Art - Watercolor Koi

P * I * N * T * E * R * E * S * T

...find out what it means to me...

{sung to the tune of  R.E.S.P.E.C.T. find out what it means to me }

Are you singing now?

Anyway Pinterest is an awesome tool.  Not simply a distraction from life, a time waster, nor enabler to an addiction for eye candy, or the ever never ending IDEA factory.  It actually and really does have its practical benefits.

Take for example this art idea that I discovered in my travels there.  { Please don't think I'm bragging, I'm not, I just perhaps feel like mentioning that I have over 5000 pins there, and I am only telling you this just in case you might like to pop over and find something useful.  I don't mind being an enabler for important things you know~!! }

My apologies, I got carried away there for a moment and forgot my real intended purpose for todays entry, the Watercolor Koi.

In my Art album you'll find this:  just click the picture to go its HOME.  I'll save you the middle man jump, just for today.  

{ Just don't blame me when you get addicted to living there - at Art Projects for Kids, not Pinterest. }

Sorry, picture removed due to copyright restrictions, but never mind - you can still check out our versions below.

So being teacher and all I had to do the sample / model for the lesson.  Here's my result. 

Then the girlies had a go too.

Chloe - 7

Phebe - 5

Hannah - 3

I only helped her a tiny bit ( outline in pencil of fish )

So, if you're ever looking for Art ideas for school I highly recommend Pinterest and Art Projects for Kids.  :o)

Thanks for visiting.

Psalm 71

As I mentioned last week I was going to do the Psalm 71 memory challenge with the other ladies from Do Not Depart.

You can find their schedule and helps for Psalm 71 HERE.

Today we begin with verse 1 and 2.  Next week 3 and 4.  

So.....long story short,

I started making some extra helps for myself, which now in turn are being passed along for you - to help you too.

Here are the first 4 verses in a little 4 page to 1 page version:

I've included some lined writing paper in there as well.  What I did with the 4 in 1 was print out a page and fold it into quarters so that it became a little book, and I just use it to copy out the verses.  I write in red the ones that are already committed to memory, and black the ones I need to work on.

I also have a regular exercise book where I copy them out too.

Or if you want full page versions for putting up in your house:

I DO hope that you will join us.

Thanks for visiting.

January Product Swap

Yay~!!  And welcome back for another Product Swap.

I can't wait to show you what I am reviewing for you today.  You are going to love it~!!

Today I will be reviewing a product called 

{ 5 Long Vowel Literacy Centers }

by Jennie Johnson from:

 * * * * * 

Name of Product: 5 Long Vowel Literacy Centers 

Format:  Downloadable PDF file

Number of Pages:  47 pages

Grade target:  Kindergarten, First

 * * * * * 

About the product:

This is a COLOR product, so make sure you have plenty of ink.  It is WELL worth it.

What is in the pack:

There are 5 separate game packs.  Each game set comes with its own game cover for putting on the front of your file folder / envelope.  This makes it easy to find the games that you want to use, and easy for the children to pack away when finished.

It also includes instructions for the students which you can stick to the underside of your file folder / envelope.

For the teacher, it also has instructions on how to set up all of the activities.

What the games cover:

Long a- Spider Sort ai, ay, a_e
Long e- Busy Bees ee, ea
Long i- Chicken Coop Egg Hunt- igh, y, i_e
Long o- Where's my Bone?- oa, o_e
Long u- Alien Invasion- ue, ui, u_e

Who I had use the product:

Chloe 7
{as revision}

Phebe 5
{as part of what is required for her to learn this year}

Hannah 3
{advanced work and phonogram practice}

* * * * * * *
  
How we actually used it: 

After downloading the product I printed, laminated and cut out all the pieces. 

On the first day we used 'Spider Mania'.  This consisted of 3 game boards, their cards, and a worksheet.  The children were required to place their cards on the appropriate board for the / ai, a_e, ay / sound.

Sampe 1 - the game board in use.

Sampe 2 - the worksheet in use.  Additionally I also had a child underline the focus phonogram set.

On day two we used 'Busy Bees'.  This set also came with 3 boards, cards, and a worksheet.

Day three we used 'Chicken Coop Egg Hunt'.  This set also came with 3 game boards, cards, and worksheet.

The completed activity.

Day four we did 'Where's My Bone?'  This set only has two game boards.

Charlotte, my one year old decided that she wanted to hop up and see what all this card work was all about.  She was totally interested in the activity.

I just happened to take this photo at the right time showing her super excited and happy.

A completed worksheet.   All the worksheets vary and match their corresponding game pieces with clipart.  

Day 5 ( which we also did on day 4 ) we also did 'Alien Invasion'.  This set came with 3 game boards, cards, and a worksheet.

Another completed worksheet.

As a literacy center you could easily use all 5 sets on the same day or week and just rotate the children through until they'd used all of the games/worksheets.

What the girls thought:

Chloe: "Fun"

Phebe:  "Easy and fun."

Hannah: "It's so easy, I love that one."


What I thought:

This pack is awesome as a center activity~!!

The file is also professionally presented.

I also liked that the activities were no stress, quick, and easy.   The cute graphics make it very appealing to children.  It was also self directed once I had explained how to play the game.  

* * * * * * *

Don't forget to check out Jenns blog.  She has lots of other interesting teachery stuff there too~!!




Her pack is only $ 6.00.  Just click the following to go to her store and purchase.

Thanks everyone~!!

Now go and have some fun shopping.  :o)

Disclaimer:  I received this product, at no cost to me, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine. 

  

The Story of a Sand Pit

As parents we are always thinking of ways to bless our little children with items that would bring them some form of happiness or educational value.

So earlier this week we went and got them a little sandpit.  Just a little plastic wading pool and some sand.

I don't know what was in our minds, but it sure wasn't what it actually turned out to be.

In a matter of hours we had this horrendous MESS in the patio section.  It was EVERYwhere.    It only took a couple of days before we called it quits.

Nothing makes you rethink an idea ever so quick as to find huge lumps of sand coming into the house and being deposited on the lounge and walls - yes I said walls.  Who knows how they managed that.  I am thinking that the water that they added helped somewhat.  I am also afraid at how much might have made it to the carpets - just good on me that I like to vacuum and have done a couple of rounds since then.

{ Photo does not give full credit to the complete and utter destruction debasement of the patio.}

As for the little children wearing it from HAIR to TOE.  Thoroughly and lavishly washing it through their clothing and sticking as much as they could to their skins and in their hair.  Getting back to their primitive bonding?  Possibly.

It was gross, and the extra work bordering insanity.

NOT so great an idea in real life after all.  Well, not at my house anyway.

Sometimes we have to learn lessons the hard way.

The sandpit was cremated by the heat wave sun the other day all over the grassy land in the backyard.

The little children cried.  The oldest cried the loudest.  I guess it's because she understands what death is.

It shall always be remembered for its delightful rugged outdoor friendship - however short it was.

Thanks for visiting.

Schubert

This week my lovelies we are listening to Schubert.

A biography exists on wikipedia.  Interesting tidbits surround.

 A coloring page if you need it - just click the image to go to its home.

and another one, just in case.

 



HERE is what I am going to read to the girlies this week. {or just click his face below for the download.... }  It has TWO short biographies in it.




Nadene also keeps some handy pages HERE.

 Oh, and don't forget to stop by this PLACE HERE as well.

And my favorite place for educational music - youtube.  Do please join us for a few minutes to experience one of Franz Schuberts works - 'Serenade'.
 



Thanks for visiting. :o)

Books

Here are a couple of books that we started looking at this week:

This one has been on my shelves for some time now and is finally going to be read aloud to the girls.

This one is a new addition that I picked up this week.

I envision a very slow reading, very slow.  I want to read them slowly so that we have time to really look at and think about the illustrations and ideas presented.

Thanks for visiting.

Bloggers From Around the World

I was just surfing the net just before lunch today while I waited for the chicken kebabs to be ready. ( I did the salad part so hubby was out there doing the meat.   He cooks a lot of the meat on the BBQ. ) and I came across a cute little linky party going on.

For curious peoples: lunch

Okies, back to the linky party.

 It was very specifically for all the Non-US bloggers, so curious little old me followed the links back and had a peek to see more about it.

When I got there I discovered that there weren't ANY Australians.  I said, "What?  How's that?"  LOL  

Then you know I had to come and join up - just so we had at least one on there.

So, by now you know I'm in Australia.  :o)

Today we have a lovely sunny day.  The air conditioner is on, and I'm planning some garden work this afternoon after a little trip out to the shops.

Most of our school day is done. We still have a couple of lessons to go but still pretty much on schedule.  :o)

About my blog:

I'm a homeschooler with an addiction to Paper and Pinterest and I also keep a TpT store too.

I have a number of FREEBIES available also, some are just here on the blog and some on TpT.  So while you are here don't forget to have a look around.

Thanks for visiting though, nice to meet you.  :o)

Deborah

in Australia