Debi Taylor-Hough

Bright-Kids
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Vol. 5, No. 37 - September 15th, 2008
http://hometown.aol.com/brightkidsrus
mailto: debi@simplemom.com
Copyright 2008 Deborah Taylor-Hough
ISSN: 1536-0466 All Rights Reserved
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IN THIS ISSUE:
-- "Dear Readers"
-- Quote-able
-- Preschool Ideas: Learning Letters
-- Educational Links of Interest
-- Reader Tips
-- Assorted Information (resources, archives, etc.)
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< < O U R . S P O N S O R > >

Learning Through History

Geography sale at Learning Through History's History Shop.
Rand McNally Schoolhouse Geography & Map Activities Books
and Atlases are a terrific new series designed to make
learning geography fun and memorable.

This series is available in Beginner (ages 6-9) and
Intermediate (ages 9-14) levels.

Learning Through History also stocks a large selection of
atlases and maps certain to increase a student's knowledge
of the world.

Take 10% off of all geography products through September 30th.
Use coupon "HN-Geography" at checkout.

http://www.LearningThroughHistory.com/geography

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Dear Readers,

Lots of great readers' tips this week to share. Thanks, everyone,
for giving us all a taste of what you like to do educationally with
your kids. :-)

Simply Yours,

--Debi
(Deborah Taylor-Hough)
Editor, Bright-Kids Email Newsletter
--Author of the popular 'Frozen Assets' cookbook series, 'A Simple
Choice,' and 'Frugal Living For Dummies(r)'
--Editor, Simple Times and Bright-Kids email newsletters

http://brightkids.wordpress.com
http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com
http://snurl.com/DebiTupperware
http://dsimple.wordpress.com
________________________________

QUOTABLE

"[The child] needs knowledge as much as he needs bread and
milk; his appetite for knowledge is as healthy as his appetite for
his dinner; and an abundant regular supply at short intervals of
various knowledge is a constitutional necessity for the growing
youth as well as for the curious child."

--Charlotte Mason, "A Philosophy of Education"
http://amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN%3D1889209007/simplepleasuresp/
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PRESCHOOL IDEAS: LEARNING THE LETTERS
Copyright Mary Robinson
Used with permission from EzineArticles.com.
All rights reserved.
http://www.preschoolwhiz.com

Exploring the letters of the alphabet is a great way to
incorporate new themes and ideas into the preschool
classroom, while teaching the fundamental building blocks
to reading and writing. These preschool ideas focus on the
letter "L" by giving crafts, art projects, and games for lady-
bugs and leaves. Feel free to use these preschool ideas in
conjunction with other units on insects or nature if the
alphabet theme doesn't suit the teaching curriculum.

Let's Look at Ladybugs!

Most children are very intrigued by tiny insects, especially
the colorful ladybug. Ladybugs provide an excellent opportunity
to practice counting skills by counting the number of spots
that appear on the ladybug's back.

For a fun ladybug craft, try making ladybug stamps out of
potatoes. Simply cut the potatoes in half and carefully carve
the shape of a ladybug into the white half of the potato. Dip
the stamp into paint and press it onto the paper to create
an assortment of ladybug prints.

Children can also create their own ladybugs by using paper
plates, paint, and a metal fastener. For this craft, each child
will need two paper plates. Instruct the children to paint one
of the paper plates to look like a regular ladybug. Show
pictures or an example for inspiration.

After they've finished painting the first ladybug, have them cut
it in half lengthwise. Next, instruct the children to paint the
second paper plate to resemble a ladybug with its wings
spread open. Finally, attach the two halves of the cut apart
ladybug to the second plate with the metal fastener, and now
the children have a ladybug craft with wings that can open
and close.

Don't Leave Out the Leaves!

Another excellent topic for exploring the letter "L" are leaves.
These crafts also work well during autumn or spring. This fun
activity called "Match the Leaves" can be performed with real
leaves plucked from the ground or pictures of leaves found in
magazines or books. If using real leaves, they can be laminated
so that they last longer.

Gather pairs of several different types of leaves, and place all
the samples into a box. Children are to go through the box
and try to identify the matching pairs of leaves based on color,
size and shape.

Here's a fun craft that is performed with real leaves gathered
on a nature walk. Have children collect as many interesting
leaves as they can find. Next, give each child a paper plate
with the center cut out and have them assemble the leaves
in a wreath shape.

Once they are satisfied with the arrangement, have them glue
the leaves to the plate. Additional decorations such as glitter,
berries or bows can be added after the leaves have dried.

Finally, here's a messy, fun preschool ideas craft that uses
paint to create a tie-dye like effect on coffee filters cut in the
shape of leaves. To begin, cover the working area with news-
paper to prevent any mishaps with the paint. Mix paint of
various colors and fill eye droppers with the paint.

Have children design their own leaves by using the eye droppers
full of paint. Since the coffee filters absorb water, interesting
designs and color patterns can be created using just a few
drops of paint.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
--Mary Robinson has been teaching preschool for well over a
decade. You can get instant access to her preschool activities,
crafts, and lesson plans by visiting her website:
http://www.preschoolwhiz.com

For a limited time, all visitors to Mary's site will also get a free
copy of her special report: "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Preschool
Teachers and Parents Make". Go get your free copy today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Robinson

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< < O U R S P O N S O R > >

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EDUCATIONAL LINKS OF INTEREST:
(compiled by Debi, editor of Bright-Kids)

Geography Bee
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee
National Geographic sponsors a "Geography Bee" each year.
They also have a fun website containing several geography
questions that change each day. Great practice for your
Geography Bee participants, or just for a bit of educational fun.

ScienceMaster
http://www.sciencemaster.com/
From their home page: "At ScienceMaster, each major science
category has its own page, chock full of information, news, links,
pictures, products and services, with the best content from NASA,
the USGS, the EPA, NOAA leading colleges & universities.
ScienceMaster is the place to learn about the universe, or space,
find information on volcanos, and global warming, explore plants,
animals or DNA, and study physics or chemistry."

Meteorites Don't Pop Corn
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast27jul_1.htm
"A fireball that dazzled Americans on July 23rd was a piece of
a comet or an asteroid, scientists say. Contrary to reports,
however, it probably didn't scorch any cornfields." This webpage
contains educational information about the July meteorite, fireballs
in general, and scientific explanations for why meteorites don't
actually scorch the ground when they hit the earth.

View from Space
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/index.html

I thought this was interesting -- a simulation of seeing our sun
from far out in the galaxy, then closer, and closer until you're
looking at an oak tree on Earth ... then narrowing the view until
you're looking at the DNA strands of a leaf, seeing the protons,
etc. (Submitted by: Marilyn B.)

Feel free to submit your favorite online educational resources!
Send to Debi at: DSimple@aol.com'

________________________________

Visit our new Nature Study Bookstore online!
http://astore.amazon.com/naturestudy-20/
________________________________

READER TIPS
Submitted by Bright-Kids' readers. Share your favorite family
educational tips by emailing Debi at: DSimple@aol.com

== Educational Traveling Tip ==
We recently took a ten hour trip to Mt. Rushmore. I
was kind of dreading the ten hour car ride with three kids.
However, my girls learned a game in summer camp. You
take an inexpensive paper plate. Write the names of all the
states around the edge; start in a couple of inches and write
out to the edge. Then cut between each state. As you pass
each car, look at their license plate and fold in or down that
state it corresponds to. When we would stop for lunch or at
a rest area, the kids would run and look at all the license
plates. We had electronic games in the car but that simple
paper-plate-license-plate game is what kept their attention the
whole way. They eagerly grabbed for those plates when we
got back in the car and excitedly called out state names. It
was great. It also started discussions on state facts and
capitols.
--Marlene D., Cedar Falls, IA

== Cooking Tips ==
I have been reading your email for years, and I always enjoy
it, so thank you!
Just a tip or two on the home-made chips. I have been making
these for 15 years or so, and I have never sprayed the cookie
sheet. I have never had any problem with sticking, with either
corn or flour tortillas. I haven't tried pita, but I sure will now!
On the oven thing -- I have a little trick, it's a little energy
saving
thing. My oven has a feature where it beeps when it reaches the
pre-set temperature, so this won't work for everyone. The tortillas
go into a cold oven, then I set the temperature to 425 degrees.
When the oven reaches that temperature, it beeps, and the chips
are perfectly done. You might need to adjust the temperature up
or down a bit to get the optimum color on your chips.
Thanks again for your informative email.
--Donna M., San Diego, CA

== PTA Information Help ==
I am on the PTA and my position is "Health and Safety". I just
want to say I love your articles they are so informative and I plan
to share this information with at our meetings. Thanks!
--Diana D., E. Rutherford, NJ

== Free Museum Day ==
September 27 -- free museum day -- not just at the Smithsonian.
Check it out! http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/
--A. Kelley

== Preschool Grandma ==
My three year old grandson loves to learn so, instead of
taking him toys, I try to collect interesting items or thoughts
to share with him. A few weeks ago, I found a large rhino beetle
in my garage. Although it was dead, it was well preserved so I
put it in a jar and took it to him the next time I saw him. He
was so excited and showed it to everyone. Cost: nothing but
my time. Interesting facts also amuse little ones, like, last
week I learned that butterflies smell with their feet. He's going
to love that one. These facts are funny and little ones seem to
remember them. Anyway, it doesn't cost anything but time
when you are creative.
--Sharon Young

== Clear Contact Paper Tips ==
My tip is this: My 8 year old daughter would forget that she
had after-school activities, and then be heartbroken when I
asked how the activity went. I made up 8 1/2 x 11 reminders
on my computer on brightly colored paper (brownies, art class,
play dates) and then covered it with clear Contact paper. It's
hard to miss when she packs her backpack at the end of the
day, and it's reusable.
Clear Contact paper is also a fabulous way to extend the
life of your softcover books. My mother was my grade school's
librarian, and every paperback book was covered in clear Contact
paper. So were my schoolbooks - I got the most when I resold
them at the end of each year, because they were basically
pristine!
--Jenne :)

* * Your Tips? * *
Do you have some great family fun, educational, or parenting
tips/ideas you'd love to share with other parents and caregivers?
Just send your tips and ideas to Debi at Bright-Kids:
DSimple@aol.com
______________________________

READ-ALOUD BOOKS FOR FAMILIES:

http://snurl.com/reading4kids

Recommended books for children and families
(This is a great list to print out and hand to your kids'
grandparents for suggestions at gift-giving times!)
_______________________________

A special thanks to Gary Foreman and the friendly folks at
The Dollar Stretcher for making this mailing list possible! :-)
http://www.stretcher.com/
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Bright-Kids - 09/15/08 - Educational links; preschool letters; tips