DIY- Car Play Mats

Pinterest Link {HERE}

I got the idea to make this today when I realized that my children were driving me crazy. I remembered seeing this activity on Pinterest, but didn't think to look at it before we started. I just wanted some peace and quiet. *sigh*
Looking at it now, I realize that mine aren't as cool, but they do help with noise level!

We started with coloring pages. The coloring pages we used was from a Common Core link I had stumbled upon, but of course I can't find it again to link here. So, I googled Community coloring pages and found {THIS} link.

Everyone has the same pages- no arguing.

While they colored, I got the rest of my supplies.

 cheap shower curtain (clear)

multicolored Sharpies (sorry, they wound up in both pictures)

scissors

clear packing tape

When everyone finished coloring, we cut the buildings and vehicles out. And by we, I mean me.

Then I laid the shower curtain on the floor and the kids spread the pictures of the buildings out on it. When everything was placed, we turned over the pictures and I taped them to the sc.

Now this looked a little daunting. Curvy roads through all of this? And then, to have all 3 of my kids crawling all over it, bumping into each other, arguing, crying... NO!

So, I cut it into quarters.

Much better. The Kid helped me create the roads for the mats. He showed me where he wanted the parking lots. We added a pond on one and his 'big school' in another.

Here are 2 of them. I taped them to the wall.

 The Kids has been asking for one of those Hot Wheels jumpy-thingies that attach to the wall, but they cost like $30. NO. WAY. We told him he can save his chore money and buy it himself. Maybe this will tide him over.

Ahhhh..... peace and quiet. :)

I apologize for the lack of pants. I don't waste outfits on days we are staying indoors. And when one goes pants-less, they all have to. (or so they think!)

**Teacher adaptation- I plan on doing this again- kind of- next year with my 3rd graders. When I unpacked the shower curtain, I realized it was separated into nice, neat rectangles. Perfect for grids! So, we will make a community and practice reading grids. One students will be able to take it home at the end of the year! **