Monthly Archives: August 2013

DIY Homework Center and Bookmarks

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Getting ready to go back to school comes with a whole (usually long) list of supplies. This can be a tad overwhelming for parents who have to track down all the supplies, and for kids who may be just a little nervous about meeting a new teacher and classmates. This back-to-school project is perfect to help your little ones feel more in control of things. They will be organizing their school supplies for their very own homework center by decorating cans with artwork, and making bookmarks too!

Materials:

  • empty tin cans
  • spray paint
  • paint
  • paper
  • paintbrushes
  • yarn
  • scissors
  • tape

Procedures:

1.Wash empty tin cans (make sure they were opened with a safety can opener, so there are no rough edges) and dry them.


2.Outside, on top of a covered surface such as newspaper, spray paint the tin cans inside and out (adults only). Allow to dry.

3.Paint designs on paper. Get creative and paint any fun pattern that comes to mind. Make sure you paint enough paper to cover the outsides of the tin cans and make bookmarks. Once you have finished, allow paintings to dry.

4.Cut your artwork into strips to make bookmarks and to cover your cans.

5.Place strips of your artwork around the painted tin cans and tape them in place.

6.Next, make some pom poms for your bookmarks. Wrap yarn around all four fingers of one hand about 20 times. Snip with scissors and then slip the loops off your fingers. Tip: You can use a single color of yarn or combine colors for a more festive look.

7.Tie a piece of yarn around the center of the looped yarn. Snip the looped edges of one side and then the other to form a pom pom. Trim your pom pom until it looks like a tight little ball, but leave the long piece of yarn you tied in the center. You’ll need this long piece to tie on your bookmark.

8.Punch holes at the tops of the strips of your artwork that you cut for bookmarks. Thread the ends of the yarn on each pom pom through the holes in a bookmark and tie on the back.

Great job! Now you’re all set for a school year of reading and homework!

Pics!

Pics!

School Spirit Key Chain

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School Spirit Key Chain
By Mary Slivinski

Materials:

Main-

  • Two 1 yard long pieces of Pepperell® Rexlace® Plastic Lacing in school colors
  • Two pony beads in school colors
  • One lanyard hook

Basic-

  • Fiskars® scissors
  • Ruler

Starting Tips :

  • Always measure the correct amount of Lacing needed for your projects.
  • Find the center by folding your lacing in half and lining up your ends.
  • Do not pull your stitches too tight but tight enough to hold together.
  • Be consistent in tightening stitches.
  • If you have to stop use a paper clip to hold your ends together – no unraveling.

Procedures:

  1. Cut 2 pieces of plastic lacing each piece 1 yard long. Use two school colors.
  2. Begin the Square Stitch following the diagrams. Do seven Square Stitches
  3. Add a pony bead and push up to stitches.
  4. Continue and do another three Square Stitches and add second pony bead.
  5. Do another seven Square Stitches. Keep the last stitch loose.
  6. Finish by inserting one end up through the center at a time as shown. This is done by picking up any one strand and taking it around the strand to its left, then up through the middle of the last stitch.
  7. Continue with the remaining three strands. Slowly pull on these strands to close the gap. Trim ends.
  8. Add lanyard hook to beginning stitch.

Note: To do Square or box Stitch start lacing counterclockwise, then clockwise, then counterclockwise…follow this pattern over and over.

To do Round Stitch go in the same direction always. Go counterclockwise only and your laces will spiral or go around. 

Key Chain, Instructions!

Mothers Day Basket!

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Mother’s Day Basket
For children of all ages, spring is an exuberant season, as flowers and
grasses pop up in all their colorful glory. You can purchase Mother’s Day
baskets, of course…but here’s a homemade paper basket that your
kindergartener can make, while practicing patterning skills that are such a
big part of her math curriculum. And now that it’s near the end of the year,
she should be writing her own words and early sentences, too.
Help her make a Mother’s Day basket with her own handwritten message
attached. Okay, if you’re the mom setting this up, it may spoil some
surprise, but don’t forget: you can also make this one for grandma, or for
some other really cherished maternal figure in your family’s life.
What You Need:
Three pieces of sturdy construction paper in spring colors such as
green, blue, and lavender
Scissors
Heart Basket template: #1 and #2
What You Do:
1. Trace your Template #1 onto two different colors of construction paper, and use scissors to cut
each one out. Following the lines on the template, cut strips from the bottom of the template
shape.
2. Trace Template #2—the solid heart—onto a piece of solid construction paper, and cut out a solid
heart shape, which will form the back of the “basket.”
3. Cut a strip of paper construction paper in a third coordinating color, at least 12” long by about 1”
wide, to serve as the “handle” for the basket.
4. Help your child “weave” the two sides of the heart from Step 1. Encourage kids to do as much of
this as possible independently, so that they develop hand-eye coordination skills, and practice the
pattern of “over-under” that they need for their math work. When they are done, they will have an
attractive woven heart.
5. Staple the woven heart to the plain one, and staple the strip of paper across the top to make a
handle. Now you have a “heart basket” that is perfect for a special message.
6. Fold a remaining piece from one of your cut construction paper pages, and invite your child to
make a picture of the person she’s honoring. Below it, ask your child to write at least one
sentence to that person. (Don’t worry if the spelling is “fearless”—what’s important is the thought!)
This is a big project for a kindergartener—be sure you offer lots of praise. It’s also a great bridge into the
new challenges of first grade, when kids will be doing lots more small-motor skill work, reading, and
writing. Oh, and lest we forget—it’s a heartwarming gift for any special mother figure, any day of the year!