End of the Year Teacher Gift {Chips and Salsa}

Ah, the end of the school year is upon us yet again.  Between testing, field trips, soccer, homework, and this vicious spring fever, we have been quite busy around here!  Now, to take something off your list of things to do...

We are sharing an end of the year teacher gift.  We love giving our teachers a little something to say, 'Thank you for taking care of our sweet children all year long!'  This year is no different and we are sharing a chips and salsa gift that your child's teacher is going to LOVE!

 These are the materials you will need to assemble your Chips and Salsa gift...

-bag of Mission tortilla chips (or similar)
-hot tamales box candy
-red basket (this one is from Dollar Tree)
-salsa container (I got mine from my local grocery store) or mason jar
-homemade salsa (or make it even easier and buy a jar of salsa)
-free printable (I print this on pretty scrapbook paper)
-ribbon and/or twine
-paper bags
-cellophane wrap and decorative shred (optional)

Put the chips, salsa, and hot tamales inside the basket.  You might need some filler to prop the items up a bit.  I usually use lunch sacks, torn and wrinkled up, like so...

As you put your items on top of the crinkled paper bags, fill in with decorative shred to make it more appealing to the eye.

Once everything is in the basket, wrap it all in cellophane (if desired).  Place basket in the middle of the cellophane and gather it all up above the chips.

 Using clear tape, secure the top ends together.

 Tuck in the sides of the cellophane like wrapping a present and use clear tape to secure the ends.

Tie the free printable on with ribbon or twine.

When adding the pretty bow, remember this trick.  Tie your bow upside down.  Meaning, you are above the bow and tying it, so that the ends lay flat.  Sometimes when you tie it looking straight at it, the ends flip up and are out of control.  Tying it upside down helps with that problem.

Here is the finished product.

You could also add some ink to the edges of your card to give it a antiqued finish.

 Now, that was easy, right??  You can mark this off your never ending list.  :)

{Valerie}

We're Going on Vacation! {Telling your child's teacher you will be missing school, Yikes!}

At some point in your child's life you are going to take them on vacation during the school year.

It's almost inevitable. 

Rates are lower, rooms are more readily available, and there are fewer tourists during the off-peak season.  Even if you are fanatical about school and your child's education, chances are, you will find yourself seeing how much money you could save on your next family vacation if you only went in November instead of July.

This has happened to us this year.  It just so happens that we are going to be taking our family on vacation to Disneyland soon.  DISNEYLAND!!!!! 

Ok, so now that we have everything booked, and almost paid for, how do we go about telling our teacher that we will be missing school for almost 2 weeks. 

Hmmmmm???!!!

Now, remember that every teacher is different and chances are that the older your child is the harder it will be to take them out of school for family vacation.  However, if you follow these few guidelines, perhaps you can pull it off effortlessly.  :)

1.  Check your child's school calendar.  Make sure that as you are planning your vacation that you are aware of any testing periods, class pictures, or field trips that your child won't want to miss.  I can't stress this enough!!  Please don't plan your family vacation over testing.  Ever.

2.  Send a note to your child's teacher two weeks before you leave, telling him/her which days your child will be missing and where they will be going.  Make sure that you specify that you are willing to help your child catch up with any missed work when you get back, as well as help them complete assignments before vacation. 

scroll down to get this printable for free!!

Don't ask your child to gather their homework for you to take on vacation.  Most teachers won't have that ready until the week they are using it.  Asking them to get it early can strike a sour note with most teachers. 

Some teachers may send work with your child to complete during vacation.  I, as a teacher, never sent anything difficult, and I only sent it when a child's parent was insistent that I send something.  I usually sent a travel journal and the worksheets they would miss from classwork.  Most teachers understand that learning is done inside and outside the classroom.  Your child can learn a LOT from a family vacation, i.e. time, money, interpersonal communications...haha!  You get the idea.  Life is full of learning opportunities!

3.  Remind your child's teacher 1 to 2 days before you leave that your child will be missing school.  Just because your vacation is all you can think about, and you're counting down the days, doesn't mean that your child's teacher is thinking about it.  They have a lot on their plates.  Just give them a reminder heads up that you are leaving tomorrow or in the next few days.  Doing this through email is fine.

4.  While on vacation, if your child's teacher sent work, make time to do it.  You can complete it in the car or on the plane while traveling.  This is the easiest place to do it.  Also, have your child read.  Let them take a book with you and READ!  If your child's teacher wants them to keep a journal, just have them write down what they did every day at the end of the day.  If they are too young to write, have them draw it out.  Make sure that you are having FUN, though.  Don't sacrifice family time or fun time to do homework.  You can always catch up when you get home!

5.  Bring your child's teacher a souvenir from your vacation.  This sounds cheesy, however, believe me, it helps boost the spirit of that teacher that now has to make sure that your child catches back up with the class and the work that they missed for the all day every day work of school.  It doesn't need to be big or expensive.  A few years ago, when we traveled to Las Vegas, we brought back a pen from the M&M factory along with a bag of M&Ms for each of my daughter's teachers.  They appreciated the fact that we thought of them while on vacation.

6.  Help your child catch up with their homework they missed.  Some teachers will send extra homework while others will just send home basic homework that was missed.  It's your job to now help your child catch back up.  Even if it takes you 1 or 2 weeks...you need to invest a bit more time into homework!

So, now that you have some guidelines, how about a free printable?  Here is a note you can send to your child's teacher to notify them of your upcoming vacation.

download here

 Happy Vacationing!

Valerie

Extending Learning {Apples Pt. 3}

For our last part of extending learning through apples, we are exploring ways to include apples in art and play at home.

In case you missed the other 2 parts, here they are.
Extending Learning {Apples Pt. 1} - Ways to include apples in Language Arts and Recipes
Extending Learning {Apples Pt. 2} - Ways to include apples in Math and Science

Art

    -Draw an apple
Have your student observe an apple and then draw it as carefully as they can.

here are three ways to draw an apple.

     -Make a Contour Drawing
Have your student draw the apple as they follow its shape with their eyes, but instruct them not to look at what they are drawing--they must keep their eyes on the apple while they are drawing.  Explain that a contour drawing may not look much like the model; it is an exercise in seeing.

here is a video to illustrate how to make a contour drawing of an apple

     -Work with Apple Colors
Show examples of many different colored apples.  Include a green Granny Smith, a yellow Golden Delicious, a striped Jonathan, or a spotted Red Delicious.  Provide paints, water, brushes, paper towels, and sheets of paper.  Ask your student to fold his/her paper into fourths and duplicate the colors of each apple in each section of their paper by mixing paints.

here is an example of how they might experiment with mixing colors

     -Try to Produce a Still Life Picture
Tell your student that, in painting, a still life is a picture of inanimate objects, such as fruit, flowers, or food.  Show them a copy of Cezanne's Apples.  Set up an arrangement of apples and have your student use markers, crayons or paints to apply color to their drawing.

Cezanne's Apples

here is an example of works by children

and another example here

     -Playdoh Apples
Have your student sculpt an apple from playdoh.  Have them add details such as a leaf or a stem.

here is an example, along with a recipe for apple spice scented playdoh

     -Make an apple collage
Have your student collect strips of red, green, or yellow scrapbook paper.  Then have them collage those pieces together to make an apple.

here is an example with tutorial

     -Make an Apple Ad
Help your student to pick out a product made by Apple.  Then, help them brainstorm ways to promote that product.  Have them get creative and come up with a slogan and poster to promote that product.  Make sure they use the Apple logo in their ad.

photo credit here

     -Make Tissue Paper Apple Trees
Younger students will enjoy making an apple tree.  Have your student draw a tree trunk with a brown crayon on a sheet of paper.  Then let them tear several shades of green tissue paper into small 'leaves'.  After they glue the leaves above the trunk, give them red tissue paper to glue on for apples.

here is an example along with a tutorial

     -Make Apple Sun Catchers
Have your student use tissue paper and contact paper to make a sun catcher for their own window.

here is an example along with a tutorial

     -Make Apple Prints
Cut apples in half two ways, from the stem down and across the middle of the apple.  Cut one apple into quarters.  Provide red, yellow, and green paint along with sheets of colored construction paper, drawing paper, and tissue paper.  Have your student dip the cut side of the apple pieces in the paint and make prints on their papers.  By using an apple repeatedly until the paint is trasnferred to the paper, your student will get an interesting series of prints that gets lighter and lighter.  Or by overlapping colors with separate prints, your student will create interesting new colors and patterns.  Encourage your student to experiment.

here is an example

here is another example

and here are some tips to make apple printing more enjoyable

     -Make a Dried Apple Sculpture
This is a project for older students because it involves carving with a paring knife.  You will need an apple, a paring knife, a bowl of lemon juice, and a length of string.  HAve your student peel their apples, leavin ght estem and a circl eof peel around the sem.  Have them  carve a face in their apple.  Their carvings can include a mouth, nose, eyes, chin, cheeks, and ears.  Don't let them make any of the cuts too deep.  The carved areas will look deeper as the apples dry.  After your student is done carving, have them dip their apple in the lemon juice to prevent discoloration.  If you want to, you can let the apples soak in the lemon juice for an hour.  Next, have your student tie a length of string to their apple and hang it in a warm, dry place.  It will take about a month for the apple to dry and shrink.  (If your student cannot wait that long, you can speed the process up by drying their apple in a slow oven at 100 degrees for 5 hours, then hang them to dry for about a week.)

go here to see the progression of this man's apple sculptures

Play
*Disclaimer* - Older students will play 'too cool' for games and songs.  The only way to get them involved sometimes is to be goofy and play with them!  Younger students have no problems getting silly.  :)  Decide what your child will want to do, and go from there.  If all else fails, you can let them play the iPad...that's an apple right?  :)

Games

     -Musical Apples
This will need to be played as a group.  Everyone sits on the floor in a circle.  Give one person a red apple and another person a green or yellow apple.  Play a favorite recording.  As long as the music plays, everyone passes the apples clockwise around the circle.  When the music stops, the two people who are holding the two apples must stand.  The one holding the red apple must walk once around the outside of the circle.  The one holding the other apple must walk twice around the circle.  They then return to the circle to pass the apples around as soon as the music begins again.  Other variations include: eliminating the people left holding the apples, or asking whoever is holding the apple to state a fact about apples before continuing.

     -"Red Apple, Stop"
Play this game outside with a group of people.  You will need two apples - a red apple and a green apple.  Have everyone line up shoulder to shoulder as they would for a race.  Choose on person to be the leader, and position him or her a good distance away from the other people, but facing them.  Explain that when the leader holds up the green apple, that is a signal to run.  When the leader holds up a red apple, that is a signal to stop immediately, to 'put on the brakes.'  The leader should call out, "Green apple, go!" when he/she holds up the green apple.  He/she should call, "Red apple, stop!" when the red apple is held up.  There are no winners in this game, only the fun of participating.

     -"Grow, Apple Seed, Grow"
This is another group game.  Have students sit in a circle.  Choose one student to be 'it'.  They will close their eyes while an apple seed{a brown pom pom} is given to one person in the circle.  All students in the circle will then pretend to be holding the seed behind their back.  Then 'it' will look around and try to guess who is hiding the apple seed.  When they guess they will walk over to that student and pretend to 'water' them while saying 'grow, apple seed, grow.'  If that student has the seed they will grow like a tree...if they don't, they will sit still.  Give 'it' 3 guesses to find the apple seed.

     -"Who Took the Apple from the Apple Tree"   
This is played like 'who took the cookies from the cookie jar.'  All players close their eyes and the teacher/parent gives a small apple to one of the players.  Once they have hidden it away all players put their hands in their laps and open their eyes.  Start by singing, 'who took the apple from the apple tree?', then guess someone singing, 'johnny took the apple from the apple tree', if johnny doesn't have the apple, he holds up his hands and sings, 'who me?...couldn't be.'  Then everyone sings, 'then who?'  Keep guessing each other until you find the person who has the apple.  Then that person will sing, 'Who me?...Yes, me!' revealing the apple.

     -Hidden Apples
Cut out several different apples from construction paper, or use real apples, or manipulatives.  Hide the apples in 1 or 2 rooms in the house/classroom.  Have your student locate all of the apples.  You can use hot/cold clues if they need additional help.  For younger students, use large apples, for older students make the apples much smaller.
 
     -Apple Finger Puppets
Have your student color and cut out the finger puppets from the page below.  Glue or staple them so that they will make a loop around your student's fingers.  They can then act out songs, books, plays, or be creative in their own way with them.

click here for download

Songs

Apples and Bananas

Sippin' Cider

 

Ten Apples Up On Top

If I Were an Apple

 

Picking Apples

Hope you have had so much FUN with apples this month!

Valerie

Extending Learning {Apples Pt. 2}

I hope you have had a chance to use some of the ideas and suggestions for extending learning with apples from last week's post.

If you haven't read that one, check it out here.

This week I want to give you some ideas to extend the learning in the areas of math and science using apples.  Just a reminder, Johnny Appleseed Day is the 26th of this month. 

Math
    
     -Count Apples
Using either real apples or manipulatives(things that kids can manipulate for the purpose of learning a mathematical concept) to have your child count.  These can be erasers, apple post-it notes, hand drawn apples on pieces of paper, pom poms, beads, or apple manipulatives.  Practice counting by ones, fives, tens, and if you want to challenge your older student, by threes.  Have your student count the apples and write down the number or match it to a numbered flash card.

you can have your student fill out an apple ten frame after counting

     -Look at Symmetry
Cut an apple in half from top to bottom.  Have your student observe the halves to see if they are the same size and shape.  Have your student notice if there are areas of symmetry and asymmetry.

after checking their apple for symmetry, have them draw a symmetrical apple of their own

     -Do Apple Fractions
Give your student a whole apple.  Ask them what they would do if a friend wanted to share with them.  They would want to cut it in half.  Then ask them how they would divide the apple between 4 people, 8 people, 12 people.  Help your younger student to cut the apple into these fractions.  Older students could cut the apples themselves.

check out this book for more fun

     -Estimate and Count Apple Seeds
Have your student estimate how many seeds will be found within an apple.  After they have made their best guess, have them(or you) cut the apple in half and spoon out the seeds.  Count the seeds and see how close(far) their estimate was from the actual count.

here is an example

     -Sell Apples (or Apple Treats) at an Apple Stand
What better way to teach your student about money?  Help your student make apple treats to sell and set up a stand, much like a lemonade stand.  Have them price items and practice making change for many denominations of money.  If you do not want to have an actual stand with real product, you can play pretend with selling apples.  Have your student price their manipulatives and play with funny money.

photo credit here

     -Weigh an Apple
Using a food scale, weigh multiple apples.  Record the weights.  Determine which is the heaviest, lightest, and in between.  Ask your student to figure out the average weight of an apple.  Once they have figured out the average weight, ask your student to figure out how many apples it takes to make a pound of apples.

photo credit here

     -A Bushel and a Peck
This one is interesting for students that are not aware of this unit of measurement.  A peck of apples is about 11 apples.  There are 4 pecks in a bushel.  Have your student determine how many apples would be in a bushel.  How many in 3, 4, or 10 bushels.

photo credit here

   -Make an Apple Graph
Have your student take a poll of their friends and family members to discover which type of apple is their favorite(red delicious, granny smith, jonagold).  Once they have tallied all of their answers, instruct them to make a graph using their data.  They can make a bar graph, pie graph, or a pictograph.  Each tally can be represented in 1 to 1 correspondence in the graph or 2 to 1 correspondence.

here is an example of a bar graph

here is an example of a pie graph

here is an example of a pictograph

here is a downloadable form for your student to use

     -Apple Sticker Math
 Using apple stickers, have your student make up math problems for you to solve.  For example, they may put 3 stickers + 2 stickers = ?, and you would need to fill in the answer.  Your student may choose to do addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.

here is an example

Games

PreK - 2

Apple Tree Math Game-Could be used for counting or one to one correspondence

Apple Tree Addition Game-Use this game with addition flash cards

Apple Fractions File Folder Game-This has a free download to practice fractions

Apple Addition File Folder Game-Another free download for simple addition

Simple Apple Addition-A fun hands-on approach to solving simple addition equations

Apple Patterns and Sorting-Use apple cutouts

Appleseed Clip Counting-Helpful for little ones practicing counting and number recognition

Pick an Apple-Using a tree and pony beads you can get your student counting to win

Cardboard Tube Apple Games-Your student will practice fine motor skill as they make the trees themselves

Apple Tree Playdoh Math-Teaches your student subitising(click link to learn more)

Candy Apple Tree Sorting and Counting-Using candy helps any student learn

Apple Tree Math-Great for use with multiple students with different levels of learning

3-6

Bushel of Apples and Fill Your Basket Games-All you need are dice to play these games

Apple Tree Math-Great for use with multiple students with different levels of learning

Be sure to check out 3 Dinosaur's Amazing {and FREE} apple packs.  They are loaded with printable activities and games to go along with everything apple related.  They are geared more toward the lower grades, though some students in upper grades would still enjoy them.  Please make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this page to access the downloads.  Don't click on the download button to the right...it is an ad.  {Sometimes these ads on download pages make me crazy!!} Really great stuff though!

Science
     -Make an Apples for Each Season Poster
Your student can look at the life cycle of an apple tree by illustrating how an apple tree appears in each season of the year, winter, spring, summer, and fall.    There is a variety of ways of showing the season poster.

here is an example

or you could complete this sheet here

     -Make an Apple Clock or Time Line
Another way to show the life cycle of an apple tree is to show the progression from seed to apple.  You and your student can illustrate and discuss how an apple tree grows.

here is an example

     -Make an Apple Science Dictionary
Let your student make a list of new science words as you study apples.  Words may include sepal, calyx, petal, pollen, pollinate, nectar, bud, fruit, glucose, and many more.  Then your student may make a dictionary using index cards with definitions for each word.

you can buy this dictionary here

     -Plant an Apple Seed
Your student may want to try and sprout an apple seed.  To give it a try, you will need to mimic a cold winter period for the seed.  Apple seeds won't sprout until they have rested through a cold winter period.  To simulate that period, you and your student will need to put the apple seeds in the fridge for 6 weeks.  To sprout the seeds, put them in a tray of moist sand inside a plastic bag or between layers of moist paper towels.  Keep them cool and moist until they sprout.  It may take six more weeks!  When tiny roots and tiny shoots emerge, plant the apple seeds in soil and watch the apple tree grow and produce leaves.  It will take 15 years to produce fruit from your apple seed.

follow along with this 'nutty' family as they grow their own apple trees

If you don't want to make the big time investment, and you have room in your yard, you could plant an apple tree from your local nursery.  We have an apple tree in our yard and if you have the room, it is a wonderful investment.  I love looking out the window and seeing my kids picking apples for a snack.  :)

here is information to get you started

     -Have a Taste Test
Let your student compare a number of different apples by tasting them.  Give them a small slice of each apple along with a glass of water.  Have your student taste each variety, rinsing their mouths with water between tastes.  Ask them to make notes about the tastes and textures by writing in a journal.  You could remind your student that the taste buds for sweetness are at the tops of the tounges, and the taste buds for tartness are at the sides of our tongues.  Together decide on adjectives to describe each variety of apple. 

here is an example of doing a taste test with your student

     -Test Your Senses
Once you have completed the taste test.  Have your student chart the apples, marking whether they were sweet, tart, crispy, or soft.  Once they have viewed the information, blindfold your student and have them taste each apple again.  Can they guess which apple just by taste?  Next, have them blindfolded and hold their noses.  How do they do now?  You can try and trick your student by giving them a slice of potato as well.  With their noses closed, they may have a hard time telling apart raw potato from raw apple.

here is an example

     -Observe an Apple
Give your student an apple and a copy of the activity sheet below.  Have your student answer the first five questions on the sheet.  Then cut their apple in half and have them answer the last two questions.  Next, your student can draw a realistic picture of the apple and print the variety name next to it.

download here

Apple Science and Math Center Booklet

Here is a free printable of a Science and Math Center that can be used at home or in the classroom.  Work through each section of the book and have your student mark the book with notes and observations as you move along.

download here

Come back next week for the final part of our Extending Learning Apples Edition, Art and Play!