Lesson 4
Any program that lasts longer than two hours will have to provide some type of refreshment for the children. Simple snacks and drinks work fine. Kool Aid, lemonade or punch mixes served in disposable cups are great for a drink. Crackers spread with peanut butter or cheese spread or pieces of raw fruit are usually enough for a snack.You can also ask that the children be provided with a sack lunch from home if the program is going to be four hours or more.
The attention span in children is not long. If you will have them in the program for extended lengths of time it is a good idea to provide activity breaks where they can get up and move around, burn off a little energy and return to the project. Most projects will need some drying time for glue, paint, etc. At this point it would be a good idea to call an activity break and then serve a snack. Then allow them to return to finish the now dry project.
If one of the projects you are using is the hand puppet you can provide quiet time by having them tell a story that an adult writes down so when the puppets are finished they can use them in a performance of their own story and they can make their puppets the characters in the story.
After making the pinwheels the children can be provided with a time to run and watch their pinwheels work. It is not difficult with a little thought to incorporate some quiet time, working time and physical activity time into each daily program.
Rock Paperweight
This project is more or less threefold. The first portion is a nature walk to collect a smooth rock for each child. The second portion is to decorate the rocks. The adult will take them home to bake them and the third portion the children will polish their rocks.
During a nature walk if possible, allow the children to collect their own rocks. Otherwise provide a bucket of rocks in order for them to each choose one. Rocks should be approximately the size of the childs' fist.
Using water and a small brush scrub the rocks to remove any loose material or dirt and allow them to dry thoroughly. Allow each child to color their rock using any design they like and an assortment of colors of their choice. Completely cover the rock. The more crayon you use the better your rock will look. When you finish decorating them place them in a metal pan that has been lined with aluminum foil.
The rocks will then need to be baked in an oven at 200 degrees for 15 minutes. Then allow them to cool completely. Using the old sock polish the rock.This will make the rock shine. These rocks can be used as gift paper weights or the children can use them as part of a collection.
Placemat Envelope
Option: charm or flat back resin figure and E6000 glue
Fold one end up to a point 4" from the opposite end and pin in place on each side forming a pocket. Using 4 strands of the embroidery floss, knot the thread and begin with a back stitch to anchor at the fold on the right hand side. Use a running stitch up the side to the top of the flap. Back stitch and then continue your rujnning stitch up to the corner, turn and to the center. Form a loop large enough to fit over your button and knot the loop in place on the outside center of the flap. Continue the running stitch to the corner, turn and down the opposite side to the pocket flap, back stitch there to anchor it and continue the running stitch back to the fold on the opposite side and back stitch to anchor. Tie off.
Fold the flap down and sew the button through the front layer of the pocket in the center where it is in place for the loop. This makes a lingerie folder or stationary envelope and is a nice gift for mother or grandmother.
Monogramed Handkerchief
With the pencil draw or trace the initials of the person receiving the handkerchief on the right side in one corner. The monogram can be the first initial of the last name, the first letter of the first and last name or just the first letter of the first name. You make the choice.
Outline the initial with your crayon in a firm even hand. Fill in the color inside the outline fairly smoothly. Place the initialed corner between two layers of brown paper and have the adult assistant press this area by placing the iron down and holding for a few seconds. Remove the handkerchief from the brown paper. Find a new clean area and repeat the process a second time with the crayoned area between two layers of brown paper. The second time press from the opposite side. This will cause the wax of the crayon to melt and the dye from the color remains in the handkerchief almost permanently.
Decorated Can Basket
Instructions:
The adult will need to place a hole from the outside of the can to the interior on opposite sides near the top and then sand the inside edges of the can and holes to remove the sharp edges.
Using the prepared cans the children can sand the entire outside of the can to rough it up enough to accept the paint. Put a base coat over the entire outside and allow it to dry. Paint any decorative designs or pictures or paint the entire can a solid color. Allow them to design their own can.
When the can is dry the adult should assist in placing one end of a wire through the can from the outside to the inside and with the pliers twist it around folding the sharp edge down. The children can wrap the wire loosely around a pencil or stick of some type to give a corkscrew appearance as the handle. The adult then places the end of the wire in the opposite hole and finishes as before.
If using any of the options listed above glue them to the corkscrew part of the wire or in a strategic location on the can, whichever design the child has picked.
Craft Stick Picture Frame
Glue your picture centered on the cardboard and then glue craft sticks to cover all the edges of the picture. The craft sticks can be lined up end to end to make a square, they can be cut and glued randomly, however you decide, as long as they cover the edge of the picture and the remaining part of the cardboard. They can extend beyond the edges of the cardboard a short distance.
If you are going to decorate, color or otherwise cover the actual craft sticks you do this first. You can paint them, color them, use permanent markers, dip a rag in the paint and wipe the color on which will give it a rustic look. You can cover the craft sticks with wrapping paper, bits of fabric and stickers. When the sticks are finished then glue them in place.
Allow the glue to dry thoroughly and add a string hanger or two strips of magnetic tape to the back to make a magnet.
Catch Toy
The adult is to place a hole in the end of handle of each laundry scoop equal distance from both sides and the end. Have the children tie one end of the string through the hole. The other end of the string is inserted through the pony bead and tied with a knot. Dip the pony bead in craft glue. Spread the fibers of the pompom and glue the pony bead as close to the center of the pompom as you can. Bring the fiber back up around the bead and allow to dry.
This is a small catch game that can be played in
the house. You hold the handle of the laundry cup, throw the pompom up
and try to catch it in the cup. The pony bead gives a little weight to
the pompom but if the child is struck they cannot hurt themselves with
it. Good for ages four and above.
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