activities | Love, Laughter, and Life

October 17, 2016
by Angie Leave a comment

First Steps in Missions ~ Activity Ideas: BAR SOAP!

First Steps in Missions, Ideas and Activities for Preschoolers and Teachers, Volume 22

I’m so excited about First Steps in Missions! This resource has 12 months of ideas for activities teachers can do with preschoolers to teach them about missions around the world.

One of my favorite activities in Chapter 1 is Washing Clothes (page 9). Chapter 1 focuses on the Philippines. Some families in remote areas of the Philippines wash clothes in rivers. While I wouldn’t want to wash our laundry in the river because it sounds like a lot of hard work, I am fascinated and admire the many families who must use local resources to wear clean clothes. I also know preschoolers enjoy water play.

The Washing Clothes activity suggests preschoolers wash clothes in two plastic tubs. One tub should have smooth stones for washing and the other have clean water for rinsing. Set up a drying rack for clothes to hang while they dry. My favorite tool for preschoolers from this activity? BAR SOAP!

Do you know how many fun activities you can do with BAR SOAP? Maybe some of the children you come into contact with have never used BAR SOAP. Think about it. We are a culture committed to cleanliness. This often comes in the form of hand sanitizer, liquid soap dispensers, and all sorts of gels, sprays, and goop. BAR SOAP is a great resource for preschool (and other age level) rooms.

Fun with BAR SOAP

1. Car Wash. I just did this with my grandson. Fill a plastic tub with warm water and put it on a thick towel. Use toothbrushes dipped in the water and raked across BAR SOAP to clean the cars. Rinse in water and drive on the towel to help cars dry.

2. Rock Scrub. This is one of my favorite summer activities, but you can do it anytime. Kids will rewash the same rocks for hours at a time. All you need is a tub of water, a variety of rocks (I like to use rocks big enough so little hands can grip them), BAR SOAP, and toothbrushes. You have a rock washing station. This can later transform into a rock painting station.

3. BAR SOAP Boats. Any old BAR SOAP will float, but experiment to find your favorite brand. Open up BAR SOAP, use a screw driver or butter knife (no sharp tips) to scoop out a center (you can skip this step), and add toothpick flags. Have boat races in the bath tub or sink. Get clean and have fun!

These activities show that one can use just about anything to have fun. Let’s get creative!

If you would like to order your own copy of First Steps in Missions, call 1-800-968-7301 or visit www.wmustore.com. Thanks!

Thanks for visiting. Feel free to share these ideas with your friends.

I hope to see you again soon.

May 5, 2016
by Angie Leave a comment

One Word from Sophia ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

Clever and engaging tale of a loquacious young lady

One Word from Sophia

By Jim Averbeck

Illustrations by Yasmeen Ismail

(Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2015)

All Sophia wants for her birthday is a pet giraffe.

But she faces four critics to her dream come true. As Sophia tries to convince family members to side with her for a pet giraffe, each tells her she is using too many words. You could say that Sophia is loquacious, much to her detriment in this case.

With each failure (and the discovery of a new word that means too many words), Sophia edits down her responses until her final plea.

One Word from Sophia is a wonderful picture book. The text challenges readers with excellent vocabulary and an engaging story. The illustrations are unique and fabulous.

One Word from Sophia will help readers learn the importance of one very special word.

KID KANDY:

What Do You Want for Your Birthday?

1. Think hard. What is your one true desire of the gift you want to receive for your birthday?

2. Now think of 5 excellent reasons you could use to convince a parent or grandparent to get that present and give it to you.

3. Practice telling your family what you would like and why.

Did you use your manners? Were you successful?

It might not be your birthday yet, but Happy Birthday! Way to use your very own words.

April 20, 2016
by Angie Leave a comment

Woodpecker Wham! ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

Nonfiction picture book that delights and informs!

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

Woodpecker Wham!

By April Pulley Sayre

Illustrated by Steve Jenkins

(Henry Holt and Company, 2015)

Woodpecker Wham! is a delightful book told in rhyme. Readers will enjoy wonderful, bright illustrations about the life cycle and habits of woodpeckers that fill the pages of this picture book. Text written with descriptive words and words of sounds made by woodpeckers imparts information in a simple and clean way.

I loved reading the end notes that gave interesting facts and explanations about woodpecker habits. Why do woodpeckers ‘ant’? Where do woodpeckers nest? How do they secure their homes? Fascinating.

Learning about birds? Woodpecker Wham! is the perfect book to read with children.

KID KANDY:

Bird Hunt

1. Look at the illustrations of Woodpecker Wham! Remember the colors, shapes, and habits so you can use them to help you locate woodpeckers.

2. Find a pair of binoculars and put on sturdy shoes.

3. Ask a parent or older sibling to go with you.

4. Walk around your yard, neighborhood, or in a wooded area and scout for woodpeckers. You may need to listen for their calls or ‘pecking,’ check tree trunks for nesting cavities, or watch for their particular flight patterns. Once you see them, you will figure out how to easily spot them in the future.

5. Take photos with your mind! When you get home, check out the book again and see if you saw one of the featured woodpeckers. Or look in a bird identification book to find the bird you saw.

6. Draw a picture of the bird you saw and where you spotted it. If you didn’t find any, don’t give up. Draw a picture of the birds you want to find.

7. Keep looking.

Birds are amazing! I can always tell when woodpeckers (we have flickers in our neighborhood) are racing around. Both woodpeckers and jays are loud!

Happy bird hunting.

December 9, 2015
by Angie Leave a comment

The Stack (of Paper) – My Baby

The completed manuscript with sources, sketches, and documents

This is what I’ve been up to. Instead of blogging.

There is not much time left in my days (weeks, months) after planning, writing, editing, printing, sourcing, compiling, emailing, packaging, and mailing this baby.

Oh, yes. This is my baby. The first half of a 12-month activity book for preschoolers and missions has been delivered (emailed and mailed) to my faithful preschool resource team at Woman’s Missionary Union.