This blog has thematic ideas for toddlers and preschoolers!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

This is our dinosaur nest. The kids used paint daubers to make their dinosaur eggs. Then at the end of the month, dinosaurs hatch out of them! This was on a bulletin board.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Biscuit Bones

You will need: Instant Biscuits, Butter (melted), Cinnamon sugar

Let the kids shape the biscuits into bones. Bake as directed on the package. Remove from oven, brush melted butter on the biscuit bone and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Let cool and serve.
Dinosaur Egg Surprise!


You will need: powdered sugar donut holes, coconut, gummy dinosaurs, green food coloring

Put coconut in a ziplock bag and add drops of green food coloring. Close the bag and shake until coconut is green. Put in a bowl. Place a powdered sugar donut hole on top of the coconut (grass). Put a gummy dinosaur coming out of the donut hole. Surprise!

Monday, January 25, 2010


The boys love having all the dinosaurs out!

We put the dinosaurs feet in the stamp pad and made Dino Tracks! It was fun because the kids could identify the tracks that belonged to each dinosaur!
I got out the plastic Easter eggs and we put the "baby" dinosaurs inside them! Great for fine motor skills!
Fun Dinosaur Foods!




Sunday, January 24, 2010



I compiled all of my dinosaur recipes into one book and gave one to all the kids a few years ago. The following recipes are ones that we just didn't get to this month, but they are a lot of fun!



Friday, January 22, 2010

Reegan wanted to do everything herself! No help, "Reegan do it"!

Luke was trying so hard not to lick the spoon.

Job wanted to make 3 pizzas! He used a lot of cheese!

Belle making her pizza!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Reegan LOVES books!


Dinosaur Books
Ten Terrible Dinosaurs by Paul Strickland
My Dinosaur by Mark Alan Weatherby
The Dinosaurs New Clothes by Diane Goode
Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs
The Day of the Dinosaur by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Dinosaurs by Gail Gibbons
Sammy and the Dinosaurs by Ian Whybrow
Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff
The Berenstain Bears and the Missing Dinosaur Bone by Stan and Jan Berenstain
The Berenstain Bears and the Dinosaur by Stan and Jan Berenstain
How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
How do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?
How do Dinosaurs Play With Their Friends?
How do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?
How do Dinosaurs Go to School?
How do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?
How do Dinosaurs Clean Their Rooms?
How do Dinosaurs Love Their Cats?

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Dinosaur Nest Snack

You will need: Chow Mein Noodles, Peanut Butter or Butterscotch Chips, Jelly Beans
In a saucepan melt the chips. I usually add a little olive oil to keep the chips from burning or clumping up. Once they are melted add the chow mein noodles. Stir. Drop in clumps on wax paper. While they are still warm place the jelly beans (eggs) in the nests!


We used playdough to make dinosaur nests and eggs!

Luke and Belle digging up dinosaurs out of shaving cream! They were using spoons as their shovels but I think they got buried in all the shaving cream!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010


Baby Dino

Inside an egg that's big and round, (hold arms in circle over head)
Baby dino is safe and sound. (crouch down into a ball)
But he wants to see the sights, (pretend to look with binoculars)
So he pushes and pokes with all his might. (push arms and legs out)
Soon his shell pops and cracks,
And the baby dino makes dinosaur tracks. (stomp feet)


Job and Reegan making their Dinosaur Crumbles snack!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Dinosaur Crumbles Snack


You will need, Graham Cracker Crumbs (Dirt), Cocoa Puffs (Rocks) and Gummy Dinosaurs

Have the kids crush up the graham crackers themselves so they understand that it's really not dirt! Then have them layer the ingredients in the above order. This is a great way to teach them patterning. They loved digging up their dinosaurs and they all thought it was funny that they were eating "dirt" and "rocks"!

Thursday, January 14, 2010


Mr. Dinosaur
Sung to: "Do Your Ears Hang Low"

Mr. Dinosaur stand up tall and give a "ROAR", (roar loud)
Stomp your feet around, (stomp your feet)
as you thump the ground,
Give your tail a shake, (shake your tail)
and you'll cause an earth quake.
Mr. Dinosaur!


Wednesday, January 13, 2010


This is our prehistoric playroom! Our theme for January is dinosaurs!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010



Ava is tuning up her sensory and fine motor skills! She is scooping and pouring beans and picking them up with tweezers and putting them in the bowl!

Handprint Calendar

This is the handprint calendar that I made with the kids for their parents for Christmas. It was a lot of work! I had 11 kids that I made them with. We started in October and did a couple every week. The kids loved seeing the different things that they could create with their hands. I printed off a calendar for each month and bound each calendar together. Like I said, a lot of work, but VERY cute!


The Hands of A Child
When you look a the hand what do you see?
There are just some lines, most would agree.
But take a closer look this very minute,
And notice the treasure that are found within it.
The hand can be so many things,
From flowers to beautiful butterfly wings.
A Christmas tree, an apple, even a heart,
A candycorn, a crab that's only a start.
The hand can be snowflakes that fall from the sky,
The hand can be a leprechaun trying to hide.
It can be the sunshine to brighten the day,
It can be a fish swimming away.
It can be a turkey strutting along,
Whatever you make it, you can't go wrong.
Just take a little time to look and see,
Where these hands came from,
And you'll surely agree,
Your child the artist reaching his goal,
Created this for you with body and soul.
Keep it and use it til the time has passed,
Then put it away so the memories will last.
Big silver snowflakes are dancing down,

Dancing, dancing all around.

Each one is different, it's surely true,

Here's some I made, from me to you!




These were the hardest to do out of all of them. I only used their fingers. I turned the paper instead of having them try to turn their hand.
One Red Valentine,

Two Red Valentines,

Three Red Valentines,

Four.

I'll snip an cut and color and past,

And then make twenty more!


I didn't paint their thumbs for the heart. I turned the paper upside down to make their heart look right side up when I turned the paper around.
I'm a little leprechaun,

Can't you see?

I'm as tiny as can be.

I only come around just once a year,

That's when St. Patrick's Day is here!



Just paint their hand in layers and then turn the paper upside down to make the leprechaun look right side up when you flip the paper around. He is one of my favorites!
Fuzzy, wuzzy, caterpillar into a corner will creep.

He'll spin himself a blanket and the go fast asleep.

Fuzzy, wuzzy, caterpillar will wake up by and by,

To find his wings of beauty changed to a butterfly.



I painted both hands, but I only did one hand with the thumb painted so when I did the other hand I didn't have to try to match up the thumbs.
In the garden flowers grow,

Straight and pretty in a row.

Blooming in the month of May,

Each one unique in it's own way.





The stem and leaves are made with their finger and fingerprints.
Over there the sun gets up,

And marches all the day.

At noon it stands right overhead,

At night it goes away.





I painted their hands four different times for one sun. I turned the paper instead of having them try to turn their hands.
I hold my fingers like a fish,

And wave them as I go.

See them swimming with a swish,

So softly to and fro.
One little crab creeping down the beach,

Snapping at everything in his reach.

He snapped at you and he snapped at me,

Then he went on his way happy as can be!


You have to paint both hands for the crab and it helps to turn the paper instead of having them turn their hands!
Apples juicy, apples round on the trees and on the ground,

Apples yellow, green and red, apple juice, or pie or bread,

Apples crunchy, apples sweet, apples are so good to eat!






When we did the apples I only painted the palms of their hands. The stem and leaf are their fingerprints!
One little candycorn sitting in a dish,

Hoping no one eats him is his wish.

Along comes a little hand that grabs a bunch,

Oh no!

MUNCH, MUNCH, MUNCH!

Don't paint the thumb on the candycorn. I painted the top of their fingers white, but it's kind of hard to see!



This isn't just a turkey as anyone can see,

I made it with my hand which is a part of me.

It comes with lots of love especially to say,

I hope you a very Happy Thanksgiving Day!

I think everyone has made a handprint turkey at one time or another, whether it was your hand or someone elses. Very easy and simple to do!

I'm a little pine tree tall and straight,

Here are my branches for you to decorate.

First you put the star on the very top,

Just be careful the balls don't drop!

When you paint their hand, don't paint their thumb. The ornaments and star are made with their fingerprints, and the trunk is made with their finger!