I am a huge Disney fan, but only recently learned the terminology, "FE" aka "fish extender". There is a great fansite for those who love Disney and any question you could possibly have about anything Disney, someone there will know your answer. While on this website, I learned that a fish extender is a hanging piece that one either buys from the internet or makes to hang from the fish hook outside your cabin door on a Disney cruise. People sign up months in advance on this site to exchange gifts with others on the cruise that are placed in the FE. Thought this was so cool, but I didn't find out in time to get in on the exchange, but the crafter in me compelled me to make one anyway and pack a suitcase of little gifts to give out each day for my nieces and nephew. This is the fish extender I made for my Disney Magic cruise. No sewing was involved. I used felt (some with sticky backing), stickers, small canvas bags, scrapbook paper, ribbon, and duct tape to decorate. I used glue dots to attach (one of the greatest crafting inventions ever!) My nieces and nephew had a great time getting their little gifts each day on the cruise.

Mickey Clock

Wild about Teaching!: 500 Follower Giveaway!

Wild about Teaching!: 500 Follower Giveaway!

Bunnies

The class had fun completing their Easter stations yesterday. Here are the Easter bunnies the kids made. I designed an easy pattern. The kids cut out both ears, both top paws and both bottom paws at the same time. I traced them on one sheet and stapled a second sheet to the bottom of the top sheet. The kids loved them!

April Showers

Each month, I have my class practice fine motor skills by completing a lacing project. On Friday, the class made umbrellas to decorate my small bulletin board for April. Umbrellas are decorated with butterflies and ducks confetti. 

The kids laced only the top part of the umbrella as the handle is too thin to lace. I always wrap tape on the end of the yarn the kids are pulling through each hole to make it easier for them. No need to worry about it fraying on them.  This week we will begin our April tally chart recording how many rainy days versus sunny days in the month. Happy April Everybody!

Woohoo - my patience award. Thanks Mrs. W!

A Buggy Spring 

    We've been studying bugs in our reading theme. To finish off the theme, the class has been making bug projects to go along with it. I usually do a large version of the dragonflies to go along with the theme, but decided to miniaturize them this year to fit on my bulletin board. I kept the googly eyes the same size though and I put them on glue dots prior to completing the project to make it easier for the kids to stick onto the project. To make sure both wings are the same size, I trace the wings on one sheet and staple a second sheet to it so the kids cut two out at the same time. 

    I also do a large version of the bumblebees with hearts for Valentine's Day that I altered for this bulletin board. I don't have all the bees hanging on the board yet. Since I don't usually see grasshopper crafts, and I really wanted a grasshopper on the board, I designed the grasshoppers to go along with the theme this year. I drew a pattern for the body and then traced four on a white sheet of paper which I copied onto bright lime green copy paper I bought last year. This worked great! It did take me awhile to get the wings of the grasshopper to look right, but I was happy with the way they turned out in the end. I then used the same pattern to trace the wings of the bees out of wax paper. So the pattern came in handy. The class has enjoyed making the bug crafts, although they complained that they wanted to give our ladybugs legs and wings. Maybe next year, I'll alter it some. I found the snail project online and I love how easy it was to make. Actually all of the crafts in here were extremely easy to make. We'll be making our butterflies this week although they won't be going on the board. 

St. Patrick's Day Activities

March 16, 2012 -- We made lots of projects for St. Patrick's Day this week. Here is my St. Patrick's Day wall decorated with our leprechauns, shamrock wands and pots of gold. We had lots of fun! 

The Philadelphia Flower Show -- Hawaii

Makes me want to go back to Hawaii. Loved watching the hula show especially when they performed the Hukilau Song hula as I took lessons the last time I went to Hawaii and performed it in a show. I can't believe how much of the hula I remembered.

My Horton Craft for Dr. Seuss week. One of our project stations completed in class.

The Mouse House -- Kindergarten Classroom Door December 2011