Coin Bingo!

Our math theme this week is money. We've been having fun counting pennies, nickels, and dimes. One of the activities that was provided by Sunshine's Cyberschool was Coin Bingo. We had a lot of fun playing this and I was able to involve Peanut with assistance. Although, I didn't come up with this great idea, I wanted to share so others could have fun learning with their kids!

Materials needed: a blank Bingo Board, pennies, dimes, and nickels, Clues

Directions:

Have your child randomly arrange pennies, nickels, and dimes on their board.
Read each clue. Check your child's answers to be sure that they covered the correct coin. (I didn't have the girls cover their coins- I just had them take them off. They were able to get a BINGO with 5 blank spaces on their board.) The game continues until someone gets a BINGO.

Clues (repeat as necessary or make up your own clues)

* Find a coin that is copper in color
* Find a coin that is the thickest of these three coins
* Find a coin that has ridges on the edge
* Find a coin that is worth the least amount, but not the smallest in size
* Find a coin that is worth more than a penny, but less than a dime
* Find a coin that is worth two nickels
* Find a coin that has Abe Lincoln's picture on it
* Find a coin that is worth 5 pennies
* Find a coin that is the thinnest
_______________________________________________________________________________

My girls also used the poem below to help them identify the coins:


Money, Money!










Penny, penny, easily spent.
Copper brown and worth one cent.

Nickel, nickel, thick and fat.
You're worth five cents and I know that.

Dime, dime, little and thin.
I remember you're worth ten.

Quarter, quarter, big and bold.
You're worth twenty-five cents I'm told.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Other activities with money:
Pretend store: you can easily put together a simple store with items around your house. Use little scraps of paper to label the prices of each items. Role play- customer and store keeper. Doesn't have to be fancy for the kids to have fun. I've thrown this together in 5 minutes with fruit from the kitchen and the kids had a blast!

Explore Foreign Currency:
If you've traveled or have a coin collection, share coins from around the world with your child. My girls love learning about different cultures, so they think it's cool to see other countries' currency.

Money and Coin Activities: Enchanted Learning



Stay tuned for Quarters and Dollars next week!! We're advancing to the big bucks!

Happy Counting!!

Jen

What is Critter??

What animal do you think Critter is? If you haven't met Critter, then what are you waiting for? You need to bounce on over to Critterville to meet him and his family!




Trish over at Preschool Playbook posted an Easter Critter Book and piqued my curiosity!


I know that there are more serious things to be curious about, but my girlies asked me the question, so I made an attempt at finding the answer. I found the official website for Critter- using google- of course. Very cute site with lots to explore. The more I look at Critter, I wonder if he might be a porcupine?? My girls thought maybe a beaver or groundhog. The author might just want Critter to be whatever animal we want him to be or he's just enjoys driving me crazy. In response to a child's question about the type of animal he is, Critter says,"I'm a critter of course!" So much for the website helping me if Critter won't even tell a curious little kid! Oh Well, I still love Critter anyways- Whatever he is!!

http://www.littlecritter.com

Happy Reading!


Jen

Wordless Wednesday!! A Friendship Award

If you are visiting for the Ultimate Blog Party- please click here! Welcome!!



What a lovely award! A couple of days ago, Trish from Preschool Playbook gave me this sweet award. Thank you, Trish. I will be handing it out as well when I get a chance, but wanted to acknowledge Trish's kindness.

Friendship Award

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to those bloggers who must choose at least five more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their award."

Thanks again!

Jen

The Ultimate Blog Party 2009

I'm so excited to be partying with all of my bloggy friends and new blogger friends at The Ultimate Blog Party (March 20th - March 27th) If you'd like to join in on all of the fun and check out all of the great prize giveaways, be sure to visit 5 Minutes for Mom.



Stopping by from the Blog Party, well......





I'm Jen- a super big kid at heart and here are my two creative, silly, and curious little girls. Enjoy our warm and fun learning environment! I love to hear from my readers and learn new ideas from them, so be sure to share!

I hope that you enjoy your party stop over here at Creative and Curious Kids!! I'd love for you to visit- God's Shining Stars, too. I'll be sure to visit your blogs during the Ultimate Blog Party!

Take Care!
Jen

Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Guess what I'm doing today? Baking cookies!! Besides increasing my waistline, there are many fun and creative learning opportunities that go along with baking cookies with your kids, so as my cookies bake, I'm going to share just a few.



Cookie math: During baking, of course you can teach measurement, but to teach simple fractions, wait until the cookies are complete. Take one cookie and teach 1 whole. Cut in half to teach 1/2, be sure to stress that each side must be equal. Next, teach 1/4 fourth. Lastly, this part is extremely important when teaching cookie math- eat all four parts! Yum!!

Cookie Music: Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?

Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?
__________stole the cookies from the cookie jar.
Who me? Couldn't be.
Then who?

We have a lot of fun singing this together and the girls love to blame Mommy for stealing the cookies!!

But mom knows who the real culprit is....





















Books about Cookies:

After we eat our cookies, I'm going to be reading the book, The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins.
"Ma has made a dozen cookies. It should be plenty for her two children. But then the doorbell rings-and rings and rings and rings."
Great story to teach sharing and also very simple division concepts.



Here are a couple of other literature suggestions:

Who Stole The Cookies from The Cookie Jar? by Margaret Wang, Christine Schneider (Illustrator)









If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff, Felicia Bond (Illustrator)









Mmmm! It's smells yummy around here. Almost burnt the first batch, being I was busy with this post, but saved them just in time!

We used the original Nestle recipe today. (minus the nuts)Nestle Recipe

Okay, warm chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven- flawless!

Enjoy your weekend!

Jen

Powder Art

I can't wait to try out my new prize with the girls- Powder Art. I entered this giveaway over at Mom Two Ways and was one of the lucky winners. There was a variety of kits to choose from, but I thought the girls would enjoy the puppies and kitten kit.



To read a great review and learn more about this product, click on the link below.
Powder Art Review and Giveaway


Happy First Day of Spring!

Jen

Wordless Thursday, Again!! Stuffed Animal Fashion Show

Peanut had a blast dressing up her animals! Her pug pug in a ballerina costume- too funny!!

Have a great day!

Jen

Leprechauns on the Loose!

Tonight is the night when the little guy visits our house! The girls are getting excited. I'm not sure how he gets in, but he always leaves such a mess for me to clean up. Little green footprints!!(green washable paint on a Mommy's pinky finger- shhh! Don't tell anyone!) Up the side of the sink, onto my counter tops, with a trail to a sweet surprise for the girls. Last year he left gummy bears. I suggested that we build a leprechaun trap, which I thought would be fun, but the girls thought that it was too cruel to trap a leprechaun. I reassured them that we would let the leprechaun go if we caught him, but they just wouldn't go for it.



For more leprechaun fun, click on the links and activities below:
Letter from a Leprechaun
Fruit Loop Rainbow
Leprechaun Paper Bag Puppet
Leprechaun Hats with Style (Preschool Playbook)



Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Jen

Wordless Thursday!!

I missed Wordless Wednesday yesterday, because my computer just would not work!! So strange how it works when it wants to- it has a mind of it's own!! So I'm posting my Wordless Wednesday pics today!


A mind of it's own. Just like my almost 7 year old. Yes, I often write about the adorable and cute side of her, but watch out for the independent, "I am too cool for you, Mom" side!



Well, she may be mouthy at times, but at least when she is "too cool for Mom", she has her nose in a book!! Here she is trying to read her first chapter book. I'm so proud of her accomplishments!

Happy Wordless Thursday!

Better late, then never,
Jen

The Truth about Momma

Okay girls, Tell me how you really feel!!!


1. What is something mom always says to you?
Peanut: I love you.
Sunshine: I love you.

2. What makes mom happy?
Peanut: When we love you.
Sunshine: kisses

3. What makes mom sad?
Peanut: When we have to go away.
Sunshine: misbehaving

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Peanut: Tells silly jokes.
Sunshine: tickling me under my armpit.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Peanut: You listened to the radio.
Sunshine: just like me!

*The apple doesn't fall very far from the tree. Sunshine's right! Peanut thinks I grew up in the 20's, I guess! lol

6. How old is your mom?
Peanut: 16 (wow! I'm a teenage mom!)
Sunshine: 37

7. How tall is your mom?
Peanut: 17 inches
Sunshine: 4ft. 1

(apparently, I look small to them!)

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Peanut: Make us laugh.
Sunshine: Be crazy.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Peanut: Clean
Sunshine: Wash the dishes.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Peanut: Help people.
Sunshine: Singing

*Awww. Sweet answers. Are they kissing up or do they really think this?


11. What is your mom really good at?
Peanut: the computer
Sunshine: Singing (American Idol, here I come!)

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Peanut: singing Okay, one thinks I can be a star. The other daughter is like Simon!
Sunshine: Gymnastics


13. What does your mom do for a job?
Peanut: work at Red Lobster
Sunshine: work at Red Lobster and teach me.


14.What is your mom's favorite food?
Peanut: strawberries
Sunshine: seafood

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
Peanut: You feed us everyday.
Sunshine: Being my teacher.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Peanut: Cassie on Dragon Tales- the pink one.
Sunshine: Superwoman

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Peanut: Play ponies
Sunshine: shop

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Peanut: Our eyes and eye-lashes.
Sunshine: both did gymnastics when we were kids.


19. How are you and your mom different?
Peanut: She doesn't have the same hair as me.
Sunshine: She likes seafood and I don't. (Hmmm. I guess she doesn't realize that catfish, salmon, shrimp, and tuna are seafood- which I feed her.)

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Peanut: She hugs us.
Sunshine:1. She teaches me in Cyberschool 2. She hugs and kisses me a lot. There are so many ways. (sniffle, sniffle)


21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Peanut: That he loves us.
Sunshine: taking care of him- that he needs you.
*very sweet.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Peanut: work (Do I look that excited when I'm leaving for work??)
Sunshine: out to dinner. (so true!)

I found this kid interview over at Jiggity Jigg and I just had to find out what my little one's thought about me. Feel free to steal it if you'd like. Go over and check out Jen Jiggity's interview. It's great!

Take Care,

Jen

Invasion of Poptropica!

Poptropica has invaded our homes!!

I guess we all need our guilty pleasures, mine was "The Bachelor"(and those of you who watched that know how that turned out. Yeesh. I don't even want to talk about it.)

My girls' guilty pleasure is the computer game- Poptropica. I have a mixture of feeling about this new love (or should I say obsession).


Here are my top 5 reasons why Poptopica is bad for kids!
1. They become addicted and beg to play all of the time instead of reading or doing creative activities.

2. If there is only one computer available, this causes a lot of bickering over who will be playing Poptropica.

3. Your child becomes zombified!

4. They scream and have a tantrum when you take them off of the game for dinner, etc.

5. They complain when their cousins don't let them have a turn at their house playing Poptropica and that they are ahead in the game and so and so on.....

Here are my top 5 reasons why Poptropica is A-O.K. for kids!
1. Reading skills- In order to progress through the game you need to read the clues presented by different characters. (This frustrates Peanut who is unable to read. I've even heard her struggling to sound out the words.) Also, educational/learning info. on the game.

2. Decision Making- What will my avatar look like? What shall she wear? What color hair will she have? and so on. They choose their character! Also, many decisions need to be made throughout the game which is a lot of fun for them.

3. Good weapon to use for discipline! "Go to bed or no Poptropica tomorrow!" This works, I've tried it! I should have said, "Go to bed nice for Mommy and you will earn extra Poptropica." I'll try that next time. :)

4. Keeps them out of trouble when Mom's putting dishes away, etc.

5. Computer skills- lots of practice with maneuvering the mouse and simple keyboarding skills.


Peanut having fun on her game!


Sunshine very much involved in her game.


Dueling Computers!


Cousin fun!


More fun with cousin who is fixated on his game!

Well, go check it out at www.poptropica.com! You might enjoy playing yourself. This happened to me with the whole webkinz craze. I actually enjoy dressing the little pet online and decorating it's room, etc. Don't tell anyone!

Have a fun day!
Jen

Appreciate your Appendix!!

Appreciate your appendix if it's healthy, because you never know when it's going to go! Three days ago, our appendix adventure began with my husband. It started with some pain in his abdomen that slowly moved to his right side. In the morning, I noticed that he was struggling to walk and was holding his right side. Oh no- holding right side- pain worse than the previous evening- off to the hospital we went!! Luckily, we didn't have to wait long in the ER, before they sent him off for a CT scan. Unfortunately, it didn't show much, but they were still concerned about his other symptoms, so they brought a surgeon in right away. He examined him and told him that it had to come out right away! The kidney stone we were hoping for wasn't there!
The girls were so cute taking care of him. Putting a warm blanket on him, etc. The nurse even let them wheel him to the OR. My oldest was very concerned about him while the youngest begged for icecream. What a difference between in reactions between a 4 yr. old and a 6 yr. old.
The surgery went extremely well, but the recovery was more difficult. His intestines were pretty swollen, so he was in a lot of pain. Therefore, he spent two nights in the hospital so far. We are hoping that they will send him home today. The girls are missing their Daddy, so they spent the morning making signs and decorating for his return.
Now their topic of conversation is the appendix and where it's located and how do they take it out and what do we need it for and so on and so on.... So even though this isn't the best experience to have, the teacher in me has turned it into a learning experience for them. They even got to see a photo of their Dad's insides- pretty gross- but neat for them!
Here are some interesting facts about the appendix and appendicitis, because you never know when you might need them- just in case you are curious like us!!


Did you know??
The appendix is a small, worm-shaped tube.
It is about 3 inches long and only 1/4 in. to 1 in thick.
It is projecting from the cecum which is part of the large intestine.
Use is unknown- speculate that it might be part of an organ we needed in the past.

Source: education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia


The most common symptoms of appendicitis are:
* pain in the right side of the abdomen
* nausea
* vomiting
* constipation
* diarrhea inability to pass gas
* low fever that begins after other symptoms
* abdominal swelling
* anorexia
Source: Mama's Health
(My husband didn't have all of the above symptoms- some bathroom issues and the pain that moved from navel to right side.)

I'll try to post again soon. If you don't see a new post on here for a couple of days, you'll know why- I'll be playing nurse!!

Take Care!

Jen

February Literature Favorites

We read a variety of children's literature last month from biographies to fantasy. Take a look at some of our February favorites!

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You by Mary Ann Hoberman

Sunshine had a lot of fun reading this partner book. She even got Dad involved for a few of the short stories!

I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track by Joshua Prince

What happens to the little ant on the railroad track? You'll have to read to find out!

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

Inspiring true story. To find out more about this book and what it has meant to us. Visit God's Shining Stars.

A Mink, a Fink, a Skating Rink: What Is a Noun? by Brian P. Cleary

What a fun way to learn about nouns! Funny with quirky illustrations. "Hill is a noun. Mill is a noun. Even your Uncle Phil is a noun."

Abe Lincoln: the boy who loved books by Kay Winters

Great biography for little ones! Both my six year old and four year old were very interested in this book and learning more about Abe.

Happy Reading!!

Jen