Artic Animals

  Walrus Craft

Materials:

• sheet of black or blue construction paper
• 1 large and 2 medium sized circles from brown construction paper
• 1 mall triangular piece from black construction paper(nose)
• 2 long triangular pieces from white paper(tusks)
• 2 eye stickers
• 6 short pieces of brown string(whiskers)
• scissors
• glue
• black marker

• This can also be done with paper plates rather than construction paper 
• 
  
  Directions:
  
  
1. Cut out brown circles. Cut 1 small circle in half to make the flippers.
2. Glue the body, head, and flippers on the black construction paper.
3. Add eyes and nose.
4. Draw a little mouth.
5. Glue on whiskers and tusks

Polar Bear Arctic Animals Craft for Kids

Materials- For each child, you will need:

• 1 sheet of light blue construction paper
• Arctic animal template cutouts   
• White tempura paint
• A toothbrush

Directions:
1. Place bear, rabbit, and fox templates on light blue construction paper.
2. Dip toothbrush into the white paint and flicking your thumb, splatter the white paint all around the edge of the cutouts. (The paint shouldn’t be too thick or it won’t splatter. Dilute with a little water as necessary.)
3. Remove templates and allow to dry.

The end effect is really cool. The silhouettes give the impression of watching the animals walking through a snowstorm. You could try the same concept with dessert animals through a sandstorm. Let you imagination go wild.

Polar Bear Cup Puppet Craft

8

This is an adorable  and easy polar bear puppet craft you can make from a Styrofoam cup and some paper. The paper pieces don't have to be exact circles. It's probable better if they're not. A little oblong or diamond shaped is ok.

Materials:

• 1 large Styrofoam cup
• 1 large paper circle(head)
• 2 tiny white circles(ears)
• 1 medium Styrofoam circle(nose and mouth piece)
• 1 small black circle(nose)
• 2 curved rectangle shapes(arms)
• 2 google eyes
• black marker
• glue
• scissors

Directions:

1. Glue the ears, nose and mouth pieces, and google eyes on the head circle as shown.
2. Draw a mouth on the Styrofoam piece.
3. Glue the head to the front of the Styrofoam cup.
4. Glue the arm pieces on the sides, sticking out. Add claws if desired.

 Pinecone Snowy Owl

All you need are:

• pinecones. You can find these at stores for very cheap at this time of year
• 5 cotton balls that your child will love to shred into pieces
• googley eyes
• white and brown pipecleaners or felt for the wings and beak
• Tacky glue

 For the fluffiest result, stuff the cotton pieces into each of the crevices on the pine cone.

 

Toilet Paper Roll Penguin

 

You will need glue, scissors, a toilet paper roll, black paint, white and black paper, yellow and/or orange foam sheet, and googley eyes. Here's how you can make this adorable craft:

1. Paint the toilet paper roll black and let sit to dry.
2. Cut out an oval out of white paper and paste it on as shown above.
3. Paste on the googley eyes.
4. Cut out a small triangle for the beak and larger triangles for the feet. You can use yellow, orange or mix it up and use both. Paste on as shown above.
5. Cut out black spear shaped arms and paste one on each side. You can fold it in the middle of each arm to have them sticking out or paste them as they are pointing straight down.
6. Let sit to dry! 
7. Play with your penguin....

And my favorite......HAND AND FOOTPRINT CRAFTS

 

 

Multicultural Winter Inuit Craft and Winter Song

Here are some ideas to help introduce your children to the Inuit and their culture

Craft items you will need:

 

• Paper plate
• Light blue paint
• Cotton balls
• Glue
• Black & red markers
• Black crayon

Craft instructions:
Have the children paint the rim of the paper plate blue.
Let dry.
Next, have the children glue cotton balls all around the rim of the paper plate.
Let dry.
Then, using a black and red marker, have the draw a face in the middle of the paper plate.
Lastly, have the children add black hair all around the face.

 As a variation, you could use googly eyes,  yarn for hair etc.....

Books

Mama, Do You Love Me? written by Barbara M. Joosse is a lovely story to read to children about a parent’s love and the Arctic. 

 "Mama, do you love me? Yes I do Dear One. How much? In this universal story, a child tests the limits of independence and comfortingly learns that a parent's love is unconditional and everlasting. The story is made all the more captivating by its unusual Arctic setting. The lyrical text introduces young readers to a distinctively different culture, while at the same time showing that the special love that exists between parent and child transcends all boundaries of time and place. The story is beautifully complemented by graphically stunning illustrations that are filled with such exciting animals as whales, wolves, puffins, and sled dogs, and a carefully researched glossary provides additional information on Arctic life. "  From Amazon.com

Winter Song and Lyric

The Winter Song for kids is a fun way for children to learn about winter and the winter season.






Lyrics

Blankets of snow

Christmas lights a glow

The sleigh bells ring

And away we go

The cold wind blows

We’re dressed from

Head to toes

In a hat,

Boots, mittens

And a comfy coat

Winter is the coldest

Time of year

‘Tis the season,

It’s the reason

Snow and ice appear

The trees are bare

Snow’s everywhere

Can you see

Your breath

In the frosty air?

With shorter days

And longer nights

We’ll see the magic

In the stars tonight

Nature is quieter

And animals will rest

Some sleep late,

Or hibernate,

That’s what they

Do the best

We’ll ski and skate

And play ‘til late

We’ll build a snowman

And celebrate

We’ll slip and slide

Toboggan ride

It’s so much fun

At winter time

This winter wonderland

Is mine!

Written by Wendy Wiseman

 

There are many other crafts, stories and activities that can be tied into this theme. 

You can look at igloos, the Artic (weather, animals etc...), winter and snowflakes, Inuit traditions, winter, snowflakes, ice, etc.....  The options are unlimited!

Here are just a few more examples:

 

A great (and yummy) fine motor activity using some glue and marshamallows.

Supplies:

-marshmallows small for the igloo and large for the front door...you'll want extras as some are guaranteed to "mysteriously disappear"

-Styrofoam cup (or bowl) to use as the mold for the igloo

-paper plate or something similar for the base

-white glue or hardening icing

1. Glue the cup to the plate.

2. Starting at the base of the cup, glue the small marshmallows all around the cup.  Depending on the age of the children, it may be easier to either put glue onto the cup or else put the glue into a container and let the kids dip the marshmallows into it.

3. Glue the large marshmallow to the front if the igloo for an entrance

You may want to do this in a few different seatings depending on children's attention span.  It would also allow the layers to dry in between

 

Craft and Music Hand Drum and Beater Drums have always been an important part of Inuit culture. Drums are played during ceremonies and accompany singing and dancing. The beat of the drum symbolizes the beating of the heart for the Inuit. Materials two balloons a round plastic container two elastic bands art supplies to decorate the drum (optional) piece of material for stuffing stick or tree branch measuring about ½ inch in diameter, and 12 inches long string or wool (optional) Instructions Source   Source Materials needed for hand drum and beater   Step 1. Cut the bottom off a round balloon (before it's blown up). Source   Source Step 2. Stretch the balloon over the plastic container. Secure the balloon with a rubber band.   Step 3. Decorate your hand drum if you wish. Source   Source Step 4. Cut the bottom off another round balloon. Stuff scraps of fabric into the end of the balloon to make a small ball.   Step 5. Poke the stick into the stuffed balloon. Gather the opening of the balloon around the stick and fasten with a rubber band. If you like, you can cover the rubber band with string or wool. Source   Now you can play your drum. See how many different rhythms you can make.

 

 

Christmas Fun for All Ages

 Felt Christmas Trees are fun to decorate

 Or how about some felt gingerbread men and ladies.

Paper plates are a great art supply

 Some matching fun 

 

Some creative ways to use paint chips and straws

                                             Who says you can't play with your food

                                                  A keepsake of your little ones fingerprint

                                               

Winter Wonderland Ornament

Winter Wonderland Ornament

What you'll need

• 9-ounce clear plastic cup
• Silver poster board
• Pinking shears or decorative craft scissors
• Polyester batting
• Miniature trees (sold in craft stores; try the dollhouse or model railroad section)
• Miniature animals or people (sold in craft stores or online at BJCRAFTSUPPLIES.COM)
• 1-inch-wide mirror
• Tacky glue
• Fine glitter
• Pushpin
• Monofilament
• Several craft beads

How to make it

1. 
   

   

   1. Trace the rim of the cup onto the underside of the poster board. Cut out the circle, but stay at least 1/8 inch outside the trace line so the base will be slightly larger than the cup.
   
   
   
   
   
   2. Cut out a circle of batting snow that's the same diameter as the cup and set it atop the shiny side of the poster board circle.
   
   3. Separate or snip the batting where you'd like to position the trees, figurines, and mirror pond. Glue the base of each item to the poster board, then smooth or fluff the snow around them as needed. Sprinkle the scene with fine glitter.
   
   4.Use the pushpin to poke a hole in the center of the cup bottom. Thread a craft bead onto a 12-inch length of monofilament. Gather the ends together, letting the bead fall to the center of the line, and thread them up through the hole from inside the cup. String a few more beads onto the doubled line (outside the cup) and then knot the ends to form a loop.
   
   5.Apply a line of glue along the edge of the poster board circle. Press the cup, upside down, atop the glue and hold it in place for 20 seconds or so. During the first 10 minutes of drying time, occasionally check the seal and press down gently on the cup, if required. Let the glue cure for a full day before hanging the ornament.

To celebrate the return of summer.

How about celebrating the return of summer, because it's been a pretty wet one here in Alberta, with this simple sunshine plate craft!

Ingredients Needed

• 1 - Small Paper Plate
• 9" x 12" Yellow Construction Paper
• Glue
• Orange Collage Materials
• Yellow Collage Materials

Instructions

1. Glue collage materials onto the paper plate.
2. Cut rectangle sun rays from construction paper.
3. Glue rays onto the back side of the paper plate.

Beach in a bottle.

 

 

This is a fun and easy craft to do after a trip to the beach.

Materials:

• 1 small plastic drink bottle with cap (PET bottle)
• sand
• small shells or beads
• funnel
• blue paint or food coloring (optional)

Directions:

1. Use a funnel to put some sand in the bottom of a cleaned out plastic bottle.
2. Fill the the bottle with water.
3. Drop in a few small shells or beads.
4. Put in a few drops of blue food coloring to look like the ocean. (optional)
5. Twist the cap on tightly.
6. Shake and watch the sand settle to the bottom.

 Prep and Maintenance

If you use real beach sand instead of craft sand, you should wash the sand first. There are two ways:

1. Wash all the and beforehand in a big bucket.-hard

2. Put some sand in the bottle. Fill with water about halfway. Secure lid and shake vigorously. Unscrew lid and pour out water. repeat 3 or 4 times.-easy

Don't put too much sand, just enough to cover the bottom. If  you put too much, you won't be able to see the shells when they settle, they'll sink. The beads are a little lighter.

 

 

 

Materials:

• 1 plastic drink bottle with screw on lid
• water
• cooking oil (the clearer the better)
• blue food coloring

Directions:

1. Fill the drink bottle about halfway with water and add a few drops of blue food coloring. Shake well.
2. Fill the rest of the bottle with cooking oil and screw on the lid tightly.

The oil is lighter than the water and the two liquids won't mix. Shake it up and watch them separate. Tip to the side and watch the ocean roll. As simple as this craft is, it never ceases to amaze and entertain. For added effect, you could put a little sand at the bottom of the bottle, too. You don't have to limit yourself to just blue. Make a red lava bottle instead. Have fun!

Picnic food ideas!

With the sun shininh outside and temperatures rising, day home providers enjoy time outdoors and trips to the park for play and picnics.

Check out these ideas for some easy to make and different picnic foods.

(1) Cheese on sticks - Cut up cubes of cheese (marble or cheddar work best) and skewer with a pretzel stick. No cocktail sticks to clear up afterwards and prevents little hands grabbing handfuls of cheese cubes!

(2)Cheese parcels -

• Puff pastry
• Grated cheese
• Fillings: grated carrot, courgette, chopped pepper, sweetcorn, ham etc 

Roll out the puff pastry, cut into squares and place some grated cheese with whatever else you want in the middle (I usually add some grated carrot or courgette to get a bit of veg in them, or a few strips of ham)
Fold up into triangles and press the edges together.
Put into the oven for 15 minutes at Gas 6 (200 C).

(3) Picnic roll ups - 

• Soft tortillas/wraps
• Fillings

Spread peanut butter, jam or honey on one side of a tortilla wrap.
Add mashed up or sliced banana and roll up tightly.
Of course you can include anything in your roll-ups as long as it's gooey enough to hold the roll up together. Here are some more ideas:

• Chocolate spread and banana
• Chocolate spread and strawberries
• Cheese and pickle
• Grated cheese, diced cucumber & mayonnaise
• Ham & coleslaw
• BLT
• Mozzarella, tomato & basil
• Greek salad & Greek yoghurt
• Humous & grated carrot
• Tuna mayonnaise

(4) Fruity kebobs -

1. Thread the strawberries, cantaloupe, banana and apple pieces alternately onto skewers, placing at least 2 pieces of fruit on each skewer. Arrange the fruit skewers decoratively on a serving platter.

Enjoyyour picnics in the sun!