Long Distance Hug - Revisited

One of my most popular posts is the Long Distance Hug idea I posted almost 2 years ago. It has been awesome seeing all the ways people are using this idea, from mailing to family on the other side of the world to sending to our troops.

At the time, C was 2 and J was not quite 1. I thought I would have the girls, plus L (nearly 10 months old) re-create the craft to compare them, size wise, to the ones they made 2 years ago. One set of grandparents happen to live down the road still have theirs on display!

It was fun to compare just how much they have grown in the 2 years. And since J is the now same age C was when she made hers, it was neat to show her that her big sister was once her size.

Have you made a Long Distance Hug? I would love to hear about it!

Snowflake Bump Game

C is in 4K now and is sent home a simple homework activity every week. This past weekend she came home with a game I hadn't heard of before - a math bump game. After a quick search on Teachers Pay Teachers I found the exact game she brought home. She loved it so much we created a version she can play at home since she had to return the Gingerbread Bump Game back to school. (click on the titles for the printable)

3 Dice Addition Game

 

2 Dice Addition Game

2 Dice Subtraction

Directions

Each player needs 20 makers (ones that are stackable are preferred) - each player needs a different color.

Players take turns rolling the dice. Add (or subtract) the dice together and cover that number on the game board (if subtracting tell child to find the larger number and subtract from that die)

If that number is already covered by another player, they can bump that marker off and replace it with their marker.

If the number is already covered by your marker, you can place another one of your markers on top of the one already on the board. Once a number is "doubled up" it is locked and cannot be bumped off.

If a number is rolled that is locked up,  that player skips their turn.

The game is over when all numbers are covered.
The winner is whoever has the most numbers covered with 2 markers.

Candy Cane Song

When I was a teacher I loved Dr. Jean,  I still own most of her CDs. I even went to one of her workshops years ago (so fun!)

I have even introduced a few of the songs to my own children. A favorite this past summer was "The Gummy Bear" song from the Is Everybody Happy CD.

I came up with this Christmas version of the song and C loves it.


The Candy Cane Song
(Tune: "Six Little Ducks That I Once Knew")

Down at the candy store, what did I see?

Seven little candy canes hanging on a tree.

Along came child's name with a penny one day.

They bought a red one and they took it away. 




Down at the candy store, what did I see?

Six little candy canes hanging on a tree.

Along came child's name with a penny one day.

They bought a blue one and they took it away. 



Continue by counting down and using the different colors you use. If using in a classroom you can attach paper candy canes to a tree and pass out the pennies to a several children. As you sing, those children can come up at buy one. Sing more than once so everyone gets a turn :)

I just quickly cut candy cane shapes from construction paper, nothing fancy. And some brown circles for the pennies. 

Color the Christmas Lights

 For this activity you will need

~Crayons (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple)

 

~Christmas Lights printable
(from Lisa Morrow on Teachers Pay Teachers)

~Color and Number Cards 

Draw 1 number card and 1 color card. Find that number on the Christmas Light worksheet and color the light the color on the card. Continue until all lights are filled in.

I didn't make as many color cards as numbers. When you run out of cards in your color pile, start over with the discarded pile.

Quiet Time Activities

I started doing quiet time activities again for C.
She started 4K 2 weeks ago and needs some quiet time to herself in the afternoon.

 

1. Art Dice
2. Cards she enjoys looking at (for sorting or reading the words)

3. Zoo animal foam beads for sorting by size
4. Number magnets
5. A personalized puzzle she recently received as a gift, (her name is blacked out for the picture --  puzzle from here if interested)

 6. A peg actvitiy

7. ABC sticker upper/lowercase match

8. Make faces using pieces cut from magazines and various sizes of lids 

9. Viewmaster

10. Spell family names with beads on pipe cleaners

I use these drawers for storing the items.
I did not pay that much for them though!!