Naturally Educational » Subject Matter
Hot Air Balloon Craft – Inspired by American Girl Saige
My daughter is really enjoying her Saige American Girl of the Year doll. She’s been reading the second book, Saige Paints the Sky. So, we decided to make a hot air balloon craft, inspired by Saige! Materials: inflated balloon glue, diluted with a few drops of water tissue paper yarn fishing wire plastic container raffia Directions: 1. Tear or cut your tissue paper in strips. 2. Coat the balloon with the slightly diluted glue mixture. 3. Cover the balloon (except a small circle at the bottom) in … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-12 (Middle Grades), Featured, Science
Pot of Gold St. Patrick’s Day Craft
My son asked to make a St. Patrick’s Day craft today. I didn’t have anything planned but I made a few suggestions and he said he wanted to make a pot of gold. Materials cup or plastic container (we recycled an applesauce container) construction paper: black, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo (optional), and purple ruler pencil scissors glue Directions 1. Cut a length of black construction paper long enough to wrap your plastic cup or container and glue the paper around the container. 2. … 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, Science, Weather
Create your own Dinosaur Fossils
At a recent trip to the American Museum of Natural History, we say this Dinosaur Skeleton Fossil Playset and I claimed it as my own souvenir when my boys opted for Safari Dinosaur figurines instead. I immediately thought it would be lots of fun to try to identify our dinosaur fossils and make impressions of them on play dough for a dinosaur fossil craft and activity. Our kids are definitely paleontology fanatics. The two older kids … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Bodily-kinesthetic, Featured, Science
Plastic Water Bottle and Tissue Paper Snowman
Both of my kids made this plastic bottle snowman craft in their classes this December. In their classes, they used a 2 liter soda bottle but I thought it would look neat with any sized bottle–you could make an entire family of plastic bottle snowmen from water bottles, sports drink bottles, soda bottles…any plastic bottle! Materials: plastic bottle with the label removed white tissue paper or tissues styrofoam ball (available in craft stores) sticks or pipe cleaners/chenille stems (for arms) toilet … 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, Weather, Winter
Pine Cone Bird Craft
Even before my eldest could talk, she loved birds. I admit, I did not know much about birds before my kids came along, but I’ve learned a lot along with them. For my daughter’s Daisy troop, we made these pine cone song birds. My son wanted to make one, too! Next month, February, is National Backyard Bird Feeding Month and this is a cute little craft to do with kids. Materials pine cone googly eyes feathers paint glitter (optional) tacky glue glue dots orange and/or … 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, Featured, Science
Tinfoil Painting (Just Make Art!)
Yesterday, I promised my kids we would make some special art so we painted on tinfoil. I wanted to share this with you to give you a better picture of what we do around here. Generally, I share projects and activities that require special instructions. However, most of what we do around here is just play, just read a book, just make art–no themes, specific directions, or structure. My kids like to draw or break out … Read entire article »
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
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
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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