Worm Weaving

I'm currently working on the Rain, Rainbows, Mud and Worms Tot Pack for April.  I'm just so excited about it that I have to share this cute weaving page.  This also serves as a visual tutorial so when you get the pack you can figure out how to put it together and play with it.

There are two pages for this printable that you want to glue together first (glue the top and left hand sides of the pages together).  Then laminate them.  Cut the bottom and right hand side of lamination completely off.  Then cut each page individually on the printed lines (easier said than done).

 To play the weaving worms game simply thread the dirt over and under all of the worms starting at the left hand side.

 Do the opposite pattern with the next column of dirt.

A finished Worm Weaving page: 

This is so much fun that EMan and CJ are both getting a kick out of it!

How I Put Together Tot Packs and Preschool Packs

I spend hours and hours researching and creating the best lesson plans possible for my children.  This year I have been encouraged to spend many more hours writing those lesson plans down and creating preschool and tot packs to share.  The August packs (coming soon, like maybe tomorrow...) will be a free download for one week.  After the week expires, all packs will have a small fee.  I'm talking super small - like $2 per month of packs.  Each month will have 8 Preschool Packs or 4 Tot Packs.  They will also be available individually for $1 each.  You can download everything at http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/LittleAdventuresPreschool

Before you get your hands dirty diving into curriculum I wanted to give a little tutorial on how I put my packs together to use at our house.  You can feel free to copy me, or do things in a manner that works for you.

These materials are intended for a small preschool classroom, but can easily be tailored to homeschooling families with just one or two kids.  They could also be used in a playgroup setting of homeschooling preschoolers or toddlers. 

I like to print all the pages of my packs, cut and laminate as needed, and bind them into books with a comb binder.  I use a lot of Velcro to attach the loose pieces into the book.  This way I have most of what I need in a handy packet.  To see pictures of a bound pack, go {here} and scroll down to the photographs.

To find a list of materials and resources that I use in my home, go {here}.  Please do not be afraid when you see this list :) Materials accumulate over time.

Now, on to How I Put Together Tot Packs and Preschool Packs, A Tutorial

Step 1: Print all the pages in the pack.  I don't print the very first page.  You can choose to print the pages you'll use.

Step 2: Divide pages into to categories: pages to cut, pages not to cut.

Step 3: Grab a stack of laminating pouches.

 Step 4: Slide the first pages into the laminating pouch.

Step 4 Note: Pages that are not cut get placed in the laminating sheet back to back, make sure your pages are in order though.  If you are uncertain of the order, check the "Printables in this Pack" portion of the lesson plans.

 Step 4 Note: It is very difficult to see, but I put the pages in the laminating pouch slid all the way to the top and closer to the right side of the pouch.  Make sure the right side still has 1/4 inch of lamination around the outside of the pages though.  I do this because the binding machine cuts into the left hand side. (Just as a side note, the product used for this tutorial is a fantastic free download about teaching manners by Kathleen Pedersen.  Find the free download here.)

 Step 5: Grab your trusty thermal laminator. Turn the laminator on to medium heat or the 3mil setting.  Once it's hot...

 Step 6: ...Insert lamination packs into the feed end of the laminator, sealed end first.  Make sure you put them in straight or else the edges will get crinkled and ruined.

 Step 7: Let the laminator pull the paper through by itself.

 Step 8: Make sure the laminator is in a place where the lamination can come out and lay flat while it cools down.

 Step 9: Cut all pages that needed to be cut before laminating.  I cut, laminate, and cut again so that when kids put things in their mouths or when I wash off the wet erase marker the inside paper doesn't get ruined by the moisture.  It has a laminated seal around all edges.  Some items need to be cut out like playing cards.  Other items need to be cut around the picture.  When cutting around a picture I aim for leaving 1/8-1/4 inch of white around the object.

Step 10: Once the pieces are cut, put them inside laminating sheets.  Cut pieces don't go back to back unless specified.  Make sure to leave enough space between items that you can cut each item out with about a 1/4 inch of lamination around it.  Laminate, just like above.

 Note: When picking up sheets to laminate they tend to stick together.  Rub the top edge and separate it from any extra lamination sheets.

 Step 11: Grab your handy dandy comb binding machine.

 Step 12: Grab 1/2 inch binding combs and put it on the binding machine.

 Step 13: Organize your laminated full sheets of paper into the order you would like them.

 Step 14: Slide 2 laminated pouches in at a time (left hand side of the book goes in, face down).  Press them firmly against the back of the machine, there is very little room for error if the pages aren't touching the back.

 Step 15: Pull down the binding machine lever to cut the pages.

 Note: The binder will only cut the small rectangular holes in the lamination if you put the papers inside closer to the right side of the pouch.  This is ideal because the paper inside still maintains a seal around the perimeter.

 Step 16: Thread the pages onto the comb.  Repeat until all pages of the book are threaded on.

 Step 17: Your book is now bound, remove it from the binding machine.

 Step 18: Cut out all the pieces that go inside the book, being certain to leave 1/4 inch of lamination around all edges. Pages that don't go into the book can go in a plastic bag.  There will be some mini books.  Just hole punch the top left corner and bind them into books with binder rings.

 Step 19: Attach Velcro dots (or cut Velcro strips) to the book.  I like to stay consistent and put the hook side of Velcro (rough side) on the pages and the loop side of Velcro (soft side) on the pieces. I put the Velcro on the book first and then pull of the backing, exposing the sticky side of the loop Velcro.  Then I line the pieces up and press them down onto the paper.  That way the Velcro lines up when kids match the picture.

 Step 20: Pages like the "Stop and Go Dancing" page have pieces that I like to attach craft sticks to.  I simply attach the Velcro at the top of the picture so that the craft stick can be attached and left in the book.

 Step 21: Grab a pack of wet erase markers to color and write on the pack.  Wet erase cleans off easily with a damp rag or baby wipe.  Dry erase works too, but it doesn't wipe off as cleanly and will stain your lamination.

 Step 22: Drop the packs and extra pieces into a hanging file labeled with the month or theme.  I also like to store books that I own that go along with the theme in the folders as well.

All done!
You certainly don't have to do all this work, but if you intend to use them for multiple years with multiple children I'd highly suggest it.

Watch for the release of all the August packs in the next day or two and get ready to start having fun!

Printables: Introduction and Assembly

(Click on the Monkey above to go to Teacher's Notebook where you can download all of my printables)
{Click Here} for Tot Packs coming for the 2012-2013 school year.

Wonder what you'll get in a printable pack? Well, each one is different dependent upon the needs of the child(ren) that it is intended for. Here is one of my most recent tot packs.

There is always a first page of copy right information (pictured above) and quite often, all of the time in my newer themed packs, there is a lesson plan page (pictured below).  The lesson plan page is full of ideas that you can do outside of the tot pack with suggestions for books to read, science experiments, and hands-on activities that relate to the theme. (Click on any of the images to see them larger.)

 Often there will be puzzles, which may be 2, 3, or 5 pieces each (pictured above), and occasionally there are mini books which focus on a number of different skills (pictured below).  I cut, laminate, cut and then bind my mini books with a metal ring so that if I have multiple children working on the same concept I can give pages out and pass them around.  Most often the mini books require markers (wet erase or dry erase).

There are sorting pages (pictured above) and lacing pages (pictured below).  Sorting can be anything from size, shape, or color.  Lacing pages I cut, laminate, cut and then hole punch around the edge adding a lacing string to each object.

This pack has size sequencing (like the game above where you put the objects in the correct buckets according to size) and size sequencing (like the game below where you put the images in order from largest to smallest or smallest to largest.

 There will occasionally be mini books which can be pre-readers (books that kids memorize what it says on each page then "read" it back to you), beginning readers (books that are decodable - meaning you can sound out every word with the introduction of some sight words) or they can be activity books (like the one pictured above where you have a separate game piece such as a beach ball that you have to place in the correct position to practice location words).  Below you'll also find a beginning handwriting page.  EMan (my almost 2 year old) just scribbles on this page with a wet erase marker (that's his developmental stage) where CJ (my 3 1/2 year old) traces the lines from left to right practicing hand eye coordination, left to right reading and writing skills, and fine motor skills.

 I have started including songs in my books as well (pictured below).  I found that I forget to teach and sing different songs with my kids when they fit into a perfect theme and this is a great reminder to sing them.  It is also perfect having a picture association with the songs so that every child who works in the books learns the songs and then ask to sing their favorites, even if they are pre-verbal.

Are you interested in how I assemble my tot packs and when/where/how I use them with my kids?

 First I start by printing all the pages in the tot pack (minus the first one that has all the copyright information).  Then I laminate all appropriate full pages in a pocket laminating machine.  I print the pages and laminate them so they are back to back to make a book.  Then I bind the pages together using a comb binder.

 Next, I print the appropriate extra pages, cut out the pieces, laminate them, then cut them out again.  (Yes, there is a lot of cutting in this process).

 I use Velcro on the back of all the pieces to attach them to the book I just made.  I do this for all the puzzle pieces as well as pieces like Lacing Cards (which you see above) and Size Sorting items (which you see below) simply so I can keep track of all of the pieces.

 The I stick the book in my backpack or have it sitting on my piano for the right moment to use it with my kids. I keep a wet erase marker near by so kids can also color all over the pages in a variety of ways.  Perhaps you are learning the letter "A" and you have your child circle all of the A's they see on a page, or perhaps you have a young one that is just learning to scribble and not put the marker in their mouth - that is just perfect as well.

The reason that I cut, laminate, and cut pieces again is so that if pieces get sucked on or we play with the wet erase marker and dunk it under the water to rinse it clean the paper inside the laminate is safe.  If you laminate then cut you have exposed paper on all of the edges which makes clean up harder :(

I also tend to use wet erase marker.  Yes, it is messier on their hands and clothes and such, but dry erase marker (which is also an option) tends to stain the lamination if you don't wipe it off right away.  The number of times that I've picked up a pack after a few days and remember that I didn't clean it up when we were done make me glad that I don't have to reprint pages because I used marker that wipes off clean when run under the faucet.

That's it!  Go to my Teacher's Notebook Page to download packs that interest you and yours and get busy interacting and enjoying living through learning!

Packs from the 2011-2012 school year: 

Sight Word Graphing for November

    

You can now find all the printables on Teachers Notebook: http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/LittleAdventuresPreschool

Please do not sell or host these files anywhere else. You may link people to my blog.  If you choose to download something, please leave a comment, comments are what lights the fire of creativity!

Enjoy playing with these packs, and as always - please let me know if there are any typos.  Please leave a comment here if you download, I'd love to know who's using what! And, if you blog about any pack let me know!  I'll add a link to your blog under the printables section of mine!