30 May 2011
Posted in KidsTown

This book is not only fun to read about but is extremely educational - for adults as well as children. This book is also great for pre – teens or teens who read at a lower reading level. It is full of fascinating facts about all kinds of plants. It describes a variety of plants with unusual characteristics including those that give off light and those that eat insects.

Come curl up under our big story tree and listen to a great story! Check our schedule for times!

18 May 2011
Posted in KidsTown

Pinwheels are an age old craft that your Grandma will remember. Put together these pretty wind decorations and stick them in your garden.  Encourage your kids to observe the pinwheel to get a look at wind speed and direction.

What you'll need:

• Colored card stock or construction paper
• Thumbtack or stick pin
• Pencil with new eraser
• White craft glue
• Scissors
• Sequins
• Pattern

How to make it:

1. Print the pattern onto plain copy or printer paper.
2. Cut the square pattern out, cutting on the solid lines.
3. Lay pattern on top of colored paper and trace the square. Cut out the square from the colored paper.
4. Keep the pattern square on top of the colored square. Either hold it in place with your fingers or tape it down lightly on two of the sides.
5. Cut through the pattern and the colored paper along the dotted lines but do not cut in to the center circle.
6. Use a thumbtack or stick pin to poke out the holes in every other corner as indicated on the pattern. Set the pattern piece aside.
7. Take one corner (one with a hole) and fold it toward the center of the square. Fold the next corner that has a hole and fold it toward the center on top of the first holed corner. Repeat with the other two corners with holes until all four are folded into the center. Glue the folds to each other and to the center. Hold together until dry.
8. Push the thumbtack through the center of the pinwheel and into the eraser of the pencil. Make sure the pinwheel isn’t touching the eraser or it won’t spin.
9. Glue some sequins to the flaps of the pinwheel and let dry.

Obervations:

As your kids observe the pinwheel moving, ask them these questions...

• If the pinwheel blows faster, what does that mean about the wind?
• When the pinwheel blows this direction, where is the wind coming from?  What if it changes direction?

18 March 2011
Posted in KidsTown

The first official day of spring is March 20^th. A great way to celebrate spring is to start growing your own garden. Check out this activity from National Geographic Little Kids. This is a great way to learn how things grow and take advantage of the great weather.

04 March 2011
Posted in KidsTown

Take the time to learn about the letter B while making this simple Mardi Gras mask. This will certainly show the little ones in your family that learning can be fun. The letter B is the perfect shape to make a mask so why not take this time to teach them the importance of knowing their letters and sounds. Your family will be ready for Mardi Gras in no time; with great fashion and originality when you are done with this craft.

Supplies

• Construction paper or colored printable card stock
• Craft stick or drinking straw
• Scotch tape
• Feathers
• Curly ribbons
• Safety Scissors
• Make alphabet letters on your mask with any of these:
• Alphabet stickers/stamps,or draw letters with crayons

Instructions

1. Draw the letter "B" on construction paper. Make sure the size is just right for you to wear it as a mask. You may also opt to print out this template on colored card stock instead.
2. Cut the letter "B". You may need an adult's help in cutting out the eyeholes.
3. Decorate the front side of the mask with alphabet letters. Stick alphabet stickers, use alphabet stamps or write the letters using crayons.
4. Tape a craft stick or a drinking straw at the back to make the handle.
5. Tape feathers and/or curly ribbons at the back as well. Click here on how to make your own curly ribbons.

Your mask is now ready to wear!