Chunky Block Nativity Set

Here is an inexpensive gift for a child in your life.  Takes a little bit of elbow grease but is well worth the effort.  I can see these in my classroom and in my home for many years to come.

Nativity set made from a 4x6 scrap and old paint we had in the garage.   I cut, sanded, painted, sanded again (for the aged look), and then Mod Podged the graphic to the front of each block.

Mary, Joseph, Jesus (sprayed this block with gold before sanding the second time), the angel and star.

Caesar Augustus, Innkeeper, Wise Men and camel.

Shepherd man and boy, sheep, donkey and cow. 

I love how it's a very complete set.

I got the graphics from Prepared Not Scared.   They worked well and her script of the nativity play will go great while telling the story initially to my kids.  I'll laminate it as well so the kids can use it when they are playing with the set. 

Making Things for the Preschool Classroom

The minute school gets out I have a list of a dozen things I want to make for my classroom for next year.  Here are a few I have finished.

I love the Montessori Color Tablets because they have so many uses.  I've made my set with paint chips, trimmed and glued back to back so the same color is on both sides.  They will get laminated before use.  My students will start out practicing their visual discrimination, trying to put them in order, and learning what light and dark colors are.  They will be useful when teaching primary and secondary colors.

I got the idea for these craft stick barnyard animals from Make and Takes.  I'll use them in my barnyard sensory box.  Sensory boxes are another new thing I am doing this year.  I had a few very basic ones last year and the kids adored them.  I've been collecting things like mad to have one or two each month. 

Lots more to come.... 

On a side note, the spell check in Blogger isn't working.  Anyone else use Blogger and have this problem and know how to fix it?

Spring Bulletin Board for Preschool

I got the idea for this bulletin board from Mrs. Picasso's Art Room.  I figured it would be good for the rest of the year, for spring and graduation.  Fly...

It's not a great picture but I strung together a bunch of die cuts for my window.  Clouds, butterflies (sewn together), pinwheels, flowers, and grass (also sewn together).  I love it.

Here is a great activity to get kids to use their pinchers, a torn paper rainbow.  Tearing is a skill that many of my kids didn't come into the class with.  Opening their lunches themselves also help with these fine motor muscles.   The Bible verse is from Genesis 9:13, I have set My rainbow in the clouds.



A Solution to Threading Yarn With Little Hands

For all threading projects I have always used tape on the end of the yarn to make it easier for little hands to sew, lace or thread beads.  It is one of those things that was an OK solution but an aggravating one at that.  A little piece of pipe cleaner changed all that and I am VERY happy with the results.  The needle stays on, the yarn does not fray, and it's much easier for the little hands to work. 

All I did was wrap the yarn around the bottom of the pipe cleaner, fold it over, and twist a little. 

Works wonders and it's reusable!

The piece of tape at the other end of the yarn is also strategically placed so the yard doesn't pull through (or the beads don't fall off) AND is a great place for their name.  Sometimes I tape it to the table so it's not tempting to swing it around. 

I've used it with threading pasta for a necklace and it works well in that project as well.

Works for ME!!  Go to We are THAT Family for more Works for Me Wednesday ideas!