Naturally Educational » Featured
Elevate the Arts with American Girl of the Year, Saige Copeland — An Interview with Author Jessie Haas
In Saige, the first book for the American Girl of the Year for 2013, Saige Copeland, author Jessie Haas shares an inspiring story about a young girl who loves painting and takes a stand for keeping the arts in her school. In the first book, Saige grows as an artist and as an equestrian, makes a new friend, develops a more mature relationship with a life-long friend, takes on new responsibilities, and helps save the arts … Read entire article »
Filed under: 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-12 (Middle Grades), Art, Featured, History and Culture
Organizing a Sing-a-Long to Spread the Cheer
This past weekend, we brought some Christmas Cheer to a local home for the elderly. We have been visiting since my two eldest were 3 and 1.5 and we caroled with a play group. That first year, my daughter asked if she could play piano. We didn’t have her music so she just played “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Every year since then she has wanted to go back, this time with Christmas carol sheet … Read entire article »
Filed under: Charity, Featured, Interpersonal, Music, Musical, Performing Arts and Theater
Rudolph and Friends: A Reindeer Footprint Craft
Holly, a friend of mine, posted this family reindeer footprint craft and was kind enough to allow me to share it with you. Isn’t it adorable? If you are looking for a Christmas or winter craft to do this weekend, just get out your paints and feet and you’ll have a sweet reindeer keepsake–you can even include Rudolph. Materials: brown, black, and red paint white paper frame (optional) Directions: 1. Paint a foot of each family member with brown paint and … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddler), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, History and Culture, Winter
The Twelve Days of Christmas Picture Books
One of my favorite monthly rituals is opening our boxes of seasonal and holiday books and bringing out these classic stories. December is the time for Christmas decorations and our collection of Christmas picture books. Each year we add new treasures to our library and get reacquainted with old friends. It is always fun to see which books capture the children’s interest the most this year and to share our favorites with the baby. The Twelve … 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), Featured, History and Culture
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
Handprint Turkeys
With Thanksgiving so early this year and coming on the heals of the Sandy “Frankenstorm,” we’ve been focusing on helping others and keeping things simple. We did spend a little time revisiting the classic “Hand Turkey” Thanksgiving craft with our own spin–a handprint and footprint Turkey–and then added a new twist. This time, we used magazines and catalogs for our tail feathers. Materials: construction paper (blue, green, brown, red, and orange) googly eyes magazines or catalogs glue scissors pen or pencil 1. Fold … 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), Ecology, Fall, Featured
Gratitude After the Storm
I’ve started and stopped this post dozens of times. I want to tell you some contradictory things. I am grateful. I am so very grateful. And I am hurting. I am hurting so deeply. Hurricane Sandy ripped through our region, leaving much of Long Island without power–we were without power for a week and my mother-in-law lost power for two weeks.We had gas lines and gas rationing and I had to drive my husband to emergency … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured
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: 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. This … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Fall, Featured, History and Culture
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. 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. This … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Ecology, Fall, Featured, Home Arts, Taste
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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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