Naturally Educational » Home Arts
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
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
Blackberry Jammin’
Have you been enjoying the summer? I cannot believe it is almost fall! We were able to join the tot cooking classes at Garden of Eve this summer and made blackberry jam. I love the whole fields-to-table experience as it gives the kids an idea of where we get our food. It is also a wonderful insight into the how people lived in a time before supermarkets–or refrigeration. The kids were able to: 1. Pick the blackberries. The kids … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), All Ages, Ecology, Featured, Home Arts, Summer, Taste
Grow A Seed
My kids and I love looking through and doing my old lessons which I had used when I taught. Here is one of my favorite lessons, both in school and out. I actually had more fun with it at home since there were no time constraints. The purpose of this lesson is to demonstrate the stages of plants life cycle and to explain where our food comes from. (when I taught I did this along with … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Ecology, Fall, Featured, Home Arts, Science, Subject Matter
Pizza Math Part 1: Fractions for Kids
We are making mini pizzas (pizzetas) and dividing them up into fractions. First, we practiced with paper plates! To sweeten the mathematics lesson about fractions, we included M&Ms…a rare treat for the kids. My son (almost 4) participated a little but this is more an activities for kindergarten or early elementary. Materials: 3 Paper Plates 3 color markers or crayons 1 black marker or pen straight edge scissors sticky notes or index cards or paper 24 small treats (goldfish crackers, candies, etc.), all … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, Home Arts, Mathematics, Taste
Pasta Pasta- homemade pasta making
I absolutely love when I find the opportunity to turn a chore or fun activity into a science lesson. I was making some homemade pasta at a cooking class when I the light bulb in my head went off. This is the perfect lesson for the kids! We had a cooking class, math lesson and science lesson rolled into one. My two older children ages 3 and 6 eagerly went to work on this cooking … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, Home Arts, Mathematics, Science, Taste, Touch
Patriotic Ice Pops
Nothing quite cools during hot summer days like an ice pop. We love our Tovolo Star Ice Pop Molds and wanted to try to make red, white, and blue patriotic Popsicles. The challenge is a natural, non-toxic blue food dye and, after much experimenting, came up with this recipe: Ingredients one ripe banana 6-8 large strawberries a quarter cup of blueberries (optional) chilled lemonade 4 oz cup of banana or vanilla yogurt honey or sugar (just for the blue layer) red cabbage Directions: 1. Red … Read entire article »
Glue Batik Father’s Day Banner Craft
We’ve been eager to try out this kid-friendly glue batik craft technique that I saw a few years ago at That Artist Woman. Essentially, you create a glue-resist on fabric with the blue glue gel (we used Elmer’s) and then paint over with acrylic paints or fabric paint. We decided to make Father’s Day garden banners to celebrate Daddy and Papa. Materials: fabric (we used canvas bags from Michael’s but almost any white fabric would work) glue gel (we … 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), Art, Featured, Home Arts
Live Chat with Jessie Hartland, author of Bon Appetit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child.
I hope you will join the Random House Children’s Books Read and Play Community tonight (June 4, 9pm EST) for a Live Chat with Jessie Hartland, author of Bon Appetit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child. My daughter loves this book and I cannot wait to hear more about the author’s process! If you cannot make the chat, feel free to leave a question below and we’ll make sure to ask it during the discussion! . … Read entire article »
Filed under: 6-8 (Early Elementary), Home Arts
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 »
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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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