Naturally Educational » All Ages
Lead with Your Values: The Merida “Makeover” and Coronation #DisneySMMoms
“Lead with your values” is good advice for a well-lived life. As it turns out, it is a good practice for brands, too, according to Jackie Huba, author of Monster Loyalty: How Lady Gaga Turns Followers into Fanatics, and a speaker at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Throughout the Celebration / Conference, Disney took the opportunity to highlight the company’s values. As someone who has admitted ambivalence about the “princess culture,” and as a … Read entire article »
Filed under: All Ages, Media, Values Education
You’re A-MAZE-ing! Simple Photo Valentine with a Maze
My daughter cannot bring candy in with her Valentines so we could not use lollipop Valentines. Instead, we usually use pencils. This year, she wanted something different and we found a bag of inexpensive heart mazes at Michaels. So, we made these “A-MAZE-ing” class photo valentines. First I took a photo of my daughter holding a giant poster board/oak tag heart. I ‘shopped a clip art hear-shaped maze over the heart. This way, there is a … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddler), 1-2 (Toddlers), 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), All Ages, Featured, History and Culture, Winter
Tinfoil Painting (Just Make Art!)
Yesterday, I promised my kids we would make some special art so we painted on tinfoil. I wanted to share this with you to give you a better picture of what we do around here. Generally, I share projects and activities that require special instructions. However, most of what we do around here is just play, just read a book, just make art–no themes, specific directions, or structure. My kids like to draw or break out … Read entire article »
Hearts for Ana – A Project for Sandy Hook
One of the beautiful children who was murdered at the Sandy Hook tragedy was due for heart surgery at Boston Children’s. As a “heart mom” (my daughter had open heart surgery at three months old), I can only imagine the roller coaster of emotion they went through to have so much hope and then to lose their baby to such random, awful violence. If, like us, you had been planning to make snowflakes for Sandy … Read entire article »
New Year’s Interviews with Your Children
Our children change so much every year and I wish I could bottle up a little of this precious time with them. Despite my compulsive documenting through photographs and notes, the days fly by. One fun tradition is to interview the children every year at New Year’s. I think I originally saw this idea from Amy at TeachMama.com. I asked the kids about their favorite color, their favorite activities, their favorite memories, and more. I also … Read entire article »
Filed under: All Ages, Featured, Intrapersonal, Winter
Our Gratitude Tree
We made a gratitude tree out of a cardboard paper towel tube, a paper bowl, and construction paper to express our thanks for all of our blessings this Thanksgiving. This was such a simple craft and it really engaged the kids’ attention. Materials: cardboard tube (either a paper towel tube, 2-3 toilet paper tubes taped together, or a wrapping paper tube cut in half) construction paper (brown, green, red, orange, yellow) glue scissors marker craft knife Directions: 1. Wrap and glue brown construction paper … 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), All Ages, Featured, History and Culture, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal
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
Blackberry Jammin’
Have you been enjoying the summer? I cannot believe it is almost fall! We were able to join the tot cooking classes at Garden of Eve this summer and made blackberry jam. I love the whole fields-to-table experience as it gives the kids an idea of where we get our food. It is also a wonderful insight into the how people lived in a time before supermarkets–or refrigeration. The kids were able to: 1. Pick the blackberries. The kids … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), All Ages, Ecology, Featured, Home Arts, Summer, Taste
Favorite Father’s Day Crafts and Books
I hope that you have a special father, grandfather, or uncle in your children’s lives to celebrate this weekend! Here are some of the gifts the kids have made for their Daddy and Papa in the past and books we like to read to get ready for Father’s Day: Popsicle Stick Key Boxes Recycled Mosaic Coasters Father’s Day Photo Montage Glue Batik Garden Banner Tin Can Pencil Holders 7 Picture Books for Father’s Day Looking for even more ideas? Check out my … Read entire article »
5 Tips to Teach Your Kids to Go Green
Young children are natural eco-warriors. Their interest in their environment provides a deep connection to the natural world. From there it is a hop, skip, and spring puddle jump to learning about responsible guardianship of the Earth. Going green is a lot easier if you are born that way. Taking good care of our planet is a habit you can start from day one. Here are some of the ways that we encourage eco-friendly attitudes in … Read entire article »
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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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