Grand Canyon Cake

Our son, Ian, went on a field trip with his fourth grade class to the Grand Canyon last week.  To honor this adventure, he requested we make a Grand Canyon cake.

 We set a portion of the cake mix aside and mixed in blue food coloring because he wanted the Colorado River running through it.

After it baked, we dug out part of the center to create the canyon.
*If I were doing this over again, I would create layers of pink, red, and brown cake mix.  That way when I dug out the center you would see the layers in the cake just like you do at the actual Grand Canyon.

 Next we frosted the cake- blue frosting for the river and pink for the north and south rims.

 Ian loved it!

Introducing Learning Spot™ Lessons

New from Carson-Dellosa, Learning Spot Lessons interactive whiteboard units.

Turn on your interactive whiteboard. Then give it power.

Download a FREE Learning Spot Lessons unit from The Learning Bug today, and save hours in planning for tomorrow!
http://www.DigitalTeachingTools.com/5083001.aspx

The perfect combo of digital teaching and hands-on learning:
* Downloadable from the web - no CDs needed
* Engaging, fun, standards-based content for students
* Pre-loaded lesson plans save time, reduce teacher workload
* Designed for whole group, small group and individualized learning
* Classroom management tools to keep entire class engaged
* Compatible with ALL interactive whiteboard technology, as well as Mac and PC

Grades K-2 available now. Grades 3-5 coming soon.


Read more about Learning Spot Lessons online at:
http://www.azlearningbug.com/iwb

Watch this 96 second video to learn more now!

Developed and tested by teachers, these lessons set a new standard for engaging students in the classroom.

The perfect balance between digital teaching and hands-on learning begins with Learning Spot Lessons.

Prepare now for Dr. Seuss' Birthday!

Each year the National Education Association hosts Read Across America - an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on or near March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss. NEA's Read Across America also provides NEA members, parents, caregivers, and children the resources and activities they need to keep reading on the calendar 365 days a year. National Reading Week is the first full week in March, and National Reading Month is all of March. The Learning Bug has created Dr. Seuss lesson plans that integrate all subject areas including math, science, social studies, character counts and of course math and reading. You can adjust each day's activity from a quick art project to a complete lesson that meets state objectives. That flexibility also allows the teacher to adapt the lessons to multiple grade levels, or to differentiate instruction to each of her students' ability levels. The lessons are perfect for whole class, small group, or centers. You decide! Click on this link to learn more about our lesson plan and Dr. Seuss celebration package full of incentives and decoratives: https://www.azlearningbug.com/seuss/

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Yummy Holiday Treats!

Looking for a quick, but delicious holiday treat? Try these...

Juanita's Fudge

Making the fudge at Christmas time was always something my Dad and sister did together. Our family even had a special dish for the fudge. My mom's recipe comes out perfectly every time, and is an easy Christmas candy kids can help make. Click here for the recipe: Juanita's Fudge

Pretzel Kisses with M&M's

We received these from a friend and they're so cute! Better yet, they're incredibly easy and quick to make. Kids can put them together before you pop them in the oven. Click here to see the recipe: Holiday Pretzels

Happy Holidays from Daniel, Michelle and Ian at The Learning Bug!

Counting Good Deeds

Advent calendars counting down to Christmas are fun, but here is a great twist on that idea. Have the children color and decorate 5-10 strips of paper. Glue the strips together to create a paper chain. As they do a good deed for someone in the family or the community they take a paper chain off. Eventually all of their chains will be off and they will have reached the goal for their good deeds. Good deeds can be as simple as helping with the dishes, making someone's bed for them, or giving a hug to someone who is sad. This idea works for January when you are talking about Martin Luther King Jr. and friendship/getting along too!

Easy Holiday Crafts

If you are looking for a smart and quick project to do with your students this week, stop by The Learning Bug's website: https://www.azlearningbug.com/workshops/crafts/. You'll find a recipe for peppermint salt dough (www.azlearningbug.com/workshops/crafts/saltDough.pdf) and some cute snowman activities too!

Thank You!

Today dear customers we are thankful for you! We are grateful for the opportunity we have to aide you as you make a difference in learners' lives. Thank you for sharing your inspiring stories with us and letting us help you make teaching just a little easier.

Happy Halloween!

Have a Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Fun for Early Math Standards

Looking for a fun and simple way to teach some of those pesky Early Learning Math Standards? Check out this easy pumpkin activity that provides many opportunities for using and developing math skills!

Visit this link to learn more: http://www.azlearningbug.com/tips/40

Download a PDF for the pumpkin template and let the fun begin!

Pumpkin Recipes

Click on the link below to see a video and enjoy some very yummy pumpkin recipes:

Pumpkin Recipes

Cooking with your students is a great way to extend a study of pumpkins!

Back-To-School Bingo

Back-To-School Bingo is back for 2010!

Buy five of these items to make a row and win! You can win multiple times (blackout gets all three savings).

Plus with BONUS BINGO you win even if you don't get a five in a row.

Choose from 30% off one item, 15% off your total, or a free seasonal book when you get BINGO. Get a blackout, and you get all three!

Teacher Appreciation Day

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

The Learning Bug is glad to be a teensy part of what you do to make Children everywhere smarter and ready for the world in so many ways.

Give yourself a pat on the back. Then pat another teacher's back!

New for 2010 from TREND Enterprises

We love pretty much everything from TREND, and these are just a few of their new items for 2010. Opening the box was like a little mid-January Christmas morning! Everything I show in the video is here in our store. We've got an entire section just for new items from TREND and our other publishers.

Okay, after trying for 13 hours, blogger is refusing to upload my video. I'll keep trying, but in the meantime you can see the video on our facebook page.