Littles Learning Link Up: October 23, 2018: Simple Bundled Cotton Swab Fall Trees

 Each month you will find:

• A seasonal round-up (usually toward the beginning of the month)
• Posts where I share what I have been up to with my early elementary children (including occasional highlight posts where I share how we used ideas that have been linked up here on Littles Learning Link Up).

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme.  Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up. 

I hope you will continue to share your wonderful posts, and I hope you will find something new to try with your child(ren).

It would be great for everyone to stop by and visit the other linked-up posts as well. Check them out, leave some comments, pin those that interest you. Let's make this a real party and socialize with each other.

What have we been up to?

First, I would like to apologize for there being no Littles Learning Link Up last week. We were without internet for a couple of days, which was very frustrating. I am so thankful it is back. We rely on the internet so much, and not just for this blog, but the children do quite a bit of their learning online. 

Anyway, we have been busy learning about Ancient Rome and body systems. Last week we learned a bit about Roman architecture, bridges and arches. The children are using a different online site for learning math this year. Thanks to the Homeschool Review Crew we are trying out Math Whizz. So far the children seem to be enjoying it. Though for some reason they are on it a lot longer than when we used CTCMath, which means they aren't getting to their Latin and Grammar. 

Moving on to the craft of the week. . .

A couple of weeks ago we made Shape Firetrucks on a Fire Background at co-op. My Shape Firetruck post from a couple of years ago is actually my most popular post of all time. Which amazes me. This time, instead of using acrylic paint and having the children smoosh it around under plastic wrap, we just used Kwik Sticks to create the fire. I'm not sure which I like better. 

These are the firetrucks from this year using the Kwik Sticks.

And here is one from a couple of years ago.

If you would like to see how to make the shape firetrucks (which also includes measurement details for this shapes), you can find them here, in my Shape Firetruck on Flame Painting post.

Last week we made a fall tree. this was another craft I have done before, but I had never done it at co-op. My children and I made these Bundled Cotton Swab Fall Trees a couple of years ago, but we made them before co-op had started for the year. When I learned the older children were going to the Lumber Museum for a field trip this month, I thought it would be fun for the younger kiddos to make a fall tree. I did change it up a bit from the original creation as the children I have now are a lot younger and have very short attention spans. 

Simple Bundled Cotton Swab Fall Trees

Here is what you will need:

Acrylic paint in fall colors (I used red, orange, and yellow)

Glue sticks

Brown Construction paper

White paper (I used cardstock)

Cotton Swabs

Rubber bands

I use an egg carton as a paint holder/pallette

In preparation all I did was bundle approximately 20 cotton swabs together and secure them with a rubber band. There is one bundle per child. Then I cut out the brown paper into the shape of tree trunks. Older children could cut them out themselves, or paint their own tree trunks like my children did a couple of years ago.

The children glued their tree trunk onto the white paper.

Even the little guy, who's one and a half was able to make the project with some help.

Then I placed glops of  paint in the egg carton lid, close to each other, but not mixed in. The children made leaves for their trees by dipping the cotton swab bundles into the paint and dabbing them onto the top of the tree trunk. I told them not to rub the bundle across the paper, but to make sure to bump up and down.

I love the effect this makes:

Let's take a look at that review schedule real quick:

A couple of weeks ago I shared my review for season six of The Brinkman Adventures. Last week I shared my review for St. Bartholomew's Eve from Heirloom Audio Productions. Next week I will be posting my review of Math-Whizz from Whizz Education. 

In November I will be sharing reviews for two products. The first will be of the MasterKitz from Kidzaw. We will be making our own The Starry Night paintings. And then I will share about Guitar360. Tabitha and my husband were both thrilled to find out we were going to be learning to play guitar.

Here are a few things I would like to share with you:

Pumpkin Fun Round Up
(Some wonderfully fun pumpkin ideas, no jack-o-lanterns involved)

Torn Paper Pumpkins

Two-Sided Paper Plate Pumpkins

And, seeing as Thanksgiving is just a month away. . . 

Thanksgiving Round Up

Now onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 8 wonderful post linked up. I will be featuring the most clicked on post, plus one randomly selected post.

Please, don't forget to stop by other posts that are linked up. See what catches your eye, stop by, pin the post to a relevant board, and perhaps leave a comment to let the author of the blog know you have been by for a visit. I know I appreciate others commenting and letting me know they have read my posts, so I am sure others do too.

This week's randomly selected post is:

Small Worlds Preschool shared Fall Peg Doll Crafts to Make.

This week's most clicked on post is:

Preschool Naturally shared Making a Tree Scrapbook.

Join the Party!

I would love to have you join in this week! What sort of activities do you do with your young children? Do you have some favorite activities you would like to share? I invite you to link up below. I will be pinning posts on one of my relevant boards, and I would love to feature some of the activities each week from what is linked up.

Please know I may share a picture from your post and link back to it, along with sharing how we used your idea in our school time. By linking up you are giving me permission to use a picture from your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. Additionally, if you choose to try out any of the ideas with your child, please make sure you give credit where credit is due.

Linky will be open through Monday night, to give me time to check out all the posts and get the Features organized. Please take the time to visit some of the other wonderful posts linked up.

No button currently, and there won't be one until I can figure it out seeing as Photobucket has changed things. Feel free to still share the picture in place of the button. Just link it to my Littles Learning Link Up permalink please.

I am sharing over at

An InLinkz Link-up