Some more things I made

Posted by lapazfarm on July 16th, 2006 filed in Curriculum or Lack Thereof...

Ok, here are a few more things I made. Nothing earth-shattering, but at least they wont cost me anything!

First is an I-spy bottle. Can’t for the life of me remember where I got the idea or I would give credit. I just took a clear soda bottle, put in 10 different small items (mostly some largish colorful beads shaped like animals) and filled with birdseed (this would also work with rice). JBug rolls it around and shakes it to find the items and she can check them off on the card as she spots them. Card is laminated with clear contact paper so it can be checked off witha wipe-off marker and re-used.

The next is a set of texture cards. I got this idea from Genevieve at The Good Within

They are simply index cards with glued-on samples of felt, sandpaper, canvas, corduroy, terry-cloth, and aluminum foil (taped around edges). The idea, as Genevieve explains, is that JBug would be blinfolded and try to match the cards by touch. My 15 yo son can’t wait to try them!

The last is just some number rods and board I downloaded from Livable Learning

I taped the board to cardstock and the rods I glued to some scraps of mat board so they are nice and stiff-thicker and better than cardstock but harder to cut. Had to use an exacto blade to cut them and my fingers are aching.

Anyway, thats all the photos. I also made some of the pink phonics cards and moveable letters from this site (altered a bit to work better for me). They should come in handy. I also used a suggestion from the comments and got together a set of nuts and bolts. They are all the same size, but that will do for now while she learns how they work. Later I will get a set of several different sizes to make it more challenging. I also plan on using alot of the other ideas from the comments, plus ideas from the 4real boards (always my #1 resource).
I really like that I am able to gather and make all of these items for no cost but the paper and ink they are printed with. Plus some index cards which are cheap and we use all the time anyway.

Keep on adding your suggestions here, ladies! I am definitely loving all of these ideas!

10 Responses to “Some more things I made”

Chrissy Says:
July 16th, 2006 at 10:39 pm
I love the I Spy Bottle. I am going to make this. I also have a friend that has a toddler. She will love this idea! Thanks for sharing.
Genevieve Says:
July 17th, 2006 at 6:38 am
Great job! I’m so glad the kids like the games.
Maura Says:
July 17th, 2006 at 7:27 am
I just caught up on your blog and WOW have you been busy!! I love your manipulatives… When my kids were younger we used very similar (and homemade) manipulatives in our homeschool. It’s amazing what a little time and creativity can do, isn’t it?

I am so impressed with your Montessori environment, what a beautifully organized, inviting spot. Your home altar is lovely too..

I’m curious… why were you planning on sending your little one to school for K and 1st grade? (I have a friend who sends her kids to PS for K, for the socialization, and homeschools them after that.)

Glad you like my goats, by the way… we are really having fun with them!
lapazfarm Says:
July 17th, 2006 at 8:23 am
Hi Maura!
Yep, I’ve been keeping myself busy!
We were planning to send Jbug to school for several reasons, none of them very good, frankly. The main one was that teaching early elem is just not my forte as a teacher and I don’t enjoy it very much. Once they can read, then is when I feel like I can do great things with them, but until then, honestly, it feels like drudgery. So, that was a pretty selfish reason. We also just wanted her to make some friends. We live pretty far out in the country with no neighbors at all. The thought was that she could establish some friendships at school and then we could keep the best ones going when she left. Also not such a good reason. We will just have to get her to more church functions and other activities (maybe Kindermusic?) where she can make friends with our guidance.
We feel very good about our decision to keep her home after all. She is SUCH an enthusiastic learner, asking me everyday if we can “do school” and I’d like to keep that going!
Amy Says:
July 17th, 2006 at 9:28 am
I love the I spy bottle too!! What a wonderful idea. Now off to find a soda bottle, lol…

Thanks for sharing all you are doing, it is very inspirational!
Jo Says:
July 17th, 2006 at 10:56 am
As always you are a wealth of knowledge and help. You have honestly helped me so much with my planning for the upcoming year. I am definately doing the I Spy bottle!
Donna Marie Says:
July 17th, 2006 at 11:40 am
We did this with beads…the kids put it together, actually. We had a lot of pony beads and we dumped them in with whatever found items we came up with. WE have to be careful around here with ANY grain as we are prone to meal moths. PS if you ever want little objects for montessori-type stuff (yes, stuff IS a technical word…LOL) go to garage sales and look in the boxes labeled FREE! Another fun thing we bought but it can be easily made was a STUFF box from here:
http://www.joyceherzog.com/resources.html
School in a Box…I picked it up from Our Father’s House some time ago. When we “play” with it, we put a piece of felt at each person’s place to minimize rolling and scattering of STUFF pieces. STUFF can be your friend…just store it in a tacklebox and you are good to go! You can add as much as you want to it…I think I will post about this later ….ooh one more thing from this long winded lady…it is hard to post comments as your currently reading box is over the comments box on the end :o)
HTH!
Donna Marie chilling out in NJ!
Donna Marie Says:
July 17th, 2006 at 11:42 am
lol that last emoticon was SUPPOSED to be smiling..
lapazfarm Says:
July 17th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
Interesting, Donna Marie-it doesn’t look like that at all to me. I see my currently reading box as a sidebar. Hmmm. Anyone else seeing my currently reading box blocking my comment box? Please let me know.
Donna Marie Says:
July 17th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
it is still a sidebar, but the box goes under it so you are typing blind for a few words…lol