Naturally Educational » 5-6 (Kindergarten)
A Hat for the Cat
We made a Cat in the Hat craft last year and wanted to try a new approach this year. With Dr. Seuss’s birthday approaching, it seemed like a great time to try! Materials: white poster board (oak tag) painter’s tape red paint paper plate scissors tape stapler Directions: 1. Measure your poster board and create stripes 1.5-2 inches wide. 2. Use painter’s tape to mark off the stripes and paint the exposed poster board red. My son also made one but he was feeling sick that day … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, Literacy
A Seusstastic Snack
We’re gearing up to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with this healthy Cat in the Hat snack! Ingredients: Raisins Pretzel sticks Banana Strawberries Wheat Bread Directions: 1. Cut a slice of wheat bread in half. 2. Slice a banana into coins. Place two coins as eyes. 3. Use raisins to create pupils, a nose, and a smile. 4. Use two pretzel on each side as whiskers. 5. Use rows of slices of strawberries and bananas to create the hat. Enjoy! Ask your kids if they can make other Seuss … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), All Ages, Featured, Home Arts, Taste
How Sweet it Is: Maple Sugaring
Each year we visit a local family farm for their Maple Sugaring demonstration. What a hands-on (and tasty) way to learn about Native American and Colonial culture and history, chemistry, the weather, and ecology! We followed the maple sugaring process from start to finish. First, we learned a bit about the sugar maple (which is so important that New York, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia share it as their state tree). Farmer Bob gave a talk on how … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), All Ages, Bodily-kinesthetic, Ecology, Featured, History and Culture, Home Arts, Logical-Mathematical, Science, Spring, Taste, Weather, Winter
Candy Heart Bar Graph
Still have candy left over after dissolving it in hot or cold water? If you have M&Ms, Skittles, or Conversation Hearts, here is another way to use them up and learn. Directions: 1. Create a grid with columns for the numbers and each color of the candy and 11 rows. Write the numbers 1-10 in the first column (skipping the first row) and then write the colors in the bottom row for each column. My daughter was … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, Logical-Mathematical, Mathematics, Visual-Spacial
Candy Hearts Experiment
Have lots of leftover Valentine’s Day candy? Expand your mind instead of your teeth (or mom and dad’s waistlines). We actually did this one last year and ran out of time to post it! Experiment – Do Candy Hearts Dissolve More Quickly In Hot or Cold Water? Materials two bowls of water, one hot, one ice-cold two candy hearts pencils and pads Directions: 1. Form a hypothesis. My children predicted that both hearts would dissolve but the one with the hot water would … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, Logical-Mathematical, Science
Bee My Valentine Pencil Topper and Magnet
I love Valentine’s Day for little kids–everyone gets a little token of affection and extra hugs! In a few years when the holiday is fraught with emotional angst, I’m sure I will change my tune. Until then, we really enjoy this day when my daughter gets to indulge her love of all things glittery and pink and my little boy has an excuse to kiss everyone he loves–not that he needs one! “Bee My Valentine” was … 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), Featured, History and Culture, Home Arts, Interpersonal, Literacy
Pasta Snowflakes
While waiting and wishing for snow, my kids have been making snowflakes. They really enjoyed making snowflakes from pasta. It is a fun material with lots of fine motor practice! Materials: dried pasta of various shapes white or blue paint glitter craft sticks or coffee stirrers blue or black construction paper glue Directions: 1. Paint the pasta blue or white and add glitter. Let dry. 2. Paste three craft sticks or coffee stirrers in an asterisk shape (*) on the construction paper. 3. Use the sticks as … 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), Featured, Science, Weather, Winter
Cat Got Your…Heart?
Each year around Valentine’s Day, we create animals using heart shapes. This year, my daughter wanted to use some fun Valentine’s paper to make a cat–she’s quite pleased with the results and named her kitten “Valentine”. Materials: patterned or unpatterned paper in pinks and reds heart stickers or a heart punch (optional) glue a white sheet of paper Directions: 1. Plan out your artwork. Decide how to break down your chosen animal into heart shapes. If you are stuck, use half-hearts (the … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Art, Featured, History and Culture, Winter
How to Make a Sock Snowman
My kids have been so eager to make a snowman. We finally got a snowfall and we were all too sick to enjoy. In the meantime, they were able to make these easy sock snowmen! Materials: white athletic sock rice yarn googly eyes and other embellishments (felt, pom poms, buttons) Directions: 1. Fill the sock about 3/4 of the way with rice. 2. Tie off the sock, tight. 3. Fold the top of the sock down over the knot to create a hat. 4. Tie … 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), Art, Featured, History and Culture
Chinese New Year Dragon Puppet
Last year we made a dragon with paper loops. This year I thought we would try a puppet! It looks perhaps a bit too snake-like. I think next year we’ll try again with something around the head…maybe more ribbons? Or possibly I will just a make a template? Materials: red paper white paper red and gold paint cardboard tube (toilet paper tube) googly eyes ribbon craft sticks gold crayon or marker glue scissors Directions: 1. Cut a mouth in the cardboard tube. 2. Paint! Then let dry. 3. While that … 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), Featured, History and Culture
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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.
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