Kid Activities
1000's of Ideas for Childcare Professionals & Teachers!

Our 'Wish List' to Families and Friends!

August 22, 2009 14:38 by Barbara Shelby

 

A great way to supplement 'Trash to Treasure' and 'Arts and Craft' Supplies is by putting out a request list! You can make and do all kinds of wonderful things with some of the below ideas! 

DRAMATIC PLAY

  • Old jewelry
  • Dress up clothes, purses, scarves, shawls, high heels
  • Old costumes
  • Dance recital costumes
  • Ties, Men's jackets

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'IN CASE OF PERSONAL' ACCIDENTS OR INCLEMENT WEATHER

  • Outgrown-good shape under-wear in a variety of sizes
  • Outgrown-good shape children's pants and t-shirts in variety of sizes
  • Mittens, hats
  • Socks
  • Boots

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COOKING PROJECTS (AND ART )

  • Toaster oven
  • Crock pot
  • Toaster
  • Electric mixer
  • Blenders
  • Electric griddle or fry pan
  • Electric hot plate
  • Micro-wave
  • Hot gloves/hot pads
  • Kitchen towels
  • Rags
  • Sponges (Also to shape for art stamping) 
  • Large mixing bowls
  • Spoons, spatulas, measuring spoons and cups

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FUN

  • Tape recorder
  • T.V. with video/DVD player
  • G-Rated DVD's-Videos
  • Children's Books
  • Unused birthday and holiday cups and plates
  • Unused birthday and holiday napkins
  • Gently used games
  • Gently used toys of all kinds
  • Homework Supplies
  • Small appliances to take apart and/or recreate

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TRASH TO TREASURE For ART and CRAFTS

  • Small to medium gift boxes (for gifts and creating building projects)
  • Shoe boxes (dioramas and games)
  • Corks
  • Buttons, beads 
  • Paper towel and tissue rolls; paper tubes of all kinds
  • Dried beans, seeds rice and grain for art/collages
  • Christmas general, and birthday wrap (gently used)
  • Wallpaper, wallpaper books 
  • Ribbons
  • Crochet thread (strings for weaving)
  • Yarn, yarn, yarn 
  • String
  • Rubber Bands 
  • Fish-line
  • Paper doilies
  • Tinsel, garland
  • Old clean socks (for indoor or warm-winter State snowball fights and making puppets)
  • Mittens, hats (for crafts)
  • Plastic serving trays
  • Margarine bowls, cottage cheese containers, etc (for crafts or holding supplies)
  • Pringles cans – Lays Stax – Whiska snacks containers (any plastic container with lid)
  • Coffee cans with lids
  • Zip-lock storage bags
  • Old magnets from fridge
  • Tissue paper from gifts
  • Wire hangers
  • Sewing items-yarn, thread, needles, pins
  • Fabric
  • Silk flowers (all sizes)
  • Straws
  • Shaped unused pasta noodles, dried spaghetti noodles
  • Left-over craft supplies
  • Magazines, magazines, magazines (check for appropriateness)
  • Old calendars with nice pictures
  • Old coffee table art books
  • Flat bed sheets (use outside or inside for kids to play on/with)
  • Books from hair stylists
  • Old animal books or animal magazines
  • Blankets
  • Paper bags (all sizes)
  • Old bingo dabbers
  • Envelopes (makes great little gift sacs)
  • Different size smooth stones
  • Small sea shells
  • Flour, corn starch, salt, corn syrup, Kool-Aid, cinamon, etc. for goop/slime and play dough
  • Dryer lint (for play dough) 
  • Film tubes
  • Card board (small to 16 x 20)
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Canvas boards 
  • Clean nylon stockings (for wire and stocking sculptures)
  • Unscented and scented baby wipes
  • Aluminum foil, wax paper, paper towels, facial tissues
  • Wood scraps – interesting shapes – small wood scraps (any wood crafters in your district?)
  • Plexiglas (any sizes)
  • Bottles, baby food jars, old vases
  • How to Art books for program library  
  • Plastic table cloths
  • Eye droppers
  • Paper of all kinds: Copy, lined, index cards, colored 
  • Office supplies
  • Pliers - any kind – hand tools (hammers, screw drivers)
  • Old file cabinets

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 Eleven Things to Collect for Art Collage...

  • Torn up bits of old paintings and drawings you don't want to keep.
  • Labels from boxes, cans, candy bars and bottles (Soak them off then dry them).
  • Used postage stamps, especially from all over the world. 
  •  Shiny Mylar foil balloons that have gone flat.
  • Short pieces of string, yarn, thread, twine, ribbon and lace (Short pieces...don't keep too much).
  • Words cut out of magazine headlines and ads.
  • Maps.
  • Broken jewelry.
  • Seeds from flowers, kitchen spices, leftover garden stuff. 
  •  Used tickets from shows and sports events.
  • Things you can glue--- collected from trips/vacations.
  • Source:kidsart.com

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To use some of these items, you may want to check out the Recycled Category and Art Category.  Many of these supplies can be used for some of the craft ideas on this site!

Other Pages that may interest you:

  • Crafts of all Kinds
  • Crafts for crafts or Crafts that are great as Gifts
  • Children's Crafts that Smell Good! 
  • Homemade Musical Instruments
  • Windsocks and Wind Chimes
  • Make Bookmarks
  • Also...each and every 'Theme and Holiday' have Art and Craft activities that use recycled materials!

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  • Make Bookmarks with Kids

    July 15, 2009 00:48 by Barbara Shelby

    Great for gifts, for kids to keep or for yourself!

    BOOKMARKS #1

    Put out a variety of construction paper, markers, paints, and stickers. You can also use glitter, sequins, lace, doilies, buttons, and any other odds and ends you have left over from other projects. Individual-creative book marks! 

    Cut the front of appropriate greeting cards into 2 inch wide strips. Punch a hole at the top of each strip and attach a yarn tassel. Children can decorate the backs of the strips with markers and crayons if desired...
    _______________
    BOOKMARKS #2
    Open art table...

    Tip: Cut strips from construction paper; painting the construction paper will make it sturdier-- or you can visit the local library or office supply to have them laminated for longer lasting use. To complete the bookmark, attach a tassel made from strands of yarn.

    ________________

    #3 MAKE A BOOK WORM BOOKMARK GIFT to keep pages from wiggling away!

     1. Draw a worm on card-stock paper - large and wide-enough to mark a page well. (You can have children make their own bookworm or you can make a template for them to trace)
    2. Cut out the worms. With a craft punch, make a hole at the top.
    3. Now personalize the worms! Make swirls, dots, and lines in different colors. Add a silly face, some words, or the name of a favorite book.
    4. Flip the bookmark over and decorate the other side a whole new way!
    5. Embellish the bookmark with ribbon, string, or yarn tied into the hole at the top. Add self-adhesive google eyes or other decorations, too.
    6. If you can, laminate them to use repeatedly. (Source Crayola.com)
    The above bookmark idea and photo is from About.com

    A SELECTION OF SLOGANS WHICH COULD BE USED ON BOOKMARKS ARE:

    Time for reading
    • Reading is the next best thing to....
    • Switch on to reading
    • I'm a bookworm
    • Sssh! I'm reading
    • Dive into a book
    • Enter a different world - read!
    • Enjoy a book- get reading!
    • I've got my head in a book
    • Have you chosen a good book?
    • R is for reading
    • 54321 READ!
    • Ready, steady, READ!
    • Reading is fun!
    • I ♥ reading!
    • Reading is cool!
    • Reading forever!
    • I ♥ 2 read!
    • Make friends with a book!
    • What's inside your book?
    • Born to read
    • I'm off to see the world - read!
    • I'm ready for reading!
    • On your mark, get set, READ!

    _____________________________

     
    #4 BUTTON BOOKMARKS
    These are fun and easy for kids to create.
     

    Simply cut lengths of ribbon (these are 12 to 14 inches long, to fit a standard-size hardcover book), then attach buttons to the ends using tacky glue or a glue gun.
    Shown here are just a few of the decorating options: sandwiching the ribbon's ends between two buttons; stacking smaller atop larger buttons; and grouping several small buttons in a pattern.

     _____________

    #5 CORNER BOOKMARKS

    Love this idea! My husband has been doing a lot of reading--so when I saw this idea--I quickly pulled out a couple envelopes (one bright orange business-size and one smaller greeting card).
    Did my thing with cutting (without measuring) and embellished a bit. Both corner bookmarks came out great! Try this fun and easy idea with your kids--or yourself!
    (Barb)

    Directions:

    Select envelopes to use. The corners of the envelopes should be in good condition--as you'll cut the corner off the envelope and use the corner to create your bookmark.

     

    If you want more precision than what I did-
    Measure 2-inches down the sides of the corner of the envelope. Make a small pencil mark at each location.

    Draw a straight line from one side of the corner to the other side of the corner, at the pencil marks. You have created a triangle shape at the corner of your envelope. Cut the triangle-shaped corner off of the envelope. (You can also use scissors with decorative edges)

    Slip the cut corner on the page of a book. This will give you an idea of how it fits.

    You can now decorate as desired using lace, gift wrap, ribbon, hand-made drawings and paint, small images, stickers, rubber-stamps or calligraphy.  If you embellish, glue decorations on the bookmark and let dry.

    Experiment with different kinds of envelopes...Colored, onion-skin and handmade envelopes all create interesting corner bookmarks.

    These would also make a great seasonal craft or gift. Add ghosts or pumpkins for Halloween,  a turkey for Thanksgiving or a heart for Valentine's Day. Image source: Sharonscrapbook

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     #6 FRUGAL BOOK MARK IDEA...
    You know the OLD PAINT CHIP CARDS you used when you were trying to decide what color to paint? They can be turned into great book marks (gift tags too)...Put a hole in them with a hole puncher, string ribbon through them! You now have great book marks!
    Tip: Add paint cards to your "Parent Wish List"!

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    #7 RECYCLED PACKAGE BOOKMARKS

    This simple project comes from myplumpudding--it saves books from dog ears and recycles cardboard from the trash!

    1. Simply pull out your colorful cardboard packages, flatten them out and cut them into strips about 1 1/2" x 6". A paper cutter will give you a more consistent cut. And any size strip will do--as long as it fits in your book.
    2. Trim corners with a corner rounding tool, scissors or an X-acto.
    3. Punch a hole in the top and thread it with a matching ribbon

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    #8 'STICKER' BOOKMARKS--good for younger children

    Colored cardstock or used/discarded manila folders
    Scissors
    Ribbon, thread or yarn
    Hole punch
    Stickers

    Cut out the paper into various shapes and sizes
    Punch a hole at the top and thread a ribbon or colored yarn through the hole. Tie into place
    Decorate with stickers.
    Image Source:mumsgather

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    #9 FABRIC BOOKMARK


    1. Brush rubber cement onto a piece of cardstock in an area larger than the size your finished bookmark will be. Stick on a scrap of fabric, smoothing out any wrinkles.

    2. Flip the cardstock over and repeat for the back side of the bookmark.

    3. Mark the edges of the bookmark with a ruler and pencil, then cut it out using a sharp scissors.

    4. Punch a hole at the top  and tie on thin ribbon, thread or yarn.

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    #10 FALL NATURE BOOKMARK

     

    Wrap a piece of masking tape (sticky side out) around each child's wrist. Go on a nature walk and have children collect a leaf from each of several trees---sticking it on their leaf bracelet.

    Get a Book with a variety of leaves to compare 'finds' when you return. Children will also be able to go home and see what leaves they find there!

    As shown, take clear packing tape and make wonderful bookmarks with a variey of nature finds! Photograph courtesy of Angela at Colorfool ...Angela shares that flat items adhere better than bulky.

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    Idea #11:  COMUNITY SERVICE IDEA...

    MAKE AND LAMINATE BOOKMARKS for your school or hometown library.
    With your class or program, make some pretty bookmarks; leave them in a basket on the library counter for other children and adults to take one when they check out books.

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    #12 FUN FOAM BOOKMARKS

    Materials:
    Fun Foam in assorted colors
    Decorative scissors (optional)
    White glue
    Fine-point permanent markers in assorted colors
    3/4" pompom
    Two 5 mm movable eyes
    Yarn

    1. Cut 2" x 10" strips of Fun Foam for base of bookmark. Cut additional shapes, such as face or star. Use decorative scissors if desired.
    2. Glue shapes to one end of strip. Decorate shapes with markers, movable eyes, pompom nose, yarn and hair.
    Extension: Write names of books you've read on base strip. Source: Women's Day-July 8, 2008; Image by Paula Hible 

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    Idea #13:  KINDNESS BOOKMARKS...

    PURCHASE,  DOWNLOAD OR MAKE BOOKMARKS
     
    When you "catch a child" in an act of kindness, give them one of the bookmarks! Children receiving the bookmark feel good and the other children will want to know how to get one. It presents an opportunity to discuss altruism and acts of kindness with your group. Special bookmarks may be downloaded on the Random Acts of Kindness web-site. 
     

    Random Acts of Kindness Foundation...
    The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation inspires people to practice kindness and to "pass it on" to others. They provide free educational and community ideas, guidance, and other resources to kindness participants through the website.

    Random Acts of Kindness Week 2012~February 13-19

     

    Also...Check out the Month of October! It hosts Kids Care Week, World Food Day, Diversity Awareness Month, Make a Difference Day, Bullying Prevention Month, and Peace, Friendship and Goodwill Week! Whew! Lots of days to celebrate kindness and service! 

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    #14

    LARGE PAPER CLIP BOOKMARKS...

    Simply take a large paper clip and tie a group of three or four ribbon lengths to the top of the clip. (The amount depends on the width of the ribbon.)  The clips are great to mark book pages as well as clip envelopes and folders.

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    Windsocks and Wind Chimes with Kids!

    May 29, 2009 03:24 by Barbara Shelby

     NINE WINDSOCKS...

     #1.)  Windsock using an ICE-CREAM CONTAINER - Minus the Lid

     
    1.  Cut out the bottom.
    2.  Cover the container with paper and then decorate as children choose...
    3.  Cut six pieces of crepe paper to about 20 inches each long. Glue these to the bottom of the container. Then evenly around the top part of the container put 4 hole punches.
    4.  Cut 4 pieces of yarn about 14 inches and tie to each hole. Then tie the other ends together.

    ___________ 
    #2.)  WINDSOCK USING CONSTRUCTION PAPER
    1
    .  On a large piece of construction paper, have child decorate with paint, stamps, etc.
    2.  Decorate one side of the paper and let it dry. Fold the paper into "tube" shape, with the decorations on the outside.
    3.  Have child staple ends and tape down the middle where it joins.
    4.  Staple three strands of crepe paper at the bottom.
    5.  Put two hole punches at the top and have the child string through them and tie at top.

    ______________

    #3.  TUBE WINDSOCK

    • Have children glue the tops of tissue paper strips or ribbons to the inside of a small tube.
    • Next, have them decorate the tube with markers, crayons, stickers, or pieces of cut tissue paper.
    • When finished, punch two holes at the top of the windsock and thread it with string or yarn.
    • Tie the yarn together and after the children play outside in the wind-- hang the windsocks from the ceiling....

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    WINDSOCK #4...

    USING PAPER CUPS
    1
    .  Have Children decorate a paper cup ... use themed stickers for a novel touch. Another variation is to give the wind sock a face by gluing on paper cutouts of eyes, ears, a nose and a mouth of the child’s favorite character.
    2.  Next, cut nine 26-inch-long crepe paper streamers and glue them to the inside of the bottom edge of the cup.
    3.  Finally, knot a 30-inch piece of Curling Ribbon at each end and staple the knots to the cup sides to make a handle.
    4.  Hang the windsocks on a porch or patio at home or tree at the center... where they will be protected from strong winds and watch them dance in the gentle breeze.

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    WINDSOCK #5...

    USING A CAN
    1
    . Use a clean can (soup, vegetables, or coffee can). Using a bottle opener, make two holes in top of can. The holes should be directly across from each other.
    2. Paint it in your desired colors, using acrylic paint. Then paint a coat of varnish over the painted areas of the can.
    3. Let completely dry.
    4. Cut long strips from a plastic grocery bag, then adhere to bottom inside of can, using a strong glue.
    5. Thread wire, yarn, or rope through the holes, then hang in yard.

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    WINDSOCK #6...

    USING A PAPER LUNCH BAG
    Use colored sandwich/lunch bags; cut the bottoms off of the bag. Have children decorate the bags with markers, sequins, buttons, etc. After their bag is decorated, punch two holes in the tops and put yarn or in the holes to make a hanger for the windsock. Then have the children glue, staple, or tape streamers to the opposite end of their windsock. When dry, hang them in room or window.

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    WINDSOCK #7...

    USING NEWSPAPER
    Need:
    5
    sheets newspaper, tape, 3 yards yarn
    1.  Lay four sheets of the newspaper out on the floor, one on top of the other.
    2.  Roll into a hollow cylinder approximately four inches in diameter. Tape it in place so that if forms a tube.
    3.  Tear remaining sheet of newspaper into strips. Tape to the end of the tube for a streamer effect.
    4.  Attach yarn to one end and hang. If desired have kids decorate their wind sock. The more personal the better...

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    WINDSOCK #8...

    USING A PAPER PLATE
    1.
    Cut center out of a paper plate so you have a ring.
    2. Punch 4 holes with scissors around the edges of the ring (these are
    what you'll tie the strings on to hang your windsock )
    3. Cut streamers to several lengths (keep them long)
    4. Tape or glue the streamers to one side of the paper plate making sure not to cover the punched holes.
    5. Cut two 16 inch lengths of string; tie the ends of the string through the holes in the plate making sure to tie each end to opposite sides of the plate and hang from ceiling or window.

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    #9 AMERICAN FLAG WINDSOCK...

    This project is a FUN way to decorate for any patriotic holiday, or to show your USA pride all year-round!
    1.
      Remove cover and cut bottom off oatmeal box.
    2.  Cover box with blue construction paper.
    3.  Decorate box with stickers and glitter.
    4.  Cut red and white crepe paper streamers, glue to bottom end of box.
    5.  Punch four holes along the top end of the box.
    6.  Cut two pieces of string about a foot long.
    7.  Tie strings to the holes you have just punched, tie opposite ends of strings to holes on opposite side.
    8.  Cut an additional longer piece of string. To hang windsock---tie this to the other two strings.
    Hang windsock from porch, window or a tree!

     

    TIP:

     'USA UNCLE SAM WINDSOCK'...
    All Windsocks can be decorated to any theme such as this photo example.

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    Back to top of page

    EIGHT WIND CHIMES & A MUSICAL TREE

    MAKE A MUSICAL TREE
    (Great for Summer camp, Day camp, Home or Family Care!)
    Love this Idea!!!
    Brainstorm with children things to hang from a tree in the yard---that will make sounds when the wind blows.
    Suggestions:
    Metal cans
    Pie plates
    Plastic bottles
    Jar lids
    Metal utensils
    Wooden spoons
    Etc.
    Set out some yarn or string for children to use to hang their objects. If you don't have a tree, you could use a sturdy object outside.
    Need: Embroidery hoop, (As hoops have two pieces - one hoop will make 2 wind chimes ) String or yarn, materials that makes noise (spoons, beads, bells, blocks or tin cans)
    1.  Attach 3 strings to an embroidery hoop; tie the strings together at the top of the hoop - leaving enough string to form a loop to hang it.
    2.  Attach 3-8 strings to hang down for the chime; Add anything that makes noise. Decorate the embroidery hoop anyway you wish--or leave as is...

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    #1 EMBROIDERY HOOP WIND CHIME
    Need: Embroidery hoop, (As hoops have two pieces - one hoop will make 2 wind chimes) String or yarn, materials that makes noise (beads, spoons,   bells, blocks or tin
    cans)
    1.  Attach 3 strings to an embroidery hoop; tie the strings together at the top of the hoop - leaving enough string to form a loop to hang it.
    2.  Attach 3-8 strings to hang down for the chime.
    3.  Add anything that makes noise.
    4.  Decorate the embroidery hoop anyway you wish--or leave as is...

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    WIND CHIMES #2
    Need: scissors, clear plastic lids, a hole punch, fishing line, sticks or dowels and jingle bells.
    1.  Cut the rims off the plastic lids, then have children cut out several leaf shapes (or whatever shape they wish) from the clear plastic.
    2.  Punch a hole in the top and bottom of each shape.
    3.  Tie a 7- to 10-inch length of fishing line to the top of each shape and then hang them, evenly spaced, from the stick or dowel.
    4.  Using short lengths of fishing line, hang a jingle bell from the bottom of each shape.
    5.  To make a hanger, tie the ends of a 6- to 8-inch piece of fishing line to each end of the stick.
    From the Family Fun website

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    #3 SEA SHELL WIND CHIMES
    Need: 8 Seashells (available from the beach, or at craft supply stores); 1 plastic coffee-can lid; knitting yarn scraps; liquid white glue; sharp pencil or paper punch.
    1. Glue each shell to the end of a short piece of yarn. Use liquid white glue.
    2. Let dry overnight.
    3. Punch eight holes equally spaced on the top of a plastic coffee-can lid. Use a sharp pencil or a paper punch.
    4. Hold the lid with the rim facing up. Push the eight pieces of yarn through the eight holes of the underside of the lid.
    5. Tie the end of each piece of yarn in a large knot. Make the knot bigger than the hole so the yarn will not slip through.
    6. Punch two more holes on opposite edges of the lid.
    7. Push one end of a large piece of yarn from the top of the lid through one hole. It should come out on the underside of the chime.
    8. Tie a large knot.
    9. Push the other end of the yarn through the other hole and knot it.
    10. Hang the chime on the branch of a tree or in your window.

    ___________

    WIND CHIMES #4
    For Ages: 4-12
    You Need:
      •  Clean, empty 8 oz. margarine tubs made of thin plastic
      •  Construction paper
      •  Scissors
      •  Glue
      •  Hole puncher
      •  Ruler
      •  CLear nylon fishing line
      •  1/2" diameter metal washers
      •  Pencil


    1.  Place the tubs upside down on a table and decorate them, using scraps of construction paper and glue. Children can make collages of different shapes or they can cut letters out of construction paper and glue them to the tubs to form messages.
    2.  Set the tubs aside to dry. After, the glue has dried thoroughly, use the hole puncher to punch four holes along rim of each tub. The holes should be about 1/2 " from the edge of each tub and evenly spaced out.
    3.  Cut four 12" lengths of fishing line and eight metal washers. The children tie one end of each piece of fishing line to a metal washer.
    4.  Help the children thread one piece of fishing line through each hole in their tubs. As they thread each piece of line through a hole, they immediately tie a second metal washer to the free end of that piece of fishing line.
    5.  After the children have attached all the washers to their wind chimes, place the tubs upside down (bottoms up). With a sharpened pencil, poke two holes about 1" apart in the center of the bottom of each tub. Thread a 12" length of fishing line through bottom holes and tie the ends together to make a hanger for the wind chimes.
    6.  The wind chimes can be hung indoors or outside. Each pair of metal washers should be positioned so that the two touch each other. When air moves past them, they will produce a pleasant clinking sound.

    _________________

     

    #5 BEADED WIND CHIMES

     

    (You can follow these direction using a  'lid' or use a margere tub as pictured and described in the above Wind Chime #4)
    Materials: Package of multicolored beads, Bowl, Yarn, Masking tape, Scissors, Small bells (can be purchased from a crafts store)
    Needle, or something else sharp and pointy (for adults to use only!) Yogurt container lid, or other plastic lid
    1.  Cut 7-9 equal pieces of yarn. Wrap a small piece of masking tape around one end of each piece, to make lacing easier (each yarn end should now resemble a shoe lace) and then tie a bead at the bottom of the other side of each piece of yarn. Poke holes with the needle or sharp instrument (parents only!) around the edge of the plastic container lid. You can make a small inner circle as well if you’d like.
    2.  Give child the strings of yarn, and a bowl full of beads. They can make the same or different patterns on each of the strings. One might be ABAB (for example, red-blue-red-blue), another might be ABCABC (for example, red-blue-yellow-red-blue-yellow) and so forth. Experiment with a variety of patterns.  If desired- place a bell or two on each string.
    3.  Leave some room at the top of each piece of yarn, then thread each piece into one of the holes in the lid, and tie a knot at the top. Once all the strings are hung and knotted, poke a final hole through the center of the lid. Thread a piece of yarn through it…and knot it underneath. Hang your chimes outside on a breezy day and enjoy the jingle!
    #5 Adapted from Danielle Wood

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    #6 JINGLE BELL WIND CHIMES
    Materials for each chime:
    Unsharpened Pencil
    10 Bells
    Yarn
    1. Cut 12 pieces of yarn.
    2. On 10 pieces of yarn tie a bell at the end of each one.
    3. Tie a plain piece of string on EACH end of the pencil for hanging.Tie them together at top.
    4. In-between the end strings, tie the yarns with bells on them onto the pencil.

     _______________________

     

    #7 SUNFLOWER CLAY POT WINDCHIMES
    Materials :
    5 mini, 2 1/2" clay pots
    Yellow, green and brown acrylic paint
    10 round wooden beads 
    10 yd. spool of plastic cord
    Paintbrush
    Scissors
    Packet of sunflower seeds

    Directions:
    1. Paint the sunflower designs on the pots first before assembling and let dry.

    2. Cord must be at least 3 times the length of the 5 clay pots.  This will allow enough cord to make knots when attaching the pots to one another.

    3. Fold cord in half and tie a knot leaving the loop long enough for the hanger.  Thread the two ends of the cord through a large bead.  Beads must be large enough so that they will not fit through the hole in the bottom of the clay pot.

    4. Thread the ends of the cord through the upside down clay pot that you want to be on the top.  The top pot is the most decorated, with painted sunflowers.

    5. Thread another bead on, inside the pot.  This will secure the pot.  Tie the cord at least five times after the bead.  (Beads and knots become the spacers, to keep the pots apart.)

    6. Repeat step 5 until all pots are threaded together. Be sure to knot cord sufficiently to keep them in place and separated on the cord.

    7. After all five pots are attached, end it by threading on the packet of sunflower seeds.  You will need to punch a hole in the packet first.  Tie a knot in the cord, allowing enough space so that the seed packet when attached will be able to blow in the wind.  Thread on the seed packet and tie a bow. (Source: Kansas City Library)

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    #8 AUTUMN NUTTY WIND CHIME...

    Use fall tree seeds or nuts to make a wind chime.

    Color a design on a tissue paper tube. Thread a length of yarn or string through the tube and knot the ends together to create a hanger. Next, wrap and glue one end of a length of ribbon aaround each nut you choose to use. Wrap and glue the opposite end of each ribbon around the cardboard tube. Hang the wind chime one glue completely dries.

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