Homemade Preschool Dramatic Play Animal Costumes, Habitats

Dramatic play develops preschool social, emotional, artistic, creative and communication skills. Plays lend themselves to all content. Here are homemade costumes, props and settings for life science theater. I call it bio-drama. Using recycled materials teaches real-life environmental science! Perfect for preschool, ECSE (PPI), special education and elementary lessons. Adaptable to homeschool or Halloween costumes, too. Homemade Preschool Dramatic Play Animal Costumes, Habitats

Using Food to Teach: Edible Learning Activities to Reinforce Content

Since 1982, I've taught every age from 1-104 (seriously) and every subject from astronomy to zoology. I chose education to teach special needs kids. Special education, Montessori and adult education training frames my teaching. Every lesson I plan includes hands-on applications. Students see, touch, taste and smell content. One of the best multi-sensory delivery methods is food. I call it edible learning. Here's how it works in theory and practice.  Using Food to Teach: Edible Learning Activities to Reinforce Content

Dad-Inspired, Kid-Friendly Party Planner, Homemade and Cheap

As a 25-year mom of four, I've been the guest of honor at many kid-inspired Mother's Day and birthday parties. Our children learned to throw a budget, homemade bash from me and my husband. For a guy, he's great at party-planning. Dads, here are tips from the master's knee, on planning an inexpensive Mother's Day party with your kids, that your wife will love!  Dad-Inspired, Kid-Friendly Mother's Day Party, Homemade and Cheap

Family Glue Recipes: Habits that Cement Relationships

In 25 years as a mom, my best parenting advice centers on building family bonding habits. These have little to do with money spent and much to do with togetherness. They've seen us through adversity and kept us connected in strife. Life's getting more frenetic and disjointed daily. Take time, now, to grow habits that will see your family through.

* Celebrate uniqueness. You've heard of branding? That's not just a sales term; it applies more aptly to families. A family is more than just the sum of its parts. Each member brings special contributions and together they create something wonderfully, indefinably distinct. Start early helping kids explore and expand individual talents.Family Glue Recipes: Habits that Cement Relationships

Flood Safety, Safe Storm Cleanup for Kids

Kids see water as fun. We play in pools, lakes and oceans so they see no reason why rain and flood water shouldn't be fun. Children need special safety precautions around flood water. Not only from drowning issues, but health and sanitation, too. Standing water breeds insects, mold and infection. As flood waters move they pick up debris. They overflow sewers and drag organic and biological waste up from underground. Flood water picks up toxic chemicals from damaged property. It gathers debris and tainted water from storm drains. Drowned animal carcasses add disease to flood water. Even if it looks clean, flood water is one big poisonous soup pot. Here are ways to keep kids safe and healthy in storms and floods.  How to Keep Kids Safe in Flood Water Clean Up

Free Printable Earth Day Endangered Species Activity Booklet

 Earth Day, which replaces the original holiday Arbor Day is celebrated in the United States on April 22. Here's a free printable booklet, Save our Species, with information, activities and coloring pages exploring endangered species in the US. The purpose of Earth Day is to celebrate our earth, educate people and explore ways to protect our natural resources. Protecting our earth include supporting our animals, plants and habitats. Earth Day reminds us that we rely on the earth for sustenance and the earth relies on us for care and safety. Exploring and understanding endangered and threatened species helps us to learn better ways to care for our environment as a whole. Free Printable Earth Day Endangered Species Coloring Activity Booklet

Free Printable Earth Day Coloring Activities

April 22 celebrates Earth Day, formerly called Arbor Day. Need free printable Earth Day lessons and activities for your science classroom, homeschool, 4H club or scout troop? Here are links for free printable environmental science activities. EPA.gov has free printable lesson plans for Earth Day. This link takes you to a free printable cartoon style graphic novel entitled 'On the Trail of the Missing Ozone'. Students learn about atmosphere, the ozone layer and what we can do to protect it. Students can color the cartoons in this free printable 8 page booklet. Makes a great preschool and homeschool resource.  Free Earth Day Printables