make finger puppets
Supplies:
Thin cardboard from cereal boxes
markers or crayons
scissors
glue
stapler
pictures or coloring sheets
Cut the cardboard into rectangles. Then cut out sides so they look like top hats. Color an animal, monster, creature or anything you like on the cardboard. Then staple the tabs together. There you have it! Your own finger puppet. Make a lot and share a story. If you don't want to draw an image, find a color page or picture to use. Put many on one hand and tell an adventure with all your characters.
Thin cardboard from cereal boxes
markers or crayons
scissors
glue
stapler
pictures or coloring sheets
Cut the cardboard into rectangles. Then cut out sides so they look like top hats. Color an animal, monster, creature or anything you like on the cardboard. Then staple the tabs together. There you have it! Your own finger puppet. Make a lot and share a story. If you don't want to draw an image, find a color page or picture to use. Put many on one hand and tell an adventure with all your characters.
Make a Groundhog puppet
Supplies:
Brown paper lunch bag
colored paper
scissor
tape
glue
pencil
Cut off bottom of lunch bag and use scraps to cover the writing on the bottom of the bag. Trace and cut out round circles in brown and white. I like to fold my paper and cut once to make the circles the same size. Cut out a large oval in brown for the tummy. Glue on cut outs. Use some black paper to make eyes, nose and eyebrows. I don't know why but eyebrows create so much character. You can use different colored paper and cut our hats. You can decide your groundhog is sleepy or ready for spring.
Brown paper lunch bag
colored paper
scissor
tape
glue
pencil
Cut off bottom of lunch bag and use scraps to cover the writing on the bottom of the bag. Trace and cut out round circles in brown and white. I like to fold my paper and cut once to make the circles the same size. Cut out a large oval in brown for the tummy. Glue on cut outs. Use some black paper to make eyes, nose and eyebrows. I don't know why but eyebrows create so much character. You can use different colored paper and cut our hats. You can decide your groundhog is sleepy or ready for spring.
Make a cookie cutter bird feeder
Supplies:
Bird seed
gelatin
water
spoon
bowls
tray or plate
paper straws
scissor
string
cookie cutters
Mix 1 packet of gelatin with 1/4th cup warm water. Add 1 cup of bird seed. Mix it together. You can add more water if it gets too thick. Spoon mixture into cookie cutters on a tray or plate. You can use your hands if you like. It helps if your hands are wet. Press the mixture into the cookie cutters. You can cut a paper straw and push it into the mixture to hold a whole in place. The mixture will set up in about 30 minutes in a refrigerator or a couple of hours in a cool space. When the mixture is set, gently push out the bird seed cookies. Tie on a string. Hang your bird seed cookies in trees for your birds and other animals to enjoy. This activity can be very messy. If you work on a tray, it is easy to clean up. Have fun and get messy.
Bird seed
gelatin
water
spoon
bowls
tray or plate
paper straws
scissor
string
cookie cutters
Mix 1 packet of gelatin with 1/4th cup warm water. Add 1 cup of bird seed. Mix it together. You can add more water if it gets too thick. Spoon mixture into cookie cutters on a tray or plate. You can use your hands if you like. It helps if your hands are wet. Press the mixture into the cookie cutters. You can cut a paper straw and push it into the mixture to hold a whole in place. The mixture will set up in about 30 minutes in a refrigerator or a couple of hours in a cool space. When the mixture is set, gently push out the bird seed cookies. Tie on a string. Hang your bird seed cookies in trees for your birds and other animals to enjoy. This activity can be very messy. If you work on a tray, it is easy to clean up. Have fun and get messy.
Make ornaments
Supplies:
colored paper
old cards
wrapping paper
glue stick
string, yarn, pipe cleaners
pictures or photographs
stickers
scissor
hole punch
clothes pins
cup to trace
pens or pencils
Trace the cup to get a circle. Cut out 4 circles. Cut out pictures to decorate the circles using old cards, photographs or stickers. Glue decorations onto the circles. Then apply glue and connect the circles together. I used clothes pins to connect the circle sides. Punch a hole in the top of two opposite circles. Use a string or pipe cleaner to make a tree hanger for the ornament. I really enjoy making ornaments every year. It is a fun way to make memories.
colored paper
old cards
wrapping paper
glue stick
string, yarn, pipe cleaners
pictures or photographs
stickers
scissor
hole punch
clothes pins
cup to trace
pens or pencils
Trace the cup to get a circle. Cut out 4 circles. Cut out pictures to decorate the circles using old cards, photographs or stickers. Glue decorations onto the circles. Then apply glue and connect the circles together. I used clothes pins to connect the circle sides. Punch a hole in the top of two opposite circles. Use a string or pipe cleaner to make a tree hanger for the ornament. I really enjoy making ornaments every year. It is a fun way to make memories.
Make a folded paper hat
Supplies:
Color paper or newspaper or old magazines
scissor
scraps of color paper
wrappers
stickers
anything you can find and might think is useful
glue
Fold your paper in half. With the paper open at the bottom fold down the top corners. Take the paper at the bottom and fold it up. Then decorate as you want. Make a larger hat for you and a hat for your toy bear. Have a book reading party with your hats on.
Color paper or newspaper or old magazines
scissor
scraps of color paper
wrappers
stickers
anything you can find and might think is useful
glue
Fold your paper in half. With the paper open at the bottom fold down the top corners. Take the paper at the bottom and fold it up. Then decorate as you want. Make a larger hat for you and a hat for your toy bear. Have a book reading party with your hats on.
Make a healthy habit tracker
Supplies:
Card stock paper or cardboard from a cereal box
markers or crayons
scissor
string or yarn
tape
Fold a portion down from the top of the paper. Then fold the bottom up under the top fold. Write out words of encouragement or draw a fun picture to see when you complete your healthy habits. Open up the paper and cut as many parts you will need for your healthy habits. Decorate more fun pictures and words of encouragement inside. Tape some string under the top fold. Tape down the sides of the top fold. Now you are ready to hang up your tracker. Flip and tuck in the tabs as you complete the healthy habits. This activity is to encourage talk about self-care. This is not to be a long list that can overwhelm or ad pressure to our days. Take some time to help your little reader understand balance.
Card stock paper or cardboard from a cereal box
markers or crayons
scissor
string or yarn
tape
Fold a portion down from the top of the paper. Then fold the bottom up under the top fold. Write out words of encouragement or draw a fun picture to see when you complete your healthy habits. Open up the paper and cut as many parts you will need for your healthy habits. Decorate more fun pictures and words of encouragement inside. Tape some string under the top fold. Tape down the sides of the top fold. Now you are ready to hang up your tracker. Flip and tuck in the tabs as you complete the healthy habits. This activity is to encourage talk about self-care. This is not to be a long list that can overwhelm or ad pressure to our days. Take some time to help your little reader understand balance.
Make a tissue box buddy
Supplies:
tissue boxes
colored paper
scissor
glue stick
Cut paper and cover the tissue box. Fold and cut paper to the right size and create strips of colored paper to make the sides. You can do this any way you like. I used a pencil to curl the paper before I cut and then glued the strips along the sides. Use a darker paper to cut out eyes and a mouth. Or you can use crayons and draw a face. What emotions would your little reader want to have on their buddy? You could have a face on both sides. You could use this Buddy Box to help talk about how your little reader feels.
tissue boxes
colored paper
scissor
glue stick
Cut paper and cover the tissue box. Fold and cut paper to the right size and create strips of colored paper to make the sides. You can do this any way you like. I used a pencil to curl the paper before I cut and then glued the strips along the sides. Use a darker paper to cut out eyes and a mouth. Or you can use crayons and draw a face. What emotions would your little reader want to have on their buddy? You could have a face on both sides. You could use this Buddy Box to help talk about how your little reader feels.
Make a CRAZY HAIR friend
Supplies:
Color paper
scissor
glue stick
stapler
crayons or makers
Fold the rectangle paper to get a square. Cut off the extra paper. Fold the square into a triangle. Tuck one corner of the triangle into the other and then staple to secure. I folded a white paper to make a smaller size for the face. You can cut out any shape or size you wish. Draw a fun face and glue onto the colored head. Now cut the hair. Any way you wish. This is a great introduction to scissor usage. It does not have to be perfect or pretty. If you wish, use extra color paper to make more hair or parts. Have fun with this one.
Color paper
scissor
glue stick
stapler
crayons or makers
Fold the rectangle paper to get a square. Cut off the extra paper. Fold the square into a triangle. Tuck one corner of the triangle into the other and then staple to secure. I folded a white paper to make a smaller size for the face. You can cut out any shape or size you wish. Draw a fun face and glue onto the colored head. Now cut the hair. Any way you wish. This is a great introduction to scissor usage. It does not have to be perfect or pretty. If you wish, use extra color paper to make more hair or parts. Have fun with this one.
make your connection animal
Supplies:
paper plates
crayons or markers
construction paper
glue stick
craft sticks or straws
scissor
tape
Fold a paper plate in half. Cut the paper plate. What animal do you connect with or like? Make your spirit animal. Cut our paper eyes. Or you can cut holes if you want to use as a mask. Color the plate. Do whatever you want to make the animal you choose. I hope you read a book with your spirit animal.
paper plates
crayons or markers
construction paper
glue stick
craft sticks or straws
scissor
tape
Fold a paper plate in half. Cut the paper plate. What animal do you connect with or like? Make your spirit animal. Cut our paper eyes. Or you can cut holes if you want to use as a mask. Color the plate. Do whatever you want to make the animal you choose. I hope you read a book with your spirit animal.
Make a lorax puppet and speak for the trees
Supplies:
Brown paper bag
yellow, orange, white and black construction paper (or color white paper)
scissor
glue stick
pencil
Lorax Parts stencil or just get creative and do it your way
Cut the bottom off of your paper bag. This will create a shorter Lorax and give you some brown paper to make the limbs. Trace and cut out Lorax parts. This is a good time to talk about how many eyes and mustaches you might need. Or get creative and make your own custom parts. Glue on the parts. I had to use a little brown bag paper to cover up some wording. Good thing the Lorax looks a little scruffy. Now have a fun story time with your Lorax. Speak for the trees!
Brown paper bag
yellow, orange, white and black construction paper (or color white paper)
scissor
glue stick
pencil
Lorax Parts stencil or just get creative and do it your way
Cut the bottom off of your paper bag. This will create a shorter Lorax and give you some brown paper to make the limbs. Trace and cut out Lorax parts. This is a good time to talk about how many eyes and mustaches you might need. Or get creative and make your own custom parts. Glue on the parts. I had to use a little brown bag paper to cover up some wording. Good thing the Lorax looks a little scruffy. Now have a fun story time with your Lorax. Speak for the trees!
| lorax_parts__1_.pdf |
Make a hand tree
Supplies:
Color paper
scissor
glue stick
paint
pencils or markers
Trace your hand of choice. Cut out hand shape. Glue onto blue paper. Cut our green grass. Glue at base of your hand tree. Use paint to make fingerprint leaves or cut our pieces of paper to make glued on leaves. The choice is yours. Make a whole bunch of trees to make a family of trees.
Color paper
scissor
glue stick
paint
pencils or markers
Trace your hand of choice. Cut out hand shape. Glue onto blue paper. Cut our green grass. Glue at base of your hand tree. Use paint to make fingerprint leaves or cut our pieces of paper to make glued on leaves. The choice is yours. Make a whole bunch of trees to make a family of trees.
Paper flowers
Supplies:
Color paper
pipe cleaners or wooden craft sticks or paper straws or sticks from outside
scissor
tape
glue
tapered cup
Using the tapered cup trace a circle from both sides. Cut our the circles. Choose a color paper for your petals. Cut out any shape you like. Triangles, circles, squares, hearts, rectangles. It doesn't need to be a specific shape. I like to fold the paper so you can get many shapes with each cutting. Glue shapes around the larger circle's edge. Cover middle of the flower with glued smaller circle. Turn your beautiful flower over and tape on a stem with the pipe cleaner or other material of choice.
Give these flowers to your friends and family. Spread joy, love and hope.
Color paper
pipe cleaners or wooden craft sticks or paper straws or sticks from outside
scissor
tape
glue
tapered cup
Using the tapered cup trace a circle from both sides. Cut our the circles. Choose a color paper for your petals. Cut out any shape you like. Triangles, circles, squares, hearts, rectangles. It doesn't need to be a specific shape. I like to fold the paper so you can get many shapes with each cutting. Glue shapes around the larger circle's edge. Cover middle of the flower with glued smaller circle. Turn your beautiful flower over and tape on a stem with the pipe cleaner or other material of choice.
Give these flowers to your friends and family. Spread joy, love and hope.
Heart stamp valentine's
Supplies:
Paper, card stock, card board any color
paint any color
marker or pens
paper tube
ruler or paint stick
Take the paper tube and your ruler. Squish a strait fold into the paper tube. Then press another fold into the opposite side. Shape it a little. Now you have a heart stamp. Get your creative ideas going and stamp away. Make Valentine's or happy notes to everyone. After the paint dries you can ad more personality to your hearts by adding faces. Make sure to give these creations to someone you love.
Winter sounds bingo
This one is easy. All you need is some warm outside winter gear and your ears.
Get your warm gear on and get outside. Listen and look.
Work together.
Have fun.
Get a nice warm comfy drink of hot cocoa when you are done.
Get your warm gear on and get outside. Listen and look.
Work together.
Have fun.
Get a nice warm comfy drink of hot cocoa when you are done.
| winter_bingo.pdf |
make a christmas nisse ornament
Supplies:
Colored paper
scissor
pencil
yarn or string
glue
Stack three pieces of the color paper using at least one white fore the beard and what every hat color you choose. Trace your favorite person's hand. Cut out hand shape through all three pieces of paper. Cut the bottom part off of the hat colored piece. Glue the hat and beard onto the base. Trace your favorite person's thumb. Cut out and glue nose piece on hat and beard line. Punch a hole in top of hat. Tie on string. Hang our Nisse for all the enjoy.
Colored paper
scissor
pencil
yarn or string
glue
Stack three pieces of the color paper using at least one white fore the beard and what every hat color you choose. Trace your favorite person's hand. Cut out hand shape through all three pieces of paper. Cut the bottom part off of the hat colored piece. Glue the hat and beard onto the base. Trace your favorite person's thumb. Cut out and glue nose piece on hat and beard line. Punch a hole in top of hat. Tie on string. Hang our Nisse for all the enjoy.
create gratitude cubes
Supplies:
Paper or card stock
markers, crayons, color pencils
scissor
cube template
glue stick
Print off cube template. Cut out template. Write down the names of family and friends on the sides of the cube and decorate. Use a glue stick to attach the tabs and form the cube. (This takes a little patience and time. Hold the sides for a count of 10 to allow the glue to stick)
Variations of Gratitude Cube Activity
1. Write down names of family and friends. Create the cube. Toss the cube. For the name that appears at the top, take turns expressing what you are grateful for about that person.
2. Create Gratitude Cube as in example 1. Then toss the cube. The name that appears on top will express what they are grateful for.
3. Create an individual Gratitude Cube for each person in your family. One side will have a name. The other sides will be a statement of what your are grateful for about them.
Have fun! Enjoy the conversations and sharing of love for each other.
Paper or card stock
markers, crayons, color pencils
scissor
cube template
glue stick
Print off cube template. Cut out template. Write down the names of family and friends on the sides of the cube and decorate. Use a glue stick to attach the tabs and form the cube. (This takes a little patience and time. Hold the sides for a count of 10 to allow the glue to stick)
Variations of Gratitude Cube Activity
1. Write down names of family and friends. Create the cube. Toss the cube. For the name that appears at the top, take turns expressing what you are grateful for about that person.
2. Create Gratitude Cube as in example 1. Then toss the cube. The name that appears on top will express what they are grateful for.
3. Create an individual Gratitude Cube for each person in your family. One side will have a name. The other sides will be a statement of what your are grateful for about them.
Have fun! Enjoy the conversations and sharing of love for each other.
| cube_template.pdf |
create your own find and match game
Supplies:
Paper or index cards or card stock cut all in the same shapes
Markers or crayons
Your imagination
Find a friend and take turns drawing images. Copy the images best you can so you have a match. You don't have to limit this to just illustrations, if you want to practice numbers and letters this can be a great game to practice those skills.
Once you have finished your matching art cards, mix them up and set them out for a fun game of find and match. You can make as many cards as you want.
Paper or index cards or card stock cut all in the same shapes
Markers or crayons
Your imagination
Find a friend and take turns drawing images. Copy the images best you can so you have a match. You don't have to limit this to just illustrations, if you want to practice numbers and letters this can be a great game to practice those skills.
Once you have finished your matching art cards, mix them up and set them out for a fun game of find and match. You can make as many cards as you want.
make your own strengths trohpy
Supplies:
Paper
Crayons
Markers
Colored pencils
scissor
glue
index cards
There are two versions of the Strengths Trophy that I created. Maybe you could come up with another version. My son drew a trophy template if you want to print it off to color and fill in your strengths, or draw your own. I liked cutting out strips with the index cards and writing down strengths. This activity is a great opportunity to talk with your child about what strengths you see in each other. Take some time to talk about what qualities we appreciate in our family members.
Paper
Crayons
Markers
Colored pencils
scissor
glue
index cards
There are two versions of the Strengths Trophy that I created. Maybe you could come up with another version. My son drew a trophy template if you want to print it off to color and fill in your strengths, or draw your own. I liked cutting out strips with the index cards and writing down strengths. This activity is a great opportunity to talk with your child about what strengths you see in each other. Take some time to talk about what qualities we appreciate in our family members.
| trophy_template.pdf |
make a fishy print
Supplies:
Paper
Paint (non toxic, acrylic)
scissor
flat sponge
Cut out a fish shape in the sponge (or any shape you like). Pour paint onto a flat surface that has room for dabbing. Dab fishy shaped sponge in paint. I used two primary colors which can lead to a great conversation about making colors. You can use any colors you want. Press sponge with paint on it onto your paper. Don't forget about your little bits from your cutting. Use the left over shapes to create plants or other sea creatures. Enjoy your underwater print and you can reuse the sponges to make more prints or help clean up.
Paper
Paint (non toxic, acrylic)
scissor
flat sponge
Cut out a fish shape in the sponge (or any shape you like). Pour paint onto a flat surface that has room for dabbing. Dab fishy shaped sponge in paint. I used two primary colors which can lead to a great conversation about making colors. You can use any colors you want. Press sponge with paint on it onto your paper. Don't forget about your little bits from your cutting. Use the left over shapes to create plants or other sea creatures. Enjoy your underwater print and you can reuse the sponges to make more prints or help clean up.
make a
nature creature puppet
Supplies:
Leaves, grass and flat items from nature with texture (Please avoid plants that can cause skin irritation)
paper
scissors
crayons
glue or tape
sticks or craft sticks
Go on a walk and collect flat items with texture. Please help your explorer avoid plants that could cause skin irritation or sharp rocks. Place the items in between two pieces of paper. Using the long side of a peeled crayon, make a rubbing of your selected item. Draw a face on the image you created. Cut out your image in any shape you wish. Attach a stick with glue or tape.
Now use your Nature Creature Puppet to create your own stories. Put on a show.
Leaves, grass and flat items from nature with texture (Please avoid plants that can cause skin irritation)
paper
scissors
crayons
glue or tape
sticks or craft sticks
Go on a walk and collect flat items with texture. Please help your explorer avoid plants that could cause skin irritation or sharp rocks. Place the items in between two pieces of paper. Using the long side of a peeled crayon, make a rubbing of your selected item. Draw a face on the image you created. Cut out your image in any shape you wish. Attach a stick with glue or tape.
Now use your Nature Creature Puppet to create your own stories. Put on a show.
make a MAGNIFYING glass
Supplies:
Paper Towel Tube
Scissor
Tape
Markers or Crayons
Cut the paper towel tub in half.
Cut the short tube once along it's length.
Cut about a half an inch strip off the top. It does not have to be exact.
Curl up cut tub to make a smaller tube. Tape the ends to keep tube tight.
Fold down a flap on each end of the half inch strip. Tape folded tabs to the tube.
Decorate as you wish.
Now be a "Book Detective" and take a closer look into your books. Find colors, pictures, patterns and words. Play a rhyming game of all the items you can fine. Have fun!
Paper Towel Tube
Scissor
Tape
Markers or Crayons
Cut the paper towel tub in half.
Cut the short tube once along it's length.
Cut about a half an inch strip off the top. It does not have to be exact.
Curl up cut tub to make a smaller tube. Tape the ends to keep tube tight.
Fold down a flap on each end of the half inch strip. Tape folded tabs to the tube.
Decorate as you wish.
Now be a "Book Detective" and take a closer look into your books. Find colors, pictures, patterns and words. Play a rhyming game of all the items you can fine. Have fun!
