Chuck's Truck

Some reasons I gave a toddler Unit Study a try

1. My toddler LOVES re-reading the same book over and over and that's really good for kids. I was able to let him choose his favorite book from a few that I enjoy

2. Learning poetry and filling in words is such a great phonics exercise. 

3. It's nice to get to do several activities and prep just once 

Click to see us in action

https://youtu.be/MTh0UR6T0_A?si=FTrrUthV4s-QORMX

Yoga Mat Shape DIY

If you've followed our journeys over the years, you certainly know that upcycling is something we return to over and over. It's both practical and cost effective. 

This is one of the most simple DIYs you can try. All you need is a pair of scissors (they don't even need to be very sharp but should be adult size) and a yoga mat. You may have one laying around but you likely can find one on your local Buy Nothing Group on Facebook.

Then start cutting or use a sharpie to mark the lines. 

I created 4 large circles for kids to sit on and and a bunch of smaller shapes for my toddler to play with.

DIY FREE Charolette Mason Inspired Shelving

What's the secret supply!? And how can you make one yourself? 

Cardboard! Lots and lots of it! And about a bottle of white glue.

I cut and glued some cardboard boxes together along with old mat board. 

The little one an I collaged some old books onto the outside. 

My toddler insisted that we needed a shelf for his puzzles so I found a couple short boxes and added those to the base....

...and then I was up all night creating a pull our parking garage shelf for his toy cars....which led to an entire series of mix and match roads... 

The next morning he walked into his classroom for "school" and was in awe and started playin with the cars. 

I got a little carried away with personalizing it, so there's a place for his cup, some flash cards, his number Legos, some magnets, and some tactile shapes cut from an old yoga mat

He is not the most gentle without prompting (neither am I) so I quickly discovered that I nee to reinforce a couple of the front facing shelves but that will come with time. For now I stuck a couple pieces of cardboard in to hold them. I will also need to create somewhere to store the extra road pieces. 

There are a plethora of videos on YouTube with ideas for creating some pretty awesome furniture using cardboard and pool noodles. 

Please let us know if you give it a try! 

Homeschool Items From Dollar Tree

Some of the best DIY items for beautiful Montessori inspired projects can be found at the least suspected place, the Dollar Tree. 

I've found some of these same items, partially used and being resold at thrift shops for double the price. 

 

Here are some favorites - I do try to find reused and ethically made items and completely recognize much on this list was likely ethically made. Sadly, I can't justify purchasing these items ethically made, if I can find them. If you know a reasonably priced source for children's crafts please let me know 

What I Love!! 

Wood Blocks 

Popsicle Sticks 

Alphabet Stickers 

Smithsonian Kids Books

Globe 

If you see the following, snag them NOW

Paper scrap packs - if you see beautiful assorted paper 

Modge Podge - not unique but 

If you see the following thrifting may be a good option 

Yarn or string 

Paints - or buy new. Often they are sold in bulk elsewhere so you will get a better deal 

Water toys

Bug kits

Video Review Here

No Prep Pre-Reading Active Toddler Activity

This activity has been a favorite and is little to no prep. It can be done with whatever you have around the house 

The Usborne book series "That's not my..." Is perfect for this activity but any book with repetition will work well 

For this book series I took note cards and sticky notes to create a flash card that could have matched letters stuck to it

That's it!

To make it active for my wild one I hid #BabyBoyFollum run to the kitchen while I hid the three letters around the room. 

He then had the option of sticking the sounds to the note card himself, pointing to the spot it should go, or tracing the letters himself.

We did this for the repeating words 

"not" and "too." So he can 'read' the pages to me. This works because the pages are very repetitive and based on the same pattern. 

We have done similar with a Pete the Cat book Twinkle Twinkle Little Star where he points out the word 'twinkle' by seeing that it's the same letters. I'm that book we emphasize and find both the 't' sounds and the 'le' sound as they repeat often.

What sounds do you have in you books 

Other books this could work for (I will try to get back to add book details)

Baby Beluga 

Books with songs 

Roll over 

Monkeys on the bed