Holidays Tips
Read these 309 Holidays Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Kid tips and hundreds of other topics.
COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS PAPER CHAIN
Children have counted the days until Christmas arrived for years and years. You don't need a fancy store bought countdown calendar, just make up this simple, yet effective craft.
Construction paper (red and green)
1 glue stick (not so messy)
scissors
Use your scissors to cut out 12 strips of red and 13 strips of green construction paper. The dimensions are flexible but I find 1 inch by 8 inches a good size. After that make 1 of the strips into a chain link (circle) and glue together with your glue stick. Repeat making each strip into a circle and connecting through the last circle making a chain. Alternate colors of paper until you have 25 chains. Now you have your very own countdown to Christmas. Starting December 1st pull off 1 chain & do this for the next 24 days and when there is only 1 chain left you'll know that it's Christmas! We always made these chains and draped them over the children's headboards. They ripped off one link each night before going to sleep.
POEM TO PUT ON CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHAIN
1.
How many days till Christmas?
It's mighty hard to tell
Take off a link every night
When the Sandman cast his spell
And Christmas Eve will be here
By the time you reach the bell.
The children take the chains home and are told to take off one link
every night to count down the days until Christmas.
2.
December first until Christmas
Is the longest time of the year.
It seems as though old Santa
Never will appear.
How many days until Christmas?
It's mighty hard to count.
So this little chain on links
Will tell you the exact amount.
SONG -THREE LITTLE WITCHES - SONG
THREE LITTLE WITCHES (Sing to Three Little Indians and use fingers for numbers)
One little, Two little, Three little witches,
Flying on their broom sticks, flying over ditches,
Sliding down the moonbeams without any hitches,
Hay Ho Halloween Time.
HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL
HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL
Hoppin' down the bunny trail,
Hippity hoppity,
Easter's on its way
Bringin' ev'ry girl and boy
A basketful of Easter joy
Things to make your Easter
Bright and gay
He's got jelly beans for Tommy
Colored eggs for sister Sue
There's an orchid for your mommy
And an Easter bonnet too. Oh!
Here' comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppity
Happy Easter Day
Look at him hop and listen to him say,
"Try to do the things you should"
Maybe if you're extra good
He'll roll lots of Easter eggs your way
You'll wake up on Easter morning
And you'll know that he was there
When you find those choc'late bunnies
That he's hiding ev'rywhere, Oh!
Here' comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppity
Happy Easter Day.
EIGHT LITTLE REINDEER ACTION PLAY
EIGHT LITTLE REINDEER
Eight little reindeer pulling Santa's sled One fell down and bumped him head
The elves called Santa, and Santa said, "Can seven little reindeer pull my sled?"
Continue counting down - seven little reindeer, six little reindeer, five,
four, three, and two ... THEN
One little reindeer pulling Santa's sled He fell down and bumped his head
The elves called Santa, and Santa said, "Call Rudolph!"
COOKIE CUTTER BIRD FEEDERS
Here is a nice idea for feeding the birds in the winter. I myself have given these for gifts in a set of 3 or 4. You will need a metal cookie c utter, the kind that outlines the shape and has no front or back. Make a thick suet with Peanut butter or lard, oatmeal and birdseed. Tie a string around the top of the cookie cutter for hanging. Then stuff the cookie cutter with the suet. I pat the suet out about two inches thick on wax paper and insert the cookie cutter, removing the suet around the outside. These are pretty hanging from a tree outdoors and the birds really appreciate it too.
VALENTINE HEART ACTIVITY
For this activity you will need scraps of fabric or paper with different textures. (ie: fake fur, velvet, corduroy, fuzzy wallpaper, sandpaper, etc.), construction paper, scissors, glue,and yarn.
Cut different size heart shapes form the different textures. Cut a few pieces of construction paper in half and glue the hearts on the paper. If desired, draw funny faces on the hearts with a permanent marker
Tie the pages together to make a book. Now you have a Valentine book for the baby to feel as you look at each page and describe what he is touching.
FATHERS DAY POEM/FOOTPRINTS
FATHERS DAY POEM/FOOTPRINTS
Walk a little slower, Daddy,
Said a little child so small.
I'm following in your footsteps,
And I don't want to fall.
Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they're hard to see;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.
Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who'll want to follow me.
And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you.
SUGAR CONE CHRISTMAS TREES
Sugar Cones,
Chocolate chips,
white chocolate chips or candy melts,
Assorted candies for decorating,
Fruit Loop cereal,
MM's, red Licorice Strings, etc.
Waxed Paper (to work on)
Be sure a parent or guardian helps with this project.
Melt chocolate or candy melts in a shallow bowl in the microwave. Do not burn. Stir well until smooth.
Roll a Sugar Ice-cream Cone in the chocolate to cover. Turn upside down on wax paper and press the decorations into the chocolate to decorate your tree. Allow the chocolate to harden. Store in a cool location. Super gifts for the kids to exchange with friends.
SONG -THE GOBLIN IN THE DARK SONG
THE GOBLIN IN THE DARK
(To the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell)
The goblin in the dark,
The goblin in the dark,
Hi-Ho on Halloween
The goblin in the dark,
Verse 2- The goblin takes a ghost,
Verse 3- The ghost takes a witch,
Verse 4- The witch takes a cat,
Verse 5- The cat takes a bat,
They all tiptoe home,
They all tiptoe home,
Hi-ho on Halloween,
They all tiptoe home.
SONG -I SAW A LITTLE GHOST
I SAW A LITTLE GHOST
I saw a little ghost, (hold hands over eyes)
And he saw me too! (Point to self)
When I said 'HI' (wave hand)
He said, 'BOO'.
FRIED BANANAS
An African-American holiday of Kwanzaa is a holiday in which people celebrate their African heritage. (Dec 26 - Jan 1) The holiday is based on traditional "first fruits" or harvest.
A snack idea for this would be Fried Bananas -
Material -
6 med to large bananas; plastic knives; lemon juice; brown sugar; cinnamon; butter; frying pan; spatula; paper towels
Ask the children to peel the bananas and cut into 1/2" slices (you may want to do the cuting). Place banana slice on a plate and sprinkle a little lemon juice, brown sugar and cinnamon onto the slices. Put butter in the frying pan over med heat. Place a layer of slices in the frying pan. Fry both sides of the slices until golden. Drain on paper towels and serve.
PINE CONE ORNAMENTS
Pine cones are a natural tree ornament and take very little effort to "decorate" for your Christmas tree. First tie a ribbon or string around the pine cone, the way you do this will determine how the pinecone hangs (from one end or the other, or from the center so the cone lies sideways). They can be decorated with glitter glue or paint, or glue on some ribbon, beads or sequins. Letting the kids use their imagination will make the cones even more special in years to come.
CRAFT -CINNAMON DOUGH DECORATIONS
Make Christmas tree decorations with a wonderful aroma of cinnamon and apples.
4 parts cinnamon
3 parts applesauce
1 part white glue
To make cinnamon dough, mix ingredients together in a bowl. Give each child a small amount of the dough. Have them flatten the dough on a floured surface. Let the children use their favorite cookie cutters to cut shapes out of the dough. Give each child a straw and have him make a hole in the top of each shape so it can be hung. Add ribbons or yarn for hanging after the shapes have dried for at least 48 hours
TAG FOR A HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
HANG THIS ON YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE,
This is a good little poem to attach to a Christmas craft with the child's hand, feet or finger prints. Be sure to date these items!
Hang this on your Christmas tree,
To remember how I used to be.
To remind you of me now and then,
And bring fond memories back again.
PETER COTTONTAIL SONG
Author Unknown
Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hopping down the bunny trail
Hippidy, Hoppity,
Easter's on its way!!!
EASY BATIK EASTER EGGS
Batik is an Indonesian method of hand-printing cloth by brushing melted wax on to the parts that are not to be dyed. The traditional method of making Batik eggs also uses melted wax alternating dipping the eggs in colored dyes and adding designs by painting on melted wax. This method uses masking tape to produce very interesting results.
Cut out designs from masking tape and stick them onto your egg. Dip the eggs into dye. When they are dry remove the masking tape. You can repeat the process by sticking on new cutouts and re-dipping the egg. You can overlap some of the colors for variety. Be sure to start with the lightest dye and work your way to the darker ones. If you want to keep an area a particular color, cover it with masking tape.
You can use a white crayon (actually any color you want) or hard paraffin wax to draw on designs which will resist the dye.
REINDEER POOP
(use small, round chocolate candies like covered peanuts or raisins)
I woke up with such a scare when I heard Santa call...
"Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!
I ran to the lawn and in the snowy white drifts,
those nasty reindeer had left "little gifts".
I got an old shovel and started to scoop
neat little piles of "reindeer poop".
But to throw them away, seemed such a waste,
So I saved them, thinking ~ you might like a taste!
As I finished my task, which took quite awhile,
Old Santa passed by and he sheepishly smiled.
And I heard him exclaim as he rose in the sky ~
"Well, they're not potty trained, but at least they can fly!"
HANGING CHRISTMAS TREES
Make Christmas tree cut outs out of green construction paper. Your kids can glue on "Fruit Loops" colored rice or pasta to decorate it.
SANTA PRINTS
If your children are looking for evidence that Santa actually came try out this little trick:
Dip a man's boot in baking soda and make a few imprints across the carpet in your room. This works best with dark carpet. When the children arrive they will see the "snow" prints leading to the tree!
This can be done for the Easter bunny, too. Just cut out a sponge to the shape of a rabbit's footprint. After making tracks have the children follow the tracks to their hidden treats!
ARBOR DAY - POEM
Written By: Kate Louise Brown
The sunbeams are twinkling;
The air, soft and free,
Is telling a message
To you and to me.
Come out! Come out!
We're planting a tree;
Come out! Come out!
Let's all plant a tree.
Though now it is slender,
No taller than I,
It soon will be growing
Straight up to the sky.
A tree! A tree!
That reaches so high;
A tree! A tree!
That touches the sky.
EGG SAFETY
Eggs have been used to celebrate spring festivals for centuries. Symbolic Easter rabbits and colored eggs came to America with German settlers, and egg hunts have been beloved by children ever since. Easter egg hunts can be fun and safe for all if a few simple guidelines are followed:
Inspect eggs before purchasing them, making sure that they are not dirty or cracked. Dangerous bacteria may enter a cracked egg.
Store eggs in their original carton on a refrigerator shelf until ready for preparation. Keep eggs away from foods with strong odors (such as fish). Be sure that they do not freeze.
For best results with hard-cooked eggs, buy eggs 1 week in advance and refrigerate them. Eggs can be "too fresh" to peel easily.
Eggs have been used to celebrate spring festivals for centuries. Symbolic Easter rabbits and colored eggs came to America with German settlers, and egg hunts have been beloved by children ever since. Easter egg hunts can be fun and safe for all if a few simple guidelines are followed:
Inspect eggs before purchasing them, making sure that they are not dirty or cracked.
Dangerous bacteria may enter a cracked egg.
Store eggs in their original carton on a refrigerator shelf until ready for preparation.
Keep eggs away from foods with strong odors (such as fish). Be sure that they do not freeze.
For best results with hard-cooked eggs, buy eggs 1 week in advance and refrigerate them. Eggs can be "too fresh" to peel easily.
Follow these directions for perfect hard-cooked eggs:
Place eggs in a single layer in a saucepan; add enough tap water to cover at least 1 inch above eggs.
Cover and quickly bring just to boiling. Turn off heat, and if needed, prevent further boiling by removing pan from the burner.
Let covered eggs stand in the hot water for 15 to 17 minutes for Large eggs. Adjust time up or down by about 3 minutes for each size larger or smaller.
Immediately run cold water over eggs or place them in ice water until completely cooled.
Dry and refrigerate, or decorate eggs immediately. Do not decorate cracked eggs.
Refrigerate them and use as ingredients in holiday recipes. Do not hide eggs where they may come into contact with pets, wild animals, birds, reptiles, insects, or lawn chemicals. Gather eggs as soon as possible after they are hidden. Do not allow them to remain hidden overnight.
After the hunt: Inspect eggs; discard cracked eggs. Any uneaten eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Eggs gathered at public hunts should not be eaten if they are out of refrigeration for more than 2 hours.
Table decorations: Eggs used for table decoration should not be eaten.
Take care from the time of selection, and eggs can help make your holiday safe and fun.
TURKEY ON THE FARM -SONG
TURKEY ON THE FARM
(Sung to: The Wheels on the Bus)
The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble.
Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble."
The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble."
Thanksgiving Day is near.
The farmer on the farm goes chop, chop, chop.
Chop, chop, chop. Chop, chop, chop.
The farmer on the farm goes chop, chop, chop.
Thanksgiving Day is here.
The turkey on the farm says, "Please help me!
Please help me! Please help me!"
The turkey on the farm says, "Please help me!"
Thanksgiving Day is here.
The children on the farm say, "Come and hide.
Come and hide. Come and hide."
The children on the farm say, "Come and hide."
Thanksgiving Day is here.
The wife on the farm looks all around.
Looks all around. Looks all around.
The wife on the farm looks all around.
Thanksgiving Day is here.
The people on the farm eat Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Kentucky Fried Chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The people on the farm eat Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Thanksgiving Day is here.
The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble.
Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble."
The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble."
Thanksgiving Day has passed.
IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
From the United States
(Edmund Sears, an American minister, wrote this carol as a poem in 1850. The poem was so lovely that a friend suggested the words be set to music. Dr. Sears sent his poem to Richard Willis in Boston who composed the beautiful melody.)
It came upon a midnight clear,
That glorius song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold;
"Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heav'ns all gracious King";
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
PILGRIM, PILGRIM WHERE'S YOUR HAT? (GAME)
Have the children stand in a circle. Choose one child to be the pilgrim and stand in the middle Blindfold this child. Let the other children in the circle pass the hat to each other saying:
Pilgrim, pilgrim where's your hat?
We've passed it around the circle
Now you try to get it back.
The children stop passing the hat when the poem is completed. The child who has the hat at this point hides it behind his back. The pilgrims tries to guess who has the hat.
TIE-DYED EGGS
TIE-DYED EGGS
Rubber bands are all you need to make tie-dyed eggs. Arm yourself with a collection of different sized rubber bands. Wrap the rubber bands, one at a time, around the eggs. Make sure to leave some of the egg shell exposed so it can be dyed. Once the eggs are dyed to the color you like, remove them from the water and let them dry. Once dried completely, pull the rubber bands off to reveal your banded design.
Crayon Eggs Perhaps the simplest technique of all is the color-with-crayons method. Using a crayon, simply draw a design onto your eggs and then dye as you would any other Easter egg. Your crayon design will be accentuated by your choice of dye!
CHRISTMAS PLACEMATS
When you're busy baking or making dinner, have the kids chip in by making some placemats for the Christmas breakfast table. They can use a sheet of construction paper and decorate it with their favorite Christmas scene. If you want to go all out you can laminate them, but we make new ones every year. On Christmas Eve, it's the kids "job" to set and decorate the kitchen table for breakfast the next day. (It's become a tradition for my husband's to make breakfast Christmas morning.)
DECK THE HALLS
DECK THE HALLS
from Wales
(This old song was first sung in Wales when Christmas merry-making lasted nmonly as long as the great yule log burned.)
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la , la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Troll the ancient Christmas carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new! ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we joyous all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
SONG -I'M A LITTLE BUNNY
I'm a Little Bunny
Sung to " I'm a little Teapot"
It's fun to make little cottontails out of cotton balls before you sing this ditty.
I'm a little bunny with a cotton tail
See me hop down the trail
When I pass a carrot my ears shake
Then of course a bite I take, Crunch!
Halloween Trail Mix
Mix up these favorite ingredients for a goulish treat!
1/4 cup un-sweetened grated coconut
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
1 cup raisins
Store in a cool, dark area. Makes about 2 cups and keeps for five days.
TOMBSTONE PLACE SETTINGS
Use mini tombstones made from black cardboard to create individual place settings with guests' names.
PARTY MENU
If your party is in lieu of trick-or-treating, you can be more liberal with the sweets, but you still want to get something in your young guests stomachs besides candy. Pizza, sandwiches, and soup, all easy and irresistible, are standouts
LEPRECHAUN TREATS
It never hurts to have leprechaun treats on hand. You never know when you might need them! Put a few green Tic-Tacs in a mini zip-lock bag. Add glitter, beads, and confetti. Add a safety pin. Don't forget to put a label on it that says, "Leprechaun Treats- for Leprechauns only!"
WEBBYCRAWLERS
WEBBYCRAWLERS
2 cups chocolate chips
2 tsp. corn oil
60 mini marshmallows
5 thin black licorice whips
20 tiny red hot candies
1. Place chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl, and heat 2 to 3 minutes or until the chocolate chips are melted. Add oil and mix well.
2. On a sheet of waxed paper, squish about 6 marshmallows into one round ball. Do the same with the remaining marshmallows, making 10 spider bodies in all.
3. Cut licorice into 80 2-inch-long strips.
4. Dip the balls into the melted chocolate. Stick in the legs-4 on each side of each body for a total of 8 legs on each spider. Add 2 eyes made of red hot candies to the top.
Makes 10 servings
THREE RED VALENTINES SONG
THREE RED VALENTINES SONG
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"
Three red Valentines,
Each one with a bow.
Pretty and shinny and lacy, too.
Standing in a row.
TURKEYS AND PILGRIMS - game
This is a different version of the ever popular game of Dodge ball. Play this game outdoors before Thanksgiving dinner. The kids will be ready to eat lots of Turkey and all the trimmings when they are through.
Instructions:
1.All players but one are Pilgrims, and they form a circle.
2.One player is the turkey, and stands in the center of the circle.
3.The Pilgrims have a big soft ball or an old pillow. They try to hit the turkey with the ball, and the turkey dodges and runs to keep from being hit.
4.The first Pilgrim to hit the turkey gets to trade places with the turkey.
SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT
From Austria
(This carol was first sung in a little church in Austria almost 150 years ago. It was composed by the organist one Christmas Eve. And it was sung the next day to the strumming of a guitar because the organ had broken down!)
Silent night! Holy night
All is calm, all is bright!
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
SNACK PUMPKIN DELIGHT
PUMPKIN DELIGHT
1 (29 oz.) can Pumpkin .
1 (13 oz.) can Evaporated Milk .
1 cup Sugar .
1/4 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice .
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon .
3 Eggs .
1 box Yellow Cake Mix .
1 cup Pecans (chopped) .
1 cup Butter or margarine .(melted)
Beat together pumpkin, milk, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and eggs. Pour into 9x12 glass baking dish that has been sprayed with a vegetable oil (such as "Pam"). Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the pumpkin mixture, then sprinkle on pecans. Drizzle melted butter over the top. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Chill. Cut into squares, top with whipping cream, and enjoy!
RHYME FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS
RHYME FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate
The first one said, my it's getting late!
The second one said there's a chill in the air
The third one said I don't care
The fourth one said let's run, let's run
The fifth one said it's Halloween fun
So Puff went the wind and out went the lights,
And away went the jack-o-lanterns
On Halloween night!
CRAFT -EGG CARTON SPIDERS
1 egg carton cup, painted black (can color with marker)
2 wiggle eyes
3 - 6 inch black pipe cleaners
Poke 3 holes on each side of eggcup and thread black pipe cleaners through
Ladybug caterpillar (using 3 cups)
Bats 1 cup and 2 halves on either side.
GAME -CATCH THE GHOST
Inflate a white balloon to use as a ghost. Do not tie the end. Have the children release the balloon and try to
catch the ghost before it touches the ground. (CLOSE SUPERVISION WHILE USING BALLOONS)
TURKEY TAG -GAME
TURKEY TAG -GAME
Choose teams. Two children, one from each team, run turkey fashion from one line to another. They must also gobble as they race. If one gets out of position to gain speed, he or she is taken away by the farmer (you). The team
to have the most turkeys left at the end of two races wins.
CREEPY ICE CUBES
Create some fun by placing rubber or plastic spiders in an ice cube tray filled with water, and allow to freeze.
TOUCH IT STORY
A favorite story can be accompanied by passing around the items that a ghost left lying around. Guests must close their eyes and just feel the "parts." Use a wet sponge or cooked spaghetti for the ghoul's brains, skinned grapes, olives or wet marbles for eyes; carrot, pickle, hot dog or warty cucumber for the nose; wet yarn for hair; dried fruit for ears; broken chalk for teeth; pistachio nut shells for toenails; and a surgical glove filled with red gelatin (keep it in the refrigerator until the last minute) for a bloodied hand.
THE EASTER BUNNY- POEM
THE EASTER BUNNY
by M. Josephine Todd, 1909
There's a story quite funny,
About a toy bunny,
And the wonderful things she can do;
Every bright Easter morning,
Without warning,
She colors eggs, red, green, or blue.
Some she covers with spots,
Some with quaint little dots,
And some with strange mixed colors, too
-- Red and green, blue and yellow,
But each unlike his fellow
Are eggs of every hue.
And it's odd, as folks say,
That on no other day
In all of the whole year through,
Does this wonderful bunny,
So busy and funny,
Color eggs of every hue.
If this story you doubt
She will soon find you out,
And what do you think she will do?
On the next Easter morning
She'll bring you without warning,
Those eggs of every hue.
WEREWOLF CLAWS
WEREWOLF CLAWS
Nonstick vegetable spray
10 chicken cutlets
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups seasoned bread crumbs
1 12-oz. can large pitted black olives, drained
Ketchup
1 head of lettuce, shredded
1. Spray a cookie sheet with the nonstick spray. Slice the cutlets into strips about the width of one bony finger, the more crooked the better.
2. Place the flour, beaten eggs and bread crumbs into three separate bowls.
3. Dust the chicken strips with flour, dip them into the eggs and roll them in the bread crumbs. You probably won't use all the flour or crumbs.
4. Place the strips on the cookie sheet and broil about 5 minutes on each side until brown.
5. To make the fingernails, cut the olives in half lengthwise. Trim the halves into pointy nail shapes, and place one on the end of each chicken strip. Press them into the chicken and, if you need help in making them stick, use some ketchup as glue.
6. Serve the claws on a head (of shredded lettuce, of course).
Makes 10 servings.
EYEBALL PUNCH
2 quarts Red Kool-Aid
1 liter 7-up or Ginger Ale
1 batch Jell-O jiggler (prepared and set) in 11x14 pan
20-30 green/yellow grapes peeled or just cut in half
Before serving cut Jell-O jigglers into long thin strips. Combine Kool-Aid and 7-up in a punch bowl or "witches caldron". Add jiggler strips and grapes and serve.
NOTE: Peeled grapes are more "slimey" but if you cut the grapes in half the cut end picks up the red color and makes a "kewl" bloodshot eyeball
PILGRIM HAT -2
PILGRIM HAT -2
Paper Plate
Glue
Construction Paper
Paint the paper plate black. Once the paint is dry, cut out the center of the paper plate. Leave the outside rim about 2 inches thick. Cut a piece of black construction paper to approximately 8 inches by 8 inches. Tape this into the circle you cut out of the paper plate so as much as possible sticks out through the top of the plate. Cut a 2 inch by 8 inch piece of white paper and glue it on the black paper where it meets the paper plate. Cut a rectangle shape out of yellow construction paper and glue it to the middle of the white strip as a buckle.
WHERE IS SANTA?
WHERE IS SANTA?
(Sung to the tune: Are you sleeping?)
Where is Santa? Where is Santa? (hands behind back)
Here I am! Here I am! (arms out in front making a belly shape!)
Merry, Merry Christmas! Merry, Merry, Christmas!
Ho! Ho! Ho!, Ho! Ho! Ho! (keep arms up through the rest of the song!)
TURKEY DINNER -SONG
TURKEY DINNER
(Sung to Frère Jacques.)
Turkey Dinner, turkey dinner,
Gather round, gather round,
Who will get the drumstick?
Yummy, yummy drumstick,
All sit down, all sit down.
Cornbread muffins, chestnut stuffing,
Puddin' pie, one foot high,
All of us were thinner
Until we came to dinner;
Me oh my! Me oh my!
LACY EGGS
Wrap colored yarn or thread around a balloon to make these giant eggs. You can vary the size of each egg by varying the size of the balloon you use. You can use all one color of thread or a different color for each layer. The variegated crochet cotton works beautifully! Decide what you like best. The results are delicate, so handle the eggs carefully.
You will need a round balloon
Yarn, crochet thread, or colored string (Easter colors)
Liquid starch, white glue or heavy sugar water
1-inch paint brush.
Blow up the balloon and tie a 2-foot piece of yarn or string from the knot end. This will be used to hang the competed project to dry. Carefully brush the whole surface of the balloon with the liquid starch or watered down white glue.
Now you will need to work quickly before the glue dries. Wrap the yarn, crochet thread, or string (what ever you are using) around the balloon in one direction leaving small gaps of about 1/2-inch wide so that the surface isn't completely covered. You won't be able to do a perfect job of wrapping but try to keep it somewhat even.
Brush on another layer of starch, glue or sugar water, right over the layer you just did and wrap another layer but this time go in a different direction. For instance, if the first layer was wrapped from the bottom to the top, this time wrap it around at right angles to it. Brush on glue and wrap one more time, varying the direction again. The balloon should be pretty well covered but you should be able to see gaps, sort of like lace.
Hang the covered balloon from the 2-foot string to dry for about 24 hours. When it is absolutely and completely dry, pop the balloon and very gently and carefully pull it out through one of the gaps.
And there you have it! Make a dozen of them and hang them all over.
If you want the egg to stand up (for a centerpiece, perhaps) flatten it very gently on one end.
SOCK RABBITS
Stuff a white sock for each child. Glue on ears, nose, and eyes. Let the children use permanent pens to make the whiskers. Tie off the end of the sock to make a tail.
I'M A LITTLE VALENTINE SONG
I'M A LITTLE VALENTINE SONG
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: "I'm a little teapot"
I'm a little Valentine, Red and white.
With ribbons and lace, I'm a beautiful sight.
I can say I love you On Valentines Day
Just put me in a envelope, and give me away.
RUDOLPH SANDWICHES
Cut your kids sandwiches in a large triangle. Use two raisins for eyes, six raisins for mouth, a couple of pretzels make the antlers, and half of a red cherry tomato for a nose! Your kids will love your "Rudolph Sandwiches".
PAPER PLATE TURKEY
Cut the center out of the plate, leaving the rim intact. Draw and cut out a turkey's head and feet from construction paper. Glue the body on the rim so that the head is in the center, then glue the feet so that they hang down from the rim. You can use several things for the tail feathers. Try cutting squares of autumn colored tissue paper and rolling them up the length of feathers. Buy a bag of multi-colored feathers to glue on or glue on lentils in rows. Whatever you choose, your turkey will be beautifully displayed on the wall or front door for Thanksgiving.
FIVE LITTLE VALENTINES - RHYME
FIVE LITTLE VALENTINES - RHYME
Five little Valentines were having a race.
The first one was all covered with lace.
The second one had a funny face.
The third one said, "I love you."
The fourth one said, "I do too!"
The fifth one was sly as a fox,
He ran the fastest to your Valentine box.
THANKSGIVING GRACE
THANKSGIVING GRACE
"To God who gives our daily bread
A thankful song we raise,
And pray that he who sends us food
May fill our hearts with praise."
~Thomas Tallie ( 1505 - 1585 )~
CANDLE ORNAMENT
Cover toilet paper roll with colored paper. Add colored leaves around the bottom & a flame to the top.
CRAFT -GREEN RICE SHAMROCKS
Green Rice Shamrocks
Color rice by shaking it in a clear plastic bag with several drops of green food coloring and several drops of rubbing alcohol. Spread the rice on paper towels to dry. Help your child brush diluted glue onto a shamrock shape cut from white poster-board. Then sprinkle green rice all over the glue.
BIRD TREATS
Make some bird treats for your backyard so the birds can celebrate Thanksgiving too! Help your child use a table knife to spread peanut butter all over a pine cone. Then roll the pinecone in birdseed. Use a piece of string to hang it outside for the birds to enjoy
CHRISTMAS CANDY LESSON
I wrapped red and green M&M's in colored cellophane and tied with curling ribbon and attached this poem for the kids in my daycare.
As you hold these candies In your hand,
And turn them, You will see.
The M becomes a W,
An E, and then a 3.
They tell the Christmas story,
It's one I'm sure you know.
It took place in a stable.
A long, long, time ago.
The E is for the East,
Where the star shone so bright.
The M is for the Manger,
Where Baby Jesus slept that night.
The 3 is for the Wise men,
Bearing gifts, they say they came.
W is for Worship, Hallelujah, Praise His Name.
So as you eat these candies,
Or share them with a friend.
Remember the meaning of Christmas,
It's a Love story that never ends.
RICE KRISPIE TURKEYS
Rice Krispies
Marshmallow Cream
Oreo chocolate cookies
Chocolate Icing
Candy Corn
Mix Rice Krispie and marshmallow cream together as you would for Rice Krispie treats but, form small balls. Take one chocolate cookie and dab chocolate icing on one side of the cookie. Place the Rice Krispies ball on top of the iced cookie. Dab chocolate icing on five spots on one side of the ball and one time on the front of the ball. Place candy corn on the dabs of icing to form five feathers and one head at the front of the turkey.
A PAT ON THE BACK FOR DAD
Materials:
Men's T-shirts
Fabric Paint
Directions:
Have the children make handprints on the back of the T-shirts, then write,
"This Dad Needs A Pat On The Back."
PUMPKIN SEED TAMBORINE
Make a musical instrument with seeds. Fill an aluminum pie plate with clean, dry pumpkin seeds. Top with another pie plate and staple or tape them together, creating a seed tambourine. Add stickers and streamers. This is great addition to a costume especially if your child is going as a gypsy or a musician.
PAPER PLATE BONNET
Paper plate
Construction paper
Crayons or markers
Glue
Yarn
Children can decorate the paper plate any way they wish. Glue on pieces of pastel paper, color flowers on plate, use your imagination. Tie yard to each side of plate so it can be tied under child's chin.
OLD ST. NICHOLAS - song
(tune Old McDonald had a farm)
Old St. Nicholas had a tree (form tree with arms)
Ho, ho ho ho ho!
And on that tree he had some horns (blow horns)
Ho ho ho ho ho!
With a toot toot here and a toot toot there
Here a toot. There a toot. Every where a toot, toot
Continue....
Lights------------flash, flash
Candy canes-------yum-yum
Drums-------------boom-boom
Bells-------------ring, ring
Birds-------------peep, peep
Stars-------------twinkle, twinkle
Snowflakes--------flutter, flutter
THIS IS CHRISTMAS
(sung to 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star')
What is Christmas? We'll tell you.
It's putting love in all we do;
In our work, and in our play.
In our living every day.
It is showing love for others,
Father, Mother, Sisters, Brothers.
PILGRIM HATS
2 Brown paper bags
Masking Tape
Old Belt (or paper or cloth strip)
Beach Bucket
Instructions
Measure around the rim of the bucket with the belt and ask an adult to punch another hole and cut off the extra piece of belt. Loop belt into a circle and buckle belt. If using paper bags, open up the sides and cut off the bottoms. Tape them together. Place paper centered over the upside-down beach bucket. Press paper down with hands around bucket to shape. Place looped belt over top and push down to the bottom of the bucket near the rim securing the paper in place. Remove hat from bucket.
EDIBLE EASTER BASKET
Color coconut green with food coloring in a few drops of water. Place green coconut in an ice cream cone and add colored jelly bean eggs.
THANKFUL TURKEY
This is a great family activity. Draw a large turkey body and feet on the large piece of construction paper. Each evening at supper for about 10 days before Thanksgiving ask each family member to tell something they are thankful for and list each one on their own feather--kids can pick what color they want and then glue it on to the large turkey. Mount it on a bulletin board or with a magnet on the fridge to have a visual reminder of all the things your family is thankful for.
SONG -HALLOWEEN PARTY SONG
THE HALLOWEEN PARTY
(Tune of Mary had a Little Lamb)
Pump-kins have such happy grins, happy grins, happy grins
Pump-kins have such happy grins, It's Halloween at last.
Cats have come with long black tails, long black tails, long black tails,
Cats have come with long black tails, It's Halloween at last.
Witches have their witches brooms, witches brooms, witches brooms
Witches have their witches brooms, It's Halloween At last!
ACTIVITY -SILLY DAY
April Fools Day is a perfect time to be silly. Try these simple activities to celebrate this day.
Upside down and backward, April Fool's day
Celebrate April Fools Day with your children. Before they get up in the morning, arrange some of the furniture in your house differently, or turn a chair, picture, or clock upside down. While having breakfast see if they can identify the items that are moved or misplaced.
ALTERNATIVES TO SWEETS
1. Stickers
2. Cartoon-character stamps
3. Ponytail holders
4. Barrettes
5. Plastic spider rings
6. Neon shoelaces
7. Pumpkin-shaped erasers
8. Balloons
9. Raisin boxes
10. Sugarless chewing gum
11. Toothbrush
GHOULISH GRABBERS
Create two scary, icy, "from the grave" hands by freezing water-filled latex gloves. (Add food coloring to the water for special effects.) Fill the gloves with water and seal the open-end securely. When nearly frozen, shape into a position that could hold something. If you freeze two hands, they could grasp a bowl of snacks. When solidly frozen, extract the hand from the glove and place on a platter on the table, as they'll start to melt. If the hands don't slip out easily from the glove, run under gentle trickle of water to separate glove from hand.
VALENTINE HUGS CRAFT
Paint children's hands with white paint.
Stamp this on red construction paper hearts.
Punch a hole in the bottom end of each heart.
Have children spread arms wide and measure this with a piece of ribbon and cut.
Attach this yarn to each heart.
Attach the following poem:
A Valentine Hug For You
Wrap these hands around you whenever I'm away,
So you can have a hug from me anytime of day!
This could be used any time of year, like Mother's or Father's Day. Just take out the word "valentine". How about leaving one of these for your small children when you have to go out of town on business. Divorced parents could send one to their children that don't live with them. There are so many uses for this. Any time of year is a perfect time to tell someone you love them.
VALENTINE FISH
For each valentine fish you will need one very large heart, one medium heart and three smaller hearts and one tiny heart. Glue the largest heart to the medium heart at the bottom points. (The points are placed end to end; this makes the fish's body and tail. The three smaller hearts are glued to the top of the fish for fins and the tiny heart is glued to the dip in the largest heart for lips! We make these fish when we read "Rainbow Fish" an excellent book!
SONG -ON A DARK, DARK NIGHT
ON A DARK, DARK NIGHT
On a dark, dark, night,
In a dark, dark wood,
In a dark, dark house,
In a dark, dark room,
In a dark, dark cupboard,
On a dark, dark shelf,
In a dark, dark box,
There was a GHOST
ACTIVITY -MAGIC HEARTS
Magic hearts
Have your child brush white vinegar on a sheet of white construction paper. Then cover the paper with small hearts that have been cut form red tissue paper. As the vinegar dries, the tissue paper will fall off, leaving red heart prints. You can vary this craft by using different colors of tissue paper and shapes. The construction paper can be used to wrap a gift after it is decorated.
BUNNIES: MOVEMENT ACTIVITY: HOPPING!!!
This is sure to burn off some energy. Try making the bunny ears and painting their faces before you start.
Give kids a variety of "hopping" commands such as:
(Be sure kids are told to take their time hopping, hold a hand of younger ones, if necessary)
Hop in one place.
Hop and turn in circles at same time
Hop on left/right foot
Hop backwards, sideways, make a square or circle
Hop over a line
Hop with a partner
Hop to different rhythms (clap hands, use drum, music, etc..
STYROFOAM EGGS
A very easy project even for the smallest kids. Simply take styrofoam eggs you buy at the craft store and decorate with paint and glitter. The kids can then use pushpins to add sequins or beads. They can add bits of ribbon or bows. The pins that have a small colored ball at the top are good for this. 4 or 5 grouped together look like a flower.
EASTER PICTIONARY
Easter Pictionary
Supplies:
Chalkboard
Chalk
Eraser
Easter Basket
Papers with Easter objects written on them
Timer
How To Play: Put papers with Easter objects written on them into basket. Divide children into two groups. Flip a coin to see which team goes first. Invite a child from the playing team to approach the chalkboard, draw a slip of paper, and read it to themselves. On your mark, the child should then draw the object in hopes that his/her team members will guess the object on their paper. If the team guesses correctly, before time runs out, they score a point. If the playing team does not guess correctly the other team has five seconds to try to come up with the correct answer. If they guess correctly they score a point and it is their turn to play.
This game can be simplified for young players utilizing words such as: carrot, bunny, candy. Make more difficult for older players by using short phrases: chocolate bunnies taste good, marshmallow chicks are yellow, etc.
BUNNY DESERT
(makes 4)
2 C cold Milk
1 pkg. Instant pudding
2 Sticks black licorice
1/4 cup Vanilla frosting
Red food coloring
8 Vienna fingers
8 Green jelly beans
4 Pink jelly beans
1. Beat milk and pudding till thickened.
2. Pour into small dish. Refrigerate.
3. Cut licorice into in to 4 pieces. Set aside.
4. Color the frosting.
5. Frost top of cookies to within 1/2" of edge.
Just before serving add green jellybean eyes, pink nose and licorice whiskers!
WITCHES FINGERS
WITCHES FINGERS
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup icing
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla
2 ¾ cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup whole blanched almonds
1 tube red decorator gel
In bowl beat together butter, sugar, egg, almond extract and vanilla; beat in flour; baking powder and salt. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Working with one-quarter of the dough at a time and keeping remaining dough refrigerated, roll heaping teaspoons full of dough into finger shape for each cookie. Press almond firmly into one end for nail.
Squeeze in center to create knuckle shape. Using a paring knife make slashes in several places to form knuckle. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet in 325 degree over for 20-25 minutes or until pale or golden. Let cool for three minutes.
Lift up almond; squeeze red decorator gel onto nail bed and press almond back in place so gel oozes out from underneath.
Remove from cookie sheet and let cool. Repeat with remaining dough. Makes about 5 doz. fingers!
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN POEMS
After making a chain of 24 links I had the children attach this poem for an easy Christmas countdown craft.
How many days till Christmas?
It's mighty hard to tell.
Take off a link every night
When the Sandman casts his spell,
And Christmas Eve will be here
By the time you reach the bell.
You may prefer this poem:
Christmas Countdown Poem 2
Each evening when goodnights are said,
Take off one link and hop into bed.
When only the star is left to shine,
When you will know it's Christmastime!
STAR ORNAMENTS
Glue two perfectly shaped triangles together to make a six pointed star. Cover with macaroni, glitter or colored rice.
CLOTHESPIN SNOWMAN ORNAMENT
old doll type clothespins
cotton balls
sticks or brown pipe cleaners
glue
scraps of material or felt
orange pipe cleaners
scissors
sequins, beads or buttons
yarn
Gather materials. Unroll about 10 cotton balls With the ball end up, slowly wrap cotton around bottom of clothespin, forming the base of the snowman, gluing occasionally to hold cotton. When the base is desired size, repeat process for a middle section. Make this section smaller than the first. When this section is desired thickness, put a dab of glue on top of clothespin and hollow out the center of a regular cotton ball with your fingers. Place this on top of clothespin for a snowman head. Decorate with fabric scraps, felt, sticks, pipe cleaners, wiggle eyes, buttons, beads, etc.
IF THERE WERE NO TREES
Written By: Virginia Baker
A little bird sat upon my window sill
And swayed and swung in the morning breeze,
And this is the song, this is the song,
The song that he sang to me:
"Oh, what would we do, what would we do
If there were no trees?
Oh, what would we do, what would we do
If there were no trees?"
"Oh, tell me where would we build our pretty nests,
And where would we cradle our baby brood,
If never a tree, never a tree,
Throughout our fine country stood.
Oh, what would we do, what would we do
If there were no trees?
Oh, what would we do, what would we do
If there were no trees?"
"Within the bark upon our sturdy trees
We find the food that we like to eat,
And sheltering leaves, sheltering leaves,
Protect from the sun's fierce heat.
Oh, what would we do, what would we do
If there were no trees?
Oh, what would we do, what would we do
If there were no trees?"
"You little children, all you boys and girls,
Who love the birds and want them to stay,
Oh, plant many trees, plant many trees,
On this sunny Arbor Day.
For what would we do, what would we do
If there were no trees?
Oh, what would we do, what would we do
If there were no trees?"
EGG SHELL MOSAICS
This is a great activity to use up the colored shells from your Easter eggs. On large pieces of paper have the children draw a basket. Glue crushed eggshells to fill in basket. Children may either use shells from colored eggs, or may color the shells using markers after they are glued.
PASS THE EGGS
This is a great activity for a group of friends or family. You will need hard-boiled eggs and a collection of colored markers. The smaller tip permanent markers work best.
Everyone gather around a table that is covered with plastic or newspapers. Each person takes an egg and starts to draw a design on it. Then each one passes their egg to the person next to them. That person draws more of a design. Pass the eggs again. Keep passing and drawing until all the are done. You can include abstract designs or drawings of rabbits or baskets. Use your imagination. Then everyone can admire the results! The best part of this activity is the conversation it inspires!
EASTER TREE
EASTER TREE
This makes a nice centerpiece for Easter. Find a small branch from your yard, one that looks a bit like a tree. Set the "trunk" in a small terra cotta pot and secure either with plaster of paris, clay or floral foam. If you like you can spray paint the entire works white at this point. Fill the pot to the top with Easter grass and hang small foil covered chocolate eggs from the branches. Sometimes we tie bows on the branches too so that as we eat the chocolate eggs the "tree" doesn't get too bare!
HAND PRINT WREATH
A keepsake wreath can be made using your kids handprints. Trace your child's handprint on green construction paper several times, you will need 6 to 10 prints depending on the size of wreath you want ( In my daycare we use the foam sheets so the wreath will last a long time.) Glue them in a circle forming a wreath. (You can use the outside rim of a paper plate for a guide.) The kids can decorate them with sequins, buttons or beads (for holly) and ribbon. Be sure to date the back and include your child's name (in their own writing). These make a super gift for Grandma and Grandpa!
REINDEER POKY -GAME
(sung to the tune of "The Hokey Poky")
You put your antlers in. You put your antlers out.
You put you antlers in and you shake them all about.
You do the Reindeer Poky and you turn yourself around.
(Continue with the following verses)
That's what it's all about!
You put your hooves in....
You put your red nose in....
You put your fluffy tail in...
You put your reindeer body in...
PUMPKIN BOWLS
These are great centerpieces for Thanksgiving.
Cut top off pumpkin, with sharp knife Hollow out with a spoon. (save seeds for roasting) Wash and cut up fruit (include green and red grapes, apples, etc.) Chill fruit. Just before dinner put in hollowed out pumpkin bowl. Decorate with natural things, leaves, sticks, nuts, ribbons. Your family can make these bowls and fill with flowers to take to Grandmother's house as a gift.
JINGLE BELLS
Dashing through the snow,
In a one horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob-tail ring,
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight!
Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! Jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh,
Oh Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! Jingle all the way!
Oh want fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh! Hey!
SONG -PUMPKIN ON THE VINE
PUMPKIN ON THE VINE (Sing to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
Pumpkin on the vine, pumpkin on the vine.
I picked the one that weighed a ton, and that's the one that's mine.
I made two scary eyes, a mouth that's oversized.
My mother took the other gook for making pumpkin pies.
Pumpkin on the vine. Pumpkin on the vine.
It's now a jack-o'-lantern and you ought to see it shine.
CRAFT -PIPE CLEANER TREES
To make little trees, give each child a bundle of six to eight green or brown pipe cleaners.
Wrap the top half of one pipe cleaner around the center of each bundle to hold it together. Then have the children bend the ends fo the pipe cleaners to create the tree branches. Show them how to bend the ends of the trees out to make roots.
Have the children decorate the branches by threading beads and buttons or by wrapping the branches around scraps of tissue paper.
WHY NOT HUG A TREE TODAY
Author Unknown
Why not hug a tree today
Or pat it on it's bark?
Give a tree a great big squeeze
At home or in the park.
Find the tree you like the best
And stand beneath it's shade.
Stretch your arms around its trunk
And hug until you fade.
Imagine the birds that have lived in your tree,
Imagine the squirrel in its nest.
A tree is a home to all that come,
The perfect place to rest.
So put your arms around your tree,
Whether its short or tall.
Hug your tree - you'll feel so good,
Winter, spring, summer or fall.
CRAFT - EASY EASTER EGG DYE
With Easter arriving, instead of buying dye for your eggs, use a package of Freshie or Kool-Aid powdered drink mix.
Mix the whole package with just a little water - the more water you use, the lighter the color will be.
Place the hard boiled eggs in the mixed liquid, leave and play a game. Go back and lift the egg out with a wire egg holder. Put them on an old rag to dry.
Repeat for darker shades.
To decorate them further, before putting the eggs into the mixture, let the children draw on the eggs with crayons or put stickers on them.
PUMPKIN TOTEM POLE
Build a totem pole of scary- and happy-faced pumpkins for the porch by stacking pumpkins decorated with waterproof markers. To secure pumpkins, hollow each one and place a two-by-four, or equivalent piece of wood, through the center of the totem pole.
TUNA CAN BUNNIES
TUNA CAN BUNNIES
You will need one tuna can for each bunny. Cover them with felt. Cotton balls can be used for tail. Use paper, markers, any combination, can be used to make face and whiskers at the opposite end of can. Put on paper ears and presto! There you have a bunny that can double as a jelly bean holder. (note) Make sure edge of cut can is covered and no sharp edges show.
TOMATO BASKET EASTER BASKETS
TOMATO BASKET EASTER BASKETS
Have children cut strips of colored paper and weave them in and out of tomato basket. Use pipe cleaner for handle.
CHALK HEART
Pink Construction Paper,
Red and white chalk, Butter knife,
Dishpan, and Water.
Cut a heart out of Pink Construction paper. Fill the dishpan with water.
Using a butter knife to grate red and white chalk onto the surface of the
water in the dishpan. Then gently place the pink heart over the water Pick it
up and place it somewhere to dry.
HANUKKAH CANDLES - poem
HANUKKAH CANDLES
Eight little candles
Are standing in a row,
See their bright flames glow.
Violet, orange,
Green, red, and blue,
Yellow and pink,
And a purple one, too.
See our menorah
All shiny and bright,
Holding so many
Bright candles tonight.
I CAN BE… fingerplay
I can be:
As tall as a Christmas tree (stretch tall)
As round as Santa. (circle arms in front)
As tiny as an elf. (bend body to become smaller)
I can:
Bend like a candy cane. (bend head and neck)
Look like a star. (stretch arms and legs in all directions)
Prance like a reindeer. (prance around the room)
APPLE SANTA CLAUS
Use a large, whole apple for the body of your apple Santa Claus. Attach a marshmallow to the top with a toothpick for the head. Then press raisins into the marshmallow for the eyes, nose, mouth and ears, and press cotton under the marshmallow for the beard. If they do not attach easily, use marshmallow fluff.
JAR LID ORNAMENTS
Decorate old jar lids with odds and ends of braid, fringe, rickrack, cord, sequins…etc. Frozen juice lids are great for these.
CHRISTMAS WREATHS POEM
Our Christmas wreaths are fat and round
Made of woodsy things we found.
We tied brown cones upon the green
And stuck red berries in between.
Upon the wreath for our front door
We tied red ribbon from a store.
LET'S ALL DO A LITTLE CLAPPING
(sung to "We Wish You A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!")
Let's all do a little clapping,
Let's all do a little clapping,
Let's all do a little clapping,
And spread Christmas cheer.
You can change the clapping to other activities.
2.Jumping
3.Twirling
4.Stretching
5.Bending
PILGRIMS' PUMPKIN DELIGHT
If you still have a pumpkin left here's an idea for a snack or appetizer . Fill the pumpkin with apple chunks, raisins, walnuts, and cranberries. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon, and dot with butter. Replace the pumpkin top and bake the pumpkin on a cookie sheet in a 350F° oven for approximately 1 & 1/2 hours. Each time you scoop out a serving of warm fruit, be sure to scoop out some pumpkin as well.
CORNUCOPIA SNACKS
CORNUCOPIA SNACKS
Half the fun in these little Thanksgiving snacks, are in making them. While you prepare your Thanksgiving Feast let your kids assemble these.
Bugles corn chip snacks shaped like horns
Marshmallow Fluff,
Trix Cereal (or Runts fruit shaped candies)
Roll or spread marshmallow fluff on the open end of the Bugle. Then roll in Trix cereal. It's very simple and turns out really cute.
JACK-O-LANTERN JELLO
JACK-O-LANTERN JELLO
Slice the top off an orange and scoop out pulp. Cut eyes, nose and mouth in orange so that it looks like a jack-o-lantern. Fill with orange Jell-O.
SNACK -OREO COOKIE BLACK CATS (snack)
You will need Oreo cookies
Candy corn, M&M's
Red licorice string
Frosting (tinted black)
Place the M&M's on the Oreo for the eyes use the frosting to glue them in place.
Place the candy corn on the top of the Oreo to resemble ears.
Make a red licorice mouth and whiskers.
Use a chocolate chip or red M&M for the nose.
SONG -VALENTINE SONG
Valentine song
Sung to "Mary Had a Little Lamb"
You're a special friend of mine,
Friend of mine, friend of mine.
You're a special friend of mine.
Be my Valentine!
**Jean Warren**
CRAFT -COTTONBALL BUNNIES & SHEEP
Easter Craft Idea
Cut paper into bunny or sheep shapes
Glue cotton balls onto it
Can use clothespins to "paint" the bunnies or lambs,
Leaving the cotton balls in place as you go.
LUCKY STONES
You don't have to be Irish to have fun making these!
You will need stones, glitter, tacky glue and gemstones.
Wash and dry your stones. Coat with tacky glue. Sprinkle with glitter and glue on rhinestones.
GROWING EASTER BASKETS
Empty 1/2 gal. Milk Cartons
Potting Soil
Grass Seed (fast growing if you have it)
Decorations for carton
Take empty milk cartons, cut down to 4-5" high. Can cover with contact paper or construction paper and decorate. Fill 2/3 full with potting soil, the generously cover with grass seed. Have children water daily; grass should grow in about 4-7 days. With remaining carton, cut a handle to staple to the basket. Fill with decorated eggs.
EGG SHELL ART
EGG SHELL ART
Save the broken eggshells from colored Easter eggs. Place them in a bowl on the art table along with colored construction paper and glue. Allow each child to glue eggshells to a piece of construction paper to make Easter pictures
FROSTED VALENTINE PUNCH
FROSTED VALENTINE PUNCH
Water
Sugar
100% Red Fruit Punch
Moisten the rim of a drinking glass with water (clear plastic toss-away glasses work well). Dip the moist rim in a shallow dish of sugar Fill the glass with red juice.
VALENTINE FLOWERS
VALENTINE FLOWERS
Heart shapes can be used to make flower petals. Glue them onto a green pipe cleaner and insert the flowers into floral foam, or glue them to construction paper.
VALENTINE SACHETS
Make valentine sachets by decorating two hearts of the same size with collage materials. Put perfume on cotton balls and place between the two hearts. Staple the hearts closed. Hang from ribbon.
HEART ANIMALS
HEART ANIMALS
Using a variety of hearts in shapes, sizes and colors, create people or animals. Folding narrow strips of paper accordion-style can make arms and legs for your animals. I have seen fish made from hearts and very cute mice. This is a great activity to foster your child's imagination.
MOTHER VALENTINE POEM FOR CARDS
MOTHER VALENTINE POEM FOR CARDS
Mother dear, can you guess
Who it is that loves you best?
I'll give you three guesses, 1,2,3.
There! I knew you'd think of me!
HANUKKAH CANDLES
HANUKKAH CANDLES
Eight little candles
Are standing in a row,
See their bright flames glow.
Violet, orange,
Green, red, and blue,
Yellow and pink,
And a purple one, too.
See our menorah
All shiny and bright,
Holding so many
Bright candles tonight.
A MOUSE'S CHRISTMAS -POEM
Down in the cellar
One dark Christmas Eve,
A little mouse wondered
What she would receive,
She wrote, "dear old Santa,
You know how to please,
So won't you please bring me
A small slice of cheese?'
Down in the cellar
That bright Christmas day,
The mice knew that Santa
Had come in his sleigh.
Each little mouse l
Knew how to say "Please,"
For Santa had left
More than one slice of cheese!
IT SMELLS LIKE THANKSGIVING -POEM
IT SMELLS LIKE THANKSGIVING
It smells like Thanksgiving, (close eyes and sniff)
Like it should.
The turkey's in the oven -
Mmmm, it smells good!
It smells like Thanksgiving, (close eyes and sniff)
My, oh, my!
What's in the oven now?
Smells like pumpkin pie!
I'M THANKFUL -POEM
I'M THANKFUL
Mother said she was thankful for me.
And Daddy said he was too.
That's funny, said I.
Because you see,
I'm thankful for both of you.
THANKSGIVING CHILDREN FINGERPLAY
This may be done as spoken verse and finger play. It can also be adapted to the tune "Up On the Housetop", and used with finger puppets.
5 little children on Thanksgiving Day -
The first one said, "I'd like cake if I may."
The second one said, "I'd like turkey roasted "
The third one said, "I'd like chestnuts toasted."
The fourth one said, "I'd like pumpkin pie."
The fifth one said, "Oh, so would I!"
But before they ate the turkey or dressing
Five little children said the Thanksgiving blessing.
EASY PILGRIM HATS
EASY PILGRIM HATS
2 Brown paper bags or a large sheet of brown mailing paper
Masking Tape
Old Belt (or paper or cloth strip)
Beach Bucket
Measure around the rim of the bucket with the belt and ask an adult to punch another hole and cut off the extra piece of belt. Loop belt into a circle and buckle belt. If using paper bags, open up the sides and cut off the bottoms. Tape
them together. Place paper centered over the upside-down beach bucket. Press paper down with hands around bucket to shape. Place looped belt over top and push down to the bottom of the bucket near the rim securing the paper in place. Remove hat from bucket.
SONG -BAT, BAT, COME UNDER MY HAT -
BAT, BAT, COME UNDER MY HAT
Bat, bat, and come under my hat.
For here's a slice of bacon.
When I bake, I'll give you cake,
If I am not mistaken!
SPOON AND EGG RELAY
Gather a spoon and plastic or hard-boiled egg for each child. Set up a course throughout the house or outdoors. Once a child is part way through the course allow another child to start. Personally I don't make a race of this game, the children just enjoy getting through the maze. A variation of this game is to push the eggs with their noses or feet.
SONG -JACK-O-LANTERN
JACK-O-LANTERN (sung to I'm a Little Teapot)
I am a pumpkin, big and round, (use arms to show size of pumpkin)
Once upon a time I grew on the ground (Point to the ground)
Now I have a mouth, 2 eyes, a nose (Point to features on your face)
What are they for do you suppose? (Right forefinger to forehead, thinking gesture)
When I have a candle inside (Hold up right forefinger)
Shining bright,
I'll be a Jack-O-Lantern on Halloween night! (Thumbs in armpits - bragging gesture)
GHOSTS -snack
Have your child make a pattern for the cookies by drawing a ghost shape on the cardboard and cutting it out. On a lightly floured surface, roll out sugar cookie dough to about 1/8-inch thickness. Lay the pattern on the dough and use a butter knife to cut out ghost shapes (it takes two to make each cookie pop).
Place half the cutouts on a greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Lay a Popsicle stick in the center of each one, top with another ghost, and then pinch together the edges of the two layers. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes in a preheated 350-degree oven. Place the baked cookies on a rack to cool.
Next, spread on a glaze made by mixing 1 cup confectioners sugar with 2 tablespoons milk. Before the glaze hardens, top off your specters by pressing on eyes and a mouth fashioned from snips of black string licorice.
MY VALENTINE SONG
MY VALENTINE SONG
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: "Clementine"
Blow a kiss, Blow a kiss, Blow a kiss, my Valentine.
Blow a kiss, Blow a kiss, Blow a kiss, My Valentine. (Blow a big kiss)
Other verses
Send a hug (hug self)
Dream of me (Lay head on hand as if sleeping)
Be my Friend (hold hand with another)
GROUND HOG DAY SONG
GROUND HOG DAY SONG
There's only one day the whole long year.
That I hope and pray the sun won't appear.
The second of February, you all know,
The ground hog goes searching for his shadow.
If he should find it, the story is told,
We'll have six more weeks of winter's cold.
But if it's cloudy, his shadow's not there,
There'll soon be warm weather and days will be fair.
So please, Sun, for just this one-day,
Find a big dark cloud - and stay away!
VALENTINE GAME
Staple a two-inch piece of yarn to a heart cut from cardboard. Hide the heart while the kids aren't looking. The valentine may be covered, but the yarn must be left showing. Tell the kids that they should all search for the valentine, but when they see it, they shouldn't pick it up or say anything. They should just go to the table and sit down quietly. (This way everyone will have a chance to find the valentine). The first one to the table will be the one to hide the valentine the next time.
INDIAN NAMES -ACTIVITY
INDIAN NAMES -ACTIVITY
Native American Indians give their children names that have a special meaning. Give your children some examples of Indian names translated into English (Running Bear, Morning Star etc.). Have the kids think up a name that they would like to use for your Thanksgiving Day celebration. Try to encourage the kids to choose names that will have special meaning for each of them.
THANKSGIVING FINGER PRINTS
Make a turkey shape using only fingerprints and add the following poem.
Turkey birds are different,
From sea to shining sea.
And you'll never see another bird
Like this one to you from me.
Can you see what makes him different?
Do you need some helpful hints?
I made him from my very own
Thumb and fingerprints!
TASTY TREE ORNAMENTS
Candy Tree Ornament: Glue a green mini Reese Peanut butter Cup upside down to a gold Rolo. Next glue a second Peanut butter cup to the first. Glue a green Hershey Kiss to the top. Instant candy Christmas tree. Attach gold thread to the top for hanging.
Bell Ornament: Glue a small bell to the bottom of 2 Hershey Kisses. Attach one end of a 6 inch piece of ribbon to the top of each Hershey Kiss. Drape over the branch from the center of the ribbon.
ALBUQUERQUE THE TURKEY
ALBUQUERQUE THE TURKEY
Sing to tune of "O' My Darlin' Clementine"
Albuquerque, he's my turkey, and he's feathered and he's fine
And he wobbles and he gobbles and I'm awfully glad he's mine.
He's the best pet you could ever get better than a dog or cat
Albuquerque, he's my turkey and I'm awfully glad of that.
Albuquerque, he's my turkey he's so cozy in his bed
Because for our Thanksgiving dinner, we had scrambled eggs instead.
I'M A LITTLE TURKEY -FINGER PLAY
I'M A LITTLE TURKEY
I'm a little turkey, (hold out your hand with fingers pointing up and thumb in front of palm)
My name is Ted.
Here are my feathers (wiggle your 4 fingers)
Here is my head (wiggle your thumb)
Gobble, gobble, gobble,
Is what I say,
Quick! Run! It's Thanksgiving Day!
TO MY MOM ON FATHER'S DAY
It is not a rarity that children in your care may not have a father's access on a regular basis. Sometimes Father's Day will make the children act out or feel sad because of this. In my daycare we all make gifts for Mom and Dad on their special days. The children without access to their father still make the craft, of course. I have them attach the following poem to their gift. Of course, when this is the case I am sensitive as to the nature of the craft, making it not necessarily masculine, but sentimental, such as a frame or picture.
To my Mom on Father's Day
I know you think there's been some mistake.
You're not a "Dad", for heaven's sake!
But you've been both of them to me,
And I just want to let you see,
That in my own quite special way,
I celebrate you on Father's Day.
If you know of a similar poem for Dad's on Mother's day, please submit it to share through this link.
http://www.kid-tips.com/SuggestTip.asp
CREPE PAPER EGGS
Cut out several eggs shapes of different colors from crepe paper.
On a large piece of Manila paper, pin eggs randomly around paper.
Have children use a paintbrush to paint over eggs with water. Allow to dry.
Remove pins and lift crepe paper.
Like magic the color from the crepe paper will have appeared on the Manila paper!
EASTER EGG HUNTING
Easter egg hunt is common all over the world. Eggs are hidden by adults and the children hunt and collect them. Children get to keep the eggs and treats they find.
YOU ARE MY VALENTINE SONG
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: "You are my Sunshine"
You are my Valentine, My special Valentine, And I love you, yes I do.
You are my Valentine, My Special Valentine, Please say you love me, too!
SANTA IS BACK
Two merry blue eyes, (point to eyes)
A cute little nose, (point to nose)
A long, snowy beard (stroke pretend beard0
Two cheeks like a rose.
A round, chubby form, (rub tummy)
A big, bulging sack, (bend shoulders, hold "sack")
Hurrah for old Santa, (clap hands)
We're glad that he's back.
GAME -FEED THE JACK-O-LANTERN
Draw a jack-o-lantern shape on the outside of a box. Cut out the mouth section. Have the children
decorate the jack-o-lantern using crayons or markers. Players take turns tossing beanbags into the jack-o -lantern's mouth.
RHYME -FIVE LITTLE GOBLINS ON A HALLOWEEN NIGHT
FIVE LITTLE GOBLINS ON A HALLOWEEN NIGHT
Five Little Goblins on a Halloween night
Made a very, very spooky sight
The first one danced on his tippy-tip-toes
The next one tumbled and bumped his nose
The next one jumped high up in the air
The next one sang a Halloween song.
Five goblins played the whole nightlong.
EASTER EGGS Easter Fingerplay
Five little Easter eggs lovely colors wore.
Mother ate the blue one, then there were four.
Four little Easter eggs, two and two you see.
Daddy ate the red one, then there were three.
Three little Easter eggs, before I knew
Sister ate the yellow one, then there were two.
Two little Easter eggs, Oh what fun!
Brother ate the purple one, then there was one.
One little Easter egg see me run!
I ate the very last one, And then there were none.
THE POSTMAN BRINGS A VALENTINE SONG
THE POSTMAN BRINGS A VALENTINE SONG
Original Author Unknown Sung to: "Mulberry Bush"
The postman brings a Valentine,
A Valentine, a Valentine.
The postman Brings a Valentine,
It says that I love you!
CRAFT -MOM'S HEART PIN
Mom's Heart Pin
Materials:
Pink or Red felt
1/4 inch lace
Assorted buttons
Pin backs
Craft glue
2" wooden heart
Instructions:
1. Using the wooden heart, trace the pattern onto the pink or red felt
2. Glue small strips of lace and buttons onto the heart
3. Glue the pin back to the heart
Suggestions: These are wonderful little pins for Mom's and Grandma's. Little girls love to make them for themselves too! The children can make the heart pins for Valentines Day or Mother's Day and just change your pattern to fit a different holiday---a shamrock for St. Patrick's Day or an Easter egg for an Easter pin!
ABSTRACT EGGS
ABSTRACT EGGS
The only other material you'll need to make these fancy eggs is strong glue like Rubber Cement.
Once the eggs have been hard-cooked and dried, hold one egg in your hand and drip glue onto the egg's surface. You can drip the glue carefully to make a particular pattern, or you can let the glue drip freely for an abstract effect. Place the egg on a stand that will allow the glue to dry without getting too smudged (an egg carton will work). Once the glue has dried, place the eggs in your prepared dye mixtures. Once the eggs have become tinted to your liking, remove them from the water and rub the glue off of the eggs completely. The glue will peel off with a little effort, leaving the white of the egg shining through!
VALENTINE BUTTERFLIES
VALENTINE BUTTERFLIES
Gluing a small heart on top of a larger heart can make a Valentine butterfly. Attach two such combinations of hearts together and then overlap with a twisted red and white pipe cleaner. Leave 1" of pipe cleaner untwisted at the ends for antennae.
CANDY CANE PICTURE FRAME ORNAMENTS
Using 2 large and 2 small candy canes, form a rectangle and glue in place. A hot glue gun works best for this but royal icing works too. Attach a picture to the back so you can see it from the front and hang by a ribbon from the tree. Holds up best when backed with poster board.
RHYME -TOIL AND TROUBLE
TOIL AND TROUBLE RHYME
Double, double toil and trouble
Fire burn and caldron bubble
Fillet of a fenny snake
In the caldron boil and bake
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog.
.....now about the caldron sing
Like elves and fairies in a ring.
Enchanting all that you put in.
from Macbeth by William Shakespeare
EASTER BONNET
EASTER BONNET
Our 60-second hat project is perfect for making Easter Bonnets!
Easiest with 2 people. Ages 8 & up.
Large piece of paper such as gift-wrap or newspaper.
Masking Tape
Ball or Bucket
Instructions
Place paper centered over a 9" playground ball. Press paper with hands around bucket or top half of ball to shape. Hold in place while second person wraps large pieces of tape around to make hat band. Remove from ball or bucket. Decorate..with fancy gift wrap, and silk flowers for your Easter bonnet and decorate it beautifully with ribbons!
VALENTINES ARE MADE TO SHARE -SONG
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: "Mary had a little Lamb"
Valentines are made to share,
Made to share, Made to share.
Valentines are made to share
With my friends at school.
I made you a valentine,
Valentine, Valentine
I made you a Valentine
That says " I love you".
POPSICLE STICK STAR OF DAVID
POPSICLE STICK STAR OF DAVID
Glue three Popsicle sticks together to form a triangle. Sprinkle glitter on them, then put the triangles together to form a Star of David.
JUST LIKE THAT - FINGERPLAY
JUST LIKE THAT
Turkey, turkey,
Big and fat, (bend arms out as sides)
I'm going to eat you,
Just like that! (open and close mouth)
RICE KRISPIE PUMPKIN TREATS
RICE KRISPIE PUMPKIN TREATS
Follow the recipe for making Rice Krispie treats. Add orange food coloring to the marshmallows as they melt to create an orange color. Instead of pressing them into a square pan, roll them into balls to create pumpkin shapes. Make a small batch of Rice Krispie dying them green with the food coloring. Make into small stem shapes and place on top of the orange balls. When cool, make pumpkin faces on the pumpkins with the brown icing. Chill to set the icing and enjoy!
PUMPKIN SEEDS
I wash and dry my pumpkin seeds. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter and stir in 1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce. Stir in seeds and spread on baking sheet with sides. Sprinkle with seasoned salt and bake at 350 degrees. Turn/scrape once during baking. It takes about 10 minutes. I spread them on a cookie sheet, spray with PAM, and sprinkle with salt or cinnamon & sugar, roast till crisp, cool and enjoy!
HAUNTED HOUSE ALTERNATIVE
Consider the ages of the kids--one child's thrilling haunted house is another's chilling nightmare. If you will be hosting a mix of ages, be sure to set up the scariest events out of sight of the main party. A mad scientist's lab, for example, can be set up in a spare room so that kids too young can pass on the pleasure of watching others touch "brains" (cold spaghetti).
SHAMROCK'S POEM
Shamrocks, shamrocks, on Ireland's hills
Greenest of green, over rocks and hills
Good luck they do bring for one and for all
On St. Patrick's Day we can see them all.
EASTER CHICKS
EASTER CHICKS
2 Cotton Balls
Orange and Black Construction Paper
Dry, Yellow tempera Paint
Glue
Empty, Clean Egg Shell
Put some of the paint in a Ziploc Bag, put in the 2 cotton balls and shake until they are yellow. Feet, eyes, and beaks can be cut from orange & black construction paper and glued on. Then you can glue the chick into half of the eggshell.
BEAN BAG HEART TOSS
You will need to prepare a cardboard box by drawing and cutting out several heart-shaped holes. Even decorating this box is fun. Paint or color with markers. The kids start close to the box and toss the beanbags into the holes. As they get better they can step back and increase the challenge.
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Seven swans-a-swimming,
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eleven ladies dancing,
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve lords-a-leaping
Eleven ladies dancing,
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
O CHRISTMAS TREE
From Germany
(The tune of this carol is said to be one of the oldest in the world. During the Civil War, it was used for the Confederate song, "Maryland, My Maryland.")
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!
They're green when summer days are bright;
They're green when winter snow is white.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us.
M & M TURKEYS -Snack
M & M TURKEYS -Snack
These make great decorations for the Thanksgiving dinner table. The kids love making them, but like eating them more!
For each turkey, you will need 2 pieces of orange nylon net, about 10" square
1/2 of a brown pipe cleaner;
1 section of red chenille bump;
2 tiny wiggle eyes;
A piece of strong thread or thin string;
About 1/2 to 1 cup plain M&Ms,
a dab of glue or Royal Icing
Put the 2 pieces of net together, with the corners of one along the sides of the other, making 8 points. pour M&Ms in center, gather up the points, twist and tie securely.
Coil the brown pipe cleaner, leaving about 2"; curve the 2" to form the neck.
Tuck the red bump into the bottom of the coil to form the wattle.
Glue a tiny eye on each side of the head.
Shape the body - the M&Ms - so that the ends of the net become the tail and stick out the back. Insert the neck through the net in the front.
CRAFT -BLACK GARBAGE BAG BATS - DECORATION
My kids always make black garbage bag bats and hang them from the trees.
Take a large black garbage bag and cut it in 2 take 1/2 the bag and cover a 2L pop bottle - just stuff the extra into the bottle and put the lid on.
Fold the other 1/2 bag and cut wings - make sure you have a fold.
Put a large twig in the fold area and tape. Then tape the wings to the covered pop bottle.
Add eyes (we used glow in the dark ink pens) This bat will sit nicely in a tree by using the twig on the wings to secure it between branches.
The wings make a really neat rustling sound if it is a windy night!
LATKES
The most popular themes throughout the Hanukkah dishes are the use of oil, a reminder of the oil that burned eight days instead of one.
Latkes are potato pancakes made from grated potatoes mixed with eggs, onions, and flour, and fried in vegetable oil. The texture is crispy on the outside and tender within. They're served hot and often dipped in apple sauce or sour cream.
The Maccabbee soldiers ate latkes made from cheese, vegetables, or fruits which were brought to them on the battlefields. However, they didn't eat potato latkes, as potatoes weren't available until the 16th century.
EGG BASKET TOSS
Use a piece of ribbon or string to hand a basket from the branch of a tree. Fill plastic Easter eggs with beans for weight tape shut. Have the children line up behind the basket. Then they throw their eggs into the basket. Once the children can get their eggs into the basket, make it more of a challenge by swinging the basket.
VALENTINE FOLDER GAME
VALENTINE FOLDER GAME
Make a folder game by drawing ten hearts inside a file folder. Color and decorate each one differently. Then make matching hearts that will correspond to those inside the folder. Your child can match the separate hearts to the hearts inside the folder. This is easily made into a bingo game too!
THANKSGIVING MEAL POEM
THANKSGIVING MEAL POEM
The turkey is my favorite bird and
Pumpkin is my favorite pie and
Cranberry is my favorite sauce,
I wonder why.
I'm thankful for them all, Aren't you?
And for the stuffing too.
SNACK -WITCH'S BREW
Witch's Brew
4 1/2 cups cornstarch
2 cups water with food coloring added (green or purple are kewl at Halloween)
Mix above in bowl.
Give some to the kids in their hands.
It is a liquid in their hands and turns into a solid when it hits the table.
If it dries up add water sparingly.
Who says science isn't fun!
SNACK -VALENTINE TARTS
Valentine Tarts
Help your child roll out refrigerator biscuits into 3-inch circles. Spread each one with margarine and strawberry jam. Help your child fold each biscuit over to make a tart. Use a fork to seal the edges together. Bake according to package directions and serve warm with a glass of milk.
CRAFT -3-D TISSUE HEART
For this tried and true art activity you will need:
Tissue paper cut in 3" squares
Pencil with eraser on end
Construction paper
White glue, scissors
Cut a heart shape out of construction paper, Spread a thin coat of glue on a small section of the heart. Using one tissue square at a time, place the eraser end in the center of of the square, fold the square around the end of the pencil. Set it down on the glued area. Glue the "fluffs" close together to make the heart look fluffy. When finished the section, spread glue on another area and continue.
CRAFT - SPIDER FRIENDS
To make these spiders you will need:
Egg carton bottoms
Pipe cleaners
Scissors and markers
Cut apart the egg carton and give one cup to each child. Have the children draw a silly spider face on their cup and insert pipe cleaners to make eight legs. Use the spiders to act out "Little Miss Muffet" or when you sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider". Also good for Halloween decorations as they are inexpensive and the children can make many.
NAPKIN GHOSTS
Take two white paper napkins or paper towels. Roll one into a ball and place it in the center of the opened flat napkin. Gather up flat napkin around ball making head of ghost. Tie a string around neck of ghost and hang from ceiling or in front of windows. For a treat, wrap the napkin around a sucker or Tootsie Pop tying a string under candy to form head and dot two eyes with a felt tip pen.
VALENTINE PUZZLES
You can recycle the pretty heart shaped boxes you receive for Valentine's Day. Make a heart box puzzle by tracing around a heart-shaped candy box on apiece of red or pink poster-board. Your child can decorate this heart with a Valentine picture. Cut out the heart shape, then cut it into puzzle pieces. Let your child put the puzzle together, using the box as a frame. The puzzle pieces can be stored in the heart when not in use. Label the outside of your box: "Please put the pieces of my heart together."
CANDY CANE ORNAMENTS
Make these simple tree ornaments by twisting an 8" length of red and white pipe cleaners.
PAPER PLATE BUNNIES
Large paper plate
Small paper plate
Glue
Pink construction paper
Cotton ball
Crayons or markers
Using paper plates, glue small one to top of large one to form head and body. Cut out bunny ears from pink paper. Glue or staple to head. Draw eyes and nose on face of plate with crayons or markers. Glue a cotton ball on the back for a tail.
TISSUE PAPER EGGS
TISSUE PAPER EGGS
Kids love to make Easter eggs, but it can be messy with all the different bowls of inks to color the eggs. This activity uses tissue paper to provide the colors for the eggs. It's lots of fun, not as messy, and the kids will love the finished product.
Wash each egg and dry gently.
If you want to empty your eggs, use the large needle to make a large whole in one end and a small hole in the other end of the egg. Blow the egg out into a bowl and use for cooking. Otherwise, hard boil them first.
Cut or tear tissue paper into small pieces. Don't forget to check your gift wrapping supplies for different colors of tissue paper.
Use water to stick the tissue paper to the eggs. Allow the eggs to dry.
When dry, remove the tissue paper to see the colors and patterns on the eggs.
VALENTINE GROUP GAME
VALENTINE GROUP GAME
Cut out a small construction paper heart for each child and print the child's name on it. Place the hearts in a basket. Have the children sit in a circle. Let one child begin by taking a heart from the basket and holding up . Have the child whose name appears on the heart raise his or her hand. Then let the other children take turns saying something nice about that child. Continue in the same manner until each child has received his or her "valentine compliments."
PRETZEL WREATH
Using miniature pretzels, glue (using royal icing) 1 layer of them in a circle like a wreath, then glue a second layer on top of the first joining the pretzels together over the middle of a pretzel on the first layer. The size you make is flexible, but we make them on a paper plate, so we can hang them on the tree. You can weave ribbon between the holes if you would like, or just hang with a ribbon.
FIVE PRETTY VALENTINES FINGERPLAY
FIVE PRETTY VALENTINES FINGERPLAY
Original Author Unknown
Five Pretty Valentines waiting at the store.
(name) bought one and then there were four.
Four pretty Valentines shaped like a "V"
(name) bought one and then there were three.
Three pretty Valentines said "I love you"
(name) bought one then there were two.
Two pretty Valentines, this was so much fun.
(name) Bought one and then there was one.
One pretty Valentine sitting on the shelf.
I felt sorry for it, So I bought it for myself!
ANGEL ORNAMENT
Paint old fashioned clothes pin white. Paint knob on top like a face. Cut out wings & glue to back.
STRUT MR. TURKEY RHYME
STRUT MR. TURKEY RHYME
Strut Mr. Turkey, big and fat,
Strut Mr. Turkey, just like that.
Strut Mr. Turkey, strut, strut, strut.
Strut Mr. Turkey, prance and play,
Thanksgiving day is on the way
So strut today, strut, strut, strut.
CHOOSING A CARVING PUMPKIN
If you're looking for a great pumpkin to carve this Halloween season, take a cue from Linus and head directly to the patch. To locate a commercial grower in your area, contact your state agriculture department. Then you can call the farm directly to inquire about hours, prices and available varieties (Connecticut Field, Howden and Baby Bear are good bets for carving). Ask if the pumpkins are displayed at a stand or if you can harvest your own from the field. Do they charge by the pumpkin or the pound?
Once there, after your family has surveyed the lot, you're probably in for a patch-side debate over the perfect specimen. Whether you plan to decorate with a row of small and medium-size globes or a single huge one be sure the pumpkin you choose is symmetrical enough to rest squarely on a flat surface. Pass over any with bruises, cracks or broken stems, because they tend to deteriorate quickly.
Plan on carving no earlier than a day or two before Halloween-jack-o'-lanterns have short "step" lives. And remember to bring your porch pumpkin indoors on nights when the temperature is expected to drop below freezing.
PAINT A FLOWER POT
PAINT A FLOWER POT
- This is a wonderful project for Mother's Day. You will need clay flower pots and poster
paints. Let the children paint the pots using their imagination. When the pot is dry have them plant a small plant or seed.
EASTER EGG STANDS
Toilet paper rolls cut into 1-inch long pieces make great egg stands. Have children decorate before using.
EGG TOSS
Supplies:
Large cardboard with Easter basket drawn on one side Good size hole cut-out in center of basket, or a few small holes for older kids.
Colorful egg-shaped beanbags (Easter eggs)
Bucket to hold beanbags
Tape to mark distance line
How To Play: Place cardboard basket a little distance from a wall with a paper box lid on floor to catch Easter egg bean bags. Mark your distance line according to age and skill of children. Line children up behind the line and place a bucket of Easter egg beanbags beside them. Give each child three tries to get their beanbag through the hole. Get all three Easter egg beanbags in and earn a 'egg-licious' reward.
I HAVE A VALENTINE SONG
I HAVE A VALENTINE SONG
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: "Skip to my Lou"
I have a Valentine for you.
I wrote on the card, I love you true.
I wrapped it and mailed it yesterday
Close to your heart I hope it will stay.
WASSAIL SONG
From England
(Wassial! So sang the merry carolers in old England as they went from house to house carrying their wassail bowl filled with hot, spiced ale.)
Here we come a-wassailing,
Among the leaves so green,
Here we come a-wandering
So fair to be seen.
Love and joy come to you,
And to you from your wassail too,
And God bless you , and send you a happy New Year,
And God grant you a happy New Year.
FINGERPRINT TREE
Using green construction paper cut a triangle out approximately 6-8 inches tall and 4-5 inches wide, this will be the tree. With yellow and red paint or washable ink, have the kids make fingerprints all over the tree for ornaments. Hang on your tree with a ribbon. Be sure to put your kid's name and year on the back, you'll have a keepsake for years to come. I have seen these laminated and with a current picture of the child on the back too.
THANKFUL WREATH
Cut out an orange or yellow circle to fit a paper plate, and have child glue to center. Then have them crumple up and glue colored tissue paper (fall colors) to the outside of the wreath. Cut out a bow shape and either glue a small picture of the child in the center of the bow, or have the child write his/her name on the bow. Glue the bow to the outside of the plate. Discuss thankfulness, and ask the child what they are thankful for. Then write that in the center of the plate i.e. "I am thankful for my parents.". Then attach a ribbon or string on the back to hang the wreath.
MILK JUG SKELETON
Start saving your empty plastic gallon jugs-with a snip here and a hole there, you can resurrect a life-size skeleton. Punching holes and tying on bones is a job for little kids; cutting out and gluing together the pieces is a job for older children and parents. If you would like, you can paint Mr. Bones a neon color to make him appear to glow.
MATERIALS
8 or 9 clean, plastic gallon jugs
String
Scissors
Craft knife (optional; for parents only)
Glue gun (for parent use)
One-hole punch
HEAD: Choose a jug with a pair of circular indentations opposite the handle and turn it upside down. In the corner, opposite the handle, cut out a large, smiling mouth, centered under the indented "eyes." Make two small slits in the top of the head and tie a loop of string through them for hanging the finished skeleton.
CHEST: Cut a vertical slit down the center of a right-side-up jug, directly opposite the handle. Cut and trim away plastic to make the rib cage. Glue the head and chest together at the "neck" by connecting the spouts of the two jugs with a thick band of hot glue. Hold the jugs together for a few minutes until the glue cools.
SHOULDERS: Cut off two jug handles (leaving a small collar on the ends) and attach them to the chest section with hot glue. Punch a hole at one end of each shoulder.
HIPS: Cut all the way around a jug, about 4 1/2 inches up from the bottom. Take the bottom piece and trim away a small smile shape from each side to make a four-cornered shape. Punch holes in two opposite corners.
WAIST: Cut out two spouts, leaving a 1/2-inch collar on each. Glue the spouts together and let dry. Then, hot-glue the waist to the bottom of the chest and the top of the hip section.
ARMS AND LEGS: Cut eight long bone shapes from the corner sections of three jugs (cut into the curved shape of the jug to make the bones even more realistic). From four of these bones, cut out the center to make lower limbs (forearms and shins). Punch a hole through the ends of all eight bones. Use string to tie two arm sections to each shoulder and two leg sections to each hip
HANDS AND FEET: Let kids trace their hands and feet onto the side of a jug, then cut out the shapes. Punch holes in the hands and feet, and tie them onto the arms and legs.
PARTY ACTIVITIES
Plan more events than you think you need (and plan for bad weather, too). In addition to major games such as Zombie Tag and Slime Pit, prepare easy backups: bobbing for apples, telling ghost stories, painting murals, or marching in a costume parade.
HALLOWEEN RING TOSS
In a Halloween version of ring toss, kids stand on a line and try to toss a hula hoop around pumpkins painted with numbers (the higher numbers are further away from the starting line). Three tries for each child. The highest score wins.
FRENCH TOAST BREAKFAST FOR MOM
Perhaps Dad can help the kids make Mom breakfast. Or Mom could sit and enjoy her juice while watching her kids make breakfast for her.
Put one egg and one tablespoon milk in bowl.
Beat with a fork.
Take one slice of bread and dip on both sides.
Measure one-tablespoon butter and melt in pan.
Brown bread on both sides.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar, serve with butter and syrup.
PIN THE EGG ON THE BASKET
Supplies:
Big picture of a basket
A decorated paper Easter egg, for each child, with adhesive on back and their name on the front (could be an art activity before playing--everyone makes their own)
Blindfold
How To Play: Blindfold the player, spin 'em around and let them try to stick the egg on the basket. Give a prize for the player that gets the closest.
OTHER EGG DECORATING TRICKS:
Affixing stickers to the eggs before dying them, and then removing the stickers once the colors have set. Dying the eggs a light color, and then using any of the techniques we've explained to layer more colors.
Making a paste-like paint out of your food color (with a small amount of water), and then painting a decoration on the eggs before dying them completely again in another color!
BRAIN SURGERY SALAD
BRAIN SURGERY SALAD
2 small pkgs. or 1 large pkg. lime gelatin
1 16-oz. can fruit cocktail or 1 1/2 cups grated carrots
2 surgical or rubber gloves
1. Prepare the gelatin according to the package instructions.
2. Transfer to a dome-shaped mold. (A mixing bowl will do.)
3. Drain the fruit cocktail and add it, or the grated carrots, to the gelatin when it's half set.
4. When the salad mold is ready, unmold it onto a platter, and drape the surgical gloves on each side.
Makes 10 servings.
VALENTINE TREES
Find a couple of twigs or a bare branch of a tree. Have popcorn and small candy hearts to glue on branches. Using royal icing, the kind you put gingerbread houses together with at Christmas, attach the candy and popcorn to the branches. Place the branch into a pot filled with styrofoam or marbles and use for a centerpiece.
PAPER HEART HATS
PAPER HEART HATS
Fold a piece of red construction paper in half. On one half of paper, draw heart with top touching the fold. Cut. Then staple the points of two hearts to 1 1/2" strip of construction paper. Adjust the strip to fit your child's head. Tape together. If desired, write the child's name on the heart.
VALENTINE MOBILE
VALENTINE MOBILE
Using margarine lids (you will need 3-5 of them) it's easy to make a beautiful Valentine's Day mobile decoration. First glue a lacy paper doily on to each side of the lids. Then glue on hearts (these should be smaller than the lace doily). Poke a hole in the top of the lids and use ribbons to hang them from a hanger.
SOAP FLAKE WREATH
Mix soap flakes with water to make a thick mixture. Add green food coloring or tempera and put on paper plates with the centers removed for a Christmas wreath. Add seeds or buttons for berries.
HANUKKAH LIGHTS
HANUKKAH LIGHTS
I want to be the one who lights
The candles which will brightly glow,
I'll light them all because we know,
There is one candle for each night,
Eight night of Hanukkah they'll shine,
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, in a line.
STAR SANTA
Many years ago a story was told about a star that wanted to fall down to earth and make the children happy. A fat, jolly gentleman picked him up and said I will have a pattern of you made for all the boys and girls." Mrs. clause made the pattern, cutting it out of red paper. The children used their white crayon and made a face on one of the points., Arms and legs on the other points and a belt across the middle. The Star Santa hung on the Christmas tree and made the children happy.
GUMDROP TREE
GUMDROP TREE
On your walk find a small branch of a tree or bush to use for the tree. Strip the leaves off the branch if there are any remaining. Next make the tree stand upright by sticking it in a mound of clay, or in a small cup that has been filled with sand. Paint the tree and stand white and when the paint is dry, stick a gumdrop on the end of each branch.
THANKSGIVING FOODS: BEFORE AND AFTER
Find pictures in magazines of foods before and after they are prepared. For example: Fresh cranberries and cranberry sauce, raw carrots and cooked carrots, raw potatoes and mashed potatoes, raw yams and candied yams. Glue each picture to a piece of felt. Show the children all of the pictures. Place one of the "before" foods up on your flannel board. Have someone find the "after" food to match it. Continue matching up all of the foods.
THIS IS THE WAY WE STIR THE PUDDING - SONG
THIS IS THE WAY WE STIR THE PUDDING
(sung to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we stir the pudding,
Stir the pudding, stir the pudding
This is the way we stir the pudding
All in a Pilgrim's day!
Each time the song is repeated, replace the underlined phrase with one of the following:
Knead the bread,
Feed the hens,
Milk the goats,
Fetch the water,
Gather the wood,
Hoe the garden,
Pull the corn,
Husk the corn,
Catch a fish,
Pick up nuts
DINNER IN A PUMPKIN
DINNER IN A PUMPKIN
1 medium Pumpkin.
1 4-oz can Mushrooms, drained and sliced.
1 Onion, chopped.
1 10-oz can Cream of chicken soup.
2 tbsp. Vegetable oil.
1 8-oz can Sliced water chestnuts, drained.
1 1/2 to 2 lbs. Ground beef.
1 1/2 cups Cooked rice.
2 tbsp. Soy sauce.
2 tbsp. Brown sugar.
Cut off the top of the pumpkin and clean out seeds and pulp. Paint on appropriate face on front of pumpkin with permanent marker or acrylic paint. In a large skillet, sauté' onion in oil until tender; add meat and brown. Drain drippings from skillet. Add soy sauce, brown sugar, mushrooms and soup; simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cooked rice and water chestnuts. Spoon mixture into pumpkin shell. Replace pumpkin top and place entire pumpkin, with filling, on a baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour in 350F°F oven or until inside meat of pumpkin is tender. Put pumpkin on a plate; remove top and serve. For your vegetable, scoop out cooked pumpkin and serve. Serves 6 people
CORNUCOPIAS (HORN OF PLENTY)
CORNUCOPIAS (HORN OF PLENTY)
We use ice cream cones sometimes to make great "cornucopias" for Thanksgiving Day snacks. The children mix up bite-sized snacks (pretzels, mini crackers, cheese bites, nuts and the like) and we will mix them all together and fill the cones with the mix. Good snacks to have around while watching the football game and waiting for the turkey to cook!
POULTRY PARTY HATS
Make light brown head bands for all the children. To the front, glue a five inch brown circle. Add black paper eyes, a red wattle, and a folded orange triangle for a beak. Bend several strips of 2"x18" colorful construction paper in half; then glue the ends to the back of the headband. Finally, fringe the round part of two half circles; glue them on the side of the band for wings.
CRAFT- MARGARINE TUB JACK-O-LANTERN
Cover a small margarine tub, with the lid on, with orange crepe paper. Turn on side using flat top for face. Make face by gluing on black paper features.
INDIAN CORN
INDIAN CORN
Cut a corn shape out of cardboard. Pop some poping corn and let it cool. Using dry tempera paint, place a hand-full of popped corn in a baggie with a teaspoon of dry tempera and shake until coated. Repeat with other colors until you have all the corn colored. Have your children glue the corn onto the cardboard and add construction paper corn husks. You can hang these on your front door or adhere a magnet for placement on the fridge.
SAFE TRICK OR TREATING TIPS
SAFE TRICK OR TREATING TIPS
Makeup should be chosen over masks, because masks can limit vision. Safe costumes will be flame retardant, light in color or have strips of reflective tape on them. Carrying a flashlight is a good idea as well. Trick or treat only in familiar neighborhoods. Young children should be accompanied by an adult, and no child should go out alone. All children should have a nametag under their costume with their phone number on it. An easy way to do this is place a strip of masking tape under their collar with information in black permanent marker. Your child should know where it is, in case it is needed! Before eating ALL treats should be inspected by an adult. Check all treats for signs of tampering. Throw away all unwrapped candy, or homemade treats, unless you know the person personally that gave it to them.
CRAFT -HAND PRINT SPIDER
Paint the child's palm and four fingers with black paint. Press the hand on the sheet of construction paper so the palms overlap, extending the fingers in opposite directions. The palm print in the middle is the spider's body and the fingers are the legs. Glue on wiggle eyes and you're done! Make one for Grandma and Grandpa!
RHYME -LATE ON A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT
LATE ON A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT
Late on a dark and stormy night,
Three witches stirred with all their might.
Two little ghosts said, 'How d'ye do?'
The wizard went tiptoe, tiptoe.
Booooooo!
VAMPIRE FANGS IN BLOOD
VAMPIRE FANGS IN BLOOD
8 large Red Delicious apples
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tbsp. sugar
1 10-oz. jar strawberry or cherry sauce
1. Wash, peel and core the apples. Then cut each apple into 8 pieces.
2. Dip the cut apples into the lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown.
3. To prepare the fangs, cut the apple slices into long, narrow triangles, making pointy toothlike shapes. Redip them in the lemon juice and lightly sprinkle them with sugar.
4. Arrange the fangs on a serving platter with the strawberry dipping sauce in the middle.
Make sure you splatter some of the "blood" over the fangs.
Makes 10 servings.
SCARECROW CONTEST
Divide the kids into three or four groups. Have six or eight different old shirts, jeans, hats, bandannas and other accessories in a pile. Give groups 15 minutes to assemble their own scarecrow. Stuff with old newspapers or hay. Make the face from a blank pillowcase and markers. Prizes for the scariest, funniest, most authentic and the most likely to scare away crows.
PUMPKIN CARVING TIPS
Draw your design on the pumpkin with a water-based marker beforehand.
Cut the top and any large areas with a sharp, straight-edged knife.
Carve away from yourself; kids should carve only under adult supervision.
Never hold the knife in a stabbing position.
When carving, keep a portion of the knife blade in the pumpkin and use slow, steady saw strokes.
Cut the lid at an angle so the outside diameter is larger than the inside. This prevents the top from falling into the pumpkin when it shrinks.
Scoop out seeds and stringy flesh with a large spoon.
Carve the facial features closest to the center first and work outward. Cut out the larger features in sections.
Use an X-Acto knife for details and the tip of a potato peeler to make small circles and curves.
Remove carved portions by gently pushing them into or out of the pumpkin.
Reattach a section that is accidentally removed by using a toothpick to pin it back in place.
Make design holes large enough to provide air for the candle flame.
Flatten a spot in the base of the pumpkin for the candle but avoid digging too deep because the pumpkin becomes prone to rot.
ST PATRICK'S DAY IDEAS FOR GROUPS
1. Have the children all wear green on St. Patrick's Day.
2. Sponge paint with green shamrock sponges, gold coin sponges, black pots.
3. Borrow St. Patrick's Books and Irish music from library.
4. Teach children how to dance an Irish Jig.
5. Make and eat green Jell-O (use jigglers recipe and shamrock cookie cutters).
6. Make green play dough.
7. Use green food coloring in milk or make green milkshakes with peppermint or mint chocolate chip ice cream.
8. Use gold coins in the sandbox or sand table.
Rainbow finger painting Have the children dip their fingers into finger paint... each finger in a different color. Then the children can move their fingers across a piece of finger paint paper to make a rainbow.
MARBLED EGGS
Mix one tsp. coloring, 1 tbs. vinegar, 1 cup hot water, and 1 tbs. salad oil. Eggs dyed in this solution will have marbled coloring.
LOLLIPOP BUNNY
For each child you will need the following materials:
1- lollipop (I use the lollipops wrapped in cellophane.)
2- 7mm wiggle eyes
1- 7mm pink pompom
2- white flower stamen
3"x3" white felt
3"x3" pink felt
6" curl ribbon
1. Cut 2 large white ears and 2 small pink ears from felt.
2. Glue the pink inner ears to the white ears keeping the bottoms even.
3. Put glue 1/2" from the bottom of the front of the ear.
4. Glue eyes on lollipop.
5. Put a dot of glue in the center of the lollipop under the eyes. Criss cross stamens and place on the glue.
6. Dip the pink pompom in glue and place it on the whiskers to form the nose.
7. Tie a bow and glue it at the base of the lollipop.
EGG CARTON MINI-EASTER BASKETS
EGG CARTON MINI-EASTER BASKETS
Use individual egg buckets (from egg carton)
Ribbon for handle
Put Easter grass and jelly beans, etc. into them.
PAPER PLATE HOLLY WREATH
1 Paper Plate
Green and Red Construction Paper
Small ribbon bow
Cut green construction paper into holly leaf shapes aprox. 2" x 3". Cut the center of a paper plate out and glue the holly leaf shapes around the edges, completely covering the plate rim. Cut ½" diameter circles from red construction paper. (you could use red buttons for the holly too) Glue in sets of 3 around your wreath. Glue bow to bottom of wreath.
I have used this idea before but assemble it slowly. I post the paper plate ring on the refrigerator on December first. After cutting enough holly leaves to cover the ring, I put them in a sandwich bag and post it near the paper plate ring. I tell the kids that whenever we do a good deed in the month of December, we will glue another leaf to the wreath. (If they are big enough I have them write the "good deed" on the leaf first.) By Christmas Eve the wreath will be decorated with all the good deeds of the month, and we add the bow and buttons then. All you have left to do is put the year on the back of the wreath, and you have a great memory to decorate your home in years to come.
HANG A REAL STOCKING
Help your child make a homemade stocking for the fireplace. Take a clean, hole free sock (Dad's sock is great!) and let your child decorate it with ribbons, bows, lace and whatever else you can think of.
ICICLE ORNAMENTS
Use scraps of metallic or gift wrapping paper to make these icicles for your tree. Punch a hole in the top corner and fasten a string to it. Begin rolling the side corner around a straw. Hold it tight! When you get near the opposite corner, put a little paste on the corner and roll to the end.
GOBBLE, GOBBLE -GAME
GOBBLE, GOBBLE -GAME
A child is chosen to be "it". "It" closes his/her eyes and sits in one spot in the room. Another child is chosen to be the turkey. The turkey runs and hides in some part of the room/house? When the turkey has been hidden, he/she should be saying, "gobble gobble, gobble." "It" tries to guess who it is from the sound of the voice. He/she has three guesses. Little ones can follow the sound and find the turkey, and older kids will like to play "Hide and seek" again.
GARLAND
Children love to make garland for your tree. They can make it from a number of components. Stringing popcorn is an age old favorite, but you can string cranberries, round cereals, beads. One of my favorite garlands that I put on my banister each year, is made from the beads off an old wooden bead car seat cover. We snipped away until all the beads were in the bucket, and then strung them all together on cotton string. Look around your home for items that will make a garland. I have seen the tiny pinecones (about 1 to 1 ½ inches) twisted on a length of wire, a garland for the fireplace or windowsill.
CATCH THE TURKEY (GAME)
CATCH THE TURKEY (GAME)
A holiday game of tag. All the children are turkeys except one who is a Pilgrim. The Pilgrim chases the turkeys until he catches one. The child who is caught becomes the Pilgrim.
THANKSGIVING LESSONS FOR YOUR CHILDREN:
THANKSGIVING LESSONS FOR YOUR CHILDREN:
Thanksgiving time is a good time to reinforce in our children a number of values. Not is it a time dedicated to being thankful for what we have, it is a time to be thankful for who we have in our lives. Traditionally we get together with family and friends and enjoy a big dinner. On the first Thanksgiving the Pilgrims and Indians shared more than food, they shared the skill of hunting, and how to cook and grow foods that were native to North America. They shared their friendship and hope for a promising future in the New World. Talk with your kid about how they would make new people to the neighborhood feel at home. Ask them what qualities make a good friend.
TURKEY TOAST
While you're getting the turkey ready for the oven, why not let your kids make breakfast? Here's an idea for turkey toast that is quick, simple and fun to make!
Use a large turkey shaped cookie cutter to cut out shape from toasted wheat bread. Spread the whole shape with peanut butter, Use a raisin for and eye, a slice of a red gummy worm for the wattle, and fruit loops for the tail feathers. Tastes good, and kids love it!
BELLS
Make some bells to accompany songs. String a bead on yarn or string and push both ends up through a hole made in a jar lid. Adjust the length so the bead swings freely in the jar and tie off the yarn in a know on top of the lid. Reinforce the string with tape. Different size jars will have different rings. Be careful with these, they are made of glass jars, and if they break could be dangerous. You can also make bells from a metal funnel.
CRAFT -MAKING SPIDER'S WEB CRAFTS
Materials: String or yarn, 6 x 6 in. pieces of string and 4 12 in. pieces of string, diluted white glue or liquid starch, dishes, waxed paper
Activity: Let the children dip pieces of string into dishes of glue or starch. Then have them lay their strings on waxed paper to create the spider's web. Lay the string in the shape of a spiral over-lapping the ends. Lay the large pieces of string over the spiral in the shape of a cross. When the strings dry, they will become stiff and hold their shapes.
WHAT IS ARBOR DAY?
Arbor Day is the time for planting new trees in yards, parks, neighborhoods, and communities. National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April, but the date of each state's Arbor day can vary depending on the growing season. Arbor day is also a time to appreciate trees both for their beauty and their usefulness. Talk with the children about how trees provide us with shade, food, and firewood as well as wood for making such things as paper, houses and furniture.
Interesting Facts:
It takes 17 trees to make one ton of paper.
The largest tree on Earth grows in Redwood National Park. It is taller than the Statue of Liberty and is more than 600 years old!
One oak tree may have 400 species of plants and animals living on it.
The smallest tree is the snow willow. It grows in the Arctic, in the cracks of rocks. Only a few inches high, its trunk is about as thin as a pencil.
EASTER PLACEMATS
EASTER PLACEMATS
Gather up Easter cards from past years, pictures from magazines or your children's favorite drawings. Glue onto light cardboard or construction paper in decorative fashion the size of a placemat.
Cover this collage with clear contact paper to seal the placemat. Be sure to have your child date and sign it. These are great to give to Grandma and Grandpa, aunts and uncles as a keepsake.
"TIE-DYE" EGGS
Make up several colored dyes. Be sure they are strong solutions (about 2 Tablespoons of water to a tablet of dye). Add two or three drops of vinegar to each color for staying power.
Now, dampen a piece of cloth with water and wrap it around the egg. With an eyedropper, drop spots of different colors of dye on the cloth. Twist the cloth tightly around the egg so the colors blend together. Gently unwrap the egg and let it dry.
FIVE LITTLE VALENTINES
FIVE LITTLE VALENTINES
Five little valentines just for you.
The first one says, "My love is true."
The second one says, "You have my heart."
The third one says, "Let's never part."
The fourth one says, "Won't you be mine?"
The fifth one says, "'Til the end of time."
TRASH BAG -COSTUME
TRASH BAG -COSTUME
One Halloween, years ago, it was raining--as it often does on Halloween. .My then 10-year-old son wouldn't even consider missing out on all the fun. Not wanting him to get completely soaked, I did some quick thinking and took a large trash bag, cut holes for legs, arms and face, tied it at the top and stapled bits of paper all over. I then set him out as a bag of trash! After his friends saw his "costume" they all wanted one just like it.
FIVE FAT TURKEYS -FINGER PLAY
FIVE FAT TURKEYS
Five fat turkeys were sitting on a fence. (One hand up)
The first one said, 'I'm so immense.' (Point to thumb)
The second one said, 'I can gobble at you.' (Pointer finger)
The third one said, 'I can gobble, too.' (Middle finger)
The fourth one said, 'I can spread my tail.' (Ring finger)
The fifth one said, 'Don't catch it on a nail.' (Little finger)
A farmer came along and stopped to say (Pointer finger of other hand.)
'Turkeys look best on Thanksgiving Day.'
ACTIVITY -SPOOKY FINGER - TRICK
SPOOKY FINGER
Make a small hole in the bottom of a small cottage cheese container. (Any similar container will do.) Make it near the edge. Put some cotton in the bottom and the container will be ready. To fool your friends, paint the first finger of one hand with poster paint. Stick your painted finger through the hole and bend it inward. Let the rest of your fingers grip the container naturally. Arrange the cotton around your finger to hide the hole. Cover the container and ask one of your unsuspecting friends to remove the lid. When he does, move the finger up and down. He'll flip.
DYING EASTER EGGS--THE NATURAL WAY!
DYING EASTER EGGS--THE NATURAL WAY!
This Easter, why not color your eggs using nature's very own dyes? It's possible to come up with a great number of colors using natural ingredients that can easily be found in almost any kitchen.
Pale Red: Fresh beets or cranberries, frozen raspberries
Orange: Yellow onion skins
Light yellow: Orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seed or ground cumin
Yellow: Ground turmeric
Pale green: Spinach leaves
Green-gold: Yellow Delicious apple peels
Blue: Canned blueberries or red cabbage leaves
Beige to brown: Strong brewed coffee
To dye the perfect Easter eggs the natural way, here's what to do:
1. Put eggs in a single layer in a pan. Pour water in pan until the eggs are covered.
2. Add about a teaspoon of vinegar.
3. Add the natural dye appropriate to the color you want your eggs to be. (The more eggs you are dying at a time, the more dye you will need to use.)
4. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Remove the substance you used to color the eggs. Put eggs in a bowl. If you want your eggs to be a darker shade, cover them with the dye and let them stand overnight in the refrigerator.
When using natural dyes, it is a good idea to use distilled water (or water filtered of chlorine). Chlorine and other chemicals are commonly put into tap water to keep it safe to drink, but the chlorine will also work against the dye, making it less intense. You can buy distilled water or filter it yourself.
STAR ORNAMENTS
STAR ORNAMENTS
Glue two perfectly shaped triangles together to make a six pointed star. Cover with macaroni, glitter or colored rice.
STYROFOAM TURKEYS -
STYROFOAM TURKEYS -
Styrofoam balls - I think I bought 6 or 8 inch - about 2.50 each
Brown paint
Paint brushes
Craft spoons - like the ones that come with ice cream cups (at the craft store)
Wiggle eyes - small - to go on the craft spoon
Felt scraps -in red and yellow
feathers in lots of colors and sizes!
TO MAKE:
Cut Styrofoam. balls in half. Paint the ball brown. Give the kids feathers and they stick them into the ball. I bought all different sizes. The larger feathers make it look kewl! Glue wiggle eyes on the craft spoon - which is the turkey head and neck. One eye on each side. Glue a little yellow felt triangle on the edge of the
spoon for the beak. Cut a gobble out of red and glue it below. It just didn't stick well with craft glue (You may want to use a hot glue gun.) Shove the head in the side of the ball somewhere.
MY TURKEY -FINGER PLAY
MY TURKEY
I have a turkey, big and fat
He spreads his wings, (Fan hands at hips)
And walks like that (Strut)
His daily corn he would not miss (Pretend to eat corn)
And when he walks, he sounds like this, ('Gobble, Gobble, Gobble)
CRAFT -HALLOWEEN ART
Using bright colored paper to paint on such as bright orange or green, try using only black paint to make a picture for Halloween. You can make leaf prints in the black paint by painting the paint onto the leaves the children collected outdoors and press them on the paper. Teach them how to make simple bats by making an upside down w on the page (a very kewl trick)! This is a good time of year to dance with scarves. Something very "Witch-like" about this activity!
SONG -HINX, MINX, THE OLD WITCH WINKS
HINX, MINX, THE OLD WITCH WINKS
Hinx, minx, the old witch winks.
The fat begins to fry.
Nobody's home but Jumping Joan.
Father, mother, and I.
Stick, stock, and stone dead.
Blind men cannot see.
Every knave will have a slave,
You and I must be he.
GROUND HOG DAY POEM
GROUND HOG DAY POEM
This furry friend might come out once a year,
To see his shadow if the day is clear.
And on this very special Ground Hog Day,
If his shadow is seen, winter will stay.
For six more long weeks we'll have to keep warm,
We'll thank the Ground Hog for his quiet alarm.
IN SANTA'S WORKSHOP - FINGER PLAY
In Santa's Workshop far away
Ten little elves work night and day. (hold up ten fingers)
This little elf makes candy canes; (point to the little finger on one hand0
This little elf builds stream lined trains. (continue pointing to each finger in succession.0
This little elf paints dolls for girls,
This little elf puts in their curls;
This little elf clips chocolate drops;
This little elf makes lollipops.
This little elf packs each jack in the box
This little elf sews dolly socks.
This little elf wraps books for girls and boys,
This little elf checks off the toys.
As Santa packs them in his sleigh,
Ready for you on Christmas day.
SONG -FRIENDLY GHOST
FRIENDLY GHOST
(Tune: Are You Sleeping)
I'm a friendly ghost; I'm a friendly ghost
Watch me fly; watch me fly,
I can fly right through the air
See how all the people stare.
Way up high in the sky.
PAPER BAG BUNNY BASKET
At open end of bag, draw bunny ears along outside edges and cut. Decorate bag on one side with face of bunny. Staple ears together at top. Stand bag up and open. Fill bottom with cellophane grass and fill!
MINI EGG CARTON BASKET
- One plastic-foam egg carton will make three baskets.
Cut off the top of carton. Cut the carton into three sections, each containing four cups. One section makes a basket. Make small holes on 2 opposite sides of each basket. Twist 2 pipe cleaners together to form a handle. Push the ends of the handle onto holes. Fill basket with cellophane grass. Decorate handle.
A SHY SANTA
Isn't it the strangest thing,
That Santa is so shy? (hide face with hands)
We can never, never catch him, (make fingers run)
No matter how we try.
It isn't any use to w (hold hand to eyes and look)
Because my parents said,
"Santa Claus will only come
When children are in bed!" (shake finger)
TURKEY SHOOT -GAME
TURKEY SHOOT -GAME
A good game for after dinner, when your feeling a bit full. This is a fun game that is not too active.
Instructions:
1.You will need an empty box, such as a cereal or shoe box.
2.Cut three openings about one inch square in one side.
3.Draw three turkeys over one opening, two turkeys over another opening, and one turkey over the middle opening.
4.Shoot the turkeys by rolling marbles into the openings in the box.
5.Each player sits about six feet away from the box and has five turns.
6.Keep score by counting the number of turkeys above the openings into which the marbles roll.
SONG -CREEPY CRAWLY MONSTER
CREEPY CRAWLY MONSTER
(This is a Halloween song sung to the tune of the itsy bitsy spider. )
A creepy, crawly monster is coming straight at me.
Closer and closer he climbs upon my knee.
Up to my shoulder the monsters much too near,
'Happy Halloween' he whispers in my ear.
TOILET PAPER ROLL TURKEY
Take a toilet paper tube and cover it with brown construction paper. Trace both hands on white paper and let child color feathers. Cut out hands. Cut thumb off. Lay tube horizontally. Glue hands to back of tube. Cut out peanut shape for head and glue to the front of tube. Use a red piece of felt to droop down from top of his head. Add wiggle eyes.
SODA SURPRISE
(A la jelly beans!)
Fill each section of an ice cube tray with clear soda. (Sprite, etc.) Have each child drop a jelly bean (color of choice) into one of the sections and freeze. The color of the jellybean will tint the ice cube. Use for snack.
This would be cute for an Easter party! Of course they would probably be done ahead in this case. But what a nice surprise for the children at snack time!
CLASSROOM VALENTINE TREATS
Children often bring treats to share with their classmates on Valentine's Day. Try this activity for a new twist. Put some candy hearts in a jar. Have the children guess how many hearts are in the jar. Then count and eat the candies.
CRAFT -COLLAGE CARDS
Have your kids make their own Valentine's Day cards this year.
Red construction paper
Tissue paper (different colors)
White glue thinned with water
Paint brushes, marker
Have your toddler help you tear the tissue paper into 2 inch pieces. Cut the construction paper into large heart shapes. Have the child brush glue on the heart shape and stick on the piece of torn tissue paper. He may choose to cover the whole heart by overlapping the tissue or by leaving spaces in between. When it is dry, print a message and the child's name on the heart using a marker, then have the child give it to his "valentine".
PAPER PLATE BUNNY MASKS
Staple ears to a paper plate - ones that look like rabbit ears
Cut out eyes, glue or draw on nose and mouth
Cover plate with cotton balls for fur
Attach string to hold up around head
PAPER PLATE SANTA
PAPER PLATE SANTA
Have your child draw a face on a paper plate, and glue on red triangle for Santa's Hat. Use a cotton balls on his hat and for his beard. Or cut out holes for eyes, and mouth, and punch two holes to make a mask.
OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS
Over the river and through the wood
To Grandfather's house we go.
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh
Through white and drifted snow.
Over the river and through the wood --
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.
Over the river and through the wood
To have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring,
Ting-a-ling-ling!
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!
Over the river and through the wood,
Trot fast, my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground
Like a hunting hound,
For this is Thanksgiving Day.
Over the river and through the wood,
And straight through the barnyard gate.
We seem to go
Extremely slow --
It is so hard to wait!
Over the river and through the wood --
Now Grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for fun!
Is the pudding done?
Hurray for the pumpkin pie!
TURKEY FEET
A cute turkey idea is to trace the child's foot (in socks) on brown construction paper, then trace their hand on orange, yellow, blue, green (really any colors you want) construction paper and cut them all out including the foot. Turn the foot upside down (the heel part on the top). Add eyes, beak and waddle and then glue the hands to the back (lower portion) for the feathers--you've created a cute project using their own hands and feet--then do it again next year and let them see how much they've grown.
SNACK -INSIDE OUT SANDWICHES
Inside out - Serve inside-out cheese sandwiches or cheese and crackers for a snack. Place a cracker or slice of bread between two slices of cheese and enjoy!
EASTER EGG ROLLING
This custom was started in Europe a long time ago. Contestants rolled their eggs on gentle slopes toward the finish line at the bottom of the hill. The first unbroken egg over the line is the winner. An annual egg roll was started in the United States during President Andrew Johnson's period. The White House south lawn now is the site of the Easter Monday Egg Roll. Many children participate in this yearly event.
Why not start your own Annual Easter Egg Roll. We have one with our grandchildren right after the Annual Easter Egg Hunt!
VALENTINE STICK PUPPETS
Using tongue depressors these stick people are fun and easy to make. Use a heart shape for the face and let the kids draw the face on with markers or crayons. You can even glue some yarn on for hair. Make your doll a dress from a paper doily!
PAPER CORNUCOPIAS
Cut a cornucopia out of brown paper. Cut as many fruits and vegetable shapes out as there are days left until Thanksgiving. Decorate each one with glitter or marker, if desired. Leave space on the shape to write
what you are thankful for. Then, glue one shape onto the cornucopia at a time. When the shapes are all glued on, you have a handmade door decoration! Be sure to put the year and your child's name on the back and use it year after year.
SPIDER WEB COOKIES
SPIDER WEB COOKIES
Make plain round sugar cookies special for Halloween. First frost them with white icing. Then mix some icing with dark food coloring (I use deep purple). Put the dark icing in a plastic sandwich bag and poke a hole in the bottom corner. As you squeeze out the dark icing make circle inside of circle on the cookie.(Most cookies will take 4 or 5 circles. Before the icing dries take a toothpick and draw a line from the center to the outside parameter of the cookie all the way around. Voila SPIDER WEB COOKIES!
EYEBALLS
First, place an egg in a small saucepan and cover it with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute, then turn off the heat. Cover and let sit for 15 minutes. Drain the hot water and run cold water over the shell. Then peel the egg and slice it in half lengthwise. Scoop out the yolk into a bowl and mash it with 1 teaspoon of mayonnaise, a dab of mustard and a pinch of salt. Spoon the mixture back into the egg-white halves and top each with a ripe olive.
VALENTINE SNACKS
Using the heart shape, many, many snacks can be turned into a valentine snack. Use heart shaped cookie cutters to cut grilled cheese sandwiches out or toast and strawberry jam. Make heart shaped pancakes with a metal cookie cutter set in the pan and pour the batter into it to form the shape. Serve red and white items for lunch on Valentine's day.
Cream cheese and strawberry jam rolled up in a tortilla and sliced to make pinwheels are popular in my house. Using you and your child's imagination there is no limit to the "special" treats you can share!
LITTLE INDIANS
LITTLE INDIANS
Five little Indians, on a nice fall day (dance around)
Jumped on their ponies and rode far away (hands on next child, pretend to be ponies)
They galloped in the meadow,
and they galloped up a hill, (pretend to gallop)
They galloped so fast,
they all took a spill. (pretend to fall off the ponies)
PUMPKIN SEEDS
I wash and dry my pumpkin seeds. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter and stir in 1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce. Stir in seeds and spread on baking sheet with sides. Sprinkle with seasoned salt and bake at 350 degrees. Turn/scrape once during baking. It takes about 10 minutes. I spread them on a cookie sheet, spray with PAM, and sprinkle with salt or cinnamon & sugar, roast till crisp, cool and enjoy!
SONG -PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN
PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN ACTION RHYME
Pumpkin, Pumpkin, sitting on a wall; (have a child sit down)
Pumpkin, Pumpkin, tip and fall; (have child tip over)
Pumpkin, Pumpkin rolling down the street; (child rolls on floor)
Pumpkin, Pumpkin Trick or Treat!!!
BIRD SEED ORNAMENTS
Tie a yarn loop on a pine cone, spread peanut butter all over pine cone, roll in birdseed, hang outside a window.
JELLY BEAN COUNTDOWN
(Use real jelly beans or flannel board ones- 5 colors)
5 little jelly beans
I wish I had more!
I'll eat the (color) one
Now there are four!
4 little jelly beans
Tasty as can be
I'll eat the (color) one
Now there are 3!
3 little jelly beans
Only a few.
I'll eat the (color) one
Now there are 2.
2 little jelly beans
Eating them is fun
I'll eat the (color) one
Now there is one.
1 little jelly bean
The last one for me
I'll eat the (color) one
I'm as happy as can be!
SANTA CLAUS - fingerplay
Here is the chimney (make fist, enclose thumb)
Here is the top (place palm on top of fist)
Open the lid (remove top hand)
and out Santa will pop. (pop up thumb)
HAPPY HANUKKAH
HAPPY HANUKKAH
Sparkling in the windows,
Up and down the street
Gay menorahs tell a message,
Very old and sweet.
There is fun and laughter,
People come to call.
Hanukkah is here at last
With joy and gifts for all.
EASTER EGG NESTS
Using the Rice Krispies Marshmallow Treats recipe shape the cookies into nests and fill with green coconut and jelly bean eggs.
ACTIVITY -WATER PLAY
Even the youngest children will enjoy this activity.
Sponges cut in heart shapes
Tub of water
Paper towels
Give the sponge to an infant to feel and squeeze. Then moisten it with water and let him feel the difference. Then help him make prints on the paper towel. Or play with the sponges in a tub of water. (Set the water on a towel on the kitchen floor) Supervise closely as always when water is involved.
Older children can use sponges to "stamp" designs on construction paper with paint.
I AM THANKFUL
I AM THANKFUL
This is a poem that makes a good Thanksgiving Day grace
I am thankful for my pets
I am thankful for my school
I am thankful when I
can swim in a pool.
I am thankful for my home
and the food that I eat.
I am thankful for all
the new friends that I meet.
I am thankful for my health
and for my family.
I'm especially thankful
that I am just me!
CRAFT -HALLOWEEN PAPER BAG PUMPKIN
Using a large grocery bag (or a little lunch bag) crumple newspaper and stuff. Twist top of paper bag and tie with elastic. Have children paint the bag orange. Paint the face black. Paint stem green.
My children brought these home from kindergarten over 20 years ago and I've been making them with the daycare children ever since. If you build and paint them one day then put the face on another day, you can use black markers.
LOVE JUICE
LOVE JUICE
Make love juice by mixing 2 cups of chilled pineapple juice, 10 ounces unsweetened frozen strawberries, 2/3 cup nonfat dry milk granules, and 8 ice cubes in a blender. Blend until ice cubes are crushed. Enjoy!
CHRISTMAS MATCHING PARTY GAME
On a name tag sticker write 2 words that go together such as
Santa Clause & Mrs. Claus,
Hot Chocolate & Marshmallows
Reindeer & Sleigh
Snow & Shovels
Stockings & Presents
Christmas Trees & Ornaments
As each person arrived they had a sticker placed on their backs so they could not see what their sticker said. The person had to go around and ask questions to figure out who they were. The next obstacle was to find their mate. This is a good game and is enjoyed by kids of all ages.
FEED THE TURKEY -GAME
FEED THE TURKEY GAME
When the house is filled with cousins and friends on Thanksgiving break out this game for fun.
First you have to make the game, a great little family activity a few days before. Start with a large brown paper grocery bag. Fold down about 4" of the large brown bag - keep the fold inside. Smooth out the opening to make it rounded. Now stuff two small paper bags with newspaper and twist the top of the bags and close up with an elastic band, these are the drumsticks… attach them to either side of the larger bag. Cut strips of the red tissue paper and glue around the twisted top of the drumsticks for decoration. Glue the drumsticks on the sides of the "turkey". For the stuffing, wad up pieces of the newspaper and tape together to form balls.
TO PLAY: Players stand back about four feet and take turns tossing the "stuffing" into the "turkey". See who can get the most in.
SAND BEADS
Sand beads: Mix 1 cup of sands with 1/4 c. white glue in plastic tub. Pinch off enough sand dough to roll a bead in the size you want. With a nail, poke a hole through the center for stringing. If the dough is too soft to hold the hole, more sand until it is stiff enough so that the hole does not collapse. Let bead dry on tray until hard. Tape the end of a piece of yarn that is long enough to make a necklace and string the beads on it. Tie ends together to make a necklace. Can decorate beads by coloring them with markers or gluing tiny seed beads to them.
MAKE A SCARECROW
Gather up an old shirt, a pair of pants, a pumpkin head (white bucket turned upside down, a pillowcase filled with leaves, a pumpkin, etc.) old pair of shoes, an old pair of gloves, an old hat and some yarn, twine or heavy duty string.
It is easiest to create your scarecrow if he is sitting down in a chair or on some steps. Fill him with leaves, wadded newspaper or other filling. Draw a face on the bucket or whatever you use for the face. Add the hat, and the shoes and then attach the gloves and tie them on with the string.
Viola' you have a scarecrow!
EASTER EGG BLOWING GAME
Divide the children into two teams. Place each team member on opposite sides of a table. (The older the kids the bigger the table. For example the 3 year olds use the coffee table, the 7 year olds use the dining table and the 10 year olds use a ping pong table…) Place a colored cotton ball on the table (pretend it is a Easter egg). The object of the game is to blow the egg off the opposing team's side of table. Players can not use their hands in any way. Prepare for lots of noise!
RECYCLED VALENTINES
RECYCLED VALENTINES
There are a number of ways your children can save and re-use their Valentine's. Cut out old Valentine cards and make a collage.
Punch a hole into the tops of their valentines and make a mobile.
Use them in your family memory book.
A WISH COLLAGE FOR CHRISTMAS
Wonder what your kids want for Christmas? If the children are too small to list what they wish for, supply them with a toy catalogue or toy advertisements and let them cut out pictures of what they would like Santa to bring them. They can put the most desired item on the top of the page and other items further down. A great plus to this activity is they can't fit dozens of pictures on one page, and will have to choose carefully!
THANKSGIVING TIME -POEM
THANKSGIVING TIME
Thanksgiving time is here,
Let's clap and give a cheer
For food and friends and family --
Thanksgiving time is here!! (clap hands and cheer).
VALENTINE TOAST -
Melt butter and add red food coloring. After toasting bread cut out a heart with a cookie cutter and brush on red butter.
RHYME -FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS
FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS
Five little pumpkins, (Hold up fingers for pumpkins)
Sitting on a gate.
The first one said 'Oh my! It's getting late'.
The second one said 'There are witches in the air'.
The third one said 'But we don't care'.
The fourth one said 'Let's run and run and run'.
The fifth one said 'It's Halloween fun'.
Oooooooo went the wind,
And out went the lights. (clap hands to the word 'out')
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight. (roll arms)
CRAFT -SPARKLY EGGS
Squeeze the round end of an empty frozen juice can to form an oval shape. Carefully mix some glitter into a few different colors of tempera paint. Put a little paint in shallow containers. (The lid of a coffee tin or a Styrofoam tray works well) Have your son dip the oval end of the cans into the paint and make prints on sheets of construction paper. Once it dries hang the papers in a sunny spot and watch them glitter. Vary this activity for older children by having them dip into white glue and sprinkle glitter on the egg prints.
EGG CARTON BELLS
Make ornaments from egg cartons to hang on your Christmas tree, or whenever you would like to make simple bells! Cut apart the sections of an egg carton. Have the kids paint them, or use the white Styrofoam kind of egg carton. You can make them sparkle by sprinkling glitter on the wet paint or painting with watered down glue and then sprinkling some glitter on. Attach a tiny bell to a pipe cleaner and insert it up through the center of the egg carton section. Bend the top of the pipe cleaner to make a hanger for the ornament.
MENORAH CANDLE HANDPRINTS
Let one child at a time place both hands in dark colored paint and make a Menorah print on construction paper by placing fingers of each hand spread and together with thumbs over-lapping. When the menorah is finished have the children dip a finger into yellow point and make a "flame" at the top of each candle.
GELT HUNT
Tell the children that one of the games played by Jewish families during Hanukkah involves something called gelt. The gelt are real coins hidden by parents that the children must find. Have a gelt hunt, but substituting gold-foil chocolate coins for real coins. Hide the coins around a room for the children to find.
PUMPKIN TEA LIGHT HOLDERS
Mini pumpkins
Tea Light Candles
Lace Trim
Raffia
Glue gun and glue sticks
Remove cap from pumpkin as you would to make a jackolantern. Scrape seeds out from the inside. Using a sharp knife widen cap hole, maintaining roundness and centered, until tea light can be squeezed into the hole. You want it to be a tight fit or tea light will eventually slip down into the pumpkin. You want tea light to remain "suspended" in the opening.
Embellish by gluing on a "skirt" of lace trim. Tie raffia around top edge of lace and glue into place. Attach raffia bow.
Tip: Set mini pumpkins and other gourds on a mat. Do not set directly on furniture. The bottom will begin to decay first and will damage finish on furniture.
GINGERBREAD MAN -SONG
See the "Meals and Snacks" section for a gingerbread recipe.
Stir a bowl of gingerbread (stir as in a bowl)
Smooth and spicy brown.
Roll it with a rolling pin, (roll dough with pin) up and up and down.
With a cookie cutter. (cut cookies with a cutter)
Make some little men.
Put them in the oven (put pan in oven)
Until half past ten.
THANKSGIVING GRACE
THANKSGIVING GRACE
This year when you say your usual thanksgiving grace, consider this little activity. After grace is said go around the table and each person take a turn telling what they are the most grateful for this year. Your children's answers may amaze you.
HANDPRINT BASKET OF EGGS
Trace around 2 hands on green paper - cut them out. Cut out a large basket shape from brown paper and four eggs on colored paper - glue the hands (fingers up) as grass behind the eggs and basket on blue paper.
CRAFT -SPARKLY HEARTS
For an easy craft to make for Valentine's Day, try out these sparkly heart decorations.
You will need aluminum foil, red or pink construction paper, cotton swabs, scissors, red paint and glue.
Cut large heart shapes from aluminum foil and glue each heart to a sheet of construction paper. Allow the children to decorate their hearts with designs by using cotton swabs dipped in red paint. Mount the children's projects to the wall or windows to make a sparkly Valentine's Day display.
CRAFT -THE BOO MASK
THE BOO MASK
A mask that a child can hold up to his face and remove when desired. Eyes look through the O's in BOO.
Cut out of black paper. Add Popsicle stick handle and colorful streamers on the side.
COOKIE & CANDY TURKEYS
COOKIE & CANDY TURKEYS
These are adorable little treats to make for your child on thanksgiving. For each turkey treat your will need a square caramel, a candy corn, a Hershey kiss and a chocolate striped cookie.
Soften a caramel in the microwave, about 10 seconds--but don't get too soft. Take the caramel, place the cookie- (stripes facing front), on the back of the caramel. The candy corn piece goes on top of the caramel for the beak, then place the caramel on top of a chocolate star or kiss, for feet-- you have a candy turkey
Cut off bottom of cookie to make a flat bottom.
Spread cookie with frosting. Sprinkle with orange tinted coconut. Cut Black Licorice pieces to make stem and parts of face. Attach stem and face to cookie. Also, instead of licorice - you can use a tube of black frosting or icing.
DREDIELS
pencils, glue, paint and paintbrushes, small milk cartons or boxes
Fold tops of milk cartons down to make boxes. Mix a little glue with paint and let children paint boxes. Poke pencil through box from top downward so point is on bottom.
Poem:
I have a little dreidel,
I made it out of clay.
And when it's dry and ready,
A dreidel game I'll play.
PARTY DECORATION SAFETY TIP
Don't go overboard--moody lighting, creepy music, and a few well-placed, homemade decorations set the scene. Pass on anything with a flame and keep in mind that kids are clumsy in their costumes--anything fragile or sharp should be well out of the way.
INVISIBLE INVITATIONS
Kick off your party plans with ghostly "invisible" invitations. They are easy to make, and your guests will love decoding the secret message. All you need to make the invitations are sheets of white paper, scissors, a pen and a slim white birthday candle. Have your kids cut the paper into ghost shapes. (It helps if you first cut out a cardboard template they can trace and follow.) Then use the end of the candle to write out the party details-who, what, where and when. At the bottom of the invitations, use the pen and write, "To see the secret message, brush food coloring over this card." Put a ghost and a small paintbrush into each envelope and mail them out.
PAPER MACHE EGGS
Paper mache paste (see the Craft Supply Recipe Section)
Balloon
Tape
1-inch pieces newspaper, newsprint or paper toweling
Pie tin
Paint brushes
Colored tissue paper (optional)
Shellac
Eggs
Make paper mache paste as above. When cool pour into pie tin. Blow up a balloon and tape to a table. Dip strips of newspaper in paste and place carefully on balloon. Continue overlapping pieces of newspaper on balloon. Cover balloon completely and let dry. It may take overnight to dry, particularly if children have use lots of paste. Once dry decorate the dried balloon with paint or colored tissue in pretty pastel Easter colors. Finish with shellac for a shiny, glazed effect.
TURKEY HANDPRINT
TURKEY HANDPRINT
For this turkey take an piece if brown construction paper and then let the kids that are able to, trace and cut the shape of their own hands. Then glue feathers on the "fingers" to make the turkey. After gluing a magnet on the back side of this turkey, add a poem:
This isn't just a turkey.
As anyone can see.
I made it with my hand,
Which is a special part of me.
It comes to you with lots of love,
Especially to say,
I hope you have a very
Happy Thanksgiving Day!!
