This category consists of several  sections...click on the one you'd like!

•Earth Theme: Art, Crafts and Games

•Earth Theme: Litter, Recycling and Coins

•Earth Theme: Nature and Science Activities

•Earth Themed Snacks and Variey of Ideas

•Earth Themed Music Activities

•Seasonal Earth and Green Ideas!

•Earth Friendly Ideas for Middle and High School

32 Green Things to do at Home...

•Earth Friendly and 'Green' Contact Resource List

•Gardening Theme

•Bird Theme

•Worm Theme

•Insects/Creepy Crawlies

Also see crafts, art and games made from RECYCLED MATERIALS

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Earth and Green Theme Menu 

 

 Page 1... Menu and Links to 'Community Service Activities' are at page bottom...

 

FIND PROJECTS TO FIT YOUR CLASSROOM, PROGRAM, OR FAMILY...

Identify areas of interest — Talk about the kinds of issues you'd like to help and the kinds of activities you'd like to do. Are you most concerned about low-income people, senior citizens, refugees, or homeless? Or is your program and family more passionate about caring for abandoned animals or caring for the environment?

•Try something once — Decide together the kinds of things you'd like to try one time, and start with that. Be sure to choose projects that allow every member, regardless of age, to contribute in a meaningful way.

•Involve children — Actively involve children in choosing and planning service projects. Pay attention to what interests them and what they seem most concerned about, as those are areas where they're likely to invest more energy. Give them responsibilities that match their abilities and interests.

•Start close to home —Start looking for opportunities where you already have connections.You may find opportunities through  school, other programs and families, or local community and service organizations.

•Ask others — If you know of other school or child care programs...or have friends or have family members who volunteer regularly... ask them if you can join them. Talk with others  as to whether they'd like to do something together.
Adapted to program needs from MVParents.com

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COMING UP WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE IDEAS...
Never underestimate the strength of the young ones. They are amazing.

1. Have children brainstorm ideas.
2. Set ground rules:
    •No idea is laughed at.
    •No idea is stupid.
    •No idea is ruled out until the end.
3. Then consider, "How can we really do this?" (Adapted from Tiffany Cooper)

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MENU for Community Service Category

• All Categories (Except Kindness)
• Community Service Project Ideas for all Ages! 
• Real After School Program Service Projects
• Community Service Ideas for Middle and High School
• Kindness/Random Acts of Kindness
• Lights on After School (Event on October 18, 2012)
• Ideas for Parents Getting Involved in Schools  

Page 1,  2,  3,  4,  5

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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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This is Page 2...back to page 1

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CROCKPOT WEENIES AND SMOKIES...Good all year... but remember these for July: July is "National Hot Dog Month"!

CROCK POT LITTLE SMOKIES
2 packages Cocktail wieners or Little Smokies
1 bottle (12 ounces) chili sauce
1 cup grape jelly
PREPARATION:
Combine cocktail wieners or little Smokies in Crockpot with chili sauce and grape jelly; cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.

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CROCKPOT SAUSAGE APPETIZERS
1 large jar (18 ounces) apricot or pineapple preserves
1/2 cup prepared mustard, yellow
6 green onions, with green, sliced
2 pounds cocktail franks or mini smoked sausages
In slow cooker, combine preserves and mustard. Stir in sliced green onions and franks or sausages. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, or until very hot. Stir to blend ingredients and serve immediately with toothpicks.

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HOT DOG APPETIZER
(Crock Pot or Stove Top)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brandy or apple juice concentrate
1 package cocktail hot dogs or regular hot dogs cut in 1 inch pieces
Mix all ingredients together; Put into crock pot on low for several hours.

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SUGAR DOG APPETIZER (Slow Cooker)
3 packages hot dogs, cut into thirds
1 pound bacon, each piece cut in half
1 (2-pound) bag brown sugar
Wrap each piece of hot dog in a bacon strip. Place hot dogs in slow cooker. Pour bag of brown sugar over top. Cook on low until sugar melts.
Serves 18 as an appetizer.

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SLOW COOKER SPICY FRANKS
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pound frankfurters, cut in 1-inch pieces or 1 pound cocktail wieners or smoked sausages
Place ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, mustard and garlic in a 3 -quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on high setting until all elements blend into one delicious whole, about 1 to 2 hours. Stir in frankfurters. Cover and cook until thoroughly heated, 1 to 2 hours. Turn on low to keep warm and serve.
Serves: 6 to 8 as appetizer

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HOT DOG & BACON APPETIZER
Ingredients:
1 lb. bacon, sliced in half crosswise
Brown sugar
Slice hot dogs crosswise in half. Wrap each hot dog half with a bacon strip. Fasten with toothpick. Layer in slow cooker/Crock Pot, sprinkling each layer with a thin layer of brown sugar. Repeat layers until hot dogs run out.
Cook on low for 2 to 3 hours, stirring gently every 20 minutes.

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SWEET & SOUR FRANKS
1 cup chili sauce
1 cup currant jelly
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
2 pounds cocktail franks, or hot dogs cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cans (8 ounces each) pineapple chunks
PREPARATION:
1.  Combine first four ingredients in Crockpot; mix well to break up jelly chunks.
2.  Cover and cook on high 15 to 20 minutes to soften jelly and blend sauce ingredients.
3.  Add cut-up hot dogs or cocktail franks.
4.  Add pineapple. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours; or low for 4 hours. Keep on low while serving.

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GOODIES WITH TWINKIES...

TWINKIE STRAWBERRY SURPRISE!
Ingredients:
10 Hostess Twinkie
1 (3 1/2 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
1 1/2 cups milk
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 boxes sweetened frozen strawberry, thawed
Directions:

• Slice Twinkies in half lengthwise and lay evenly flat side up in a 9 x 13 inch pan.
• Pour strawberries all over the top.
• In a large bowl, mix pudding, milk and whipped topping until well combined. Spread over strawberries.
• Cover and refrigerate several hours overnight.
  

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TWINKIE/STRAWBERRY DESSERT #2
2 boxes Twinkies
1 large box strawberry gelatin
1 large box instant vanilla pudding
1 can strawberry pie filling
1 container Cool Whip
Pecans
1.  Line a 13 x 9-inch pan with Twinkies.
2.  Mix gelatin according to package directions and pour over Twinkies.
3.  Prepare pudding as directed and pour over gelatin.
4.  Cover with pie filling and then top with Cool Whip.
5.  Sprinkle with pecans. Chill at least 2 hours before serving. Serves 8 to 10.

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TWINKIE DESSERT #3
16 Twinkies
7 (1.20 oz.) Heath bars, freeze shortly to crush each
1 pkg. French vanilla pudding or chocolate pudding
2 c. milk
8 oz. Cool Whip
   1.  Make pudding according to package directions, using 2 cups of milk.
   2.  Cut Twinkies in half lengthwise and place 1/2 on bottom of 9 x 13 inch pan; cream side up.
   3.  Top with 1/2 of the crushed Heath bars.
   4.  Cover with pudding and place remaining Twinkie halves on top.
   5.  Top with Cool Whip.
   6.  Garnish with remaining of Heath bars. Let set overnight

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BEVERAGES

 HOMEMADE SODA POP
Materials: Fruit Juice, Club Soda
Directions: Fill a glass 2/3 full with your favorite fruit juice. Then add club soda and stir briefly. For variety, try mixing two or more fruit juices, like orange and cranberry or grape and lemonade, before adding the club soda.

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•Check out fantastic SMOOTHIE, SHAKES AND COOLER DRINKS!

•You'll also like the great variety of HOT COCOA RECIPES

Back to page 1 of No-Bake

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(Pre-K to 8 yr.) EASTER RELATED BOOKS

•  Bunny's Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown
•  Bunny Trouble by Hans Wilhelm
• 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.com

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

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 This page contains Garden Themed Art, Crafts, Games, Snacks, Songs and Jokes! Page 1 is filled with ideas for gardening with kids--including container gardening, worm bottles, fun ideas and experiments!

ARTS AND CRAFTS...

'BLUEBERRIES FROM THE GARDEN' PAINTING

Good for any summer day-but great way to celebrate National Blueberry Month during July!
1.  Give children blueberries to look at, touch, smell, and taste. (Good for the young)
2.  After the children have observed the blueberries add a little water to them and cook them in the microwave for one minute.
3.  Have children mush them up. Use the blueberry juice to paint a beautiful blue blueberry picture. 

MAKE A SIT-A-PON FOR GARDENING ...

Remember making these when you were in Brownies or Girl Scouts? Children can make them for family members to kneel on during summer gardening! (Good for Camping too!) Also great for your outdoor 'Circle Time". Need:
  •  1 thick magazine or catalog.
  •  Old plastic coated tablecloth
  •  Yarn
  •  Large sewing needle
1. Fold your tablecloth in half. Place your magazine or catalog on the tablecloth. You'll be cutting out 2 squares from this. Cut out a square about 1 1/2-2 inches wider than the magazine. You don't want too much of an edge because then the magazine will slid around too much. The plastic part of the tablecloth will be the outside covering.
2. Take the 2 plastic squares and the one magazine and make a "sandwich " putting the magazine in the middle. You can use large straight pins to hold all the "sandwich" pieces in place. Once you have done this, using the hole punch, make openings equally spaced all around the perimeter of the "sandwich ".
3. Thread the sewing needle with the chosen yarn. Make a knot and start sewing through the holes. This will keep the "sandwich" together. After going all away around the perimeter of the rectangle end with a knot.

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ABOVE AND BELOW VEGGIE GARDEN
Materials: 12"x18" white paper, sharpie, crayons

Bring in several root vegetables. Discuss the textures and colors.
Ask students to pretend they have a magical camera - the camera is very thin, and you can slide it into the ground. Take a picture, and you can see what is going on below the surface.

Draw a horizon line and below it we draw the vegetables.
Have students do a rubbing on a cement wall with brown crayon-- on the bottom half -- to show dirt. By a Grade 2 student of Art teacher Michal Austin in Kansas.

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START WITH A SEED (ART)
1. Glue a watermelon seed, pumpkin, or any kind of seed, onto paper.
2. Paint an imaginary plant with the roots growing FROM the seed UNDERGROUND.
3.  Paint the leaves, and flowers or fruit of the plant above the ground level. Match the drawing of the flower/fruit to the kind of seed you have "planted."

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GOODY BAGS FOR A 'GARDEN THEMED' PARTY

Get some miniature tin or terra-cotta flower pots.

Fill them with flower and insect stickers, butterfly tattoos, a package of sunflower seeds, some gummy worms, and any other little garden theme party favors you come across at the party or discount stores.

Top with a square of plastic wrap or colored cellophane and use a rubber band to secure the wrap to the rim. Paint kids names on the pot...

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 MAKE PLAY DOUGH and make it different colors of the earth! The children can make trees, worms, and flower shapes. (There are more than 40 recipes in the Play Dough Category...even one for fossils and dough that looks like mud!)

PLAY DOUGH that LOOKS LIKE MUD!
Bring 3 cups water and 3 tablespoons vegetable oil to a boil.
While the mixture is heating, put 3 cups all purpose flour, 2 tablespoons cream of tarter, and 1 1/2 cups salt into a large bowl. Carefully mix the wet and dry together and knead until smooth.
For the MUD additions, add brown tempera paint (either dry or liquid) and 2 or 3 Tablespoons of coffee grounds. It really looks like dirt!

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MAKE A DANDELION NECKLACE OR CROWN

Remove dandelions from the lawn. Pick those with long, thick stems.
Attach them by tying one stem in a knot high up near the flower of another dandelion, and so on until reaching the desired length.
TIP: Remind children that their new necklaces/crowns are made of weeds and will wilt in a day or two, but they can always make a fresh one.

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VEGGIE MONSTER (A snack and craft in one!) 
Place a number of small vegetables and fruits on the table. Ask the kids to create a Veggie Monster, using toothpicks to attach the different pieces of fruits and veggies.
Award prizes for the most creative, the prettiest, the funniest, the scariest, and so on.

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Be sure to check out the 'Flower Theme'. There are many ideas and activities that will compliment a 'Garden Theme'.

 

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GARDEN THEMED GAMES

GARDENING RELAY RACE
You'll Need:
Small children’s watering cans
2 Buckets of water
Small plastic glasses
How to Play:

Divide the kids into two teams and have them form two lines.
Place a bucket of water at the front of each line and an empty watering can about ten feet away.
Give each player an empty plastic glass.
When you say, "Go!" the players at the front of each line must fill their glasses with water by dipping them in their bucket.
They must then run to the empty watering can and pour their glass of water inside, then run back and tag the next team member. The child who is next in line should have their glass filled with water and be ready to run. Continue the race until one team completely fills their watering can. The first team to fill its watering can to the rim with water wins.

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THE  FLOWER GARDEN GAME (This could also be called Zoo, Ocean, Circus, Barnyard or Outer Space. If you are having a different "Theme"--Just change the names to go with the theme...)

Depending how many children you have--form teams. You can have anywhere from 3 Teams and up!
Teams are in their groups and one end of the gym or field. Players in teams have DESIGNATED NAMES. For Spring Flowers you could use: TULIPS, LILY OF THE VALLEY, PHLOX, VINCA,  DAFFODIL, LILACS, and PANSY. FOR Summer Flowers: ROSE, BEGONIA, MARIGOLD, LILY, etc. 

Two or three persons are "It" in the middle of the room.
"It" calls out the names of the flower (Example - tulip)
All tulips must run to the garden at the opposite end of the room without being caught.
When "GARDEN" is called, everyone must run to the opposite end.
Penalty for being caught is to run all around the garden (A LAP OF THE GYM) once--- and then they can come back in the game!
(Remember to change the "it" people)

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  _________________

 WHEEL BARROW RACE
Partners assume the Wheel Barrow and pusher position.
On the signal, they advance to the turning point where they change positions and return to the starting line.

 

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WHEEL BARROW RACE WITH BALLS
What You'll Need:
Two small wheel barrows (can also use wagons)
Several balls for each wheel barrow, such as beach balls, soccer balls, or basketballs.
 
Use masking tape to mark the start and finish lines for the races.
For children under five years old, make the distance fairly short. For children six to ten, make the race twenty-five feet or more.

1. Divide the kids into two teams and have them form two lines. Place a wheel barrow (or wagon) filled with a few balls at the front of each line.

2. When you say, "Go!" the players at the front of each line must grab the handles of their wheel barrows and race to the line you have marked, turn around, and race back.

3. If any balls fall out of their wheel barrow, they must stop and retrieve them.

4. When they get back to the starting line, the next team member grabs the wheel barrow and starts running.

Continue the race until every member of both teams has crossed the finish line.

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THE GARDENER SAYS...

Instead of Simon Says...Play 'The Gardener Says'...

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DEAD ANTS 'IN THE GARDEN' TAG GAME

A cooperative tag game...
One or two people volunteer to be ant-eaters, the rest start out as ants. By tagging them, ant-eaters attempt to stun all of the ants on the ant hill---while the ants struggle to avoid the ant-eaters ---and rescue their friends.

 Start by creating a boundary for play (i.e., the ant hill).
Use landmarks such as trees or cones to create the ant-hill and have everyone step inside.

• The ant‘s must avoid the ant-eater and work together to save their ant friends who have been stunned.
• When an ant is tagged by the ant-eater, the individual sits on the ground and calls for help.
  Stunned ants cannot move from the spot, but may wave their arms and legs to alert other ants to their situation.
• To make a rescue, four ants must surround a stunned ant---lock their arms in a circle---and escort the individual off the ant hill to a location just outside of the play area.
• When all four ants have locked into positions for a rescue, they cannot be targeted by the ant-eater.
• Once an ant has been rescued, he or she returns with the rescuers to the game.
• Play as many rounds as you wish, and switch ant-eaters frequently.

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'SNAKES AND WORMS' IN THE GARDEN 
(You can call this game anything you want. An idea is to use brown and green yarn and call it snakes and worms...)

• Cut two colors of yarn, each about 20 feet long. (If you have a large group playing at the same time--you may need 3 colors of yarn and cut the pieces longer)
• Next cut the long length into many pieces.
• Hide the pieces of yarn outside.
  When time to play, carefully explain rules and regulations to children.

Form two teams with one or two kids on each side as captains.
They will tie each yarn piece that is brought to them, to the next yarn piece.
The team with the longest finished yarn string wins!
Idea: This game would also be good for a party--and adapted to the inside. 

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FUN SNACKS FOR A GARDEN THEME...

 DIRT CUPS...

#1 INDIVIDUAL DIRT CUPS (COOKIES ON TOP)
 
Canned or Pre-made Chocolate Pudding Mix
Milk (If making pudding)
Oreo Cookies
Gummy Worms
Cool Whip
Cups
Spoons
Zip Lock Bags 

  • Place Oreo cookies in a zip lock bag; have children break them up by banging the bag. Cover the bottom of cups with crumbled Oreos. 

  • Combined pudding mix and milk to make your pudding, pour into the cups--leaving 1/2 an inch of space at the top.   

 • Refrigerate pudding until set. Add crumbled Oreos to the top of each cup and garnish with a gummy worm.

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#2 DIRT CUP VERSION ( COOKIES IN PUDDING)
2 cups of cold milk
1 package (4 serving size) JELL-O Instant Pudding (chocolate flavor)
3-1/2 cups (8 ounce container) COOL WHIP whipped topping, thawed
1 package (16 ounces) chocolate sandwich cookies (like OREOS) (crush them into tiny pieces in a plastic bag)
Gummy worms 
Measuring cup
Medium mixing bowl
Wire whisk
Rubber scraper or large spoon
Measuring spoons
 8-10 paper or plastic cups (8 ounce size)
 
1. Pour the milk into the mixing bowl and add the pudding mix. Beat with the wire whisk until well blended (about two minutes). Let pudding stand for five minutes.

2. Stir whipped topping and 1/2 of the crushed cookies into the pudding (very gently) with rubber scraper until mixture is all the same color.

3. Place about 1 tablespoon of the remaining crushed cookies into the bottom of each cup.
 
4. Fill cups about 3/4 full with pudding mixture. Top each cup with the rest of the crushed cookies.

5. Add gummy worms and insects to decorate. Put cups into the refrigerator for about one hour to chill them.
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 #3 OREO PUDDING WORM CUPS (SAND AND DIRT CUPS)
Ingredients:
4 cups of cold milk
1 package (4-serving size) Jell-O chocolate flavor instant pudding
1 package ( 4-serving size) Jell-O vanilla flavor instant pudding
1 tub (8oz) Cool Whip topping, thawed
18 Oreo chocolate sandwich cookies, finely crushed, divided
8 plastic cups (6-7 oz)
Gummy worms
 
1. Prepare instant chocolate and vanilla puddings separately, with two cupsof cold milk each , as directed on packages. Let stand for five minutes.
2.Gently stir 1/2 cup of cool whip into each bowl of pudding. Sprinkle onetablespoon of Oreo crumbs into bottom of plastic cups. Top each with 1/4 cupof vanilla pudding, 1 tablespoon Oreo crumbs and 1/4 cup chocolate pudding.Sprinkle evenly with remaining Oreo crumbs. Refrigerate at least one hour.
3. Insert one or more gummy worms a into each cup just beforeserving.
Makes 8 Sand & Dirt Cups.

 

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NO BAKE MUD PIE COOKIES #1
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 cups oatmeal
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
Mix sugar and cocoa together… Stir in milk. Put mixture in a pot; add butter. Heat  until it comes to a full boil. STIR and cook for about two minutes. Do not let it burn.
Turn off heat and MIX IN the remaining ingredients.
Take spoonfuls of cookie dough and drop onto the waxed paper to cool.

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NO BAKE MUD PIES #2
2 cups granulated sugar
6 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup butter
1/2 milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup shredded coconut
3 cups instant oats
1.  Combine sugar, cocoa, butter and milk in saucepan.
2.  Bring to a boil.
3.  Add vanilla extract.
4.  Remove from heat and stir in coconut and oats.
5.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper; chill
Makes 4 1/2 dozen.
Source: recipegoldmine.com

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MAKE AN ANT FARM... with Peanut Butter, Graham Crackers and Raisins

On a plate spread peanut butter.
In the middle erect a tunnel from the broken graham crackers.
Next, place the raisins on the peanut butter to look like Ants.
Children can eat the raisins and peanut butter with either the graham crackers or pieces of celery.
(You can use canned chocolate frosting if you have peanut allergies in your group)

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ANT HILL-- Make  edible ant hills in cups!
Use clear plastic punch cups to see the layers.
1. For the 'dirt" layer--first put chocolate pudding into the cup.
2. Crush graham crackers in a plastic Ziploc bag and pour the crumbs into the cup for the ant hill "sand".
3. Add chocolate chips or raisins for the "ants".

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HAVE KIDS MAKE THEIR OWN MUD (PUDDING) IN A BAG!
You Need:
Boxes of Instant Pudding (1 box for 2 children)
Milk (according to instructions on pudding box)
Ziploc bags (1 for each child)
Measuring cups
1. Pour half a box of pudding into each child's Ziploc bag.
2. Measure enough milk to make half a box of pudding and allow children to add it to their pudding in the bag.
3. Seal the bag (make sure it's really sealed!!)
4. Children can squish the bag around with their hands, mixing the pudding with the milk.
5. When all of the pudding is mixed, cut a small hole in the corner of the bag and let the kids suck the pudding out!
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ANTS IN THE SAND
2 Graham crackers
Chocolate sprinkles
1.  Place graham crackers in a plastic sandwich bag and crush with a rolling pin.
2.  Add a few chocolate sprinkles to make ants, then seal the bag.
3.  Give the bag to the kids to take outside to eat; they can also pour it into a small bowl and eat at the table (Using their fingers, of course.)

Variations:
•Add raisins (Call them beetles)
•Red Hots candy (ladybugs)
•Mini chocolate chips (spider eggs).
1 Serving

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 Make a GARDEN CAKE ... the basics would be with  green frosting and adding some rock candies, chocolate cookie crumbs and small silk flowers to the top of the cake.

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QUICK GARDEN THEMED SNACKS...

 • A FLOWER SNACK: Soften a large package of cream cheese and ¾ pound of shredded American cheese. Mix together. Let each child arrange five round shaped crackers on a paper plate. Then they can surround the round cheese ball with the crackers to make a flower! 

• Serve punch from a NEW clean watering can.

• Eat sunflower, pumpkin or other types of edible seeds.

• Cheetos can be called “worms.”

• Serve Pepperidge Farm Butterfly Cookies and Crackers.

• Cut sandwiches with a flower cookie cutter.

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EASY 'WORM IN THE GARDEN' COOKES OR CUPCAKES

Frost large round cookie or cupcakes with green frosting. (Tint white frosting with green food coloring) Place a gummy worm on top. Add green M&Ms for a 'grassy' look. Image by KidActivities.net

 

 

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SONGS ABOUT PLANTS...

GREEN PLANTS NEED...
Sing to tune of hree Blind Mice

Three main things, three main things,
Green plants need, green plants need.
For plants to grow and plants to thrive,
In order to keep green plants alive,
What does it take for them to survive?
Just three main things.

Plants need sun, plants need sun,
That's number one, plants need sun.
For plants to grow and plants to thrive,
In order to keep green plants alive,
What does it take for them to survive?
Just three main things.

Plants need air, plants need air,
Be aware, plants need air.
For plants to grow and plants to thrive,
In order to keep green plants alive,
What does it take for them to survive?
Just three main things.

Plants need water, plants need water,
Especially when it's hotter, plants need water.
For plants to grow and plants to thrive,
In order to keep green plants alive,
What does it take for them to survive?
Just three main things.

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DO YOU KNOW THE PARTS OF PLANTS?
Sing to Tune: Head, Shoulders, Knees, And Toes

Do you know the parts of plants...
Parts of plants?
Do you know the parts of plants...
Parts of plants?
All kinds of plants that grow and grow and grow.
Do you know the parts of plants...
Parts of plants?

The roots hold the plant in place...
Plant in place.
The roots hold the plant in place...
Plant in place.
The roots store food and water, too.
The roots hold the plant in place,
Plant in place.

The stem move water up the plant...
Up the plant.
The stem move water up the plant,
Up the plant. ...
The stem brings water to the leaves.
The stem move water up the plant,
Up the plant.

The leaves soak up the sun...
Soak up the sun.
The leaves soak up the sun...
Soak up the sun.
The sun helps the plant to grow and grow and grow.
The leaves soak up the sun,
Soak up the sun.

The flower grows into a fruit...
Into a fruit.
The flower grows into a fruit...
Into a fruit.
Inside the fruit are little tiny seeds.
The flower grows into a fruit,
Into a fruit

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FLOWER AND GARDEN JOKES

 

Why is grass so dangerous?
Because it's full of blades!

What do you get when you cross poison oak with a four leaf clover?
A rash of good luck.

Why can't the flower ride his bike?
Because he lost his petals!

What do trees drink?
Root Beer!

What did the baby Tulip say to its baby-sitter?
''I want my Poppy and my Mum!''
 
What is the best kind of guy to meet?
A fungi!

What happened to the plant in math class?
It grew square roots!

What do you get when you cross fruit with a necklace?
A food chain!

What kind of flower looks like it just came back from a fight?
A black-eyed Susan!

What do you call a homeless snail?
A slug!

What do you get when you cross a genius with a tree?
Albert Pine-stein!

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?
Pilgrims!

Did you hear about the magic tractor?
It went down the road and turned into a field!

What is a tree's least favorite month?
SepTEMBER!!!

Why is the letter "A" like a flower?
A bee (B) comes after it!

What flowers grow on faces?
Tulips (Two-lips)!

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This is page 2 (return to top of page)...return to page 1 for unique ideas and activities on planting/gardening , a bottle worm farm, experiments and community service using gardening ...

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Some interesting categories that could blend with a 'Garden Theme' are:

• Worm Theme
• Flower Theme
• Sunflower Theme
• Bird Theme 
• Insects/Bugs (Creepy~Crawlies)
• Short Theme for Veggies and Fruit Day

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 Christmas Craft Pages:  • All Pages,  Page 1,  Page 2,  Page 3,  Page 4,  Page 5, Holiday Decorating

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS (OR HANUKKAH OR KWANZA) PAPER CHAIN

Time is a difficult concept for young children to grasp! One fun and easy way to count off the days is to make a Holiday paper chain.  Start on December first...and each day remove one paper loop!

If you are a teacher/caregiver--make one with each child to take home--be sure to include directions for parents! (You could also do this in your classroom or program to count down the days to winter vacation!)

Materials:
Red and green construction paper (or color for your Holiday)
Choice of stapler, tape or glue stick, scissors or paper cutter

Directions:

1. Have adult cut paper strips from construction paper. The strips in the sample photo are approximately 2” x 8”.
2. Staple, glue or tape strips as you would any paper chain.
3. Depending on the amount of days to Christmas, number the loops 1 up to 24. (24 will be at the top of the chain and 1 at bottom)
4. Hang the chain from a doorway or hook.
5. Each day remove one loop from the chain. Before you know it-- the big day has arrived!

TIPS for Parents:
   • If your child is under 5, consider putting up no more than two weeks of loops. Time does seem to stretch on forever with little ones! 
  •  Consider making one chain for each "young" child you have; each child will want to remove their own loop. Problem solved! (500 pre-pasted 7" strips can be ordered from Orientaltrading.com for $4.99 - 5.99. however they are thin and can tear easily)

This is also a great idea for counting off any big event such as vacations, birthdays, etc. (Photo and idea by KIdActivities and featured on Nickelodeon Holiday Ideas!)

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 REINDEER FOOD

For each small baby food jar, you'll need:
1/4 cup dry oatmeal
1/8 cup granulated sugar, 1-2 tablespoons colored sugar
(Traditional recipes call for glitter, but unless you purchase the pricey edible glitter from specialty shops, it WON'T BE SAFE FOR BIRDS AND SQUIRELLS. Substituting colored sugar will still give a sparkly appearance, without being harmful to the actual animals who will end up eating it.

FOR A BABY FOOD JAR
Layer half of the oatmeal, followed by half of the colored sugar, the white granulated sugar, the rest of the colored sugar, and topped with the rest of the oatmeal.

IN A BAGGIE... Alternatively, combine ingredients in a mixing bowl and scoop into zippered plastic bags....

(With the sugar instead of the glitter-It's OK for the kids to munch on.)

Attach this poem if it is a gift!

Sprinkle on the lawn at night.
The moon will make it sparkle bright.
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam,
This will guide them to your home.

Direct the children to sprinkle it on Christmas Eve on the lawn, driveway, or apartment patio to entice the reindeer. It gives deer something to munch on while Santa delivers his goodies.

NOTE: If you like Reindeer-be sure to visit the 'Reindeer Theme'!

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SCENTED HOLIDAY BALLS

1 Styrofoam Ball (size may very)
1 Cup dried herbs or potpourri, dried rose petals or dried small flowers for a 6" size ball
White Glue
Twine or Ribbon

1. Pour herbs mixture into a bowl. You may choose to ground leaves or petals in a coffee grinder or food processor or glue them on separately.
2. Cover an area of the ball with glue and roll ball through mixture, covering an area at a time.
3. Cloves may be glued on separately.
4. Cover ball with waxed paper and firmly press. Allow to dry completely before adding ribbon

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ORANGE-CLOVE POMANDERS

Ingredients
6 oranges (or lemons)
whole cloves
decorative ribbon

The Spice Mix
4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons ground cloves
2 tablespoons ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons ground allspice
1/4 cup orrisroot powder (as preservative)
 
Directions
1. Combine the spice mix ingredients.
2. Wash oranges.
3. After poking a hole with a needle, fork, or tooth pick, insert cloves into oranges in a decorative pattern.
4. Roll cloved oranges in the spice mixture within 24 hours and set in a warm place to dry, turning fruit daily.
5. Drying takes from two weeks to possibly a month.
6. Pomanders are completely dry when they are hard.
7. Remove pomanders from the spice mix, dust off a little, and tie with decorative ribbons. (Wrap your orange in holiday ribbon leaving enough extra ribbon at the top for hanging. You can poke holes into the ribbon and through to the orange to help hold it in place.)

Set out in a bowl or you can use as Christmas ornaments. Also great hung in a closet! When preserved, these can last for months to years!

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FILL CLEAR ORNAMENTS

Ideas: Popcorn, Confetti, Cellophane sparkles, Pieces of foil garland, Fine potpourri, Tiny beads, Pearls, Epsom Salt, or Artificial Snow. Add a bow... (Images by KidActivities.net)

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 PLASTIC PLACE MAT ORNAMENTS (Can be used outdoors)

Materials:
Plastic place mats
Scissors
Paint pens and Contact paper
Circular paper hole-punch reinforcements

1. Cut Christmas-tree shapes out of plastic place mats.
2. Cover with green Contact paper, if desired.
Decorate by painting on designs with paint pens or markers.
Use hole reinforcements with painted centers to look like ornaments on a Christmas tree
Source: diynetwork.com

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NATURAL TREE ORNAMENTS

 

Consider using only 'natural ornaments on your classroom center or home Christmas tree! 

• Decorate the tree with popcorn and cranberry garland, white painted pine cones, (some glittered) and cinnamon dough ornaments. 
• Make pomanders from oranges and cloves (the pompaders can then be hung in closets)... start those in November! 
• Make walnut shell ornaments (directions below) and put those on the trees too. It will smell amazing the entire month!!!

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WALNUT SHELL ORNAMENTS

 • Take walnuts and crack them so you have the 2 halves.
Take out the nut meat and be sure to use it for a cooking project with the kids. (Make sure there are no allergies)

 • Next take twine or ribbon and glue it into the shell
Glue the edges of the shell and put them together. Either hold the two shell pieces till the glue sets enough to keep the pieces together...or put a rubber band around the shell.
When it's dry--remove the rubber band and it's ready to hang on the tree.
You can also paint the shells and add glue and glitter...or just glue and glitter the natural shell.

 • IDEA: You can also use them OUTSIDE.
Cover them with peanut butter and bird seed and then hang. 

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 CANDY GARLAND

• To make a candy garland-- thread a needle with floss. Thread the candy and make a knot at the ends. 

  • You can hang the garland on a tree or about the room or chandeliers. OR...

Use wrapped treats and an ordinary  stapler. Simply staple the ends of the wrappers together. (For loops and dips, make sure the garlands are at least double the length of the surface from which you will drape them.

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SNOW GLOBES

Fill a clear glass baby food jar (or other small jar) with half water and half corn syrup.
Add glitter, beads, etc. The corn syrup makes the glitter fall slowly for a sparkling effect.

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FROSTY HOLIDAY CARDS AND PICTURES (Two projects in one!)

Mix 1 cup Epsom salts with 1 cup boiling water. Let cool.
Use paint brushes to paint mixture over recycled Christmas cards or note cards with pretty pictures.
When dry, pictures will have a frosty appearance.

Don't throw away the mixture when you're done painting!
IN THE SCIENCE CENTER...take a piece of black construction paper and cut it to fit the bottom of a clear, flat dish.
Pour any remaining salt and water mixture into a dish and let sit over night to dry.
The mixture forms crystals.
The children can then use magnifying glasses to view the crystals. Two projects in one!!! ;-)

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 HOLIDAY WISH COLLAGE!

Write on construction paper a heading of-
"My Holiday Wish List"

Collect kid related catalogs and week-end advertising papers...filled with child related gifts/toys/books/clothes/electronic/and things for family time ideas.

Have children cut out pictures of things they find special.
Have them glue the items on sheets to form a wish-list for parents.
Instruct youth to ONLY cut and paste what they'd truly like!!!

TIP: This should be done right after Thanksgiving to early December--so that before parents shop they'll have an idea of what their children would like!

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PAINTED HAND AND FOOT ANGEL
 
Materials:
Construction paper, paint, paintbrush, paper plate, water and clean-up cloth or paper.
Pour paint on the plate.
With the paintbrush, 'paint' the child's foot and then press the foot gently onto the construction paper.
Clean the foot and then 'paint' the hands (one at a time) and place it to the side of the foot so that it looks like wings.

When dry-add two little eyes.
With a thin circle of glue and glitter-create the halo.

If this is to be a gift... Label it
To: ___________
From: Your Christmas Angel'

Source: HistoryMom on yahoo

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HANDS CHRISTMAS WREATH

1. Using green construction paper or card stock---trace children's splayed-fingered hands; cut out multiple copies of it.  
2. Overlap hands and arrange them in a circle to make a Christmas wreath. (It is advised to put hands over a pre-cut wreath-shape cardboard or a paper plate for more stability.

Decorate the wreath with red ribbon (either real or construction paper),  a few small light ornaments shapes, red pom-poms, or berries cut from construction paper.

This sample wreath (thank you to mommentsofmommyhood) used two sheets of paper for hand shapes on their wreath. The shapes were glued to cardboard from a cereal box...and embellished with a red contruction paper bow and berries.

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GROUP HANDPRINT CHRISTMAS TREE

•Have all children trace their hands onto green construction paper and cut them out.
•Using their hands, curl the fingertips upwards to make a branch look. Put all the curled handprints over each other into a Christmas tree shape.
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PAINTED HANDPRINT WREATHS

1. Have children dip their hands in green paint...make green hand prints in a circular shape on tag board.
2. When the paint has dried, roll small pieces of red crepe paper into balls (berries).
3. Glue the red berries onto the hand prints.
4. Make a red bow out of the crepe paper and staple it onto the wreath. Cut a hole in the middle of the wreath. (We actually cut the shape out before we decorate the wreath.)
5. Use either green or red yarn to hang the wreaths. Submitted by Sarah in Oakbrook, Illinois 

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FELT CHRISMAS TREE (For younger children)

Have children glue a piece of "cone-tree shape" felt triangle on of poster bard or cardstick paper.
Kids then snip other colors of felt scraps into little pieces and glue on as ornaments.
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MACARONI ORNAMENTS
Need:
(1) 3" X 4" piece of tag board or lightweight cardboard for each ornament.
Paper clip for each
All shapes and sized of macaroni
Scissors and glue
Gold spray paint and newspapers.
1.  Fold the 3" X 4" piece of tag board or cardboard in half.
2.  Cut out ANY shape desired for the ornament.
3.  Cover the cutout shape with glue.
4.  Arrange the dried pasta shapes on the ornaments. They can be arranged any way the children like.
5.  When one side is complete- let it dry and set.
6.  Turn it over and do the other side.
7.  Put a clip through the card board to hang. Spray with gold spray paint. It is advisable to lay many ornaments on newspaper and spray all at the same time. Let one side dry and then do the other side.

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PASTA SNOWFLAKES

Materials:
Wheel shaped pasta, White paint, White glitter, Dry Tapioca pudding mix, Paint brushes, Elmer's glue

Take round wheel shaped pasta and glue them together in a circle shape. When dry--paint the entire snow flake white. Before the paint dries, sprinkle on glitter mixed with dry Tapioca pudding mix.
To hang from the ceiling, insert a piece of string or yarn through one of the wheel holes after the snow flake is dry.

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PHOTOGRAPH HOLIDAY ORNAMENT  (Easy) Create ornaments using a photograph of the child.
Glue the photograph onto a shape the child cuts out of paper or poster board (such as a Christmas tree or Hanukkah menorah, etc.).
Decorate the ornament with glued-on sequins, beads or ribbon. Cut a small hole in the top and thread a ribbon through to hang the ornament.

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VOTIVE CANDLES

 Materials:
Baby food jars or jam jars
Scraps of tissue paper
Diluted paste or glue

Clean the jars  and let dry. You can use small jars...but check the size of the votive candle to make sure it will fit. Have children  brush glue onto the jar and place different colors of tissue paper over the glue, overlapping so the entire jar is covered on the outside. When brushing the tissue with glue be sure to do so gently so it doesn't tear. If it tear, remove or leave wrinkled. The glue will appear to be white but will dry clear and when a candle is lit inside will give off a pretty color and design. Great for gift time!   ♥ For Christmas: Use red and green 

THE VOTIVES TO THE LEFT by KidActivities... were made using clear votive candle holders. Small squares of either red or green tissue paper were applied using decoupage finish (Modge Podge). Once dry--another coat of decoupage was applied. Just as in the directions above, this must be done gently as not to tear the paper. When dried, small tree shapes (purchased at Michaels Craft Store) were glued onto the votive candle holders.

Mixed in with clear votive candle holders-a very pretty table was set! To see the completed table setting--visit the Holiday Decorating and Centerpiece page...

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 PAPER PLATE POINTSETTIA FLOWER CRAFT
This simple-to-make poinsettia is made from a paper plate and a child's handprint cutouts.

Materials:
A paper plate
Red, green and yellow construction paper
Scissors, Glue or a stapler

1. Trace children's hands on red and green construction paper.
2. Cut out the hand tracings.
3. Glue or staple a circle of green handprint tracings (fingers pointing outwards) around the outside of the plate.
4. Glue or staple a second circle of red handprint tracings (fingers pointing outwards) just inside the first circle.
5. Glue or staple a third circle of red handprint tracings at the center of the plate.
6. Glue a small yellow paper circle in the center of the flower. 

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PIPE CLEANER WREATH

Cut a small wreath shape from cardboard and wrap it with green pipe cleaners. (Make sure that the wreath is small enough so pipe cleaners will reach around to the backside to twist shut. Loop yarn or ribbon around to tie it on a tree--that's it. Photo  courtesy of World Preschool Mom blog site.

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MAKE SCENTED PINE CONES 

Materials Needed: Pine cones, Pine or fir pure essential oil, Lidded container, Box or plastic bag, Facial tissue

1. Fill container, box or plastic bag with dry, clean pine cones.
2. Liberally sprinkle tissue with essential oil and add to bag or container.
3. Seal the bag or container and allow oil to penetrate cones for several days before removing (the longer the cones are contained, the stronger the fragrance will be).

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RUDOLF MASK (For younger kids)

Materials:

Paper plates, brown, black and red construction paper, scissors, glue, markers or crayons, single whole punch, rubber bands or tongue depressor stick 

Preparation: For young children, pre-cut antlers and reindeer nose.
Directions:

1. Cut reindeer nose, and antlers out of construction paper.
2. Paste onto plate. Draw mouth. Cut holes out for eyes.
3. Punch hole on both sides of plate and attach rubber bands--or tape to a popsicle to hold in front of face. 
4. Have children wear reindeer masks while singing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Photo from Activity Village

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DECEMBER CELEBRATION AND HOLIDAY CARDS

Make a Holiday card with the words
"Sweet Wishes for A Merry Christmas ...Happy Hanukkah or _______!"

On the inside of the card, glue or staple a 'wrapped mini candy'.

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HAVE FUN WITH

A 'CARD MAKING' COLLAGE TABLE

Put out materials such as card stock, construction paper, old Holiday cards, pens, markers, craft glue, buttons, ribbon, holiday shaped templates for tracing, etc.

Challenge the children and see how creative they can be! This card sample uses buttons, markers, and an old jewelry piece for the tree top! Words cut out from an old Christmas card form the words, 'Season's Greetings'! The card stock paper is folded in half to continue the Holiday message inside...(Image by KidActivities.net)

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TISSUE PAPER ORNAMENTS #1 

Need:
2" Styrofoam Balls
Tissue Paper in Assorted Colors
Liquid Starch
Glitter
Hairpins
Toothpicks
Wax Paper
Decoupage Solution
Foam Brush
 
Instructions:

• Tear tissue paper into irregular 1" pieces.  Working over waxed paper, brush a section of Styrofoam ball with Liquid Starch. Place overlapping pieces of tissue paper over the starched section of the ball.
• Brush a coat of starch over tissue paper.
• Continue until entire ball is covered.
• Use toothpicks pushed into the Styrofoam to keep the ball from rolling around.
• Let dry. Brush with a coat of decoupage solution.
• Sprinkle with glitter while still wet. Let dry.
• Remove toothpicks.
• Push hairpin into the ball for a hanger.
  Source: MakingFriends.com

TISSUE PAPER ORNAMENTS #2

 

With a few exceptions, KidActivties made these ornaments much like the above directions.

First... a decoupage finish (Modge Podge) was brushed onto small sections of a Styrofoam ball.  Red and green squares of tissue paper were applied to the wet surface. Once the ornament was covered with the tissue paper, another coat of finish was applied over the ball...red and green glitter was sprinkled onto the ornament. When dry, a small pipe cleaner hook was inserted into the top to hang on the tree. Ribbon tied in a bow completes the look

NOTE: You must be very gentle when applying the tissue paper. It can easily tear. If this happens, just pat it down with a bit more Modge Podge.

TIP:  Dry round ornaments, etc.  on top of a toilet paper or paper towel tubes. It works great as a holder and they don't roll around!

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 ORNAMENT WITH PHOTO IN GOLD MASON JAR LID

1. Take out the insert of the lid and glue the child's picture in it.
2. Cut around the picture and put the insert with the glued picture back into the lid-Now the picture shows through.
3. Finish it with gluing lace or trim around the edge on the backside of it.
4. Add a piece of gold wired cord to the trim with a dab of hot glue.

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PICTURE ORNAMENTS

1. Buy holiday gift tags...Glue a small picture of the child in the middle and laminate.
2. Cut out and poke a small hole in the top to string.
3. You have a homemade ornament that is inexpensive and easy!

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CHRISTMAS HAND TREE

1. Trace child's hands.(Ten hand shapes for this project. Cut out hands...
2. To assemble tree, glue together four hands for the bottom of the tree.
3. On top of that glue three more and continue working your way up to the top of the tree.
4. Add a tree trunk and a star for the top. (Make a star shaped template for children to trace their stars)
5. Add ornaments by using a hole punch on colored paper--glue onto tree! (images courtesy of justfor fun) 

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 Christmas Arts and Crafts:  • All Pages,  Page 1,  Page 2,  Page 3,  Page 4 , Page 5

You may also want to visit the REINDEER THEME!  SNOWMAN THEME , SNOWFLAKE THEME or HANUKKAH THEME for other Holiday craft ideas

 Back to top of page!

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