Mad Science is Mad Fun!

Supercute Treats!

Oreos, Reese's Pieces, and frosted cupcakes.  Hoo could resist these spooky owl cupcakes?

You Can "Count" on this party to be fun!

Here is a great theme for kindergarten, who doesn't love the Sesame Street Count? Please post your ideas in the comment section, and feel free to contact me with any questions or copies of party plans! 

It's Halloween Party Planning Time!

Halloween party planning is so much fun!  I will have lots of posts this month, ranging from full party plans to simple games.  Please post any ideas that you have in the comments section. 

You should already be thinking about where you are having your party.  Is there room in the classroom? Are both rooms having their party together? Think about how you are dividing the kids into activity groups and how many kids will be in each group.  All of these things should help you plan for how many parents you need at the party to make sure it runs smoothly.  Don't forget about setup/cleanup time when you are asking for help!  I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to use volunteerspot.com to coordinate your volunteers and supply parents.  I am using it and I think it's great!  It cuts back on duplication and eliminates the need for you to send out multiple e-mails updating parents on party needs.

Fun Fall Classroom Crafts

Here are some fun fall classroom crafts for the younger grades.  Instructions are at the links below.  I am going to start posting Halloween party plans and game ideas next week.


http://almostunschoolers.blogspot.com/2009/09/changing-seasons-tree-puppet-preschool.html

http://www.craftelf.com/Craft_elf_Fall_Snow_globe_decoration.htm

http://naturenest.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/pumpkin-seed-mosaic-art-a-fall-kids-craft/

volunteerspot.com

Hi Room moms,

You should have met with your teachers by this week.  Please consider using volunteerspot.com when you are recruiting volunteers for field trips and parties.  Some the classrooms at IHM are already using this site to manage events.

http://www.volunteerspot.com/

Illumination Classroom Auction Ideas

The Illumination Auction items ideas are due by September 20^th!  What is your classroom going to do?  Here are some ideas and things that have been done in the past. Add your ideas/suggestions in the comments.

• Movie basket: Fill a movie bowl with DVDs, a box or bag of popcorn regular, some movie-size boxes of candy, certificates for free movie rentals, some popular dvds..
• Cooking basket: Fill a large pot with cooking utensils, an apron, a chef's hat, and some baking mixes.
• Family game night basket: with items like Jenga, Scrabble, Apples-to-Apples, and snacks to eat while they are playing.
• A handmade quilt that each child creates a square for.  One person needs to make equal squares and and the children can take them home to decorate them.  You can ask the kids to use a common theme in their artwork.  They can sew a design or use a permanent marker to create their art.
• Handmade note cards.  Each child can create a drawing for the front of a notecard.  Drawings can be scanned and notecards can be printed.  Multiple sets can be created.
• A collaborative painting.  Your classroom can work with the art teacher to create a one-of-a-kind collaborative painting that each child contributes to.
• Classroom cookbook – each child contributes a recipe with a picture of them making it.
• Classroom favorite book basket.  Each child donates their favorite book and the books are placed in a basket to be auctioned.
• Handmade Christmas ornaments from each child
• Hand painted nativity set
• Memory book – Our class did this in 2^nd grade. Each child drew a picture of what they wanted to be when they grew up and it was scanned and placed next to a picture of the child.  The photobooks were ordered after people placed orders at the auction and through the classroom.
• Decorated/painted furniture
• Memory box
• Hand painted Thanksgiving platter