Jul22

BUGS & THINGS: Lady Bugs

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BUGS & THINGS: Lady Bugs
LADY BUG

LADY BUG

LADY BUGS

Lady bugs are bright red with black spots. Their bright red color tells predators to stay away from lady bugs: they smell bad. Their short legs and antennae help them sense the world around them. There are some 5,000 species of ladybugs. Some of them eat plants and all of them eat plant-eating pests.

 

Materials:

Craft knife

3” Styrofoam ball

2” Styrofoam ball

Red craft paint (or color of choice)

Black craft paint (or color of choice)

Red felt

Black felt

Patterns (provided)

White glue

2 black pipe cleaners

Scissors

 

Project:

  1. Cut 1/2” from the bottom of a 3” Styrofoam ball. This will enable the lady bug to stand. Cut ¼” from the bottom of the 2” Styrofoam ball.
  2. Paint the Styrofoam ball. Use the traditional red for the body of the lady bug or use a different color. Use your imagination! Paint the 2” head black or use another color.
  3. The patterns provided include a pattern for the wings. Trace the circle on to the red felt and cut. Then cut the circle in half.
  4. There are also patterns for the dots on the lady bug. The dots are usually black but you can use another color for fun. Cut the pattern and trace four dots on the felt. Cut.
  5. Cut the pattern for the stripe down the back. Trace and cut a ¼” x 5” strip of black felt (or color of choice).
  6. Make sure the paint on the Styrofoam ball is dry. Draw a line of glue down the length of the strip and place it along the length the 3” ball.
  7. Place a wing on the 3” ball so it runs along the length of the strip and is even with the top of the strip. Glue only the top edge of the wing to the 3” ball.
  8. Glue the cut end of the 2” ball to the top of the 3’’ ball over the glued ends of the wings.
  9. Cut two 3” lengths of  pipe cleaner and push one end of each stem into the top of the head. Add a little bit of glue to secure the antennae. Bend and shape the ends into little round circles.
  10. Cut a strip of red felt or other color 1 1/2” x 1/8” wide for the mouth. Glue the mouth and the eyes to the face.

.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Delano, Marte Ferguson. National Geographic Kids/Butterflies. Washington DC: National Geographic for Kids.

Greensburg, David T. Bugs! NY: Little, Brown and Company. 1997.

Jackson, Demi.  Guess That Animal! Name That Bug! NY: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2017.

McKissack, Patricia and Frederick. Bugs! Chicago: Children’s Press, 1988.

Parker, Nancy Winslow and Wright, Joan Richards. Bugs. NY: Greenwillow, 1987.

Simon, Seymour. Butterflies. NY: Collins, 2011.

Singer, Marilyn. Caterpillars. Waynesville, MC: Early Light Books, Inc., 2011.

Taylor, Barbara, ed. 1000 Facts on Bugs. NY: Miles Kelly Publishing, 2005.

 

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Jul15

BUGS AND THINGS: Dragonflies

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BUGS AND THINGS: Dragonflies

DRAGONFLY

 

DRAGONFLY

The young dragonfly begins life in the water as a naiad. It feeds on tiny insects and fish. It has long legs which hold the insects it captures while flying. Dragonflies perform good deeds, too: they love to eat mosquitoes. Many dragonfly species live in marshes near rivers and ponds.

Materials:

One sheet lime green stock

Two sheets black construction paper

2 feet Paper Twist (any color)

Circle cutter or template of a circle

Pointed tip scissors

Circle punch

Ruler

White glue

String

Thin gauge wire

Project:

  1. Cut two 3 ½”, three 3”, twelve 1 ½”, six 1”, and eight circle punches.
  2. Cut two ¼” x ½” strips of black construction paper.
  3. Cut two 2” circles out of the lime green paper.
  4. Place on 3” circle and two circle punches aside. Separate the remaining circle and punches into two piles.
  5. To make the body, glue one 3 ½” circle with the edge of one 3” circle, then glue six 1 ½” circles in a row. At the end, glue three circle punches.
  6. Flip the body over and glue a second set of circles over the first row.
  7. For the eyes. Glue two 2” lime green circles on the 3” circle to make the eyes. Glue a black circle punch in the center of each eye.
  8. Attach the head by gluing it to the folds.
  9. To make the wings twist a small piece of wire around the center of the piece of twist. Round off the ends of the twist with scissors. Punch a hole behind the largest body section and insert the wire around the ribbon through this hole to attach the wings to the body. Inset a length of string through this hole to hang the dragonfly.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Delano, Marte Ferguson. National Geographic Kids/Butterflies. Washington DC: National Geographic for Kids.

Greensburg, David T. Bugs! NY: Little, Brown and Company. 1997.

Jackson, Demi.  Guess That Animal! Name That Bug! NY: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2017.

McKissack, Patricia and Frederick. Bugs! Chicago: Children’s Press, 1988.

Parker, Nancy Winslow and Wright, Joan Richards. Bugs. NY: Greenwillow, 1987.

Simon, Seymour. Butterflies. NY: Collins, 2011.

Singer, Marilyn. Caterpillars. Waynesville, MC: Early Light Books, Inc., 2011.

Taylor, Barbara, ed. 1000 Facts on Bugs. NY: Miles Kelly Publishing, 2005.

 

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Jul8

MORE KID’S CRAFTS: Magical Wands

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MORE KID’S CRAFTS: Magical Wands

MATERIALS:

Model Magic – white

Dowel rod, 12 – 14 inches in length

White glue

Markers – color(s) of choice

Beads/sequins/glitter/feathers

Curling ribbon – color(s) of choice

Scissors

Brush

PROJECT:

  1. Make a big fist-sized ball of Model Magic. Using a rolling pin or the palm of your hand, flatten out the Model Magic into a rectangle about ¼” thick.
  2. Make sure a corner of the flattened piece comes to a point. Place this piece vertically on the work surface. Squeeze the sides to form points. Refer to the photos above.
  3. Squeeze the bottom of the piece to form two points, too. You should now have five-pointed star: one point at the top, and two on either side and at the bottom.
  4. Color the dowel rod with markers. Insert it between the two points at the bottom.
  5. Push beads, feathers and sequins into the star. Apply glue to the surface of the Model Magic and cover it with glitter. Shake off the excess.
  6. Cut 3 or 4 pieces of curling ribbon 12” long. Tie the ribbon just under the star. Curl the ribbon with one of the scissor blades.

OPTIONAL: Make other shapes!

You now have a magical wand!

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Jul2

JUST LOVED READING: My America: An American Spring, Sofia’s Immigrant Diary, Book Three

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JUST LOVED READING: My America: An American Spring, Sofia’s Immigrant Diary, Book Three

 

Just Loved Reading:

My America: An American Spring, Sofia’s Immigrant Diary, Book Three

Middle Grade Novel

Lasky, Kathryn. My America: An American Spring, Sofia’s Immigrant Diary, Book Three. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 2004.

 “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

EMMA LAZARUS

 

In An American Spring, the heroine of Kathryn Lasky’s three-part story of immigrant Sofia Molinari continues to learn about her adopted country.

Sofia is in fifth grade. Miss Burnet, her second grade teacher, is her teacher once again. Sofia’s best friend, Maureen, an immigrant from Ireland, lives with Sofia’s family and attends Miss Burnet’s class, too.

Sofia and Maureen dress up for Halloween (as tomatoes) and celebrate Thanksgiving for the first time. They and Sofia’s older sister, Gabriella, meet the wealthy and elegant Isabella Stewart Gardner when Gabriella is hired to sew a ball gown for her.

Mrs. Gardner is a kind employer. She arranges for a private hospital room when Isabella falls gravely ill and provides the turkey and all the trimmings for the Molinari family’s Thanksgiving.

But most exciting of all is the assignment Miss Burnet gives them in honor of Patriot’s Day (April 19th). Miss Burnet sends her fifth grade class on a Freedom Treasure Hunt. Each child is provided with a map and riddles and has to locate landmarks of the American Revolution. “You see,” Sofia writes in her diary,” Boston is where it all began.”

WHY I LOVED READING THIS BOOK:

Sofia is a spunky character which makes it easy to relate to her and her adventures in America. She is infectiously excited about her experiences in her adopted country whether it’s dressing up as a tomato for Halloween and letting ghost stories get the better of her or visiting Isabella Stewart Gardner’s “palazzo.”

The third series is thin in its plotting –   Gabriella’s illness is the climax of the novel and is followed by the Freedom Treasure Hunt which feels anti-climactic. The lighting of the lantern on Patriot’s Day and Sofia and Maureen’s new found patriotism is the end of Sofia’s story but the reader expects – and wants – more.

Further Reading:

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island:

https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org

https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org

Italy:

www.italia.it

 

 

 

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Jun24

KID’S CRAFTS: Red,White and Blue Banner

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KID’S CRAFTS: Red,White and Blue Banner

Fourth of July Banner

Red, White and Blue Banner

Ages: 5 – 12 years

Time: one hour

MATERIALS:

White felt 14” x 18”

Red, white, blue craft foam sheets

Sharp tool like an awl

¼” red, white and blue ribbon

Dowel rod 18”

String – double the length of the dowel rod

Measure and cut white felt to 14” x 20”. Place felt horizontally. Make a loop by measuring and folding and ironing a 1” seam. Measure and fold a second 1” seam. Iron and glue the second fold. You will be inserting the dowel rod through this loop. (This piece of felt should now measure  14” x 16”.)

Using templates or stencils trace the large star pattern and cut one large star out of the white craft foam sheet. Cut 13 smaller stars out of the white craft foam using the smaller star pattern. Trace and cut a large circle out of the blue craft foam sheet. Glue the large star in the center. Arrange the smaller stars around the circle. Make sure that they all face the same way. Lay aside.

Measure and cut 7 stripes ¾” x 16” out of the red craft foam sheet. Arrange the stripes on the banner so that there is a ¾” stripe of white felt showing between them. (Refer to the photo of the banner.) Glue the stripes down and trim if necessary.

Glue the blue circle with the stars in the center of the red and white stripes.

At the bottom of the banner, poke holes every 1” with a sharp tool like an awl. (Small children should let adults do this for them.) Insert the ribbon in the holes, alternating the colors. Pull the ribbon through and tie a knot in the back.

Trim the dowel rod to 18”. Cut a piece of string to a length suitable for hanging. Tie the string to each end of the dowel rod. The first Fourth of July celebration occurred in Philadelphia, PA. Eventually, all the states celebrated the holiday which included parades, picnics, military displays and fireworks.

VARIATION: You can also hang your banner on Memorial Day or Labo

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Jun17

JUST LOVED READING: My America: Home at Last, Sofia’s Immigrant Dairy, Book Two

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JUST LOVED READING: My America: Home at Last, Sofia’s Immigrant Dairy, Book Two

Just Loved Reading:

My America: Home at Last, Sofia’s Immigrant Dairy, Book Two

Middle Grade Novel

Lasky, Kathryn. My America: Home at Last, Sofia’s Immigrant Dairy, Book Two. New York: Scholastic, 2003.

 

 “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

EMMA LAZARUS

Sofia Monaris is released from quarantine on Ellis Island and moves to Boston’s North End with her family.

She learns a new language and slowly adjusts to a new culture and way doing things. Learning a new language means going to an American school, making new friends and adjusting to new teachers.

Sofia makes friends with a fellow Italian-American and joins one of their social clubs.  In the meantime,  Sofia’s older sister and younger brother have adjustments of their own to grapple with.

Her family encounters the good and bad in Boston’s Italian-American family. Her parents work hard to make ends meet but take advantage of any and all opportunities that come their way.

When near tragedy strikes Sofia, her courage and spunk carry the day.

WHY I LOVED READING THIS BOOK:

Sofia is a spunky character who could probably survive many difficult situations and it was easy to relate to her and her adventures in America.

 Further Reading:

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island:

https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org

Italy:

www.italia.it

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Jun4

JUST LOVED READING: My America: Hope in My Heart, Sofia’s Ellis Island Immigrant Dairy, Book One.

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JUST LOVED READING: My America: Hope in My Heart, Sofia’s Ellis Island Immigrant Dairy, Book One.

Just Loved Reading:

My America: Hope in My Heart, Sofia’s Ellis Island Immigrant Dairy, Book One.

Middle Grade Novel

Lasky, Kathryn. My America: Hope in My Heart, Sofia’s Ellis Island Immigrant Dairy, Book One. New York: Scholastic, 2003.

 

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Emma  Lazarus

 

            Sofia Monaris and her family leave their native Italy for America. It’s a long uncomfortable journey on board a ship teeming with people yet Sofia’s heart skips a beat when she spies the Statue of Liberty on the horizon.

As the ship draws closer to New York harbor, she positions herself to get a better look. A cinder gets in her eye. When the family goes through customs, Sofia is diagnosed with trachoma and quarantined.

Separated from her family for the first time in her life, speaking very little English, Sofia feels isolated and alienated in America. She has company, though. In the state-run hospital, she meets Maureen who is from Ireland and Madame Coco from France. Madame introduces the girls to Rafi, a gypsy stow-away. The four befriend each other during their ordeal as they face mean anti-immigrant bureaucrats and which lasts longer than any of them would like.

Sofia’s life in America had just begun.

WHY I LOVED READING THIS BOOK:

Although my immigrant ancestors didn’t arrive until years after Sofia and her family came to America, I heard many of their stories. Many struggled in their first years and many came illegally. They had to navigate America’s ever-changing immigration laws but they became found work, became American citizens and raised their families.

Not every story was about those struggles; some of their stories were funny and uplifting. Sofia is a spunky character who could probably survive many difficult situations and it was easy to relate to her and her adventures on Ellis Island.

Further Reading:

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island:

https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org

https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org

Italy:

www.italia.it

Italy:

www.italia.it

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May6

Mother’s Day Crafts: Paper Flowers

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Mother’s Day Crafts: Paper Flowers

 

MOTHER’S DAY FLOWERS

Materials:

Popsicle sticks (use wide popsicle sticks if they are available)

Craft Foam in various colors, construction paper or paper with designs or patterns

Glue or glue stick

Scissors

Pencil with eraser

Markers in brown and/or green or poster or acrylic paint in brown and/or green

Pompoms in various colors (optional)

Patterns (below)

  1. Trace and cut patterns: there are two sets for two kinds of flowers.
  2. Select papers or Craft Foam for the flower petals or the round flower. Trace patterns and cut.
  3. Use petal patterns for the leaves. Trace and cut in green Craft Foam or other craft paper. Use a minimum of two leaves per flower.
  4. Paint Popsicle stick in brown or green or color with markers or paint.
  5. Glue petals around the Popsicle stick or glue the round flower at the top of the Popsicle stick.
  6. Glue a pompom in the center. Or trace a penny or other small coin on the Craft Foam or other paper of choice for the center of the flowers. Cut and glue.
  7. Place in plants to give as gifts for Mother’s Day. Or make several flowers and place in a vase.

 

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!

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Apr30

Quilled Flower Card for Mother’s Day

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Quilled Flower Card for Mother’s Day
Quilled Flower

Quilled Flower

FIRST MAKE THE QUILLED FLOWER

MATERIALS:

(Colors mentioned below are optional. Think about using Mom’s favorite colors instead.)

(3) 24” strips of orange quilling paper (for the center of the flower)

(1) 24” strips of brown quilling paper (for the center of the center of the flower)

(4) 12” strips of yellow quilling paper (for the petals)

(4) 12” strips of orange-yellow quilling paper (for the petals)

(4) 3 ½” strips of orange-yellow quilling paper

(3) 12” strip of brown quilling paper (for the petals)

Cardstock or cardboard

Glue

Ruler

scissors

scissors

Tightly coil three 24” strips of orange paper and glue the tip. This is the center of the flower.

Using the 12”strips of yellow paper, make a small loop and secure the tip with glue. Continue to make a loop slightly larger than the first, securing the tip again. Repeat this pattern until there is no more paper to make a loop. Be sure each loop is bigger than the last one and glue the tip each time you make a loop.

These will be the petals of the flower. Continue with the rest of the yellow strips until you have four completed yellow petals consisting of open loops.

Continue this pattern with the orange-yellow strips until you have four completed flower petals. In the end, there will be a total of eight petals.

Make petals with the 12” strips of brown paper making the loops smaller.

On cardstock or cardboard, trace the flower’s center lightly with pencil. Arrange the yellow and orange-yellow petals evenly around this circle and glue down. Glue the brown petals randomly around this circle.

Glue the center of the flower down. Take one end of the 3 ½” strips of orange-yellow quilling paper and curl the tip. Finish curling the tips of the 3 1/2 inch orange-yellow papers. Glue the other end randomly through-out the petals.

THEN MAKE THE QUILLED FLOWER NOTE CARDS

MATERIALS:

  1. Trim mounted quilled flower to an even height and width. The sample shown is 5 ¼” x 5 ½”.
  2. Measure and cut a piece of cardstock to 10 ½” x 5 ¼” doubling the width but keeping the height to 5 ¼”. (Cardstock for scrapbooking is ideal.) Choose a color that compliments or contrasts with the colors of the quilled flower.
  3. Measure and cut another piece of cardstock in another color to 10 ½’ x 5 ¼”. Glue the three pieces and trim where necessary. Glue the pieces together.
  4. Choose a third sheet of cardstock for the envelope. Choose a color that compliments or contrasts with the colors of the quilled flower. Measure an area 5 ¾” x 5 ½”. Mark with a pencil. Cut.
  5. At the bottom of the cardstock, measure an area 5 3/3” x 5 ½” in pencil.
  6. Above that measure an area 5 3/3” x 5 ½” in pencil, too.
  7. Above that measure an area 1” x 5 ¾” and fold the marked areas at the creases. Glue at the edges.
  8. Insert the quilled card in the envelope. You have a blank card to write special Mother’s Day wishes.
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Apr23

MOTHER’S DAY CRAFT IDEAS

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MOTHER’S DAY CRAFT IDEAS

MOTHER’S DAY CRAFT IDEAS         

When Mother’s Day rolls around, kids want to show their moms just how special they are. Store-bought gifts and cards are nice, but they lack that personal touch. Something made just for Mom has much more sentimental value, and kids don’t have to spend much money (if any) on it.

Even toddlers can make Mother’s Day crafts with a little help. Here’s a sampling of things kids can make for Mom.

FRAMED PHOTOS  OR PHOTO ALBUM

Every mother loves to look at pictures of her kids. So why not pick out a favorite picture or yourself with Mom and create a beautiful frame for it? There are many ways you can go about making photo frames.

One of the cheapest and simplest ways to make a picture frame is to cut one out of paper. Construction paper, card stock and thick scrapbook paper are good choices. Or, if you want to make the frame even sturdier, use corrugated cardboard. Just make sure the opening in the middle is large enough to show the part of the photo you want to display, and make the frame any shape you like. Decorate with paint, glitter and stickers. Add a magnet to the back for easy display on the refrigerator.

You can also make frames out of craft sticks. Just glue the ends of four sticks together to make a square, and decorate with markers or paint. Or if you prefer, buy a plain photo frame and decorate it as you please.

Variation: Mini Photo Album (Tutorial available on this website under Father’s Day Crafts)

CANDLE HOLDERS/VOTIVE

Votive/vase with sea shells and pearls

Votive/vase with sea shells and pearls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s easy to make a lovely candle holder out of a small jar. Larger baby food jars work well for tea lights and votive. Pint jars can hold a votive or small pillar candles.

To decorate, use tissue paper. Mix equal parts white glue and water, and stick the paper on the outside of the jar, stopping below the rim. Use pieces of different colors to create a stained glass look. Cut some shapes out of the paper if you like, arrange them in a pretty pattern, and glue on top of the larger pieces. Coat with the glue mixture to seal, and let dry.

Variation: Buy a clear jar or vase. Gather objects mom will love: a string of pearls, small hand-made soaps, candy, shells, etc. Scatter the objects in the jar or vase and top with a small candle holder and scented candle.  (Tutorial available on this website.)

Home-made Bath Salts

Home-made Bath Salts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BATH SALTS

Want to help Mom pamper herself on her special day? Make her some homemade bath salts. They will help her relax and leave her skin feeling great.

Just mix 3 cups of Epsom salts, 2 cups of baking soda, and 1 cup of table salt. Add about twenty drops of a fragrant essential oil. Lavender, sandalwood and chamomile are good choices. Mix thoroughly. Present the bath salts to Mom in a pretty jar tied with a ribbon or lace and a bow on top.  Tuck a sprig of rosemary or lavender or basil under the bow.

 

 

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