Naturally Educational » History and Culture
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. 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. 2. Soak … 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
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
To the Victor Goes the Olive Wreath
One of the joys of having children is that I get to learn along with them! I had always thought that Olympic champions received laurel wreaths. Not so! The victors of the Apollo’s Pan-Hellenic Pythian Games at Delphi received the laurel but Olympians earned olive wreaths for their efforts. This makes sense given the importance of the olive to the Ancient Greeks. The olive tree was a gift from Athena to her city of Athens. Olive … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, History and Culture
Olympic Rings Flag Stamp Craft for Kids
One of the enduring symbols of the Modern Olympics is the five interlocking rings. I showed my children the flag and my daughter guessed that the rings represented countries. I asked her if she could name more than five countries. Once she did, I told her she was close but since there are more than five countries, it had to be something else. What could it be? She responded “maybe continents?” We named the continents and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, History and Culture
Olympic Torch Craft for the Openning Ceremony
We’re in full Olympics-mode here. My kids first learned about the Olympics through D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths and were thrilled to find out that there is a modern Olympic Games! Plus there will be mommy crafts! AND they get to stay up and watch part of the opening ceremonies! We made a torch craft to get ready. My son actually got to carry the torch at his Gymnastics Expo, which was just about the cutest … 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
Handprint Bald Eagle for the Fourth of July
We’re gearing up for our Fourth of July celebrations and talking about the symbols surrounding Independence Day. My daughter made a patriotic handprint bald eagle to watch over the festivities. We found a great book at our local library, Red, White, Blue, and Uncle Who?: The Stories Behind Some of America’s Patriotic Symbols, that explains many of the symbols we associate with our nation. The kids are enjoying the brief, illustrated, mostly age-appropriate information. They learned … Read entire article »
Filed under: Ecology, Featured, History and Culture
Fireworks!
Each year we try to paint fireworks with a different technique and this is my favorite effect, yet. Materials: wax paper black or dark blue paper red, white, and blue paint glitter Directions: 1. Cut circles of various sizes from the wax paper. Fold the circles in half, then fold in half again, and fold once more. Snip the tip in a V-shape and make cuts at the outer edge. You can also cut triangles along the side. This is just like … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, History and Culture, Summer
Weave In the Sun: How to Make a “God’s Eye” Sun
June is here and summer is on its way! We are welcoming the reign of the sun with this modified “God’s Eye” or Ojo de Dios. A “God’s Eye”, as former summer-campers know, is a weaving done with yarn on sticks. Thought to have originated with the Huichol Indians of Jalisco, Mexico, who call it Sikuli, the traditional God’s Eye represents “the power to see and understand things unknown”. Instead of four branches, which represent the four … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, History and Culture, Science
Picture Books About Cinco de Mayo
My mother in law just came back from a vacation in Mexico and the kids are excited to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. We’re kicking off the fiesta early with a few picture books about Cinco de Mayo and Mexican culture. I probably did not know the meaning of Cinco de Mayo until I was teaching history–many people confuse the celebration with Mexico’s Independence Day (which is in September). Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates the victory over … Read entire article »
Filed under: 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.
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