Great Deals!

Just a quick post to let you know that Lakeshore Learning is having a great sale right now, including their Classroom Magnetic Letters Kit (shown above) for 50% off! 

We love our kit, and I have posted about this kit before

{see here, & here}

and we use it like a moveable alphabet. 

It also works great for the materials that Confessions for a Homeschooler creates (see here), as by chance the letters are just the right size! 

So instead of $39.95, until 3/13/11 or until supplies last, the kit is $19.95.

Their 50% off sale is good for lots of other great items, check it out here!

Unfortunately, the sale is IN-STORE only, but if you've got a location near you (or a friend or family member who does), you're in luck!

Happy shopping!!

♥

Make Your Own Sidewalk Chalk, Tutorial & Sale

{Image Credit: Lakeshore Learning}

Thanks to Lakeshore Learning, I have a great step-by-step, easy tutorial to share with you today on how to make your own sidewalk chalk!  Scroll down for a great coupon to Lakeshore as well!

(FYI, I have no affiliation to Lakeshore, I just like them!)

Twice the fun: The making, and the drawing!

♥

You will need:

Plaster of paris

Lakeshore Fully Washable Liquid Tempera - Pints (or another washable tempera paint)

Craft Sticks

Paper cups

Bowl

Water

Directions:

Pour 1 cup of plaster of paris into your bowl.

With a craft stick, stir in 2 heaping spoonfuls of washable tempera paint.

Slowly stir in water until the mixture is thick and pasty.

Pour the mixture into paper cups. Set aside to dry for a few hours.

When your chalk is completely dry, tear away the paper cups. Your chalk is ready to use—to create sidewalk art that washes right off!

♥

{Image Credit: Lakeshore Learning}

Lakeshore also has a special, limited time sale on their Giant Washable Color Ink Pads (Set of  5 colors).  These are big enough for hands, apples, potatoes, and whatever else you can think of!

50% off until 5/30.

And lastly, for your viewing pleasure, here is my latest treasury....

{click on image or link to view full-size}

A Gentle Blue, by me!

10 items, $10 and under

Want to spruce up your Montessori curriculum but don't want to spend a lot of money? 
Here are 10 items I found for only $10 or less...

1.  Teaching Montessori in the Home: Pre-School Years
A book written some years ago with ideas that are still relevant today.  By Elizabeth Hainstock.  New, $9.36 from Amazon, plus free shipping with minimum purchase of $25.

2.  MÅLA, Long sleeve apron.  Ikea.  $2.99 (Yes, that price is correct).  Great smock for art projects and messy play of all kinds.

3.  KID O Arranging Narrow to Wide Puzzle.  $9.95.  Colorful wooden puzzle engages children while promoting skills that help down the road with reading and math. Children exercise hand-eye coordination, concentration, spatial relations and problem solving. From narrowest to broadest, the multiple hues of this beautiful green puzzle compel children to discern gradual variations in width.   Other variations of this puzzle also available at Amazon as well.

4.  Pink Series Beginning Sounds Set from Montessori for Everyone.  $4.99.  PDF file including This material consists of: 10 Pink Series Picture cards with missing beginning sound (vowels in blue), 10 Consonants to fill in the missing sound, Chart that shows all the pictures completed correctly, black and white master with all the words for children to trace, black and white master with guidelines so children can write the words, and instructions for making and using this work.

5.  A Montessori Transferring, Counting, Sorting, Pouring, Manipulative STARFISH Activity from Fun Cards.  $9.99.  Multiple colors and designs are available so you can keep it fresh and interesting, or change seasonally.

6.  Lacing Frame from Alison's Montessori.  $6.  Use coupon code alisons at checkout and get an additional 10% off your order.  Buckling and Safety Pin Frame also currently available at the same price.

7.  Pink Tower and Brown Stair Pattern Cards from Montessori Print Shop.  $4.49.  PDF file instant download.  Children view the cards and select one, and transfer the pattern into 3D using the pink tower and broad stair.  Set 2 is also available.

8.  Grow Your Own Elm Tree from Montessori Services For Small Hands.  $6.25.  Hands on science activity.  Everything included is biodegradable and organic — just add water. The Siberian Elm is a robust variety, chosen for quick growth and the ability to thrive in a variety of climates.  Seeds are guaranteed fertile; ours sprouted within two weeks, right on time. Plant outdoors when seedlings are about 6" tall. Includes instructions and reference material.  5% of proceeds benefit the Arbor Day Foundation.  Great activity for Earth Day on April 22nd.

9.  Melissa and Doug Stack and Sort Board.   Engage kids with this stack and sort board that helps build matching and counting skills. Little learners can simply match the color and quantity of the colorful pieces to the key on the sturdy solid-wood board, and then stack them up on the peg. Comes with 15 wooden stacking pieces and base.

10.  Geometric Nomenclature Card set.  $3.80 (on sale from $16).  From Adena Montessori.