Great Big Giant Tree of Light

I posted a picture of us doing this activity on our Facebook wall a few weeks ago, but never blogged about it.  Today my son asked me, "Mommy, can we make the great big giant tree of light again".  I didn't know what he was talking about until he ran and started pulling out the projector.  There was no "invitation", but you can very well set one up any way you like.  I used a chalk marker to draw the tree directly onto the projector....and he chose all the "ornaments".  He also added snowflakes this time (our DIY magnet snowflakes, that we made like THIS).

 snowflakes added

 adding translucent mosaic tiles as ornaments

 on the other side of the shower curtain liner checking things out

 he put the yellow square on the bottom and told me it was a present and that it had a weed eater in it

 he told me the blue piece was a jingle bell, then held it to his ear and shook it

:)

 he decided to take out the magnetic circles for more ornaments

 :)

 using magnets to "undecorate" the tree

 he really enjoyed decorating it and then using the magnets to take off the "ornaments"

toward the end he was only using the magnetic circles as ornaments and using the magnetic wand to take them off

- AK (MESE, MECD)

Ice Skating Sensory Bin

My girls absolutely LOVED this bin.  When you have more than one child, it's often hard to set something up that they will both enjoy... especially when you have complete opposites!  This is one they both played with together for over an hour!  

What is here:

Storage bin filled with water and frozen to create an ice skating rink.  We put this on the light panel but you do not need to do this.  It would also be fun just on his own.  

Little Christmas Tree

Magna tiles to create an ice sculpture.  :-)  

Little blinking snowman (A gift from AK and her family.  Thank you!)

We wrapped Christmas Lights around for a more "Christmasy" feel

"That's cold!!"

"Mommy, the horse has cold feet!"

Licking the ice

That looked like fun.  Let me try it!  LOL  

<3 them!

The ice had started to melt a little bit creating holes where some bubbles were.  My oldest took out her playmobil dogs and started digging in the holes.

RL  

Seasonal Sensory Bin - and light!

Christmas has clearly begun in our home!  As I posted on our facebook wall the other night, the holidays can be stressful for children.  Your mood will be directly reflected in your child's behavior. If you are stressed, your child will certainly act out.  What better way to take time to reconnect, slow down, and PLAY than a sensory bin on the light table.  There was something particularly calming about this one.  My intention were to make it look "Christmasy" (yes - I made up that word).  I intentionally didn't add too much because I wanted him to take it wherever he wanted it to go.  

 The invitation

 first he checked out the new material

 listening to the sound it made when it fell from his hands

 more exploring

 he brought out his cups

 scooping and pouring (and he brought out a cardboard roll)

 pouring into the cardboard roll...he told me he couldn't see it

 so he got out his TUBI and asked me to help him build a tunnel

 pouring

 TUBI filling up with "snow"

picking up the TUBI and watching it all fall out....his favorite part!

- AK

(MESE, MECD)

Projected Colors

We have been doing a lot of adventures in the dark and light play since its been getting dark early.  The girls are loving it!  

We have a few things that have been out in the playroom for the past few days.  It's driving the OCD side of me nuts!  LOL  The overhead projector is one of those things that has been left out.  The open invitation led us to this...

Container of water on the projector.  

My 21M old adding color.  You can use food coloring or liquid watercolors.  

"It's blue, Mommy!!!"

Adding more color.

Colors projected on white board

It didn't take long for my oldest to join in on the action.  

3 baby food jars

We also tried a small storage container filled with a little bit of water.  My oldest started to blow the colors around in the water. 

Then she asked for a straw. 

Adding liquid watercolor

RL  

Our Fall Tree

Things you need:

• tape
• contact paper
• a willing and excited child

Whenever we leave the house these days I get this..... "Mommy, its so beautiful outside.  Look at all the colors.  Fall is in the air.  I see reds, and yellows, and oranges everywhere!  It sure is a beautiful day."   I asked him today if he would like to make our own fall tree and he said yes.  First we brainstormed together about what we might need.....then it was off for a collection walk.  

 We went out....in pajamas.....to collect leaves.  The whole time he was saying, "Im a collecting machine, Mommy".  LOL

 Putting the leaves in his Step 2 car

 This tree was 100% child-led.  Everything from the trunk, to the leaves, to the placement of the leaves was all him.  I didn't want to interfere with this process even a little.

  (Clear contact paper on the window....sticky side facing out....held up by tape)

 He told me that the leaves at the bottom were falling leaves.  Brilliant!

 ADMIRING HIS WORK!

- AK (MESE, MECD)