It has been way too long since I've created some new lunchbox notes, and the kids were pretty desperate for some new ones. So I searched through some of my old teaching files to find what I know my students loved--word puzzles. These are quick, these are cool, and these are puzzles that the kids can share with friends at lunch. The more working on them, the merrier. And as parents, any way we can get our kids playing with words, it's a win. Here's the skinny. . . Word Puzzle … [Read more...]
birdwatching math puzzles: super challenging and tricky
This summer as we usually do, I'm trying each week to include some new and exciting math fun. In the form of puzzles or chocolate challenges or number games or just a new spin on old school problem-solving, any way we can pull in Especially this year we've loved the challenging puzzles created by Erich Friedman. These puzzles, you guys, are tough. This week we tried the Birdwatching Puzzles. Here's the skinny. . . Birdwatching Math Puzzles--Super Challenging and Tricky: The … [Read more...]
need something fun and unplugged for kids?
Friends. We're rocking and rolling this summer. We're doing just about everything we can to keep ourselves smiling and sane in between 50 thousand swim and dive meets. And though it's so fun, just about every year we hit a wall come mid July. Before we know it, though, summer swim and dive will be over, and we'll (sob!) be getting ready for a new school year. So like we do every summer, we're playing with some tabletop surprises so that Maddy, Owen, and Cora can find their own time … [Read more...]
get kids to play outside: 4 tips for summertime playground fun
Sometimes, getting kids to play outside is no easy feat, especially in the summer. Because here in the DC Metro area, it's hot. It's hot. Hot. It's muggy. It's oppressive. When the sun's beating down, the heat's suffocating, and the last thing my kids want to do is go and play outside. But last week, two friends and I got our big kids and little kids outside, playing, and having fun. Old-school style. Free-bird, playing outdoors in the summertime. We had some … [Read more...]
how to play bunco with FAMILIES
On an off for years now, we've played Bunco with our family. At family gatherings, after the little ones had gone to bed, the adults rocked out a little Bunco fun. Complete with crazy prizes a la our fun Bingo bonanza, the adults laughed and rolled dice and played Bunco late into the night. Now that Maddy, Owen, and Cora are older, though, we've introduced them to the fun of Bunco. Bunco is a simple dice-rolling game that leaves little to skill and all to … [Read more...]
best bunco game night snack ideas
I lied when I said that the best thing about Bunco was that it was an easy game to play while catching up with friends. Really. I lied. It's not 100% true. The best thing about Bunco is the snacks. There. I said it. Bunco snacks are awesome. But if Bunco isn't your game and something else is--Scrabble? Phase 10? Pokeno? Yahtzee?--whatever it is, snacks are a fun part of game night. And though I am kidding, I'm also kind of not kidding. We all need … [Read more...]
how to play bunco: super fun gno (girls’ night out)
This month has been dedicated to spending time with friends--cultivating old friendships, spending time with current friends, and appreciating all the great people in my life. Spending more time with my spouse and more meaningful, quality time with my kids. One of the things that I did this month with friends was to re-start a Bunco group for my girlfriends. Bunco is the ultimate girls' night out activity because it's easy, it's quick, and it's … [Read more...]
belgian mussels with kids: a cultural adventure at home & trip of a lifetime
We are so lucky now that our kids can literally have the world at their fingertips. With technology today and well-designed educational apps, kids can basically explore the world from the comfort of their own home. Virtual travel is something that our family has enjoyed for years now--through food especially. Recently we had a chance to do a little exploration of sorts--enjoying a meal at a nearby Belgian restaurant and then challenging ourselves to make … [Read more...]
valentine’s day class party ideas: cool activities to get kids moving and creating
Let's face it: classroom parties are difficult to throw. Scratch that. Class parties easy to throw but difficult to throw well. And what I've found over time--and by being a classroom parent for five years--is that certain things work and certain things don't. Having three kids in elementary school has helped me tremendously to be a better planner, organizer, and facilitator of THE class party. So this Valentine's Day, I'm mixing things up a bit. We've got … [Read more...]
valentine’s day heart bingo
This is so funny--I created this bingo game ages and ages ago but never really shared it. So? Here it is: Valentine's Day Heart Bingo. Super-basic and similar in layout and design as our Halloween Ghost Bingo, but, of course, all Valentinesy and lovey. Here's the skinny. . . Valentine's Day Heart Bingo: This is a great one to print out and use for classroom parties, for playdates, or for any time that works for you. It's a good, calm-down bingo game with a Valentine’s Day … [Read more...]
new years eve guess the word game
Much like our Christmas Guess the Word Game, the New Year's Eve Guess the Word Game totally rocks. Okay. There you have it. Plain and simple. Rocks. The kids loved playing our holiday version on the way to see their Pennsylvania family this week, so I made another version. Actually, I made both versions on the same day. And actually, the kids helped brainstorm words for both. So fun. Here's the skinny. . . New Year's Eve Guess the Word Game: The premise is the … [Read more...]
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