Egg Carton Math

A month before school finished, my 3rd grader informed me she needed to take an empty egg carton to school. Knowing that I buy the larger cartons that hold 18 eggs, she told me she needed her carton to be just a dozen. Even though I didn't really need them at the time, I purchased a dozen eggs on my next trip to the grocery store. 

Don't worry, we ate them before any had time to spoil.

And I love what she brought back home on the last day of school. A game for practicing her multiplication.

1 times 7 equals 7. Maybe I should have made sure it was
on a more difficult problem before snapping a photo.

Her teacher had students randomly number each section 1 through 12. Each child got two dry Lima beans in their carton. To practice their multiplication, they close the carton and shake it. When they open the carton, they find the numbers where the Lima beans landed and multiply those numbers.

Close. Shake. Compute. Repeat.

Genius.

If you don't have dry Lima beans handy, use small rocks or beads. If your child isn't ready for multiplication, use it for addition. 



All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 

Flower Pot Candle Holders

Each year, the girls make a handmade gift for their teachers. This year, we found out each teacher's favorite colors and made candle holders from terracotta pots. My girls LOVE to paint, so this was really fun for them.

We also asked for our teacher's favorite fragrances and
purchased candles for their new holders.

We started with some small terracotta pots, patio paint,
and (optional) stencils.

We painted the outside of the pots and both sides of the
saucer, then decorated them with our stencils.

There are two ways to create a candle holder.

One way is to have the pot right side up and place the
saucer right-side up inside the top of the pot.
If you plan to make one like this, just be sure
when you purchase your pots the saucer nestles
inside the pot properly.

Another way is to turn the pot upside down and
place the saucer right-side up on top of it.

Be sure to apply a couple coats of clear varnish/sealant when you're done decorating the pots, then glue the saucer to the pot. We used E-6000 glue for a secure bond.

We made several candle holders, some with stenciled designs, some with free-hand designs. I let the girls make the choices of how they would decorate pots for their own teachers. I also had them write a little note of thanks to their teacher inside the pot, with their name and date.

These would make a cool gift for just about anyone!




Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity. Titus 2:7

Make a Fairy Garden

Not long after it started to look like Spring would finally arrive, my oldest daughter was talking about the Cozy Bird Cottage project we did a while back. She wanted to that again.

Then during a recent trip to The Home Depot, the girls begged for a little cactus plant. They'd asked for them before, so this time I let them each purchase a couple of the plants.

We put the cacti (& succulent) plants together with the decorated birdhouses to create a Fairy Garden. I saw this idea somewhere recently, but I can't remember where. I just want to point out that it's not my original idea.

My daughter made a sign for her garden that says
"Caution Cacti Ahead!" and "Fairies Allowed Only!"

I purchased two plastic flower pot saucers, one for each child's garden, and filled them with potting soil, adding the cacti and succulent plants around the edges. The girls painted and decorated their houses and placed them in the back center of the garden and we found small smoothish stones to build a stone pathway through the garden to the house. We took moss from our yard and placed it in the dirt around the pathway and plants to look like grass.

I also found white picket fences at the craft store. They do not reach all the way around the yard, but still add a cozy feel.

Later, as I was potting flowers for our deck, I found the painted stones we made a few years ago ("Write It In Stone" Project), and my daughter added them to her garden.

She is very proud that one of her plants has a very long bloom.

My younger daughter also made a garden.

They enjoyed building their gardens, and I hope they will also enjoy taking care of them. Ha. My younger daughter has already tried to drown hers.







"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." Colossians 3:16