Cc is for Clock and Candy

We had two Cc words today - Clock and Candy.  Once we were all ready this morning, we headed to the mall for a little field trip.  Our first stop was a home decor store.  Ever since Evan was a really little boy, he has loved clocks.  As soon as we walked into the store, he kept seeing them all over and would point them all out, saying, "Oh look, here's one!"  When we made it to the back of the store we discovered 3 full walls covered with all sorts of huge clocks.  Evan kept saying, "WOW!  Look at this one!"  We had no idea going into the store if they would even have clocks, but we definitely hit the Jackpot with this one!  Evan loved it! 

Our next stop was the Candy Store (aka Mr. Bulky's).  Evan had never been in a Candy Store before.  We've all heard the saying, "It's like a kid in a candy store...", and Evan was truly a kid in the candy store!  His eyes got so big when he saw all the candy.  He kept wanting to open all the bins and just reach his hand in.  Everything was, "Oh, I want this!"  He left with a candy necklace (which was gone before we even got home!), a Woody Pez dispenser, a lollipop, and a bag of Jelly Bellies.  The Jelly Bellies were really for Daddy (another kid in the candy store!).  Just for the record, we did not let him eat it all today.  He ate his candy necklace, about 5 pieces of Pez, and several licks from the lollipop.  And no, for some reason, he didn't want to take a nap today :).

Huge fan of the 'sucker'.

To along with the Clock theme today, I taught Evan "Hickory Dickory Dock."  We then made our very own clock.  Evan painted an old oatmeal container for the base. 

He said he wanted it to look like his sucker!

While we were waiting for it to dry, we played with a toy clock.  He took all the numbers out and put them back in.  Then we used the clock we made and sang "Hickory Dickory Dock".  I would show him a 'Time' Flashcard and he would move the hands on his clock to match.  Then we would sing the song and act like a mouse climbing up and down the clock.  We would clap for the clock striking each hour.  He loved this and we acted out each hour.

Playing with his toy clock.

"..the clock struck 9, the mouse ran down.  Hickory Dickory Dock!"

While we continued to wait for the clock base to dry, we read several clock books that we had checked out from the library.  One of the books was called, "Bats Around the Clock" by Kathi Appelt.  It was a spin on the American Bandstand - only it was the American Batstand with Click Dark as the host.  Each hour the bats did a different dance.  As we read it, Evan would move the hands on his clock and we would dance (or should I say, Boogie and Bebop!) around the room.  He really enjoyed this book.  He begged me to read it again, but I only had the energy to do it once!  I wasn't the one on the sugar high!  Instead I got out another book called, "The Clock" by Trent Duffy.  It was a nonfiction book about the history of clocks and had all sorts of pictures dating way back.  I didn't know if he would want to look at it or not, but he was absolutely mesmerized by it.  He just kept saying, "Oh wow, look at this one!", or "Oooo, this one is pretty!"  There were several times that I was trying to turn the page and he would hold my hand down because he wasn't done looking at them.  What can I say, the kid loves clocks!

By this time, the clock base was dry so we attached the face of the clock onto it.  I had made a little mouse out of an egg carton and fixed it up so that Evan could make the mouse go up and down the clock as we sang, "Hickory Dickory Dock."  He thought this was so neat!  Then he just wanted to play with the mouse and took it on walks around the house!

Hickory Dickory Dock!  The mouse ran up the clock.

Petting his mouse!

Taking his mouse for a walk!

When we went outside to play, Evan wanted me to draw a clock.  Then he wanted me to make a mouse in his clock.  We sang "Hickory Dickory Dock" while jumping from number to number.  Then he just rode his bike in circles around the clock! 

Jumping around the clock.

Riding his bike around the clock.

We are still reading "The Carrot Seed" by Ruth Krauss.  Each day we put his 'Carrot Pot' outside to get sunlight.  Today when we brought it in, there were weeds growing in it.  Tomorrow, we will have to pull the weeds, just like the little boy in the story.  I keep reminding Evan that we have to be patient.  We've been singing the song, "Be patient, Be patient.  Don't be in such a hurry.  When you get impatient, you'll only start to worry.  Remember, remember, that God is patient too, so think of all the times when others have to wait for you."  It's so funny to hear Evan sing it because he tries to do it in a really deep voice (like Herbert the Snail from his Patience Video). 

Cc is for Cookie

Today, we continued learning about the Letter Cc.  We did quite a bit of work in Evan's Cc Lapbook.  He glued on lots of little Cc pictures.  We played a little 'Counting with Cc' game, and he practiced writing the Letter Cc.

Writing Cc on the Lapbook Cover.

Today we learned that Cc is for Cookie!  Evan has really enjoyed learning about the Letter Cc - carrot cake, and now cookies!  Who wouldn't love that?!  I had checked out a couple books about cookies from the library and we read those together.  He loved a little story called, "The Little Cookie" by Margaret Hillert.  It was basically the Gingerbread Man retold.  He wanted me to read it over and over and over.  I don't know how many times we read that book!  I also taught him the "Who took the cookies from the cookie jar?" song.  Then he painted a little picture of a cookie to go in his lapbook.  He wanted his cookie to look like the cookie from the story.

Evan painting his little cookie.

Then we made chocolate chip cookies!  I went the easy route this time and just bought the prepared cookie dough.  He still thought it was awesome.  I broke the little dough squares apart and Evan did the rest.  He nibbled the edge off of every dough piece before putting it down on the pan!  Everytime he picked up a new piece, he would say, "Maybe I'll just go ahead and eat this one!" 


Making (and eating) cookies!

Evan couldn't wait for the cookies to get done.  He enjoyed them with a glass of milk!


Afternoon snack - cookies and milk!

Cc is for Cow

This morning, both the boys were putting on dinosaur stamps before we started to play school.  I looked over and saw Alan sucking on his stamp.  I quickly got up to get it from him and he took off down the hallway!  When I finally got it away from him, he was not happy.  He had a nice blue mouth to show for it!

But it was so yummy, Mommy!

Today, we learned that Cc is for Cow.  I got out some cow stamps and Evan had a blast stamping.  He kept asking for more and more paper.  He thought this was really cool!

Cow Stamping!

I had the pieces ready to make a cow puppet and Evan was very excited to put it together.  He just couldn't wait for me to "put a stick on it" so that he could play puppet show.  As he ran into the schoolroom with it, he was asking for Cathy and Bobby B.  Then, he wanted me to get out all the puppets and we put on show after show.  I taught him a new nursery rhyme that we used in our puppet shows.

Charlie Warlie had a cow.
Black and white around the brow.
Open the gate and let her in,
Charlie's cow is home again.

Putting together the Cow Puppet.

Putting on a puppet show with his Cow.

Evan also painted a cow to go in his Cc Lapbook.  By the end of the day, Evan could spell cow!  C-O-W!

He really wanted a purple cow!

Little Train, Little Train, Go Around.

We spent the majority of the day working on the Number 2.  Evan can easily recognize the Number 2, but it is much more difficult to write than the Number 1.  To help him learn how to write it, I used a little Train Rhyme.  After all, if it involves trains, it must be awesome!  The rhyme goes like this: “Little Train, Little Train, Go Around.  Little Train, Little Train, Come Back Down.  Little Train, Little Train, On the Track.  Little Train, Little Train, Now Go Back.”  Evan loved this and he wanted to make 2’s all day long.  I had him start on his Number 2 Card, but he still had a difficult time.  I had him try on the board and he did much better.  He loved that my Number 2 had Thomas on it, so he insisted that I draw Percy on his Number 2! 



Writing the Number 2.



Admiring Percy on his Number 2.

Then we made the Number 2 out of a pipe cleaner.  The simplest things can totally amaze a 3 year old.  He thought this was fascinating and literally carried it around with him all day long.  He even took a nap with his Number 2!  He would straighten it out and tell me that he made a Number 1 and then want me to form it back into the Number 2.  Each time, we would say the Train Rhyme together and he just loved it!

Proud of his Number 2 pipe cleaner.

We made another set of foot prints and then drew 2 dots on them.  I would quiz him about how many feet, legs, arms, eyes, ears, etc. that he had and he would answer 2.  I would occasionally throw in something like nose, mouth, etc. and he would say 1. 

2 Dots and the Number 2.

We did a couple of worksheets about the Number 2 and then got out his Math Mat from his "Blueberries for Sal" Lapbook.  He started to just put 2 blueberries in his bucket, but then it turned into, how many blueberries can I fit in my bucket?! 

Completing a worksheet.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10...how many can we get in?

Today, I introduced Evan to computer games.  He has always been fascinated by computers but never really used them himself.  My Answers in Genesis curriculum came with 3 computer games: Rev Up for Reading, Rev Up for Writing, and Rev Up for Arithmetic.  I showed him how to use the mouse pad on my laptop and he was good to go.  I was so impressed!  He caught right on and played the whole game by himself - and loved it!  He was so proud of himself too and would clap each time he passed a level. 

Playing a Rev Up for Arithmetic game.

We had another gorgeous day here and spent several hours outside playing.  Evan watched me draw a large Number 2 in our driveway and we said the Train Rhyme as I did it.  Then he wanted me to draw trains on it.  By the time it was all said and done, I had drawn Thomas, Percy, James, and Molly on the Number 2!  Evan ran inside and grabbed 2 trains and the boys played on this Number 2 for quite sometime.  Evan would use it as the track and just go over and over it, reciting the Train Rhyme each time. 

Little Train, Little Train, Go Around.

We read "The Carrot Seed" again today and did some work in its lapbook.  We are still waiting and watching for Evan's carrot to grow.  He looks at it all the time and says, "It's growing."  We have been putting it outside during the day to get sunlight.  Today we talked about what plants need to grow - sun, air, and water.  Evan painted some carrot cutouts to go in his lapbook.



Plants need Sun, Air, and Water to Grow.



We also continued our study of the Letter Cc.  Today's Cc word was Cake.  We sang 'Pat a Cake' over and over and Evan painted little pictures for a 'Pat a Cake' book to go in his Cc Lapbook.

Pat a Cake, Pat a Cake, Baker's Man...

Since we talked about carrots and cake, it only made sense to have Evan make a carrot cake!  He loves to be in the kitchen and cook with me and was really excited when I asked him if he wanted to make a cake.  He has always been a little scared of the beater, but today, he did it all by himself.  He was so excited and proud of himself. 

My little chef in the making!

He couldn't wait to decorate his cake, but really just wanted to lick off the frosting!  He asked me to help him and I asked him what he wanted me to put on it.  He wanted a Number 2 and James, so that's what he got!

Decorating his carrot cake.

Admiring his carrot cake while licking the frosting!

Cc is for Caboose

Our Cc word for today was Caboose, so first thing this morning, we took the boys to the Ozark Park where they have an old caboose on display.  Evan had no idea what a caboose was, and on the way there we had a conversation like this:

Evan:  Can I feed the caboose?
Mom:  No honey, you can't feed the caboose.  A caboose is part of a train.
Evan:  Does it have eyes?
Mom:  No honey, it doesn't have eyes.
Evan:  Can I ride on it?
Mom:  Well, you can climb on it and pretend you are riding on it, but it isn't going to move.
Evan:  Can it hop?
Mom:  No honey, it doesn't hop.  It isn't going to move at all.  It isn't a ride like at Silver Dollar City.  It is just an old train that sits there.
Evan:  Oh.
(silence)
(We arrive.)
Evan:  Look Mommy!  A train!
Mom:  Yes sweetie!  That's the caboose!  It's the last car of a train.
Evan:  Let's go ride on it!!!

There's nothing like the joy of learning!  The boys thought it was really neat and enjoyed climbing up on it.  We were all impressed at how big it was.  They don't seem that big when you see them rush by on the tracks.  I always loved waiting to see the caboose at the end of a train.  Too bad they don't use them anymore.  If they do, I sure haven't seen one for a really long time.  To see more pictures from our visit to the Caboose, go to: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=30940&id=1707958162&l=d74748f3d8

Evan climbing on the Caboose.



Evan admiring the Caboose.

When we got home, we read "The Caboose Who Got Loose" by Bill Peet.  He loved this story.  He also noticed right away that my Counting Train above the whiteboard has a caboose.  He was really excited about this.  He painted a picture of a caboose to go in his Cc Lapbook.


Painting his caboose red.

It was a gorgeous day, so we spent quite a bit of time outside.  We got out the sidewalk chalk and I made a large Cc on the driveway.  We skipped around the Cc shapes while shouting Cc words.  Then we reviewed the Cc words we have talked about so far.


Notice Evan's hands under the Cc words.

We have also been reading, "The Carrot Seed" by Ruth Krauss, so we decided to go feed Rocky some carrots.  The boys love to go feed Rocky and I think Rocky loves to see us coming.  While Evan ran through the pasture, he screamed, "Rocky, I have some carrots.  Come eat!"  Didn't take long before Rocky was running over to see us. 


Evan feeding Rocky a carrot.



Alan feeding Rocky a carrot.

We started to learn about the Number 2 today.  Since Evan had made a #1 train, I figured he might as well make a #2 train also.  He even got to put a caboose on it! 


Cutting the paper to make a background for his #2 Train.



Gluing on the train pieces.

Coloring the train (with Alan's help!).

Decorating his train with #2 Edward stickers.

#1 Thomas train and #2 Edward train.

Cc is for Cat and Carrot

We continued learning about the Letter Cc today.  Evan and I took turns writing the Letter Cc on the Cc card.  He likes to make a 'swoosh' sound as he makes his Cc.  We read our little Mini Book on the Letter Cc and I introduced him to Cathy C.  He was so excited to get another Alphabuddy.  As soon as he saw the pieces, he asked if we could put it together and put a stick on it!  Of course, after we put Cathy together, we had to get out Angie A and Bobby B and put on puppet shows with all of them.

Putting together Cathy C.

Excited to have another Alphabuddy!

Putting on a puppet show with Angie A, Bobby B and Cathy C.

Since we were already doing puppet shows, he wanted to go ahead and get out his caterpillar and butterfly from yesterday.   We acted out "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" with his puppets and all the pieces.

Today, our cat got a haircut.  It worked out perfectly that we were talking about Cc is for Cat, because the boys got to see a cat at PetSmart.  Coincidentally, the cat they saw was named Checkers.  So we were able to talk about another sound that the Letter Cc can make.  Checkers was only about 4-5 months old, so he was quite a bit smaller than our cat, Tigris.  After we got Tigris home, Evan kept saying, "We have a little cat, like Checkers.  She is so soft.  She looks pretty!"  She really does look little with her hair all shaved off.  And she is super soft!  Evan wouldn't stop touching her. 

"We have a little cat."

Since Cc is for Cat, we read several cat books and I let the boys watch part of "Aristocats" during one of their snacks.  Evan's favorite cat book that we read today was "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss.  He was able to point out the word "Cat" from the title.

We also started our next B4FIAR book today.  To complement our study of the Letter Cc, we are reading "The Carrot Seed" by Ruth Krauss.  I didn't know how Evan would do with this book since it is so much different than the others we have read so far.  But he really seemed to enjoy its simplicity and 2-D, orange and brown, cartoon like illustrations.  We read it a couple of times and then did a couple activities from "The Carrot Seed" Lapbook.  One of the activities we did was on size classification (small, medium, and large).  I would ask him which carrot was the largest/smallest/etc. and he would pick it out.  We then glued them into the trifold booklet to put in his lapbook.

Here's the largest carrot!

While we were at Story hour at the library this morning, I checked out several books to go along with our study of the Letter Cc.  Knowing that we were going to start "The Carrot Seed" today, I checked out "Linnea's Windowsill Garden" by Christina Bjork.  I thought we might see which seeds/plants we could try to grow while we read this book.  I found where you could cut off the top of a carrot and plant it in a pot.  It says that after a couple weeks, you should have a little carrot 'bush.'  I thought this would be perfect seeming as though we are reading "The Carrot Seed."  We don't have 21 days for a real carrot seed to germinate so this will work great!  We got a little bucket and filled it with dirt from our garden.  Evan thought he would just try to shove the whole carrot into the dirt.

Trying to bury his carrot.

After I cut the top off, he dug a hole for the carrot to go in and then tried to eat the top.

Digging a hole for his carrot.

Taking a bite out of the carrot.

Then he watered his carrot, just like the little boy in the story. 

Whoa, Evan.  That's enough!

He decorated some paper to put on his pot.  He was so proud of his carrot.  All throughout the day, he would peek into the pot and say, "My carrot is growing."  It provided a good lesson on patience.  We will keep watching it over the next couple of weeks and document its growth in a chart for his lapbook. 

He wanted to use all the colors at the same time, and thought it was hilarious!

"My carrot is growing."