Bugs Glorious Bugs!

Eva has been taking a class about bugs at our science museum and brought home some really cute crafts!  Last week she made a thumbprint caterpillar

and a fun ladybug magnet who now hangs out with her letters.

The ladybug was made by filling a plastic spoon with plaster and then pushing a magnet into it.  When it was dry it slid right out of the spoon and Eva was able to paint it red and then add spots and a face.
This week was all about butterflies.  The teachers wrapped a few kids up in toilet paper so they could be like caterpillars in a chrysalis and then they broke out- Eva thought it was hysterical but wouldn't try herself.  They also made this to show the stages of the butterfly's life cycle using different pastas:

Eva also got to meet a few bugs up close including a tarantula

and a vinegaroon (a cousin of the scorpion).

Dinosaur Roar!

You're probably wondering what dinosaurs have to do with China.  Absolutely nothing but Eva has been obsessed with them lately so we're going with it!  No sense pushing something if your child is really digging something else.  Luckily for us, the dinosaur exhibit is back at our local science museum so we spent a few hours visiting with them the other day.  Eva was thrilled that all of her favorite dinos were represented- T-Rex, stegosaurus, apatosaurus and triceratops.  She also got to meet some new dinos that are now part of our pretend play daily.  (Does your child love to pretend to be dinosaurs?  We've been speaking in roars a lot lately!)

We also made a fun dinosaur picture.  I wrapped a cardboard tube with bubble wrap and Eva rolled it in paint and then onto easel paper.

It took her a little while to get used to rolling as opposed to smearing but soon the dots began appearing.

When the paint was dry, Eva dipped dinosaur cookie cutters in black paint and stamped them onto the paper.

I love that it looks somewhat prehistoric, almost like cave drawings.

We've also been reading some of our favorite dinosaur books:

          

If you have a budding paleontologist too, be sure to check out the dinosaur activities we did last year too!

Halloween Parade and Footprint Ghosts

Eva decided many months ago that she wanted to be a penguin for Halloween and she was so excited to show off her costume to the neighborhood at our annual Halloween parade!

I love how it turned out and how happy she is wearing it.  We had so much fun parading around the playground!

When we got home we made some quick and easy ghosts.  I just painted the bottom of one of Eva's feet and she stamped on some dark blue paper.  When the footprints dried, I added a little note to them.  Boo was one of the first words that Eva learned how to read so she loves seeing it everywhere this time of year.

Halloween is Coming!

With just one week to go until Halloween, we are finally doing some holiday related things.  Get ready for a spooktacular time!

Crafts
Halloween Ornaments- we'll transform styrofoam meat trays into some snazzy decorations

Lollipop Ghosts- who hasn't made these classic Halloween treats?  Eva needs to join the club!

Ghost Footprints- Eva's little feet will turn spooky for this craft

Ghost Luminaries- we saw this in Family Fun magazine and started savings our milk jugs

Spider Web Weaving- a paper plate will become a home for spiders

Activities
Trick or Treat Alphabet Game- Eva will sort Halloween treats by beginning letter sounds

Spiders on the Web- we'll use the spider web we made to play a fun counting game

Halloween Memory- like typical memory only with spookier pictures

Monster Mash- we'll dance to some spooky tunes

Costume Parade- our neighborhood has an annual Halloween parade and party at the local playground that we don't want to miss!

Books