It’s Snowing in the Dining Room

We tried a new technique this week with our water color painting… adding salt crystals to create an interesting texture.

NOTE: setting down a bowl filled with salt then immediately walking away to answer the phone is NOT a good idea when a 2 year old is completing said craft. This produces the “It’s SNOWING in the Dining Room” effect.

We started by choosing a picture in our book “In November” to use as inspiration. The kids picked a page with 2 cardinals on a bare branch. Then we drew outlines in crayon. We applied the watercolor paints. Over some of the wet areas of paint, we sprinkled kosher salt. I highly suggest you place a tray under your painting first – unlike us! Our intent with using the salt was to make it look like it was snowing in the picture. Once the paint dried we brushed off the salt. It created a tie-dyed looking background and left some sparkly, glittery salt residue (can’t see in the photos) that looks like ice crystals on the page.

Drying with the salt still on.

Close up of texture.

Week 11: In November

Well, we have officially had our first snow of the season! Just some flurries, nothing sticking but we have indeed reached the coats and mittens time of the year. There are very few leaves left on the trees. It makes it hard to believe I took the picture seen above only a week ago.

Week Eleven (Nov 10-15)

Book of the Week:

In November

In November

Expansion Book:

Caps, Hats, Sock and Mittens

Caps, Hats, Sock and Mittens

Letter of the Week: K

K is for Kingcup

We will be coloring the Kingcup page from our Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book and reading the accompanying story in the Flower Fairies Alphabet Book.

Craft for the Week: Table Decorations

I haven’t totally decided exactly what we are doing but we will be making some sort of centerpieces orpPlace settings for our Thanksgiving Table.

Baking Recipe for the Week:

Sculptured Pretzels

INGREDIENTS

1 package yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 t. salt

1 T. sugar

4 cups flour

1 egg, beaten

Kosher salt, optional.

DIRECTIONS

1. Put warm water in bowl, sprinkle with yeast, and stir until soft. Let set for 5 minutes.

2. Add dry ingredients.

3. Mix dough with hands until well blended. Dough should be smooth and elastic, not sticky.

4. Roll dough and twist into any shape such as alphabet, animals, etc.

5. Place on greased cookie sheet.

6. Let rise until double in size.

7. Brush each sculpture with the beaten egg and sprinkle with salt.

8. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes at 350 until sculptures are firm and golden brown.

Poem of the Month for October:

Over the River and Through the Woods (or A Boy’s Thanksgiving Day)

Over the river, and through the wood,

To Grandmother’s house we go;

The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh

through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river, and through the wood –

Oh, how the wind does blow!

It stings the toes and bites the nose

As over the ground we go.

Over the river, and through the wood,

To have a first-rate play.

Hear the bells ring, “Ting-a-ling-ding”,

Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river, and through the wood

Trot fast, my dapple-gray!

Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound,

For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river, and through the wood –

And straight through the barnyard gate,

We seem to go extremely slow,

It is so hard to wait!

Over the river, and through the wood –

Now Grandmother’s cap I spy!

Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

by Lydia Maria Child

Kindergarten/Preschool Term One Overview: Harvest Time