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| Squeeze
Paint |
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Materials:
- Food
coloring
- 1/3
cup salt
- 1/4
cup sugar
- 1
cup flour
- small
squeeze bottles
- water
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Procedure:
Combine dry ingredients in a jar. You can make an assortment
of colors by adding food coloring to the mixture. Add
water until it has made a thick consistency. Pour into
empty squeeze bottles. Squeeze out designs onto construction
paper, cardboard, paper plates. Put weights on the corners
of your creations so that they won't curl as they dry.
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| Soap
Bubbles |
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-
1
cup water
-
1/3
cup liquid detergent
-
1
tbsp.
-
Sugar
or glycerin
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Directions:
Mix ingredients together. Make wands with pipe cleaners,
old coat hangers, Easter egg dippers, a paper roll
or three straws tied together. Use the soap bubbles
immediately after mixing together.
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| Pole
Dyeing |
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Materials:
- Paper
Towels
- Pencils
- String
- Paint
(several colors)
- Brushes
- Newspaper
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Directions:
For
this activity, you'll probably want to cover your work
area with newspaper. Place the point of a pencil in
the center of a sheet of paper towel. Gently (but tightly)
wrap the paper towel around the pencil and tie a small
piece of string around it to hold the paper tight. Some
of the children may be able to wrap the paper towel
themselves, while others will need your help to do the
wrapping and tying. Taking turns, the children can use
different colors of paint on different parts of their
"pole". Allow the paper towels to dry 30 minutes to
an hour. Then take off the string and let the children
open their paper towels to see the designs. |
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| Rubbings |
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Paper
(thin paper works best)
-
Crayons
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Pennies,
leaves, paper clips, rubber bands, etc.
Directions:
Show the children how to place the object under
the paper and color over it with crayons, making
the outline of the shape appear. Let them try making
rubbings with all of the objects. At the end, see
if they can match the rubbings with the actual objects.
From:
Mister Roger's Plan & Play Book
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| Thumbprint
Mural |
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Materials:
- Stamp
pads of different colors
- Fine
tipped markers or pencils
- Butcher
paper
Directions:
Cut
a long sheet of butcher paper. Lay it on the table
or the floor. Put markers, pencils and stamp pads
around it. Using the markers or pencils, have the
children help you draw small circles all over the
paper. Then let the children ink their thumbs on
the stamp pads and put all colors of thumbprints
in the circles. Hang the Thumbprint
Mural.
Variations:
Along The Lines: Draw lines on the paper
and have the children put thumbprints along the
lines.
Color
Creatures: Draw features on the thumbprints
to create "make-believe" creatures.
Creatures
On The Go: Let the children draw cars, trucks,
buses, and airplanes with a lot of windows. Have
the children put thumbprint creatures in the windows.
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| Stick
Masks |
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Materials
- Bristol
board
- markers
or coloured pencils
- glue
- large
popsicle stick
- yarn
for hair or beards
Directions
Help the children draw a replica of their face on
a piece of Bristol board and cut it out. Put the
mask up to the child's face and draw the approximate
location of their eyes and mouth. Cut out the eyes.
Let the children decorate the mask, either to look
like themselves or as a fancy mask they would wear
to a masquerade ball. Glue the masks to the popsicle
stick. Have a parade of masks. Read a story about
masks and get the children to participate with their
creations, etc.
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Paper Tube Person |
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-
toilet
roll tube
- round
disk made from heavier cardboard or Bristol board
- markers
or coloured pencils
- glue
- yarn
for hair or beards
- googly
eyes
- poster
paint
Directions
Give
each child a toilet roll tube and a round disk.
Have them paint the tube with poister pain and let
them dry. Decorate the tubes to resemble a person's
bady wearing colourful clothes. Draw facial features
and hair on the discs and glue to the front of the
tube. googly eyes and yarn for hair and beards will
make the faces more interesting.
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| Rhythmic
Gymnastic Ribbons |
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Here's a craft that is actually a great sport
as well. Can be incorporated into a fitness, reading
or music program.
Materials
- 1/4"
to 1/2" pieces of doweling or 1/4"
x 1" board cut into 8" strips
- colourful
ribbon cut into 3' or longer pieces
- glue
- music
to dance with
Directions
Give each child a piece of doweling or wood and
a ribbon. Tie or glue the ribbon to the stick.
Turn on the music and show the child how to swirl
their ribbons around their bodies, over their
heads, etc., as they dance to the music.
A preamble to this craft would be a book or a
video from the library on rhythmic gymnastics.
You could also incorporate other props such as
balls that the children can roll along their arms,
pass from one child to the other, bounce them
as they stand on their toes or knees.
Caution:
Keep an eye on the younger children to ensure
they do not get the ribbon caught around their
necks. Do not cut ribbons so long that they trail
on the floor and possibly trip the other children.
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| Connect
the Stars |
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Materials
- plain
white paper
- foil
stars or stars you help the children to trace
and cut out
- crayons
or markers
- glue
Directions
Read to the children about the stars in the sky
and the constellations. Keep the book available
as you help them glue or paste the stars on their
paper to match one of the shapes in the sky (or
they could just make up their own constellations,
or for that matter they could put the stars on
the page in the shape of the first letter in their
name. Once the stars are in place, have the children
connect them with the crayons, like a dot-to-dot
drawing.
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Salt Drawings
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Materials
- trays,
shoe-box lids, baking pans
- salt
(can substitute with cornmeal, flour or sand)
- popsicle
sticks, small doweling or unsharpened pencils
Directions
Pour a thin layer of salt or whatever product you
chose in a tray or box lid. Show the children how
they can draw in the salt using the pencil or popsicle
stick. After the children have finished drawing their
picture, show them how to gently shake their container
and draw pictures over and over again. This is a great
opportunity to teach the children about salt and its
properties like taste, texture, use.
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Weird and Wacky Edible
Art
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Materials
- marshmallows
- raisins,
cut fruit
- pretzel
sticks
- paper
plates
Directions
Have the children wash their hands before engaging
in the edible art activity. Give each child a selection
of large and small marshmallows and mixed cut fruit
on a paper plate. Challenge them to create weird and
wacky funny designs with the food poking it on to
the pretzel sticks the younger children may need help
with this). Have them put their creations on a dish
to show the group before they eat them.
You
might also have them assist you in making a simple
dip in which to dunk their creations, such as sour
cream and brown sugar, or you can just use prepared
dips you can purchase at the store.
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| Star
Light, Star Bright |
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Materials
- construction
paper
- pencils
- wax
paper
- yarn
- glue
- glitter
Directions
Draw a star on a sheet of construction paper. Make
one for each child or have star cookie cutters available
that the children can trace with a pencil onto the
construction paper. Place a sheet of wax paper over
the construction paper. Dip a piece of yarn in the
glue and use it to outline the star design on the
way paper. (Press the sheet of wax paper down so you
can see the design clearly.) While the glue is still
wet, sprinkle the yarn with glitter. Let the glue
dry overnight. Peel the dried yarn off the wax paper
and add a loop of yarn for hanging.
You
could make several stars to use as Christmas tree
decorations, hang in the window or to decorate packages.
Try using other cookie cutter ideas or Christmas shapes
for even more decorations.
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| Soapflake
Snowman |
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What
would winter be without snowmen? The craft below helps
children explore new textures, develop their fine
motor skills by using paint brushes and sponges, and
pasting with one finger.
Materials
- Pre-cut
snowmen made from white construction paper
- Blue
and black construction paper
- Pre-cut
facial features and top hats
- Nontoxic
glue
- Brushes
and/or small sponges
- 1/2
warm water
- 1/2
cup soap flakes
Directions
Give a precut snowman to each child. Explain how you
are going to cover the snowman with whipped soap flakes.
Prepare
the soapflake mixture by mixing the warm water with
the soapflakes to form a thick paint.
Help
the children apply the soapflake mixture to the snowman
shape with either their hands, a large brush, or a
small sponge.
Once
the snowmen are dry, let the children paste on eyes,
a nose, mouth and a top hat. You can then paste the
picture onto the blue or black construction paper
or leave them as they are.
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| Paper
Windows |
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This fun craft helps children develop their
memory.
Materials
- The
sheets of coloured art or construction paper
- Crayons
and markers
- Magazines
- Nontoxic
glue or tape
- Scissors
Directions
Give each child one piece of paper and have them
draw a number of boxes on the paper to act as windows.
Using
the scissors, cut three sides of the box to make
a window opening. Cut the openings in different
ways for the windows open upwards, from the sides,
or cut a large box down the middle so it opens up
from both sides like a shutter.
Take
a second sheet of paper and help the children tap
or glue the paper together so the windows open up
to display the new coloured paper.
Have
the children cut out pictured from magazines to
fit in the window and glue in place. Or, the children
can draw pictures in the windows.
Another
idea is to help the children draw boxes to make
a house with a door and windows. Cut and paste accordingly.
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| Art
Show |
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This fun craft idea can actually turn into a week-long
project.
Materials
- The
sheets of coloured art or construction paper
- Crayons
and markers
- Paints
and brushes
- Magazines
- Odds
and ends such as string, glitter, stars, etc.
- Nontoxic
glue or tape
- Scissors
Directions
Give each child one piece of paper and allow them
to choose from a variety of art projects like painting,
drawing and colouring, making a collage from magazine
pictures, etc. Encourage the children to take their
time and do their best artwork as the pieces will
be put on display for their art show for parents.
Have each child sign their creation.
Work
with the children to design a nice art show wall or
bulletin board. A long strip of plain newsprint will
work great for this project
as the children can decorate it as well. Once the
art show area is designed, help the children display
their artwork.
Take
some time during reading or language arts to talk
about art shows, and to make up invitations for parents
come to the show.
The children can also cook some cookies or other delectables
to serve the parents.
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Victorian
Valentine |
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This
adorable craft of an old fashioned Victorian valentines
says "May heart is in your hands."
Materials:
- Coloured
paper (red, pink, etc.)
- Pencils,
markers, crayons
- Scissors
- Nontoxic
glue
- Doilies,
cotton batting, foil, glitter
Directions:
Fold a piece of 8.5" x 11" paper in half.
Have the children trace their open hand on the paper,
keeping their baby finger lined up along the fold
(so two hands get cut out together) using the pencil.
Help the children trace their hands as needed. Cut
out the hand outline. Next, cut out a hear shape from
red or pink paper that is about the size of the child's
palm. Open the hand and paste the heart in the centre.
Decorate the valentine with smaller hearts, doilies,
foil, glitter, etc. Help the children write a valentine
message in the middle of the heart....like "May
heart is in your hands." Have then print their
name if they can, otherwise you can help them sign
it.
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| Heart
Prints |
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Materials:
- White
paper
- Tempera
paint (red and pink)
- Heart-shaped
cookie cutters (various sizes)
- Shallow
pans
- Doilies,
cotton batting, foil, glitter
- Markers,
crayons, coloured pencils
Directions:
On the art table place white paper and heart-shaped
cookie cutters of various sizes. Mix pink and red
tempera paint and pour into shallow pans. Have the
children dip the cookie cutters into the paint then
place the cookie cutter on the paper to make a print.
When finished, the children can decorate the hearts,
or write sayings in the hearts.
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Peanut
Buddies |
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This
adorable craft of an old fashioned Victorian valentines
says "May heart is in your hands."
Materials:
- Peanuts
in the shell
- Pencils,
markers, crayons
- Scissors
- Nontoxic
glue
- Yarn,
felt, roly eyes, beads
- Magnetic
strips
Directions:
Help the children decorate their peanuts using the
roly eyes, beads or felt pieces for the eyes. An apple
seed works great for a nose. The children can draw
a mouth on their peanut using the markers or coloured
pencils. Next, have the children decorate their peanut
with decorations made from felt, such as a bow tie,
buttons, two half circles glued to look like a vest,
etc. Yarn could be used to make hair. As a option
you might glue a magnetic strip to the back of the
peanut for a refrigerator decoration.
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Pinecone
Feeder
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Materials:
- Pinecones
- Wire
or string
- Peanut
butter
- Birdseed
Directions:
Place the bird seed in a tray. Tie a thin piece of
wire or string around a pinecone and have the children
spread peanut butter over their cone. Once covered,
the children can roll their cone in the birdseed and
hang it up outside for the birds to enjoy.
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Art
and Crafts Page 2
Art
and Crafts Page 3
Art
and Crafts Page 4
Craft
Tip of the Week
Back
to Resource Centre |
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