Mini Theme: Waltz of the Snowflakes

Waltz of the Snowflakes

Season: Winter

Music: Waltz of the Snowflakes from the Nutcracker Suite

Mobile: Dance of the Snowflakes Mobile

Flash Cards: Any musical instruments represented in the Suite,

Art Project: Any snowflake project

Read Aloud to the Music: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Toys and Materials: The Snowy Day Plush Doll

Video: Waltz of the Snowflakes from the Nutcracker

Science Experiment: DIY Crystal Snowflakes

Sensory: Let it Snow Bottle

Mini Theme: Carnival of Animals: Aquarium

Mini Theme: Carnival of Animals: Aquarium

Season: Summer

Music: Carnival of Animals: Aquarium

Read Aloud to the Music: Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

Mobile: Montessori Whales Mobile

Flash Cards:  Any aquatic animals, Any musical instruments in an orchestra

• Sea Creatures  Flash Cards
• Musical Instruments 1, 2, 3 Flash Cards

Art Project: Plastic Bag Jelly Fish, Paper Plate Seahorse

Sensory: Wave Bottles

Video Listening Map:

Bugs and Daffy Carnival of Animals:

More Montessori Activities for The Carnival of Animals:

Mini Theme: Peter and The Wolf

Our Music focus this week is 'Peter and the Wolf'!  Here's some great teaching references I found while preparing the curriculum for his week:

Click here for a FREE mp3 of Peter and the Wolf from a remastered 1970's vinyl record.

Click here for Peter and the Wolf Printables and more.

This one can be used to make flannel board pieces, stick puppets or shadow puppets:

Blog: 100 Days of Real Food

Here's a blog that I love:

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/

It is such a simple blog that shows you how to easily make whole, clean food choices.  My favorite part is where she says that with a whole foods diet, you no longer need to count fat, calories, or carbs.  Because when you eat only wholesome foods, it all evens out.  Makes it seem so simple!

There's a full list of recipes and snack ideas too!

Here's an excerpt from the blog under the 100 Day Challenge:

What you CAN eat:

1. Whole foods that are more a product of nature than a product of industry
2. Lots of fruits and vegetables(we recommend that you shop for these at your local farmers’ market)
3. Dairy products like milk, unsweetened yogurt, eggs, and cheese

CVS Photo Card Discounts

Attention families!  Now that you have kids, it's like an unspoken law that you need photo cards for the holiday! Your friends and family want reminders of how cute your kids are and how fast they are growing.

Check out CVS photo for affordable easy to make cards.

To simplify it, I started with the greeting I wanted (Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas...) then the size.  If you want, you can also search by number of photos (Good if you already have a couple photos in mind.  You can easily convert your photos to black and white or antique as needed.

The site is sticky and buggy at times but here are some great online coupons to use.  They both worked for me!

SHOPUS - %25 off your total order

CARDS30 - %30 off your order of photo cards (min 60)

Here's a link to more codes to try on RetailMeNot.

What's New: Bunny Rattle and Montessori Bell

Here's two new Infant toys for the babies.

The first is a plush baby rattle made from a lone such that lost it's partner.  It contains a bell thanks to my kitties who lent one of their jingle balls for it's construction.

Here's the tutorial if you want to make your own, there's another style as well.

The other is a Montessori bell.  Made for batting, grasping and kicking skills when dangled above a baby on their back.  It's equipped with a loop of elastic for a bit of give if the infant pulls on it.

Here's one you can buy on Etsy if you don't want to make your own.

Are You Giving to Toys for Tots?

Are you giving to Toys for Tots this year?  If so, consider the following:

Full text here.

Avoid buying and giving:

Toys with many small parts (for younger children)

Toys with breakable parts

Toys that require batteries, unless your also purchase the specific batteries for the toy.

Toys that are cheaply made in foreign companies. I know, this isn't easy anymore. So many toys are made overseas. But if you stick with familiar name brand toys, it helps.
Freebie toy give-aways (from McDonald's Happy Meals, etc.). These products are often recalled.