Naturally Educational » Home Arts
Pancakes from Scratch
At another Mommy & Me at Garden of Eve, Eve led us in picking wheat, threshing the wheat to separate the grain from the chaff, grinding the wheat (in a blender..though my kids have stone-ground grains at some local colonial-themed events), stirring in the eggs, sugar, baking powder, and milk, and frying up the pancakes. Unless you have a field of wheat growing in your backyard, you may need to take a few shortcuts–but making a … Read entire article »
Filed under: 0-3 (Babies and Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), All Ages, Bodily-kinesthetic, Featured, Home Arts, Taste
Jam, Jelly, and Preserves
We have the good fortune to live near an organic farm (Garden of Eve) owned by young parents. The mom runs a summertime “Mommy & Me” that includes a circle time and a farm “chore”. One week the children picked blackberries and turned them into jam! The process was fairly simple: Pick the berries Wash and dry the berries Meanwhile, sterilize glass jars in boiling water Crush the berries in a bowl Add mixture to a pot and pour … Read entire article »
Filed under: 0-3 (Babies and Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), All Ages, Ecology, Featured, Home Arts, Science, Summer, Taste
Father’s Day Gift: Mosaic Coasters
We like to make homemade, crafty gifts for the family and for this Father’s Day, the kids made mosaic coasters. Materials: metal jar lids plaster of Paris sea glass, seashells, smooth pebbles, mosaic tiles, broken pottery, letter beads or tiles or scrabble tiles to spell names or words felt scissors glue Directions: Mix plaster of Paris Pour into the metal jar lid. If your “mosaic” pieces are much thinner than the lid is shallow, you might want to allow the plaster of Paris to start … Read entire article »
Yarn Easter Egg Ornament
We’ve been trying some gorgeous Easter Crafts for kids this week, starting with this Yarn Easter Egg Ornament from No Time for Flashcards. I love “busy hands, calm spirit” crafts like these. This is so simple and yet it requires a lot of focus, patience and dexterity. You can also use this as an opportunity to practice measuring (the yarn) and cutting with scissors. Applying the yarn. Popping the balloon. Finished ornament hanging up. Head over to No Time for … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Home Arts, Mathematics, Spring
Deliciously Educational – Maple Sugaring
If you live in certain regions of the United States or Canada, March is a perfect time for an outdoor activity that is as delicious as it is educational – Maple Sugaring! Find a local Maple Syrup Festival or take a road trip! If you are heading to Vermont, check out Find & Go Seek’s listings of Vermont Maple Festivals. My family headed to Benner’s Farm for their annual Maple Sugaring event. My children had an … Read entire article »
Filed under: All Ages, Ecology, Home Arts, Science, Smell, Spring
Cooking with Kids
Cooking with kids is a great activity. You can do it rain or shine. You use mathematics to measure and calculate and listening and reading skills to follow directions. Science helps you understand what is going on. Recipes may be seasonally or culturally themed and even provide fascinating insights into history or literature. And then there is the satisfaction of a job well done. Home baked goods can be shared, donated, or sold to raise money, … Read entire article »
Apple Pomander Craft
We’ve been on a bit of an apple kick here as harvest season gets into full swing in my semi-rural area. Here’s a fun activity that turns your apple pickings into a beautiful and fragrant craft: apple pomanders. Materials: 1 Apple Whole Cloves Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ground Cloves) Sandlewood Oil or Orris Root (optional for additional preservation qualities) Ribbon (optional) Instructions: If you plan on using ribbon, you can also first mark off where the ribbon will go with tape, then add the cloves … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Fall, Home Arts, Science, Smell, Touch
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