Preschool Corner: preschool on the go

 

 

This will probably be my last preschool corner post for a few weeks because we’ll be traveling soon, and so here’s my plans for traveling and learning on the go:

 

And PS: the pictures have nothing to do with the post, they’re just random pictures I liked because they’re cute.

 

Geography

 

We’re driving from Texas to Southern California, so we’ll pass through New Mexico and Arizona.  I’ll put pictures up as we go through, but here’s what the kids will be putting together for their geography studies as we travel:

Arizona State Symbols

Information and pictures for this came from this site: Arizona Secretary of State for Kids.  And can I just say I love when states have information for the kids  on their website, and I LOVE it even more when they have coloring pages or anything like that.

 

New Mexico

 

And information and many of the pictures came from the New Mexico Secretary of State for Kids.  And as a random comment, I’d have to say the Uncle Ben’s Guide to the Federal Government page on the US website is AWESOME!  I used that back when I was teaching second grade for the kids to learn about the U.S. government.

 

So, they’ll be doing those.  I’m going to look up some books on those states in our public library to find some good ones.  I’ll probably also be picking up some ones on Tombstone and Grand Canyon while we’re going to them.  Maybe one on Santa Fe as well……..  I’m a sucker for a good kid’s book.  If you want to see what we  did on California earlier check here.

 

Math and Handwriting

 

I plan to use some leftover preschool workbooks which the kids are mostly beyond to refine some skills and to work on their handwriting.  These should be mostly ones they can do on their own.  I’ve also printed off a bunch from the Learning Page from their insect theme (some of which I’m going to have to reprint because it got all screwy while printing a bunch of them).

 

Reading

 

I’m going to bring some of the books I’ve printed out from Reading A to Z for them to keep practicing on.  My goal is for them to read an “easy” one in the morning and a more difficult one in the afternoon.  We’ll see if I stick to this.

 

 

 

Science

  We plan to go to the  San Diego Zoo (which I am SO stoked about) and an aquarium in Phoenix, AZ (anyone else find an aquarium in the middle of a desert hilarious?)

 

I’m debating about bringing our science book with us to read more about bugs or just letting that part be.

 

 

 

For more great posts about what kids are learning in pre-school head on over to Homeschool Creations.

Geography: Williamson County Museum

So……..  A friend called me up and asked if I wanted to go with her and the kids she was nannying to a local paint your own pottery studio.  I said “Sure!”  What a chance to let my kids get creative, and I don’t have to clean it, SCORE!

So, we loaded all up.  You know, I’ve just noticed I say “so” too much, I really should work on that.  Continuing on.  We drove up to Georgetown, and went to the address the girl insisted it was at, and saw a Spa……  That was not it.  So, we circled around and found this:


In case you can’t tell the sign says: “Coming soon 8th Street Art Studio.”
We particularly liked the fresh coffee sign in front of the barbed wire.  So, we thought there is no way we were going to take the kids there even if it was open.  NOT HAPPENING.

So, we wandered around downtown Georgetown and discovered this little museum, The Williamson County Museum, a small little free museum telling the history of the county with a few nice interactive exhibits.



They got to try and figure out how to use a drill from the natives in the area (I didn’t get much chance to read what the signs said, so a lot of this is conjecture).








Try to grind corn.  This was especially hard because it was a true original corn grinder, and made of real rock.  Very heavy for a three year old.






And, we got to talk about the less proud moments in American History.  My kids all agree they didn’t like the ghost man.

And, let me brag for a moment on my college.  Way back in the 20s, when Abilene Christian University, was Abilene Christian College, and still fairly small, a collection of KKK burst into chapel in full costume and walked proudly up to the front, and said “We like what you stand for as a college, and want to give you a donation.”  The president of the college at that time turned to him and said, “We don’t like what you stand for, and we will not accept your donation.”  I’ve always liked that story ever since I heard it back in college, and think it’s a neat story about standing up for what’s right.

After we finished up in the museum we continued around the square and saw a lot of cool historic building and ended up in a local bookshop which had this sign:

Duly noted, not leaving my kids alone.  No matter how much Princess might wish for a dog.

I love little museums like this, they’re fun to find, and I look forward to seeing if we can find any on our trip this summer.

Now, head on over to Children Grow, Children Explore, Children Learn to see more great geography ideas.

What happens when Princess wears a hair clip

I’ve commented on lots of posts about my jealousy of cute little girl hair dos.  For several reasons:

 

1.  I can’t style my own hair in anything other than a pony tail or braided, let alone my daughters.

 

2.  She takes everything out of her hair very quickly.

 

So, here’s what happened the other day when I FORCED her to wear pig tails.

 

     

She was told she had to keep them on through church.  She did, barely.  By the time we picked her up from Sunday School the ties were half out.  Then by the time we got home she’d pulled it all out.  It took 5 tries to get them in.  And that first picture is what it looked like while I was trying to put them in.

Homeschool Blog Hop: Time for Mom

 

So, this week the theme is “Time for Mum,” and I totally missed the last one, and the post is sitting in my drafts, but I could never get it to work as a post where it wasn’t feeling forced.

And, I was going to write this big long post about what I like to do to relax and take time for me, but then I decided to go do it.

So, I’m going to:

and then:

And I leave you with this comic which explains why Jeff and I frequently have backaches:

Except, this is more of a several times a day thing, than just Father’s Day at our house.  Really, who ever invented the concept of a jump hug?  

Summer Bucket List and Summer Reading Challenge

 

I’ll add in the Summer Bucket List button as soon as I remember who is hosting this, help!

 And now I've added it in.

Julie of Just Playin’ Around also has a book blog called My Book Retreat and I routinely read her posts (if rarely comment) and think I’d love to read more, okay I read a fair amount.

Here’s my definite books:

1.  Proven Guilty, Jim Butcher- I’m halfway through, should be done in a day or so

2.  White Knight, Jim Butcher- I’ll finish powering through Dresden Files soon, I’m sure.

3.  Small Favors, Jim Butcher- last one we own currently, I’m sure if I find any of the other ones I’ll pick it up

4. Chronicles of Narnia- this is also going to be part of another challenge that is a fun idea of reading/watching whatever you can/want to from that series.

5.  Creative Correction, Lisa Welchel- parenting book, in theory I’ll be putting up my thoughts on chapter 1 this week, I”m reading it with a friend and comparing notes.

6.  I’m sure I’ll read something else during this time.  We’ll see what I find on our trip.

SUMMER BUCKET LIST

1.  Attend Warrior Prince Academy (in progress)

2.  See Toy Story 3

3.  Make Build-A-Bear toys for the kids.

4.  See the Grand Canyon for the first time.

5.  Go to the San Diego Zoo.

6.  Visit friends, all over.

7.  Go swimming a lot.

8.  Go to the Austin Science and Nature Center.

9.  Go to the Children’s Museum.

10.  Make ice sculptures using paper cups.

11.  Read lots of fairy tales, and maybe make knight stuff.

12.  Finish learning about butterflies, and hopefully insects.

12.  Get at least one more room “clean and organized.”

13.  Find out what color the carpet is in my room (I’m sure there’s a floor in there somewhere).

14.  Finish the early Jesus Bible stories.

15.  Sew at least 3 projects.

16.  Let the kids try sewing one thing.

17.  Find a new park.

18.  Feed the ducks.  Snicker, snicker, and if you went to ACU that would be a hilarious comment.

19.  I’m sure I can come up with two more things…….  Play lots of board games together.

20.  Go see the Zilker Summer musical.

21.  Have lots of picnics.

22. Have a fun water game day.

TO DO BEFORE OUR TRIP AS FAR AS PACKING

While I’m making lists might as well make this one:

1.  Go to AAA and get their books about the different states we’ll be driving through

2.  Tune up car

3.  Get Batman’s seatbelt replaced (waiting on parts)

4.  Print off lots of coloring and learning pages.  Note to self, go to learning page and print off their insect theme section.

5.  Pack suitcases; find a good travel soap for washing clothes.

6.  Organize snack types of things and drinks.

7.  Hmmmm, lots more stuff, but I need to go be a superhero with Princess.  I’ve got my power ring, and now to fight bad guys.