How to set up a patriotic craft for your toddler

"Mom, she's messing up my project!" I love having children of several different ages, but hearing this phrase is one of the hazards. So, when I put together the patriotic math craft for my six-year-old together the other day, I decided to put together a toddler July project for my two-year-old as well. The toddler of the patriotic craft offers great fine motor practice, and you can always get familiar with some shapes, colors and counting along the way.

How to set up a patriotic math craft for elementary kids

My dad would always take is out to the flag pole on all the national holidays like Memorial Day or Independence Day. He let us help raise the star spangled banner then we recited the pledge of allegiance. As we prepared for July 4 this year, we spent some time talking about the flag and what it means. I came up with this patriotic craft for my daughter who just completed kindergarten, and we talked about what the stars I the field of blue represent. It just so happens that it was perfect math practice as well.

Super Fun Holiday Party Activity Cheat Sheet

"Would you make me a paper airplane?" Lunch time was just ending, and I didn't even have paper available when my son's  classmate asked this question.  I thought it was just a random request. Then the next time I visited the school, another child asked for one, and another, and another.  In fact, they were still asking months later when I went in to have them write end-of-the-year thank-you notes to their teacher.  Finally, I realized why they were asking.

Adding Doubles Christmas Tree Math Puzzle for Kindergarten

As my first fall in the classroom drew to a close, it dawned on me that I wasn't going to make it through my curriculum.  With mandated exit tests looming (as in, fail the test, and you don't graduate), I knew I needed to at least get the planned content in front of my students.  I also knew that they expected to have a party the last day before Christmas break. In a move of desperation, I wrote an entire unit's worth of material into a Christmas theme and taught the whole thing the last day before break.  They moaned and groaned, but most of them decided to play along, and when we reviewed months later they remembered our reindeer games!

Holiday Cookies

We love making sugar cookies for any holiday, or in between holidays.  I use a recipe from the Mennonite Community Cookbook, edited by Mary Emma Showalter.   Few ingredients, no chilling, and perfect texture ever time make this one more treasure from my Mennonite friends.