Make a Monkey Mask, Treat, and Read Companion Story Preschool Activity

Do Monkey Around... with this monkey theme Preschool Activity

We made a mask, yummy treat, and had fun with preschoolers pretending to be monkeys. Pretend play is a great way to incorporate many elements of sensory play. Enjoy!

Our Messy Preschool Class had a blast making 
paper monkey masks and you can too.

One Tricky Monkey up on top.

                      Knives and Spoons make great sticks for the mask,

                            just tape it to the back and use as a handle.

Monkey Sight Word Game for Kindergarten/First Grade

How to make healthy monkey treat snacks for kids.

Banana Treats, cover in vanilla yogurt or p.b. and dip in your favorite  toppings.

How to make a paper monkey mask.

Recommended Reading:

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed*

Bananas and Chocolate Chips on a Stick Recipe for Kids

One Tricky Monkey Up On Top *
ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Slurpin' for Worms Birthday Party Game for Kids and Moms on a Budget

Birthday's on a Budget: Party Game Ideas

No matter how much we would like to, most parents just aren't able to throw that ultra-expensive birthday party for kids every year, but that doesn’t mean your BIRTHDAY still can't be fun! Here is a great, cheap birthday game activity. You can switch up the theme. We went with Gummi Candy Worms, but you can use Gummy Bears too. Enjoy, this worm birthday game for kids!

This post contains affiliate links.

You might also like to Paint with Worms (Spaghetti).

What you Need: 

Fun Paper Plates
Canned Whipped Cream
Albanese Gummi Worms or other small Gummy Candies 

*Please be mindful of small children and choking hazards.

Easy Kid's Game for Birthday Party: Worm Party Game.

How to Play Worm Birthday Game: 

• You can play one at a time or all at once as a race- we have done both.
• Place the same amount of objects on a paper plate for each participant. (10 kids = 10 plates)
• Cover the items completely with whipped cream. (Try to make each plate exactly the same.)
• Each player gets a whipped cream-covered plate and an empty plate.
• Hands are placed behind your back and on "Go," players use only mouths to find items on plate, one at a time, and spit them onto empty plate.
• The first player to find them all wins!
• (If playing one at a time, the person with the quickest time wins.)

This is a great game for Summer Camp too.


Recommended Reading:

Group Games for All Ages

Worms! 

Worm Birthday Party Favors

Worm in Apple Healthy Party Snack

Sensory Spaghetti Painting (Feels like worms).

Follow us on Instagram for Daily Fun!

Easy Fun Teen Birthday Party Game: Slurpin' for Worms.

Melted Crayons in Chocolate and Soap Molds

How to make Fun Crayon Shapes in Molds

Crayon fun for Preschoolers. Have your crayons and make them too using cookie, cake, or soap molds! What could be more fun than coloring with a dinosaur? Coloring with a dinosaur crayon. Enjoy!

Use a muffin tin and mix up melted crayon pieces
 for fun chunky crayons.

Futuristic Activities for Children: Kindergarten Field Trip to Outer Space

Take a Field Trip to Outer Space Futuristic Activities for Kids

From Angie's Corner: Field Trip to Challenger Learning Center to learn about Astronauts. This Futuristic Activity for Kids is perfect for a Homeschool Field Trip, it is located in Brownsburg, Indiana. Enjoy!

Futuristic Activity for Elementary Children: 
How Astronauts sit during take off of Shuttle.

I was lucky enough to be able to go along with Bug's Kindergarten class to the Challenger Learning Center (part of our school district) for their yearly field trip. At this very special place, they have different "missions" for the kids.  It is a very hands on place and the children get to learn and do scientific tasks just like real Astronauts. Each area of this place is geared to be age appropriate.  

Futuristic Architecture

On this day, each parent was given a station to man, to guide, and help out when needed while the children read and followed the instruction for the tasks they needed to complete.  I personally got to man the Magnetic station and the Magnifying Glass and Mirror stations. 

The children learned how two magnets can either attract each other or push away from each other. With Magnifying Glasses, they were able to see how to read tiny print and with Mirrors they were able to see how, if placed properly, the mirrors would show the other side of a half word or shape. 

This was a fabulous place to discover. Everyone that worked there was excited to have the children learn about not only space and science, but also teamwork.


Recommended Reading:

Space Stations: Base Camps to the Stars*

Personal Space Camp Activity and Idea Book*
















ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Pin~it Scavenger Hunt 5/8/2012

Keep posted with our emails >>>

How to make play dough at home and 12 Fun Things to do with Play Dough

Looking for fun things to Make at Home?

Maybe you need an easy recipe for how to make dough or you're wondering how do I make play dough at home? How to make clay dough for older kids Here are fun clay and dough recipes to make at home with kids of all ages.

How to make play dough recipe:                                                         
2 c. corn starch, 1 c. salt, 1 1/2 c. boiling water, 2 tbs. cream of tartar, 2 tbs  oil (vegetable oil to keep it edible or baby oil to make it fun and a pleasant scent) Mix all ingredients together, then add a couple drops of your favorite food coloring. You can also separate into individual baggies, add a different drop of food color to each bag, and knead to mix. Let the kids do this for extra sensory play! You can make it without cream of tar tar too; the oil will fill the void it just might not stay fresh as long :)

 Sensory Guest Post from Krissy Sherman Bonning, Mama of 3, and Blogger  at B.Inspired, Mama!  (Connecting moms with kid-friendly arts & crafts, easy recipes, and preschool learning fun.) Hop over to Krissy's blog and check out all of the cool  fun from a Mommy with a Master's degree in Art Education.

I found an exciting feature on her blog, she accepts Submissions from other bloggers! Get your fun ideas posted and earn yourself some much deserved recognition.

Fun things to do with Playdough at home.

My kids’ go-to sensory activity is definitely play dough.  The ways you can play with it are endless.  And adding unusual objects and art supplies to it make it even more fun.  Here are some of our favorites:

1. Stencils – Use them to place on the play dough and trace around, press into the play dough to make impressions, and for imaginative play, too. 
2. Recycled Bottles – Next time you drink something out of a plastic bottle, check out the bottom.  It will probably make a really cool flower-like impression in play dough.  (from B-Inspired Mama)
3. Cardboard Boxes – Play dough details can turn boxes into buildings and even an entire city.  (from Inspiration Surrounds, Creativity Abounds)
4. Muffin Cups – Silicone muffin cups are perfect for making pretend cupcakes and muffins for an impromptu Birthday party or picnic.  (from B-Inspired Mama)
5. Fake Flowers – Plant them in play dough to make a beautiful flower garden for imaginative gardening fun. (from The Imagination Tree)
6. Animals – Green play dough makes the perfect jungle for little animal friends. (from Picklebums)
7. Googly Eyes – Bright your play dough to life and make silly monsters with lots of googly eyes. (from Pink and Green Mama)
8. Candy Molds – Use chocolate play dough to make pretend candies and fun shapes with candy molds.  (from Learning 4 Kids)
9. Laminated Play Dough Mats – Laminate images and learning worksheets for kids to add play dough details, letters, and snakes to.  (from Planet of the Apels)
10. Alphabet Cookie Cutters – Make play dough fun a learning opportunity by adding letter cookie cutters.  (from No Time for Flash Cards)
11. Glitter – Add lots of glitter to turn play dough into a glistening glob for galaxy fun.  (from Poppytalk)
12. Trucks & Cars – Play dough makes fun hills for driving over and tires on toy vehicles make awesome impressions.  (from B-Inspired Mama)

Do your kids like playing with play dough? Have you ever used anything unusual to make it more fun?

Recommended Reading:

Fun-tastic Clay Critters to Make

Modeling Clay Animals

Sensory Play Dough Recipe

Secret Garden ~ Favorite Places from Childhood

Tracey's Tempo

Favorite Secret Getaway.

Girl Scout's Powder Puff Pinewood Derby: Girls get to Make a Car and Race too!

Why Can't Girl Scouts Enter a Pinewood Derby? 

Our local scouts learned a lesson in sharing when the Boy Scouts loaned our troop their Pinewood Derby Track. This got us thinking, why can't the girls and boy enter the same Pinewood Derby? Oh well, at least we have the Powder Puff Derby. Enjoy!

Girl Scout's Pinewood Derby: Powder Puff Derby.

Ally got to participate in her First Pinewood Derby with the local area chapter of Girl Scouts. A local Boy Scout Troop let the organizers borrow their track so this could take place. Yes, Girl Scouts now do this event too!

Not sure if it was just this chapter or for all Girl Scouts, but it was the Second Annual event. It was a wonderful chance for daughter and dad to do something together, and I am not sure who had more fun. Although she didn't win, she did get a few Seconds and other places (each girl got to race eight times).  

Lining up her car for the Powder Puff Pinewood Derby.

Girl Scouts: A Celebration of 100 Trailblazing Years*

                  Talking strategy with Dad.

Recommended:

Be Prepared

What and When  is National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend?

Learning How to be a Community Leader with Girl Scouts

A Craft for Daisy Scouts

Girl Scouts: A Celebration of 100 Trailblazing Years*

Cinco de Mayo activities from Pinterest: Pin it Online Scavenger Hunt

Mini Cinco de Mayo Activities for Kids

These are cute, Cinco de Mayo activities from Pinterest. In the latest Pin it Online Scavenger Hunt we found homemade maracas, mini pinatas, and more. Enjoy!

Wanna join? Leave a comment on Pinterest to be added to the board as a collaborative pinner (under the purple tack). 

Most pinned (37 repins) pinned by Carole M. from the blog MADE.

Homemade Maracas for Cinco de Mayo.

My favorite pin, pinned by Me (12 repins) from the blog She Knows, Pinata Cookies. I just love these and had to share with everyone.

Filled Pinata Cookies for Cinco de Mayo.

Recommended:

May Calendar of Special Days and Holidays

Cinco de Mouse-O! (Mouse (Holiday House)*













ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Have a Natural Nature Based Circle Time Activity Game: Sensory Saturday Play Based Learning

Perfect for a play based learning Natural Circle Time Activity for kids: Nature's Treasures

Circle Time is a time for children to learn to pay attention, to make connections with each other, and to have fun. This nature based circle time activity is fun for kids of all ages for summer camp, but is ideal for preschool circle time.

Didi from Duck Duck Octopus (She's no longer blogging) shared this awesome nature sensory game for circle time.

We learn about the world through our senses. The tart burst of flavor from a fresh-picked blackberry is a tell-tale sign of summer; watching leaves swirl around the sky shows us it's windy; and pitter-patter sounds of rain tells us to put on our wellies for jumping in freshly made puddles. Our bodies absorb a constant stream of information that we assimilate into experience, but we seldom intentionally acknowledge the senses that deliver the information; the information is "just there".

Get your group together, form a circle, 

and play Nature's Treasure in circle time.

The Nature's Treasures mystery game is an activity that facilitates a hands-on exploration of the senses and nature. Kids get to experience how their perception of the world is altered when their senses are limited. The use of natural objects connects kids to their environment, and allows them to experience things they encounter every day in a new way.
 
Instructions

1. Gather an assortment of familiar natural objects (e.g. a dandelion, rock, shell, lobster claw, stick, cattail fluff, maple leaf, an animal bone, feather, dirt, etc.). Collect enough items, so each child participating has an item. Make sure your collection is gathered and stored out of sight of your kids. You don't want to spoil the mystery!
2. Place one mystery object in an opaque bag; brown lunch bags are great. Seal the bag with ribbon or a piece of tape.
3. Place the bags in a "treasure chest" (a decorated cardboard box), and bring the treasure chest out for the kids.
4. Introduce the activity by talking about the incredible diversity that may be found in nature. Have your kids offer examples of colors, textures and shapes they may find in nature (e.g. tiny snails; red, orange, and yellow autumn leaves; prickly porcupines; furry raccoons; bumpy shells, etc.).
5. Using the examples provided by the kids, make connections to how people use their senses to experience the world.
6. Explain that each mystery bag contains one object found in nature. They must try to guess what is in their bag without using their sense of sight, sound, or taste.
7. Encourage each child to choose a mystery bag, and tell them to keep the bag closed tight. No peeking! :-)
8. Each child gets a turn to fully explore their object with their sense of touch and smell. If they go to smell the bag, they have to keep their eyes shut, or use a blindfold to help keep the mystery object hidden.
9. The child exploring the item may tell the group about the object based on their sensory observations.
• For example, if the object is a dandelion, a child may describe it as follows: There is a fluffy, soft part on one end. It is round. The round, soft part is stuck to something that is long and skinny. It smells like grass.
10. Ask the child doing the direct sensory exploration to identify their mystery object.
11. Then open the inquiry to the group. Does anyone think the object is something else?
12. Reveal the mystery object. Hopefully, when the object is revealed most of the kids will know what it is right away. If they didn't guess correctly, this is a great opportunity to ask the kids how their sense of sight, sound or taste would have helped them solve the mystery.

This activity works well with a large group of kids in a circle time setting, and is also fun to do at home as a family. Sometimes, I'll deliberately put a gag item in the bag I explore, just to add a big laugh at the end (think rubber chicken). 
 
What is the most interesting object you found to include in your Nature's Treasures mystery game?

Didi is a fun mom who likes to make mud pies, stomp in puddles, and fingerpaint. She is also the founder of duckduckoctopus.com, a blog about play-based learning, outdoor adventures, and mindful-parenting.

Be sure to follow Didi on Pinterest. Learn some fun facts about the mind behind Duck, Duck, Octopus at Play Dr. Hutch.


Recommended Reading:

14 Circle Time Activities

Four Corners Circle Time Activity for Preschoolers*

Circle Time and Group Activities for age 3 to 6 yrs.*






ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Craft Fail: Kid's Science Celery Experiment

Celery Experiment: How do plants drink water? 

Good question. We never found out! This celery science experiment for kids is easy and educational if you do it right. It proves why it is important to carefully follow instructions. So, how do plants drink water?  Enjoy!

Celery Science Experiment: 
Grab a glass of water, insert a few drops of food coloring.

Stick in the celery and wait twenty-four hours.

My fellow Kid-Bloggers have been posting those beautiful colored carnations and various plants soaking the water up through their stems and coloring the tips of their leaves or petals.

First, ours started to die and turned brown. Then, I moved it to the window-sill. We've watched it everyday for three weeks. Along the celery stalk you can see very faint purple lines that stop long before reaching the leaves. I added more water. This celery is going to sprout roots before the leaves take color.

We'll keep it going until it rots or colors. Science or BUST. 

TIP: Wanna know why we failed?  

Yep, I didn't follow the instructions and cut legs in my celery. Do that first!

Recommended Reading:

How to color celery science experiment for science success.

Scientific Explorer My First Mind Blowing Science Kit*

Pass the Celery, Ellery!*

Pass the Celery.

Losing my first tooth!

Losing a Tooth

What do you about the Tooth Fairy? How much money do you give? Is there a different amount for losing the first tooth? Angie shares her experience in this post about, Losing My First Tooth. Enjoy! 

If you want to read our Tooth fairy series, scroll to the bottom.

Finally lost my first tooth!

After a week's worth of trying, my Matt finally pulled his first tooth. Something he apparently felt he needed to do on his own, because he wouldn't let my husband or I try.  It had been loose for weeks and his adult tooth was already coming in behind it.  Just by chance, he got it out while we were at my parent's house for Easter Dinner with the family and his last day of Spring Break. So, it was able to go into his school journaling on Spring Break.

Proud moment.

The next day was the funniest though... after the Tooth Fairy came.  He was disappointed because rumor in Kindergarten is, you either get a two dollar bill or twenty (I want to meet this tooth fairy if that is the case) and all he got was one dollar. Then came this conversation with his sister.  

Matt:  "I wonder if mom and dad is the tooth fairy?"

Ally:  "No way! Trust me, I wake up anytime they come in my room and I don't hear anything when the tooth fairy comes." 

I heard this while eavesdropping from the other room. Panic quickly turned to relief and then a quiet, little laugh after he was quite happy with his older sister's response.  Now, he can't wait for another tooth to come out.

Recommended Reading:


 Tooth Fairy Series

Tale of The Tooth Fairy, Boy*

4M Tooth Fairy Keepsake Box*

Fingerling Potatoes, The Perfect Baked Steak Fries

What are Fingerling Potatoes?

Have you seen Fingerling Potatoes? Wonder what are Fingerling Potatoes? They are so cute! They are little potatoes that look like fingers, of course. What can you do with Fingerling Potatoes? Make the perfect baked Steak Fries. Enjoy!

I bought a bag of little "fingerling" potatoes for $1.00, just because they were cute.

Then I surfed and found a recipe for roasted steakhouse fries.

I found these frozen, steakhouse roasters ~ more than $1.00

Fingerling potatoes are the perfect size for little fingers. The kids helped wash, coat with oil, brush with french-fry seasonings, and bake at 400 degrees for approximately twenty minutes. See, even potatoes can be new and exciting!

Recommended:

Homemade Potato Chips

Panfried Fish and Chips


















ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Mock Baked Alaska Cake Recipe

Baked Alaska Recipe with Optional Fillings

How do you make Baked Alaska Cake? What is Baked Alaska? Try this Mock Baked Alaska Cake Recipe adapted from Pampered Chef. Enjoy!

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

Mock Baked Alaska Cake Recipe with optional fillings.

How to Make Baked Alaska Cake 

• 1 package (18.25 oz) Devil's Food or Chocolate cake mix (plus ingredients to make cake)

• 1 cup mini semi-sweet Chocolate Chips, divided

• 1 package (8 oz) Neufachtel Cheese or Cream Cheese, softened

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1 container (16 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided.

Baked Alaska Recipe with Optional Fillings.

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 325° F. Grease and flour Classic Batter Bowl.

Prepare cake mix according to package directions; pour into batter bowl. Bake 1 hour, 10 minutes to 1 hour, 15 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. 

Remove from oven to cooling rack; cool 15 minutes. Run spatula around outside of cake and gently turn out onto cooling rack, large end down.

Cool 3 hours. Using serrated bread knife, trim large end of cake to level. Place cake, large end down, onto cake plate. 

To slice cake into four equal layers, slice cake horizontally in half. Then, slice each half into two equal layers.

Chop 1/4 cup of the chocolate morsels using food chopper; set aside.  

Place remaining chocolate morsels in microwave, uncovered, on high 20-60 seconds or until melted and smooth, stirring after each 20-second interval. 

In clean Batter Bowl, whisk cream cheese until smooth using stainless steel whisk. Add powdered sugar; whisk until smooth. 

Stir in melted chocolate; mix well. Fold 2 cups of the whipped topping and chopped chocolate into cream cheese mixture using spatula. 

Using spreader or butter knife, spread bottom layer of cake with about half of the filling, forming a 3/4-inch layer.

Repeat with remaining layers and filling, ending with the top layer of cake. Spread any remaining filling over outside of cake to create a smooth surface. 

Frost cake with remaining whipped topping.

*To form decorative peaks, press spreader into topping and pull away. Repeat over entire surface of cake. For easier slicing, refrigerate cake at least 30 minutes.  

To easily cut cake into servings, cut cake into eight wedges from top to bottom using utility knife. 

Carefully insert spatula horizontally into each wedge, dividing into two equal portions. 

Options for Filling:

Red Kool-Aid Strawberry Splash: Omit chocolate morsels. Add 1/2 teaspoon unsweetened strawberry drink mix powder to cream cheese mixture. Stir 1/4 cup chopped strawberries into cream cheese mixture. Proceed as recipe directs. Use strawberry flavored whip cream or regular with red food coloring.

Christmas Green Mint Splash: Omit 1/2 cup melted chocolate. Add 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract and 3-4 drops green food coloring, if desired, to cream cheese mixture. Proceed as recipe directs.


Recommended:

Pampered Chef: Kids in the Kitchen

Baked Alaska Recipes

Angie's Recipes