Naturally Educational » Home Arts
Christmas Tree Ornament – On Pins and Needles!
Every year, my daughter makes homemade ornaments for our tree and for family and friends. This year, my toddler joined the tradition with the simple glass globes. I’ll be sharing last year’s beaded snowflakes later this week. This year, we made a whole Christmas Tree! We used a kit purchased from Oriental Trading but these are materials you can easily find nearby if you are short of time or prefer not to order. I just find … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Ecology, Featured, History and Culture, Home Arts, Winter
Simple Ornaments: Have a Ball!
My kids make homemade gifts for family, friends, and teachers. Two years ago, my daughter (age two and a half at the time) made these very simple ornaments that even a toddler can make. Materials Glass globe ornaments* Paint * We tried with plastic this year but the paint really did not stick. I am going to experiment with mixing glue and paint and seeing if that works better. If you have tips, please let me know. Directions 1. Take … 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), All Ages, Featured, Home Arts, Winter
Edible Dreidel Dessert Craft
We actually first made this yummy craft last year with a friend who runs an awesome music program for kids on Long Island (Shake and Make Music). We had a lot of fun so we decided to do it again this year. Although we are not Jewish, most of my heritage is so this is something I want to be able to share with my kids. Materials: Marshmallow Chocolate Hershey’s Kiss Pretzel stick Nutella (or honey or Marshmallow Fluff) and knife … Read entire article »
Filed under: 0-3 (Babies and Toddlers), 1-2 (Toddler), 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, History and Culture, Home Arts, Taste
Pine Cone Turkey
It’s turkey time! I’m a vegetarian but most of the family loves their turkey. Thanksgiving is all about counting our blessings and one of those is a full table–with family, friends, and plenty of tasty food. And my son is really into the birds when we visit them at a local farm or at the Audubon center–he loves yelling “gobble, gobble” and hearing them gobble right back at him. Materials: pine cone five (5) or more leaves (pressed will work … Read entire article »
Filed under: 0-3 (Babies and Toddlers), 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Fall, Featured, History and Culture, Home Arts, Science
Apple Tasting
My kids love the opportunity to taste different varieties of the foods they love at local farms and markets. I was lucky enough to participate in an apple tasting with my daughter on the day I volunteered at our preschool co-operative. Once the tasting was over, the teaching assistant, who has an amazing traveling science museum called Science on the Move, whipped up a delicious peanut-free dip for the apples! Creating an apple tasting for your … Read entire article »
Filed under: All Ages, Fall, Featured, Home Arts, Mathematics, Science, Taste
Corn Husk Dolls
Since it is harvest time at the farms around here, we decided to make a corn husk doll. Unlike most of the crafts I post on here, this is really one for older kids or adults. However, little ones can be helpers and I think there is a lot to be gained from them observing their older siblings and parents as they prepare for the changes in the season. And younger children can decorate, dress, and … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Fall, Featured, History and Culture, Home Arts, Science, Weather
Books About the Dreamcatcher Legend
My daughter was concerned about bad dreams so we made a children’s craft version of a dreamcatcher together. I shared with her the Ojibway legends of the dreamcatcher but we did not have any books about dreamcatchers. Fortunately, my local library came through and I can recommend these two stories to go with the craft and any lessons about Ojibway culture. Dreamcatcher: This tale of an older sister weaving a dreamcatcher for her baby sibling has a … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, History and Culture, Home Arts
Sweet Dreams
My daughter has been asking for ways to keep out “bad dreams”. I suggested we make a dreamcatcher together. The authentic method involves willow branches and a knotting technique that might be a bit tricky for a four year old. So, I modified it so she could craft her own, simple version of a dreamcatcher. Materials: paper plate paints, glitter, stickers for decorating scissors single hole punch beads feathers string or yarn Directions: 1. Cut out the center of the paper plate. 2. Punch … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, History and Culture, Home Arts, Visual-Spacial
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
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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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