Kids love stress balls- here is a way to make your own! For safety is it only recommended that you do this activity with kids older than 5.
What supplies you will need:
Balloon in your kid's favorite color
Flour
Funnel
Plastic Straw
Permanent marker
Yarn
Blow up the balloon and release the air a few times. This stretches it a little.
Place the mouth of the balloon on the funnel
Put flower in the funnel, use the straw to push it through the hole if it doesn't go through by itself
Fill the balloon with flour but don't go past the bottom of the thin part
Tie a secure knot in the balloon
If your kid wants a face on the stress ball, let them draw it using a permanent marker
For hair, tie pieces of yarn to the top of the balloon
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
Between the mashed potatoes and the couch potatoes, Thanksgiving Day can get a little sedentary. Give your family a good excuse to get outside by getting everyone involved in a scavenger hunt. Go as a group or spilt into teams.
Walk off that turkey dinner while finding
all of the items on our list.
A family playing football
A turkey hung on a window or door
A Thanksgiving-themed yard decoration
6 or more cars parked in front of one house
A pile of leaves
Something with a pilgrim on it
An ear of dried corn
A pumpkin or squash
A pet waiting to be let in
Smoke rising from a chimney
Another family on a walk
A black bird
Chrysanthemums
An acorn, pine cone, or other nuts, seeds, or cones
Early Christmas decorations
Walk off that turkey dinner while finding
all of the items on our list.
A family playing football
A turkey hung on a window or door
A Thanksgiving-themed yard decoration
6 or more cars parked in front of one house
A pile of leaves
Something with a pilgrim on it
An ear of dried corn
A pumpkin or squash
A pet waiting to be let in
Smoke rising from a chimney
Another family on a walk
A black bird
Chrysanthemums
An acorn, pine cone, or other nuts, seeds, or cones
Early Christmas decorations
Speak like a Pilgrim!
The English Colonists at Plymouth (many people call them “Pilgrims” today) talked a little differently than we do today. If you visit our 1627 English Village here at the museum, you might notice that the townspeople say words you know in a funny way, or even say some words you don't know at all! That's because they are speaking in 17th-century English, not 21st-century modern English.
The website below is fun to use with kids- it teaches them how to speak like a pilgrim! Have fun!
http://www.plimoth.org/kids/talk.php
The website below is fun to use with kids- it teaches them how to speak like a pilgrim! Have fun!
http://www.plimoth.org/kids/talk.php
Monday, November 23, 2009
Play Wall Football
What You Need
* Poster board
* Brown card stock
* White opaque paint marker
* Poster tacks
* Blindfold
Instructions
1.
For the game pieces, first create a goal post from two-inch-wide strips of poster board. (The uprights and the crossbar are each 20 inches long, and the post is 6 inches tall.) We attached ours to the wall using poster tack.
2.
For the footballs, cut 5-inch-long shapes out of brown card stock. Use a white paint marker to decorate and add players' names to the footballs. Put a blob of poster tack on the back of each one.
3.
Players line up about six feet away from the goal. One at a time, each player is blindfolded, spun around three times by another person, and set loose to try to stick their football between the uprights. (No reaching out your empty hand to feel the wall.) Play several rounds with 3 points awarded for each field goal. Highest score wins.
* Poster board
* Brown card stock
* White opaque paint marker
* Poster tacks
* Blindfold
Instructions
1.
For the game pieces, first create a goal post from two-inch-wide strips of poster board. (The uprights and the crossbar are each 20 inches long, and the post is 6 inches tall.) We attached ours to the wall using poster tack.
2.
For the footballs, cut 5-inch-long shapes out of brown card stock. Use a white paint marker to decorate and add players' names to the footballs. Put a blob of poster tack on the back of each one.
3.
Players line up about six feet away from the goal. One at a time, each player is blindfolded, spun around three times by another person, and set loose to try to stick their football between the uprights. (No reaching out your empty hand to feel the wall.) Play several rounds with 3 points awarded for each field goal. Highest score wins.
Pumpkin Roll
Pumpkins are not just for Halloween!
Determine a starting line and a finish line. Set 2 pumpkins on their sides at the start and have the racers line up behind them. At "Go," each pair of challengers uses sturdy brooms to propel the pumpkins over the finish line. Have fun!
Determine a starting line and a finish line. Set 2 pumpkins on their sides at the start and have the racers line up behind them. At "Go," each pair of challengers uses sturdy brooms to propel the pumpkins over the finish line. Have fun!
Cross The Sea
Have a pilgrim voyage of your own (albeit drier, shorter, and less treacherous!) crossing -- of the living room.
First, pick one person to represent the New World, and have her stand on a chair at one end of the room. Next, choose someone to be the Mayflower; have him stand blindfolded at the other end of the room. Everyone else plays "rocks," standing, sitting, or lying on the floor in random spots between the two. The New World calls out directions to guide the ship (who can't talk or peek) safely across the rocky sea to its final harbor: the chair upon which the New World stands.
First, pick one person to represent the New World, and have her stand on a chair at one end of the room. Next, choose someone to be the Mayflower; have him stand blindfolded at the other end of the room. Everyone else plays "rocks," standing, sitting, or lying on the floor in random spots between the two. The New World calls out directions to guide the ship (who can't talk or peek) safely across the rocky sea to its final harbor: the chair upon which the New World stands.
Tepee Treats
You will need
* Sugar cones
* Confectioners' sugar
* Unsalted butter
* Vanilla extract
* Cake-decorating icing
* Decorative candies
1. In a mixing bowl with an electric beater set at low speed, mix 2 cups of sifted confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup of softened, unsalted butter, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth and spreadable. Stir in a bit of milk, if needed.
2.
Use the icing to lightly frost eight ice cream sugar cones, then place them in the freezer for a few minutes until the icing hardens.
3.
Now use tubes of cake-decorating icing to draw linear patterns and images and glue on decorative candies. For poles, insert toothpicks into the tip of each cone.
* Sugar cones
* Confectioners' sugar
* Unsalted butter
* Vanilla extract
* Cake-decorating icing
* Decorative candies
1. In a mixing bowl with an electric beater set at low speed, mix 2 cups of sifted confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup of softened, unsalted butter, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth and spreadable. Stir in a bit of milk, if needed.
2.
Use the icing to lightly frost eight ice cream sugar cones, then place them in the freezer for a few minutes until the icing hardens.
3.
Now use tubes of cake-decorating icing to draw linear patterns and images and glue on decorative candies. For poles, insert toothpicks into the tip of each cone.
Indian Corn Napkin Rings
You will need
* Craft knife and ruler
* Cardboard tissue tubes
* Red, yellow, and blue acrylic or tempera paints
* Paper or plastic plate
* New pencil with an eraser top
* Newspaper
1. Using a craft knife, cut the tissue tubes into 2 1/2-inch sections (a parent's job). You'll need 1 for each napkin ring. Trim the edges smooth with scissors.
2.
Next, pour small amounts of the 3 paint colors onto a paper or plastic plate. Now show your child how to dip the pencil eraser into some paint and practice stamping corn kernel shapes onto newspaper.
3.
Once he's mastered the printing technique, have your child hold the bottom of a tube section and print rows of kernels all around the top half, mixing the colors. Then have him set the tube on end to dry while he prints the tops of the other tubes in the same manner. After the paint dries, he can pick up each napkin ring and print kernels on the unpainted half.
* Craft knife and ruler
* Cardboard tissue tubes
* Red, yellow, and blue acrylic or tempera paints
* Paper or plastic plate
* New pencil with an eraser top
* Newspaper
1. Using a craft knife, cut the tissue tubes into 2 1/2-inch sections (a parent's job). You'll need 1 for each napkin ring. Trim the edges smooth with scissors.
2.
Next, pour small amounts of the 3 paint colors onto a paper or plastic plate. Now show your child how to dip the pencil eraser into some paint and practice stamping corn kernel shapes onto newspaper.
3.
Once he's mastered the printing technique, have your child hold the bottom of a tube section and print rows of kernels all around the top half, mixing the colors. Then have him set the tube on end to dry while he prints the tops of the other tubes in the same manner. After the paint dries, he can pick up each napkin ring and print kernels on the unpainted half.
5 little Turkeys finger play
Cut out 5 Turkeys
Five little turkeys by the barn door, One waddled off, then there were four. Four little turkeys out under the tree, One waddled off, then there were three. Three little turkeys with nothing to do, One waddled off, then there were two. Two little turkeys in the noonday sun, One waddled off, then there was one. One little turkey - better run away! Soon will come Thanksgiving Day!
Five little turkeys by the barn door, One waddled off, then there were four. Four little turkeys out under the tree, One waddled off, then there were three. Three little turkeys with nothing to do, One waddled off, then there were two. Two little turkeys in the noonday sun, One waddled off, then there was one. One little turkey - better run away! Soon will come Thanksgiving Day!
Make a Turkey Glove
* clear rubber glove
* colored construction paper
* popcorn
* small piece of yarn
* wiggly eyes
1. Fill each finger of the clear rubber glove with different color wadded construction paper. This won't look as cool if you use a non-clear glove. 2. fill the thumb and palm area with popped popcorn. 3. tie yarn around bottom of glove. 4. glue wiggly eyes on thumb These make cute decorations!
* colored construction paper
* popcorn
* small piece of yarn
* wiggly eyes
1. Fill each finger of the clear rubber glove with different color wadded construction paper. This won't look as cool if you use a non-clear glove. 2. fill the thumb and palm area with popped popcorn. 3. tie yarn around bottom of glove. 4. glue wiggly eyes on thumb These make cute decorations!
Basket of Thanks!
* Indian corn
* basket
Every night at dinner we pass around to each family member our basket of thanks and ear of corn. Each family member takes a kernel of corn from the cob and tells one thing that they are thankful for and puts the corn in the basket. By the time Thanksgiving arrives we have a basket full of corn giving proof of the many things we have to be thankful for.
* basket
Every night at dinner we pass around to each family member our basket of thanks and ear of corn. Each family member takes a kernel of corn from the cob and tells one thing that they are thankful for and puts the corn in the basket. By the time Thanksgiving arrives we have a basket full of corn giving proof of the many things we have to be thankful for.
Apple or Potato Turkeys
* apple or potato
* construction paper
* feathers
* Glue
* pipe cleaners
* markers
* colored tooth picks
* cupcake liner folded in half
Start with an apple or Potato as the base for the turkey. Insert colored toothpicks into potato for the tail feathers and its legs. On the toothpicks you could put mini marshmallows, or just cut feathers out of paper and glue onto toothpicks. Make the turkey head out of brown construction paper and use markers for the face. Tape a toothpick to the construction paper head and insert it to the body. You can use a cupcake liner for the tail also.
* construction paper
* feathers
* Glue
* pipe cleaners
* markers
* colored tooth picks
* cupcake liner folded in half
Start with an apple or Potato as the base for the turkey. Insert colored toothpicks into potato for the tail feathers and its legs. On the toothpicks you could put mini marshmallows, or just cut feathers out of paper and glue onto toothpicks. Make the turkey head out of brown construction paper and use markers for the face. Tape a toothpick to the construction paper head and insert it to the body. You can use a cupcake liner for the tail also.
Hand Turkey's
* white sheet of paper
* paint
* crayons
* construction paper
* various colors
Paint each child's palm and thumb with brown paint, then paint the other four fingers with whatever color they choose -these are the feathers. Place their hand paint down on the white sheet of paper that has this poem already printed on it: This isn't just a turkey As anyone can see This very special turkey Was made by hand by me! Have them sign the bottom. The next day, they can add the turkey's features with crayons and choose a color of construction paper to mount it on. Cute gift !
* paint
* crayons
* construction paper
* various colors
Paint each child's palm and thumb with brown paint, then paint the other four fingers with whatever color they choose -these are the feathers. Place their hand paint down on the white sheet of paper that has this poem already printed on it: This isn't just a turkey As anyone can see This very special turkey Was made by hand by me! Have them sign the bottom. The next day, they can add the turkey's features with crayons and choose a color of construction paper to mount it on. Cute gift !
Stuff The Turkey
Brown paper bag
two small brown lunch paper bags
newspaper
tissue paper
tape
stapler
glue
Fold down about 4" of the large brown bag - keep the fold inside. Fold and staple in each of the four edges of the bag so that the opening is smaller. Smooth out the opening to make it rounded. Stuff the two small paper bags with newspaper. Twist the top of the bags and tape to form the drumsticks. Cut strips of the red tissue paper and glue around the twisted top of the drumsticks for decoration. Glue the drumsticks on the sides of the "turkey". For the stuffing, wad up pieces of the newspaper and tape together to form balls.
TO PLAY: Players stand back about four feet and take turns tossing the "stuffing" into the "turkey". See who can get the most in.
two small brown lunch paper bags
newspaper
tissue paper
tape
stapler
glue
Fold down about 4" of the large brown bag - keep the fold inside. Fold and staple in each of the four edges of the bag so that the opening is smaller. Smooth out the opening to make it rounded. Stuff the two small paper bags with newspaper. Twist the top of the bags and tape to form the drumsticks. Cut strips of the red tissue paper and glue around the twisted top of the drumsticks for decoration. Glue the drumsticks on the sides of the "turkey". For the stuffing, wad up pieces of the newspaper and tape together to form balls.
TO PLAY: Players stand back about four feet and take turns tossing the "stuffing" into the "turkey". See who can get the most in.
Do the Turkey Pokey
This is sung to the tune of the Hokey Pokey but the children will pretend that they are turkeys as you all sing things like:
You put your right wing in, put your right wing out, You put your right wing in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
You put your left wing in, put your left wing out, You put your left wing in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
You put your red beak in, put your red beak out, You put your red beak in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
You put your right wing in, put your right wing out, You put your right wing in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
You put your left wing in, put your left wing out, You put your left wing in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
You put your red beak in, put your red beak out, You put your red beak in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
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