Lesson Theme: Family!

Even though we did this theme last year, I decided to do it again only with some new activities!

"We are a family.  We fit together!" was what I wrote on the back of this wooden puzzle we made together.  I saw the idea of making puzzle piece people (check it out here) and thought it would work perfectly with our theme for the week!   :)

Each piece of our puzzle is a member of our family.  We used fabric and marker for the clothes and details. You should be able to find blank wooden puzzles in the unfinished wood section of craft stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby.  

This is our family helper handprint chart.  We traced a hand for each member of the family and then brainstormed ways in which each person helps our family, writing those items inside the person's handprint.

Here's our "pretend play" bin.  I filled it with items for the kids to use when playing "mom and dad".  It contained items such as baby dolls, books, baby doll clothes, a real changing pad, empty honey jar I filled with cornstarch (for baby powder - figured that was more easily vacuumed than creme), real diaper, cooking utensils, etc.

We also decided to surprise Daddy at work one day with a visit and some goodies inside this bag.  He was surprised and pleased and it was a great opportunity to shower him with love and encouragement on a busy day!

If you have other members of your family close by, consider surprising them with something wonderful and unexpected if you decide to have a family theme week - or do it "just because"!  And it doesn't have to be a big present either - even just thinking of something you love about someone in your family and letting your kids call them up with words of appreciation is something pretty special!  :)

If your family lives far away, you can still surprise them with a snail mail card or letter!  Miss A and I made her some of her very own stationary using a rubber stamp and some glitter.  :)

The heading of her stationary reads "From the plume of A---".  We discussed what that meant, looked up pictures of plumes, and made our own pretend plume by rubber banding pink feathers to a pink pencil.  Fancy Nancy would have been proud indeed.

Then Miss A chose someone (actually several cousins) in our family who live far away and wrote a letter to them.  This was a great opportunity to discuss the parts of a letter and how to write one.  I found a neat visual online for that purpose and printed it out.

This was a family tree we made.  I wanted to try making the trunk using the technique where you blow into paint using a straw to make the branches.  Weeeellll, I don't think I made the paint the right consistency but Miss A seemed to enjoythe project and attempt anyway.  :)

I wrote the names of family on labels and Miss A helped to attach them to the tree.  I think she especially enjoyed the part where she placed her name and her sibling's name on the tree.  :)



One of the high points of our theme was sharing a special "Family Night" which Miss A and I spent time planning together earlier in the week.  The kiddos helped with the chocolate pudding, and it was a hit (but isn't that true with most things in the chocolate world)!  :)

I like to drop by these wonderful parties during the week!  :)
www.delicateconstruction.com
www.mamato2blessings.blogspot.com
www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com
www.cornerstoneconfessions.com
www.cleanandscentsible.blogspot.com
www.gingersnapcrafts.com
www.houseofhepworths.com
www.handsonaswegrow.com
www.enchantedhomeschoolingmom.blogspot.com
www.momontimeout.com
www.happyhourprojects.com