Amanda Trumpower's Blog, page 12

Realm Makers 2021 Conference Results and Big Collar Cases Updates

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A Cry for Help

I need a manageable Bible reading plan. Desperately. Send me suggestions!

Realm Makers 2021 Conference: Update (Finally!!!)

Conference was amazing. I got to have lunch with Frank Peretti. I met some really great people, filled my writer’s heart, and nourished my soul.

Realm Makers is an explicitly Christian spec-fic writing community. It’s so wonderful. Every class felt like going to Bible camp, e...

Alphabet Letter Wall

SuppliesButcher, easel, or other long art paperAssorted letter stickersAssorted animal/object stickers (optional)Painters tapeMarkerInstructions

Attach a length of craft paper to a wall with painters tape.

Write out your letters of focus (or the entire alphabet). Make them big! I like to use bubble letters.

Encourage your child to fill each letter with the appropriate alphabet stickers. You can also do animals or objects, such as a cat sticker in “C.”

This is a great activity...

Sprinkle Letters

SuppliesSprinklesSome sort of baking tray or dish with edgesInstructions

While your child is seated at the table or in a high chair, give her the baking tray.

Fill tray with sprinkles.

Show him how to make letters (or shapes) in the sprinkles.

Find More Ideas

Go back to Preschool Literacy.

The post Sprinkle Letters appeared first on Amanda Trumpower.

Q-Tip Names by Hands On As We Grow

I wanted to link directly to the instruction page, but couldn’t find it on Jamie’s website. This activity is from I really encourage you to go check out her stuff!

SuppliesQ tipsPaintPaperMarkerInstructions

Write out your letter of focus.

Encourage your child to dip the Q-tip in paint and trace the letter.

You can also use this to work on spelling out their full name!

Find More Ideas

Go back to Preschool Literacy.

The post

Pipecleaner Room Sign

SuppliesColored foam crafting sheetsColored pipecleanersGlue gunYarnSomething sharpInstructions

Let your child pick out their room sign base. Set aside.

Take pipecleaners and form into your child’s initials. Depending on the age of the child, you may end up demonstrating more than they end up assisting.

Use the glue gun to attach letters to the foam base.

Use a knife or other sharp object to create two holes near the upper corners on both sides of the foam base. Thread yarn t...

Mosaic Letters

SuppliesPaperGlueTissue paperScissorsMarkerInstructions

Write your letter of focus on the paper. Make it big! I like to do bubble letters.

Cut up pieces of tissue paper for your child.

Help them glue the pieces onto the letter.

Variations

This is a great way to practice your child’s initials or even their full name.

Find More Ideas

Go back to Preschool Literacy.

The post Mosaic Letters appeared first on Amanda Trumpower.

Pompom Letters

SuppliesPaperMarkerBag of colorful pompomsGlue (optional)Instructions

Write your letter of focus on the paper. Make it big! I like to do bubble letters.

Encourage your child to line up pompoms on the guide to make the letter. If desired, helped them glue the pompoms in place.

Variations

You can add layers of complexity to this activity by selecting a single color, alternating colors in a pattern, or spelling out the child’s name.

Find More Ideas

Go back to Early Literac...

Color Bowls

SuppliesBall pit balls (or lots of other small, lightweight balls)Large plastic serving bowlsInstructions

Combine the serving bowls with the balls and let experimentation begin!

Scoop balls into the bowls and toss them into the air. (My toddlers loved watching them drop.) Dump bowls of balls onto each other’s heads!Demonstrate how to put one ball in a bowl and spin it around very quickly using slight hand movements. Centripetal force = early science learning!Line up the bowls on a...

Nemo Quantity Fish

My two-year-old daughter is obsessed with Finding Nemo, so I made her a Nemo quantity game!

SuppliesPrinted fishPompoms, small snack pieces, or buttonsDice (optional)Instructions

Print off the fish and laminate for repeated use.

Use colored pompoms, a small snack (Cheerios, M&Ms, goldfish, etc), large buttons, or anything else that fits on the paper without being a choking hazard.

Place items on the blue bubbles, counting up as you go.

VariationsTo work on number/qua...

Cheerio Letters

SuppliesHigh chair tray or platePlastic zippy bagScissorsCheeriosPeanut butter or icingInstructionsPlace a few spoonfuls of peanut butter or frosting into a plastic zippy bag.Using your scissors, snip a small corner off one of the bottom corners of the bag.Pipe your letter onto your child’s highchair tray or plate. Encourage your child to press Cheerios into the letter.

My toddlers had so much fun pushing the cheerios into the peanut butter–and even more fun licking their fingers ...