Naturally Educational » Entries tagged with "Halloween"
Happy (Belated) Halloween
Pin It Sandy may have knocked out our lights but she can’t dampen our Halloween spirits! We went trick or treating with Mulan, Mushu (he’s his sister’s accessory until he can express a preference), and a “man-eating shark” (shown here in his Roman gladiator costume). Blogging will be light until I have power, heat, and hot water…but I wanted to say “Happy Halloween” and “Feliz Dia de Los Muertos!” Hope you are all safe and dry! … Read entire article »
Filed under: Me
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. Pin It 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. … 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
Yarn Art Pumpkin Halloween Craft
We have some favorite Halloween crafts we do almost every year and we also try to add some new ones in. In the past, we made a a yarn pumpkin molded around a balloon. This year, we tried a flatter version of the craft, a Yarn Jack O’ Lantern you can hang on a wall or window. Pin It Materials orange yarn black paper glue green chenille stem (pipe cleaner) wax paper permanent marker Directions: 1. Trace a pumpkin on a piece of wax paper. Pin … 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), Fall, Featured, History and Culture
5 Pumpkin Books for Your Story Patch
Pumpkins are popping up all over the place here! I love how the pumpkin theme lasts the whole fall season, from harvest to Halloween to Thanksgiving–we study pumpkins, make Jack O’ Lanterns, pumpkin pies, roasted pumpkin seeds, and, of course, pumpkin crafts. We also enjoy reading picture books about pumpkins. Here are some of our favorite pumpkin books for kids: Pin It Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin, by Mary Serfozo: Toddlers will love the language play and the adorable … Read entire article »
Filed under: 0-3 (Babies and Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Fall, Featured
Halloween Science
Pin It Did you know that Halloween can be a perfect learning opportunity for your kids?! Yes that’s right, grab your kids and head to the nearest pumpkin patch! Materials 3 pumpkins of varying sizes knife bowl carving kit (just to make it fun!) Let your children pick out pumpkins. The bigger the pumpkin the longer this project will take, so in this case smaller is better. The one shown here with my son is way too big. Pin It Start by letting your … Read entire article »
Candy Hearts Experiment
Have lots of leftover Valentine’s Day candy? Expand your mind instead of your teeth (or mom and dad’s waistlines). Pin It We actually did this one last year and ran out of time to post it! Experiment – Do Candy Hearts Dissolve More Quickly In Hot or Cold Water? Materials two bowls of water, one hot, one ice-cold two candy hearts pencils and pads Directions: 1. Form a hypothesis. My children predicted that both hearts would dissolve but the one with the hot water … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, Logical-Mathematical, Science
Easy, Edible Sugar Skulls (Calavera) for Dia de Los Muertos
Today, we made easy, edible calaveras for Dia de los Muertos with the kids. Traditional Mexican Sugar Skulls for Dia de los Muertos are time-intensive handicrafts. Although most would technically be edible, you probably would not want to eat them. Since I have young children who are learning about Latin American culture and Spanish language with their Latino friends, I wanted to find a way to make the sugar akulls simple enough for the kids. Plus, … Read entire article »
Filed under: 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Art, Featured, History and Culture, Home Arts
Simple Calaveras Masks for Dia de los Muertos
After Halloween, our friends from Latin America celebrate Día de los Muertos. The holiday has its roots in an idea similar to the Celtic Samhain and the Christian All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. In contrast with our modern Halloween, however, Día de los Muertos is more of a celebration of departed loved ones, rather than a fright fest. In Mexico, the celebration is marked with alters containing marigolds and calaveras (skulls, particularly the popular … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, History and Culture, Interpersonal
The Itsy Bitsy Spider Made 5 Spider Crafts for Kids
You know what really terrifies me? Spiders. I fully admit this is irrational and spiders are an important part of our ecosystem and yet… there is just something about those eight legs that creeps me out! Whether you are an arachnophile or an arachnophobe, Halloween is the perfect time to make spider crafts with kids! Pin It Weave a Paper Plate and Yarn Spider Web at Naturally Educational: This was our spider craft last year! Hula hoop Spider … 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), All Ages, Ecology, Educational Blogs, Featured
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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.
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