Pumpkin Crafts and Learning Activities {The Sunday Showcase 10/19/13}

Halloween is almost here so I thought it would be fun to feature some pumpkin activities for kids. 

Check out each idea by clicking the links below to take you directly to each blog.

Jack-o-Lantern Squish Bag (Fantastic Fun and Learning)

Planting Pumpkin Seeds in a Pumpkin (JDaniel4's Mom)

Pumpkin Suncatchers (Le Baby Bakery)

Pumpkin-cano (Little Bins for Little Hands)

What fun Pumpkin Activities!

Of course I have to share some 

favorite Pumpkin Activities from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas -

No-Cook Pumpkin Spice Jell-o Pudding Play Dough

What's Inside of a Pumpkin?

Colored & Glittered Pasta Pumpkins

Looking for books?

Here are some of our favorite 

Halloween Chapter Books & Early Readers

Now it's your turn to share!

Do you have pumpkin activities to share? 

Please share them with me in the linky, 

by commenting below or by visiting our Facebook page. 

Be sure to link up your child centered ideas while you're here.

I love to see what everyone is doing.

If you have been featured, grab a button you deserve it!

-------------------------------------------------------------

The Sunday Showcase is hosted on FOUR blogs!

Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
Here Come the Girls

Inspiration Laboratories

Learn Play Imagine

Each blog showcases their own features so be sure to check them all out!

If you are here for the first time please read this informational post for the full details.  Anything kid friendly and/or child centered is welcome!  You are welcome to share more than one post,  but we don't accept links for giveaways,  shops, or downloads for purchase, etc.  They will be deleted.

If you're linking up we encourage you to visit other links 
& our Pinterest board!  

*Important* 

Please note that by linking up you are giving us permission to use a photo (with proper link to you!) in our featured section and on our Pinterest board!  

-------------------------------------------------------------

Link up and share your child centered ideas with us!

Bern

An InLinkz Link-up

Halloween Books for K thru 2nd Graders

Wow, it's been way too long since I had time to sit and write a post. Full time teaching has me swamped (to put it mildly). The Lil Divas and I haven't had much time for cool crafts or extra activities but we always make time for books and reading. That's our sacred time around here and no matter how busy (or stressed out) this mama gets - I always make time for us to read together.

Being that it's October and the girls are in full Halloween prep mode, I thought I'd share some of our fave Halloween themed chapter books with you. If your kids (or students) are anything like mine Halloween frenzy is in full effect so instead of trying to fight, this mama rolls with it and uses it to gain their interest in books amidst all the excitement.

Today, I wanted to share 10 of our favorite Halloween themed books for readers in Kindergarten thru 2nd grade.

Picture Books 


Room on the Broom - This has been one of the Lil Divas favorite Halloween books for years. Repetitive rhymes make this a wonderful read-aloud and as always Julia Donaldson's illustrations are lovely and engaging. Children will enjoy coming along on the witch's adventure as she generously let's animals aboard her broom. When her broom breaks and a dragon tries to eat her, it's the animals turn to save her. Children will enjoy the not-so-spooky witch and her broom riding adventure.


Hallo-Weiner - An adorable book about a dachshund who gets made fun of for his size and shape by the mean dogs in his neighborhood. On Halloween his mom makes him a hotdog costume which means even more teasing than ever. All seems hopeless until he saves the other dogs from the lake, proving his bravery and finally gaining their acceptance. This is such a hilarious story.  Not only is Oscar a lovable hero but the illustrations will have kids laughing out loud. This is one story that is sure to be read over and over again.



The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything - I love reading this book aloud to kids. It's so fun to read and they always get into it and help "read" once it gets going. A fun book to act out and get kids moving a bit while you read. It's also a wonderful book to use when work on prediction skills and story sequencing.


Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise - Whether you have read these books before or never read any before, this Mercy Watson installment is sure to please. The Lil Divas found princess Mercy hilarious (what's not funny about a pig dressed in a pink princess dress). The illustrations really add to the text and these books are perfect for K-1 readers and as read-alouds for younger kids.

Early Readers and Chapter Books 


Happy Haunting, Amelia Bedelia - The Lil Divas are at an age (6 and 7) where they can really appreciate how funny the Amelia Bedelia books are with all of her hilarious "misunderstandings". This one has a Halloween theme and is great for those starting to read on their own. It isn't too hard and the illustrations showcase the "word play" adding to the overall comprehension and understanding. 


Nate the Great and the Halloween Hunt - Nate the Great books are great for readers beginning to tackle longer books who want to delve into first chapter books. The books aren't too long and make use of many illustrations. In this book Nate's friend Rosamond needs his help to find her lost cat. Of course Nate takes the case and off he goes with his faithful dog Sludge to find her. The Lil Divas always enjoy trying to figure out the case with the clues before Nate's big reveal and the "extras" provided at the back of the book provide some fun book extension activities for both home and school.


Heidi Heckelbeck in Disguise - This is a fun beginner chapter book series with illustrations throughout that help hold a new chapter readers attention. In this particular book Heidi who does not like scary costumes decides to dress up as one of her friends when she finds out she is going to be a witch. Is it funny or poking fun? Great conversation starter on how to treat others and keep people's feelings in mind.



Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve - Magic Tree House fans (we are!) will delight in this spooky adventure as Jack and Annie travel to a haunted castle to recover Merlin's stolen Stone of Destiny. This is mysterious, spooky fun which kids will enjoy as they try to figure out what is making the castle haunted and try to return it to normal. 


Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew: The Halloween Hoax - The Clue Crew series is a huge hit in our house. They are perfect to read together. In this book, Nancy, George and Bess are trying to uncover the mystery of a haunted studio set of their favorite show. Kids will have fun trying to piece it all together along with the Clue Crew.


Junie B., First Grader: Boo....and I Mean It! - My 1st grader gets such a kick out of Junie B. In this Halloween themed book one of Junie's classmates tells her some scary "truths" about Halloween that leave her too scared to enjoy trick-or-treating. She's on a quest to find a scary costume to scare the monsters that are out on Halloween night. Unfortunately, her clown costume doesn't scare anyone. Junie B. is left scared and unhappy until her Dad returns home from a business trip and receives a huge fright when he peeks in at her sleeping. 

Monster Themed Activities for Kids {The Sunday Showcase 10/12/13}

With Halloween on its way I thought it would be fun to feature some not so scary monster activities for kids. 

Check out each idea by clicking the links below to take you directly to each blog.

The Letter Monster (How We Learn)

Hungry Monsters Color Sorter (Twodaloo)

Colorful Mummies (Blog Me Mom)

Monster Math (The Measured Mom)

Halloween Science Fun with Fizzing Eyeballs (on B-Inspired Mama)

So many fun Monster Activities!

Of course I have to share some 

favorite Monster Activities from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas -

Preschool Monster Activities

There Was an Old Monster

Monster Brains: A Sensory Bin Scavenger Hunt

Looking for books?

Here are 12 of our Best Loved Monster Books

Now it's your turn to share!

Do you have monster activities to share? 

Please share them with me in the linky, 

by commenting below or by visiting our Facebook page. 

Be sure to link up your child centered ideas while you're here.

I love to see what everyone is doing.

If you have been featured, grab a button you deserve it!

-------------------------------------------------------------

The Sunday Showcase is hosted on FOUR blogs!

Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
Here Come the Girls

Inspiration Laboratories

Learn Play Imagine

Each blog showcases their own features so be sure to check them all out!

If you are here for the first time please read this informational post for the full details.  Anything kid friendly and/or child centered is welcome!  You are welcome to share more than one post,  but we don't accept links for giveaways,  shops, or downloads for purchase, etc.  They will be deleted.

If you're linking up we encourage you to visit other links 
& our Pinterest board!  

*Important* 

Please note that by linking up you are giving us permission to use a photo (with proper link to you!) in our featured section and on our Pinterest board!  

-------------------------------------------------------------

Link up and share your child centered ideas with us!

Bern

An InLinkz Link-up

Homemade Recipes for Play for Kids {The Sunday Showcase 10/5/13}

It's easy to buy play dough and paint at the store but it's actually really easy to make them at home too. It's also so much FUN to do with the kids and you get to add all kinds of yummy scents and snazzy colors.

We love mixing up batches of play dough at our house. Today, I'm sharing some awesome homemade recipes for play that were shared on last week's linky. Check out these awesome play dough, oobleck and paint ideas -

Check out each idea by clicking the links below to take you directly to each blog.

Spice Play Dough Play (Blog Me Mom)

she has 3 spicy play dough recipes for you!

Sow Sprout Play has lots of fun recipes for play!

(edible) Pumpkin Pie Play Dough

Fall Sparkle Fluffy Paints

and this fun Vanilla Cinnamon Oobleck

Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails shared this awesome

Caramel Apple Ice Cream Play Dough

and Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream Play Dough

Wow, now I have so many new amazing recipes to try!

Of course I have to share some 

favorite Homemade Recipes for Play from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas -

Cinnamon Apple Spice Play Dough

(No Cook) Pumpkin Spice Jell-O Play Dough

Easy No Cook Jell-O Play Dough

Glow-in-the-Dark Flubber

Now it's your turn to share!

Do you have Homemade Recipes for Play for kids? 

Please share them with me in the linky, 

by commenting below or by visiting our Facebook page. 

Be sure to link up your child centered ideas while you're here.

I love to see what everyone is doing.

If you have been featured, grab a button you deserve it!

-------------------------------------------------------------

The Sunday Showcase is hosted on FOUR blogs!

Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
Here Come the Girls

Inspiration Laboratories

Learn Play Imagine

Each blog showcases their own features so be sure to check them all out!

If you are here for the first time please read this informational post for the full details.  Anything kid friendly and/or child centered is welcome!  You are welcome to share more than one post,  but we don't accept links for giveaways,  shops, or downloads for purchase, etc.  They will be deleted.

If you're linking up we encourage you to visit other links 
& our Pinterest board!  

*Important* 

Please note that by linking up you are giving us permission to use a photo (with proper link to you!) in our featured section and on our Pinterest board!  

-------------------------------------------------------------

Link up and share your child centered ideas with us!

Bern

An InLinkz Link-up

5 DIY Halloween Crafts for Kids

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Hub Network through their partnership with Circle of Moms. While I was compensated to write a post about Hub Network's First Annual Halloween Bash Costume Contest, all opinions are my own.

Fall is near and that means Halloween is almost here. The Lil Divas love Halloween. They prep their costume ideas a year in advance (yes, it changes often in that time!) and get so excited about all the crafts, activities and parties that generally accompany this time of year. I can't blame them. It's my favorite season too.

I LOVE crafting for fall and Halloween. Pumpkins, bats, witches, ghosts, acorns, leaves, squirrels, candy corn, monsters - the list goes on. Living in Florida we don't get to experience all the colors, scents and cool weather associated with this time of year so we live vicariously through our crafts. 

Here are 5 of my favorite 
DIY (easy-peasy) 
Halloween Crafts for kids.

 Just click on any of the links below for a full how-to!

Sensory Boo Bottles

Glittered & Colored Pasta Pumpkins

Coffee Filter Spray Art Bats

Faux Stained Glass Ghosts

Spooky Spaghetti Spider Webs

What's your favorite Halloween craft?

Share your ideas by commenting below or visiting 

our Facebook page and sharing a photo on our wall.

--------------------------------------------------

Be sure to follow our Halloween and Fall Fun Pinterest Boards for even more great craft and costume ideas.

Happy Halloween Crafting,

Bern