Looking for ideas for a pioneer unit? You'll find a great selection right here. This post contains affiliate links. A few months ago, I read Farmer Boy to my five-year-old. He enjoyed it so much that we started reading Little House in the Big Woods. Now we're reading Little House on the Prairie. Today I'm sharing a variety of pioneer and westward expansion unit ideas that go perfectly with Laura Ingalls ... Read More
Q is for Quicksand
We're finding a sensory play idea for each letter of the alphabet. What to do for letter Q? Quicksand, of course! To make our own quicksand, we needed just three ingredients. We used playground sand from Menard's, a large container of corn starch from Sam's Club, and water. The kids took turns adding scoops of sand until we'd doubled the quicksand recipe I found at Growing a Jeweled Rose. Next, ... Read More
Alligator greater than, less than printables
(This post contains affiliate links.) You can do this activity using only two things: a) the free alligator printables (get them at the end of this post) b) something to count, like a stack of toys or small math manipulatives (for older kids, you just need a dry erase or chalk board) Among the three kids (ages 4, 5, and 7) we learned more about: counting comparing estimating number sense place ... Read More
Handwriting Practice for Preschoolers
Over the last year and a half, my two preschool boys have been doing a lot of handwriting practice. But it's not all worksheets. We start with concrete, hands-on ways to form their letters. I cut out small squares from my scrap booking supplies (since I have not found time to scrapbook since, oh... 2009). Then I printed a giant letter Q (get yours HERE), and my Four filled it with quilt squares. Next, he ... Read More
Uppercase block letters
(This post contains affiliate links.) We learn about letters in a variety of ways. When I'm first introducing the letter, I like to print a giant block letter and have my kids fill it in with objects that begin with that letter. As they're working, we talk about what they're using as a way to reinforce the letter and sound. "Here's a giant letter B! What are we going to fill it up ... Read More
Letter Q Crafts for Preschool
My kids and I have had so much fun creating our way through the alphabet. Since I have four kids who like to do arts and crafts, it's not hard to put together a big selection of crafts for each letter. Q was a little tough, but we did manage to find four letter Q crafts for preschool. Letter Q Crafts for Preschool Q-Tip Painting I put some washable tempera paint into empty ice cube trays, set some sheets of ... Read More
Free book of rhymes and songs for letter Q
Free book of rhymes and songs for letter Q Here are the rhymes and songs in the little book: Q is for Queen Pussycat, pussycat,where have you been?I’ve been to LondonTo visit the queen.Pussycat, pussycat,What did you there?I frightened a little mouseUnder her chair. Q is for Quill - sung to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" (original rhyme (c) 2014 The Measured Mom) In the old days ... Read More
Free letter Q Printable: Q is for Quarter
We do a variety of hands-on activities as we learn each letter of the alphabet. For each letter I create a simple printable that my toddler and preschooler can decorate with dot stickers. Today's page is for letter Q. Free letter Q Printable: Q is for Quarter While worksheets are not necessary for teaching preschoolers, my dot sticker pages can be a fun activity to change things up. It is certainly not ... Read More
Addition game for the harder math facts
How does your child do with the tougher addition facts? Sometimes it helps to do an extra activity to help them stick. That's why I created this printable addition game. (This post contains affiliate links.) My Seven is a huge reader. It's not unusual to find her curled up on the couch with a good book. Like a thesaurus. But getting her to have the same interest in math isn't easy. I'm ... Read More
Doughy Dinosaur Bin (plus 100 more kids’ activities!)
(This post contains affiliate links.) We're just a month into summer vacation, and my kids have let me know more than a handful of times that they're "bored." Most of the time, I let them solve this dilemma on their own. But sometimes I help them create an opportunity for play. Nothing fancy. Pretty inexpensive. Often messy. Almost always fun. To do our doughy dinosaur dig, we ... Read More