Messy Monday #15 - Veterinarian Theme

 

Every Messy Monday this summer,  I'll  show you some of  the activities and art projects that we do each week to coordinate with the theme of the week. (see this post)  I'd love it if you follow along with your littles - you can just do the art project or get involved with everything,  or you can blog right along with me.  I'd love it if you'd post about what you've done, link back to me and use the Messy Monday button in your post (on my sidebar).  Thanks!

This week's theme is Veterinarian - so we are immersing ourselves in all things animal and animal care.  Here are a couple activities that we did to get into the theme:  

 

 

We went to the library and checked out books about animals and veterinarians.

 

We read the books and made site word cards with the new vocabulary words.

 

We played a game of sorting animal words and other words.

We set up a vet clinic in our living room and dining room (notice the signs in the different "areas"- this is a center that stays up for the week so the kiddos can go back and play every day.

Check-in pad to "sign in", pencils, and a sucker jar for well-behaved animals (my 4 year old's idea).

Exam table - Dr. kit, medicine dispenser

X-ray room (empty box) with casts (felt/glue gun).

We also drew X-rays of broken bones with pencils and paper.

Treated animal (he was well-behaved - see the sucker?)

Here's the Messy Monday project for the week - inspired by Elmer the Elephant (any fans?)

We read the book and talked about patterns.  What is a pattern, what makes a pattern, what does a pattern look like - this is an EASY concept to teach with the Elmer books.

I divided thick white paper into equal squares with a ruler and a pencil (I made 3 - one for each kid and one for me for demo purposes with them).  We used markers, dot paint markers and stickers.

 

I cut construction paper into little squares ahead of time.

 

We did a different pattern in each square.

 

  I demo'd a couple and then worked on mine while they worked on theirs.

The finished pattern backgrounds (2 year old's, 4 year old's, mommy's) - ready for Elmer.

 

I drew a simple elephant line drawing for the kids to fill in with the mosaic shapes - this could be any animal, but I have a couple elephant-obsessed littles.

Add the squares to the animal shape.

 

Cut out the animal shape and glue down to the pattern background.

I'm linking up to some of these great parties - check them out!