A is for Apple

School has started and fall is fast approaching.  It's time to break out the alphabet and the apple activities for back to school fun!  

We started our theme with a simple letter trace.  It's great for developing letter recognition and fine motor skills, especially in early writers.  I drew a letter A on a piece of construction paper and allowed my son to choose from markers or crayons (both would have been OK too) for tracing.  Once Michael was done, he pasted on a few apples I had cut for another project.  

  For more letter recognition and word association, Michael glued apples to the letter A.  

We took our art outside for some simple, apple tree inspired easel painting.  I gave Michael red and green paint, along with a brush and a cork and set him free....

 Michael's creation

Later, his older sister joined the fun.

We also made some applesauce together.  Yum, yum!

For more apple activities check out my Apple Themed Pinterest Board!    

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*Disclaimer: These activities are a year old.  Often, I do things with my kids, take pictures, but never get around to blogging what we've done.  I'm lazy, I'll admit it.  You know, I sit around, doing nothing all day....Ok, not really.  I'm usually running my son to playdates, my daughter to art class, assisting with homework, and doing pesky chores like laundry, vacuuming, and cooking.  I figure though, since I'm pregnant and doing less with the kids at the moment, I can catch up on things we did last year so the pictures don't go to waste :)   

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30 Days to Hands on Play: Block Building

Day 3 of the Hands on Play challenge sounded like fun...build with blocks!  Well, today, that was easier said then done....

We had a busy day running around getting the car looked at, library, new shoes, etc.  Once we got home, I cleaned the kitchen and told my kids that after dinner we could build with blocks together.  Well, my daughter took forever to do her homework, so she was out.  My son, was so tired he was whining and throwing tantrums.  I asked him what he wanted to make and he said, "a fish", so he laid out 3 blocks for the tail, then told me to finish it...

 So I made a fish...I guess...

 Then Michael became frustrated with SOMETHING, I don't remember what, and kicked the blocks around.  As suddenly as the tantrum came on, it stopped, and Michael said, "look I made a dog!"  My daughter thought I should post this picture and ask, "Do you see the dog?"  Well, do you?

So we put away the ABC blocks and pulled out the Mega Blocks.  With much frustration, Michael built a rocket ship, "because I never got to go in rocket ship yet."  

 Michael's rocket ship.

Finally, we kind of made this "castle" together.  I say "kind of" because I prompted it but Michael added, oh, maybe two blocks, then was off in his Michael world.  He had no interest in helping me.  


I tried, I really did.  But I learned that play, doesn't always go your way.  I finally listened to the cues; we put the blocks away and pulled out the one thing my son has been asking me to do ALL DAY...we battled each other on Skylanders, the kids' new Wii game. My son LOVES to play with me, especially when he beats me (I don't believe in letting kids win so he honestly beats me quite a bit when we battle together).   


On a side note, my son is sleeping in his fort again tonight.   

F is for Fishing-A Teach Preschool Celebration

Today's post is in celebration of Deborah Stewart and the 20,000 likes her wonderful Teach Preschool Facebook page reached the other day.  Deborah is a talented teacher and blogger and her 20,000 likes have inspired all of us other early childhood bloggers to reach for the stars.  I am proud to be a part of her network and her celebration of The ABC's of Teaching Preschool. 

F is for Fishing

My friends daughter celebrated her 5th birthday with a fishing party at Crystal Pier in San Diego.  The kids fished, chased birds (and each other), ate snacks, and enjoyed front row seats to the capture of some interesting sea creatures (although none by us!)

We could hear and feel the waves crashing below the pier.  Michael decided to take a better look.  

The owner of the bait and tackle shop on the pier helped us place the proper weights and hooks onto our poles.  He also gave us some tips for pier fishing.  The chosen bait was shrimp.  The price for hooks, bait, and weights was only $6 for 4 poles!  No charge for the 3 min. pier fishing lesson. 

Ariel had fished before with my mom but this was Michael's first time.  He liked trying it out but didn't have the patience to stay with it for long.  

 Finally Ariel caught something!  The seaweed quickly became a plaything. 

 Then one of the other kids found some loooooonnnngggg seaweed, which was a lot more fun!

The guy next to us caught a lobster!  The youngest of our group said, "look mom, a spider!"  We loved watching it crawl backwards after it was set down.  Then the fisherman returned it to the ocean.  My daughter asked him why and he said, "it was too small".  Didn't look small to me! 

  Then he caught a crab!  This he kept.

After successfully loosing all 4 hooks, it was time to venture under the pier.  Lucky for us the tide was low revealing sea creatures like sand fleas (or sand crabs)....

mussels...

 sea stars... 

and this squishy thing attached to seaweed (limpet?).  If you know what it is, please tell me!

What a wonderful adventure!  

 

Don't forget to check out the other letters of the alphabet celebrating Teach Preschool!  Just go to her site and scroll down to the link party!   

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