Vehicle Gelatin Rescue

Having my second child has really reinforced that idea that each child is unique. Whereas Xander really didn't care much about cars, trucks or planes, Archer LOVES his vehicles.  He often carries around one of his little school buses and definitely likes seeing vehicles out and about. 

To tap into that interest, I set up this Vehicle Gelatin Rescue for him.  I put four packets of unflavored gelatin in a cup of cold water. Then I stirred in three cups of boiling water.  Once it was mixed together, I added a bunch of little transportation math counters and popped it in the fridge. 

When it was all set up, I gave Archer some sensory tools and let him go at it. 

Of course, he had to taste it. That's why I am still careful what materials I give him for sensory play!

Even Xander got in on it (I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing them play together). 

When we were all done playing, we threw the transportation counters into the water table for a nice little wash.

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Brain Building Boxes- First Linky

Brain Building Boxes

 Xander is 19.5 Months

Since I switched shelves, I no longer am using the regular trays I had been using.  Most of the things that used to be on trays are now in boxes.  Things like the puzzles or other educational activities go on the shelves.  Due to the switch, I decided to start calling this series of posts Brain Building Boxes (BBBs).

 These are the boxes from last week, so they happened during our Cross Week and our Service Vehicle Theme.  I try to have the activities link in when I can, but don't feel constrained by making them fit.  I don't intend all of the activities to be done independently.  Most requiring scaffolding from me.

Pattern Matching
This activity was from the Service Vehicle Tot Pack.  There were two pattern templates to match and little vehicles to go with.  I only showed him one at a time to make it simpler.  He did a good selecting the vehicle correct vehicle, but hasn't fully grasped the concept of a pattern yet.  We will get there!

Parking Garages
This box used the parking garages I made and the vehicles from a Melissa and Doug Set.  He loved driving the vehicles in, but did not really understand the concept of which one went where.  If I had it to do again, I would probably color code them.

English Spanish Puzzles
 This box had some English/Spanish puzzles.  There are only two pieces so I was hoping he would be able to put them together.  While he could match them just fine, he wasn't quite able (didn't have the patience) to fit the two sides together.  Mommy helped.

Ambulance Template
This box had another activity from our Tot Pack.  I had all of the shapes to make up an ambulance and a template to follow.  This activity ended up being way over his head, but he liked watching me assemble the ambulance and we talked about the shapes together.

 

Cutting Food
This box had his cutting food, which is always well loved when I get it out.  I had little pieces of food all over the room this week!

Puzzle of the WeekThis week we had two puzzles (thank you new shelves).  To go with the Service Vehicle Theme , this week's puzzle was the boat from his Melissa and Doug Beginner Pattern Blocks.  Our emergency vehicle puzzle also fit in perfectly (and was a huge hit).

Brain Building Linky

Since I am always looking for new ideas for our boxes, I decided to start a Linky.  Have you posted about any sort of brain buidling work boxes, tot trays, busy bags, etc?  Feel free to link up!  All I ask is that you add the Brain Building Lynky button (in the sidebar) somewhere on your post.  Thanks!

Shapes - Cross

Shape Themes

Xander is 19 Months

Theme:  Service Vehicles

Shape: Rectangle


 We are currently working on shapes, devoting one week to each while also reviewing those already learned.   The themes just add a fun element to the shapes lessons, plus some extra vocabulary. I added a page to gather all of the Shape Posts and Printables to make them easier to find.  For our overall Tot School goals for our shape units, see my Goals post.

Shape Activities

The theme this week was Service Vehicles, which was a big hit.  Our shape was the rectangle.  We used our shape cards.  We also used some pocket chart phrases from our Cross Printables.  The concepts on these cards are pretty advanced, but he has been exposed to all of them on his Your Baby Can Discover movies. I believe the vocabulary and and reading practice certainly can't hurt.

As usual, I made a tracing page (Cross Printables) and put it in his Dry Erase Activity Center.  He wasn't all that into tracing this week, so he just scribbled instead.  He is still completely inconsistent with his grasp, but he has plenty of time to correct it, so I am not at all worried.

 

Our coloring sheet.  This is what we were doing when I found out Xander could read (blog post here).

Playing with the Highway Shape card from Making Learning Fun.

Xander loves his shape bean bags, and loves throwing them around the room.  We used the Highway Shapes for targets.

Shape cookie cutters.

I took our shape cards and some of the shapes from the Tupperware Shape Sorter for him to match up.

"Mom, I am trying to work here and you keep taking pictures!"

Playing with our magnetic shape book.

"Snow Painting" a cross.

He doesn't even need to look at what he is painting... the kid has skills.

He grabbed a book, got into a chair, and "read" to himself.  I love listening to him "read" his books.  I want to capture these moments forever!

As I wrote in yesterday's blog post, I learned that Xander could read his colors this week.  Just for the heck of it I got out some shape word flashcards (printed from Little Reader) and the shapes from one of his shape sorters.  Before I could even take the picture of the flashcards, he ran over put the star in the correct spot.  (Star is BY FAR his favorite shape.  He always has to do the star first in whatever shape activity we are doing).  He matched them all up perfectly except triangle, which he got on the second try.  Now that I know he is absorbing the words, I need to make more of an effort to do this type of activity!

Service Vehicle Theme Activities

We still used the cards from his Service Vehicle Tot Pack.


Who needs a shirt to do the matching puzzles?

I set out some of the service vehicle flashcards I made (also with  Little Reader) to see if he could match the puzzles to them.  He absolutely loves the Service Vehicle lesson I made for him on Little Reader and has been watching it multiple times a day (he would watch it again and again if I let him).  Unfortunately, I forgot to print ambulance, so we only got some of the vehicles.  He did a good job matching them to the correct card, but couldn't line the photos up.  

This was the song for this theme.  Xander got a huge kick out of the actions... particularly the "ding, ding, ding, ding, ding."

Reading and Math:

   

We are still using Little Reader to work on reading skills and Little Math for math skills.  My goal is two Little Reader lessons and one Little Math lesson daily.  He absolutely loves Little Reader, but only likes Little Math on some days.
I also made a Little Reader lesson to go with the Service Vehicles Theme.  Find it here.

This Week's Books:

  

         

Check back on Wednesday to see this week's  Tot Trays!

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