You can also decorate frames with buttons.

Count buttons.

Sort buttons by shape, size, colors, etc.

Make faces with button noses and eyes.

Cut out buttons from cardboard. Using a hole punch, punch holes in the buttons. Let the children sew the buttons with yarn. Apply tape to the end for easier threading.

Make a "Button Bag" which is a tote bag with a few buttons sewn on it. The bag contains:

• Corduroy (written and illustrated by Don Freeman) and audio tape
• The Button Box (written by Margarette S. Reid, illustrated by Sarah Chamberlain)
• a heart-shaped box of buttons
• a sorting tray
• a journal for the child’s words and drawings about the buttons
• writing/drawing tools for the journals
• a laminated card with a neat photo of a child-created button collage that I found in a calendar on one side and the following on the other side:

Did you know that buttons could be math materials? They can help your child learn about counting, classification, estimation, and more. The following ideas are meant to promote development of math, art, language skills, while being enjoyable for the children.

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Activity Ideas

* Give the children an opportunity to explore the buttons.

* Ask the children to guess (estimate) how many buttons are in the box and then count them.

* Sort the buttons with your child(ren) using whatever attribute he or she chooses. After sorting one way, you may want to sort them again a different way.

* Create a pattern of buttons (for example: red button, blue button, red button, blue button) and challenge the children to decide what button would continue the pattern.

* Give a child one button, and ask him or her to describe it. If necessary, ask questions such as” What color is the button?", "How many holes does it have?", and "What shape is it?".

* Invite the children to make a picture with buttons.

* Read Corduroy, remind the children that Corduroy thought the button on the bed was his missing button, and ask them to list other small, round things that Corduroy might think are buttons. List them in the journal and have each child draw the things.

After Exploring The Button Bag:
* Ask the children to use pictures, numbers, and words (may be dictated for you to write) to tell about button bag experiences on one or two pages of the larger journal.

* Ask if the children have extra buttons at home. Have each child please add one to the box so that the variety will grow.

Provide opportunities for children to string buttons. Starts by having them string the buttons in any order - then try to have them follow a pattern. String button necklaces.

Have the children sort the buttons according to attributes - size, shape or color.

Draw a large letter B with glue on a sheet of construction paper - let the children arrange the buttons along the glue line to make the a "Button B".

Sew on a button for Corduroy. I use squares of old denim jeans and the biggest and brightest buttons I can find, also button thread and large darning needles. You need a parent volunteer at this centre. If you use a double thread but put separate knots on the ends they don't seem to tangle as much. The children are very proud of the results.......we always post them beside a big cutout of Corduroy.

Read the story about Corduroy. We had a pattern of a bear and glued green construction paper overalls on him. We used a yellow sticky dot as one button and left the other strap hanging. We made a class book. "Corduroy lost a button. ________ lost a _________." The child wrote their name and used Kid Writing for the other blank. It was really cute! We actually did it for C , but you could use it for B.

Great time to revisit "Corduroy" At pbs.org you can find a coloring picture of him and you can have the children glue a real button after they color him. I actually have a center where I have this corduroy with different color overalls and I give them a box of buttons so they can sort them.

Maker picture frames and use them for Christmas presents for parents. On a small piece of word or foam core glue a small photo of each child. Using tacky glue have the child select flat buttons and lay it in the tacky glue. Be sure the glue squishes up through the holes. Continue around the photo until the base is covered with buttons. Attach a small piece of magnetic tape to the back and use as a refrig. magnet or use a ribbon and make a hanger.

I make a felt Christmas tree and have the children glue buttons on it. Then add a loop so they can use it as a Christmas ornament.

Read the "Button Box" and then have the children sort buttons. I went to a factory and got hundreds of buttons, all sizes, shapes, 2 holes, 4 holes, shanks, plastic, leather, material etc. and I made a work mat for the children to sort on. They ooh.. and aahhh for so long. "Look at this kind etc."... it almost got out of hand with the enthusiasm they had. It was great! We also read "Corduroy" and then we draw pictures, any kind and hide a button some where in the picture. I hang them up and label it. "Can you find Corduroy's button?"

draw pictures and add buttons to enhance their pictures. For example, if one drew a car, he could add buttons as the tires. If one drew flowers, she could add buttons as the centers. Some have been very creative! One girl glued red button "apples" all over her tree, with some on the ground. Another used red, yellow and green buttons in a traffic light. I let them draw what they want, and give advice and suggestions as needed.

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