take a closer look

Kids LOVE magnifying glasses and Spring is the perfect time to use them!  While they are analyzing tiny buds and small bugs, they are actually doing scientific observations and developing language as they describe what they are seeing.  So break out those magnifying glasses and go on a bug hunt!

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Safari Ltd. Toobs Terrariums

We made terrariums yesterday.  They are simple and easy to make.  Kids LOVE to make them.  I mean, come on, you get to play with dirt!  After we layered rocks, potting soil, and plants, we played around with what we would put in them.

Of course, I have a lot of Safari Ltd Toobs - toobs full of possibilities!  I snapped a few photos of the different versions that we made.

We also used Dress It Up buttons and Safari Ltd Good Luck minis.  Kids (and adults!) will enjoy creating these mini worlds and taking care of them.  There's something magical about terrariums, something that makes the imagination start buzzing!

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Baby Food Jar Terrariums

 Remember this hint from yesterday?  No, there will not be a new baby in our house.  We are making mini terrariums with baby food jars!

 It's sooo easy.  Layer pebbles then potting soil then plants.  I used a plant called "baby's tears" available everywhere.  I went to my local nursery and they had tons of it.

 Now, comes the fun part.  Add in any small animal, rocks, gems, fake mushrooms, etc.  Use your imagination or "borrow" some of my ideas.  I used these teeny tiny mushrooms that I found at Micheal's Craft Store - a bundle was $2.99.  The deer is a button from Dress It Up buttons. You can find them at Hobby Lobby, JoAnn, or at shellysbuttonsandmore.com

 The rabbit above is from a Safari Ltd Toob.  Very woodland, right?  AND just in time for Easter.

 The blue butterfly is from Safari Ltd as well - it's in a "good luck" pack found at Michael's.  They also have dragons and unicorns and animals - very tiny not recommended for kids under 3. :)

 I call her Cinderella, but she is a princess button from Dress It Up.  There are 3 princesses in that pack - purple, yellow, and blue for $2.00

This bear is also a button - how cute are these??? - from Dress It Up.  I cannot get over the cuteness level of their buttons!

The fun thing about terrariums is...1) they are easy to make, 2) kids will enjoy making them, 3) it's creative and imaginative, 4) if you can out the animal or button, it's a whole new scene!  I love creating terrariums, because you don't need much of a green thumb to keep them alive.  They cost very little to make.  And it's like you are creating this tiny new world.  Plus, it's science.  It's nature.  It's fun...and kinda messy, too.

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Safari Ltd Terrarium

Now that I am thinking about terrariums, I am on a roll.  Safari Ltd has new gnomes out this year that I think would be great in a terrarium.

Terrariums are easy to make and kids will love helping.  It's messy and creative and imaginative.  I once did a whole Earth Day celebration at the local community center.  Kids created mini terrariums with two clear plastic cups, moss, dirt, rocks, and small animals.  They LOVED it.  Parents were like, "I am so stealing this idea or a party or for Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts' projects." 

You give 12 kids the same materials to make a terrarium and you will end up with 12 terrariums that look completely different.  It's an open-ended project that the kids can take in all different directions.  And that's what is great about a project like terrariums - kids can make it individualized.

The steps are easy.
1. a few rocks in the bottom of your container, fishbowl, cup, etc.
2. potting soil on top of the rocks
3. moss and/or small plants on top of the potting soil
4. add small animals like Safari Ltd Toobs or happy meal toys or whatever you have
5. give it a good watering and keep it moist

Easy.

Are you now thinking about making a terrarium?

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Safari Ltd Terrarium by melanieshanks featuring wide mouth glass jars

Wide mouth glass jar
shopterrain.com

Terriums with a Twist!

Terriums with a Twist! by melanieshanks featuring glass home decor

Bambeco glass home decor
bambeco.com

Terrariums

The rain this morning has made me think that it's going to "green up" soon around here and the moisture is great for moss.  (My brain works in mysterious ways!)  All of that made me think of terrariums.  I looove terrariums.  They are whimsical and fun and easy to do and a biome in one container.  G, Roo, and I will be making a terrarium soon.  I made this inspiration board for us.  What little things will we add to our terrarium? Hmmm...the pssibilities are endless.

to be continued...

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Terrariums by melanieshanks featuring outdoor garden decor

Outdoor garden decor
createforless.com

things that hatch from eggs

G: Mel, are Easter Eggs real eggs?

Me: Uh, what do you mean?

G: Well, I mean turtles come out of eggs and fish and birds, too.  Does Easter hatch out of eggs?

Me; (smiling) Well, baby chicks hatch out of eggs.  People think of baby chicks at Easter, so...

G: Well, people think about rabbits at Easter, too, but they don't hatch out of eggs.

Me: You DO have a good point.  Let's list other things that hatch out of eggs.

G: Okay!  I love this game!

I love our conversations in the car.

What do you talk about in the car?

Have a fun and playful day!

Mel

things that hatch from eggs by melanieshanks on Polyvore

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Behind The Barn
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BUGS!

I don't know what it is...but kids love bugs!

I saw my first bee this morning!  Spring has officially arrived if the bees are here.
So get out your handy dandy magnifying glass and get outside to explore and find some bugs.

When I taught preschool, I always had...
1. magnifying glasses
2. live bugs in jars
3. toy bugs for comparison
4. paper & pencil to draw out their findings
5. books to reference

Bugs are interesting.  Bugs are nature.  Bugs are science.  Preschool science is so fun!

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

bugs by melanieshanks on Polyvore

Teaching Life Cycles To Preschoolers

 Spring, glorious Spring!
Always my favorite time when teaching preschool.  No more 15 minute process of bundling up in winter coats, scarves, hats, mittens, and boots.  Just open up the door and let them explore!

 And explore they did!
Spring has sooo much going on.  New life.  Blooms, Yes, the grass IS greener on this side of the fence! :)
One of my favorite things to teach is Life Cycles.  When I taught preschool, I would go "ponding" on a Sunday.  I would trek through Spring's mud to a small pond behind my place with a net and bucket.  I caught many fat tadpoles for the children to observe.  I then hauled a splashing bucket of wonderful smelling pond water (driving extra slow!) to my classroom.  I would set up the aquarium to look as natural pond-like as possible, adding plants and greenery around it, So when the kids walked in on Monday morning, they would be drawn right to the science area.

 I always always always added smooth river rocks, tree rings, twigs, and of course Safari Ltd.'s Life Cycle models to the science area.  They are detailed and educational and thought-provoking.  Turning from a tadpole into a frog is a long process and kids are impatient.  But with the models there, they knew the next step to look forward to.  Also, they played with them, acting out the process or just incorporating them into their imaginative stories.

I have said it before, but teaching science to kids is not difficult - especially if you have great toys like these from Safari Ltd.  They have 12 or so sets - chicken, frog, worm, turtle, plant, ladybug, etc. Top photo is the frog set on one of my playscapes.  See my etsy store for more details. The other photos are from Safariltd.com.  Check it out!

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

A Lesson in Animal Camouflage

Remember those water beads that I got at the Dollar Tree a couple weeks ago? Well, the kids keep requesting to play with them, so...we do.

I decided to talk a little about animal camouflage today? Which animals blend in? If they blend in, how does it keep them safe?

"It's like they are hiding. They are right there, but you can't see them. Foxes can't see them either. Foxes eat lots of things." -G

 It was fun then then Babyzilla dumped the bowl! Oh my. TOTALLY toddler.

I noticed that the water beads were a little slimy and a couple had black on them. Time to wash our hands really well and pitch those water beads.

Note to self : water beads can go bad.

The animals are from Safari Ltd Pets Toob. I bought it, because we are still planning our Pigeon's Pet Shop soon. But these little animals were the perfect size to camouflage.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Water Beads

 So I was wandering around my local Dollar Tree and found this kit! It's a grow your own water bead kit.  Great for a mini science lesson and for sensory.  All for a buck.

 At first, they are teeny tiny, but, after a couple hours, they are marble size.  I couldn't resist taking pics of the stages - how colorful and happy they are.

 I also bought this mini fishbowl at the Dollar Tree.  It's the perfect size but glass.

 The above photo was taken after 20 mins...

 These photos were within 2 hours.

 They feel all wet and jelly like - super cool.

Yep, that's what I am doing on a Saturday morning!

Have a fun & play weekend
Mel