Dazzling Dragon for Chinese New Year

Materials for one dragon:

• one row of a foam egg carton, cleaned and sanitized (body)
• green construction paper scraps (ears)
• white construction paper scraps (teeth)
• green tempera paint
• white glue
• paintbrush
• glitter
• scissors
• black permanent marker
• hole puncher
• curling ribbon

Setup:
To make paint that adheres to foam, mix two parts glue with one part tempera paint.

Steps:

1. Paint the egg carton green. Then sprinkle glitter on the wet paint. Allow time for the paint to dry.
2. Cut out ears and teeth and then glue them to the dragon.
3. Draw eyes with the black marker.
4. To make the dragon’s tail, hole-punch the end of the carton and thread several lengths of curling ribbon through the hole; then tie them in a knot under the dragon.

This could be more of a collaborative activity where pairs of students or small groups of children make one dragon together (each focusing on different steps/parts of it) to use as decoration for the classroom or as props during Circle Time while reading the Chinese New Year read aloud, Dragon Dance, by Joan Holub which I own and can let you borrow!

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Groundhog Mask for Groundhog Day

To make a mask, help a child cut two eyeholes from a brown paper plate. Then direct her to cut ears, cheeks, teeth, and a nose from construction paper scraps and glue the cutouts on the plate. To complete the mask, have her tape a large craft stick to the back of the mask. If desired, take the group outside for a shadow search, inviting each child to wear her mask.

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Sparkling Snowflakes

To make a snowflake, a student glues cotton swabs to a three-inch tagboard circle as shown. Next, he squeezes glue on the tagboard circle and sprinkles glitter on the glue. When the glue is dry, attach these glistening snowflakes to bulletin boards, to your classroom walls, or send them home with your students to enjoy.

 

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Snowstorm!

Use a permanent marker to label a large supply of packing peanuts with letters; then pour them all into a box. Invite youngsters to listen to a snow-related story, such as Ezra Jack Keat’s The Snowy Day. Then open up the box and encourage each little one to pick up a handful of foam snow and toss it into the air!  After the snowfall, ask each child to try to find the letter that begins with her name.  Little ones will want to do this activity again and again!

 

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Sparkly Snowflakes

Stack and glue three craft sticks together to make a snowflake shape. Glue puzzle pieces along the length of each stick. Allow the glue to dry. Then use white acrylic paint to paint the front and back of the snowflake. After the paint dries, squeeze lines of glue on the front. Sprinkle on glitter and then gently shake off any excess. To make a hanger, knot the ends of a length of metallic thread. Use a generous amount of glue to attach it to the back of the ornament.

 

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Winter Literature

Winter Eyes is a beautiful book of poetry and paintings by Douglas Florian that is perfect for the season.  I have checked out a copy from the library so if you’d like to borrow it to read aloud to your students, just let me know!

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Peace and Love: In honor of MLK Day

Materials for one:

• white tagboard
• tissue paper squares in a variety of skin tones
• shallow dish of thinned glue
• paintbrush
• copy of the poem shown below
• scissors
• glue

Steps:

1. Brush a thin layer of glue over the tagboard.
2. Place tissue paper squares on the glue.  (Let children place them where they want to).
3. Brush another layer of glue over the squares. Allow time for the glue to dry. Cut a heart shape from the tagboard.
4. Glue the poem to the center of the heart.

The poem reads:

Hand in hand across the land,

For Martin’s dream we choose to stand.

We say it loud; we say it clear–

Peace and love throughout the year!

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Peace Puppets: In honor of MLK Day

To make one peaceful dove puppet, cut a six-inch white paper plate in half. Set one piece aside for the body and cut the other piece in half to form wings. Cut out a white construction paper head and a yellow construction paper beak. Glue the parts together as shown, adding a wiggle eye to the head. Complete the puppet by taping or gluing a large craft stick to the back of the body. Invite youngsters to use their puppets during role-playing activities; especially around sharing, cooperating, and getting along with one another.

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Dove Peace Prints: In honor of MLK Day

Create a peaceful display in honor of Dr. King’s dream with this touching project. Explain to youngsters that white doves are worldwide symbols of peace; then invite each student to try her hand at this project. To make a dove print, paint your palm with white, washable tempera paint. Keeping your fingers together, press your hand onto dark blue construction paper. Repeat to make a desired number of prints. When the paint is dry, use tempera paint and a cotton swab (or small brush) to add a beak and an eye to each dove. Display the completed doves with the title “We Believe in Peace.” How lovely!

You can also add to this inspiring activity by reading aloud several books about Martin Luther King, Jr.  Here are some suggestions:

by Johnny Ray Moore

by Marion Dane Bauer

(Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport — This one I have so if you’d like to borrow it, let me know!)

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Snowy Classmates

To play this entertaining game, give each child a small piece of cotton batting to represent snow. Lead students in singing the song while they hold the batting on their heads as indicated in the first line. Sing repeated verses of the song, changing the name of the body part and encouraging youngsters to place their snow accordingly.

(sung to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)

The snow is on my [head].
It landed there, you see.
I went outdoors to play
And snowflakes fell on me!

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