Homeschool: Preserving Little Bits of Autumn

We've been collecting little bits and pieces lately. When you're three, everything that falls from a tree is to be considered a treasure. And you know... I agree with him!

Some of these things are pretty sturdy, or will stand up to play and creativity. Others... not so much. So I went on a mission to preserve these little treasures, in a sense.

Here is what we came up with. Camden is thrilled! He has enjoyed stacking and sorting the discs, and likes to discuss what made the different imprints, and how those imprints feel. Making them was very simple:

Using an 8 oz. brick of polymer clay, we first broke the large brick into chunks, and then softened the clay a bit by playing with it. Next, we rolled the clay into different sized balls, and used a rolling pin to create smooth disks about 1/4-inch thick. We placed different bits and pieces over the disks, and then carefully pressed the objects into the clay.

To harden the disks, we transferred our creations to a foil-lined baking sheet, and followed the package instructions to bake at 275 degrees for 15 minutes.

These would also make great gifts tags or tree ornaments. Just poke a hole {perhaps with a drinking straw} somewhere in the disk prior to baking, then thread with ribbon or twine.

Homeschool: Halloween Craft; B is for Bats!

How CUTE are these bats?! When I spotted them on Pinterest, via Craftgawker, I knew we would need to make some. The steps are very simple, and the craft was just right for my almost-four-year-old. We painted each bat together, as he did grow a bit impatient with making sure the entire surface was covered.

You'll Need:
An egg carton
Scissors
Black paint
Brushes
Wiggly eyes
Glue
Thread or ribbon for hanging

Ready?? 

A little behind-the-scenes work was necessary to get the egg carton ready to be painted. Egg cartons can be a bit tricky to cut, with all of their ridges and things, so I pulled out the mommy scissors and formed four bats while Camden was busy elsewhere.

A one-dozen egg carton will produce four bats, each using three section from the carton. Cut the lid and closure flaps off of the carton, and then cut down the length of the carton so you're left with two six-section strips. Cut the strips in half, and you've got four pieces.

Round the edges a bit and pretty them up, then cut some notches in the outer sections of each bat. These will be the wings.

Paint! We used black tempera paint because of the easy clean-up factor. Cover the inside and outside of each bat.

After the paint has dried, use a bit of glue to attach wiggly eyes to each bat.

There are several options for hanging your bats. I used a toothpick to poke a small hole in the top of each bat, then threaded them all on to one length of string so they would hang vertically. Stop each bat where you want it on the length of string by tying a knot or attaching a small piece of tape to the thread. {It'll be hidden by the bat.} I love how these bats swirl and twirl a bit because they're hanging on a single piece of string.

You could also glue a piece of Halloween-themed ribbon to the top of each bat, tying the ribbon into a lop for hanging.

Homeschool: P is for Pumpkin Paper Plate Craft for Autumn

This was a simple little craft for Autumn. You could take it a step further and add a jack-o-lantern face for Halloween.

The process hardly needs explaining, but it goes something like this:

1. Paint a paper plate orange and set it aside to dry.
2. Cut a stem {my three-year-old cut his own stem} from construction paper.
3. Twist a brown pipe cleaner around a pencil or marker to create a spring-shape and attach.
4. Add a jack-o-lantern face, if desired, with paint or construction paper.

Homschool: Supplies We Use

Something new has arrived at Dandelion's on the Wall! Homeschooling! This is a new adventure for us, and we're taking a very play-based approach to a year of preschool. I've discovered a major love of crafting and creating in my three-year-old, and we're taking advantage of every minute. I couldn't let all of these creations and ideas go without sharing them somewhere, and this seems like the logical place.

My {very loose, incomplete}  plan for the blog is to begin with a few introductory posts, and then move to once-a-week, letter-themed posts. Occasionally, you'll see some extra crafting projects that I hope you can enjoy with the little people in your lives. If you're only here for the recipes, have no fear! Those recipes aren't going anywhere, and I'll continue to experiment in the kitchen so that I can share my recipes with you.

To access a running list of ALL homeschool posts at any time, click on the "Homeschool" tab in the top right corner.

We're still very new to the world of homeschooling, but I'm proud to say that we're quickly finding our happy place. There is a rhythm to our day, and with that rhythm comes a list of preferred tools and supplies.

Preschool, in my mind, is a time for fun. My primary goal is to see my son develop his love for learning through playful, creative interaction, which is why you'll see so many craft supplies and craft projects in my posts. Of course, there are other goals: developing motor skills, learning the alphabet, and so on. Through this creative learning time, we're accomplishing all of those goals--plus a whole host of other amazing things.

I'm sure this list will change and evolve, so feel free to check back from time to time to see what tools we're most enjoying.

Our Favorite Supplies:
A printer and plenty of ink
Colored paper suitable for printing
A large three-ring binder
Clear page protectors
Construction paper
Round, "color coding" labels
Toddler-friendly scissors
A writing instrument {pencil, etc.}
Glue sticks
White school glue
Crayons and Markers
An alphabet puzzle
Kumon books {We're working on uppercase letters and will move on to lowercase letters.}
Other learning books or printables, found online via google, Pinterest, etc.
Letter and number templates
Stickers {for projects, for rewards, etc.}
Alphabet stamps {we've got one set now, but hope to purchase a couple more in different "fonts" soon}
Stamp pads in a variety of colors
Temperah paint and brushes
Contact paper
Paper plates {the inexpensive kind with ridges around the outside edge are great, and come in bulk}
Coffee filters
Wiggly eyes, pipe cleaners, and pom-pom balls
Counting Bears
Pattern Blocks {we have been using this awesome, free printable set for letter recognition practice!}
Alphabet-based stories {Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Dr. Seuss's ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book!}
A large palm tree cut-out and letter cut-outs. {Read about this--coming soon!}
Play Dough

Like I said before, this is an evolving list. I'll add items as we discover them. I would also love to read about things YOU would add to the list. Leave a comment letting me know what your must-haves are.