Kleas

what we made at the preschool-mother's day gifts

Our handwork at the preschool this week was to make treasure boxes for moms for Mother's Day.  We used 32 count match boxes, acrylic paint, origami paper, shells, beads and felt scraps to decorate the boxes.  We glued ribbon or yarn to the sides of the outer box so moms are able to wear their treasure boxes as necklaces.  
I try very hard to let each child explore the craft in their own way.  While I create a limit with the choice of materials, they are free to work with the supplies as they wish.  Some are influenced by the sample I present to them, but others freely create, often with a specific idea in their mind.  And I am very happy to try and meet their ideas by cutting shapes for them from the felt...like bunnies, flowers or trees.  

I know I keep repeating myself but I always find such joy in the unexpected creations.  From the elaborate to the minimalist.  Each one is so special because it was made especially for their mom.

For the inside of the box the children were given a small square of water color paper to "write" a note, (some can write their name), draw a picture, make a heart thumbprint, or all of the above.  They also chose treasures to include that meant something to them.

I think the moms will love these as much as I do.

spring festival

Our preschool May Day festival was a success!  

25 burlap wrapped petunias as centerpieces for our lunch table.  One four-pack for each child to take home to plant in their garden.

"Branches of Snowy May" to use during our traditional circle song (found here).

It was not as warm as predicted but there were no thunderstorms or even rain and there was plently of wind which was perfect for our craft...making paper kites.

I followed instructions found here and prepped them steps 1-3 plus steps 6 + 7.

The children chose the color kite they wanted and with the help of their parents taped down the bamboo stick (I used a 3/16" dowel cut to size), chose the color of streamer (I use crepe paper - not surveyors tape) and tied on the string.  A few simple steps and they were ready!  (This craft is great for all ages and I highly recommend it!  This kite is so easy to get up in the air)

They were so easy to fly!  And the kids ran....and ran....and ran....

what we made at the preschool-dandelion prints

I've been carrying the theme of the dandelion through circle and story at the preschool this month and wanted to incorporate a project to go with it.  Thinking back to an earlier experiment, I thought it would be fun to try pounding dandelions.  It's a good flower to work with as we have an abundance of them in our yard and there would be plenty for all 21 children to work with.

After pounding the dandelions flat, it's important to be gentle when brushing the crushed pieces off as the paper could be pretty wet. 

I love the different perspectives of these two prints after the children added green crayon.

From circle...

O Dandelion, yellow as gold, what do you do all day?  “I just wait here in the tall, green grass, ’till the children come to play.”   O Dandelion, yellow as gold, what do you do all night?“   I wait and wait, while the cool dew falls, and my hair grows long and white.”And what do you do when your hair grows white, and the children come to play?  “They take me in their dimpled hands, and blow my hair away!”

 

What I made for the nature table...

Story...

Star Children

Also, I think I'll have to try making Lisa's dandelion bread and jelly for snack one day.

bead bunnies

Here's what we made at the preschool before I left town in March.

Using two wood beads, some wool felt and a little bit of paint, we made these sweet bead bunnies. They had the option of painting the beads white, pink or just leaving them natural.  Are you surprised to see so many pink ones?

Even most of the boys at my preschool favor pink.

The holes in the beads were to serve as an eye on the bunny.  Don't you just love the one with the "eye" turned straight up?

To make them we started by painting the beads (you could use wood beads that already have color).  I pre-cut the wool shapes making a long heart shape for the ears and a sort of four-leaf-clover for the feet.  Then the kids simply glued them together tucking a tuft of scrap wool in the back hole for the tail.

Julen hasn't stopped playing with his since he made it.

preschool project + some random stuff

I do like having this space to document what we make at the preschool.  It helps me sort out my ideas for projects, see what we made and when, and will help me be more prepared as each new school year starts.  This bird feeder project is what my teaching partner made with the kids when I was in Florida for a conference  last month.

Cups and saucers were found at the thrift store and then each set was drilled carefully so as not to break the ceramic.  She made a hole through both pieces and then using a nut, eye-bolt and washer secured the two pieces together.  With a bit of fish line and bird seed they were ready for hanging.

Julen couldn't wait to show me when I got home.  I didn't get to see them all, but the ones I did see sure are cute.

A few random things...

...first bloom of the season

...this is what happens when I leave my boy on his own while I have a twenty minute conference call with one of my parents

...and finally...I'll be away from this space next week while out of town for another conference.  I won't even pretend I'll be able to check in here as I tend to get too busy with the meeting.  Be well friends.  See you soon.  xx

preschool ramblings

Like most of the US, we are experiencing a crazy early spring.  Spring temperatures in the seventies?  Unheard of!  Today we reached seventy-eight and I had to keep reminding myself it is still March.  Trying to remember what it was like a year ago, I went back to find this snowy day.  It's hard not to think of gardening, but it's still too early.  (Right Mom?  Right Anna?*) 

*Anna comes from a family of master gardeners

This weather makes for lovely outdoor play at the preschool and today was exceptional!  It's hard to know how to dress when the day begins in the forties, but it didn't take long before the sun warmed our bodies and the coats, hats and sweaters were stripped off.

The bright sunshine made for some happy shadow play against the house.

And we couldn't keep ourselves away from playing in the garden.  By pulling seed pods off old plants and sticking them in the soft ground, we were able to build our own special garden.

When I arrived home this afternoon, there was a surprise waiting for me in my door...

...a sweet gift for my school from a little leprechaun.

what we made at the preschool-collaged stones

This is a little project we did at the preschool last month.  My original idea was to use some of the beautiful fabric scraps that have been donated to my school by some of the moms who sew.  I thought it would be fun to decorate stones with all the gorgeous fabrics.  What I quickly found out is that the fabric was too bulky to sit nicely on the rocks.  It may have worked better if the rocks were larger.

So instead, I cut up squares of pretty paper and using just a bit of glue the kids arranged and glued the paper on their stone.

Each child always gets their own little lid from a baby food jar with just a bit of glue to use.

Once again, I marvel how each child's individual style comes out in their projects.

Happy Friday!!!  xx

what we made at the preschool-wool mice

This week we revisited a craft I first introduced at the preschool three years ago.  The children stitched up a simple wool mouse made from felted wool sweaters.  For complete instructions on how to make one of these see here.  

They actually look very much the same as the ones from three years ago...it even looks like the same sweater felt.  What was very different however, was my ability to let go a little more.  I have less fear about handing a needle and thread project over to three, four and five year-olds then I did years ago.  

I once again marvel at the different approach and style each child brings to their project.  How about the nose on this one...

...or the super stitching from this one...

...and then there was this sort of abstract one that really made me smile!

(The poor child trying to stuff the wool in wondering where to put it!)

It warms my heart when they want to bring their little mouse into playtime, little squeaks were heard for the rest of the afternoon.

One the topic of sewing I want to give a huge thanks for the tremendous response to my tapestry table. It was one of those posts that went viral for a few days thanks to Deborah (and a few others)for linking it up on facebook and to Amie (the source of my inspiration for this project) for her lovely post about it on her blog.  There have been so many questions about the table and I'm still trying to catch up answering those emails.  One of the biggest questions is about the frame itself.  The base of an old coffee table is what I used and it works beautifully!  Look at thrift stores, Craigslist, and even recycle centers...I have seen plenty put out to trash over the years.  Just keep your eyes open.

Happy Friday everyone!!

something new at the preschool

I finally made it!!  We now have our own tapestry table at the preschool.  

I have long been admiring the one I first read about at Amie's Sewing School.  The beautiful one she has at her school was not only too pricey for us, but also sold out.  I was able to very easily make one and although I didn't photograph the process, it is a simple project that came together in a few minutes.

Here is what I did...

1. Using the base of a coffee table (we happened to have one in our garage as we used the top for our table - see a photo of it here-with Julen, so little!) 
2. some burlap (from the gardening center) and 
3. a staple gun
4. cut a piece of burlap large enough to cover the base and staple securely all the way around the edge.  
5. a basket of scraps of yarn and some large plastic needles on hand 

So easy and reaady for sewing immediately.  The kids have taken to it right away and it's nice for them to do some self-directed fine motor handwork.  

Julen loves to keep himself busy after our day is over and he's waiting for me to finish up my work before we go home.

I'm really looking foward to the kids finishing this so we can hang it on the wall.

Friday again...already.  Happy weekend!!  xx

all about hearts

We've been crafting valentines at the preschool this week.

We started out the week making finger print hearts.  I spied this idea somewhere on the web, but now can' t remember where. Next we made paper hearts.  This idea came from the always inspiring Julie Collings (see her tutorial here).  I adapted this project to make it work for my preschoolers.  The children got to select double sided print card stock, then using a heart punch, cut out four hearts.  Next I helped them place two staples down the middle, added thread for hanging through the top hole from the staple, and the children folded all the layers over.

This was such a satisfying project.  They were easy to make, not messy, and came together quickly.  Julen has made about fifteen!  I think a garland or mobile is in order.

Happy Friday friends!