sentence Order: Mix a sentence up and have child hang in correct order.

Place Dates from a Time Line in Order. This could be an informal assessment of history lesson.

A yummy fall snack that the littlest ones can make on their own!  Have an assortment of cereal in large bowls.  For example, Cheerios, Chex and mini-Shredded Wheat.  All of these have the organic equivalent at most grocery stores. Each child gets a baggie or small bowl to create the combination he or she wants.

A mini math lesson can easily be created with the cereal mix.  

Skip counting: Two, three or four of each cereal placed in a group. Practice skip counting touching the piles as you count.

Addition:  Grab any of two kinds of cereal (three for three addends), separate into piles. Count the amount in each pile and write on paper or whiteboard in a number sentence or equation (Example: 6+7=).  Count the total to get the answer.

Subtraction: Count the total amount of cereal and eat three (whatever number you want) then ask how many are left.  Write the equation out or if child is older have them write.

Division and multiplication:  Start with a number of cereal such as 15.  Have the child separate into equal groups, so they could make three groups of five, five groups of three or even one group of 15 or 15 groups of one.   For younger children guide them with the amount of groups.  You could say, “How can you make three even groups with your cereal?”  You can even draw three circles on paper to make it easy for them to divide.   Multiply or skip count once they are separated to show the relationship with multiplication and division.

This simple idea was completely child created while watching the movie Surf’s Up. When I saw my pillows being used as surfboards, we got out the poster board and crayons and designed our own boards. The children had a blast and I was happy to have fluffy pillows on the couch.

This could be much more advanced using patterns and measurement in the design. But sometimes it is nice just to hang loose and have fun!

Ingredients:
·       ¼ c cornstarch
·       ¼ c cold water
·       6-8 drops food coloring

Directions:
1.  Mix cornstarch and cold water together in a small plastic bowl.
2.  Add food coloring & stir.
3.  Repeat with different colors.
4.  Paint (paint can be easily washed away with water)

This fun idea submitted by Teresa!

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp unsweetened powder drink mix
1Tbsp warm water
Several small containers (muffin tin)

Directions:
Mix water & drink mix together in a small bowl.
Repeat several times using different flavors of drink mix.
Paint
Allow finished art to dry overnight before scratching and sniffing.

Ideas:
Create one of a kind greeting card or wrapping paper.

This idea submitted by  Teresa the  Super Mom!

Make a fraction book using your child’s favorite foods!  A great activity for a classroom big book. Clear mailing tape can be used to bind the book together. I simply have the child make one whole food and then on the other side or separate paper have the child divide it into fractions. Young children can do this part and older children should write out which fractions they made with their food and the equation to make the whole. For example, 1/4+1/4+1/4+1/4= 1 whole cookie.

Fun and simple activity for one or a group of children. A great activity for when you are traveling to keep the little ones busy. Just put all of the supplies into a plastic bag and when you are at grandmas, the hotel or even on the plane, take it out for an instant activity. Hint, put masking tape on end to avoid spilling especially while traveling!

What you will need:

String or thin licorice, cheerios, fruit loops, marshmallows, and any other food you can place on a string.

Thread the food on the string and place around neck and tie ends in a knot.

Make this into a learning experience for the little ones by making patterns, counting the amount as you string the necklace, simple addition and identifying colors.

Making a beach frame is a fun way to use your sea shell collection and create a great keepsake or gift.

What you will need:

• Small wooden frame
• Acrylic paint
• Sea shells
• Permanent adhesive glue like GemTac
• Photograph

Remove glass from frame. Paint frame solid color and let it dry.
Use permanent adhesive glue to decorate outside of frame with shells.  You can also use sand for the bottom of the frame.  Let dry completely.
Insert the photo and the glass into the frame.

I found this frame for one dollar at Michaels, but there is not a piece of glass in it. They also have wooden pieces painted or not painted in different shapes such as flip flops, sea animals, etc. (These range from 59-99 cents.)

Are you sending off a child to kindergarten or a new school this year?  Prepare your child for this exciting day.

Get the Layout
First, find out if you can tour the school with your child before the first day of school. Most schools have a “Meet the Teacher” event and I highly recommend taking advantage of this time to meet the teacher, look at the room and get a chance to get comfortable.

Practice Names
If possible, get the class list of names to start practicing the first week. This will help out the nervous children to remember names and make a friend or two the first week.  You could write them out on paper and draw pictures to match, play name bingo, or just discuss the children at the end of the day.

Make A Friend
If you do not know anyone in the class make an effort to set up a play date the first couple of weeks to help develop friendships.

Making Friends Skills
Use a tennis ball and play catch. Whoever has the ball gets to talk and ask a question, then toss, the next person answers and then asks a question. This will develop simple communication skills.

Make a “Making Friends” book. Fold some paper and make a cover, then each page have your child draw or write how to make friends.  This will be fun to read the first week or two of school.  A good way to start discussions about the school day.

The Kissing Hand 
Is your little one still apprehensive? Then a great book to read is The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.  This will send your child off feeling loved and warm inside!

A simple experiment for children to observe a floating bottle and the effect of adding water to the bottle. Then you can relate this to how a fish floats.

What you will need:

• Sink or tub of water
• Water
• Plastic soda bottle with the top

What to do: 

Fill up sink with water.  Fill up bottle half way with water and screw on top.

Have each child predict what will happen when the bottle is placed in water. Then,  place in water and observe.

Repeat, but fill bottle 3/4 with water.

Were the two outcomes different and why?

After discussing, explain how this information relates to fish (see below.)
How to explain why fish can float or swim in water: 

Buoyancy is a force that causes objects to float in a liquid or to rise in gas or air.  With no water or less water in the bottle, the greater amount of air pressure and so the bottle is MORE buoyant. It floats. Fish can control their buoyancy in almost the same way.  If they allow more air in their swim bladder they will be more buoyant, just like the bottle!