March 31

Well, it started out the usual way.

With library videos, and Zoo Tycoon. Today Trevelyn is especially interested in finding fossils, researching, and creating animals out of fossils and dna.

Since we were out of our cleaners, I asked the babes -as I always do- if they'd like to help me make them. To my surprise, they responded with an enthusiastic "Yeah!"
So today they helped.
Household chemistry, I guess.The stove got a bonus cleaning from Trev when his cleaner was finished.
A good deal for Mama, certainly.

Cuppycakes. Madd made them. (Not organic and all-naturale today, I'm afraid. ah, well.)

Drawing lessons were up next.
Now we're not "lesson" kind of people around here. We're a bit too rebellious and free-spirited for that.On the other hand, there are things in life that we'd like to do, (such as, say... draw dinosaurs or record chipmunks and birds with pencils and water colors while on a nature walk). And in order to be able to do particular things one must have some idea of how to go about doing it.So we're beginning. With lessons - of a sort (more like consciously practicing). At the Very Beginning.

There were Flintstone videos and recreating prehistory in the sandbox.

And creating Bugs.
bzzzz.

Now we've got a card game in the cards,
and popcorn-and-a-movie-- Winged Migration.

See ya tomorrow.

Bugs

We got jiggly and wiggly today.
With Bugs.

You'll need colored (or plain if you prefer) paper, pipe cleaners for legs, and something for eyes - we used paper scraps. If you're making a caterpillar and want it to bounce and hang, tape a piece of elastic near both ends, and attach the other ends to a straw, for a marionette effect.

Paint spots, stripes, or sparklies on an 8x11 piece of paper. Or two.Cut it lengthwise into strips.

Glue one strip onto another, cross-wise at the ends.Fold the underneath piece over the top one.

Fold the second one over the first.


When you run out of paper, glue the next piece onto the first - in a cross position if it's the opposite piece, or in the same direction if it's that one. (This green piece will be glued on in the crosswise direction, and the purple piece will then fold over it).

When you have the length you like, you're done with the body.
Add wings if you want them.We used paper covered with modgepodge and foil to make wings.

Add eyes.

And legs.

There you have it!

Madeleine's Bug


Trevy's Bug

Mama's Bug

March 30

This morning started out with Really Wild Animals: Awesome Animal Builders.

There was Spore

domino shape play

geo board investigations
lacing and beading

and addition Bingo.
Magic School Bus was next...

with more Spore

and then we made Grass Heads.Sooo cute!

Chase with Daddy
and hide-and-seek
and catch
and red light green light
and Follow the Leader.

Zoo Tycoon and Thomas and more Really Wild Animals.

Time to go!
To lunch,
for a quick nature walk....
and to the museum. With friends.









That will do.

Grass Heads

I love these supercute soggy creatures.
You only need socks, burlap, or some other loosely woven cloth, some sort of grass seed, a rubberband or twist tie, buttons, pins, and soil.

Open your sock or material over the rim of a mug, and put in the seeds.

Next add your soil, pushing it in firmly.
Twist the opening to tighten, lifting it out of your mug, and tie it with the rubberband or the twisty.

Trim off the excess material and water thoroughly.
Turn it over, and shape your creature how you like, and add your eyes and nose.
Keep it on a saucer or plate with water in the dish so that your seedlings won't dry out.
Soon you'll have hair!



This craft idea comes from Usborne Big Book of Things to Do.