Splatter Paint Picture Frame

Splatter Paint Picture Frame

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise."  Psalms 98:4

Ready to add a picture for a personalized touch!  Perfect present for Grandma especially if picture is of Grandma and child.

Craft Project:            Splatter Paint Picture Frame

Childrens Book:        Olivia by Ian Falconer

Snack:                       Mini Pigs in a Blanket

Judy Garland once said, "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."  Olivia, in the children's book Olivia by Ian Falconer, is very much her own person.  She is not afraid to be herself and to try things.  She enjoys life and puts her whole self into any activity that she does.  In this particular story, Olivia visits an art museum and is taken by a painting that she feels she could do just as well herself.  Once she gets home she does give it  try...on the wall.  This project allows kids to try splatter painting in a constructive way.  My kids felt so proud of what they created.  This makes a wonderful present for a loved one especially if you add a picture of child with recipient. 

Supplies:

Tempra paint (3 colors at most)

Unused new toothbrushes (one per color)

4x6 white picture mats 

acid-free tape

picture of each child

Deep box lined with newsprint plus extra to cover work area

How to:

Cover work area.  Place picture frame mat in the bottom of a lined box.  Add fresh liner paper for each child.  Dip a new, unused toothbrush in paint, gently shake off excess paint.  Run fingers over bristles holding brush a few inches from mat.  A splatter effect should take place.  Repeat with different colors until satisfied.  Dry.  Tape picture to back of mat.  Enjoy!  This project could be done on a large piece of construction paper to cut cost.  Allow to completely dry before mounting picture front and center on construction paper.  

Blue is loaded and ready to be splattered!

We kept a package of baby wipes at the ready to wipe off fingers.

Drying in the warm sun. 

Supplies can be found in local craft stores, dollar stores, dime stores and by following the links below.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0689829531?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=0689829531&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007C8TEUU?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B007C8TEUU&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011WJAW0?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B0011WJAW0&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005S1P48E?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B005S1P48E&tag=fooavefinthep-20

Mini Pigs in a Blanket

A Kid Friendly Recipe

Refrigerated biscuit dough

Bite sized hot dogs- (cocktail wieners)

Have each child flatten a round of biscuit dough.  Place one mini hot dog on top of dough.  Close dough around hot dog.  Pinch dough closed to seal.  Place on a cookie sheet.  Have an adult bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. 

Extension: Investigate pigs characteristics, habitat, and foods. 

Hidden Doodle Pictures

Hidden Doodle Pictures

 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Craft Project:             Hidden Doodle Pictures

Childrens Book:       Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

Snack:                            Creme Puffs  (can be bought frozen, fresh or hand made)

Look for pictures within the scribbles.  The longer you look the more you see. 

Add details to pull what you see out of the scribble.

Sometimes life throws us curve balls.  How do you look at the bad things that happen in life?  Do you say why me or do you make the best of it?  In John 16:33 God tells us that bad things will happen to us in life but to take heart.  He has overcome the world.  God wants to walk by our side throughout life.  He wants us to turn to Him in times of sorrow and in joy.  When you do life doesn't seem so gloomy and you are able to find peace even during a difficult situation.

In the children's book Madeline, Madeline is taken to the hospital in the middle of the night with appendicitis.  It is frightening and obviously painful but she makes the best of her bad situation.  While there she discovers a secret picture on the ceiling and is showered with attention.  When Madeline saw the crack in the ceiling she didn't focus on how run down and in need of renovation the hospital condition was in.  She found a rabbit to keep her company!  What about us?  Would we find the crack to be unnerving or would we find a rabbit?  Her friends came and met the rabbit and saw how her attitude had made a bad situation good.  Soon all the little girls wanted to have their appendix out too.  Madeline made her bad situation look so good that the other little girls were envious.  Our goal in life should not be to try to make others envious of our bad situation but rather to find peace and trust God amidst difficult times. Make the best of bad times. 

Supplies:

               6 sheets of large white paper or newsprint

               colored markers 

           6 songs of varying mode, tempo, character, etc. (See recommended songs below.)

               Timer

Hidden Doodle Pictures allows children to respond to various types of music followed by finding pictures hidden within their scribbles.  Set timer for one minute.  Begin first song.  Child selects a colored marker (allow music to influence choice.)  Scribble on large paper.  Do not draw shapes or objects, simply lines.  Scribble freely allowing music to affect movements.  When timer rings, set marker down.  Take fresh paper and repeat for second song.  Repeat for all six songs.  Now look at each of your scribble sheets and pick your favorite.  Look for pictures within the scribbles.  The longer you look at the scribbles the more you will begin to recognize objects within the lines.  Use a different colored marker to color in shape.  Look for more objects.  How many can you find?  Switch papers if you wish.  Works best if you do not mention before hand that they will eventually be looking for hidden pictures within their scribbles.  

Music suggestions- download from ITunes:

Camille Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals (The Swan) -YoYo Ma

La vie en rose by Edith Piaf

C'est si bon by Yves Montand

Aux Champs Elysees by Paris

Partons Vite by Kaolin

Extension: Collect change, gently used stuffed animals/toys, small notebooks, etc to donate to a childrens hospital.  Perfect partner to units on repurposing used items and recycling. 

Supplies can be found in local craft stores, dollar stores, dime stores or by following the links below.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014056439X?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=014056439X&linkCode=xm2&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IFJ4?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B00006IFJ4&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002LARR8K?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B002LARR8K&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042SSUS0?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B0042SSUS0&tag=fooavefinthep-20

Creme Puffs

A Kid Friendly Recipe

Ready to bake puff pastry shells (found in the freezer department at grocery store)

Favorite flavor pudding mix, 3.4 oz

1 1/2 c milk

powdered sugar

Have kids help prepare pudding as for pie filling by adding 1 1/2 cups milk to pudding mix placed in a bowl.  Thoroughly whisk until blending.  Set in fridge to chill.  Bake puff pastry shells according to package directions.  Ours said bake at 400 degrees F for 12 minutes.  Cool.  Kids can remove cooled pastry shell tops and spoon pudding into pastry.  Replace tops and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Sprinkle with powder sugar and serve. 

Pasta Wheel Trains

Pasta Wheel Trains

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:13

Project:                Pasta Wheel Trains

Childrens book:   The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

Snack:                  sliced apples and segmented oranges

"Be like a postage stamp- stick to one thing until you get there"- Josh Billings.  The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper is a timeless classic children's story about perseverance.  With a bit of determination you can achieve goals that seem far beyond your capabilities.  Stick to it and you will overcome obstacles.

Supplies:

Uncooked wheel shaped pasta

Paper plate or reusable paint tray

tempra paint- 3 colors

black marker 

9x12 construction paper.  (white, light blue or green would work well.)

How to:

Using uncooked wheel shaped pasta for stamps, we will be creating pictures of our own trains.  Cover work area.  Put a few dabs of three colors of paint on a paper plate.  Provide an uncooked pasta wheel per color/per child.  Stamp two wheels of like color fairly close together on white construction paper.  Repeat all over page.  Once paint has set, a black line or rectangle can be drawn on top of each set of wheels to from a pasta train.  When completely dry you can add cross hatch track between trains if desired.

Feel the pasta wheel to be sure spokes are flush with rim. Flush wheels/rim will stamp better then concave pasta. Test on plate before stamping.

Did You Know?: Interested in riding an exact replica Little Engine That Could train?  Rail Events, Inc schedules a yearly US tour.  Contact www.littleenginethatcouldtour.com for a complete tour schedule.

Snack: sliced apples and orange segments

The Little Engine was carrying all sorts of delicious food and treats for the boys and girls on the other side of the mountain.  Some of the food on the train were apples and oranges!  Apples can be soaked in 7-up or lemonade to help prevent browning. 

Supplies can be found in local craft stores, dollar stores, dime stores and by following the links below.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0448400413?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=0448400413&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011WJAW0?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B0011WJAW0&linkCode=xm2&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00934NGDC?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B00934NGDC&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008XPBG?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B00008XPBG&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003EXXPV6?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B003EXXPV6&tag=fooavefinthep-20

Extension:  Investigate different types of trains, the names of the various train cars and famous train tracks. 

Tissue Paper Butterflies

Tissue Paper Butterflies
"Behold all things are made new in Me." II Corinthians 5:17

Craft Project:              Tissue Paper Butterflies

Children's Book:         The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Snack:                          Bug shaped graham crackers (caterpillar, butterfly, ladybug, etc. Keebler)

We are all works in progress. As we learn and grow we change.  Some changes are subtle, we hardly notice them.  Other changes are dramatic.  Take a caterpillar.  It begins looking like a worm but eventually becomes a beautiful butterfly!  Are we working towards bringing out the most beautiful version of ourselves?  Let's strive to nurture our inward beauty so that it beams on the outside: graciousness, kindness, love, joyfulness, purity of heart, helpfulness, patience, faithfulness, and self-control. Richard Bach once said, "What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly."  Be patient with yourself.  We are all works in progress.

Supplies:

• 8x10 construction paper
• construction paper butterfly mask
• small squares of tissue paper in various coordinating colors
• contact paper- double sided stick

How To:

Stick contact paper to solid construction paper. Remove top film to expose top sticky side.  Contact paper should cover the entire area that will show through mask.  Students place overlapping squares of tissue paper onto contact paper.  Be sure to completely cover area.  Place mask on top and hang in a window!

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http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009IYCREQ?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B009IYCREQ&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008XPBG?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B00008XPBG&linkCode=xm2&tag=fooavefinthep-20

Toy Cork Raft

Toy Cork Raft 
"For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened."  Luke 11:10

Craft Project:         Toy Cork Raft

Childrens Book:    The Night Pirates by Peter Harris

Snack:                        Monkey bread

The finished raft ready to launch!

Luke 11:10 instructs us to ask God for the things we desire.  It is that way with friends too.  If we want to join in playing with a group of friends sometimes all it takes is to ask.  In the Night Pirates, Tom wanted to join a band of pirates but the pirates were girls!  He asked and they let him join their adventures.  And what an adventure it was!!  Today's project is all about creating a toy cork raft to have your own pirate adventures.

Supplies:

approximately 20 corks (wine bottle corks work well)

approximately 10 tongue depressors or popsicle sticks

1 kabob stick
1 piece of colorful scrapbook paper

non-water soluable glue, non-toxic- we used Elmer's

glue brush

hole punch

How to:

Cover work area.  Before gluing, arrange tongue depressors in a crisscross pattern to form the base of raft.  Lifting one stick at a time, brush glue between sticks.  Next,  arrange corks to cover base of raft.  Patterns can be formed by laying one row of corks in one direction and the next row perpendicular to the first row.  Lift one cork at a time then glue to stick.  Allow to completely dry.  Place kabob stick upright in middle of raft by gently inserting stick into a cork.  Cut out a house shape from scrapbook paper to form sail.  Cover each side with contact paper.  Punch hole towards top of sail and another towards the bottom.  Thread house sail through kabob stick and place upright in cork. (House should be upside down as in story).  Launch!

The criss-cross tongue depressor pattern

 Supplies can be found in local craft stores, dollar stores, dime stores and by following the links below.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/140521161X?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=140521161X&linkCode=xm2&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0020M854Y?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B0020M854Y&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ARDVTZU?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B00ARDVTZU&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RBZTKQ?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B002RBZTKQ&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IWOSCU?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B001IWOSCU&tag=fooavefinthep-20

Did you know?: We tend to think of pirates as men but Anne Bonny and Mary Read were two infamous and fierce female pirates. 

Extension: Explore history of pirates and famous pirates. 

Monkey Bread-Tropical islands laden with pirate treasure and monkeys.  What better snack than warm monkey bread?

2/3 sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

30 buttermilk canned refrigerator biscuits

1 stick butter, plus more for pan

1/2 cup brown sugar

Grease and flour a bundt pan and set aside.  Have an adult preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  

Combine sugar and cinnamon.  Place in a gallon size ziploc bag.  Cut refrigerator biscuits in half, roll into a ball shape,  and shake in cinnamon and sugar. Melt stick of butter in a saucepan, add brown sugar and bring to a boil.  Put coated biscuit pieces in bundt pan.  Pour how butter/brown sugar mixture over biscuits.  Have an adult bake for about 30 minutes.  Remove from pan immediately.  Cool.  Great with a glass of cold milk!

GloStick Fireflies

Glow Stick Fireflies

"The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out." Proverbs 13:9

Craft Project:       GloStick Fireflies

Childrens Book:  The Lonely Firefly  by Eric Carle   

Snack:                     Gummy Bugs

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BR9T74I?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B00BR9T74I&linkCode=xm2&tag=fooavefinthep-20

Looking for a friend?  Be the person you would long to have as a friend and keep looking.  In time you will find a friend.  People are known by their actions.  If you are kind and thoughtful of people, people will be more inclined to be kind and thoughtful to you in return.  Eric Carle writes of a firefly looking for a friend in his classic book The Lonely Firefly.  This is a great starting point for teaching your child how to be a friend and how to find a friend.  Invite some kids over and make Glo Stick Fireflies together.   Here's what you will need:

Supplies:  

• Glo- sticks look for the kind with a hook.  (available at hardware, dollar stores, K-Mart, Target, and Wal-Mart, etc.)
• scissors
• glue/tape
• glow in the dark paint/brush
• card stock or heavy duty pretty paper such as rice paper
• firefly stencil
• string

How To:

Cover your work area with old nespapers.  Using the firefly stencil cut firefly from card stock.  Cut slits in midline.  Use handle end of paint brush to add glo in the dark spots to wings.  Allow to completely dry.  (If you aren't into paint fireflies can be decorated beautifully with markers or crayons.  They won't glow in the dark but they will be pretty when the lights are on.)  Place a hook on the end of glo stick (included with sticks). Weave glo stick through slits.  Glue/tape into place.  Add string to hook and hang.  Be sure to crack stick slightly so that it glows!  Enjoy! 

Did You Know:

• Fireflies give off light to warn predators that they won't taste good and to attract mates.

• Fireflies of the USA are primarily found east of the Mississippi River. 

 

length of body measures in inches 6.5"

width of body measures 1.75"

wingspan 9.5" x 1.5" and 8.5" x 1.5"

Basically you are drawing three hotdog shapes.  Begin by folding paper in half and drawing one vertical hotdog 6.5".  Open paper and add two horizontal hot dog ovals for wings measuring in length 9.5" and 8.5".  Wings should be about an inch and a half wide.  Leave about 3/4" for the head.  The three black horizontal lines represents slits for the glow sticks to weave in and out.  

Paint, dry then cut out

Snip center line to weave in glow stick

Thread glow stick in and out of slits.

Tonight is the night the fireflies will fly!!

Supplies can be found in local craft stores, dollar stores, dime stores and by following the links below.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HK7DOO?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B005HK7DOO&linkCode=xm2&tag=fooavefinthep-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00889ZJ2Y?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B00889ZJ2Y&linkCode=xm2&tag=fooavefinthep-20

Glow in the dark Apple Barrel paints are available in pink, green, orange and yellow.