The Activity Mom

Pizza Math

2012-02-17T07:00:00.002-06:00

One way to make math fun is by using hands on materials. This pizza game is perfect for counting, adding and subtracting, or learning fractions!

How to Make the Pizza:

Materials:

A cardboard circle from a frozen pizza

Glue gun

Colored Construction paper

Using a ruler, I divided the circle into eight equal parts. Next, I glued the colored paper and then cut out small toppings.

Now for the fun! There are so many things that you can do with this fun manipulative.

For Little Ones

Count the pizzas slices- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Add slices- 1 + 1 = 2

Beginning subtraction- Mommy ate one piece of pizza, how many are left?

Pretend play- pizza shop

P is for pizza!

For K-4 Learners:

Beginning fractions- show 1/2, 1/4, etc.

Equivalent fractions- 1/2 is the same as 2/4 of the pizza or 4/8 of the pizza.

Adding fractions- 1/2 + 1/2 = 2/2 or 1 whole pizza or 1/8 + 1/8 = 2/8 (show using manipulative)

Roll a fraction- (put fractions on a cube) and race for the most slices of pizza

Story problems- Sally ate 2/8 of the pizza and Bill ate 1/4- How much is left? Kids can have fun creating their own problems as well!

Play pizza shop- Set up a small store, sell slices, make change.

After playing pizza math, reward your math whiz with a slice of real PIZZA!

Pizza Math was written by Jen of Creative and Curious Kids, Literature Links, and God's Shining Stars.

Angry Birds Magnets (printable)

2012-02-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

We are LOVING Angry Birds at our house right now. I hit the jackpot when I found this free printable for Angry Birds magnets at Artists Helping Children.

Simply print the 3 pages of Angry birds clipart onto magnetic paper or print them onto cardstock and put magnets on the back. Have fun!

Check out these other 14 Angry Bird inspired play ideas.

Drawing in a Box

2012-02-12T13:20:00.001-06:00

Save those empty boxes for a few days to let your kids crawl into, fill up, hide under, or color in!

Writing Practice

2012-02-09T07:00:00.001-06:00

Here are a few ideas that will help keep your child excited and interested in learning to write letters and numbers.

Writing in Rice
Also try sand, shaving cream, whipped cream, or pudding.

photo courtesy of Let's Explore

Paint Bag Writing
You can also try hair gel in the bag.

Printable Letter Tracing Cards
These are great for keeping in your purse to use while you are waiting or at a restaurant.

Customized Handwriting Printable Worksheets
Great for names, letters, numbers or words.

Make Your Own Writing Box
This is perfect for inspiring a love of writing.

Make Your Own Alphabet Dictionary
A fun way to practice letters, letter sounds, new words, names, etc.

Lakeshore Learning Software Games (Giveaway)

2012-02-08T07:00:00.001-06:00

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered.
Congratulations to the winner, Sally S.!

Recently we went to Lakeshore Learning Store and B was immediately drawn to the interactive white board and all of the awesome games that you can try on it right in the store.

Luckily all of the educational software that Lakeshore offers can be played on your home computer AND right now they are offering a special deal (coupon below).

B chose Numbers and Counting Adventures Interactive Activities. It includes 4 games that are great for building number awareness and counting skills. He loved it!

Lakeshore's educational software is available for ages PreK to 6th grade. You can buy it in the store or purchase a download online.

In February Buy One Software Title Get One 50% off!

You can print this coupon and use it at your local Lakeshore Learning Store OR use coupon code 7349 at checkout to get this great deal.

Want to win a FREE Software Download from Lakeshore?

How to Enter (Make sure you are a follower of The Activity Mom):

*Leave a comment below telling me which software game you think your kids would like.

Extra Entry:

Like The Activity Mom on Facebook

This contest starts now and ends on Sunday, February 12, 2012. A winner will randomly be selected, announced here, and contacted via email. Lakeshore provided me with a software download to review, but I was not compensated in any other way. These opinions are my own.

Toddler Activity - Piggie Bank Play

2012-02-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

N has been extremely interested in dumping out the coins from her bank and putting them back in. (Great for fine motor skills and counting.)

It just so happens that B learned how to clean dirty coins with lemon juice at school, so he has been cleaning the money that she has been playing with. Just soak a coin in lemon juice then wipe clean.

Montessori at Home! Winners

2012-02-03T17:59:00.003-06:00

Thank you to everyone who entered the Montessori at Home! and Montessori Print Shop Giveaway.

If you didn't win today, you can still use this $2 off coupon at Montessori at Home!

The winners are:

Medina Family

and

Sarah

Congrats! I will be contacting you shortly. Please get back to me within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected.

Funny Car Games

2012-02-02T07:00:00.018-06:00

Here is a fun game to play while you are waiting somewhere or even while in the car.

"Listen for the Mistake" is the name of the game. B loves it and laughs and laughs when we play it. I don't know what it is about hearing their parents make mistakes, but they love it. Believe it or not, this game helps with reading skills such as self correcting and comprehension!

Tell your child a sentence with a mistake in it and have them tell you why the sentence is wrong.

Examples:
I write with an eraser.
My cat is hard and furry.
A clock tells color.
I turn lights off when it gets dark.
A mouse is huge!

Or for more of a challenge tell a story with a mistake in it.
Example:
John went to the beach. He went swimming, sat in the sun, hunted for shells, and built a snowman.

You might also like these car games that we've tried:
Impromptu Car Game - Ages 18 months and up
Car Game #1 - Ages 3+
Car Game #2 - Ages 2.5+
Car Game #3 - Ages 3+
Car Game #4 - Ages 3+

Resource: Games for Reading: Playful Ways to Help Your Child Read by Peggy Kaye

Groundhog Day Activities

2012-02-01T07:00:00.023-06:00

Groundhog Day Magnet or Dot Marker Page from Making Learning Fun

Heart Groundhog Craft from Lucky Me

Groundhog Puzzle from Activity Village

Groundhog Alphabet Matching from Making Learning Fun

Groundhog Day Grid Game from Making Learning Fun

A printable, Groundhog Day Mini Book from Kinderteacher.com

Sleepy Little Groundhog

Up through the ground,

Creep, creep, creep-

The sleepy little groundhog

peek-peek-peeks.

If he sees a shadow

And the sun is bright,

He jumps down his hole

And ducks out of sight!

Up through the ground,

Creep, creep, creep-

The sleepy little groundhog

Peek-peep-peeks.

If there is no shadow

And the clouds hide the sun,

He jumps out of his hole

And he's ready for fun!

Angry Birds

2012-01-31T07:00:00.003-06:00

I am not on the Angry Birds bandwagon yet, but the boys are. So much so that I've been seeing a lot of Angry Birds inspired play at our house. B has been building different structures and knocking them down in different ways (shown above). I won't argue with that kind of fun!

B built towers out of paper cups and knocked them down by launching large pom poms.

Here are some other Angry Bird inspired activities that I found on Pinterest:

Crafting with Angry Birds from Make and Takes

Angry Birds War (printable) from Speech Room News

Printable Angry Bird Cubes from Toy a Day

Angry Birds from Head Above Water

Angry Birds Can Game from Homemade Beauties by Heidi

Angry Birds from Cardboard Tubes from Crafts by Amanda

Paper Angry Birds (free download) from Little Plastic Man

Angry Birds with Real Rocks from Brassy Apple

Angry Birds Craft from Kids and Glitter

More Angry Birds Play from I Can Teach My Child

Angry Birds Balloons (free template) from The Party Animal

Angry Birds Printable Kinder Unit from 1+1+1=1

CVC Word Activities

2012-01-30T07:00:00.007-06:00

Use this Silly/Real Word Sorting Printable with your child to work on phonics skills. Just print and cut the words apart. Ask your child to sound out or read a word. After they have read it, decide whether it is a real word or silly word and sort it into the correct pile.

You can also use big dice to make real words and silly words. Cover tissue boxes with construction paper to make the big dice. Read more here about how to play.

Here are more Word Family Printables that your children will love!

Montessori at Home Giveaway

2012-01-27T07:00:00.003-06:00

This contest is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered!

If one of your goals of 2012 is to work with your child more at home, then the Second Edition of Montessori at Home! is the perfect resource for you!

The new Second Edition of Montessori At Home! is a 296-page, multimedia Ebook that guides you through the entire process of doing Montessori early learning activities at home. Complete background and how-to chapters are followed by clear directions for over 250 early learning materials and activities. Areas covered include:

Maria Montessori
How-To Guide for parents
Everyday Life Activities
Sensory Experiences
Digital Life
Art & Music
Science
Geography & Culture
Mathematics
Reading & Writing
Free Printable Materials

Montessori early learning activities build powerful, efficient brain architecture. As children use them their attention, sensory perceptions, and muscle movements are all engaged and coordinated. As children gradually learn to focus their attention, their ability to learn anything is enhanced. Montessori activities help children realize more of their true potential. Montessori At Home! allows parents to experience the joy of providing activities that meet their child’s true developmental needs. Helping your own child become more confident and master important life skills is a wonderful experience.

The author, John Bowman, is generously offering my readers a $2 off coupon so they can get their own copy TODAY!

Montessori Print Shop also offers a bundle of printables that go with the Second Edition of Montessori at Home. This bundle will save you time and provides a fantastic starting point for parents.

Would you like to WIN

the Second Edition of Montessori at Home! (e-book)

AND

the Montessori Print Shop's Montessori at Home! Materials Bundle?

There will be 2 winners!

How to Enter:

Leave a comment below sharing who you will use these materials with.

Additional Entries (Leave another comment for each):

Like Montessori at Home on Facebook

Like Montessori Print Shop on Facebook

This contest starts now and ends Friday, February 3rd. Two winners will randomly be selected, announced here, and contacted via email.

Magnetic Puzzle

2012-01-26T07:00:00.001-06:00

Right now they have these magnets at the Target Dollar Spot. They also have superheroes. The sheet that you punch them out of is the perfect thickness to save and make a magnetic puzzle. Punch out the magnets and leave the outline on the fridge or magnetic board for your child to put the pieces back in.

How to Make a Light Box

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

Here is an easy way to make a light box for your child to experiment with:
Line a clear shoe box sized container with waxed paper and tuck a strand of Christmas lights inside. After you snap the top on, leave a small end of the strand and plug hanging out of the side of the box. Plug it in and have fun! For more details on how to make this diy light box, visit No Time for Flashcards .

Glass Beads are a fun item to add to a light table/box. This post at Teach Preschool also shows how to make a light box out of a strand of rope light and a scrapbook paper storage container.

You can use sand to create different designs and pieces of art on your light table/box like they did at Casa Maria's Creative Learning Zone

Discover with colored water as shown by Rhythm of the Home. A TON of awesome light table ideas at this site including colored shaving cream, mirrors, colored pasta, painting, and water beads.

Use bottle caps on your light table/box like they did at Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds.

Live Chat Here on 1/25

2012-01-23T20:00:00.001-06:00

Join us for a live chat HERE on 1/25 at 9:00 pm CST!

What will we be talking about?

Keeping your kids healthy during the cold months ~ food, lifestyle choices and tips to keep our homes germ free.

Thank you to the Horizon Healthy Families Community for organizing this fabulous opportunity to share with and learn from other moms!

Valentines Day Countdown - 10 Activities

2012-01-23T07:00:00.001-06:00

Heart Counting Game from Tons of Fun

Roll a Love Bug Game from Teaching Heart Blog

Heart Alphabet Matching from PreKinders

Heart Puzzles from File Folder Fun

Water Color Secret Messages from Better Homes and Gardens

Go on a Heart Hunt from The Activity Mom

Heart Color Sorting from File Folder Fun

Heart Candy Sort and Count from PreKinders

Heart Pattern Block Activity from Making Learning Fun

Valentines Day Heart Scavenger Hunt from The Activity Mom

Sorting Colors (printable)

2012-01-19T07:00:00.005-06:00

I've been working with N (24 months) on sorting and colors. I made this Color Sorting Printable to use on our new magnetic white board. Just print, cut, laminate, and attach magnetic tape to the back of each piece.

Don't have a magnetic board? Use the fridge or sort them on the floor!

Line up the color words on the left or on the top and line up the matching colored objects below/beside the labels.

If using all six colors is overwhelming, sort two colors at a time.

There are so many possibilities on how you can use this Color Sorting Printable! You could even make a book or collages with each color.

clipart from clker.com

Sharing this idea at:

Toddler Activity - Sorting for Beginners

2012-01-17T07:00:00.003-06:00

Sorting is such an important skill and in my opinion one of the easier things to introduced so I got N (23 months) started with these Sesame Street pictures (cut apart from an old bulletin board border I had).

We use the tray that the Melissa and Doug Magnetic Letters came in (you can use any type of tray, bowls, plates, etc.). I put one picture on each side to get her started telling her "Elmo goes over here and Cookie Monster goes on this side.". She took over from there and loved it.

Other Sorting Ideas:

Poker Chips (sort by color)

Pasta (sort by type: Penne/Macaroni)

Two Different Letters Cut from the Sunday Ads (ex: 5 letter Bs and 5 Letter As)

Pieces of Straws (sort by color or sort by size: long/short)

Pom Poms (sort by color)

Legos (sort by color)

Food from the Play Kitchen (sort by color)

Buttons

Erasers

Crayons

Dora Dot Marker Printables

2012-01-15T07:00:00.002-06:00

N turned 2 and we had a Dora themed birthday party. I made these Dora pages to use with dot markers at the party and I wanted to share them with you.

Feel free to download:
D is for Dora
B is for Boots
S is for Swiper

Looking for more Dora activities? Check out this Dora Themed Early Learning Kit at Time for Tots!

1 Ice Cube Tray - 2 Activities

2012-01-13T07:00:00.004-06:00

You can find this ice cube tray at the Target Dollar Spot and I really like how many spots it has for these games. For these activities you will also need dice and counters. We used mini erasers but you can also use pom poms, cereal, paper clips, garden stones, etc.

Activity 1

Each player uses a different counter. Take turns rolling the dice and putting that amount of counters in the tray. Try to work from top to bottom, left to right. When the tray is full, count how many you have in the tray. Whoever has the most, wins!

Targeted Skills:

Number Identification, Counting, More/Less, One to One Correspondence, Beginning Reading Skills (top to bottom, left to right)

Activity 2

The Toddler Version

Put one counter in each spot. Try to work Top to Bottom, Left to Right. When the tray is full you win.

Roll a die and put the corresponding number of counters in the tray. When it is full, you win.

Use tongs or tweezers to transfer pom poms or erasers to the tray.

Use the tray for sorting 3 different items, a different item into each row.

Shared this Idea:

Snowflake Games

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

Recently I used this extra snowflake border I had with N who is learning to spell her name. I also made few quick games for B with the border. You can do this with any type of paper, not just borders.

Fill in the missing number (shown above) and match the word to the picture (shown below).

Learning to Spell Your Name

2012-01-10T07:00:00.007-06:00

Toddler Activity Tray Ideas

2012-01-06T13:14:00.002-06:00

Here are a few simple activities that I've tried with N (24 months) recently that I wanted to share. Sometimes the simplest activities (the ones you spend the least time preparing) are the most popular with your toddler Remember that repetition is important at this age so you can rotate the activities or put a new one out each week, whatever works best for you.

Transferring Large Pom Poms with Large Tongs

Put the pom poms in the middle of the tray and use the tongs to transfer them into the outer sections. You could use this to make patterns, match colors, or for "making" food in the play kitchen.

Color Matching with Blocks

These foam blocks are large enough for toddlers to stack or match. Ask or tell your toddler the name of the color as they pick one up and match it.

Counting Cards with Extra Large Garden Stones

This is N's favorite. I only gave her cards 1-3 to start with. She puts the cards in order and then puts one large stone in each circle on the card. Sometimes we count them together, sometimes I'll point to and say the number of the card she completed but usually I let her lead the way with this one and chime in when I can.

Sorting by Color (with extra large garden stones)

We use the box that the Melissa and Doug Magnetic Letters came in but you could use any two containers or plates for sorting. I usually put one on each side to get her started.

Sorting by Size/Shape (with garden stones)

I put one on each side to get N started. Sometimes as she is sorting them I'll chime in and say "Big and Small" or "Circle and Oval".

Clipping Clothes Pins

Clip to the edge of a cup or a container. These plastic clothes pins are a change of pace from the smaller, wooden clothes pins. These seem easier for her to grasp and don't pinch as hard just in case little fingers get caught in the end. This was the most difficult activity for N. I might put it away and get it out again in another month.

Short on Time? I have these activities put together into a kit for sale at Time for Tots.

Taggie Number Squares

2012-01-06T07:03:00.003-06:00

I just had to share this really neat taggie number square that my friend made! She was inspired by the taggie square I made (click for the tutorial), but added her own spin and ironed on numbers on each square.

Wouldn't it be an awesome touch to put the corresponding number of ribbon loops on each one?!

Footprint People

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

This craft is perfect for a snowy day - simple and fun! Trace your feet and turn them into footprint people. Make a footprint family or turn your footprint into your favorite character.

We had so much fun with the footprint people that B thought we should make hand people too. All of the tracing and cutting was great fine motor skill practice.