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Share Your Ideas for Kids Activities

Posted by MidwestMom • 9/05/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: craft ideas, crafts, fun, kids

Now that most kids are in school for the fall, what activity ideas can you share with teachers and room parents?

Fall activities, crafts, or other fun for elementary school kids would be perfect! Focus on fun.

User Comments

9/05/08

Shiley

mythoughts-ssb.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-thoughts-archology-mommy-tip.html
mythoughts-ssb.blogspot.com/2008/04/scrapbooking.html

I had a few othe rposts w/ crafty stuff. Get a paper plate, cut the center out, collect leaves that have fallen, acorns, or what ever glue them around the ring of the plate for a wreath.

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1. 9/05/08
  
  timethief
  
  @Shirley
  You wouldn't believe how many different crafts I have taught. One day I will write them all up and email them to you.
2. 9/05/08
  
  Shiley
  
  I would appreciate it. Crafts are fun. If you don't mind kids turning bath water purple.
3. 9/05/08
  
  MidwestMom
  
  You know, the kids at our school always want to make things to decorate their home -- it makes them proud to add their own decorations and to see something their own hands have made. We've always done craft foam decorations, but something natural could be a teaching activity in many different ways.
  
  Good idea!
9/05/08

timethief

If you can find a local potter or your school or community center has a kiln and someone who knows what they are doing here's a great idea.

(1) Collect leaves with deep veining. Next use a rolling pin to make a pie plate sized flattened piece of clay and press the leaves veiny side down into it then roll them gently into the clay. Make two for each "weed pocket".

(2) Now take both pie plate shaped back pieces and cut around the flattened clay.

(3) Remove the leaves from both pieces and cut one of the pie plate pieces in half.

(3) Now carefully attach the half pocket to the full pie plate sized piece using "clay slip" to make the edges adhere. Gently lift the half pocket piece and insert balled up plastic bags to form a protruding pocket.

(4) a hole for hanging into the larger pie shaped piece about an inch lower than the top edge.

(5) Allow the pockets to dry fully. Then use a sponge to apply burnt umber to the pocket and back pie shaped piece leave side up of course. The umber will sink into the veins. Next use a clean sponge to wipe away the surface umber that isn't in the veins.

(6) Now have the potter fire them in a kiln and return them to the kids. They can be hung on any mom's wall and filled with dried flowers and they look good.

[reply]
1. 9/05/08
  
  MidwestMom
  
  What a great idea! Thanks! Our elementary school is within walking distance from the Community College, and I know the pottery teacher!
  
  Hmmm.... looks like a fun time in the making (and *finally* and activity that the 4th and 5th graders would enjoy.)
2. 9/05/08
  
  timethief
  
  @midwestmom
  I'm glad you like it.
9/05/08

pumpkinlights

Dang, I'm terrible. I tutored and had my own classroom for 6 years and I can not remember a thing we did for fun.

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9/05/08

creativedreamevent

Today my son and I made a sock puppet. He had seen some on Sesame Street and wanted one of his own. One word of caution, it took three hours, but I'm a perfectionsist and he wanted a cat and it drove me crazy that it had a flat head so I had to figure out a way to stuff the head so it looked like a cat. He got bored after about 10 minutes and my ocd self keep working until it looked like a freaking cat. When it was finished, though, he was completely delighted and it made all the hot glue burns worth it. I found the coolest like for puppet ideas: www.daniellesplace.com/html/puppets.html

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1. 9/05/08
  
  Shiley
  
  I once used the foot to a pair of old sleepers that was way to grungie to go to a second hand store. I made a horse with denium, buttons, and felt. The denium was the mane, buttons for the eyes, the tounge was felt. We have a bunch of commercial puppets and the one I made is my son's favorite.
  
  that is an awesome site.
2. 9/05/08
  
  MidwestMom
  
  Thanks for the link, creativedreamevent. We are having a safari book fair this fall, and I've been looking for a way to get the kindergarteners to be able to make animals they can take home. Puppets are a great idea!
9/05/08

Anniepooh

You know, I did quite a few posts last year at Short Order Mom about all kinds of fall things. This is my very favorite time of year, so I have a lot of fun with it. I don't want to drop a link, though!

We like to get colorful leaves together and combine them with crayon shavings between two pieces of waxed paper. We iron it on a low setting and then cut them into neat shapes and hang in the windows.

I make a hy-oooge window decoration in the picture window out of construction paper cut into shapes. It's very time consuming since each shape is cut out - but the end result is very pretty.

If you (or anyone) would like links to the posts I did (which has photos of these things), send me a Shout!

[reply]
1. 9/05/08
  
  MidwestMom
  
  We have a die cutter at our school that has inserts for different leaf shapes.
  
  I wonder whether that would work to make the leaves?
2. 9/05/08
  
  Anniepooh
  
  I would think so. I've seen cut-out leaves at teacher's supply stores before.
3. 9/05/08
  
  MidwestMom
  
  Do you think the finished product will be too thick?
4. 9/05/08
  
  Anniepooh
  
  We pick whatever leaves we find and they go in there stems and all. Die cut paper would be thinner than that, so it shouldn't be a problem!
9/05/08

craftymug

I did a search on my crafty blog and came up with a list. These may not be suitable for the very young child but with the help of a room parent or teacher, they could be done by elementary age students. A couple of these would also teach them to recycle.
Crafts like the yogurt cup that uses printed computer graphics, substitute their own art to make it more fun and personal for them. You can also change the theme for different holidays as a treat container.

craftythisandthat.blogspot.com/search/label/Angel%20Magnet

craftythisandthat.blogspot.com/search/label/Baby%20Ghost%20Pin

craftythisandthat.blogspot.com/search/label/buttons

craftythisandthat.blogspot.com/search/label/coin%20sorter

craftythisandthat.blogspot.com/search/label/craft%20sticks

craftythisandthat.blogspot.com/search/label/wire%20ribbon%20crafts

craftythisandthat.blogspot.com/search/label/yogurt%20cups

[reply]
1. 9/05/08
  
  MidwestMom
  
  Wow! What a list! I'll get to it.
  
  Do you mind if I share your site with the primary teachers at our school? I'm sure they will be inspired!
2. 9/05/08
  
  craftymug
  
  I don't mind at all. I hope they find some crafts they would like to share with the children.
3. 9/06/08
  
  ruth2008
  
  I have a crafts page on my website and was wondering if you would allow a reprint or send an image and one of your craft ideas to us. americanmadeyes.com/crafts.html
9/05/08

timethief

IMO the best activities for fall are all those that are outdoor activities. It's easy to find books on bird, wildlife, tree, shrub and wild plant identification and/or to find information on the net.

Outline the basics in handout sheets, distribute cheap throw away cameras and you will be amazed at the wonderful, colorful and interesting reports of their field trips to parks, ravines and other locations that kids can produce.

[reply]
1. 9/05/08
  
  MidwestMom
  
  You are great for ideas that the older kids would like. So many of the crafts I see are geared toward K-3, but our school goes up to 5th grade. By that age, many students are less enthusiastic about art projects -- or at least, they won't express their enthusiasm.
  
  I am a gardener, so I know there is so much to enjoy about the outdoors. Thanks for the good ideas.
2. 9/05/08
  
  Shiley
  
  That's true. My kids and I have a National Audubon book for siting trees and if what the produce is edible or a don't touch.
3. 9/05/08
  
  timethief
  
  Boys love bug identification projects.
9/05/08

polybore

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9/05/08

polybore

Polybore used to have a lot of fun at this time of year as a child. Problem is these days a lot of them would probably be frowned upon these days.

Raking up leaves and helping burn them on a bond fire.
Helping clean the baking utensils by licking them (oh no raw egg).
Holding logs while they are sawn up.
Going in under the rhododendrons (where the big people cant go) to pull up weeds/ trees in the wrong place.
Setting the fire.
Chopping kindling.
Checking the mouse trap.
Finding peoples glasses.
Undoing tiny knots in things.

Suffice to say son of polybore definitely has these things to look forward to.

[reply]
1. 9/05/08
  
  timethief
  
  @polybore
  woot! You would be perfectly at home where I live.
2. 9/05/08
  
  polybore
  
  Indeed. Forgive the wild generalisation when I say that Canada and Scotland are pretty much the same place. In fact I can say this with some authority having stolen my wife from Canada.
12/31/08

avecchioni

Now that it's the middle of winter and many parents are spending more time indoors with their kids, I'd recommend some old time favorites-- flashlight hide-and-go-seek, cotton ball spoon race, charades, marbles, bozo buckets (spaghettiboxkids.com/blog/bozo-buckets/ ), I spy, examining household items with a magnifying glass, fun with magnets. . . to name a few.

[reply]
1. 1/08/09
  
  MidwestMom
  
  Ha! My children got both marbles *and* flashlights in their Christmas stockings! We play "flashlight fun" indoors after dark (my children always pretend they're camping) or we play flashlight I spy.
  
  My crew loves playing marbles or jacks in our front hallway. We also do alot of puzzles in the wintertime when the weather holds us indoors. The ideas on your site are wonderful. Thank you.
12/31/08

jafabrit

crushed can painting, here is an example of some at painting cans.
paintingcans.blogspot.com/

The kids can collage directly onto the crushed can and embellish with odds and ends. Or just use acrylic paint.
Some more examples.
sitekreator.com/crushedcanart/index.html

Found this nice tutorial
impybat.blogspot.com/2008/07/crushed-can-art.html

[reply]
1. 1/08/09
  
  MidwestMom
  
  We are redecorating my children's bedrooms this month and have actively involved them in the painting. They had such fun, I've been looking for other ideas involving paint. Thanks for your links, Brit.
1/08/09

ruth2008

For more ideas that might be of interest w using paint, there are small fabric "houses" that can be painted. See toys on americanmadeyes.com/toys.html Alsom on the same website, there is a simple craft project for making a miniature bed. The complete directions are there on the page called crafts projects.

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1/08/09

lamenews

the quiet game

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