Kids Ice Ornaments Craft

Kids Ice Ornament Craft!

 Okay, I have done this is the summer, but winter is another story. Funny how teachers must constantly reinvent tried and true preschool curriculum.
Well, here it is, and for good measure I put a popular link in there that is great for summer from A Sense of Wonder.
Here is how we reinvented summer ice activities to Kids Ice Ornaments for the winter and what our preschoolers are doing with them!

From A Sense of Wonder-Great Idea!

What you'll need to make Kids Ice Ornaments

1. Balloons
2. Sink
3. A Freezer (if it's not snowing outside)
4. Food Coloring
5. Glow Sticks (optional, but oh so much fun)

Kids Ice Ornament Process
Kids love filling up the balloons in the sink, but what they love even more is splashing one another! Defiantly recommend direct supervision and assistance with the food coloring.

1. First have the child put a few drops of food coloring in the empty balloon.
2. Light a glow stick and place it inside the balloon.
3. Assist child in filling up balloon at the sink and tying it off.
4. Make sure there is plenty of room in the freezer and place them inside.

Depending on the size of the balloon, it may take a few hours to an entire day for them to solidify.
When it's time to take them out have the children figure out a way to unwrap their ice ornament.

We love to place them in the sensory table lined with aluminum foil and other round objects like unique marbles, and glittery round objects. We turn off the lights and enjoy the soft glow of the glow sticks inside. I love to do this when we study space and planets!

If you can, make more with the children during the coldest weather and arrange to take home and place outside their door!

Easie Peasie Homemade Kids Finger Paints

These finger paints are great for a tight classroom budget, but what about a great classroom gift idea for the kids?
Be sure to add at least a tablespoon of dish washing soap to the mixture with the water!
This gift idea is great for:

• Kids Birthdays
• End of Summer Gifts
• Special Holiday Gifts
• Party Favors 

Kids Crafty Bottle Bird Feeder

Materials list for the Kids Crafty Bird Feeder

1. Empty Liter Bottles with Lids
2. Bulk Wooden Spoons (Available at the Dollar Store)
3. Bulk Wild Bird Seed
4. Scissors
5. Sharpie Marker
6. Masking Tape
7. Small Eye Hook Screw(s) (Enough for each lid)
8. Twine or yarn
9. A nice shade tree with sturdy branches

The Process

Teacher Prep: Use a sharpie and mark two sections per spoon you would like to have them placed. Make sure your "entrance and exit" Sharpie marks are parallel to one another. After you punch small holes in the marks with the tip of your scissors, place one more just above one of the holes. This third hole will disperse seed in the bowl of the spoon.
Get the lid, and screw in the eye hook in the center of the lid. Make sure it's secure.

The Kids Part: Give the children the wooden spoon(s) and allow them to figure out how to put them through the proper holes. This is a great fine motor exercise. When they are finished have them clip a piece of masking tape to cover the 'third seed dispensing hole'.

Allow the children to fill the bottle with the seed and place the lid on top. They will place a length of twine through the whole and tie it.
We love to go out as a group and pick our branches to tie them to. It's then that we take the tape off and allow the bowl of the spoons to fill with seed.

Be sure to get a camera. The kids love to show their families proof that the birds came!

Bird picture found on Facebook from All it Takes is a Can Opener & Crockpot.

Kids Easy Photo Fabric Bean Bag Craft

Thank Photo Gifts and Ideas

Bean bag crafts are always a winner with kids. For years, doing so much by hand has cause me to neglect some of the most creative uses for technology! After seeing this craft I am definitely looking into it more!

Here's what you'll need for your Kids Easy Photo Bean Bag Craft

2 tablespoons of Alum
2 1/2 teaspoons of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
1/2 teaspoon of liquid fabric softener
1 cup of very hot water
Muslin cotton fabric (you will use approximately 8 1/2” x 11” [rectangle shapes] per child)
Freezer Paper (you will use approximately 8 1/2” x 11” [rectangle shapes] per child)
Scissors
Medium size mixing bowl
Mixing spoon
Software: Adobe Photo Shop Elements (if your not looking to spend your moolah on Photoshop, just yet)
Computer and Ink Jet printer (A laser printer is a no-no for this project. I'll explain why later.)
Iron and Ironing Board
Kids Markers (optional)
Sewing Machine or needles and thread (optional)
Digital Camera
Sharpie
Drying rack with clothes pins
Bag of beans or rice
Stapler

Okay, it seems like a big supply list but it isn't really, much of what we had was already on hand. Depending on how much child involvement you encourage depends on the difference between a day or two of completion. I like involving the children as much as possible, so I purchased extra muslin and put them to work on it first. I have twelve kids that don't like to miss a day of school, so nothing ever goes to waste.

The Process

Get Fabric and Paper Ready: Pre-cut 5"X5" piece of muslin and 8 1/2” x 11” Muslin and Freezer Paper (The trick is to cut them while they are placed one on top of the other) use a paperclip or staple to fasten your clipped muslin a freezer paper together so they don't get mixed up.

Snap a Picture: Give the children a 5"X5" piece of muslin to color with markers on. This will be the backing to their bean bag. While they are doing that snap a picture with my digital camera.

Try Setting up the Process in Learning Centers: We set up a 'Mixing Table" for the children with a parent volunteer. Mix the alum, washing soda and hot water in a mixing bowl and make a solution. Do this over and over with the children because the fabric will need to soak up the solution you're making. Besides, the children love to watch the science of it fizzing up.

Write the child's name of the muslin and freezer paper with a sharpie and have them dip an 8 1/2” x 11” piece of muslin in the mixture and  least 15 minutes before squeezing it out. The children will then allow it to dry on the drying rack until the next day. Remember, keep your matching freezer paper in a safe place!

Once the fabric is dry, take out the freezer paper, iron and ironing board. Depending on the age of the children you can iron it with them.  We put freezer paper shiny side up and iron the treated fabric to it until it is cleaved nicely. These are all 8 1/2” x 11” rectangles, so they will run through or printer properly. We trim any excess paper of fabric after we are done ironing.

Getting ready to print..

 In whatever program you choose, size your pictures to 4″ x 4″ images and print them onto your fabric. We set the canvas size to 8 1/2" x 11" to perfectly match a regular sized paper. Place the images far apart so that you'll have plenty of seam allowance.

You can change your printer settings to the best print quality on fabric if you have that option. Always Make sure you print on the fabric side and not on the back of the freezer paper. Oh, I almost forgot, never use a laser printer because it will melt your freezer paper-not good, people--not good.

Heeeere it comes!

After you print....

More pix from The Idea Room

Get the 5"X5" fabric your children colored on with markers and match it to the their photos. Because the kids are too young to sew on this craft we stapled around the pieces front to back to create the 'bag'. The kids gladly filled the beans in the bean bags and a parent volunteer too them home to sew them. Yes, we could have easily had them sewn first and then had the kids fill them with beans but you didn't see their faces when they saw them. The kids just HAD to fill them immediately!

By the way, these make great gift for any occasion. Here are a few ideas of what you can do with them.

• Mother, Father or Grandparents Day gifts
• Great first day of school gift to the children
• Instead of photos you can use picture the children have drawn
• Great for activity centers or matching games
• Great for circle time activities
• Great to use as place setting for circle times or place settings
• A great way to transition children in excusing them for new actives and name selection

 

What ideas can you think of?

Kids Fairy Dust Craft

We highly recommend you make Kids Fairy Dust with the kids, as well as one for yourself. After all, we are all kids at heart, aren't we?

How to make Kids Fairy Dust

Materials Needed:

Glow Sticks (We got ours at Oriental Trading Co. in white for $10.95 for 12. # IN-24/11240 )

Scissors

Iridescent or Diamond Glitter (Found at any craft store)

Baby food jars (enough for each child)

Super Glue

The Process:

1. Cut a glow stick and shake the contents into a jar. (Teacher only for this part)
2. Add diamond glitter 
3. Seal the top ( Super glue) with a lid.
4. Shake well

Note: The children loved to look at these during rest time as we read the book, Tinkerbell and The Lost Treasure. They turned out simply gorgeous! Thank you to All it Takes is a Can Opener & Crockpot  (2/13/12) post on Facebook for the idea! Ours lasted about 5 hours before it began to fade but it's definitely worth it!

*Looking for more crafts with that magical effect? Check out our Glow Water Craft! *                               

Kids Ocean Wave Bottles Craft

 

There is nothing like taking a bit of the beach home with you. As a California girl, myself I love to bring the ocean and science into the classroom to share with the children.

I used to make wonderful wave bottles for used plastic water bottles, however, times being what they are businesses use much less plastic (great for our environment), but not when it comes to the durability of our kids projects.

The families and I found a great option that the children love; we use these ocean bottles as staple pieces in the classroom, as well gift ideas! Here is a craft I guarantee your preschoolers and families will love!

How to Make Kids Ocean Theme Wave Bottles

More Ocean in a Bottle Ideas!

Cheap clear baby bottles (We go to a local Dollar Store)

Bags of small shells (Any dollar or craft store has these)

Soft clean sand or washed pea gravel (Just enough to settle nicely on the bottom of the bottle)

Small Rubber Sea Creatures (Optional but the kids love them)

Large container of Baby Oil (Optional-give you that wave effect)

Blue Food Color or Bio Color

Silver Glitter (Optional but very pretty)

Masking Tape

Funnel

Water

Procedure: Keep the lids and allow the children scoop in a couple spoonfuls of sand or gravel. Allow children to select 3-5 shells depending to the size and one sea creature to place in the bottle.

Have the children mark a halfway point with the masking tape on their bottle. Let the kids add in their water to the mark and funnel in the baby oil almost to the top. Be sure they are holding it securely so it won’t spill.

Add in one drop of food coloring and a dash of glitter. Now securely tighten the bottle with the bottle plug minus the rubber nipple.

There! Now you're kids have captured the ocean in a pinch!

Neat Feet Kids Craft

 We found a great craft idea from  Craft Ideas for Kids that we were able to modify for the classroom! They are great gift ideas for parents just about any time of year!

How to Make Neat Feet For Kids:

Materials Needed

1. Sensory Tub of Moist Sand
2. Kids Shoe Boxes
3. Boxes of Plaster of Paris (follow instruction on the box)
4. Pen
5. Towel to dry off those cute little feet!

Procedure: Have the children fill their shoe boxes half way with moist sand. We use a marker to show them where to stop. Have the kids take of their shoe and gently press on bare foot into the sand. When an imprint is created follow the instruction on the Plaster of Paris box and pour it in a mold.

Gift Idea: This makes a great gift idea! We glue felt at the bottom of the Neat Feet and turn it into an adorable paper weight!

Bone-ified Dinosaur Activities for Kids

Preschooler have always had a fascination with bones and fossils. Dinosaurs are a great way to introduce an amazing sense of wonder through the science of it all. How bones are found and collected tell us so much about these great leviathans. With young children, by simply peeking their interest and fascination, you can take your preschool curriculum to new levels of learning. Here are some of the best bone and fossil curriculum we gathered to share with you and your classrooms

Dinosaur Bone Activities Kids Will Love

Milk Bone Dig

Materials needed: Paper bags, Markers, dinosaur stickers (optional), Boxes of Dog Milk Bones (from the dollar store), an outdoor sand box, digging tools and old clean paint brushes (any size)
Procedure: Adults bury milk bones in the sandbox and set out buckets and brushes. Children decorate bags and explain to children how dinosaur bones are found and cleaned by archeologists. Let the children know you will be going on a bone hunt and to walk carefully as they dig. We love to share our stories of our finds after the dig! Bones can be brushed clean and taken home to a very lucky dog!

Dinoaur Tar Pits

Materials Needed: Cornstarch, water, black food coloring or paint, large plastic dinosaurs, sensory tub, smocks
Procedure: Mix cornstarch and water with enough black food coloring for a nice gooey tar effect. Place your "Tar Mixture" in a large sensory tub with the dinosaurs. Dinosaurs will actually "stick" in the tar mixture which gives the kids a really good idea how difficult it could have been to escape.

Clay fossils 

Materials Needed: Modeling clay (you can purchase it in bulk at the art stores) or Air Dry Clay works nicely as well. Small plastic dinosaur skeletons, work trays, smocks, Optional: glue/water solution, paint brush, and with iridescent glitter
Procedure:  Distribute wet clay on tray and have the children make a flat thick slab with their hands. (I give the children time to explore the clay before we actually begin) After the clay is flat the children press the dinosaur skeletons in the clay and we let it dry. It creates wonderful fossil-like impressions what look great brushed with the glitter and glue solution!
Bone Explorers

Materials: Saved bones parents have saved, cleaned and bleached dry-Chicken and beef work really well. Dinosaur skeletons, potting soil, sensory tub, clay work tools and small paint brushes (for sweeping debris from bones), magnifiers, rocks and bits of twigs
Procedure: Arrange bones and dinosaurs hidden in the potting soil in a large sensory tub. Rock and bits of nature really add to the look and feel of and actual archeologists bone dig!
Make a Bone: How about making your own dinosaur bone? Check out The Yellow Fence on blogger!

Kids Space Alien Crafts

Space Themes was never one of my strongest areas for teaching young children. The kids I work with are so hands on and well....the stars are not something we can explore with the five senses. We use lots of real images of planets as well as adding a bit of fun and science in the mix.
The whole excitement about space is the mystery of it all.
We gather as many materials as possible and then have tons of fun with space aliens.
Without further ado, this an Honorable Mention Shout out to all the kid crafty aliens out there! If you have any to share as well please do with a back link to the site! Thanks again!

Silly Soap Box Space Aliens by Craft Jr. Good clean fun!

Water Bottle Top Space Creatures! Make them in a snap by: se7ven!

"Sprouts" The Space Alien by Free Kids Crafts! He'll grow on you!

"Space Blob Bob" by Make and Takes. Add some space juice and make him glow!

Kids Nature Walk Terrariums

Look what we found!

I love going on nature walks. Especially, when the weather is nice. I will usually take out my group of kids; paper bags in tow, and we march along singing every song we know while picking up bits of nature. By the time we get back: share our finds, and are ready for a nap, nature has made a lovely fragrant carpet all over the classroom!

Now, we have found a lovely Nature Terrarium project that the parents won't mind the children taking home.

What You'll Need Before Your Nature Walk: 

• Assorted clean small jars with lids
• Moss (At local pet shops or craft supply stores)
• Small bowl of water or squirt bottle of water
• Magnifiers (optional)

What the Children Should Look for During the Nature Walk:

• Pine Needles
• Leaves
• Twigs
• Flowers
• Bark

Pix from ourbigearth.com

The Process: Spread out all your findings on a table and inspect them with magnifiers. Gently dampen pieces of moss and securely cover the bottom of the lid with it. from there the kids can make nature arrangements with their findings in the moss.
Once they are finished, help them fasten the lid over their work. The jar helps hold the moss and everything in place!
How to care for you Nature Walk Terrarium: Place it in a lovely place in the classroom to showcase them in indirect sunlight.

Thank you Robbin Rivers from ourbigearth.com for this great idea!



Kids Homemade Classroom Valentine Garland

It seems like most gorgeous art projects never stay in the classroom longer than a day. Sometimes, I actually have to plan for festive classroom decorations and really get the kids excited about it, as well. This can be a bit tricky but long-term projects can go on for months!
The children used the same crayon muffin technique and I simply place metal paper clips inside as soon as the come out of the oven.

Materials You'll Need For the Homemade Valentine Classroom Garland:

• Lots of Shaved Crayons
• Heart Muffin Tins
• Paper Clips
• Oven
• Long Ball of Twine
• Colored Ribbon or Yarn
• Nature kids collect from home, nature walks, etc.

All photos from Resurrection Fern

The Process: Check out the crayon muffins link and just after you take them out of the oven place a paper clip inside them just before they cool. As a class, we have this activity open all week. We get quite a few hearts. Unfortunately, one year a preschooler came up with the brilliant idea of making them into crayon necklaces. Brilliant idea, and there went the garland...sigh.

Making It Meaningful: I encourage the children to bring bits of nature from home. Pine cones, acorns, twigs and leaves. We make it a special show and tell where the children tell how and where they found the prized possessions just before we hang it on the garland.

These valentine garlands are very beautiful and natural looking. And best of all the children love adding to them and telling stories about it!

How about you? what would you have your class add?

Favorite Kids Melted Crayon Gift Projects

Crayon Melted Rock Paperweights and much more! (This photo is from pepperpaints.com)

By far, some of the easiest and most beautiful gift project ideas have always been the simplest. I haven't quite figured out if the beauty is in the simplicity or that its just so beautifully fun and economical. I suspect a bit of both I guess.

How to Make Melted Crayon Paper Weights:
I am modifying this original post for Hot Rocks because I was really trying to figure a way to do it with the youngest of children without any ouchies. I mean, you say to a group of preschoolers, "watch out, sweetie, it's hot." Someone is bound to test the 'how-hot-is-it-theory'. Have kids create their own crayon shavings by crushing them in bags or with cheese graters and then the children can arrange the shaving on a rock before it goes in the oven. Bake it at 130F for about 5-7 minutes and let it cool. It makes an awesome paperweight gift!

Heat pottery and color it! Great gift idea!

How to Make Melted Crayon Pottery:

Materials Needed:

• Crayons
• Oven
• Small Ceramic Flower Pots
• Old Mittens for the children
• Adult Oven Mitts
• Table covered in newsprint
• Handy bowl of ice water
• Black Marker for names

Process: Write the children's names on the inside of the pot before baking. Heat the flower pots in the oven at approximately 130-150F. Any young children doing this product must wear mittens for protection while they freely color the pottery with crayons. As you can see, it's a beautiful effect.
We keep ice water handy for the tempted little ones that feel temp checks are needed. For any toasted little fingers~they quickly take the plunge!

Gift Idea: After it has completely cooled, place colored tissue papers inside with a handmade card or a seedling that the child has helped sprout.

Extension: Standard crayons look great, but if you add a few glitter crayons it really adds that special touch!

Super Easy Luminaries for Preschoolers

Winter Luminaries make great gifts and are so versatile. This open ended craft can be done in so many adorable ways it is almost unfair to post it only in November. But since we will be doing it this month with the preschoolers we'll be sure to let you know all the different way you can use them.

Materials for your Super Easy Luminaries:

• Tissue Paper
• 1 part glue and water solution in cups
• Paint brushes
• Baby food jars
• Tea lights
• Scissors (optional)
• Glitter (optional)

Procedure: After cutting or tearing the selected colors of tissue paper chosen, have the children carefully brush the glue solution on the jars. While the solution is still tacky, position papers on the jars. Brush over once more with glue solution and sprinkle with glitter. When the jar is completely dry place the tea light inside.

Some great extensions and options for the holidays are:
Floral Luminaries  

Paint with diluted white paint and glue. Use assorted dries flowers and leaves for spring time and Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Wrapping Paper Luminaries
Paint with glitter glue and scraps of wrapping paper or pictures from magazines any time of year. Create themed projects for birthday or holiday quick gift ideas everyone will love!

Whatever the holiday, make it your own by being creative! We would love to hear about your ideas and crafts!

Got five minutes, and some fabulous fabrics? Well you're ready to made some really adorable tea light luminaries!

Homemade Snow Globes For Preschoolers

Find more snow globe ideas at camillestyle.com

There are so many different ways to make snow globes with preschoolers. Over the years we have made a number of them and we would like to share with you a few of ways to make this delightful craft. Snow globes range from super easy to some that take a bit of prep time. All are well worth the effort when you see the children's faces when they're finished!

Materials Needed for Your Snow Globes:

• Baby food jars
• Distilled Water
• Corn Syrup or 3 drops of glycerin
• Plastic Cake or Cupcake toppers (Purchase at party store)
• Glitter (iridescent or white)
• Silicone Rubber Sealant 
• Sand Paper

Adult Prep: Lightly sand the inside of the lid and put a generous amount of rubber sealant over it to hold the figurine in place. Check on the sealant label for proper drying times.
Let the children spoon water in the jars and add a pinch of glitter. You can then have them add a few drops of glycerin with an eyedropper or a splash of corn syrup (This slows the glitter as it falls).
Adults Only: Add a bit more sealant around the lid and screw it on. Give it a day or so to dry.
Now you have snow globes that are sealed and beautiful!

Super Easy Snow Globes For Preschoolers:
Not all of us have the time for projects that take a lot of prep, so here is the super easy version!

• Tap water
• Glitter (Iridescent or White)
• Glue
• Ribbon (Optional)
• Baby food jars
• Food coloring (Optional)

Simply have the children fill tap water into the jars and sprinkle a bit of glitter inside. Seal the lid with a bit of glue on the outside and tie it off with a ribbon!

This is the Way Preschoolers Say Thank You

I get so many thank you notes and drawings from the wonderful preschoolers I work with. It's just another one of the perks of being a teacher and a friend. I found it interesting that our preschoolers have themes to their thank you pictures sometimes.

The Five Little Pumpkins (sitting on a gate)

"This is 'aposed to be da five little punkins on the gate. I didn't drawed the gate. The punkins are wondering where it went, too. That is why they look surprised. I drawed this for you a'cuz I like you."
~ Jared
The Rolling Pumpkin

"He was rolling and fell into the graveyard thing. He said, "Hey! I'm gettin' outta this joint!" and rolled away. I don't think pumpkins like to be scared. I don't like to be scared, either. I don't blame him, ya know."
~Marrissa
Halloween Thank You Picture (Untitled)

"The cat came to sniff da pumpkins. They smell good. I drawed a lot of pumpkins because I am good at it. The other stuff is Halloween decoration for your house. Oh, and I drawed a lot of pumpkins  because I am good at it."
~Kayla

Ten Fabulous Fall Leaf Activites For Kids!

Take advantage of these ten fabulous fall leaf ideas for kids! Whether you work in a classroom or are looking to keep a little one busy; these ideas will surely warm up the chilly days of Fall!

Ten Fall Leaf Activities to Look Forward to This Season:
1. Make a leaf compost for a garden!
2. Make a lovely fall wreath by painting a shaped paper plate with orange glue paint. The more leaves the better!
3. Make a leaf collection to display. We love to have the children create a graph and we work to categorize them by shapes and colors!

4. Go on a fall nature walk to crate a leaf bouquet. We love to wrap our bouquets in orange and yellow tissue paper and tie them off with raffia bows or corn husks. Many fall leaves are very fragrant and the children are always excited to give them as gifts!
5. Use contact paper or packing tape and seal the leaves inside to make a special book mark. Adding bits of fall confetti or stickers add a special touch!
6. Create leaf rubbings! Place them under white paper and use the edge of a crayon to shade them in. It's an instant masterpiece even for very young children to try.
7. How about raking up a pile and simply jumping in! A great way to get the wiggles out as well as laugh with all your friends.

8. Make a fall collage with leaves, sticks, and corn husks on a small sheet of tag board. We add to it throughout the week as the children cut out fall images from magazines. Got a story to tell? When the project is finished be sure to take dictation from them about their beautiful fall art.
9. Feeling really crafty? How about decoupaging fall leaves on a votive glass to make special gifts for the holidays.
10. Make your own fall leaf print handkerchiefs. Simply cut squares on muslin fabric from a fabric store (very inexpensive). Lay the fresh picked leaves in a pattern on the floor and place the fabric over it. Now gently pound the leaves with a mallet and the colored moisture from the leaves will show through on the hanky! Yes, it's washable but avoid 'bleaching' the lovely colors by using a color safe bleach detergent.