Is Mother Goose Time Worth It?

 If you're looking for a way to entertain and educate your preschooler, than look no further.  Mother Goose Time is a complete preschool curriculum that included everything you need for a month of learning.  The box comes with SO many items that it would take too many photos to show all the awesome materials.  Instead of spending hours searching pinterest to come up with ideas that are both fun and educational, I can just open my teacher guide and go.  All the work has been done for me and the material is all there.  I don't have to run to the store to pick up last minute items because I know everything will be included.  Instead of spending time gathering ideas and items, I now have the time to spend with my girls doing fun activities.  They both love Mother Goose Time, and I love that it makes education fun. My 7 year old asks me to wait until she gets home from school to do the lessons, because she doesn't want to miss anything.

 Every month Mother Goose Time sends us a new box filled with activities, art materials, music, and fun.  My girls love when the yellow school bus box arrives, and it is always ripped open within minutes.  In August the theme will be science lab, which my science loving 7 year old is thrilled about.  Each month focuses on a new theme, and I've found that learning about one main topic all month helps the girls retain the information easier.  They're always eager to see what the new topic of the day will be, and how it will fit into the overall theme.

The teachers guide and planning journal help organize the month.  In August we will be conducting experiments, making crafts, working on letters and numbers, and learning about science.  On the Mother Goose Time website you can  see that "Children learn that science is everywhere as they do hand on experiments and activities every day in their own science labs.This month's study explores great scientists and their discoveries as well as some inventions that have changed lives."

Mother Goose Time makes is so easy to stay organized.  Each daily topic comes with it's own day bag.  You just open the bag and everything you need (except household items like crayons, glue, paint, etc) is included.  Little to no prep work is required.  

A favorite item that comes each month are the manipulatives.  They are slowly taking over our house since we save them all in a bin.  This month included 5 different sized beakers and a set of different shaped nuts and bolts.  We haven't even started August yet, but already these have seen hours of play.

Every month comes with a music new CD, book, I can read story, journal, art materials, the list goes on and on.

In addition to 20 day bags there is also a bonus celebration pack.  Usually these are for a monthly holiday.  For August the focus is family picnic.  There is an entire lesson plan built around this topic.  The celebration packs are almost always my girls favorite day of the month,  There  are always games, crafts, snack ideas and a story.  We go on a picnic every Monday during the summer, so this will be great to incorporate into our regular outing. 

FChildren learn that science is everywhere as they do hands-on experiments and activities every day in their own science labs. This month’s study explores great scientists and their discoveries, as well as some inventions that have changed lives. Discover what happens when you mix to substances, explore the mysteries of sound, light, forces, electricity, magnets and resistance. Go on a journey to explore the world around you and classify items as living or non-living and how they all matter to each other. This hands-on month makes a scientist out of anyone. - See more at: http://www.mothergoosetime.com/monthly-themes/science-lab-august2016/#sthash.jjIbUSRQ.dpuf

God is an Artist

One of the monthly add ons that we get through Mother Goose Time is the Experience God pack.

This month the story focuses on the creation story.  The teacher pack contains the lesson plan book, memory verse poster, and story telling sets.

The child packs contain all the materials you need for the weekly crafts.  There are also coloring sheets and take home activities.

The girls really likes using their own paint pallets to paint their creation stories.  

They also decorated and assembled their own hand held mirrors.

Their favorite craft from this months pack were the owl puppets. 

Michelangelo

This week with Mother Goose Time we've been focusing on artists from Italy.  Here are just a few of the highlights from today's lesson.

The girls each got a bag with a tomato.  They added some chopped up peppers and basil.  They used their hands to crush up the items in the bag and make their own sauce, which was served with spaghetti.  They both gave the meal 2 thumbs up.

We talked about Michelangelo and how he had to lie on his back to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  I taped paper underneath chairs and the girls lay on their backs and painted.  Elli said she just wanted to sit at the table and paint, but Addie thought this was a great exercise.

We also talked about how it's important to be happy with what you have, even when others have something you might want.  The girls picked a contentment feather and decided that Falco was content with the paintbrushes he had.

Printmaking

Today's Mother Goose Time lesson was about printmaking.  We focused on the color blue, and the shape was the triangle.  Elli used her brush from day one to go around the house and paint blue objects.

Today's character building trait was resourcefulness.  We talked about using the things you have to solve problems and came up with examples and scenarios.  Elli picked a feather from Falco's nest and the girls decided Falco was not resourceful in the presented scenario.

The girls collected sticks and made them into triangles.  They also used them to draw triangle shapes in the sand.

 The girls glued the included foam shapes onto their cardboard lids that were provided.

They painted their shapes and used them to make their own prints.  They both made multiple pages of prints and had fun experimenting with mixing colors.

We played a matching game called don't get the wolf.  If the girls picked the wolf card they had to howl and return the card to the bottom.  Then I hid the wolf cards and the girls had to search around the house and howl when they found them.

One of the features this month was a money kit.  Today the girls learned what it means to save.  They played a game balancing triangles on their fingers.  When you have money it's important to hold onto it and not lose it.

The girls completed all the tasks of the day, so they each earned 3 FLY dollars to add to their spend, save, and give envelopes. 

Portrait Painting

Day 2 with Mother Goose Time's art studio theme was portrait painting.  We started the day by talking about green circles.  Elli went around the house using her paintbrush from day 1 to paint objects that were green.

   The girls picked out a green integrity feather from Falco's nest.  We talked about how it's important to do the right thing, even if no one is around to see you.  I read the feather to them and they decided that Falco did not demonstrate integrity in the scenario.  We worked on coming up with real life examples of ways to show integrity.

I showed the girls the included copy of the Mona Lisa.  They came up with ways they looked similar and different to her.  Next they created their own portrait book.  It had 3 different pictures that were cut in half, so you could mix and match the heads.  They thought this was especially funny, and had a great time trying out all the head/body combinations.

We read the included book of the month.  

I cut up a picture from a magazine and hid the pieces around the living room.  The girls raced to find them as fast as they could, and then worked together to assemble the puzzle.  

Yesterday we talked about Europe, and today the girls were introduced to Italy.  They each made their own Italian flag using the provided materials.

All month the girls will be learning about managing money.  Yesterday Elli learned what earning meant and today we focused on spending.  The girls each got 4 circles and they had to pay 1 circle to try and shoot the included globe ball into a basket.  They LOVED this game.  We talked about how you can spend money on goods and services.

The girls completed all the tasks of the day, and as a result they each earned 3 FLY dollars.  They put them in their spend, save, and give envelopes.  Every day they use the money from the spend envelope to buy art supplies needed for the days lesson.  If there are extras, they can decide if they want to use their savings to purchase more.