Naturally Educational » Seasonal
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
15 Children’s Picture Books to Welcome the Winter
Here are some of our favorite children’s picture books about winter. I’ll have a separate posts with books specifically about snow and snowflakes and arctic animals. Winter Trees by Carole Gerber and Leslie Evans (3+): Striking graphic illustrations accented with mat silver accompany poetic descriptions of the silhouettes of trees in the winter. The jaunty rhyming text transforms the commonplace into the magical. Read this future classic, suitable for preschoolers through elementary school, and then … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, Weather, Winter
How to Make an Ice Lantern
We were looking forward to this simple way to welcome the winter but the weather has not cooperated until now! Originally, we wanted to make an ice lantern on the Winter Solstice. Then we were aiming for New Year’s. We could have used the freezer but it is hard getting in the winter spirit when it feels like spring! Materials: one large plastic container or bucket one smaller plastic container (a plastic cup would work) water one tea light twigs, berries, … Read entire article »
Filed under: All Ages, Featured, History and Culture, Science, Weather, Winter
Winter Snowflake Fairy
We made a Flower Fairy in the spring and a Leaf Fairy in the fall. Before the first day of winter, my daughter made a snowflake fairy. She really took charge of the process and had a great time with it. Materials wooden bead embroidery floss for the hair three chenille stems (body/legs, arms, wings) material for the clothing (we used a coffee filter snowflake and some tulle I had) Directions 1. First my daughter cut a snowflake from a coffee filter and … Read entire article »
Filed under: 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, Winter
How to Make Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments
My daughter first made cinnamon applesauce ornaments in her preschool class and I was just so fascinated by them! I couldn’t believe that cinnamon and applesauce together would dry solid and sturdy enough and that the applesauce would not attract pests. Spices are natural preservatives and pest repellents, as I know from our apple pomanders and the dough does indeed dry solid but you need to give it time. Materials: Applesauce Cinnamon Cookie Cutters Embellishments Directions 1. Mix equal parts applesauce and cinnamon. … 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, Home Arts, Smell, Touch, Winter
Homemade Ornaments the Kids Can Make
Here are some of the homemade ornaments the kids have crafted each year…more on the way! Beaded Snowflake Ornaments Beaded Wreath Ornaments Marbleized Globe Ornaments Pins and Beads Christmas Tree Ornament … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddler), 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), All Ages, Featured, History and Culture, Winter
Paper Plate Christmas Tree Craft
My daughter filled in the sentence, “During the Holidays, my family likes to _____” with “decorate the Christmas tree”. Eep! With my husband on National Guard duty last week, we haven’t gotten ours, yet! So, here’s are mini trees my kids made from a paper plate and two coffee filters and decorated with a chocolate wrapper. Plus, they got an extra chocolate treat…so it is an all around win! How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Personally, … 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, Winter
Beaded Wreath Ornament
We made this Christmas wreath beaded ornament using a modified daisy chain technique. My five year-old daughter is really into beading. Most seasons we create beaded ornaments to hang from the chandelier. This year, I thought she might be ready for the challenge of a simple bead-weaving technique. Since we are using pipe cleaners instead of wire or cord, it is even easier–no need to double-back through the beads. Materials: 36 green beads 6 red beads 2 green chenille stems 1 … Read entire article »
Filed under: 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, History and Culture, Winter
Fall Leaf Prints
We’re in one of the last zones to experience the fall leaf change. Well, our trees have finally exploded in color! I was concerned that we would not get the really vivid colors this year after the hurricane. Hurricane Irene cut a swath across the area, “burning” crops and trees in addition to causing floods and knocking down tree. Nature is resilient, however. Although there are more browns this year than golds and reds, there … 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, Art, Ecology, Fall, Featured, Science, Weather
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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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