Naturally Educational » History and Culture
Mother’s Day Pressed Flower Frame
Last year the kids made photo frames with pressed flowers for the grandmothers for Mother’s Day. I wait a year to share our projects because my mother reads this site! Materials: wood frames (We found these very inexpensively at Michaels. If you just can’t find any, you could cut a frame from stiff cardboard.) paint pressed flowers Mod Podge optional: letter stickers (We used gold glitter letters.) cute pictures of children Directions: 1. Pick and press flowers. If you are last minute, I will … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, History and Culture, Spring
Cherry Blossom Stamps
We’re celebrating spring with lots of floral crafts! Here’s a cherry blossom stamp art project. Bonus: you reuse/recycle a soda or water bottle for your stamp. Materials: brown paint pink paint white paper paint brush soda or water bottle Directions: 1. Dilute the brown paint a little with a drop of water and paint the branches and twigs. I showed my kids how you can get thicker strokes by pressing down with the brush. We also examined branches to see how smaller twigs … 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, Ecology, Featured, History and Culture, Spring, Weather
Favorite Easter Crafts for Kids
Here are some of our favorite Easter children’s crafts we have done this year and in the past: Plastic Easter Egg Chick, Bunny, and other Spring Animals DIY Paper Plate and Bowl Easter Bonnet Easter Bunny Ears Yarn Easter Egg Ornament Coffee Filter Easter Eggs … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, History and Culture
Coffee Filter Easter Eggs
We made these coffee filter Easter eggs last year and will probably make some more this year. I love the tie-dye effect! Materials: coffee filter scissors markers (you can use dried-out markers) water-spray bottles Directions: 1. Trim a coffee filter so that it is egg-shaped. 2. Color with markers. 3. Spray with water. If you have dried-out markers, now is the time to break them out! Draw with the dried-out markers on the wet surface. Educational Connections: History/Culture: Why is the egg a symbol of spring? … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddler), 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), Featured, History and Culture
Books, Videos, and Websites About Vikings for Elementary Kids
It’s a Viking raid here on Naturally Educational! My friend, Athena, is always exploring the most exciting topics with her three kids. Last year they delved into American pre-history and found themselves spending a bit of time on Vikings. Here are some of their favorite picture and chapter books about Vikings, primarily for elementary school-aged children. The Vikings were always a favorite with my classes when I taught high school history, too. I cannot wait to … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-12 (Middle Grades), Featured, History and Culture
Leprechaun St. Patrick’s Day Craft
Top o’ the morning to ye! Here’s a wee fellow you can make out of a cardboard (toilet paper) tube, some construction paper, yarn, and googly eyes…and a bit of the blarney! Materials: cardboard tube construction paper (green, light pink or peach, and black; optional: yellow and a second color of green) red marker googly eyes scissors glue orange yarn Directions: 1. Cut the pink or peach paper and wrap around the cardboard tube, approximately 3/4 of the way up the tube. 2. Cut a length … 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, Spring
Our Favorite St. Patrick’s Day Crafts for Kids
Some of our favorite kids’ crafts for St. Patrick’s Day: Beaded Shamrock Ornament (Naturally Educational) Cardboard Tube Leprechaun (Naturally Educational) Cardboard Tube Shamrock Sun Catcher (Naturally Educational) Shrinky-Dink Shamrock “Lucky Charms” (No Time for Flashcards) Styrofoam Cup Leprechaun Hats (Crafts By Amanda) I know what you are thinking…just shamrocks and leprechauns? no rainbows? Patience lassies and laddies…rainbows are up next! … 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), Featured, History and Culture, Spring
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
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
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
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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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