Buddy and I made an anchor from scrap cardboard, painted it yellow and added gold glitter. I tied on some jute rope and threaded it through a hole on the side. I made a few knots on the other end, but when Little Man showed us that he could successfully pull the knots through the hole, I pinched a binder clip over the knot. See if you can pull that through Little Man! (He probably will.)
Buddy also wanted a telescope/canon so we painted an old paper towel tube and I added a little cardboard loop on the front of the ship to hold it in place. He used this to "shoot" ping pong balls.
When the ping pong balls would get stuck, he found a way to push them through using his tinker toys.
Love the tongue poking out of his mouth as he concentrates!
I came up with a little number game to play with Buddy using the ping pong balls. I drew the numbers 1-12 on twelve ping pong balls and put them in an old egg carton. Then I sat in front of the boat and said, ( in my best pirate voice)...
"Aaaargggh, shoot me out the number ______."
And then Buddy would find that number and shoot it out the "canon" and I would try to catch it in a hat. He really enjoyed this game and it was a great way to squeeze in a little number learning for the day, since we ditched our lesson plans in favor of creative play.
The next day, their Daddy added a sail made from PVC pipe. I covered it with drawing paper, and then Little Man promptly tore it to pieces. I think he thought he was unwrapping a gift.
I might try to cover it with a pillowcase or something instead. Or I might just leave it the way it is. It kind of looks like a ship that has made it through a rough storm. And it kind of has. To survive a few days of play with two energetic little boys is no easy feat.
Always,
Amanda
