Planner sidebars...{free printable}

The launch of new planners always brings so much excitement!  I love figuring out what design I'm going to get and what cover I like best.  I've been using two planners for awhile but want to try and get everything into one. I love adding some decorations to my planner but function is my main goal.

  

That's one reason why I created these planner sidebars.  I love trying to utilize my planner in the best way possible.  These sidebars help me keep track of lists, track habits and maximize space in my planner.  

My favorite way to use them are in the notes section of the monthly view.  I use washi tape across the top of the sidebar to adhere it in my planner.  I can use the list I've just attached, PLUS I am able to flip it up and still use the space underneath!

They also work perfectly in the lined section of the weekly layouts.  Here I've attached some habit trackers the same way as I mentioned above, with the washi.  I can track the things I'd like, then still write notes underneath.  

One final way I use these sidebars, is in the very back notes section.  They especially work great on the coloring pages if you aren't going to use those.  You can either use adhesive to tape the whole thing down, or use the washi method again!  You can even fit several on a page.  

If you'd like to utilize these sidebars in your planner, you can PRINT THEM HERE!  Join us over on our Simple Organized Erin Condren Planner Facebook Page, show us how you use these sidebars and get other planner inspiration!  

Also, if you are in the market for a planner, you can SAVE $10 of your first Erin Condren purchase with our referral link.    

Helping you make planning simple!

Earrings for {face time}

If you are anything like me, you are doing more zoom and video calls.  I'm doing crafting zooms, videos for school, bible study zooms, etc.  Since we are pretty much staying at home there's no need to get all fancied up...lol!  But it's nice to look pulled together when we have to "face" people.

These three items are my go to when I need to look put together...fun earrings, mascara and lip gloss! 

Mascara - Benefit Rollerlash 

Lip Gloss - NYX Butter Gloss

Earrings - June&Jo Leather Earrings

If you need some earrings to help you feel better or look good for a zoom, I can help with that!  Check out my June&Jo Leather Earrings Facebook page.  

{Ocean} Preschool Unit...

Hello again!  I would rather be in school but under the circumstances I do enjoy putting together these virtual packets for my preschoolers!  Enjoy some ocean activities along with us!

Ask your child if they know how to swim. Spend some time talking about fun that you have had in the water. Can anyone float? How do you float? Can anyone float on your back? Stomach? Knees? Can anyone float in the water standing up? Of course not! But someone in today’s bible story could stand up and walk on top of the water.  Let’s find out more…

Bible Story – Jesus Walks on the Water color page and story.  This story reminds us that we need to trust Jesus in everything that we do!

Sink/Float experiment – This simple experiment will encourage your child to make predictions and observations about whether certain items will sink or float.  You can fill up the sink with water, do it while taking a bath, fill up a plastic shoe box, pot or even a cup!  Suggested items to use… SINK: metal utensils, coins, stones, toy car, keys, marbles.  FLOAT: Duplo/Lego, popsicle stick, corks, foam shapes, crayon, rubber ball, bathtub toys.  After you have gathered your items and filled up your water source, have your child guess whether each item will sink or float before placing it in the water.

image from Happy Hooligans

Ocean animals – Print this ocean animal worksheet.  Have your child cut apart the numbers along the bottom of the page.  Then have them count the items in each line. 

Trace circles – Draw some circles in pencil on a piece of paper and have your kiddos use a marker or crayon and trace the circles.  This is good prewriting practice. 

Jellyfish craft – This is one of our favorites to do in class!  You will need an empty fruit cup or applesauce container and something for the tentacles.  You can use laminating sheets, page protector sheets, wax paper, tissue paper, bubble wrap, construction paper, etc.  Draw lines on whatever you are using for the tentacles.  Have your child cut the strips.  We use two different types or material so we can create a pattern.  Then help your child tape the tentacles inside the fruit cup, making a pattern as you go.  NOTE…At school we observe that a jellyfish is a kind of animal that doesn’t have a face.  It uses its tentacles to find food and its mouth is under its body.  Here is a video of a jellyfish moving – it’s really beautiful!

If you don’t have any fruit cups to use, try it with half a paper plate.  Tape the tentacles to the back in a pattern.  They can even paint the plate if they want. 

Count & Clip – Here is another count and clip activity to use with clothespins.  Just print the free activity, cut apart and have your child count the ocean animals. 

Ocean Foil Painting – Attach of piece of aluminum foil to some cardboard or poster board.  Then let your child finger paint with blue to create the ocean.  Draw some circles and triangles on construction paper and let your child cut them out.  Then they can glue together to make fish for their ocean.  Put a circle and some paper strips together for a jellyfish.  If you have ocean stickers you can add those too!

image from News With Naylors

Crab Shape Match – Print the crabs with shapes and cut out the shapes at the bottom.  Then have your child match the shapes.  If they want to color the crabs first, go for it!

Counting Fish – Sometimes it is good to have some technology time.  Here is a fun counting game on ABCya.com.  They will have to count the fish and click on the correct number. 

Color by Number – Beach balls always make me think of going to the beach and the ocean.  This is a fun color by number beach ball that will help your kiddos with coloring in the lines and number matching! 

Sand writing – If you have sand to use, that is amazing.  But salt, flour or sugar work great too!  Just put enough to cover the bottom of a tray or plate.  Then have your child use their finger to write in the sand.  They could draw shapes, numbers, letters, whatever they like.  If they have a sensory issue and don’t want to touch the “sand”, have them draw with an unsharpened pencil or pen with the lid on.

Play dough – Use play dough to create ocean animals.  See if you can make a jellyfish, sea turtle, or crab.

image from Our Best Bites

Make your own play dough – If you are in need of some new play dough, why not try out this recipe using only corn starch and conditioner! 

Action game – If you have a beach ball, write actions on each different section.  Then have your kids throw it and whatever side lands up, do that action.  (walk like a crab, swim like a fish, jump up and down, twirl around, hop on one foot, etc)  If you don’t have a beach ball, just make some action cards.  Have your child draw one, then do that action.

Ball pop - Use a beach ball or blow up a balloon and hit it in the air, try to keep it from hitting the floor. 

Book Ideas…

Ocean Animals from Head to Tail by Stacey Roderick

Hello Ocean by Pam Munoz Ryan and Mark Astrella

Peanut Butter and Jellyfish by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae

Fun Songs…

Down in the Deep Blue Sea

A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea

Let’s Go Swimming by Laurie Berkner Band

Easy drawing videos...

I have created two "draw with me videos" for my preschoolers, so thought I would share with you as well!  If you have a preschooler or elementary age kiddo that enjoys drawing, they might like these videos.

First, how to draw a butterfly.  This is great for anyone who loves to draw or just loves butterflies!  The shapes are fairly simple for anyone to do.  Perfect for a spring time activity!

Next I did how to draw a bunny with simple shapes!  This is great for kids wanting to practice their shapes.  I always enjoy creating painting and drawing activities incorporating shapes!  This one is perfect for the Easter season.

I hope you enjoy drawing along with me!

{Community Helpers} Preschool Unit...

I'm back with another preschool packet...this time we are focusing on Community Helpers!

This is a favorite quote from Mr. Rogers: "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”  This is so fitting for the time that we are currently facing.

A community helper is a person who lives and works in our community. They serve us in various ways to keep us safe, and they improve the way we live in many ways.  Community helpers include doctors, nurses, police, construction workers, dentists, librarians, grocery store workers, teachers, mail carriers, fire fighters, bus drivers, farmers, and soldiers.  Can you think of any other people who help out in your community?

Discuss - Talk about these different jobs with your child. Your child can learn a lot from community helpers!  Ask questions like “What does he /she do?”  “Where does he/she work?”  “Who else works there?”

Talk about what your child wants to be when they grow up.

Bible Story – This week we are talking about Jesus as a helper.  The coloring page, story and bible verse is available for you to print.  There is also a carpenter chant you can do with your also!

Sing - This is a good way to get the kids up and moving.  Have them make up dance moves to the songs.  

The Wise Man Built His House

I Got a Job – by Ella Jenkins

Dress Up - Play dress up and act out community helpers’ jobs.

Mailbox Match – Create mailboxes using empty shoe boxes, cereal/snack boxes or even just paper. Place a shape or number on the “mailboxes”. Next get several envelopes, note cards or smaller pieces of paper and write the corresponding number or shape on the mail. Put the “mailboxes” around the room. Have your child “deliver the mail”, matching the mail with the corresponding mailbox.

image from Pocket of Preschool

Build a city - Use any kind of blocks or legos to build. Add emergency vehicles to your town and have imaginary play.

Play Dough Construction – Use Wooden craft sticks with play dough to construct houses and other buildings.

Block Game – Have your child roll a die and count out that amount of blocks from a pile. As they take the blocks from the pile, they stack them into a tower. Roll again with a new number, stack blocks and see which tower is taller.  (If you don’t have dice, just make simple number cards)

image from modern preschool

Count and Clip – Print these counting cards, cut apart and gather some clothespins.  Have your child count the vehicles and clip the clothespin on the number that matches.  We usually focus on 1-6 at school but if your child is ready feel free to print the higher numbers also!

Sorting Game – Which items go with which community helper?  Print the sorting board and pieces, have child cut apart the pieces.  Then they can sort them under which helper they go with.

Band aid project – Print the teddy bear picture.  Have your child color the teddy bear.  Then give your child a few band aids with instructions to place them on the bear’s ouchies.  Then have them tell you how the teddy bear got hurt. 

Make a stethoscope – Use supplies you can find around the house to make a stethoscope and then your child can play doctor!  Suggested supplies…chenille stems(pipe cleaners), paper, aluminum foil, milk/soda lids, string, ribbon, straws.

Community Helper Hunt – Search for the community helpers in the picture and color them when you find them.

911 activity – Write 911 in large numbers on a sheet of paper. Have kids crumple and glue little scraps of paper to cover the numbers.  Talk with your child about using the 911 line in an emergency.

Send some mail!  - Send a thank you card/picture to the local emergency workers or your child’s doctor office.  Draw pictures to drop off at the local nursing home.  Send a picture to a friend or family member.

recipe from Milk Allergy Mom

Snack idea - Tell the children that one important job in our community is that of Baker. Talk about some of the important and tasty foods a baker makes. Then enjoy some freshly-baked muffins that you make together!  You might even like to sing a song about the muffin man while you eat your treats!

Recess - Use sidewalk chalk to draw flames on the sidewalk and use a spray bottle or the hose to “put them out.”

If you are itching to get out of the house, go for a driving scavenger hunt.  Drive by and show your child the different places our community helpers work…Police Station, Fire Station, County Market, Post Office, Doctors Office/Clinic, School, Church/Preschool, Library, etc.

On a rainy day get some big muscle workout with an indoor obstacle course.  I saw one marked out with painters tape with spots to jump and spin, crawling under chairs, jumping to sofa cushions, and other fun things.  I’m sure you could google or Youtube ideas if you need more!

Books to Read/Listen to…

Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook

When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic

ABC’s of What I Can Be by Caitlin McDonagh

Search for books about your child’s favorite community helper.         

Video - The Berenstain Bears – Go to the Doctor 

I hope you find these ideas I've compiled helpful.  I'm just trying to help you fill your days with fun and learning!  Stay home and stay safe!