Grow, Beans, Grow!

I just had to post an update of our bean planting last week. Check it out!

They are some happy bean plants! Caleb has enjoyed going outside every day to check on and water his plants. He can't stop talking about how they are growing. I'm just blown away at how fast they grew! A couple of the cups we planted haven't sprouted, but I think that's because they got a little overwatered. :)

Creation Day 5 - Birds and Fish

On the fifth day of creation, we learn that God creates the fish of the sea and birds of the air.  For this day's craft, we made homemade bird feeders.

Supplies used: Pine cones (my neighbor has a pine tree that we were able to take a couple from), peanut butter, bird seed, and ribbon.

I tied the ribbon around the top of the pine cone and put some peanut butter and birdseed in bowls. Caleb had me spread most of the peanut butter on the pine cones for him.

He liked rolling the pine cones in the birdseed.

All ready to hang outside!

For a snack today I made a Jello "fishbowl".

Supplies used: Berry Blue Jello, Swedish Fish, and clear plastic cups.

I followed the instructions on the box to make the jello and poured the liquid into the plastic cups. I put them in the refrigerator and let them sit for about 30 minutes before I put the fish into the cup so it was set enough that they wouldn't just fall to the bottom of the cup. I put them back in the fridge to continue setting and then they were ready to enjoy!

*Note: It's best that you eat these as soon as they are done setting (according to the box, about 4 hours). We waited almost a full 24 hours after I made them and by that time the fish had started to disintegrate and were completely mushy and disgusting (though Caleb didn't complain one bit!).

Creation Day 4 - Sun, Moon, and Stars

Today we made a mobile to represent the 4th day of creation.

Supplies used: Construction paper, crayons and markers, ribbon, and a glue stick.

First I drew a sun, moon, and stars onto white construction paper. (An artist, I am not.)

Then I gave Caleb all the yellow crayons and markers I could find and let him color away. He asked me to color with him, so of course I couldn't turn him down! :)

After he was done with coloring, I cut out all of the shapes. Then I took a black piece of construction paper and cut it in half length-wise. I took the two pieces and glued them together to make one long strip. Next, I cut varying lengths of ribbon and Caleb glued the sun, moon, and stars to them.

Then I had him glue the ribbon pieces to the black strip of paper and add extra glue so everything would be hidden when we folded the paper length-wise.



Then I made the paper into a circle, glued the ends together, and added ribbon to the top so it could hang.

He's already reaching for the stars! :)



Creation Day 3 - Land and Plants

Today we focused on the third day of creation; the creation of land and plants. I wanted to do an activity that would teach Caleb about the process of how we use the earth (soil) to grow all types of plants, trees, and flowers and how everything starts from just one small seed.

My dad (who I believe to be an expert on all things gardening related) came over to help out with today's activities and brought potting soil and beans along with him!

Supplies used: Potting soil, pinto beans, plastic cups, and water.

My dad poured the kidney beans out into a large plastic bowl and the potting soil into an empty pot I had on the front porch. Caleb had a lot of fun putting his hands into the bowl of beans and digging into the soil. Great sensory activities!

Caleb helped my dad fill the cups up with the soil.

Caleb didn't quite get the concept at first about putting just a few beans into the soil.

Grandpa had to show him how to do it.

Then Caleb filled up some cups with water from the hose and watered the soil.



And the finished products!

Caleb was a bit confused as to why the beans didn't sprout right away. We had watched a time-lapsed video the day before that showed a bean plant growing and he didn't understand why ours didn't do that too! My dad had a great idea to do a little craft so Caleb could see how the beans would sprout and what it would look like when they did. My dad cut out some pots, beans, stems, and leaves out of construction paper. He even hand cut out some letters for the title. Color me impressed!

 He had Caleb glue down the pieces.

It turned out so cute! Way to go, grandpa! I would have never thought of this!

After the craft Caleb and his grandpa sat down on the couch together and watched a old Jack and the Beanstalk movie I found on YouTube. What a fun day filled with some great memories!

Creation Day 2 - Water and Sky

Caleb was very excited about today's craft. Mostly because it meant he'd be gluing things. :)

Supplies needed: Construction paper, scissors, cotton balls, and glue.

Luckily I have a lot of scrapbook paper and found a light blue piece with a cool bumpy background. Caleb said that it was the rain, which was perfect for this craft!

I cut out the "ocean waves" from some dark blue paper, as Caleb is far from proficient with scissors. I had him help with the glue and he got to press them down onto the paper.

I helped him fluff up the cotton balls to make the clouds, but let him put the glue on the paper and press down the cotton ball clouds.

And the finished product!

He was having so much fun that he wanted to keep going after we finished our craft! So I gave him the scissors, the left over paper, glue, and cotton balls and let him be creative. He had so much fun cutting all around the paper.

Here's his finished creation. He was so proud of it and insisted on hanging it on the wall, too. :)

Creation Day 1 - Light

To go along with the first day of creation, we made a light box.

Supplies needed: Shoebox, scissors or knife, flashlight

First, I cut holes in the shoebox using a knife. I cut them on opposite sides from each other so the flashlight wasn't shining directly in Caleb's eyes.

I then had Caleb look inside and asked him what he saw. He responded, "It's dark.".

Then I had him put the flashlight in the opposite hole and had him turn it on. "It's light now!", he said.

I explained to him that before the earth was created that there was only darkness, but on that first day that God created light. His favorite thing to do was to say, "Let there be light!", and then turn the flashlight on.

After he got a little bored with the box, I had him do a coloring page for the day.

And of course it is now proudly displayed on our school wall. :)