Integrating Holidays: May Day

Until I became a educator, I never really considered what May Day was. I now know that it is a Holiday that celebrates the fight for an 8-hour work day. May Day can also mark when Spring Begins, and the way the weather has been going, I am holding my breath for some decent temperature.

A few books to read to the kiddos about this International Holiday.


The next question is, how can you turn this into something crafty and fun?
*Playing Mother May I
*Making paper flowers to give to friends and family
*Draw flowers
*In Hawaii, people celebrate May Day, by calling it Lei Day and giving out Leis. You can go to your local dollar tree and have kids give out leis or make their own.
*I always wondered what I could do with an empty paper roll, and know I know. I can make a "Table Top May Pole"


About.com had a wonderful idea, I think I will try this year. Click here: May Pole

One year, I came across "Crazy Daisies." They were on sale for a steal, so I bought about 4 packs. Now, they have a purpose! It is a book about how to make funky flowers. It comes with cut outs, green pipe cleaners, and colored tissue paper. My older girls will love this. Book created by Raymond Miller.


May the creation of flowers bring you warm weather.

Integrating Holidays: April Showers

This month brings a lot of fun themes that can be brought into your home. It is said that "April Showers bring May flowers" and that is especially true with the amount of information you can shower your family as you connect life to books.

So, what does April bring?

National Poetry Month
Autism Awareness Month
National Frog Month
National Garden Month

Just to name a few, for more click on April Special Days
Already, my head is spinning. Frogs, poetry, gardens! The activities are endless.

Let's break April down day to day.
1: April Fool's Day
7: No housework day- A special day to me
9: 1st Public Library was opened (visit your local library)
11: Jackie Robinson
On this day in 1947, Jackie Robinson became the 1st african-american in modern major-league baseball.
15: Income Tax Day
18: Passover begins at sunset on April 18 marking end of Jewish slavery in Egypt
22: Earth Day
23: William Shakespears Birthday
24: Easter-Celebration of Christ's resurrection
26: National Pretzel Day
28: Poetry Reading Day and Take our daughter's to work day

Enjoy the month of April!

Integrating Seasons: Spring books

Spring is on its way! March 20th marks the official day on the calendar. While in some places it is still snowing, we like to stick to the calendar and welcome it in.
Animals are the most interesting to children. With Spring comes baby animals!
To introduce what Spring is:

An explanation about why some might "bloom" later than others.
For the little hands in your family, these books introduce the baby animals and summarize what Spring is all about.

Enjoy! Spring activities throughout the Season will be posted in the blog. Hope Spring will arrive not only on the calendar but in your weather!