Thursday, April 30, 2020

Digital Escape Rooms


I have compiled some digital escape rooms into one Google Slide presentation to make it easier to navigate.


The table of contents allows parents and kids to choose easier escape rooms (preK - grade 2) and harder (grades 3 and up).


Personally, I've done them with my fourth grade students through Zoom during remote learning. My two year old son also loved doing the Pete the Cat one at home.


Have you created a digital escape room you'd like to share? Do you have any topics you'd love to see turned into a digital escape room? Drop your links and ideas in the comments below!

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Music Mania



Music Mania was the choice for our little drummer boy today.
Colorful Clipart Music
We played instruments from a kit we bought on Amazon
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and made our own instruments using rubber bands and food containers, 
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played a Music Memory game, 

and sorted instruments by how they are played on BrainPop Jr. 

Daddy even got in on the fun! 
Like always, we listened to tons of music. Here is our "eating" playlist.
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Ben’s Trumpet was our book of the day, 
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we did Dot a Dot M to differentiate between upper and lowercase letters, 
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and coloring wasn’t happening, but I did find this adorable M is for Music coloring page.

Another fun game we found is called Monster Music. Sesame Street characters explore real and created instruments.


We finished off the night with the Disney Family Singalong! It originally aired on ABC, but it's free in its entirety on Disney+ if you have it!
Watch The Disney Family Singalong | Full Movie | Disney+

Ernie Puts the Duckie Down” is a classic Sesame Street video and song. 
Look for some celebrity cameos!

All You Need is a Song” is another favorite over here, especially with one of my favorite country bands, Sugarland. 

What are your favorite musical activities? We'd love to hear about them in the comments below.


Monday, April 27, 2020

Moose Muffin Monday

It's Mixed Berry Mini Muffin Moose Monday!
Free moose clipart - Cliparting.com
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and made them with jam,
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played with our moose and their friends while "camping."
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We did Do a Dot M is for Moose with paint markers
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and made letter M with pom poms.
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We also made a moose
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and took a virtual field trip to New Hampshire to learn more about them.
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You can still visit our national parks virtually even though they're closed, and all fourth graders in the U.S. get a free national parks pass. Here is some info for you:
4th Grade Program (formerly Every Kid in a Park - EKIP) - James A ...

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Sesame Street Saturday

It’s Sesame Street Saturday!
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Since we are in social distancing / quarantine and couldn't visit our favorite semi-local theme park, we create a day dedicated to our favorite furry monsters.

We put on our grouchy clothes and fun socks and gathered our favorite furry monsters for some stories, 
songs

and games. 
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We had cookies with Cookie Monster, 
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Check out this link to snag some counting cookies similar to the ones we have.


ate breakfast with the whole gang (plate, cups, and stuffed animals are from Sesame Place)

and brushed teeth with Zoe.
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We played Find It with Elmo.
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We got stopped at airport security with this in carry-on bags, but they are great for travel!

and made up a trash / recycling game with Oscar. Since we can’t go to Sesame Place yet due to its temporary closure, we made our own!
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Buy the carpet we have!

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Check out the website for Sesame Place. We go to the one in PA, but there is also one in CA. FYI they offer free teacher passes plus military, veteran, and first responder discounts!

Friday, April 24, 2020

Firetruck Fun Friday

Firetruck Fun Friday was a hit! 

We played with our wooden firehouse, 
did puzzles, 
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Melissa & Doug Fire Truck Sound Puzzle - Wooden Peg Puzzle With Sound Effects
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read books,
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played inside our fire tent with tools and our firebear.
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We love going outside to drive the fire truck with fire boots and raincoat on, even on sunny days!
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Even Firefighters Go to the Potty: A Potty Training Lift-the-Flap Story is another favorite book that isn't pictured here. It shows people of many different professions using the potty.

This one is another favorite:

My husband is a firefighter, so we have been fortunate to take family trips to the firehouse as well as have him come in as a guest speaker. He reads this book to my fourth graders.


Watch him and his fellow coworkers on the NBC Nightly News for a segment called Hiring Our Heroes (veterans).

If you aren't able to make a trip to a firehouse, check out this virtual field trip.


Check out some free printables here: