Return to Florida

We returned to Florida last week and this is the earliest we have come down for the winter. Last week was unbearably hot and this week, it has finally cooled down. We came down early because of the postcard show and the stamp show.

Since we have been here, we have checked over the house and Don has trimmed the bushes. I have been trying to reset the irrigation system but I may have to call the help line. I can water it manually, but the auto program is not working.

Three of the cats have remembered us and are constantly coming over to visit. Squeaky is getting very old and I am not sure she will last another year. Little Bear, the blind cat, is over here all the time and if I’m on the front porch, she wants inside. Roadrunner surprised us by coming over to visit on her own. Usually, she comes over to visit if our neighbor, Donna comes to visit.

Thank goodness for our Nest thermostat which kept the house pretty comfortable until we arrived.

It feels good to sit on the front porch and knit in the mornings.

One day I went shopping with Donna. We went to Ollies, The Girls, and Western Beef. We had fun and got to visit while shopping. 

This week, we met my cousins Wayne and Lorraine for lunch at Flanigan's. It is our favorite restaurant but it is only in Florida. After lunch, we went to their house to see their new kitchen and floors. The house is amazing!   

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Snowflakes

It is wintertime and many places are experiencing snow. We don’t get much snow where I live and when it snows, it is very little and doesn’t stay long. Students of all ages enjoy making paper snowflakes.

Snowflakes form when water vapor travels through the air and condenses. It slowly becomes a growing ice crystal which is a snowflake. The way vapor condenses plays a big part in the shape of the snowflake. No two snowflakes are the same. Snowflakes are symmetrical in a similar way.

There is a great tutorial for making snowflakes according to Martha Stewart. I would print off the directions and have students follow each step. This will have them practice reading and following directions. Smaller children may need more help than older children.

After all the snowflakes are made, they can be pasted onto a piece of colored paper or hung around the room.

Sometimes it is fun to just take a step back from formal learning and enjoy a session of informal learning.

Reference:
https://scijinks.gov/snowflakes/
https://www.marthastewart.com/266694/decorating-with-paper-snowflakes

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Winter Crafts

Here are some activities to do in the winter. Many are birdfeeders but there are a few other crafts too.

Birdcake – Tie the end of a  piece of string to a pencil. Lay the pencil across a heatproof cup with the string hanging down. Mix seeds in melted bacon fat and then pour in a heatproof cup. Let it harden. Remove from the cup and hang it on a branch for birds.

Frozen Bird Wreath – fill a bundt pan with old cereal, oatmeal, rice (it is a myth that rice is bad for birds!). Then fill the pan with water and freeze it (either in a freezer or outside if it is cold enough). Then tie ribbon or string around it and hang it from a sturdy branch.

Toilet paper roll bird feeder – spread peanut butter all over the outside of a toilet paper roll. Then roll it in a dish of bird seed. Put string or ribbon through the roll and hang from a tree.

Heart shaped bird feeder – toast a piece of bread. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes. Punch a small hole in it to add string. Spread peanut butter on both sides and press both sides in a plate of bird seed. Put string or ribbon through the hole once it hardens overnight and hang from a tree.

Pipe Cleaner Birdfeeder – String cherrios on a pipecleaner and hang from the trees for birds.

Ice ornaments – use boiled cooled water for a clearer ice. Use plastic molds or different shapes of dishes. Add enough yarn or string so it hangs over the edge. (you will tie this to the branch). Fill the dish/molds with the water and add natural decorations (leaves, berries, etc.) Freeze these either in your freezer or outside. To remove, did the bottom of the molds in warm water to loosen and remove ice ornament. Hang from a branch.

Glitter Glue Snowflakes – get some acetate and have students draw snowflakes on the acetate with the Glitter Glue. You can make a stencil for students to place the acetate over and use as a guide. Let dry and then trim. Display on a window or hang from a tree.

Melting Ice Science Experiment – make colorful suncatchers

Resources –

Activity Crafts

Red TED art

DIY for Kids

Surviving the Winter Slump

I was recently asked to write a guest post on the Success in the Classroom Blog by Sam. Sam interviewed me last year for his Amazing Teacher podcast and has a wonderful blog. It is a great blog that will make you feel inspired and motivated after reading his posts so if you have a chance, please check it out. I was truly honored to be asked this and sent him a post which he immediately posted. You can find it here: Surviving the Winter Slump.