Homeschool Hole In One

Today was Homeschool Day at our library. We created an indoor mini golf course and played on through. We will be doing this for our next Teen After Hours Party.Tons of fun but make sure ( for your health ,well being, and mental health) you read my note at the end of this post.

We started with four boxes filled with various materials. I had Duplo blocks, foam blocks, discarded books, cups, masking tape,and toy parts. There were two flags in each box that had "hole" numbers on them.


Let's Begin:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perfecting

 

 

 

 

 

Playing through

 

 

 

Such a fun time with friends and families. Very little involved in setup. No cost for materials. Now, this is where I am leaving you with some very sound advice. Maybe you are already wise to this. Perhaps you have more sense than me. Why have I not paid attention to this awfully messy detail in the past? Haven't I ever seen/used this stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

NOTE:

Never, under any circumstances, ever, and I mean ever,ever, ever, ever, ever use STYROFOAM.

 

EVER!

 

Ever.....and I mean it!

 

 

SU-PRIZE!!!!!

This summer we loaded up Cynthia's car with bags of prizes we gleaned from our prize closet. Marge Loch-Wouters at http://tinytipsforlibraryfun.blogspot.com/ gave us this idea a few years ago at a workshop. When kids sign up for the summer reading program we gave then a poster to hang in their window (what if you can't see my window from the street?Hang it on your mailbox in a ziplock bag. What if I live waaaaaaaaay out in the country? We just might be taking a drive and see your house.) Then we mapped out the city (and surrounding areas) and set out to look for posters in windows. When we spotted a poster Cynthia would hop out of the car, run up to the door with a prize bag she would hang on the doorknob, then she would ring the doorbell (what if I don't  HAVE a doorbell---then we knock), and then runs back to the car (er...Su-Prize mobile), and we make a speedy getaway. SU-PRIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I felt like a bit of a creeper lurking around neighborhoods, driving slowly, looking at kids and waving, so we rigged up some posters on the car. It feels less creepy that way and provides some SLP publicity,too.

Imagine A Castle/S'More Free Teen Programming

I have been waiting for this day since I planned the program. So many happy hours were spent playing in the sand when I was growing up and I suspect that is true of many kids. It is a delight to watch teens have creative freedom and some time to just relax and have fun. Teens, sand, sun , s'mores, 3D chalk, on a sunny summer afternoon, was the order of the day.

Cynthia and I used the remainder of the glue in the small bottles from last years programs to create everlasting sand castle mixture. Yes, we actually got paid for watching glue drip out of bottles into a big container....ahhh life in the Children's Room. We used the cups leftover from the Iron Chef program and filled them with sand and glue. The teens added some water and stirred with craft sticks, then placed the sand mixture on paper plates (also left over from Iron Chef program), and proceeded to model a castle. We were fortunate enough to have a beautiful day and it was delightful to watch the teens create some sand castles.

After working up an appetite making castles in the sand, everyone tried out the 3D chalk, and then munched some s'mores that were made from...........that's right...........leftovers from the Iron Chef program!

Chocolate, chalk, sand, sunshine, and a summer afternoon. Life just doesn't get much better.

Jellyfish Dreams

Last night, when I could not sleep, I decided to make some jellyfish. Is it just me, or do they actually seem to be floating through the water? Maybe I am just dreaming.

My Beautiful Kazoo

As a child I spent many, many, maybe too many, hours humming with a comb covered with wax paper. My early musical education came from three important influences. First: I was an enthusiastic student of Miss Frances Ding Dong School (yes---that was really the name) and she taught me to hum. Second: My father was a talented musician and played in a drum and bugle corp for the first six years of my life. I acted as both roadie AND groupie. Third: Our local high school band practiced marching and playing in the field behind our house which I found quite inspirational.The band director, Mr. Sabaka, was amazed that I was able to learn the entire Rock Around the Clock field routine before I entered school. I marched along side the band until I was old enough for kindergarten and was forced to give up both the comb and my field side band rehersals.

Today we celebrated National Kazoo Day for our Early Out Program at the library.The high school band director and a few of his students taught the audience of elementary school students, along with some parents and siblings, how to kazoo. It was loud, noisy, giggley, and tons of fun. I suspect there will be lots of humming in homes around town tonight.

As for me, I plan on perfecting Flight of the Bumblebee and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. I will be available for weddings, funerals, receptions, or events of any kind.

Ready? Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

* when I was able to join the high school band in an official capacity, Mr. Sabaka was still the band director and we still did the Rock Around the Clock routine which ( of course) I already knew, after logging all those preschool hours.

If the Shoe Fits.......

As I sat at my desk this morning I heard an odd squeaking sound....nnnnnnnnnip.......nippp...nnnnippp....what could it be? There it goes again! Then I saw the smiling face of a brand new "walker" in pink shoes. Her mother was trying to encourage walking by using some new shoes that make a squeaking sound when you walk! How cute is that? I want me some squeaky shoes, in pink, please.

Really Cool Chicks

These really cool chicks followed me home from my trip to Bayfield.The bright colors and funny little faces just make me smile every time I look at them.