Growing Memories and Minds

Monday, May 30, 2011

Farms

http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/farm/

Music

Down on Grandpa's Farm
Down on the Farm- Greg and Steve
Old MacDonald
Here we Go Round the Mulberry Bush
Shortnin Bread

Monday, May 2, 2011

Earth Day Books

Books to Celebrate Earth Day!

These are some books we checked out and really enjoyed. There are much more than this at the library of course, but here's a few ideas either to get started or to add to your family's knowledge.

This Tree Counts by Allison Formento

In this book a teacher brings his class out to listen to the sounds and observe nature around a tree. He also tells them about what trees are used for. It concludes with them planting more trees.

How Groundhog's Garden Grew- Lynne Cherry

One of my personal favorite children's stories by Lynne Cherry. Groundhog learns about planting his own garden from his friend Squirrl. This can be very inspiring for children to grow their own gardens. I learned a little about vegetable gardening myself from reading this. It also made me hungry for fresh produce!

Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres and Nadine Bernard Westcott

Another great children's gardening book. This book helps them understand how different vegetables and fruits grow.

Stuff! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by Steven Kroll

In this story, Pinch the pack rat is reluctant to give up his stuff which is spilling out of every door, window and hole of his house. He learns about how others may have excellent uses for stuff he no longer does.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Plastic

Haven't read this one but it looks good! Saw it online! Looks like it is about how plastic is made, how it is used, and how it affects the environment.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

House Labels for Reading

This is an idea from the book, Games For Reading: Playful Ways to Help Your Child Read by Peggy Kaye. This was a book my mom had in her study that she gave to me the last time we visited. Though it was published in 1984 the ideas are still great and very useful.

This is one of the more basic games in the book and a great one to start with. We're about to start labeling our kitchen!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

I Can Discover Spring

Books

Up, Down and Around
This Tree Counts
Paddington's Garden
How Groundhogs Garden Grew- Lynne Cherry

Art

Coffee Filter Flower- Tear up tissue paper and glue it inside of a coffee filter. Paste a green stem onto a blue piece of construction paper and paste the coffee filter on top. Add leaves and what ever else you want to the background.
Coloring flowers
Lady Bug- made at the library
Butterfly- made at school
How a Seed Grows Book

Activities