Naturally Educational » Spring
DIY Microwave Pressed Flowers: For Your Flower Pressing Emergencies
Did you know you could press flowers in the microwave when you have a pressed flower emergency? What? You do not have pressed flower emergencies? It is only me? Most of us know how to press flowers for crafts and studying and preserving memories. You place the flowers in between two sheets of newsprint and then place that in between two pieces of cardboard. Then you stick the entire cardboard, newsprint, flower sandwich under a pile … Read entire article »
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
Forsythia Tissue Paper and Twig Craft
Budding branches are among the most beautiful and clear signs that spring has arrived. While we do not have the opportunity to see many cherry blossoms around here, we do see plenty of forsythia heralding the coming spring. We made twigs bud with tissue paper blossoms. Materials: twigs yellow tissue paper glue white paper Directions: 1. First, go outside to collect your twigs. My kids love picking up sticks and this step lasted the better part of a morning! 2. Glue down your twigs … Read entire article »
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
14 Children’s Books to Welcome Spring
Today is the first official day of spring. On the vernal equinox, the tilt of the Earth is neither towards, nor away, from the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, spring means the return of warmth and flowers and butterflies. Here are 14 children’s picture books to welcome back spring with open arms: And Then It’s Spring, by Julie Fogliano; illustrated by Erin Stead (Ages 3+): A clever little narrative about patiently waiting for the brown of late … Read entire article »
Filed under: 0-3 (Babies and Toddlers), 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, Spring, Weather
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
5 Picture Books About Rainbows
Who doesn’t love a rainbow? They are colorful, magical, and full of hope! Rainbows are a bridge into other times and cultures, science, color theory, and so much more! Here are a few children’s picture books about rainbows to get you started on your journey! What Makes A Rainbow?, by Betty Ann Schwartz; illustrated by Dona Turner (ages 0-3): In this cute tale, a young bunny asks his colorful friends what makes a rainbow. With each turn … Read entire article »
Filed under: 0-3 (Babies and Toddlers), 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, Logical-Mathematical, Science, Sight, Spring, Visual-Spacial, Weather
Picture Books about Maple Sugaring and Syrup
If you live in the northern latitudes, I hope you have had an opportunity to go maple sugaring. If you are too far south, try turning maple syrup into maple sugar candy to explore the science of this delicious treat! While you are waiting for your pancakes with fresh maple syrup, try these lovely picture books about maple sugaring and maple syrup! The Sugaring Off Party, by Jonathan London; paintings by Gilles Pelletier: A French-Canadian grandmother recounts … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, Home Arts, Science, Spring, Weather
March: Yup, In Like a Lion!
While we still haven’t seen the kids’ much-wished-for snow, March entered like a lion with a wet, cloudy, chilly day. As in past years, we will be reading In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb, by Marion Dane Bauer, and making some sort of craft, like our lion and lamb masks from last year. Last year we created a March weather bar graph of lions and lambs. This year, my daughter will also create a chart … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, Logical-Mathematical, Mathematics, Science, Sight, Spring, Weather, 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.
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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