Naturally Educational » Author Archive
Our Favorite Thanksgiving Crafts and Books
While Hurricane Sandy and the power outage and projects to try to help in my region have kept posting light, we still have a lot for which to be thankful. And at the tops of my list is the time we spend together as a family. My kids love to make crafts and read together, especially preparing for a holiday. Here are some of my favorite posts about our Thanksgiving crafts and picture books from … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, History and Culture
9 Picture Books About Election Day for Kids
At Lifetime Moms, I posted 6 Ways to Talk About the Election with Kids. Picture Books are a great way to introduce complex topics like elections. Here are 9 children’s books that examine our democracy in action: Pin It Vote!, by Eileen Christelow: My kids really like this book that follows one woman’s local election from the perspective of her two dogs. They enjoy the real-life applications of the principles of democracy and the running canine commentary. … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Fall, Featured, History and Culture
Happy (Belated) Halloween
Pin It Sandy may have knocked out our lights but she can’t dampen our Halloween spirits! We went trick or treating with Mulan, Mushu (he’s his sister’s accessory until he can express a preference), and a “man-eating shark” (shown here in his Roman gladiator costume). Blogging will be light until I have power, heat, and hot water…but I wanted to say “Happy Halloween” and “Feliz Dia de Los Muertos!” Hope you are all safe and dry! … Read entire article »
Filed under: Me
Spider Pretzel Crackers: Halloween Snack
My daughter wanted Halloween-themed snacks for her play date and she wanted at least one option to be “more healthy.” So, we made these spider and pretzel crackers in addition to the chocolate-covered pretzel bats. Pin It Ingredients for Spider Pretzel Crackers: two crackers per spider four pretzel sticks per spider spread (can be cheese, cream cheese, hummus, peanut butter…you name it…if you can spread it, you can use it) raisins or craisins Directions: 1. Spread cheese or other spread on your crackers. … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Ecology, Fall, Featured, Home Arts, Taste
Chocolate Covered Pretzel Bats: Halloween Snack
My daughter is very into “themes.” We were discussing a play date and I mentioned that we would have some Halloween crafts for her friends. “What about snacks?” I had been thinking fruit salad and cheese puffs. “Can’t we make Halloween snacks?” So, we decided on chocolate-covered pretzel bats and spider cracker sandwiches, despite last year’s banana ghost debacle. Chocolate-covered pretzels are a favorite treat around here. We also enjoy learning about bats–the kids are fascinated … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, History and Culture, Home Arts, Taste
Yarn Art Pumpkin Halloween Craft
We have some favorite Halloween crafts we do almost every year and we also try to add some new ones in. In the past, we made a a yarn pumpkin molded around a balloon. This year, we tried a flatter version of the craft, a Yarn Jack O’ Lantern you can hang on a wall or window. Pin It Materials orange yarn black paper glue green chenille stem (pipe cleaner) wax paper permanent marker Directions: 1. Trace a pumpkin on a piece of wax paper. Pin … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Fall, Featured, History and Culture
5 Pumpkin Books for Your Story Patch
Pumpkins are popping up all over the place here! I love how the pumpkin theme lasts the whole fall season, from harvest to Halloween to Thanksgiving–we study pumpkins, make Jack O’ Lanterns, pumpkin pies, roasted pumpkin seeds, and, of course, pumpkin crafts. We also enjoy reading picture books about pumpkins. Here are some of our favorite pumpkin books for kids: Pin It Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin, by Mary Serfozo: Toddlers will love the language play and the adorable … Read entire article »
Filed under: 0-3 (Babies and Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Fall, Featured
Crafters Don’t Have Time for Arthritis Pain
My Granny passed away on the last day of 2009. I miss her so very much but I know that she was in a lot of pain during her final years. Disease and old age is what finally took her from us but, even before that, she endured a lot of pain from arthritis. You might wonder why I am sharing this on my educational site. A lot of my memories of my Granny involve baking … Read entire article »
Filed under: Charity
Picture Books for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot
We enjoy exploring traditions from a number of cultures. Although we are a Christian family, I try to introduce my family’s Jewish heritage to my children, as well. We made a Sephardic apple compote, Mansanada, with our orchard-picked apples. And we have also been enjoying these picture books about Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. Each of these books explore ethical questions in the spirit of Jewish self-reflection and questioning. They are perfect springboards for discussions … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Fall, Featured, History and Culture
Just Make Art: Oil Pastel Resist
Despite how it might appear from my blog, most of our time at home is spent playing. And most of our art-making is very open-ended. I might put out certain materials, demonstrate a technique, but from there it is all up to the kids and their own inspiration and creativity. One of my kids favorite things to do is to paint with watercolors. And they love making crayon resists. When the nice people at CraftProjectIdeas.com sent … Read entire article »
Filed under: All Ages, Art, Featured, Science, Visual-Spacial
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About the Author
Candace Lindemann is a published children’s writer and educational consultant. She holds a B.A. from Yale University and an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Working with school districts around the country and some of the most well-known companies in the education industry, Candace creates custom strategies, textbooks, and lesson plans. Her articles have appeared in print and online.
While Candace’s degrees prepared her for a career in education, she’s found that the best preparation for parenting is on the job training.
Contact Candace via e-mail, read her full biography, or connect with her using the social media icons below or on Google.
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