| Summertime. The kids are out of school and they | | | | Week 4 - Make your own Fossils (clay, items to |
| have the long lazy days of July and August ahead. | | | | imprint - leaves, coins, bugs) |
| They could spend their days in front of the TV or they | | | | Make a rock or plaque shape from the clay or use the |
| could be using their imaginations to create projects that | | | | dough recipe (included below). Use water to make a |
| are a reflection of their own unique talents. | | | | smooth surface. Make imprints with different objects. |
| Does it matter what kids do on their summer | | | | Try leaves, coins, shells, or even a small toy. When it |
| vacation? After all, they are in school 10 months of the | | | | dries, rub on a bit shoe polish and acrylic sealer to |
| year and most do take some art classes. Don't they | | | | make it last for months and months. Bury them in sand |
| get enough art lessons in school? | | | | or dirt and have a expedition to dig up fossils like an |
| Creative and artistic are not the same thing. Creativity | | | | archeologist. Combine with a treasure hunt (week 8), |
| is an approach to life. Creative thinkers know that | | | | and use as clues to a treasure. |
| problems have many different solutions. When they | | | | Dough Recipe (1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1 cup water, 1 |
| encounter an obstacle, they find a way around rather | | | | tbsp oil, 2 tsp cream of tartar) mix all ingredients in a |
| than giving up. They have to be willing to take risks as | | | | pot and stir over medium heat. Mixture will be soupy |
| they learn new skills. These are important life skills that | | | | with lumps, suddenly it will form into a ball. Remove |
| need to be encouraged in children. | | | | from heat, and knead on a non-stick surface. Useful |
| Crafts and creative projects give children the | | | | for many types of projects. Store in fridge, or allow |
| opportunity to learn and practice these skills. Even if | | | | creations to air dry. |
| they follow a project guide exactly, they will still to | | | | Week 5 - Start a Journal (notebook and pen or pencil) |
| make decisions about shades of colours and where to | | | | Find a interesting blank note book and have the kids |
| place items. Once they are familiar with the project, | | | | write in it each day. A great time to start a journal is |
| most children will want to make it again. That is when | | | | on the first day of a trip. Then, there will be lots of new |
| they get really creative. First the colours change, then | | | | things to write about and it can become a habit. |
| the shapes, and suddenly it is a new project from their | | | | Adults can help ideas for topics. Ask is the first thing |
| own imagination. | | | | the child can remember? Was there a birthday that |
| Creative projects encourage children to find the | | | | was his or her favorite? What does he or she like |
| resources to make what they want, rather than | | | | about their best friend? What is the best thing they |
| opening up a box that has all the supplies in one place. | | | | have ever done? Keep a list of these questions on the |
| The first project in the weekly project list (see below) | | | | last page of the journal for quiet days. |
| uses an old knee-hi or pair of pantyhose. What if none | | | | Week 6 - Rain Sticks (long tubes from gift wrap or |
| are available? Should the children wait until someone | | | | paper towel, strips of cardboard, paper, tape, seeds or |
| else finds all the 'right' materials. No, have them start | | | | rice) |
| thinking about what they could substitute. Would an old | | | | Cut out two 4 inch circles out of the paper (trace a |
| sock work? How about a dish cloth? It is fun to sit | | | | cereal bowl for the shape). Put one over the end of |
| back and watch children solve their own problems. | | | | the tube, and fold the sides down, and tape around the |
| These Summer Projects encourage children to work | | | | tube. Make sure the cardboard strips are narrower |
| with a wide variety of materials. One of the best things | | | | than the tube (about 1 inch wide should work). Fold |
| about summer projects is that they can be done | | | | them back and forth like a fan. Put the strips into the |
| outside. Less mess to clean up! | | | | tube. The first one should fall to the bottom of the tube. |
| Summer Projects | | | | Keep adding strips until they reach the top of the tube. |
| Week 1 - Hairy Heads (old knee hi or cut off panty | | | | Pour in 1/4 cup of rice and 2 tbsp of seeds (dried |
| hose, grass seed, dirt, 2 small elastics, and decorations) | | | | peas, popcorn, or lentils). Tape the other circle over the |
| Put 2 tsp of grass seed in the bottom of toe of the | | | | open end of the tube and tape in place. Decorate the |
| panty hose. Add 1-2 cups of dirt. Make sure the seeds | | | | tube with markers, paints or by glueing on paper or |
| stay in the top of the head, otherwise you'll have hair | | | | ribbon. |
| sprouting from under the eyes. Use the small elastic to | | | | Week 7 - Memory Board (Matt board, exacto knife, |
| pinch off a nose about half way up the head. Use the | | | | photos and objects) |
| second elastic to tie off the bottom. Decorate by | | | | While on vacation, take photos and have the kids |
| pasting on eyes, mouth, ears, or what ever else | | | | collect objects to remind them of their trip (shells from |
| intrigues the kids. Use paper, felt, colored plastic, | | | | the seashore, ticket stubs from a fair, pine cones from |
| markers, pipe cleaners, any materials you have on | | | | a walk in a forest, brochure from a hotel or attraction). |
| hand. | | | | When the photos are developed, have the kids select |
| Keep the Hairy Head in a small dish with water in the | | | | 2-3 to have enlarged into 5x7 or 8x10. The photos |
| bottom. The 'hair' should sprout in less than a week. | | | | should be a mix of sizes. Get a large piece of matt |
| Kids can style the hair with elastics, clips and scissors. | | | | board (Art Supply stores, or framing shops). Have the |
| (Warning: My daughter decided to cut her own hair | | | | kids try different arrangements of photos and objects |
| after giving her Hairy Head a trim!) | | | | until they decide on the one they like best. Trace lightly |
| Week 2 - Fabric Paint on T-shirts (plain shirts, fabric | | | | in pencil where each of the objects is placed. An adult |
| paint, card board, brushes, and sponges) | | | | should use an craft knife to cut out the holes for the |
| Have the kids start with an old T-shirt or piece of | | | | photos (slightly smaller than the pictures). Tape the |
| fabric in the beginning. Put a piece of cardboard under | | | | photos on from the back, and glue the objects on |
| the first layer of fabric to make sure there is no | | | | from the front. If you have a frame the same size, but |
| leaking. Some fabric paint comes in squeeze bottles | | | | it in a frame with a cardboard backing (no glass on |
| which is good for lines, or they can use a paint brush | | | | front) or just hang it on the wall without a frame. The |
| or sponge. Designs from handprints are interesting and | | | | kids have all their mementoes in one place. |
| make a great present for grandma. If they need | | | | Week 8 - Treasure Hunt |
| pattern ideas, use the pictures in a child's coloring book | | | | There are many different ways to plan a treasure |
| for line drawings. | | | | hunt. For younger children, an adult can hide clues in |
| Week 3 - Pet Rocks (rocks, acrylic paint, glue, | | | | different locations. Each clue can lead the child to the |
| brushes) | | | | next clue (picture of shovel and pail would lead to a |
| Collect a lots of rocks. Be sure there are different | | | | clue hidden in the sand box). The final clue would lead |
| sizes and shapes. Start by choosing the rocks that will | | | | to the treasure (plate of cookies, invitation to go to the |
| make up the pet (head, ears, maybe a nose, body, | | | | water slides, movie pass, lemonade). For older children, |
| arms and legs). Paint the entire rock, top and bottom in | | | | the clues could be riddles they need to solve. Or have |
| one color. When the first coat of paint dries, start | | | | one of the kids make a treasure map (or list of |
| adding the details, eyes, whiskers, fur. When everything | | | | directions) that would lead to the treasure. In the |
| is dry, glue the pieces together. | | | | beginning, limit the number of clues to the age of the |
| If the kids get tired of the pet, it can become a door | | | | child ( 7year old could follow seven clues to the |
| stop, book end, garden ornament, or paper weight. | | | | treasure). |