# A1 has her last two teeth coming through, and spent most of the week crying day and night. These last two are taking their time and teething is always a HUGE issue for A1. We are all exhausted from being woken so many times at night. A1 therefore did not do much this week, bar cuddling and crying, and so there are almost no photos of her. Teeth, please come!
TOPIC: DOGS
This year I want to be a little less haphazard about my two little one’s activities. A4 will continue to have her one hour school with me doing Mathusee Primer and Jolly Phonics. I want to be more purposeful about the fun school I do with the two little girls. To this end I’ve created a Preschool Adventure Box and a written frame-work with which to organise my planning of the short units I do with them. Each week the two youngest are given a preschool adventure work box full of lots of exciting activities for them to do throughout the week. They are allowed to have a quick look through to build up their excitement for the week ahead:
Read alouds and go along books
Factual books
For more book themed ideas see:
Each morning I put out some play dough at their table with a photocopied sheet of the cover of the book we are studying. They both really enjoy play dough and having different themed cutters and molds each week keeps it fresh and exciting.
Dress up and drama
- This week we reused their bear costumes from a couple of weeks age, added a pin on tail and face painted a doggy face on them. This was a big treat only to be done in the afternoon (near to bath time!):
- Little world tub – I put together a small tub of the animals mentioned in Angus Lost and popped it into A4’s quiet time box so she could play act the story out:
- I also managed to get my hands on some cuddly toys – dogs, cats and the like from our local charity shop for 20p each. They all went into her quiet time box with the books:
Trays
A few pictures of them doing the trays:
Our Classification Cards
I was hoping that when we read about the fox A4 would tell me it wasn’t a dog but a fox. I know my little girl well for that is exactly what she did say! I was then able to explain that a fox comes from the canine or dog family of animals. I was then able to reinforce this learning by going through the cards with her (which she adores!) and have her put to one side any animals she felt came from the canine family.
Games or Group activities:
- animal dominoes
- Playing with the soft toy dogs. This was totally impromptu, unplanned by me play, which they were at, on and off, all day:
Printables
http://homeschoolcreations.com/AngusLostPrintables.html
Snacks
- serve doggy kibble (mixed cereal) in doggy dish:
- dog shaped tortilla pizza
I cut out a dog face using a pair of scissors:
- digestive biscuits carved into bone or dog shapes with cheese slices:
- We did make bone shaped banana muffins in our new muffin tin (at least that’s what I thought it was), unfortunately, when we put it in the oven for the muffins to cook the tin melted! Obviously it wasn’t made for actually baking the muffins!
For more adventures with kids in the kitchen:
Special A4 and Mummy activity
One of T11’s chores is to feed and water the animals. For the past year A4 has tagged along with him, helping out if she could. He felt she was ready to take over this chore and I agreed. A4 has made her bed everyday, without me having to remind her once and she has done it perfectly. She has shown responsibility in the small things so she is ready and eager for more. I made a set of cards for her, illustrating the chores she was to do each morning after breakfast. As we were doing a unit on dogs this was the ideal opportunity to teach her to care for her our lab, Oscar:
DVDs
Our special themed tea
This week I simply did a doggy themed muffin tin which they ate whilst watching their DVD:
I made a doggy shaped beef pie, using carrots for his eyes and mouth; I cut paw shaped carrots which I served with peas and sweetcorn; I cut out bone shaped potato and fried lightly; she had a glass of goats milk in a baby food jar and I made a terrier dog from white and dark chocolate with fudge bits mixed in and popped it into a snow bed of marshmallow fluff! The tiny pies went down a treat with all my children so I can see those cropping up in muffin tins again.
For more muffin tin ideas:
It was a tricky week this week because B1 was struggling with pain for most of it (and let us know of this fact in no uncertain terms!) but we still managed to get bits and pieces done. Anything I had planned but didn’t use I will keep for another day so no biggy!
For more ideas on activities to do with your tots and preschoolers:
For more ideas from B4FIAR:
For lots more crafty ideas:
Your doggy (bear) costumes and cat bowls brought a smile to my face this morning. Angus is such a cute little dog.
Thanks Keitha. We missed a few activities on account of teething issues (Ahem!) but we did have lots of fun!
I love how you involve your older kids with teaching the younger ones. I do that too, but I felt alone in that. It builds great relationships.
You know, I wouldn’t get half the stuff done that I do without them. They are a huge help. And to be honest, I look at it as another facet in their education. They are learning to teach!
I had to laugh at her eating out of the dog bowl.
I know, the things they do…!
I really love your cooking projects. What great ways to explore books! I am sharing this post on the Read.Explore.Learn. Facebook page tomorrow.
Thank you so much!!
I’m confused. Have we changed the name of our youngest child or have we gone back in time!! Do you think the kids will look at this in years to come and ask why you made them eat out of cat bowls?? Great fun though, just don’t do it at night time.
I didn’t make them do anything, it was all her idea. I’m thinking dog bowls might be a better idea for you. The cat bowls are a little small!!
Hello there! Looks like you guys had a great time with Angus. I just came across your blog from the BFIAR blog linkup. We finished up Angus this week as well and had a blast. Love all of your ideas!
Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment. We’re moving on to If Jesus came to my house next week so really looking forward to it. I love B4FIAR-great curriculum. I’ll pop by your blog later on today.
I love the milk and cereal kibble in the dog dish! So fun!!
Shame your “tin” melted! Oh my! :-/
Your muffin tin meal looks doggone delicious. 🙂
HE HE, I like that!! Thanks for your kind comments!
So many cute dog crafts. And I can empathise on the smudged face front. Bless!
Thanks for sharing on Kids Get Crafty.
Maggy
My pleasure. Thanks for popping by!
The Angus books are some of my favorite. I have the copies that were my mom’s when she was a kid. Thanks for sharing at The Children’s Bookshelf.
Oh wow! I love old books, well actually I love any books…!