Do you have daycare or a summer program ? Maybe a birthday party?? Summer camp or vacation bible school? Well...how about cowboys and Indian theme party?? Here is a totem pole using recycled objects from around the house.
Here's what you will need for the totem on the right--for directions click HERE
Plastic Milk Cartons and Coffee containers (* Do not use plastic soda or juice containers as the plastic is too hard to cut through to insert the pole.)
Informative, carefully researched coloring book depicts, in 39 detailed illustrations, native North Americans engaged in a host of arts and crafts: drum-making, carving totem poles, face and body painting, building a dugout canoe, making and painting ceramic pots, weaving rugs and blankets, preparing hides, more. Descriptive captions.
It's morning at the rodeo. Riders are standing by. Horses are in the chutes. "Cowboy up!" the announcer calls. Then the excitement begins In this riveting collection, narrative poems give voice to the individual competitors, lively prose explains rodeo events, and evocative photographs show off the riders and ropers, the horses, bulls, and broncs. It all adds up to an unforgettable close-up view of Navajo
One Christmas funds were low and so we decided to wrap a gift and give it to our friend Angie. We did one of those wraps where you put a box inside of a box inside of another box so on and so on. Well by the time she got to the littlest box she opened it expecting a gift and instead she got a sweet note from us telling her it was a gift of love.
I still have to laugh cause she was so mad at us for leading her on. Apparently they didn't do things like that in their family so she wasn't too happy. She thought she was getting a real gift and that's what she wanted---A GIFT! She certainly didn't want our peasy gift of love! lol
Good thing I can laugh at life cause I still think it's funny and trust me it was difficult keeping a straight face while she was opening those boxes. This project reminds me of the empty boxes. It's called the "Jar of Nothing".
Books---
The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up For Others
Have you ever seen a bully in action and done nothing about it? The kids at Pete's new school get involved, instead of being bystanders. When Pete begins to behave badly, his classmates teach him about "The Promise". Will Pete decide to shed his bullying habits and make "The Promise"?
Here's something that's unique and a fun alternative to playing in the sand box.
This is called "moon sand". It's very soft and silky. And the clean up is easy.
Here's what you will need to make it:
MOON SAND
8 cups of flour
1 cup of baby oil
some containers and spoons to play with
and a big container to put it in to play
Books related to this project:
Molly Moon & the Monster Music
Molly Moon can play any instrument. The harmonica! The guitar! The drums! The piano! You name it! Molly is back - and she's a rock star. In this fun-filled conclusion to the Molly Moon series, Molly faces the music - the hypnotic music - of a magical coin that has the power to enslave its listeners...and turn them into monsters!
Available on amazon
How to Bicycle to the Moon to Plant Sunflowers: A Simple
but Brilliant Plan in 24 Easy Steps
In this simple, step-by-step instructional picture book, learn how you too can visit the moon on your bicycle! All you need is a very long garden hose, a very large slingshot, a borrowed spacesuit, and a bicycle . . . and plenty of imagination. With tongue firmly in cheek, Caldecott Medal winner Mordicai Gersteinspacefaring adventure for daydreamers and a starter kit for the imagination.
Just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to all of our Mom's out there across the miles (and to our Grandmom's,Aunt's and Dad's who are Mom's too). I've been Mom and Dad for 19 years so I know what the job entails. It isn't always easy and it can be rough at times but one thing for sure it is the best job in the world! Enjoy your special day!!
This craft is for the bigger kids and Moms. I found this idea on Pinterest and love this idea. It's a great way to use sweaters that have gown too small or maybe out of style. I'm really excited to try it and wanted to share it here on my blog so others could try it as well.
There's no instructions but as you can see it's pretty self explanatory. I think you could probably line the gloves with some type of fleece or lambswool to make them extra warm. I think it would be cute too if there was a little strap across the wrist where you could make it tighter if need be.
Anyways, I think this is just a really adorable idea and it's a great way to recycle!
Books related to this project---
Jenny Berry's LOST Red Mitten Jenny Berry is six years old and she is always losing things. Jenny doesn't like
losing things but it just keeps happening. And now it's snowing and Jenny can't
find one of her red mittens. She has no idea where it can be. But Grandma Lily
does. Grandma Lily tells Jenny about a magical place called Raggedy Lyme, a
place where lost things can hide until their owners deserve to have them back.
Grandma Lily always knows things like that. And Grandma Lily wants Jenny to
learn how important it is to take care of the things that she owns. . . . A
short story for children. Available on amazon
The Mitten (Folk Tales) A Ukrainian folk tale translated for your kids.
Here's a terrific opportunity to make a nice piggy bank and teach children the value of saving a dollar. Here's some pretty easy and terrific bank ideas that I've found. You can also make banks using old Pringle cans,bleach bottles,soda bottles,softener bottles, coffee cans. Recycle corks and lids,save those pieces of scraps,wiggly eyes and sequin trims. Have fun and be creative!!
The Berenstain Bears Piggy Bank Blessings (I Can Read! In The Berenstain Bears' Piggy Bank Blessings , a level one Berenstain Bears Living Lights I Can Read, Mama Bear thinks it is time to teach the cubs about saving money for something special. Even the Bible says each one of us should put aside some of our earnings! But will the cubs listen to Mama and scripture, or will they spend their money on things they do not need?
One Cent, Two Cents, Old Cent, New Cent: All About Money
THE CAT IN the Hat puts to rest any notion that money grows on trees in this super simple look at numismatics, the study of money and its history. Beginning with the ancient practice of bartering, the Cat explains various forms of money used in different cultures, from shells, feathers, leather, and jade to metal ingots to coins (including the smallest—the BB-like Indian fanam—and the largest—the 8-foot-wide, ship-sinking limestone ones from the Islands of Yap!), to the current king of currency, paper. Also included is a look at banking, from the use of temples as the first banks to the concept of gaining or paying interest, and a step-by-step guide to minting coins. A fascinating introduction is bound to change young reader’s appreciation for change!
There are lots of things you can say, do or make for Mom to make her feel special on Mother's Day. As a Mom I can tell you that it will mean more to Mom if you give her something if it comes from you heart. If you think hard and put a ton of thought into it your Mom will love it. Gifts like this pull at your Mom's heart strings because she knows you thought long and hard about it and she knows allot of love went into the deciding factor.
My daughter used to get so upset because she didn't have any money to buy anything. I always stressed to her that money didn't matter and that I would love it if she put her heart into the heart...and THAT I DID! I got some really unique gifts,from place mats to painted flower pots to handmade bracelets to scented bath salts. However my favorite of all was a stepping stone that she made for my garden that has her hand print in it.
Here are some easy gifts that you can make for Mom before Sunday.
candle sticks from the thrift shop,or a yard sale or maybe just laying around your house
craft glue
an old bowl
newspaper
old paint brush or sponge brush
First lay the old newspapers on the table. Put glitter in a flat bowl. Using your brush paint glue onto your candle stick using small sections at a time. Now sprinkle the glitter onto your glued sections pressing slightly to help it to stick. Let the candlesticks dry for at least 24 to 48 hours before wrapping.
Yarn Bottle --Mod podge colorful yarn to different sized empty bottles. You will need Mod podge or you can make your own. Here is the recipe. Ask you Mom for some old yarn. Cut the yarn in strips and add glue to bottle. After you add the glue to the bottle with yarn strips. You design the way you want in the colors you choose.
A little boy offers advice on what NOT to give your mom on Mother's Day,
unless she's an animal. For example, don't give her a rotting log unless she's a
salamander, or a bunch of flies unless she's a spider! What would Mom like
best?
Gifts for you, Mama! - An Illustrated Mother's Day book for
children
A lovely book for Mother's day! Spoken from a child's perspective, this
beautifully illustrated book highlights the many things mothers do for their
family, everyday. Children across the world offer to help their mothers
with good intentions. But they sometimes end up with disastrous or hilarious
results! Still, it’s the thought of helping that counts. Some of the
pictures are humorous because children sometimes cause more mess when they help. Bright and cheerful illustrations will have your children (ages 3 -
6) asking for more. Beginning readers will be able to read this book
by themselves. Don't be surprised if they ask to help out in the house! Available on Amazon
Ramona and Her Mother
Being seven and a half is not easy! Ramona's at that awkward, in-between age—too little to stay home alone after school when her mother is at work, but too big to enjoy playing with pesty Willa Jean at her sitter's house. These days, all Ramona really wants is to twitch her nose and be her mother's little rabbit like she once was. Can't she be her mother's little girl forever?
Time goes by so quickly and before you know it your little baby is all grown up. Well here is a recipe that you can make to help preserve those "little hands.feet or even paws prints" in time. This would make a great gift for Mother's Day or Father's Day or even for the Grandparents.
Here's what you will need:
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup water (approx--it may take less or more)
Mix together in a large bowl. Knead together thoroughly until it forms a dough ball. Roll it out flat. Place the dough on an old baking sheet and shape it into a square or a circle. Make your impression and then bake at 200 degrees for 3 hours.
Kids who grew up with Jane O’Connor’s Fancy Nancy picture books can spend some quality time with their BFF: Nancy Clancy is now starring in her own chapter books! Fancy Nancy: Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth is the first in a series of delightful middle-grade mysteries. Sassy Fancy Nancy is now a detective. When one of her classmate’s most special possessions disappears from school, it’s up to Nancy to save the day. With the help of her friend Bree, she follows the clues to an unexpected source.Fans of Nancy Drew’s Clue Crew will be happy to see a new Nancy join the ranks of super sleuths. Robin Preiss Glasser illustrates Nancy’s story with liveliness, wit, and fanciness.
North American Indian Crafts 
