Dynamic DVD Review: Haunted Lighthouses of the Great Lakes

I have been fascinated by the idea of ghosts for many years. It seems romantic and rather monumental that spirits of past loved ones, caretakers, and even animals still roam the earth diligently performing their daily duties as they did in their lifetimes. 


Southport Video Productions riveting documentary, Haunted Lighthouses of the Great Lakes, sheds some light on the paranormal phenomena surrounding the age-old lighthouses of the Great Lakes region. 


Some of the lighthouse captured in this one-hour film include the Gibraltar Lighthouse, Old Presque Isle Lighthouse and the Chambers Island Lighthouse. 


All of the stories retold in this film rely on documented claims of actual visitors, employees, and caretakers of the former lighthouses who fully explain tales of the supernatural events whirling within these maritime beacons of light that have protected sailors for decades. 


One of my favorite stories within this DVD was that of the former keeper of the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse whose light continues to illuminate the Lake Huron skies even after the light was removed (and continues to burn brightly to this day!) 


Even after a U.S. Coast Guard investigation, no one has ever found a fact-based reason to why this light burns so brightly (despite no source of electrical wiring, whatsoever). 


This documentary is for those who love things that go bump in the night, the mystique of maritime history, or those that are interested in the history of the Great Lakes region of the United States. 


An overall impressive and thought provoking film! 

Source of image: www.edmundfitzgerald.com

Mega Magazine of the Month (April) : Mailbox Magazine Preschool Edition

I love reading magazines because they provide up-to-date information and stay current on trends surrounding their particular subject matter. 


Magazines offer condensed articles which perfectly summarize only the pertinent and important information which should be discussed and are easily portable. 


Helpful indexes are provided so that one can easily peruse or quickly access the item that has piqued their interest.


I have decided to honor this periodical marvel by showcasing a favorite magazine each month.


My first Mega Magazine of the Month for April is Mailbox Magazine (Preschool Edition). 


I cherish this magazine because it provides simple, stress-free lesson plans, easy recipes, stupendous circle and storytime ideas and helpful tips submitted by early childhood educators from around the country and the Mailbox Magazine Editorial Team.


I simply devour each issue and use many of its ideas in my toddler and preschool storytimes with great success.


If you are looking for a creative and inspirational resource for designing developmentally-appropriate preschool lesson plans look no further than Mailbox Magazine (Preschool Edition)!

Source of image: Magazineline.com

Taking in the Sites: International Museum Day is May 18th

Ever since I was little my parents have taken me to museums and historical homes.


My very first visit to a historical home was when I was two and a half years old. I toddled around a stunning early 20th century Falaise Mansion in impish glee! The beautiful furniture, soaring ceilings, and elegant surroundings left me breathless and the tour guide in such shock that someone so young could behave during an hour-long house tour without even a whine or peep. To see this museum click on the following link: http://www.sandspointpreserve.org/htm/falaise.htm.


Since then I have never looked back! Even though I may have outgrown my favorite blue sneakers and Rainbow Brite sunglasses my love of history has increased with fervor.


When I step into a museum or historical home, I am awestruck with the history the site has beheld. While many might see an ornate Queen Anne sofa, I see the many delightful teas that glamorous women of a bygone era had partaken on its plush upholstery.


Museums and historical homes breath life into history. They offer us a concrete reminder that there was a time before us and transports us back to that time.


 Museums act as a passport to the sweeping eras that are the fiber of our very history such as Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776 which declared our views as an independent free-thinking nation to our British rulers or Fort Raleigh National Historic Site in North Carolina where Sir Walter Raleigh and his band of settlers mysteriously vanished in the late 1500's known today as "The Lost Colony".


These profound moments in history relate to why we think and feel the way we do about our country today. Without those courageous individuals who risked their very livelihood against tyranny and injustice we would not be the worldly, established and strong nation we are today.


What is even more mind-boggling is that we can visit the locations where these events happened and recapture the exhilaration that these early peoples must have felt during these poignant pinnacles of American history.


Why not visit a museum on May 18th (International Museum Day) which celebrates these unique resources contributions to our world?  


Better yet, visit one any day of the year and become entranced with the beguiling beauty of our world's museums, historical homes, and national sites where history truly lives year-round.


I would like to share a list of my favorite museums in the United States which I have visited (I have also provided links to their websites for further information):


Northeast


Walt Whitman Birthplace (West Hills, New York)
World-famous poet Walt Whitman was born in this farmhouse in 1819.
http://www.waltwhitman.org/


Sagamore Hill (Oyster Bay, New York)
Home of president Theodore Roosevelt from 1885 to 1919.
http://www.nps.gov/sahi/historyculture/index.htm


Salem Witch Museum (Salem, Massachusetts)
Museum relates to history of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials
http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/


Midwest


Stacy's Tavern (Glen Ellyn, Illinois)
This is a beautiful 1846 stagecoach inn and the home of the delightful Glen Ellyn Historical Society.
http://gehistoricalsociety.homestead.com/


Benjamin Harrison Home (Indianapolis, Indiana)
One of President Benjamin Harrison's homes situated in the gorgeous city of Indianapolis. Not to be missed!
http://www.presidentbenjaminharrison.org/


Kenosha Public Museum (Kenosha, Wisconsin)
Incredible museum for the entire family which includes a replica of a mammoth, Native American artifacts, The Wisconsin Story, and interesting temporary exhibits.
http://www.kenosha.org/museum/exhibits.html


South


Winterthur  (Delaware) 
Mansion of Henry du Pont. 
http://www.winterthur.org/?p=222


West


Mission San Juan Capistrano (Orange County, California) 
A breathtaking mission founded in 1776. 
http://missionsjc.com/


Winchester Mystery House (San Jose, California)
Weirdly amazing home which contains endless doors, windows and stairways that open to walls and lead to nowhere!
http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/


Ripley's Believe It or Not (San Francisco, California)
Everything strange and outrageous all in one oddly fabulous museum!
http://www.ripleys.com/sanfrancisco/your-visit/inside-the-museum/


Children's Books About Museums


Lunch Lady and the Field Trip Fiasco by Jarrett Krosoczka
The Breakfast Bunch and the Lunch Lady go on a field trip to an art museum.


Museum Trip by Barbara Lehman
A boy enters a museum and becomes part of the exhibit in this wordless picture book.


Fancy Nancy at the Museum by Jane O'Connor.
Fancy Nancy goes on a school field trip to a museum.

Bentley Bookworm's Review of Sometimes I Like to Curl Up In a Ball by Vicki Churchill

The storyline of this cuddly tale invites us into the world of a wacky little wombat who recites all the different activities that are included in his daily schedule. These sweetly wholesome activities include jumping, screaming, and running to his heart's content. Kids will see themselves through wombat's sweet-natured, carefree disposition and triumphant spirit. Vicki Churchill's down-to-earth prose and Charles Fuge's sleepy-eyed, roly-poly wombat character give this book a charm all its own.

Bentley Bookworm 

DIY Storytime Smackdown: Birds

Storytime is a wonderful experience for parents and children to spend time with each other and helps you develop your child's early language and literacy skills.

Tweet, tweet birds are so sweet! Enjoy this feathered friends storytime. 

Storytime chant or song: 

(Clap and dance around enthusiastically as you perform with the children) 

*Tip: Use simple instruments such as a triangle, baby rattle, or even pots and pans to beat out a catchy tune*

Storytime, storytime

here we come

storytime, storytime

we'll have so much fun!

reading, and singing, and dancing around.

come on let's get ready by sitting down!

Storytime chant by Jennifer


Read the following book or books: Limelight Larry by Leigh Hodgkinson  or Twoo Twit by Kes Gray 

Perform this action rhyme: 

Little Birds Action Rhyme 


Little birds, little birds, fly to the door!
Little birds, little birds, sit on the floor!
Little birds, little birds, jump up and down. 
Little birds, little birds, don't make a sound!
Little birds, little birds, tip toe to me. 
Little birds, little birds, peep, peep, peep. 
Little birds, little birds, sleep, sleep, sleep. 


(Source: http://www.greatestresourcechildcare.com/THEME.htm)


Sing the following song: 


(Tip before singing: Show your child several different nests built by different species of birds. Ask your child which nest she would like to live in if she were a bird and why. To reinforce this topic sing the following song and create a matching game by photocopying two sets of several nests. Mix the photocopies up and place face down on a table and have your child flip over one of the photocopied nests. Then have her find the "matching" nest within the photocopied sheets.)


Build A Nest 
(Tune: "The Hokey Pokey") 


You weave some grass in. 
You pull some twigs out. 
You weave some string in 
And you feather it all about. 
You build a lovely nest, 
Sturdy cause you know - 
That's where your eggs will go!


Jean Warren


(Source: http://www.preschoolexpress.com/music_station04/music_station3_may04.shtml)


Use the following rhyme as a fingerplay:

(Perform the following movements with your hands and body as suggested by the rhyme) 


Five Little Ducks
Five little ducks went out one day (flap and waddle like duck)
Over the hills and far away. (make wave motion with hand)
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack." (make talking motion)
Four little ducks came waddling back. (flap and waddle like duck)
Repeat with:
Four little ducks.
Three little ducks.
Two little ducks.
One little duck.
Then Daddy duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack."And five little ducks came waddling back.

(Source: http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/preschool-finger-plays.html)


Make a Pete the perky peacock craft!
(This project teaches your child color recognition and physical differences in birds.) 

1. Draw a bowling pin shape for the peacock's body on medium blue paper.
2. Cut out the peacock's body with scissors. 
3. Count out 10 lime green foam Popsicle sticks and set aside. These will be used to decorate the peacock's tail feathers. 
4. Use a large platter as a stencil for the peacock's semi-circle tail feathers. Draw around the platter with a white or light-colored pencil and cut out semi-circle shape. 
5. Select several buttons and fake flat-backed plastic jewels to use as decoration for the peacock. 
6. Find a set of googly eyes. 
7. Cut 2 long strips out of gold or mustard-colored card stock to create the peacock's limbs. 
8. Cut out 2 small hearts from gold or mustard-colored card stock. These will serve as the peacock's feet. 
9. Cut a small triangular beak from the remaining gold or mustard-colored card stock. 
10. Go to the floral section of your craft store and buy a plume of peacock feathers. 
11. Cut 2 peacock plumes off of the peacock floral decoration and set aside. 
12. Begin to glue your lime green foam Popsicle sticks on the blue foam in an evenly spaced semi-circle. You may want to start with the foam Popsicle stick which will be above the peacock's head. You may need to trim the foam Popsicle sticks in order to fit 
13. Glue your 2 peacock feathers onto the top of the  blue semi-circle for peacock's head plumage. 
14. Glue bowling pin shaped peacock body on top of the lime green Popsicle sticks and peacock plumes. 
15. Glue on your 2 googly eyes and small triangular beak to create peacock's face. 
16. Glue buttons onto the blue foam which serves as the peacock's tail feathers. I stacked my buttons to give my peacock a three-dimensional look. 
17. Scatter and glue flat-backed plastic jewels onto the blue foam. 
18. Glue the 2  gold or mustard-colored card stock strips to back of blue foam. These will create the peacock's limbs. 
19. Glue the 2 small gold or mustard-colored hearts bottom-side down to the peacock's limbs. 

Sing a storytime goodbye song:

TICKLE THE CLOUDS 

(Suit actions to words)

Tickle the clouds.

Tickle your toes.
Turn around
And tickle your nose.
Reach down low.
And reach up high.
Storytime’s over –
Wave  goodbye!

(Source: Sunflowerstorytime.com Opening and Closing Songs for Storytime/)

DIY Storytime Smackdown: Rain

Storytime is a wonderful experience for parents and children to spend time with each other and helps you develop your child's early language and literacy skills.

Its raining, its pouring and storytime is just starting!

Storytime chant or song: 

(Clap and dance around enthusiastically as you perform with the children) 

*Tip: Use simple instruments such as a triangle, baby rattle, or even pots and pans to beat out a catchy tune*

Storytime, storytime

here we come

storytime, storytime

we'll have so much fun!

reading, and singing, and dancing around.

come on let's get ready by sitting down!

Storytime chant by Jennifer


Read the following book: Who Likes Rain? by Wong Herbert Yee 

Perform this action rhyme: 

The rain is falling from the sky (Have your child wave his fingers and hands around in the air like falling raindrops) 

to the ground. (Have your child crouch on the ground)

I want to go outside. (Have your child make a motion like he is opening a door to go outside)

So I put on my rain boots (Have child sit on the ground  and mimic putting on his rain boots) 

Put on my raincoat (Have your child  make believe  he is putting on his coat) 

Grab my umbrella and go outside. (Have child make a grabbing motion for the umbrella and "opening the door" motion) 

Action rhyme by Jennifer 

Sing the following song: 

Fun in the Rain 

Sung to: "Deck the Halls"

Do you hear the pitter patter? Hear the little raindrops falling down.
Can you see the splashing water? All the little raindrops on the ground.
Time to get our big umbrellas We don't want to get our hair all wet.
If you wear your boots and raincoat, We will go outside and splash a bit!


(Source: http://www.preschooleducation.com/sweather.shtml)


Use the following rhyme as a fingerplay:

(Perform the following movements with hands and body as suggested by the rhyme) 


Boom, Bang!
Boom, bang, boom, bang;
Rumpety, thumpety, bump!
Zoom, zam, zoom, zam;
Clippety, clappety, clump!
Rustles and bustles, swishes and zings-
What wonderful noises a thunderstorm brings!


(Source: http://musicmakersforkids.blogspot.com/2009/02/march-fingerplays-weather.html)


Make a flannel board using the following rhyme: 


5 Little Raindrops

Five little raindrops plopping on the floor,
one plopped away, and then there were four.
Four little raindrops dripping on the trees,
one dripped away, and then there were three.
Three little raindrops splashing on my shoe,
one splashed away, and then there were two.
Two little raindrops starting to run,
one ran off, and then there was one.
One little raindrop drying in the sun,
it dried all up, and then there were none!


(Source: http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/weather/weather_songs.htm)

Make a rainy day weather mobile with your child! 

(This project teaches your child what types of clothing and items you should use to keep you dry during a rainstorm).

1. Photocopy the following coloring pages for the raindrops and rain boots onto card stock or computer paper: http://www.printablecolouringpages.co.uk/?s=rain+boots and http://www.preschoollearningonline.com/Coloringpages/Coloringpages2/raindrops.gif
2. Use blue and aqua ink stamp pads to color in the raindrops using a disposable cosmetic sponge. 
3. Outline the raindrops with an aqua marker. 
4. Cut out raindrops and set aside. 
5. Make a cloud by using the cloud in the Everyday Paper Dolls Cricut Cartridge. 
6. Use gray and black stamp pads to color in the cloud using a disposable cosmetic sponge. 
7. Cut out and set aside
8. Color your boot with a scarlet-colored crayon. 
9. Use a purple marker to color boot strap, brown marker to color boot lining, and yellow marker to color boot buckle. 
10. Cut purple tissue paper, yellow card stock and aqua computer paper in strips to create lines for the plaid pattern you will make on your boot. 
11. Cut thin strips of wrapping paper to include in your plaid design.
12. Cut a piece of wrapping paper to go over the toe of the boot. 
13. Glue wrapping paper on toe of boot. 
14. Glue on the plaid design as shown in picture. 
15. Create an umbrella using cream card stock from the umbrella design found within the Everyday Paper Dolls Cricut Cartridge.
16. Darken umbrella handle with brown and black ink pads. 
17.  Make red, blue, green, and orange circles on umbrellas with bingo daubers. 
18. Glue small raindrops onto umbrella. 
19. Use a hole punch to punch holes in the tops of raindrops, umbrella, and boots. 
20. Cut lengths of string to desired lengths and string through holes to create mobile. 
21. Tie off strings by making a knot and continue until finished. 
22. Hang where desired.

Sing a storytime goodbye song:

TICKLE THE CLOUDS 

(Suit actions to words)

Tickle the clouds.

Tickle your toes.
Turn around
And tickle your nose.
Reach down low.
And reach up high.
Storytime’s over –
Wave  goodbye!

(Source: Sunflowerstorytime.com Opening and Closing Songs for Storytime/)

DIY Storytime Smackdown: Outer Space

Storytime is a wonderful experience for parents and children to spend time with each other and help you develop your child's early language and literacy skills.


You'll be feeling "spacey" after this storytime!


Storytime chant or song: 
(Clap and dance around enthusiastically as you perform)
*Tip: Use simple instruments such as a triangle, baby rattle, or even pots and pans to beat out a catchy tune*


Storytime, storytime
here we come
storytime, storytime
we'll have so much fun!
reading, and singing, and dancing around.
come on let's get ready by sitting down!


Storytime chant by Jennifer


Read the following book: Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! I'm Off to the Moon by Dan Yaccarino

Perform the following fingerplay:

Stars fingerplay  

(Perform actions suggested in fingrplay or make into a flannel board) 

At night I see the twinkling stars
(fist up and open hands over your head)

And a great big smiling moon
(circle arms overhead)

My Mommy tucks me into bed
(Lay pointer of one hand across the palm of the other hand)

And sings a good-night tune.
(Rock your hands back and forth)


Perform action rhyme:

It's A Blast 


Put on your spacesuit. We're going to the Moon.

(pretend to step into pants and buckle boots)
Climb aboard your rocket ship.
We're going to blast off soon.
Put on your helmet.
Strap yourself in tight. (pretend putting on helmets and buckling your safety belt)
Check your controls and instruments.
Get ready for the flight. (pretend to turn on switches)
Time for your journey.
The countdown has begun. (wave and salute)
Here we go, Get ready, Get set!
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
(slowly rise from seated position)
Blast off!
(jump up)


(Fingerplay and Action Rhyme from http://www.preschooleducation.com/sspace.shtml)

Make a fancy moon collage with your child!


Please see the following collage as an example. You can make your moon collage as detailed or elaborate as you like. Make sure to give younger children plenty of time to complete this project. It may take several sessions to complete depending on the child's age. 


(This project teaches your child to understand the moon's function in space and interprets his or her artistic creativity).


Items you will need for this project. This is an open-ended art project, so I am not giving exact instructions in how to make it. 

• Plastic bottle caps (water bottles or milk containers) covered with "dull" side of aluminum foil. Make sure that the bottle caps are flat side down to create a "crater" effect. 
• Silver, pearlescent black and ivory paint sponged on with a kitchen sponge, firm bristled paint brush, and foam craft dauber. *You can mix together silver, pearlescent black, and ivory together to create moon color* 
• Aluminum foil, newspaper, and ivory card stock torn into strips. 
• Olive green 1" card stock circles sponged with ivory paint 
• Large paintbrush 
• Large piece of black glitter card stock 
• Glue 
• Green, pink, ivory, and navy blue card stock to create Ghoul from the Mini Monsters Cricut Cartridge.
• Yellow (to make stars), blue, orange and red card stock zigzags from Plantin SchoolBook Cricut Catridge. The stars also come from the Plantin SchoolBook Cricut Cartridge. 
• Black marker to create alien's pupils

Sing a storytime goodbye song:

TICKLE THE CLOUDS 
(Suit actions to words)


Tickle the clouds.

Tickle your toes.
Turn around
And tickle your nose.
Reach down low.
And reach up high.
Storytime’s over –
Wave  goodbye!

(Source: Sunflowerstorytime.com Opening and Closing Songs for Storytime/)