Page 1 Updated March 2013

ART...

 

JELLY BEAN PAINTING

Materials: Jellybeans, paint, paper, tape, a box
 
Directions: Place a piece of paper in a box. Take the tape and roll a piece over on itself; place it on the back of the paper to keep the paper secure in the box...

Add small amounts of paint in each corner. Place a few jellybeans in the box and have the children move the box so that the jellybeans will roll through the paint and create an abstract design "work of art..." 
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GLOSSY EGG DECORATIONS

Trace an 'Egg pattern template' onto white construction paper; have children cut them out. In four separate bowls divide a can of condensed milk; add a few drops of food coloring in each bowl--One color per bowl. Paint the eggs with the condensed milk paint. Let them dry.

When art is dry the eggs will have a glossy appearance. Use the eggs to decorate the room.
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AN 'AFTER-EASTER' EGG SHELL COLLAGE...

Ask all you know to save the dyed shells from the Easter eggs! When Easter is over, you'll have the most important material for this project!

Need: Egg shells, Glue, paper, and water-color paint.
Glue shells onto a piece of paper. When the glue dries, paint over it with water colors...
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MAKE WRAPPING PAPER and More...

PAPER #1
Place Easter shaped cookie cutters in paint.
Cover a blank piece of paper with the cookie cutter shapes.
Is is it an art project or wrapping paper? Your choice!

Paper #2

Mix a variety of food coloring with water in a spray bottles.
With the variety of colors, Spray water on a large sheet of paper.

There are several ways the dried paper can be used.
   • Wrapping paper
   • Trace egg shaped templates to make decorations or cards.
   •  Background on an Easter or Spring time display board.

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FOOTPRINT EASTER CARD

Make a print of each child's foot using yellow paint. With an orange marker, add an orange beak where the BALL OF THE FOOT is... Add brown stick feet where the toes are . Glue onto a piece of folded 8 1/2 x 11 paper or construction paper. Write "Happy Easter" on the front--with a message or poem on the inside.
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 PAINTING WITH "PEEPS"...

1. Cut out large "chick shapes" from white paper. Put tempera paint (white, yellow, orange, black) in containers and then use REAL candy "Peeps" to apply the paint---in a sponge like effect.

2. The head makes a good grip for the bottom when the chick's bottom is dipped in paint...

3. Extra fun! Have "Peeps" as a treat too! If you're concerned about younger children taking a bite during the painting, you can use vanilla pudding with food coloring to paint!
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TWO PROJECTS IN ONE!
COLOR AN EASTER EGG AND MAKE WINDOW ART

  • Put a sheet of wax paper in the bottom of a good size box. Add a few spoonfuls of various colors of paint (child's choice of color) 
  • Place hard-boiled egg(s) in box and roll--the same way as in marble painting. It's a fun way to color eggs... and...
the paint results on the wax paper look like a stained glass picture! You can frame the wax paper in construction paper and hang it in a window.
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CRACKED EGG SHELL EASTER CARD 
    • Colored pieces of egg shells 
    • Pink Construction paper  
    • White cardstock or construction paper 
    • Glue 
    • Pencil 
    • Scissors 
    • Markers, crayons, and colored pencils

1. Draw the shape of an egg on the colored construction paper.
2. Put a coating of glue on the construction paper egg.
3. Glue pieces of crushed egg shells on the paper, keeping the colored side up and let it dry.
4. Take the construction paper and cut a piece of it twice the width of the egg and slightly taller than the egg.
5. Fold up the paper in half and paste the mosaic egg on front of it.
Write an Easter message on the card.
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FACE PAINTING... PAINT A BUNNY FACE

  • Children love to have their faces painted. 
  • Here's an easy way to turn children into Peter Cottontail's helper: Draw an upside-down triangle on the child's nose with the brush from brown or black liquid eyeliner or face-paint.  Fill in completely. Rub a circle of rouge on each cheek. Paint three whiskers with the eyeliner or paint on each side of the face, starting from the nose and extending across the cheek. 
  • Allow to dry. 
  • This bunny face comes off in a flash using makeup remover pads or soap and water.
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'TIE DYE' EASTER EGGS
Materials: Paint or Washable Markers, Coffee Filters, Spray Bottles

1. Cut coffee filters in the shape of Easter eggs and give each child a spray bottle with different colors of water in them.
2. Have the children spray the coffee filter until it's completely soaked. Dry...
3. You can also have children decorate egg shaped filters with markers and spray with regular water.
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THUMB PRINT EASTER BASKETS
Materials: Picture of an Easter Basket, Paint, and children's thumbs.

Draw or down-load a simple picture of an empty Easter basket. Put a variety of paints in shallow dishes and let the kids dip there thumbs and make Easter eggs in the basket!
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CRAFTS...

BUNNY IN THE GRASS POT
Items Needed:
Grass seed, potting soil, pot or cup, wide craft stick, white paint, markers, pink felt, misc. craft items such as fishing line (whiskers) pipe cleaners, pom poms, press on eyes, or googly eyes.

1. Have children place the potting soil in the pot, and sprinkle with grass seed.
2. Place a little more soil to cover; water the soil.
3. Next have the children paint their craft sticks white; when they are dry, decorate them like bunnies. Cut the felt into ears, put on eyes, nose, and whiskers.
4. Insert the stick into the grass pot and place it in a sunny window.
5. In a few days your bunny will be sitting in the grass.

SECRET MESSAGE EASTER EGGS-A surprise Easter Gift!

    • Secret Message Easter Eggs are easy, different and lots of fun for children and adults alike. Start with one blown egg (CLICK HERE - (directions are towards the bottom of the page) to learn how. After having a clean, blown-out egg, brush with a thin coating of craft glue. Sprinkle with clear, silver, gold or colored glitter and allow the egg to dry.

    • Cut out a 2-inch-by-2-inch square of airmail or tracing paper. Write a small fortune, note, poem or promise to perform a certain task or chore on the paper and roll up tightly. Slip into the larger hole at the bottom of the egg. Cover the hole with a sparkly sequin, sticker or bead. The recipient cracks the egg to discover the message.

   • Can't bear to crack your creation? When you insert the message, leave a little bit of it exposed so it can be pulled out without destroying the egg.

EASTER EGG SUN CATCHERS
Materials:
Clear contact paper
Pastel-colored tissue paper
Scissors
1. Cut out two small, rectangular pieces of contact paper.
2. Have children tear the tissue paper into small bits.
3. Peel off the backing of one of the pieces of contact paper. Have children stick pieces of tissue paper to it.
4. When it is filled, cover it with the second piece of contact paper.
5. Smooth it out, and then cut it into the shape of an egg. (Make a template pattern of an egg to trace) Hang them in the window...

You can make sun catchers to fit any theme you like: Hearts for Valentine's Day, flowers for spring, etc.
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RABBIT BAG
Need: White paper bag, tape, ribbon, wiggle eyes, and a pom pom
Directions: 
    • Take a paper bag (Preferably white). 
    • Tape the bag closed-- about one third of the way up. 
    • To make bunny ears, cut a slit down the middle of the bag to where you have it taped. 
    • Round the corners of the ears and poke 2 holes near the top of EACH ear. These are to put ribbon through to make the "inner ear". 
    • Decorate with 2 large pom poms for the cheeks and one for the nose. Use 2 large wiggle eyes. Use string or ribbon for the whiskers.
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BUNNY OR CHICK JARS Try this craft from Making Friends  It can be adaptd to just about any animal or holday theme!

1. Remove the label from a clean baby food jar.  Fill the jar with pompoms to match your animal's face. Put the lid on and turn it upside down.
2. Glue on wiggle eyes.
3. Cut ears (or beak) out of foam and glue in place.
4. Add pompoms if desired.
5. For whiskers, cut pieces of craft lace and glue one end under pompom nose.
6. Cut a strip of craft foam 1/4" wide and glue around edge of lid. Original idea from Lisa  Anniston, Alabama

 
RABBIT MASK
Materials:
Paper plate,
Pink or black paper(a small quantity for the nose and ears)
Cardboard
Cotton balls

1. To make the ears, cut out oval shapes from the cardboard. 
2. Next, cut out the nose from the colored paper. You can also cut triangles of pink paper to make the inside of the bunny's ear.
3. Cut two holes in the paper plate for eyes.
4. Paste on the ears,(you can put straws behind the ears to make them stay upright) eyes and nose.
5. Cover the face with glue cotton balls--to make the bunny look soft.
Bunny mask is now complete!
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RABBIT EARS
Materials: Constructions paper and straws 
    • Make rabbit-ear template shapes.
    • Have the children trace and cut them out of construction paper...(if children are young, pre-cut for them) 
    • Glue them to a paper head band. 
    • Add straws to the back of the ears so they will stay upright.
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'LUNCH BAG' BIRD NEST

1. Take a small brown lunch sack and roll it from the top all the way down to make a perfect birds nest.
2. Have children collect twigs, grass, etc. from the outside and put in their nests. OR...
3. You can put in Easter grass and jelly beans with a pipe cleaner handle to use it as a small Easter basket.
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MINI EASTER BASKETS
Materials:
Margarine container
Hole punch
Pipe cleaners
Glue
Fabric, and ribbon (Other decorations as desired)
Easter grass and goodies

Directions: Wash and dry a margarine container.
1. Punch a hole on both sides of container - near the top.
2. Wrap 2 pipe cleaners around each other and insert each end into a hole and twist the ends together for the handle.
3. Decorate the "basket" as desired.
4. Glue fabric, tissue paper, or wrapping paper and ribbon to outside of container.
5. Decorate the handle with ribbon and a bow. Add some Easter grass and fill the basket with treats!
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BERRY CONTAINER BASKET

  • Make a Easter basket from a plastic BERRY container...Weave pretty colored ribbon or yarn through the open spaces around the container and glue the ends together. 
  • Use pipe cleaners or heavy cardboard for the handles. 
  • Have the children put an egg that they colored themselves into the basket--along with some Easter grass and jelly beans.
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BABY FOOD JAR BUNNY  (Different than above)

You'll Need: Baby food jar, glue, cotton balls, Wiggly Eyes, one big pom-pom, one small pom-pom, white or pink pipe cleaner,
Acrylic paint - white or pink

  1. Paint the jar lid with acrylic paint and let it dry while you make the rest of the bunny.
  2. Cover the baby food jar with cotton balls.
  3. On the cotton-ball covered jar-attach the eyes, small pom pom for the nose and the big one for the tail.
  4. Shape the pipe cleaner into bunny ears and hot glue the ears to the lid.
  5.Place one last piece of cotton in between the ears.
  6. For a small gift or party favor, fill the jar with jelly beans.
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PAPER EASTER BUNNIES
Materials:
1 large white paper plate, 1 small white paper plate, white or pink construction paper, google eyes, 3 pink chenille stems, red or pink marker, 2 or 3 cotton balls, white glue, stapler

1. Staple the plates together, the small one as the head and the larger as the body.
2. Cut two large oval shaped ears from the construction paper.
3. Staple or glue them to the back of the small paper plate. Glue on the eyes and a small pink triangle makes the nose.
4. Cut the chenille stems in half and glue three to either side of the nose for whiskers.
5. Use the marker to draw on a mouth.
6. Attach two or three cotton balls to the back of the bunny to make a tail.
7. The children make want to add a hair bow or bow tie to dress up their bunny!

TIP: chenille stems can be difficult to secure with white glue, you can use a hole punch to insert the whiskers...
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COFFEE FILTER EGG
Need: Coffee Filter, Food Coloring, Straws 
    • Cut the coffee filter into an oval, egg shape. 
    • Measure  about 1/4 cup of water into a container. Add a few drops of food coloring at a time into the water until you get the desired color. 
    • Repeat this for as many different colors you want. 
    • Once your colors are mixed, you can use the straw to add colors to your egg shape.

Dip a straw into the desired color. Cover the end of your straw with your finger so the colored water stays in it. Move the straw to your filter and hold it over the area you want colored. Remove your finger from the end of the straw and the colored water will run onto the egg! Repeat this for as many colors as you want to use.
When finished - dry the eggs...
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TWO EASTER HATS

#1 BONNET
You'll need: Poster Board, Tissue paper and other decorative items (buttons, lace, ribbon etc.)
  1. Cut a large circle from the poster board-about 18 inches in diameter.
  2. Cut another hole in the middle of the circle, big enough to fit around
the child's head. It should look like a donut.
  3. Next... Using craft glue or a glue gun, add decorations to the rim of the hat.
  4. Use a hole punch to add the ribbon tie.

#2 PAPER PLATE BONNET
You'll need: Paper plate, ribbon, hole punch, glue, supplies to decorate the hat such as lace, bows, ribbons, beads, costume jewelry, pipe cleaners, feathers, felt, crayons, poster paint
  1. Make two holes in the rim of the plate before decorating. The holes should be opposite one another.
  2. Lace 10" pieces of ribbon into the holes. When tied, these will secure the hat.
  3. Now have fun decorating the hats...
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EASTER EGG DOLL
Materials :
Blown out egg shell,(Direction Here) Paint, Paper cupcake liners, Wide ribbon, Cardboard tube, Tape or glue, Scissors
Paint the face of the doll in the in the blown out eggshell.
1. Fold the paper muffin cup in half -- to make the Easter bonnet for the doll.
2. Use the ribbon to tie the bonnet properly on the Easter egg face. You can also use glue or tape to attach the ribbon or yarn, to set the bonnet in its right position.
3. To make the body, take about 4 to 5 muffin cups and cut their centers.
4. Take the cardboard tube and use glue to place the cups upside down on it. To make the tiered skirt of the doll, let the muffin cups overlap the last one.
5. Glue the egg doll face on the topside of the cardboard tube to complete the Easter egg doll.

 

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EASTER PLACEMATS
Although one can shop for Easter placemats, self-made and personalized placemats can create an ambiance of warmth and hospitality.

Materials : 
• Cardboard/Card-stock paper or construction paper 
• Glue 
• Contact paper 
• Easter cards 
• Photos 
• Pictures

 
1. Take parts of Easter cards, photos or pictures and cut them into different shapes.
2. Using glue, paste the cut out pictures on the cardboard to create a collage.
3. Laminate the collage using contact paper.
4. Write an Easter greeting message to lend a personal touch to the placemat.

You could also make something like the above place mat at First Palette.

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GIANT BALLOON EGG

• Inflate and tie a small balloon for each child. 
• Make a thin glue and water mixture, and have the children "paint" sections of the balloon and then lay squares of tissue paper down flat onto the glue. 
• The tissue should overlap and cover the entire balloon. Let it dry on wax paper, or hang to dry from the knotted end of the balloon over newspaper. 
• When the balloon is completely dry, use scissors to cut a small slit in the balloon neck. The balloon will deflate, leaving a beautiful, hollow tissue paper "egg". 
• For a  gift, these may be filled with lightweight candies, and then sealed with one more square of tissue.
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DECORATED EGGS
Need: Legg's eggs, a plastic Easter egg, or small blown up balloon; Masking tape, Glue, Brushes, and Colored tissue paper.

Directions: Put tape around the seam of Legg's eggs or plastic egg.
1. Brush slightly watered-down glue all over the egg.
2. Place different colored tissue paper pieces onto the glue.
3. Have children dip their fingers into some glue to sure all paper edges are down.

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EASTER THEMED SNACKS!

CHICKEN EASTER FEED
Make a bowl of Chicken Feed by tossing together crisp, crunchy shoestring potatoes, salted corn nuts, shelled sunflower seeds and pistachios, dried blueberries and unsweetened coconut flakes for a crunchy, nutty treat.
(Leave out whatever you don't like)
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EASTER BASKET CUPCAKES

1. Prepare cupcakes and frost with cream cheese frosting, white or yellow colored frosting.
2. Create green Easter "grass" by placing shredded coconut and a few drops of liquid green food coloring in a re-sealable plastic bag.
3. Mix the food coloring into the coconut until it is evenly distributed and the coconut is green.
4. Sprinkle the coconut over the iced cupcakes.
5. Insert one end of a red licorice whip into the cupcake, then bend and insert the other end of the licorice into the opposite side of the cupcake to form a basket handle.
6. Top cupcake with a few jelly bean "eggs" and they're ready to serve.
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ANOTHER CUTE IDEA~ EASTER CHICK CUPCAKES

Make or purchase white frosted cucakes...Place coconut in resealable food-storage plastic bag. Add about 8 drops yellow liquid food color; seal bag and shake to mix. Frost cupcakes with white frosting. Top with yellow coconut. For eyes, add brown baking bits. Cut orange gumdrops to resemble beaks; place on cupcakes. Source: Betty Crocker.com

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PEBBLES CEREAL EASTER NESTS
Makes 12 nests
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
3 cups miniature marshmallows
4 cups Post Fruity Pebbles or Trix cereal
Coconut flakes
Assorted candies

   • Microwave butter in large microwavable bowl on high for 30 seconds or until melted. Add marshmallows; toss to coat. Microwave 1-1/2 minutes, stirring after 45 seconds. 
   • Add cereal; toss lightly to coat well. 
   • Press firmly into lightly greased muffin pans to form 12 nest; cool. 
   • Fill nest with coconut (you can tint coconut, if desired) and candies. 
   • Note: lightly spray your hands with no stick cooking spray to prevent cereal mixture from sticking and to make it easy to press the mixture into muffin pans.
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TWO EDIBLE BUNNY SALADS
#1 Ingredients:
Pear halves
Raisins
Miniature marshmallows or cottage cheese
Lettuce
Apple slices or Almonds

  • Place a lettuce leaf on a plate. 
  • Put the pear half on lettuce for the body. 
  • Insert raisins for the eyes and nose. 
  • The ears are made from apples slices or almonds;a miniature marshmallow or cottage cheese become the bushy tail.   Source: amazingmoms.com

EASTER BUNNY SALAD #2

Lettuce
Cottage cheese
1 can of pear halves
Celery stick
Raisins
1 Red Grapes

1. Place leaves of lettuce on a salad plate.
2. Use Ice cream scoop and place cottage cheese on top of the lettuce.
3. Use 1 canned pear half and place on top of cottage cheese.
4. Use thin slices of celery for whiskers.
5. Place the raisins where the eyes should be.
6. Use a grape for the nose.
7. Cut the remaining pear in half to create the ears.
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EASTER BIRD'S NESTS
1/3c. butterscotch morsels
1c.chow-mein noodles
Candy robin's eggs

1. Melt butterscotch morsels in a medium microwave safe bowl.
2. Add chow-mein noodles to melted morsels and mix.
3. Shape into a circle on wax paper. Use a large spoon  to make indention in center.
4. Let nests harden and then add jelly beans or chocolate eggs.

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#2 CHOCOLATE BIRD NESTS

Make the above version, but instead of butterscotch chips, use chocolate chips! (Image by KidActivities.net)

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NEST SNACK IDEA #3 
Melt 1/2 cup of butter in a saucepan. Add 1 cup of brown sugar. Boil and stir for one minute. Add a 3 oz. can of chow mein noodles. Put the mixture in 12 paper baking cups in a muffin tin. Use your thumb to press noodles into the nest while still warm. DO NOT BAKE. Give children jelly bean eggs to put in their nests.

 

#4 COCONUT MACAROON NESTS

Ingredients:
 •16 ounces shredded coconut
 •1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
 •2 teaspoons vanilla extract
 •Jelly beans or candy Robin Eggs

Directions:
Mix first three ingredients together. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto generously greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes. Cool coconut macaroons slightly; remove to rack. Once cooled, place candy Robin Eggs or jelly beans on top of coconut 'nests'. This makes about 4 dozen coconut macaroons.

Tip: Parchment paper or a well greased pan works best to put on the cookie tray. Then make very small roughly round balls and place on the tray. Press your thumb in the middle to make the “nest”.  These spread out in the oven, so don’t press too hard or make them too big.

Cooking time is dependent on the size of your “nests”. Bigger nests requite more time in the oven.
Annie at "No Fuss" recommends about that tablespoon size will fit 3  mini egg candies...or one large Cadbury egg.

Watch in the oven with the light on till coconut tips are barely golden.  ♥ This idea and photo is  courtey of No Fuss Fabulous! 

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PEANUT BUTTER RICE-KRISPY BUNNY CAKE
This recipe is from Jif Peanut Butter. The kids will love this for Easter!
Ingredients:
   • 6 tablespoons butter or margarine
   • 2-10oz packages of marshmallows
   • 2 cups creamy peanut butter
   • 10 cups crisp rice cereal
   • Non-stick cooking spray
   • Jelly beans, licorice gum drops, or decorative candy
   • Glaze (optional)
   • 1/2 cup butter or margarine
   • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
   • 2 tablespoons milk
   • 1 teaspoon vanilla
   • 2 1/2 cups sifted powder sugar
   • Makes 16 servings.

1. In large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows. Stir until completely melted and remove from heat.
2. Stir in peanut butter and mix well to incorporate.
3. Add rice crisp cereal and stir until well coated.
4. Press into two 9-inch pans, well coated with cooking spray and allow to cool.
5. Cut ears and bow tie from one cake. This is done by cutting two football shaped ears from the top and bottom of one cake layer, leaving a bow tie-shaped piece in the middle.
6. Position two ears at top of whole round cake and place bow tie under face.
7. Apply optional glaze, if desired. Decorate with jelly beans, marshmallows, licorice, and gum drops or any of your favorite cake decorations.

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 RAW EGG ON TOAST (The egg is a peach half!)

 

Ingredients for one serving...
1 slice poundcake
1/2 peach
Reddi-Whip topping
Directions:
Put slice of pound cake on plate.
Place peach half on top-- round side up.
Add whip cream around peach and serve.
It looks like a raw egg on toast!

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 THE EASTER BUNNY'S CARROT

 This snack only takes two steps:
1. First take  Wilton's Disposable 12 inch Decorating Bags (or something simiar) and fill them with whole wheat gold fish or your favorite orange colored cheese crackers.
2.  Gather the top and tie with green ric-rac, ribbon, or yarn.

These crackers are much more nutritious than jellybeans, but the effect is just as cute! This is idea is great as a gift to take home or to make up ahead and serve then at your program Spring/Easter celebration! Photo and idea is thanks to No Fuss Fabulous!

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PEEP NEST PANCAKES

Make pancakes...

In the center of the pancakes make a nest shape with whipped cream.
Place a marshmallow chicken peep, jelly eggs or melon balls in the middle of the nest.

When these were served, KidActivities poured a little warm syrup on the pancake before putting on the nest of whipped cream. Optional 'sprinkles' were also added. All thought they were not only fun but tasted great! ( Image by KidActivities.net)

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Click here for complete Easter Themed Art, Crafts, Snacks, Games, Jokes, Easter Egg Ideas and more...

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 Page 2

GAMES...

JELLY BEAN GAME
Required: Container, 2-3 pkgs. of JELLY BEANS (depending on number of kids and tables playing), score sheet, paper and pencil
Players: Small to large groups

1. Find a deep, clean, non-see-through container to pour in several bags of JELLY BEANS.

2. Make a point chart on paper or blackboard for the different colored jelly-beans. An example is- 
     •Purple 5 pts
     •Green 10 pts
     •Yellow 20 pts
     •Orange 25 pts
     •Red 30 pts

3. Divide into teams and have one person at a time from each team, draw out a jelly-bean. The team is awarded the points for the color that is pulled out.

4. The drawer gets to eat the jelly-bean. The first team to reach 500 pts is the winner.

TIPS:
You can use any kind of candy that has MANY COLORS
(Skittles, etc.) this is also a great transition activity or to get the group to quiet down!

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BUNNY BUZZ GAME
To Play:
  1. All players sit in a circle.
  2. Players take turns quickly counting off numbers in turn: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... 
  3. When the number seven is reached, that player must say, "I love the Easter Bunny", instead of seven. 
  4. When the child fails to do so and says seven, the child is out of the game.
  5. The game continues until only one player is left to be declared the winner.

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EGG ROLLING 
    •For an egg roll, you must have some sort of incline, preferable a hill. 
    •The Egg Roll is basically a race,the eggs are rolled down the hill and the one that reaches the bottom first, wins. 
    •Steep hills make great races, but slow climbing.

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EGG AND SPOON RACES 
    •Eggs (real or plastic), spoons and an area to run are all you need for this game. 
    •Variations could include relays and obstacle courses. 
    •To make it easy for younger kids, place something on the spoon to make the egg stick. 
    •YOU CAN ALSO USE MARSHMALLOW CHICKS...

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NOSY EGG ROLL
The kids roll the eggs (PLASTIC OR REAL) using only their noses. The first one over the finish line wins...

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EASTER BUNNY TAG
Played the same way as tag except that everyone must hop (if you do anything but hop then you're automatically it.

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EASTER EGG MATCH UP
    •Gather a large amount of different colored plastic eggs. 
    •Separate the eggs and hide each half in a different place. 
    •The children must match up their egg half to the hidden half to play the game. When children have found their half--encourage them to help those that are still searching. All get a prize for playing. 
    •If you have more kids than colors-number the egg halves. Example-If you have 10 blue eggs-write egg 1, egg 2, egg 3, etc. on BOTH halves...

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CARDBOARD EGG HOP
    •Draw and cut out two large cardboard eggs for each team. 
    •Decorate them with paint, markers, or crayons. 
    •Have each player choose a partner and give each pair of players two eggs.

To play:
1. In each pair, there is a hopper and a helper. Starting at one end of the room, the helper places an egg on the floor in front 2. of the hopper, who hops onto it with both feet.
3. The helper then places the other egg a little way ahead and the hopper jumps onto it.
4. This continues until the pair gets to the end of the room. Now players change roles. The first pair back to the starting line wins.

This can be played as a relay. When one couple returns, the next two people in line continue! Also when young children play this-----just play and hop! Forget the competition!

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BUNNY'S EGG GAME
Draw a good-sized rabbit. (The  Easter bunny standing on his hind legs, and holding his paws as if it was carrying an egg.)

1. Put the bunny drawing on the wall.
2. Cut egg shapes out of different colored construction paper to represent Easter eggs.
3. The eggs should be as large as the space between the rabbit's paws.
 
•Blindfold the children in turn -- and give each an egg, which is to be taped on the drawing. The child who tapes their egg closest in the Bunny's paws is the winner.

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HOPPING CHALLENGE
This can be played in a circle, a line, or as a "Bunny Says____" game. Give children a variety of "hopping" commands such as: 

    •Hop in one place 
    •Hop and turn in a circle at the same time 
    •Hop on left/right foot 
    •Hop backwards, sideways, make a square or circle 
    •Hop over a line 
    •Hop with a partner 
    •Hop to different rhythms (clap hands, use drum, music, etc...)

This could also be used as a transition activity where the LAST direction would be, 'Hop and line up!'

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ALPHABET EGG HUNT (WORD GAME)
Have children use their detective skills to find the "eggs" and then, once the eggs are collected, find the hidden words. (They'll try to create words from the letters on the alphabet eggs.) The winner is the team who can make the most words. But first ... you'll need to create the eggs.

You'll Need:
  •Construction paper
  •Pencil
  •Scissors
  •Markers

1. Draw lots of eggs on colorful construction paper. You can make them different sizes, anywhere from 2 to 6 inches long. Cut them off the paper.

2. Decorate one side of the eggs with interesting patterns. Write a letter on the other side.

3. Make enough eggs to use all the letters of the alphabet, and then make at least three more eggs for each vowel
(Example: three for A, three for I, etc.).
Make some extra blank eggs. These will be used as "wild" eggs, which means players can decide which letter they want the egg to be.

4. When you are done creating, ask someone to hide the eggs inside your class, house, or yard.
Source: howstuffworks.com

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WALKING THE EASTER EGG
Materials:
2 hard boiled Easter eggs
1 spoon for every child that is playing

1. To play this game all you need to do is divide the kids into teams, and have them form a line.
2. The first child at the beginning of the line takes the Easter egg and puts it in his/her spoon.
3. This child then passes the Easter egg to the next one in line, until the egg has traveled to the end of the line, and all the way back to the beginning of the line.
4. The first team to get the Easter egg back to the front of the line is the winner.

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EGG BOWLING

•When coloring boiled eggs, leave one white for this game which is very similar to Italian Boccie Ball. 
•Place the white egg in the center of an open space and take turns to see who can roll their dyed egg closest to the white egg without touching or moving it. 
•YOU CAN ALSO PLAY THIS WITH PLASTIC EGGS!

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FLUFFY NEEDS A TAIL 
Make a Rabbit on poster board without a tail. (The Rabbit should be turned sideways)
Children will take turns "Pinning the Tail" on the bunny, using Large Cotton balls and tape.

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DUCK WALK RACE 
    •Have the kids line up at the Start Line, squat down and grasp their ankles with each hand from behind. 
    •On GO, they waddle to a designated Finish Line. 
    •They can't let go of their ankles or they're disqualified. 
    •The first child over the Finish Line is the winner.
    •This would be fun to play "waddle music"...

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BUNNY HOP FOLLOW THE LEADER 
Play Follow the Leader with an Easter theme...Start hopping and then add other movements as well.

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EASTER GUESS THE NUMBER

1. Take a jar and fill it with Easter eggs, jelly beans, etc. Count the candies as you put them in the jar.
2. Leave a piece of paper and a pencil next to the jar and have all the children guess how many candies are in the jar.
3. Be sure they write their name on the paper beside their guess.
4. The child who is the closest without going over wins the jar! 
    • IDEA: Also give each child an Easter goodie for being a good sport and guessing!
    • A BETTER IDEA: Have the child that won-divide the candy for the entire group.

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SWINGING BASKET GAME

•Use a piece of rope to hang a basket from the branch of a tree or playground bar. Fill plastic Easter eggs  with popcorn kernels for weight and tape them shut. 
•Have the children line up behind the basket and take turns throwing eggs into the basket. 
•They can also just throw or keep score... 
•Once the children can to this with ease, try swinging basket.

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FIND YOUR NAME EASTER HUNT 
    •Write the name of each child on one of the plastic easter eggs you hide. 
    •They all get an Easter treat when they bring you the egg they found. They can put the candy in their egg...

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FAMILAR GAMES WITH AN EASTER TWIST

1. Play the "EASTER BUNNY SAYS", instead of "Simon Says."..
Or---

2. EGGS OUT
    HOT EGG!  Play a version of 'Hot Potato' using a plastic egg. Play Easter music such as "Easter Parade" or "Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail" for the stop and go of the egg pass...

3. EASTER BUNNY, EASTER BUNNY, WHERE'S YOUR EGG?
For Pre-K and K

    •Cut-out a large paper egg. 
    •The players form a circle with one child in the middle as "the Bunny." 
    •The Bunny covers their eyes while a player is selected TO SIT on the egg. Then the Children say...

Easter Bunny, Easter Bunny, where's your egg?
Somebody stole it from your home!

•The Easter bunny has three guesses to find the child who is sitting on the paper egg. That child then becomes
the new bunny in the middle.

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BUNNY HOP (Pre-K to Gr.1)
1. Use pieces of masking tape to make Bunny foot-prints all over the floor.
2. Start playing some Easter music.
3. Have children pretend to be Bunnies and hop around the room.
4. When you stop the music, have the bunnies find footprints to stand on (one Bunny to a paw-print).
5. When you start the music again, have the bunnies continue hopping around the room.

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BUNNY WALK (Pre-K to Gr.1)
Play music of your choice and encourage the children to move such as:

    • BIG Bunnies 
    • Little bunnies 
    • Tired Bunnies 
    • Happy Bunnies 
    • Scared Bunnies, Etc.

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EGG TOSS
1. You’ll need one, hard-boiled egg for each pair of children.
2. Have the children stand across from a partner. They should stand one foot apart.
3. When the leader says, “Go” the children should toss the eggs to their partners.
4. With hard-boiled eggs, everyone can play the whole game because the eggs won’t crack.
5. With each toss, the children should back up one step. Play until the eggs are destroyed and before the kids get bored.

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THE EGG-A-THON
This can be played as a race or relay…
1. Use a tablespoon and a hard-boiled egg or plastic Easter egg and plastic spoon.
2. Children try to walk fast holding the egg in the spoon to the finish line.
3. It can also be done as a relay and have one child in the middle of the race line waiting.
4. The children transfer the egg to their relay partner's spoon and go!

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FOLLOW THE LEADER… 
1. Give each child a tablespoon and a hard-boiled egg.
2. The children form a line and one is the leader.
3. Each one holds the spoon with the egg in its bowl at arm's length and hops on one foot, following wherever the leader leads them.
4. To drop the egg or rest on both feet prevents one from continuing in the game. They stay out until the next round.

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ROLLING EGGS GAME

Use  hard boiled eggs o plastic eggs...
1. On a table, the pavement outside, or inside on the floor, mark four parallel lines, eight to ten feet long.
If you're playing on a table, it may need to be shorter. Space lines four or five inches apart. There should now be three narrow spaces.
 
2. At the END of each space, make a circle, numbering the middle one 10, and the other two, 5.
In the middle of the spaces---mark the middle one ”, and the other two, 1.
 
3. The object of the game is to have each child roll five eggs, one at a time, down the middle space to the circles at the ends.

4. If the egg goes into the middle circle, it counts 10, but if it stops in the middle space, it counts  3, and so on. Count the number of each place where the egg stops.
 
5. Tally is kept for each child; the one scoring the most points wins the game.
Adapted from: Games for Everybody 

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EASTER EGG BLOW
1. Divide the children into two teams.
2. Place each team on one side of a table opposite of each other.
3. Place a colored cotton ball on the table and pretend it is a Easter egg.
4. The object of the game is to blow the egg off the opposing teams side of table. Players can not use their hands in any way. 

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 NEW!!!

THE WOLF AND THE EASTER EGGS

 

This is a version of an "IT GAME".
"It" is the Wolf.
All other players are "Easter Eggs."
 
The "Easter Eggs" group up and decide what color Easter egg they want to be.
When everyone has picked their color, they turn around and line up facing the wolf from a agreed upon line.

The wolf then starts to guess colors. As the wolf guesses, the player with that color steps forward one step and spell out their color.
Example: If the color is 'brown' they spell out B-R-O-W-N before the wolf tags them.

As soon as the player spells their color, they run a pre-determined "Obstacle Course" or circle. The run must be completed before they are tagged by the wolf.
 
When the run is completed, the eggs run back to their "Basket"(or home base) with the rest of the eggs

(If the eggs makes  it back to the "basket" with the other eggs they group again and the one that ran chooses another color.

The game goes on until the wolf tags someone, and that person is then the new wolf.

Variation for a small group: This game can also be played by eliminating players as they are caught. When one person is left-- that person is it.

This is a great game for younger children to learn how to spell their colors. Be sure to instruct younger children to choose a shorter color name (red) and one they KNOW how to spell.

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MUSIC, SONG, MOVEMENT, POEMS

EASTER'S COMING...DANCE! DO THE BUNNY POKEY!

Sung to: "Hokey Pokey"
You put your bunny ears in
(Place hands on head to make ears)
You put your bunny ears out.
You put your bunny ears in.
And you shake them all about.
You do the Bunny Pokey
And hop yourself around,
That's what it's all about!

Additional verses:
You put your bunny nose in...
You put your bunny tail in...
You put your bunny paws in...

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HERE  COMES PETER COTTONTAIL...

 

Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail,
Hippity hoppity,
Easter's on its way

Bringin' ev'ry girl and boy
A basketful of Easter joy
Things to make your Easter
Bright and gay

He's got jelly beans for Tommy
Colored eggs for sister Sue
There's an orchid for your mommy
And an Easter bonnet too. Oh!

Here' comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppity
Happy Easter Day

Look at him hop and listen to him say,
"Try to do the things you should"
Maybe if you're extra good
He'll roll lots of Easter eggs your way

You'll wake up on Easter morning
And you'll know that he was there
When you find those choc'late bunnies That he's hiding ev'rywhere, Oh!

Here' comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppity
Happy Easter Day.

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HOT CROSS BUNS...

Hot cross buns!
Hot cross buns!
One a penny, two a penny,
Hot cross buns!

If you have no daughters
Give them to your sons
One a penny, two a penny,
Hot cross buns.

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I LOVE EGGS
Sing to tune of Frere Jacques

I love eggs, I love eggs...
Yum, yum, yum, in my tum.

Scrambled, boiled, or fried...
Any way I've tried.

Yum, yum, yum...
yum, yum, yum.

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FIVE BABY BUNIES (Finger Play) 

Five baby bunnies hopping out to play,
Hopping in the forest on Easter Day. (Move fingers in a hopping motion)

The first baby bunny carried his new cane,
He twirled it as he came hopping down the lane.(Hold up one finger as the cane--and twirl it in the air)
 
The second baby bunny came to the river's brink,
Tasted the cool water and took a long, long drink. (Bending over, do a drinking motion)

The third baby bunny tied her bonnet so new,
Under her chin, a bow of pink, white, and blue. (Tie a bow under your chin)

The fourth baby bunny skipped down the shady lane,
He opened his umbrella just in case of rain. (Open a pretend umbrella)
 
The fifth baby bunny said, Look what I see!
Lots and lots of colored eggs hiding near the tree! (Put hands together to simulate a 'binocular” and look peer through them to see the eggs!)

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EASTER PARADE...

In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,
You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade.
I'll be all in clover and when they look you over,
I'll be the proudest fellow in the Easter Parade.

On the avenue, Fifth Avenue, the photographers will snap us,
And you'll find that you're in the rotogravure.
Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet,
And of the girl I'm taking to the Easter Parade.
     Written by Irving Berlin

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Poems are nice to put on hand-made cards...

SOME THINGS THAT EASTER BRINGS
Easter duck and Easter chick,
Easter eggs with chocolate thick...

Easter hats for one and all...
Easter Bunny makes a call!

Happy Easter always brings
Such a lot of pleasant things...
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EASTER EVERYWHERE
Rabbits soft and cuddly
Baby chickens, too...

Easter eggs for baskets
White and pink and blue.

Easter cards of greeting,
Music in the air,
Lilies just to tell us-
It's Easter everywhere.
 

HAPPY EASTER DAY...

The tulips in the garden
Are wearing yellow hats;
The pussy willows by the brook
Have fur like any cats'.
The bee is honey hunting;
The robin's chirp is gay;
And all the world is singing,
"Oh, happy Easter Day!"

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OTHER EASTER CATEGORIES: Click here for all Easter Themed Art, Crafts, Snacks, Games, Jokes, Easter Egg Ideas and more...

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BOOK LIST (For Pre-K to 8)

 ST. PATRICK'S DAY

• Billy Beg and His Bull: An Irish Tale by Ellin Greene
• Caitlin, The Irish Dancer, Sticker Paper Doll by Barbara Steadman
• Children's Irish-English Dictionary
• Clever Tom and the Leprechaun: An Old Irish Story by Linda Shute
• Fair, Brown & Trembling : An Irish Cinderella Story by Jude Daly (Illustrator)
• Hooray, for St. Patrick's Day! by Joan Holub
• Irish Dance Recital Sticker Activity Book by Barbara Steadman
• Jack and the Leprechaun by Ivan Robertson, Katy Bratun (Illustrator)
• Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaola
• Leprechaun Luck: A Wee Book of Irish Wisdom by Erin Gobragh
• Look What Came from Ireland by Miles Harvey
• O'Sullivan's Stew by Hudson Talbott
• Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie De Paola
• Shamrocks, Harps, and Shillelaghs: The Story of the St. Patrick's Day Symbols by Edna Barth
• St. Patrick's Day Alphabet by Beverly Barras Vidrine
• St. Patrick's Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting
• St. Patrick's Day Parades, Shamrocks, and Leprechauns by Elaine Landau
• St. Patrick's Day by Gail Gibbons
• That's What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting
• The Ancient Celtic Festivals: And How We Celebrate Them Today by Clare Walker Leslie
• The King of Ireland's Son by Brendan Behan
• The Last Snake in Ireland: A Story About St. Patrick by Sheila Macgill-Callahan
• The Luckiest Leprechaun: A Tail-Wagging Tale of Friendship by Justine Korman
• The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh by Janet Nolan, Ben Stahl (Illustrator)
• This Is Ireland by M. Sasek
• Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk by Gerald McDermott
• St. Patrick's Day by Gail Gibbons
• Leprechauns Never Lie by Lorna Balian

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(Pre-K to 8 yr.) EASTER RELATED

 

•  Bunny Trouble by Hans Wilhelm
• Bunny's Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown
• Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco
• Easter Bugs : A Springtime Pop-up by David A. Carter
• Easter Bunny's Amazing Egg Machine by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
• Easter Mice! by Bethany Roberts
• Home for a Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
• Humbug Rabbit by Lorna Balian
• Lilies, Rabbits and Painted Eggs by Edna Barth
• Little Bunny's Easter Surprise by Jeanne Modesitt, Robin Spowart (Illustrator)
• Minnie and Moo: The Attack of the Easter Bunnies by Denys Cazet
• Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present by Charlotte Zolotow
• One Duck Stuck : A Mucky Ducky Counting Book by Phyllis Root
• Owen's Marshmallow Chick by Kevin Henkes
• Peeping Beauty by Mary Jane Auch
• Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco
• Ten Little Eggs by Jean Marzollo
• The Best Thing About Easter by Christine Harder Tangvald
• The Bunny Who Found Easter by Charlotte Zolotow
• The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by Dubose Heyward
• The Easter Bunny That Overslept by Priscilla & Otto Friedrich, Donald Saaf (Illustrator)
• The Easter Chicken by Lisa Funari Willever
• The Easter Egg Artists by Adrienne Adams
• The Easter Egg Farm by Mary Jane Auch
• The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous
• The Golden Egg Book by Margaret Wise Brown
• The Golden Egg by A.J. Wood
• The Jelly Bean Fun Book by Karen Capucilli
• The Night Before Easter by Natasha Wing
• The Tale Of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

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BOOK LIST FOR EASTER FUN AND CRAFTS

• 175 Easy to Do Easter Crafts
  by Sharon Dunn Umnik - editor
• Crafts for Easter
  by Kathy Ross
• Easter - A Spring Celebration of Traditional Crafts and Recipes
  by Tessa Evelegh
• Easter Treats
  by Jill O'Connor
• Fun to Make Crafts for Easter
  by Tom Daning
• The Easter Craft Book
  by Berger
  These can be found in library, bookstore or on Amazon

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For Earth Day and Earth Club

 

 

KIDS' CARE (BOOK)
Over 75 activities to help children ages 7-12 to "change the world-one caring action at a time!" (2007 Williamson Books).
Children can engage in a variety of positive actions to help people, animals, the environment, and wildlife. Several projects are also included that children can do in partnership with other community service groups.
You can purchase it for $12.95 at schoolagenotes.com

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EARTH FRIENDLY PROJECTS BOOKS

Recycled Crafts Box by Laura C. Martin
For Earth friendly projects and activities.

Recycled Re-Seen: Folk Art from the Global Scrap Heap
by Charlene Cerny
Whether it is a dustpan made out of a license plate, a bowl fashioned from a bent vinyl record, a pair of sandals with soles made of Goodyear tire treads, or a tin-can lantern, folk artists all over the world are turning trash into treasure.
(amazon.com--buy gently used books and save $$)

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NATURAL RESOURCES (EARTH) BOOKS. Many may be available at your local library.

Some good choices are:

• Earth Namer
  by Margery Berstein
• Our World is Earth
  by Sylvia Engdahl
• The Little Park
  by Dale Fife
• Earth
  by Alfred Leutscher
• Beneath your Feet Earth
  by Seymour Simon
• The Beaver Pond
  by Alvin. R. Treselt

   

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(Pre-K to 8 yr.) WEATHER RELATED

 

• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs...
• Splishy Splashy Day ...Liza Alexander
• Geraldine’s Big Snow... Holly Keller
• We Shake in a Quake
• Puddles... Jonathan Londen
• Tornado Alert ...Branley
• Little Cloud... Eric Carle
• Little Bear What Will Little Bear Wear... Sendak
• What Will the Weather Be... De Witt
• It Looked Like Spilt Milk
• The Tiny Seed... Eric Carle
• Daisy Comes Home... Jan Brett
• This is the Rain... Lola M. Schaffer
• Rain or Shine...
• The Mitten... Jan Brett
• Just a Thunderstorm... Mercer Mayer
• Exploring Weather... Stephanie Finke
• Rain Talk... Mary Serfozo
• Blizzards... Loraine Hopping
• Floods... Loraine Hopping
• What Makes the Weather?... Janet Palazzo
• Weather... Caroline Astrop
• I Am Water... Jean Marzollo
• Weather I Can Read About... Robyn Supraner
• Rain, Rain Go Away ...Teresa Reed
• Thunder and Lightning... David Cutts
• What’s the Weather Like Today...Rozanne Williams
• Wild Weather Lightning... Loraine Hopping
• What’s It Doing Outside?... Marsha Wright
• God’s World of Weather... Heno Head Jr
• The Cloud Book... Tomi DePaola
• Clifford and the Big Storm... Normal Birdwell

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