Trash = Art

When Ella Reese was little, like maybe around 20 months, I did not have really any "craft" supplies for her.  So I started just looking around my house.  And what is around my house? A trash can full of possibilities.
I started digging in my recycle bin and made tons of little art projects with her.
My very first one I did with her ( which I still have to this day) was a little Aquarium we made.

Little Chef

Ella Reese is always asking me to cook along with me.  Dinner time cooking is never the best time.
So I decided to make lunch time into a cooking lesson.
It also helps emphasize following instructions.

Word Play

Here is a lesson that I made up that incorporates reading and letter recognition, phonics, writing, and drawing. Feel free to take some of these elements out if it is too much. 
This is such a fun learning lesson, and I love to do with Ella Reese as much as she does!
I am sure there are books that do this very same thing, but I love that it is all hands on and I can create as much challenge to it as I want.

Easter Lesson

The week prior to Easter I dropped the Bible lesson we were going through and started to teach her about Jesus Resurrection. Yeah, try teaching that to a 3 year old. So I think she kind of got most of it.

I tried to integrate it with other activities. So along with the Bible Story I tried to do other short lessons that integrated the theme of transformation and life.

We talked about insects. Well, really caterpillars and how they turn into butterflies. I showed her videos online of caterpillars transforming into butterflies. We even ordered some live caterpillars that will turn into butterflies. ( http://www.shop-insectlore.com/Butterflies/Live+Butterfly+Culture+3-5+Live+Butterfly+Larvae.axd ) . We talked about dead things and live things etc. I had these little pill things that you drop into water and little sponge insects would come out. It was cool.

And just when I thought she was kind of getting it she would look up at me and say, "Can I watch Sesame Street now?" then hop off my lap. Hilarious.