Glitter Easter Eggs and Lots of Easter Links

This year we decided to create glitter covered Easter eggs.  All I had was brown eggs, which I have never used for dyeing eggs.  I wasn't sure how they would turn out, but we left them in the dye for an extra long time and they turned out really pretty.  After the eggs were completely dry, we painted them with watered down glue and sprinkled spring colored glitter all over them. 

I think they turned out beautifully,
and the kids are thrilled with them.

Here are some other fun Easter egg decorating ideas:

Disney Family.com

The Crafty Crow

Family Fun

Tissue Paper Eggs from Blue Cricket Designs

Easter Printables and Crafts

Easter Egg and Bunny Patterns

Easter Card to Print and Color

Adorable Bunny Coloring Page from A Winding Road

Build a Bunny Printable Game from Homeschool Creations

Carrot Letter Search from Prekinders

Printables from The Itty-Bitty Bookworm

Writing Paper (Black and White)

Writing Paper (Color)

Name Tags (Black and White)

Name Tags (Color)

Chicks and Nests Math Game

Bunny Cards

Easter Egg Cards

Easter Basket Lacing Card

This post is linked to Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Designs, Get Your Craft on Thursday at Life as Lori, and We Made It! Friday Showcase at   Ramblings of a Crazy Woman.

P is for Puppet

Wes played with these two little puppets all day. He and John put the monkey puppet together. It was a Martha Stewart puppet kit. The tiger puppet was something he made at nursery school.  He had so much fun with these that I thought I would look for some additional puppet craft ideas.  Look at all I found!

 Web Sites

• LOTS of Puppet Ideas and Printables
• Enchanted Learning - Finger and Paper Bag Puppets
• First School - Paper Bag Puppet Animals
• Artists Helping Children - Puppet Art
• Making Friends - Puppet Making
• Family Fun - Playful Puppets
• Martha Stewart - Sock puppets

Blogs

• Craft Jr. - Giraffe Sock Puppet
• Craft Jr. - Easter Finger Puppets
• Dollar Store Crafts - The Three Little Pigs Finger Puppets
• Oh Amanda - A Puppet-Inspired Birthday Party
• Kid's Crafts Weekly - Puppets
• Pink and Green Mama - Felt Finger Puppets
• Pink and Green Mama - Sponge Bob Square Pants Felt Puppets

How to Make a Puppet from an Old Stuffed Toy

Chinese New Year: Books, Crafts, and Activities

We have decided to take the kids to the Chinese New Year celebration in Philadelphia's Chinatown.  The girls are very excited because they have learned about the Chinese New Year in school. They can't wait to see the traditional lion dance.  However, Wes does not have any background knowledge on any of this.  Therefore, I thought I would plan some activities and check out some books from the library to help him understand.  Here is what I have come up with.

Books

Toddlers

My First Chinese New Year - In this colorful picture book, a young girl prepares for and celebrates the Chinese New Year with her extended family, describing how she makes an altar to honor her ancestors, gets a haircut, feasts with her relatives, and attends a Chinatown parade. The tale radiates warmth and quietly builds up to the dramatic dragon dance and the traditional greeting of "Gung Hay Fat Choy!" The collage illustrations, cut from paper with colorful Asian designs, also include paint and other media to capture the joyful celebrants. ~ School Library Journal

Wes did not like this book as much as he liked Dragon Dance (see below).  It could have been because the main character is a little girl.  He is in this stage where he prefers to read books about boys.  I believe it is because it makes it easier for him to relate to the main character.  I, on the other hand, love Karen Katz, so I thought is was adorable.  The main character is extremely likable and very cute.  In addition, this book offers lots to learn.

Preschoolers

Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year - This lift-the-flap book follows a family as they plan for the Chinese New Year and celebrate the traditions (red envelopes, p Garade).  This is a great book for preschoolers.  It is relatively short and the rhyming text is fluid and easy to understand.  Wes really enjoyed it.  He liked lifting the flaps (of course).  He also appreciated the detailed illustrations.  He spent a lot of time looking at them and asking questions.  Good Choice!

Lion Dancer -  In brief, simple sentences, Ernie Wan describes his Chinese -American family's celebration of the lunar New Year. Ernie lives in New York City's Chinatown, where traditions are rooted in the culture of southern China. Ernie's father, a kung fu master, choreographs The Lion Dance, the center of the community celebration and a major tourist attraction. This year, Ernie dances in the place of honor under the lion's head. Color photographs depict private and public festivities. ~ School Library Journal

Wes loved the photographs in this picture.  This book really got him excited about going to the Chinese New

Year Parade and celebration.

Happy Chinese New Year, Kai-Lan - Join Kai-lan for a Chinese New Year celebration! Kai-lan and her friends get to carry the dragon costume in the big parade - but can they work together to make the dragon dance? ~ Product Description

Wes loves Kai-Lan, so I have ordered this for him.  I will let you know what we think.

School-Age

Celebrating Chinese New Year - Readers follow 10-year-old Ryan Leong and his family as they celebrate the Chinese New Year in San Francisco. Through big, bright photographs and a clear, easy-to-follow text, readers see the preparations and festivities and learn about the history and traditions. The author includes the symbolic meanings of the foods eaten and other customs, an explanation of the Chinese Zodiac, and an in-depth look at the Lion Dance. ~ School Library Journal

Samantha and Gracen enjoyed this one.  They especially liked the photographs and the fact that it is non-fiction.

 

The Chinese New Year Mystery (A Nancy Drew Notebooks Mystery) - The third-grade classes at Nancy's school are learning about Chinese culture, and they'll celebrate the Chinese New Year with a special parade. The highlight of the parade will be a dragon costume. Nancy's class is making it out of feathers, sequins, gold tassels, and red silk. But right before the big day, the dragon disappears! ~ Product Description

Samantha loves this series, so I have ordered it for her to read.   I will let you know what she thinks.

Activities 

The actual date of the Chinese New Year for 2010 is February 14.   

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2010 is the year of the tiger.  Make a tiger paper bag puppet.

Chinese New Year paper dolls and clothes and more clothes.

Color the Chinese Flag.

Make a dancing lion or dragon toy.

How to make a Chinese lantern.

Practice using chopsticks.  Children can practice picking up food, craft pompoms, marshmallows, cotton balls, and small toys.  For young children - tie a rubber band around the chopsticks to make them easier to use.   Great fine motor practice.

Make a parade dragon puppet.

Lots of Printables for School-agers.

Activities and Printables for Preschoolers.

Countdown to New Year - On-line game

Musical Lanterns - On-line game

On-line Tangram (originated in China) Puzzles

Cook some traditional Chinese New Year's Eve foods.

Do you have any fun Chinese New Year activities planned?  If so, I would love to hear about them.

A Christmas Surprise

Each month my mother-in-law writes my children a poem or story that is seasonal or holiday related. We all loved the Christmas story she just sent, so I thought I would share it with you. If you like it, change the "chipmunk names" to those of your own children and the "gifts" to things that relate to your family. Then read it aloud to your children and allow them to illustrate it. Combine the pages to create your own family Christmas story.

Here are some of our illustrations:










A Christmas Surprise

Initial Paintings

The girls had play dates at our house this weekend. Their favorite activity was painting their initials on mini canvases. Each girl painted one and got to take it home.

Sam's painting.

Gracen's painting. She did "R" for our last name.

Thanks Giving

Each month my Mother-in-Law writes a seasonal poem or story for my children. They love receiving these and we keep each one in a special binder. The latest story is about Thanksgiving. My children absolutely loved it, so I thought I would share it with you. Feel free to change the names in the story and use it with your kiddos.

A Thanks Giving Story

Thanksgiving’s in a few weeks; the last leaves begin to fall,
It’s getting colder; there may be snow upon the wall.
That leads down the driveway and ends at the sidewalk.
Inside it’s cozy, and Mom is in the kitchen looking at menus for the feast.
“I want pumpkin pie,” says Sam, the dessert fan.
“Well, I want macaroni and cheese!” from Gracen, the cheese eater.
“And I want pizza!” cries Weslyn, who isn’t sure what Thanksgiving is, but knows he loves pizza with pepperoni and cheese.
“We must ask Dad, turkey or ham,” muses Mom, paging through Betty Crocker.
“Turkey! Ham!” shout the three rascals, dancing up and down and banging their hands on the counter tops.
“Mashed potatoes! Butter beans! Sweet potatoes!
"Yeah!”
“There’s more to Thanksgiving than lots of food,” reminds Mom.
“Thanks Giving. That’s what we need to remember. We should be glad that we have so much to be grateful for.”
“Let’s make a Thanks Giving list of what we are happy about.”
“Well,” says Dad, coming through the front door, “I’m just happy to be home.”
“You can help with the list.” Mom hands out paper and pencils.
“Give me a min. to rest, then I will.” Dad sits down in his favorite chair.
“Guess what? When I look around, I see something to be glad for—Darla!” says Sam.
“I’m glad for my birthday presents,” smiles Gracie.
“And I’m glad for pizza!” yells Wes.

What else will the three rascals put on their lists?

Here are the children's responses:

Samantha

Gracen

Gracen is thankful for flowers and art.

Wes

This is the book we read to go along with this activity:

Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks
Sure, Thanksgiving is about pilgrims and history-and turkey, of course!-but most importantly, it's a holiday all about everything that we are thankful for. Cheerful, colorful illustrations accompany the simple text in this celebration of family, friends, and the holiday that brings them all together.

Wes watched an episode of Sid the Science Kid about pulleys. Later that afternoon, we found him doing this...

You can't tell in the picture, but he tied an empty milk jug to the end of a rope, pretended to make a pulley, and hoisted it up to the top bunk. Too cute!

Sam taught Darla to "Shake".

For more What My Child is Reading visit Mouse Grows Mouse Learns.
For more Learning Through Love visit My Family My Forever.

Itty-Bitty Artists: Fall-Inspired Paintings

Last week our Itty-Bitty Artists painted with acorns, twigs, pine cones, and leaves.

Here was our procedure:

1. We squirted red paint on a pie pan and showed the children how to spread it around.
   
2. We did the same thing with yellow paint.
3. We showed the children how to mix the red and yellow to create orange.
4. We allowed the older children to dive in and experiment with the acorns, twigs, pine cones, and leaves.
5. For the younger children, we modeled ways to use the items. For example: We showed them how to roll the acorns in the paint and then on their papers. We put leaves on their papers and modeled how to paint around the edges. Then when they picked the leaf up and outline remained. We also showed them how to paint with the twigs.
   
   

The older children enjoyed this activity. The younger children remembered finger painting from our last art group and decided to practice. Too funny! We all had a good time. This was a great activity to get into the spirit of the Fall season.


This week, Beth, will be hosting our play group. She is a former theater teacher, so I am excited to see what she has planned for us. Stop back by to find out!



So, what art experiences have you and your little ones had this week? Link up and share!


What Is Itty-Bitty Artists?
Itty-Bitty Artists is an art play group that I have started with some other moms in and around my neighborhood. However, it is also a new linky carnival I will host each Tuesday here at Raising Itty-Bitty Bookworms. Each Tuesday I will share pictures of what the children created during our art group. I will also share plans about what we will be doing at future group meetings. I would love for you to participate in this fun blog carnival by linking up!


Itty-Bitty Artists Participation

1. Who can participate? Anyone! You do not have to belong to an art group to participate. If you do art with your child at home, please share your experiences. You can also choose to follow along with us and do the activities that we are doing.
   
2. Feel free to share current or past art experiences in which your child(ren) have participated.
   
3. Please include a link back here to my blog in your post.
4. You do not have to, but it would be greatly appreciated:-) if you used an Itty-Bitty Artists button in your post--you can grab one from my sidebar.
   

If you have any questions leave a comment or email me and I will gladly answer you!

Samantha

Samantha's Third Grade Self-Portrait


Have your children created self-portraits?
If so, leave me a comment with a link.
I would love to check them out!

A Garden Scene

"A Garden Scene" by Fancy Nancy, age 6
Tempera paint

Itty-Bitty Artists Play Group: Our First Meeting

*If you missed the first Itty-Bitty Artists post, go here.

Wednesday will be the first meeting of our Itty-Bitty Artists play group. I have collected the surveys that I sent out last week and have compiled the info into a little booklet that I will give each family. My idea is that if/when another family hosts the play group, they will have all of the information they need.


As I mentioned, I will be using First Art : Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos as a planning resource. Some of the first activities in the book are fingerpainting, so I thought we would start with these. To begin, we will set out fingerpaint paper and an assortment of colors of fingerpaint and let the children experiment. Then, we will try the following fingerpainting idea, also from Mary Ann Kohl:

• Spread fingerpaint on a cookie sheet.
  
• Fingerpaint in the paint with fingers, hands, and tools. The tools we will use are toothbrushes, plastic combs, and small toy cars. We may add some additional items, depending on what I find around the house.
• Press a paper over the design.
• Lift the paper to see the print that was made.
• Fingerpaint a new design in the paint.
• Make additional prints.

I found this idea in a printable collection of Mary Ann's Favorite Process Art Ideas. You can download the booklet here.

Check back next week for pictures of the finished products, as well as more ideas.