BackYard Bird Bingo

I am a bird watcher.  I have always loved paying attention to birds that I see and hear in our area or where ever I go.  A bird is something a child is going to ask about and it is good for them to notice what is flying around them.  We talk about the differences in them, we have feeders during the winter time and even had a Robin nest in our tiny new tree last year in the back yard here. 

I came up with this bird I.D. game that I call "Backyard Bird Bingo" and it includes the most common birds that we see around the day care.  I made three different cards with some of the same birds on them.  You can print them out using a color printer and get ready to get your chairs out in a shady place in the yard to start watching.  The kids can use rocks to place on their cards when they see one of the birds.  Or you can use a crayon to cross through the picture when the bird is seen. 

You are welcome to right click and print the following pictures.  If you have trouble, please send me an email and I will send the pdf file to you.

I have to admit that I ued pictures that I found through yahoo search.  I didn't think ahead of time to give credit to each site for their drawing but will not take credit for the drawings themselves for this project.  Thanks.

Biscuit Pizzas

This recipe is easy and one of my most favorite lunches to make because it lets the children get involved.  We have so much fun making these pizzas and they are not bad to eat!

 

Biscuit Pizzas

 

1 - 10 count can of refrigerator biscuits

1 jar pizza sauce

mozzarella cheese

mini pepperoni

 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees or whatever temperature the can of biscuits calls for.  Place the biscuits on a cookie sheet.  For 10 pizzas I use two trays holding five biscuits each to give them enough space to rise while cooking.  This is where the kid part comes in.  Let the children smash down the dough with their hands.  Next, I usually do this part, put one tablespoon of sauce on each pizza and spread out almost to the edge of each pizza.  Then let the kids put on the cheese and whatever toppings you have put out for them to use.  Bake the pizzas for 8-10 minutes or however long the biscuit package says.  Watch them closely for the last minute or two so the bottoms don't burn then watch them be devoured on the lunch table!

 

I cut the little pizzas with a pizza cutter into wedges just like regular sized pizzas. 

Use whatever toppings you wish.  I have pre-browned sausage and used two kinds of cheeses before. 

The kids love that they get to help make lunch and are proud of what they have made!

 

 

 

 

 

Ok it looks like that time I did not cut them into wedges, but that's ok.

 

Kid Kazoos

Here is a fun idea for when you feel like a lot of noise in the house!  If you don't find youself feeling this way... get yourself some earplugs! 

 

Material List

 

empty cardboard toilet paper rolls

waxed paper

rubber bands

 

 

Begin by cutting the waxed paper into a four inch circle.  Place the piece of waxed paper on one end of the tube.  Gently pull the paper down the sides of the tube and secure with a rubber band.  Your job is done.  Hand it over and hold your ears.  Or if you are anything like me... make one of your own and join right in!

 

The kazoos can be decorated before hand with glue and glitter, paint or markers by the kids.

 

 

Let the kid times roll

Now I've gone and done it!  I am so excited to bring you a brand new blog dedicated to the life and times of what goes on at my day care!  I plan to run a structured outfit here that includes kid friendly recipes, crafts and ideas for you to share and use with your little ones. 

To share a little bit about me.  I run a small child care center at the road front of our thirty acre farm in Tennessee, where my husband and I live.  The day care is located in a mobile home that we moved here to live in while building our house at the back of the farm.  After we moved out, we rented it out for a couple of years and finally decided that land lordship was not for us.  At the time, I was burned out and not happy with my job choice so one night Shaun suggested keeping kids full time in the trailer.  I thought it was a heavenly idea and we worked on it cleaning, repairing and getting things ready from December 2011 until I quit my job the following April.  I began with my first kids in May of 2012 and haven't stopped yet.  I love what I do and being able to watch these kids grow and aid in their learning. 

I have another blog, peppysis, where I have been sharing bits and pieces of my life since 2009.  I have gotten to where I share a lot about the day care and what we are doing.  So much that I feel a designated blog is necessary and will give readers a certain spot to look at all my kid stuff. 

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you will just love it here!

Isn't it just dreamy?

 

This was taken before I finished painting the outside.  Before there were flowers and little rocking chairs lining the front porch.  And definitely before Black Rose got her lift kit.