"We're On The Eco Move" Training
March/April 2011
The information listed on this post are projects, websites and information shared during our most recent trainings.
Cricket Caps
As shown in training class.
With this last picture, I glued elastic strips to the top so children could put one or two fingers under them
and use as symbols.
This could be used as two different sound instruments.
Paper Organizer
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/paper-organizer-674392/
Little Drummer
Creating a drum for your classroom can be so easy to make.
The drum set above was created by using a small coffee can and a plastic
kitchen spoon. The top is very durable for those "excited drummers"!
For the Drum, decorating the outside was done by using green tape as the stripes
and putting smiley face stickers around the can. I created a handle by super gluing rope to the side.
The spoon was decorated by taping the handle with the same green tape as on the drum
to help make the connection between the two items.
Using the larger coffee cans gives off a more echoed sound. You can use either the plastic or metal cans!
Lawn Bowling Set
http://www.rethinkrecycling.com/kids/fun-and-games/monthly-recycling-activites/make-your-own-lawn-bowling-set
Alternate for Bowling Activity
As shown in training class.
Use any old and clean soda bottles of any size.
Decorate the outside with wallpaper, stickers, or colored tape.
You can fill the inside to help balance it on the floor with water (I added food coloring as well, rocks, sand, bells).
I super glued the top shut. You can make 3, 5, or even 8 pins.
Use a soft ball when letting children play the game.
This is a great outdoor or indoor activity!
Sorting by Size/Sensory Activity
As shown in training class.
Used: cut up pieces of paper towel roll.
Each piece is cut at alternate ascending heights.
Decorated with assortment of used materials: pipe cleaner, fabric, wallpaper, bandaids & rubberbands.
All items were either taped, glued or stapled in the inside and secured with glue.
Paper and Pencil/Marker Container
As shown in training class.
As shown in training class.
This is an inexpensive way of creating containers when the plastic ones are just out of the budget.
I used an old Ice Cream Box container, but you can use any thick cardboard box-the large Goldfish boxes are also great!
I simply cut open the top, secured the inside bottom of the box with an extra piece of cardboard, and decorated it with old wallpaper scraps.
I secured the corners on the inside and out with extra thick tape to help it last.
I secured the corners on the inside and out with extra thick tape to help it last.
Just Mine Art Display
As shown in training class.
I made this out of a toilet paper roll by wrapping it in any kind of paper (newspaper, magazine, tissue paper) and secured it inside of the roll.
On the outside, you can either cut a design from wallpaper, cereal boxes or any child favorite picture to place in the front. I taped it to the front of the display.
On the top to secure the artwork in place, I cut small 1- 1/2 inch slits on opposite but equal sides of the roll.
I wrapped the top and bottom of the display in tape to give it a sturdier finish.
Then simply slide the paper inside the slits and your done!
Alternates: 1. You can display the front by putting the name on a card and taping to the front.
2. You can also display the front by different themes so children can choose which theme they would
like to have their picture displayed on for that week!
Counting Catepillar
As shown in Training
Alphabet Connections
As shown in training.
Thanks to Mellon Patch Child Care for sharing picture.
Using any container (coffee, cookie, oatmeal, etc), decorate the outside with an upper case letter. You can use construction paper or any thick paper of your choice while securing with contact paper.
Place inside the container, the same letter that's on the outside (either laminating or using contact paper to keep it sturdy) and a toy or item that represents the sound of that letter.
Keep the lids of the container so the items will stay in place when not being used.
Shop Til You Drop Book!
As seen in training.
I created this book for children to use in the Housekeeping/Dramatic play area, but you can create one for each interest area.
You can use an old binder notebook along with used file folders, but you can create these out of old file folders, photo albums or even using cardboard box sides for the front and back covers.
Print out front and back covers for the book and index each section on the covers with different topics such as: kitchen, bathroom, outdoors, food, dog food, toys, laundry items, cleaning supplies and restaurants.
Place paper and writing instruments within the front cover so children can make a list of the items they need from the sale book.
Each section is separated on the inside with the file folder showing the indexed item.
Cut out items representing each section and tape them on the file folder. I like the folder idea as you can add to each section whereas a photo album only has a certain number of pages available.
An extension to this activity would be to have a small storage"shopping center" area that holds actual empty boxes of the items noted in the sale book. Have the children make their list of needed items and bring it to the "shopping center" where you can trade their list for the items they would like to receive. Children would then take these items to the housekeeping area to play with or any other center where you have the books available.
Adding one to each of your interest areas is so easy. Just think of products, places and businesses that relate specifically to the theme in that area and this will give you guidence on items to add!
"Shake That Bell" Instrument
As shown in training.
Using a peanut can, you can place small bells inside the can and seal the lid with glue.
You can also place sand in the container along with the bells if you would like to lessen the sound or create a more muffled effect. Decorate the outside anyway you would like!
You can also use beans, beads, or coins!
Paper Keeper System!
Move over Trapper Keeper!
As seen in training.
This is a perfect way of keeping those important papers that need to go home from being crumbled in the bottom of the book bag.
I took a paper towel roll, sealed the ends with masking tape and decorated the outside with old fabric and ribbon. I glued all of the fabric and ribbon pieces all over the roll.
Just roll up the paper, slide it into the tube and you are ready to go.
The kids will love to keep their work in good shape and show off not only their masterpiece but also those important information inside.
You may also choose to let children decorate theirs with paint, markers, glitter, etc. I would recommend taping the entire roll first to help it stay sturdy.
Sorting Containers for Everything
As seen in training.
It seems like their are containers of all shapes and sizes we tend to use. They can range from
applesauce cups to dog/cat food.
The cups above happen to be dog food containers and applesauce cups. After a good washing they have been turned into sorting storage for buttons.
This activity gives children opportunities to sort by shape, color, texture, size or number and in an individual or small group setting.
The experiences are endless!
Money Money Money Count!
As seen in training.
The containers above used to hold candle wax cubes.
They have lids that can close to keep whatever items you choose to use safe from falling out.
This are another great way to allow each child to use as individual paint cups, sorting and/or mathematics activities.
The pictures above are shown as being used as math counters.You can use coins, beads, buttons or anything where counting, adding and subtraction can be used. I made these for number recognition, one to one correspondence, addition and subtraction.
Pull Shaker Toy
Thanks to Mellon Patch Child Care for this great idea!
Taking a cleaned out plastic soda bottle, drill a hole on both ends of the bottle and run a piece of yarn or string through one end of the bottle and come out through the other end. Knot the two ends together. The string should be long enough for a child to be able and pull along behind them. I would measure the string from a child's hip to floor before putting in the bottle.
Fill the inside with an assortment of items-bells, button, crinkled pipe cleaners, sand, or colored cotton balls. Decorate the outside with stickers and colored tape.
Fill the inside with an assortment of items-bells, button, crinkled pipe cleaners, sand, or colored cotton balls. Decorate the outside with stickers and colored tape.
Seal the cap with super glue to ensure the bottle will not open.
Then let it roll!
Garden Caddy
Thanks to Mellon Patch Child Care for this great idea!
This is a quick and easy way for all of your children to have their own garden tool box when heading outside to work on their classroom gardens.
Taking a cleaned out milk jug, cut it in half and drill a hole (or hole punch) along the top of each side. Using string or yarn, thread through the holes to create a should handle for the caddy. Decorate the outside of the caddy to represent your classrooms garden theme. The items used inside this caddy included: pencils, paper (which were extra sheets stapled together to form a notepad), garden gloves, sprinkler head, hand shovel, and measuring cup (which is an old, plastic soda bottle cut in half, taped along the top to create a smooth edge and marked with measurement lines along the side to track how much water is used). The measuring cup is also used as the pencil holder.
Additional Links for Extra Recycling Ideas!
RECYCLE REUSE REDUCE!
