Spring Scribbles

Today, we just had fun with craft! The kids thought it was so silly to make these scribble frames, they had a great time!

First I cut some butterfly shapes out of paper (you can do this with any shape)- make sure to fold the paper over and not cut to the edge, so it can be used as a frame. Remember, you are using the paper you cut from, not the actual shape you cut out. And, that was pretty much all I needed to do! I put the crayons, and paper on the table and let the kids start colouring.

They just have to scribble all over the page. They could draw something too, but we just scribbled!

Then we glued the cut out "frame" to the page! 

We are going to put ours in the glass frames we have on the wall! 

Seeds, sunflower seeds

Today we talked about seeds, and how they are how a flower starts to grow. So, we made sunflowers with sunflower seeds!

First I got everything ready. I cut circles out of cardboard (a cereal box), plus another circle just out of paper. Then I cut all the flower petals- you can also cut the child's handprint out many times! I got those together with the glue, sunflower seeds and popsicle sticks.



Then I let the kids start gluing on the flower petals around the card board circle.


When they had all the petals on that they wanted, they glued the paper circle onto the cardboard one...

When that was one, we put glue ALL over that, and started placing on the sunflower seeds.



Once those are dried- tip them over a sink or counter and get the seeds off that didn't stick. (we also put some of the squeeze glue over the top of them). Then we taped the popsicle sticks to the back- for the stem. I have green sticks, but you can use any- or paint or color them!

Hatching chick

Today we made a hatching chick. Again, a fairly easy craft, but you could add anything you wanted to it.

First I gathered everything we would need. I cut the yellow paper into a chick coming out of an egg, and the white paper into an egg shape. I got markers and the clasp things (that I can't remember the name of right now- HAHA!). I also got together glue and scissors. You could paint these, add glitter or collage them, we just did markers for ease today!



Then I had the kids color the chick and the egg...




After they colored them, I cut the egg in two. Following the zig zag lines. Then had the kids glue the bottom piece to the bottom part of the chick paper. (I left that larger bottom on the yellow (chick) piece just to make this part easier for them.



And then we added the clasp thing (again, can't remember the name)- which attached the top part of the cracked egg, and lets it open and close, to see the chick! After they did that, I had them write their names, and the word Egg on it- since we are talking about Letters this week. They both did the letters themselves- not bad for being three and a half hey!

Handprint Butterflies

Today, we made Handprint butterflies. This activity includes many of the things the kids love to do- trace their hands, color, glue, and paint! And they love watching the paint not stick to the crayon!

First gather supplies. I used white construction paper, black construction paper (cut out into the shape of the butterfly's head and body), a marker, crayons, glue, and paint- with supplies!



First we traced the kids hands- alternating for sides. Use both the left and right for each wing- but backwards. While looking at the butterfly, use the child's left hand for the bottom of the right side and top of the left side, and the right hand for the bottom of the left side and top of the right. Have the bottom thumbs stick down further! The older children can help trace their own hands!

Then have the children color the hands- making shapes, letters etc. Make sure you use WAX crayons and push pretty hard!




After they are done coloring their hands (wings). Use watered down paint to paint over them. Watch how much they put on their brushes, or they will become lakes! Make sure they cover the page, and talk to them about watching when they paint over the crayon!




After the lake- I mean the butterflies dry- cut them into wing shapes. Cut around the fingers- going in for the other hand, and going in at the bottom thumb- if that makes sense! LOL! Then have the children glue on the body.

Ta-Da- a BEAUTIFUL Butterfly!

Fingerprint Ladybugs

This week we are talking about bugs. So, we started the week off by making Ladybugs! Not just any ladybugs- fingerprint ladybugs! This craft has the kids gluing and painting, and if they are at the age to start trying, cutting too!

First I collected everything we needed. A big black circle for the body, a small black circle for the head. A big red circle cut in half for the wings. I also collected googly eyes, and pipe cleaners- which I rolled the ends around pencils- with help from the kids! You will also need black finger paint, and a plate or something to put the paint on!



Then we glued the small black circle- the head, onto the big black circle- the body! And then glued the wings on, open.




Then came the finger paint! I placed a smaller amount of paint on a plate, and had the kids dip one finger in it, and put their print on the ladybug's wings!



Then we taped the antenna on- with the curled pipe cleaners! And let them dry!

Sunflowers

Today, we made handprint sunflowers! We are trying to bring on Spring- can you tell!? These are pretty easy to make, but definitely need supervision, and help!

First I gathered everything we needed. Paper- plain paper and green paper, paint (and supplies), scissors and tape. I also had a package of wipes to wipe little hands before they leave the table. These come in handy when dealing with smaller children, or multiple children! You don't have to worry about rinsing cloths, or helping one wash while the others get into everything- you are at the table all the time!



Then I painted one of their hands yellow. (I don't have pictures because I didn't trust any of them not to touch anything while I took a picture! I also did one child at a time- just easier!). When their hand was painted, I put it on the paper- then repeat- going in a full circle on the page, palms overlapping each time.

Then, I let them dip their finger in black paint. Then they made the seeds out of their black finger print. (I have a picture of Danika doing it- she wanted to make a face in hers too!)



After that we let them dry. While they were drying myself and the older ones made the stems. We took the green paper (ours was already smaller, but you can make them as long as you want) and rolled them up. You want to use a thicker paper- or even popsicle sticks or something strong so they stay up. We put popsicle sticks in them to hold the flower up straighter.



Then once the flowers were dried we taped them to the stem (the popsicle stick inside!

Flower Vases

Today, again, was not a beautiful Spring day like it should be. So, we made "indoor flowers". We talked about how sometimes we have flowers in the house, and we put them into a vase. We talked about how flowers are different colors, and grow differently. We also talked about how they all have different names too. They all decided that what we were making were "Daisy Flowers"

First I collected the main items for this project- drawing a vase type shape on the bottom half of the paper. The muffin cups are going to be the flowers- you could use colored ones too! I also collected markers in flower type colors, and glue. We also used Spring (Easter) stickers, and sponged on glitter glue!



We decorated the muffin cups first. For this you could use anything, markers, crayons, paint, glitter, etc. Just make sure the muffin cup will be able to still "stand up" right after your item of choice is applied by your child. We went with Markers, because I know what they would look like after a coat of paint by these three!



After they were done coloring the flowers, we moved onto the vase. First they colored it, then we added stickers, then sponged on the glitter glue.




After they were done decorating the vase, we glued the flowers on. Then I had the older two draw lines from the flower to the vase, and put leaves on. I then cut them out, so they looked more vase like.

Growing flowers

Today is the first day all of the kids have been here since "Spring" began! It is definitely NOT a spring type day. But we made it Spring inside the house.

This morning the kids all had a Spring Picnic. They laid out the blanket, and made themselves a picnic with the play food!



Then for Craft we made colorful growing flowers. We started by collecting things we needed. I drew out a flower, and flower pot. Then got all the supplies we needed, markers, stickers, glue, and popsicle sticks (which I glued and taped 2 together so they were longer).



I then let the kids color the flower and pot, and add some bug stickers




Then to the back, we added a strip of paper to hold the popsicle stick in but makes it so the kids can still make their flower "grow". And taped the top of the popsicle stick to the flower





Now they have a flower that can grow- they just have to move the popsicle stick up and down at the back!