Tuesday, March 30, 1999
Early Childhood/Elementary
April Themes
With
Djinn
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Djinn - Welcome
to the ECE meeting. We will talk about April Themes.
Kathleen - Hi :-)
I can't believe March is about over, time to dive into Spring themes already!
Djinn - I'm still
working on eggs for this week. Then Spring Vacation starting Friday
Valerie - We are
doing the same, Djnn
Kathleen - Djinn,
have you used the book, Chickens
Aren't the Only Ones? 
It is a Reading Rainbow book
Djinn - My caterpillars
are going to arrive on the 15th of April - so we start butterflies then
Kathleen - Or Valerie,
are you familiar with that book?
Valerie - It is a
great book, too I love the song "I'm Breaking Out"
Kathleen - Djinn,
where do you get your caterpillars? Insect Lore?
Kathleen - Valerie,
I haven't used the book yet. But you recommend it?
Djinn - Yes Kathleen!
We are doing a project on oviporous animals from the Ki. Mailbox this month
Djinn - It's a great
book Kathleen!
Djinn - Seems like
after Spring Break it's a fast downhill slide! I'm going to try to get
in 5 senses and dinosaurs if I have time
Djinn - Welcome Heather.
We are talking about April themes
Djinn - I teach with
two others so we develop our Themes together. Keeps parents from comparing
classes
Djinn - Well - guess
I'll talk about the rest of my egg unit.
Djinn - We will be
doing an activity with hard boiled eggs.
Kathleen - Djinn,
do you do anything with hatching eggs?
Djinn - Not this
year Kat. I have hatched them before but lost the farmer who used to give
them to me.
Kathleen - What is
your hard boiled egg activity?
Djinn - We will weigh
it - see if it floats - see how much space it takes on a cm grid - see
how much volume it takes in a glass of water
Kathleen - Wow, Djinn,
that sounds pretty interesting and sophisticated
Djinn - Kathleen
- i made a basket last night using a coffee filter and starch - came out
really cute. I think we will make flower baskets for spring
Kathleen - Oh, Djinn,
a good May Day idea. Tell us how
nat/k/ma - How did
you make the basket? I haven't made mine yet for Thursday.
Djinn - That is our
last day of school for Spring break - We are graphing plastic eggs, sorting
jelly beans, art projects with tissue paper flowers, making easter bunny
bags and bunny ear hats.
nat/k/ma - Wow, you
can accomplish all that in one day?
Djinn - I got this
great idea from the ece mailring. Take two coffee filters, decorate with
pastel water color markers - then slip into some liquid starch and place
on a styrafoam bowl - Dry and use chenille for handle
Kathleen - Djinn,
you leave the 2 filters stuck together? How stiff are they when dry?
Djinn - Nat- My kids
will wear bunny necklaces and get a sticker after each project is finished.
Djinn - Kthleen-
just like papier mache
nat/k/ma - I will
try it Thursday. Better have my old baskets ready in the meantime in case
I can't follow the directions well. Do you put the whole coffee filter
in the starch?
Kathleen - What recipe
for the starch? Or do you buy it premixed now?
Djinn - Using two
filters keeps the colors from going through and makes a sturdier basket
Kathleen - How do
you attach the handle? Hot glue? How long does it take to dry?
Djinn - Yes nat.
I just poured starch into a small bucket and then put filter in. It's messy!
Djinn - le- punch
in two holes - use chenille stems for handle. Dries overnight
Kathleen - Tell me
about liquid starch, have never used it
Tracey - Can you
use glue and flour mixture like papier mache
kinderkate - chenille
= pipe cleaners right?
Djinn - Hello Meme
- we are talking about April Themes
Djinn - Kinder Kate
-LOL I had to learn to say chenille -it's that way in the catalogs
Djinn - Kathleen-
I love it - liquid starch - mix it with tempera paint and it comes out
of clothes easier. My mom used to make finger paints for us with it
Kathleen - Djinn,
do you make liquid starch from a powder?
Djinn - The starch
dries faster than the flour and glue - not as heavy on the paper
Cherie - Djinn, sounds
like a cute idea. Do you use it for May baskets, too?
kinderkate - We can
get liquid starch from our supply , kathleen, but I'm sure that it must
be at the grocery.
nat/k/ma - Can't
you buy liquid starch in the grocery store? Isn't it blue?
Djinn - Kthleen -
it comes in a bottle - found in the grocery store with laundry soap
nat/k/ma - Kathleen
you make me feel very old. We used to use liquid starch on white shirts.
Kathleen - Djinn,
your basket idea could be modified to vase by draping the filters over
styrocups, right?
kinderkate - Yes
- blue. People USED to use it for laundry - before perma press. LOL
Djinn - Kathleen-
great idea for a vase for Mothers Day!
Cherie - I make sugar-string
Easter baskets for my kids each year.
Djinn - Wow Cherie
- lots of work?
Kathleen - Cherie,
THAT sounds hard!
kinderkate - Never
heard of that, cherie. Give us a lesson.
Cherie - Takes time.
You wrap a balloon with crochet thread, then coat it with sugar water.
When it's dry, you pop the balloon and decorate. I put lace around the
opening and curl ribbon on top. They are cute.
Tracey - Cherie,
do you do this in kindergarten?
Tracey - With how
many children?
Cherie - No, I do
it for first grade.
Kathleen - Cherie,
I've seen some like that, but thought they were made with starch. Could
it be done with starch?
Cherie - Kathleen,
I have friends who make theirs with starch. Probably less messy.
Djinn - Kathleen
-I have made pinatas with starch and balloons
Cherie - nat/k/ma,
can your students do paper weaving? They could weave paper and fold for
baskets.
Kathleen - Cherie,
variegated crochet thread would be pretty!
Cherie - You're right.
It does make pretty baskets, Kathleen.
Kathleen - Cherie,
I've seen it done to make egg shapes
Djinn - Is anyone
else doing Butterflies - catapillars for April?
Cherie - That's what
these turn out to be, Kathleen. They are shaped like large eggs.
Cherie - Djinn, I
plan on doing an insect unit after Easter. That will involve caterpillars
and butterflies
nat/k/ma - I do butterflies,
Djinn
nat/k/ma - We will
be doing the farm unit. we read all Mrs. Wishy-Washy Big Books. Kids love
them.
Cherie - Oh, nat/k/ma,
that's such a fun book, isn't it!!! :)
Djinn - Nat- Have
you read Two
Cool Cows  ?
hysterical
kinderkate - Back
to caterpillars, etc. There is a great book called The
Caterpillar and the Polliwog 
That has both.
nat/k/ma - Not yet.
I have seen it advertized in the book clubs.
Kathleen - I was
all excited about some new styro packing "peanuts" that arrived the other
day, thought they would look great painted to look like chrysalises, even
painted one and set it aside to experiment. When my daughter saw the new
styro packing, she said, "Oh are they the dissolving ones?" "Dissolving
ones?? " I asked. Sure enough, I looked at my experimental one and it had
shriveled up!! LOL! Good thing I didn't do 18 of them with the kids THEN
find out they dissolved!
Djinn - Have you
done the life cycle with macaroni?
Cherie - No, Djinn.
Please tell us about it.
kinderkate - One
year we did silk worms - if you can get the eggs it is great!!!!!! they
go from eggs to caterpillars to cocoons to moths. And the moths can't fly.
nat/k/ma - How do
you do it?
kinderkate - I didn't
know macaroni had a life cycle, Djinn. Just cook and eat.
Djinn - for eggs
- use rice, caterpillar -use spiral - cacoon - use shell - butterfly -bowtie
Cherie - Sounds cute,
Djinn. Thanks for the idea.
Djinn - Put it all
on a paper plate divided into 4 parts
kinderkate - I see
Djinn - then it is a circle -- Really gives the kids the idea.
kinderkate - That
does sound cute Djinn. Of course you must read Very
Hungry Caterpillar
with that!!!!
nat/k/ma - I did
last year. All died but one. I was disappointed.
Cherie - After reading
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, we make caterpillars using pom poms. The children
have to pattern their colors. We add small wiggle eyes to the first and
pipe cleaner antennae.
Christy - Has anyone
ever hatched chicks?
kinderkate - No,
YOU, Christy???
Djinn - christy _
I have. you've got to explain right off to the kids that sometimes not
all of the eggs make it. I had wonderful experiences with chicks
Djinn - Caterpillars-
use red, blue, yellow circles. Make pattern caterpillars - integrate math,
science and art!
Christy - Not yet--I
just got a litttle incubator but it doesn't tell when to get the eggs
nat/k/ma - There
were two of us hatching chicks. When mine died I was absent, so the other
teacher quickly put some of hers in my room.
kinderkate - I have
seen that cherie, with small pompoms. They glued them to rubber magnets
and made frig magnets.
Djinn - Christy -
It takes 21 days - you must be vigilant
Christy - How many
did you attempt nat or djinn
nat/k/ma - 12
Cherie - kinderkate,
I just had mine glue them to large construction paper leaves and we put
them on the bulletin boards.
Djinn - I had a famer
who gave me banty chicken eggs - we did 12 at a time. usually ending up
with 2 or 3 not hatching
Christy - Do you
think I will have positive results with 3--the incubator only holds 3
nat/k/ma - It depends
on the eggs.
Djinn - Christy -
make sure you turn them and the temp and humidity are ok. Turn on incubator
a few days ahead. Need to keep shells moist so chicks can peck through
nat/k/ma - The chicks
become noisy and smelly real quick. You might only want to keep them for
5 days.
Djinn - Yeah nat-
they become ugly teens really fast!LOL
Christy - Yeah, I'm
going to call some farms around and make sure they'll take them back soon
after
Kathleen - Has anyone
made the caterpillar
cake? using a bundt cake cut into 3 pieces, then put together so
that it forms sort of an s shape to look like a caterpillar? feet = candy
corn, pretzel antennae, hostess snowball cupcake for head?
Djinn - Christy -
have the eggs candled to make sure there is an embryo
nat/k/ma - Good luck.
I loved the experience and would do it again but the science specialist
had some problems with the supplier this year.
Djinn - Oh Kathleen
- how cute and yummy!
Cherie - Kathleen,
sounds like a good idea. I bet the kids like that idea, too.
kinderkate - Oh,
man , Kathleen, that sounds so cute. In our school each class has a convection
oven so we would bake quite a lot.
Kathleen - Of course,
use green icing :-)
Christy - Thanks
for the hint Dijnn--I'll be sure to do that
Kathleen - I haven't
done it, just saw it on Mr. Food show. He has a website
Djinn - Kinderkate
- I am so jealous - I had to bring my own microwave!
Kathleen - Mr. Food:
http://mrfood.com
nat/k/ma - We have
no way of cooking in our school.
Cherie - We have
to go to the lunchroom and beg to use one of their ovens.
kinderkate - Yes,
Djinn, these are nice. About the size of a microwave and portable so if
I need more than one I can (could) borrow my neighbors.
Djinn - Our meals
are sent in heating ovens. So no stove at school
Christy - That's
really sad!
Djinn - Thanks Kathleen!
Kathleen - Caterpillar
cake on Mr Food site now (might not be there after the end of this month):
http://homearts.com/dynamo/main.jhtml?/39monre6.htm
Kathleen - One year
I bought butterfly sunglasses for the kids from Oriental
Trading, but I haven't seen them in the catalog lately
Djinn - We are making
butterflies with coffee filters and dot markers
Djinn - What end
of the year programs do you do?
Cherie - Djinn, we
don't do a program, but we spend the final week pretending we are at camp.
We even plan our some of our field trips around Camp Custer.
kinderkate - I love
oriental trading----and I keep the catalogues on the shelves. The kids
love to look at them.
nat/k/ma - we have
been doing one for years. We might slip by this year without one because
we have all new parents but one. We had a new principal who did not want
an end of year show. But all the parents protested last year because their
other children had one, why not the youngest? So we did. She might get
her way this year.
Djinn - Cherie -
how fun. I think I am goint to do a little song fest - not a graduation
kinderkate - The
last time we had a program I secretely photographed the TEACHERS when their
classes were on stage. It was hilarious!!!!!! They all loved it.
Kathleen - nat, we
used to, but began to see it as almost punishment for all. Now we do a
family field day and picnic. Only one or two who had experienced the other
program missed it at first. But this way seems much better, more relaxed
for kids and adults, more family involvemnet
Djinn - Kinderkate
- How funny! Bet their faces told some great stories
Cherie - Kinderkate,
blackmail material??? LOL :)
Kathleen - kinder,
if you photographed me, you would see sweat and stress!!
kinderkate - Yes
- everyone could relate.
Djinn - Our "Graduations"
got way out of hand - thousands of people - limos - etc. The district is
asking us to stop
Cherie - Djinn, why
do parents carry things so far??
Djinn - Great Idea
Nat. How about post cards also
nat/k/ma - Hey that
sounds like ours. Big buffet dinners and all.
Christy - Wow Djinn--you
must be in an affluent community! my kids have probably never seen a limo!
kinderkate - We don't
have graduations for that reason. Instead we do a little end of the year
ceremony in the class (K) and invite parents. Give the kids a good work
certificate and they make their own crowns.
Cherie - Nat and
Djinn, these are kindergarten graduations??
Djinn - Christy -
we have the very rich and the very poor
nat/k/ma - Cherie,
Yes it was a graduation from kindergarten. Believe it or not. My former
principal put a stop to the buffets.
Christy - Anyone
have any good April Fools stuff to do to the kids?
kinderkate - I have
a little plastic camera that squirts water.
nat/k/ma - Our art
teacher made paperbag jokers (jesters) today with the kids. They are really
psyched up.
Djinn - I let them
try jokes on me -
Christy - I usually
do a minute math paper with about 100 problems on it
Cherie - Christy,
for April Fools' Day, our teachers used to have a "walk in their shoes"
program. We would all change grade levels and classrooms for the day. The
kids loved it and the teachers got a taste of what everyone else went through.
kinderkate - Yes,
Djinn, and they get me everytime. I love it when they think their tricks
are so new.
Christy - We've talked
about doing an afternoon switch Cherie
kinderkate - So the
teacher and students would go to another classroom or what?? Sounds fun.
Kathleen - Djinn,
I have to leave. Thank you for doing this session. As usual, I picked up
some great new ideas! Goodnight everyone! Thanks for the sharing!
Christy - Teachers
would switch while the kids were at lunch
Cherie - Just the
teachers switched rooms.
Djinn - Thank you
all and please join us every Tuesday night right here
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