DIY....Magnetic learning blocks

I bought some wooden blocks from the craft store awhile ago and have been wanting to do something with them. The other day I was in Lakeshore Learning Store and saw some magnetic letter matching games and I got this idea.

So I went home and had the kids help paint the wooden blocks so they were colorful. Then glued magnets on each block, wrote upper and lower case letters and number/dots on them and we had a fun matching game.

Super easy and inexpensive to make.

Materials:
3/4 wooden blocks
Paint (optional)
Sharpie marker
Magnets
E6000 glue (or strong glue)

 

Have the kids paint the wooden blocks, so they feel important with helping to make the learning game. Great way to have the kids involved in the fun.

 

We like to make fun learning games be sure to check out some of the other fun games below.

 

 Alphabet puzzle matching



 Alphabet matching

Treasure letter hunt

 

 

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Easter egg number learning puzzle

We are working on number recognition and counting in order. So I put together this fun Easter egg puzzle bath. Very simple to do. You can buy the foam eggs from a local craft store or you can make them using foam sheets like I did.

All you need to do is write your number and dots on the egg and then cut it in half so the kids can match the pieces together.

You can also do this with alphabets like we did in our alphabet bath.

Fun way to add learning to the bath, center time or even a great busy bag.

Cate is learning number recognition, so Jake helped her out some. She is also working on colors so she would match the colors up to see if the puzzle fit. This is a great fine motor skill for little ones along with learning numbers or letters.

You can also check out our bathtime link for other fun bath time learning games and activities.

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Also, would love for you to share any fun things you try from our site with us.

Counting and color matching learning game

I was on Pinterest and came across this free mason jar printable by Sweetly Scrapped, so I printed several of them. Thank so much Sweetly Scrapped!!

I colored them different colors and wrote the name of each color on the jar, then laminated them so we could use them several different times.

I bought a bag of jelly beans and poured them in a bowl and gave Jake and Cate each their own mason jar printables.

Cate (2 y/o) had her sort the colors and she also did some counting.

Jake (4 y/o) had him count and match to correct color. Then did some small math asking if I took or added blank # how many does that give him? 

You can also use this as a fun busy bag game as well.

They both were really into this learning game.

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St. Patrick's counting sensory bin

The kids love sensory bins, so I put together this simple sensory bin. We made colored rice then added some shamrock things in along with some coins from the Dollar Tree. 

This learning bin cost less then $5.00 and the kids had a fun time counting the coins placing them in the hats along with hiding them in the rainbow rice.

Fun and easy way to learn and explore.

Kool-Aid Rice

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Valentine's counting sensory bin

We have been working on recognizing numbers and counting for the last couple of weeks and so I put together this fun learning sensory bin.

I gathered some fun items from the Dollar Tree and then made our fun scented kool-aid rice it smells so yummy. We used strawberry for this fun sensory play.

Materials we used:

Rice

Kool-aid packet(I used 2 due to the amount of rice we used)

Measuring spoons

Valentine's table scatters

Dry white beans

Plastic hearts containers

Sharpie(I wrote numbers on the plastic hearts, you can also do letters) NOTE: marker will wipe off with rubbing alcohol. So you could use the hearts for other play.

All this stuff can be purchased at the Dollar Tree, but you can also use things around your house as well.

Teaching number order and counting. 

Other fun Valentine's we have done

Melted bead art

Make your own scented puff paint art

Thumb print keepsake art

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Valentine themed learning dice bath game

We have been working on counting and number learning. So I put together a fun dice game for "J" and "C" to do in the bath. They really liked it. The nice thing is there is so many different things you can do with this fun game.

Materials:

Heart dice (2 for $1.00 at Target)

Heart shaped foam (10 for $1.00)

Plastic heart table scatter pieces (20 for $1.00) These can be reused to make a fun Valentine's sun catcher.

Plastic heart containers (10 for $1.00 at Dollar Tree)

We rolled the dice and "J" had to fine the numbers and count the Valentine treasures. We did some simple math problems. He had a really fun time with this bath.

We love doing learning baths so be sure to check out some of the other fun ones we've done.

Fall number learning tree

Wintery spelling bath

Alphabet puzzle bath

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Rainbow colors and shapes learning bath

In the dollar section of Target they had these great laminated "Leap Frog" spin charts so I picked up 2 of them to practice shapes and colors with "C".

Then I was in the Dollar Tree and in their learning section they had 2 packets of foam shapes. So I got them as well.

This made for a very easy learning bath to put together for the kids.

I took all the shapes and let them float in the tub and placed some around the tub. Taped the learning chart up for them to spin. They were so excited when they came in. "J" said, "sissy we are going to play a game look" and pointed to the spin wheel. 

This set up is great for the bath, to make a learning center in the classroom or even make a floor game with it. Open ended learning for less then $3.00.

So "J" spun the wheel and would tell "C" what she needed to look for. It was so cute listening to them. "C" would hold the shape up or place it on the tray behind her. After she was done she started putting them on her saying, "momma stickers, stickers." The loved this bath.

With "J" we did counting and patterns so I would start a pattern and he would finish it. Also, he would find the number I called out and count the shapes.

This was a fun learning bath for the kids and lots of different ways you can do things. "J" asked could they do it again tomorrow night. Love when they ask to do fun learning again.

If you can't find the foam colored shapes at the Dollar Tree, you can always cut shapes out yourself with craft foam. Then just wet them and they stick to the bath walls and tub.

We love doing fun learning baths below are some of our favorite ones.

Fall learning tree

Alphabet puzzle

Bath fun

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Christmas Tree learning/fun themed bath

If you been following us you know that I have been doing fun learning baths with my kids. Since we just decorated our Christmas tree and it is all fresh in their heads I threw together this learning  number bath.

This bath has 2 ways to teach counting, one by adding the bulbs to the tree and counting out loud and the 2nd placing the numbers in order to make a Christmas tree. The second one also is teaching biggest to smallest as well.

This bath was very inexpensive the wall stickers were $2.50 from Walgreen's, if you haven't been in there for Christmas stuff I suggest go. LOTS of great things from toys to decorations.

Then the foam trees were from Dollar Tree came in a pack of 6 for $1.00.

The number tree was a sheet of green foam cut and the circles were a pack of 20 sheets for $1.00 at the Dollar Tree as well, and I only used 5 sheets so you still will have more for other fun baths or crafts.

Then I added some other Christmas things we had around the house.

This is also a great thing to do as a learning station in a classroom or even at home. The foam will stick to a chalk board or you can use felt.

I also added some red food coloring for some holiday fun.

"J" putting the tree in numerical order, then adding 10 blubs onto his tree.

"C" putting the bulbs on her tree and counting with mommy.

Be sure to check out some of the other fun ways we have tied learning into our bath. Snowflake spelling, Alphabet learning puzzle and Number tree. This is some of our fun learning baths, don't miss any by checking our Bath section.

Pumpkin patch number/word learning bath

If you have been following you know we have been doing fun learning bath's, for the last several  weeks working on numbers and recognizing them.

Well last night I made a pumpkin patch bath and on the pumpkins I put the numbers on some and then the spelling of the numbers and dots on the the other so "J" could learn the recognize the spelling.

We sang our little song and changed it up alittle. I think that is his favorite part, he loves music.

Song we sang: (Tune is to Are you Sleeping?)
Picking pumpkins
Picking pumpkins
One by one
one by one
pick number (blank)
pick number (blank)
O what fun

The cute part was when he would find them "C" would take them and line them up on the other side of the tub and count.

Materials:
Foam pumpkins
Sharpie for writing
If you want to add the sign was in the Dollar section at Target.
Paint (also if you want to add the grass, used Crayola washable)







"J" was so happy when he matched the numbers on the 1st try.

 Make sure you check out the other fun bath learning we have done with numbers. Fall leaf counting, Ghost counting, and Apple number tree.

Be sure to check back cause I have alot more fun number and letter learning fun to come.


Thanks for stopping by to see what fun stuff we are doing. If you like what you see please come and follow us over on FB and Pinterest, would love to have you. Also, please feel free to share the fun things you are doing with us.

Learning number bath with Ghost and song

We did a Fall leaf counting tree  in the bath last week and "J" and "C" had so much fun they played with it all week long in the bath. It was so cute listening to "J" explain what number was what to her.

I think the part that really surprised me was "C" who just turned 2 picking up on the number recognition. Crazy she is counting to 10 and can tell you some of the numbers by sight.

So I put together another fun number bath. Found the ghost, trees and sign all in the Dollar section at Target. So this cost me $3.00 cause the trees we used for the Fall bath and I just colored them black with a sharpie.


Song we sang: (Tune is to Are you Sleeping?)
Catching Ghost
catching ghost
One by one
one by one
Grab number (blank)
grab number (blank)
And run, run, run


Again from the pictures you can see they had a blast.

They love this!!

Loved how "C" was trying to do what BIG brother was doing.

 Above after "J" found all the numbers we lined them up and placed them in order.

The "J" sat on the ghost and said, "they are hiding" 2nd picture took them all and said "BOO".


 

If you like the learning baths, make sure to check back soon. Have several more to come, my little one's love this.

Note you can also do this with felt and project board to make a fun activity center or use for circle time in a preschool/school.
Here is one we did on a project board. Apple tree learning

Thanks for stopping by to see what fun stuff we are doing. If you like what you see please come and follow us over on FB and Pinterest, would love to have you. Also, please feel free to share the fun things you are doing with us.

Fall leaf number learning tree bath

We are learning the site of numbers and "J" always loves doing games in the tub. So I put together this Fall Number Tree for bath time.

I got the fall foam leaves from the Dollar section at Target and the tree as well. You can also, cut the leaves out of foam yourself. (Foam sticks to the wall when wet)

Wrote numbers on the leaves and got a bucket for "J" to put the leaves in when we were picking the number leaves from the tree. Below is the song I sang to him.

Song we sang: (Tune is to Are you Sleeping?)

Picking leaves
picking leaves
One by one
one by one
Put number (Blank) in the basket
put number (blank) in the basket
Oh what fun
Oh what fun

"J" really enjoyed playing this game.

If you like this learning activity you might want to check out our apple one as well. Apple learning tree

Thanks for stopping by to see what fun stuff we are doing. If you like what you see please come and follow us over on FB and Pinterest, would love to have you. Also, please feel free to share the fun things you are doing with us.

Monster dice learning and fun party game

We have been working with numbers and have made some dice with numbers on them in the past. "J" loved playing with them so I thought it would be fun to make our own dice game the kids could play with and tie into Halloween.

So "J" and "C" sat and painted the dice orange. Then when "C" was napping "J" and I placed the eyeballs on the dice and I wrote Halloween action words on the dice.

They really had a great time playing the game.

I got the wood dice at a craft store(A.C. Moore) and used a 50% off coupon 2 different times or you can print 2 coupons and have someone go with you, get both that trip.

Total cost of this project was $4.00 and the nice thing is it is reuseable.

This would be a really fun game to play at a kids Halloween Party as well.

The kids would roll the dice and then they had to do what the dice said, the number of times it landed on.

This is great for helping read and count the eyes on the dice.

 

Words on the dice:

Pumpkin kick

Screwcrow skip

Witch jump

Spider crawl

Cat walk

Ghost hop

 

If you like this make sure to check back, cause we will be doing more fun Halloween games.

Be sure to check out the other fun Halloween fun we have done as well. Terra cotta pumpkin pots, Spider keepsake handprints, Hocus Pocus sensory play, Hallowen Lantern, and Pumpkin seed craft


Thanks for stopping by to see what fun stuff we are doing. If you like what you see please come and follow us over on FB and Pinterest, would love to have you. Also, please feel free to share the fun things you are doing with us.

Make your own number learning apple tree

Since Fall is almost here, I put together an apple tree for learning the site of numbers. Then found this song and changed the words alittle and we sang it.

"J" loves music so he thought this was so fun.

You can print the apples for free from this link. Free Apple printables

Then I just laminated the apples cut them out and drew an apple tree on a small tri-fold display board. Used double sticky tape for the apples.

Fun learning and very inexpensive to put together. Also, folds up nice for storage. Great for home or in the classroom.

Materials:
Tri-fold display board ($1.59 @ Wal-Mart)
Green and brown marker
Printed apples (free)
Lamination ($.70 @ Lakeshore Learning)
Double sticky tape

Song we sang: (Tune is to Are you Sleeping?)

Picking apples
 picking apples
One by one
 one by one
Put number (Blank) in the basket
 put number (blank) in the basket
Oh what fun
 Oh what fun

We used the little sand bucket to put the apples in.


If you like inexpensive learning fun for your preschooler make sure to check out some of the links below. Number fun in the bath, Fishing in the sea for alphabets, Scooping up letters for spelling, and Alphabet ice sensory fun.

Thanks for stopping by to see what fun stuff we are doing. If you like what you see please come and follow us over on FB and Pinterest, would love to have you. Also, please feel free to share the fun things you are doing with us.

Counting flower fun in the bath

We have been working on recognizing numbers and counting. The other day I was in Michael's looking for some things and marked on clearance were these Alex garden rub dub foam stickers.

I thought $4.99 was way better than $14.99 so I picked them up, really thinking of using them for my daughter. Great eye/hand coordination for a toddler.

Then "J" wanted to play with them in the tub, so I made a counting game out of it. We put the garden together, then I added numbers above them with a dry erase on the tile(wiped right off), then I would ask him where is the # and he would pick the flower for me.

Was a fun bath.

 As you can see from the pictures above he had a great time playing this game, and the best part about it he was learning!! Love when you can tie learning into FUN.

If you like this idea be sure to check out some of our other learning int he bath things we have done.
Alphabet bath learning and Alphabet scooping to spell .

Thanks for stopping by to see what fun stuff we are doing. If you like what you see please come and follow us over on FB and Pinterest, would love to have you. Also, please feel free to share the fun things you are doing with us.

Ladybug mobile out of recycled egg carton

We painted and made a recycled craft with our left over egg cartons since we have alot from Easter.

We read The Grouchy Ladybug and 10 little ladybugs since we are working with numbers.

Thought it would be fun to make something ladybug, so we did.


Materials:
Colored paint
String/yarn
Egg carton
2 wood sticks
Black puff paint (used for line and dots for ladybugs)


First I took the sticks and crossed them to make a X and tied the yarn around the center, second had J paint the ladybugs. Let them dry then we painted the stripe and dots with puff paint. Then I poked the holes on the top of the egg carton and pulled yarn thru.

Painting the egg carton

Adding the dots for the ladybug

J's hanging ladybug mobile

All finished