Sunday, April 30, 2017

Marbled Paper

Shaving Cream Marbled Paper

You can use this marbled paper technique for a variety of classroom projects, whether it be to enhance students writing through illustrations, create colorful kites, Easter eggs or even create a mini planet Earth for Earth Day, the possibilities are endless!
Shaving Cream by meghan
You Will Need:
Shaving cream
Acrylic Paints
Large Pan / Tray
Toothpick / Pencil
Card stock
Scraper / Ruler

If you don't mind getting messy then this is the craft for you!


First spray a layer of shaving cream onto a pan/tray (you can line with aluminum foil for easier clean up).  Next, randomly squirt or dollop your acrylic paints over the shaving cream (I used pastels for kites, but blues and greens would look great for an Earth Day project)! 


Next, drag a toothpick or a pencil to create vertical and horizontal lines like a checkerboard pattern. A random swirl pattern would also work just fine. Then place the card stock face down onto the shaving cream and paint mixture and pat down gently, then slowly lift up the card stock. Warning:  It will look really messy at this point!


Finally use a ruler or scraper to scrape off the excess shaving cream and lay card stock flat to dry. Cut paper into desired shape.

Friday, April 21, 2017

Children In Nature

Living and teaching children in New Hampshire I feel privileged that I am able to teach children who are surrounded by nature.  We have easy access to a school nature trail and use the FOSS science program to teach our unit on New Plants.  One lesson we do is grow our own mini-lawns with rye grass and alfalfa. 

Students observe plant development
Record and communicate observations in words and drawings
Compare the development of different kinds of plants
Organize representations of lawns to show the sequence of events during growth and mowing



If you've never read the book, Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, I would highly recommend it!  The book brings to light the increasing divide between young children and the natural world. 


Friday, April 7, 2017

Moon Dough

Moon Dough

A simple sensory material made with 2 common household ingredients:  corn starch and conditioner!

 This could also be called play-doh but because I didn't want to add any dye and it is SO soft, I called it moon dough, which somehow made it sound even more exciting to my 2nd Graders. They worked collaboratively in groups to make a large batch of moon dough, which we later divided among each group member to take home in a Ziploc bag. This was a really fun, easy and realatively inexpensive (think enough for 24 students) activity for kids.  Feel free to download and use the Moon Dough directions below with your students:
Moon Dough by Mrs. Mayhew on Scribd