Swashbuckling Pirate Party Planning E-book: Review & Giveaway

And the winner is...

Comment #15

Congratulations, Mandy! 

Thursday night this week I had the privilege of hosting 7 active young boys for my third monthly preschool party.  February's theme was "Out to Sea with Jonah".  What better activities for this party than fun pirate-themed games!  I was fortunate enough to be able to use the "Swashbuckling Pirate Party" from Touch of Home Learning.

Just look at these fierce pirates!

I had already spent a little bit of time planning our party before I got to review the planning kit, but I wish I hadn't.  It was amazing how quickly and easily everything came together once I had this in my "hands" (or on the computer monitor).  The packet has ideas for everything from invitations to snacks and decorations, even several activities that will keep kids excited, active and best of all LEARNING (without knowing it).  I think it is best suited for children of elementary age.  Most of our guests were 5 and under so I had to adapt some activities, but they had SO MUCH FUN.  Even the most hesitant children were participating by the end of the evening.

One of our VERY SIMPLE decorations

Some more fantastic things about this party planner, it is cheap!  You can buy the e-book for only $6.95 from Touch of Home Learning.  The suggested activities are really very simple and easy to make yourself cheaply.  I highly recommend a "Swashbuckling Pirate Party" for your son or daughter and their friends!  It would be great for birthdays, end of school celebrations, classroom parties, or just for the fun of it!  (It's also great to pair with a Jonah themed party).

Buy it:
You can buy the Swashbuckling Pirate Party planner at Touch of Home Learning for only $6.95.

Win it:

You can win a copy right here with up to 4 easy entries into the contest!  In order to enter the contest you must first be a follower of Crum's This N That (this blog).  You can do that on the upper right hand column on this page.  Contest will end on 3/10 at noon EST.

Mandatory Entry: 

Your first entry must be to "like" Touch of Home Learning on Facebook.  You don't have to leave them a message, but it would be kind to let them know that you entered into their giveaway at Crum's This N That.

Additional Entries:

Remember to leave a comment for EACH additional entry and leave your email in every comment.

1) Look at Touch of Home Learning's Activity Kits, tell me which one you love the most. 

2) "Like" Crum's This N That on Facebook.

3) Follow me on Twitter. 

 

Out to Sea with Jonah (and the pirates)

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH ye ready for a party?

The eager host

Last night was our 3rd "preschool party".  I think I need to change the name since our guests range from ages 8 months to 7 years!  Our theme was Out to See with Jonah.  We had some very generous sponsors for this party, and guess what - they're ALL hosting giveaways (these will be posted over the weekend). 

So, what'd we do????? 

The big fish

Inside the big fish

We told the story of Jonah with puppets and a BIG BIG Fish.. it ate several of us!

Walking the plank

 

  Then we walked the plank, we took turns falling into the deep blue sea like Jonah (and being eaten by that big crazy fish).  Some of the guys were a little timid about it, but by the end all but 1 had walked the plank.. and he can't walk anyway.  (he did crawl over it though)

We colored some fish

And went fishing!

Super easy craft, I couldn't find my Popsicle sticks though, so we used clothes pins.. it worked and they all enjoyed trying to catch fish.

Waiting for instructions

 

 

The boys (did I mention it ended up being all boys?) said their favorite game was the treasure hunt, they wanted to do it again and again!

Yum

Snack was an amazingly fun event, I'll share more about that when I post my Wholly Guacamole review.. AND GIVEAWAY! (4 winners!)

Where does it go?

Next was our blindfold game, some of the boys wanted to play it again and again and again (especially the oldest), others were not so sure about being blindfolded.

We had a small battle, a lily pad hop and stop game, coloring, and a movie. 

Tired

They were all pretty worn out by the end!

Preschool Party Preview...

Go Fish Guys

 We're going to rock it out with Go Fish Guys! 

Yep... Guacamole

We'll be trying an amazing snack, compliments of Wholly Guacamole (don't think your kids will try it?  Just wait... they will)

Games by Touch of Home Learning

Amazing Pirate-y games, based on the Touch of Home Learning Swashbuckling Pirate Party Guide

Oh yeah... and also... 

Jonah

 

 

We're going to hang out in the belly of a big fish and learn about our friend Jonah... using all those above-named sponsors!

60 Quick and Easy Science Experiments with Everyday Items

Congratulations Jessica and Preston, Comment #16, you won!

If you are new to my blog, you might not know that I am working on teaching my preschoolers.  I have been doing homeschool activities with my 1 and 2 year old for about a month now.  I also enjoy having their friends over for parties and we do some fun educational activities at our parties. 

"Why do you think that happened?"... "Because sometimes science is like that" (Conversation with a 5 year old)

For these reasons, I was very excited to have an opportunity to review 60 Quick and Easy Science Experiments with Everyday Items from Touch of Home Learning.  This book is a great resource for all families.  It is especially an asset to any families currently homeschooling young children, or working toward a home education.

Daddy and Monkey made the flood during our Noah's Ark week.

 What I love about this book:  It is divided nicely by subject, and subjects that captivate children - bubbles, dinosaurs, space, and more.  It truly does use items that most people have around the house (or can acquire cheaply).  There are questions to help kids start thinking about the experiment, and discussion questions ater the experiment.  It is written in an easy to use format.

Monkey is adding water to his flood.

What I would change about this book:  More, I want more more more.  I love the book and look forward to using it with my boys for a long time to come!

Making Goop at our preschool party.  They thought it was "gross", but had fun sharing.

Buy it:  You can buy this book for $54.95 at  Touch of Home Learning.

Win it:  One lucky reader can win this e-book!

Mandatory Entry:
Go to Touch of Home Learning and comment on this post about something you discovered there.  Don't forget to leave your email address in your comment.

Additional Entries:
1) "Like" Touch of Home Learning on Facebook.
2) Follow my blog via GFC or Networked blogs (or both), upper right hand column of this page.
3) "Like" Crum's This N That on Facebook.