Random and Math Fun

I got late notice that I was doing Toddler Storytime so I didn't have a lot of time to prep.  So my books were just fun random books and our activities were a few of the activities I had created for my Toddler Math and Early Literacy Class (which was on Saturday).

Hooray for Fish!

by Lucy Cousins

Silly Sally

by Audrey Wood

Blocks

by Irene Dickson

Songs

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

If You're Happy and You Know It
(clap, stomp, spin, shout hooray, jump up and down)

Flannel

Three Little Mice

Three little mice came out to play
Gathering crumbs along the way
Out came the pussycat sleek and fat
One little mouse goes scampering back.

Two little mice came out to play
Gathering crumbs along the way
Out came the pussycat sleek and fat
One little mouse goes scampering back.

One little mouse came out to play
Gathering crumbs along the way
Out came the pussycat sleek and fath
One little mouse goes scampering back.

Play and Learn

Socks, clothespins, and a low clothesline
Paper towel roll holder and "rings" to go on
(bracelets, hair ties, shower curtain rings, canning jar rings, cardboard tubes)
Buckets and Blocks (one little toddler started using the word "heavy")
Stacking Cups

Sensory Play: Messy Learning and Fun

A colleague and I created a STARS class (for child care providers and parents) all about Sensory/Messy Learning.  It was A LOT of work, but so, so much fun!!  We mostly focused on touch, sight and smell but also addressed taste and sound. 

Books Display about the five senses and messy play

including:  Edward Gets Messy; The Power of Play; Loose Parts

We had a nice turn out for our program.  We had an hour long powerpoint presentation about the WHY and the HOW of messy play; then participates got to experience stations with messy play!

Shaving Cream!

Dough

Ratio: 6 Baking Soda to 1 hair conditioner 

Clean Mud

TP, shredded Ivory bar soap, and warm water

(ratios: 1 to 1 to 1)

Goop

Ratio 1 Cornstarch to 1/2 water

Water Beads

Beans

Packing Peanuts

Shredded Paper

Fun/Random items on Contact Paper

Also:

Cloud Dough (Ratio: 1 baby oil to 8 flour)

Another fun silky smoothly dough (Ratio: 1 Palmolive or Dawn Dish Soap to 2 Cornstarch) 

Sand

We did run into a few problems was concerns with state regulations in regards to using "food items" as "play items"--beans, rice, flour; and soap that can go rancid.  From our own research we didn't find anything that strict--just not things like painting with pudding, playing with cooked spaghetti (ready to eat items).  So we encouraged them to talk to their coaches about specifics.

We will probably be doing this class again in 2019.