School Time Adventures

I found these lovely decorations last night in my box of random stuff. The key to using your box of random stuff is to have a husband that makes you throw out stuff every so often :) So we did pattern sequencing, number recognition, my favorite game of "pick a card any card" to match the appropriate number with the correct number of objects and to my surprise we did addition!

Pattern sequencing..

This was just a pattern with 2 objects: sombrero & chili pepper

The whole sequence

Pattern sequencing with 3 objects: 

sombrero, chili pepper & maraca

 The complete sequence 

I then put 2 number cards on the table and asked River to put the correct number of objects in a row

3 &4

2&5

(River thought it was funny to put the objects upside next to the 2.)

We then played "pick a card any card"...

I went first holding the cards and River went second.

(The person holding the cards is singing the "pick a card" song the whole time!)

Then once you pick out your card you need to put the appropriate objects with your number.

We were still having a fun time doing math (probably because we were singing the whole time) that I tried something new. Lately River has been counting in groups instead of the larger number. For example we put 12 walnuts into the egg carton and instead of counting to 12 he counted to 6 twice. So I say something like, "Yes, that's right, 6 +6 equals 12. There are 12 walnuts in this egg carton." Even though I am a little frustrated that he didn't just count to 12...but today I was so happy that we were able to make some bigger connections. 

I started with having 2 maracas and 2 chili peppers and asked "How many objects do I have in my hands? And River said, "Two and two makes four". I couldn't believe it! I tried a few more and he answered correctly each time. Until the 6th problem then he was done, but I was so excited that he was able to make bigger connections. (I even went to the local education store yesterday to buy some new materials to help encourage him to count the larger number, instead of breaking it up.)

I love Mexican food, Mexican people and their culture so Cinco de Mayo happens to be one of my favorite days to celebrate!

We started the day by listening to some inspiring Marachi music on Pandora.

Then we started on the poncho.....

We used a pretty banged up paper bag and turned it inside out and I repaired all the tears.

A little red, green, and brown paint.

I cut the slits and put on the glue dots. River put on the pom-poms (He loved this part).

The poncho! I cut the holes for his arms
and he decided that it needed a zipper right up the front (he cut it with scissors.)

We were having so much fun that I decided he needed a guitar to so along with his outfit. Since we just moved (5 days ago) there are quite a few boxes lying around.

The guitar...

We used a box, packing tape, and scissors.

I cut out the basic shape and taped on the neck of the guitar. We added the tuning pegs? stickers, marker colors, and the rubber bands. Those dang rubber bands did not want to stay put creating a crazy tension which folded the guitar in half. So I only had enough patience for 2 rubber band strings.

The end result!

Then we sang the baa baa bamba together from sesame street. This is a really fun song..you should listen to it!

For Cinco de Mayo I have the tradition of buying a new awful Mexican candy that we haven't had before or I make some new Mexican food. This year I decided on horchata. Since we were pressed for time I used what we had lying around...rice milk, regular milk, cinnamon, white sugar, and vanilla. For not following a recipe of appropriate proportions it turned out well! Next week I think I will try make it the authentic way.