Spooktacular October activities!!!

Spooktacular October activities!!!

   

 
It's Fall....and it's still 100* here in sunny Southern California. It's hard to get into the season when it still feels like Summer all the way into October, but I am determined to make it feel like fall! I bought some pumpkin spice febreeze, got out the decorations and of course made a trip to the dollar tree to get some fun items for our fall activities! 

So I like to go to the dollar tree and see what everyday items I can use in an unconventional way. This trip the cashier scanned chopping mats and she said, "Oh, have you used these? How do they hold up after cutting?" I said, "I'm not sure, I use them as playdough mats, they work GREAT for that!" She looked at me strange. I smiled, little did she know she made my day and I succeeded in my mission.This trip this is what I found and what I used them for:

  2 chopping mats for $1 I use these as playdough mats!!! (I use these in my preschool class as well) 

 These pumpkin decorating kits are all over the place during the Halloween season, they are essentially Mr. Potato head pieces that you put into a pumpkin to decorate them.....anywhoo...they were a dollar so I grabbed a bunch of different sets (pirate, cat, witch, Frankenstein) I bought these to play with our home made pumpkin spice playdough. 

So now I have the playdough mats and fun decorating kits....so now onto the BEST playdough you can ever make! 

1 cup flour

1 cup water

1/4 cup salt

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 Tbls. vegetable oil 

food coloring

pumpkin spice (optional)

 

for neon food coloring  8 green + 4 pink = orange

throw it all in a bowl and mix it up, then throw it in a pan and cook on medium low until it starts to mold/form together, you will need to stir and flip the dough a few times. Let cool and enjoy.  This recipe makes a small batch, for a LARGE batch click HERE  

This was my playdough invitation in my classroom. 

I also found this insta-snow at the dollar tree, my mind started spinning and I thought it would be fun in the sensory bin with plastic spiders. 

We made the insta-snow and then added a lot more water to give it a gooey feel. Then we used food coloring to turn it orange then added a few spider rings I bought at the dollar tree.

Oh yeah.....AWESOME mad scientist goggles....THE DOLLAR TREE!!

He loved being a mad scientist! 

Here are a few other things I have been doing in my classroom. 

Counting Pumpkins (thanks Ms M.)

These are like Easter Eggs but in the shape of pumpkins. I wrote on the back of each one. On the top I wrote the number and I wrote the corresponding number in dots on the bottom half. I put them all in a bin and the kids have been dumping them out and matching the tops and bottoms!

On our magnet boards I simply cut out and laminated a few different faces and a pumpkin. I put magnets on the back and the kiddos have been making fun jack-o-lanterns.

On the other side of our standing magnet board I had the kids color tongue compressors, then I put magnets on the back of each one. A few kids have formed letters with them, others have created shapes.

And of course our beloved water beads!!! I had orange water beads and spider rings in the sensory table last week....fun fun fun!!!

Sensory Table: colored rice

Colored rice is pretty much a staple in a preschool classroom....here's how to make it.

you will need: white rice, vinegar,  food coloring, and some sort of jar or baggie. We used disposable cups with lids. 

I added about 2 Tablespoons of vinegar and about 5-8 drops of food coloring 

 

I added 2 cups of rice, put the lid on and shook it. 

 spread it out on a brown bag and paper towels to dry. 

All ready for my son to play with. 

I poured it into a shallow container that has a lid that snapped on for easy storage. I added a few funnels and a spoon for scooping and my son went to town. 

Buzz Lightyear got into a little predicament :) 

Next we played a little search and find game.

I hid these items in the rice and my son shifted through with his hands and when he found them he put them in the bowl next to the bin. 

There are so many benefits to sensory play. It allows children to have a multi-sensory experience as they learn through play... and did I mention.....they LOVE it!!! 

Here are some previous posts on other Sensory activities: 

sensory table construction zone

sensory table ideas

sensory table aqua gems

 squishy bags (scroll down on this post)

enjoy...

Sensory Table: AQUA GEMS!!!!

These are seriously the coolest things you will ever put into you sensory table*** I'm obsessed***

I originally found this idea from play at home mom  an amazing blog!

Then my amazing Friend Amy did it at her home-preschool and the kids LOVED it** She had bought the aqua beads which are already packaged ready to go...they come in lots of colors, she was just telling me how she bought orange ones for Halloween and shes going to put in bats and spiders...SO FUN***

We used Aqua Gems...basically the same exact thing but they come in very very small beads and you soak them in water for a few hours and they grow.

I bought this pack for about $4 at Joann's it make 1 gallon of aqua gems                                                (we only used half of the pack)

They are very small then you add water

After about 2 hours

After about 4 hours...I drained the Aqua Gems and they were ready to be played with*

Seriously they feel sooo cool**

scooping, pouring, dumping, sorting, and naming all the colors*** Such a fun developmental activity

I had one of those baby medicine dispensers...it was the perfect size for the gems to fit in* all on his own he started putting the blue ones in and counting them** He would find a blue gem and say "I found another blue one" or "There it is*" then he would put it in and count* It was a proud Mommy moment* I love observing him when he is so immersed in an activity* 

You have to try these with your kiddos, they will love them** I look forward to adding them into my preschool class sensory table quite often this school year*


Did I mention they last* To store them put them in a ziplock bag with a little water to keep them hydrated and keep the bag in the fridge, when you want to play with them again just rinse to rehydrate and enjoy***


Let me know what you think***

Sensory Table ideas

Sensory Table Ideas

As a preschool teacher I know how important sensory tables are in the scope of Child Development....as a Mommy I know how FUN they are*** Sensory tables or bins aren't just for preschool* Set one up in your home and spend some time with your little one* The possibilities are endless and I will be posting many more sensory table ideas but here are just a few to start*

OATMEAL

My Mom just happened to have a container of oatmeal that was expired in her cupboard,  PERFECT, dump it in a large storage bin and throw in a few spoons and cups for scooping and filling and you have instant fun*

In this house we are ALL boy* (well at least for the next few months before his baby sister comes along) so naturally the cars joined in the fun*

Dried Rice and Pasta

use dried rice or pasta or both* you can even dye them different colors*

CAR WASH

My son was delighted when he was able to wash his cars* Simply add warm water and a few drops of soap.

I gave him a towel to dry his cars off when he was done*

HERE are a Few other fun SENSORY activities we have done**
(click on the links below to view them)

Construction Zone Sensory Table

Water Table Fun

Gone Fishin'




QUICK TIP:
I bought this great product last year it's called 'The Neat Sheet' we use it for everything, beach trips, picnics and of course UNDER OUR SENSORY table*** It makes clean up so easy***