Preschool Powol Packets

In a perfect world I would take my kids to a different country every year so they could experience traditional holiday meals first hand.  In real life, though, that isn't an option!  Instead, I've got the next best thing: I've collected this set of holiday dishes from around the world that I want to try with my kiddos!  We may not get to them all this year, but these five sound like so much fun that we might just keep working on the list next month! First, Risgot , a Norwegian rice porridge (bottom left in picture).  We love to try new Norwegian foods because we have a lot of Norwegian ancestors.  I'd like to try substituting honey for the sugar in this recipe too! Second, Bibingka , a cake from the Philippines.  This looks absolutely amazing, and I am so  curious about how putting cheese in it affects the flavor!! Third, Pavo Trufado de Navidad , a dish from Spain (top in the picture).  Turkey, mushrooms, and more...I can't wait to try this!  Th

Yay!!  It's time for the next Animal Alphabet Dots Printable!! Isn't that lion adorable?!  I think it's one of my favorite pages! Today I'm sharing the next {FREE} Animal Alphabet dots page:  L is for Lion! You can  download it {FREE} by clicking HERE ! I have loads of fun ideas for ways to use the dot pages and the entire  Animal Alphabet Dots Collection   here ! And, since it's fun to talk about the animals as you work with them, here are... 5 Lion Fun Facts: 1-  A lion's roar can be heard five miles away! 2-  Lionesses do most of the hunting in a pride! 3-  Lions rest for about 20 hours a day! 4-  African lions usually eat large animals like antelopes, zebra, and wildebeest! 5-  Male lions are usually bigger than female lions! Amazon Affiliate Links:    I may share at any of  these parties ! Never miss another post again!   Sign up for our weekly updates newsletter  and get links to all our post

Today I have a special treat for you!  One of my blogging friends, Nadia, is sharing a fun way to get ready to count down to Christmas with your kids.  I'm so thankful to her for guest posting while I'm adjusting to the changes in life with our new baby!  Nadia, take it away!! Counting down to Christmas is such an exciting part of Christmas for children. Our kids made their own Advent Bags!  The kids used brown paper bags, cookie cutters, old toothbrushes and some other bits to decorate the bags. This was such a fun part of it all, partly because it was messy, but also because it was rather open ended: no wrong!  Pressing the shapes onto the bags were easy enough that my 2.5 year old also joined in, although random prints were made by him. My 5 year old and her 9 year cousin decorated with more care, mostly the cousin planned and my daughter just copied her, lol!  Between the 3 of them they decorated 50 bags! 25 for our household, and 25 for the c

Guess what?  I have the next Animal Alphabet Dots Printable for you!! Today I'm sharing the next {FREE} Animal Alphabet dots page:  J is for Jellyfish! You can  download it {FREE} by clicking HERE ! I have loads of fun ideas for ways to use the dot pages and the entire  Animal Alphabet Dots Collection   here ! And, since it's fun to talk about the animals as you work with them, here are... 5 Jellyfish Fun Facts: 1-  Some jellyfish are bigger than humans while others are smaller than a pencil top eraser! 2-  Jellyfish were on the Earth before dinosaurs! 3-  Jellyfish do not have a brain! 4-  Many jellyfish have stinging cells on their tentacles called nematocysts! 5-  Jellyfish eat very small plants and animals! Amazon Affiliate Links: I may share at any of  these parties ! Never miss another post again!   Sign up for our weekly updates newsletter  and get links to all our posts once a week in your inbox!  Sign up  he

Sometimes you need a quick science experiment that is both simple and stunning, and that all kids, from preschoolers to teens will enjoy.  This leak-proof bag is just that kind of science project! It takes less than a minute to prepare, and kids of all ages love it!  It is a science experiment that can double as a science magic show, and everyone wants to know how it works.   I love holding up a bag full of water and asking children what will happen if I poke it with a sharp pencil.  Sometimes I follow with a wink and a grin and say, "What if I hold it over your head and poke it?!" To do the leak-proof bag experiment you simply fill a zip lock bag about 2/3 full of water.  Carefully poke a sharp pencil right through the water and out the other end.  No water spills!  Try it with other sharp objects--my son likes using kabob skewers!   So, what's the secret?  Zip-lock bags, like other plastics, are made from polymers--long chains of molecules.  When yo

Yay!! It's time for the next Animal Alphabet Dots Printable!! Today I'm sharing the next {FREE} Animal Alphabet dots page: I is for Iguana! You can  download it {FREE} by clicking HERE ! I have loads of fun ideas for ways to use the dot pages and the entire  Animal Alphabet Dots Collection   here ! And, since it's fun to talk about the animals as you work with them, here are... 5 Iguana Fun Facts: 1-  The marine iguana from the Galapagos is an amazing swimmer! 2-  Most iguanas eat fruits, vegetables, insects, and sometimes worms! 3-  Most iguanas dig a burrow for their eggs, cover them, and then leave them alone! 4-  Iguana babies usually hatch at the same time and take care of themselves! 5-  Green iguanas spend most of their lives in the rainforest's tree tops! Amazon Affiliate Link: I may share at any of  these parties ! Never miss another post again!   Sign up for our weekly updates newsletter  

Creating a solar system model presents a lot of challenges, but this candy solar system solves a lot of them!  Plus, it combines, engineering, creativity, planning, and advanced science skills like application, analysis, and models/representation...all while learning and reviewing parts of our solar system! I also love how we were able to do it with a preschooler, kindergartener, 2nd grader, and 3rd grader!  It was a super fun afternoon at our house!!  And another bonus: it used up a TON of candy.  I'm debating whether I want to throw the rest away or keep using it during school! The Candy Solar System challenge is also unique because it is child-led.  I love a solar system model with all the planets all lined up in order as much as anyone else, but that's not what it looks like in real life.  Plus, my kids resist projects where I tell them what they need to do at each step.  I've learned that if I give them the challenge and the information they need, the