Easy art and craft projects
1) The IKEA doll house. The same idea can be used to make a house from Pottery Barn or Restoration hardware catalogs.
2) Japanese picture boxes, also called tatebanko.
3) Simply print pictures available online and color.
4) Create birthday cards for family and friends.
5) Use photos of family members and add speech bubbles to tell a story or make wacky jokes. Use programs like SuperLame or Instructables, or just paste your photo into Word and use the picture tools there.
6) Have kids write a skit and act it out. Take pictures and create a slideshow on Picasa or Shutterfly or print out a book to share.
7) Pass out coloring pages or draw nice pictures. Color as neatly as possible. Paste onto cardboard (you can even use old cereal boxes for this). Draw "puzzle pieces" on the reverse side, cut on the lines and you have made your very own puzzles! Don't forget to store it in a ziploc bag or plastic container.
8) Make word finds or math puzzles. Try Puzzlemaker or ReadWriteThink's Puzzle Maker.
9) Cut up old magazines or catalogs to make collages.
10) Make handprint art.
More links to great site with craft ideas:
http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/
http://www.dltk-kids.com/
http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/
http://www.firstpalette.com/
http://crafts.kaboose.com/
Also a great resource: back issues of kids' magazines like Spider/Cricket, Highlights, Binah Bunch, Mishpacha Jr., Aim!, and the like almost always have an impressive and fun craft page.
NEW CRAFTS FOR Summer 2013!
2) Japanese picture boxes, also called tatebanko.
3) Simply print pictures available online and color.
4) Create birthday cards for family and friends.
5) Use photos of family members and add speech bubbles to tell a story or make wacky jokes. Use programs like SuperLame or Instructables, or just paste your photo into Word and use the picture tools there.
6) Have kids write a skit and act it out. Take pictures and create a slideshow on Picasa or Shutterfly or print out a book to share.
7) Pass out coloring pages or draw nice pictures. Color as neatly as possible. Paste onto cardboard (you can even use old cereal boxes for this). Draw "puzzle pieces" on the reverse side, cut on the lines and you have made your very own puzzles! Don't forget to store it in a ziploc bag or plastic container.
8) Make word finds or math puzzles. Try Puzzlemaker or ReadWriteThink's Puzzle Maker.
9) Cut up old magazines or catalogs to make collages.
10) Make handprint art.
More links to great site with craft ideas:
http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/
http://www.dltk-kids.com/
http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/
http://www.firstpalette.com/
http://crafts.kaboose.com/
Also a great resource: back issues of kids' magazines like Spider/Cricket, Highlights, Binah Bunch, Mishpacha Jr., Aim!, and the like almost always have an impressive and fun craft page.
NEW CRAFTS FOR Summer 2013!
Charitable projects
1) Collect recyclables, turn them in at a recycling center, and donate the proceeds to charity.
2) Write letters or postcards, or phone, widows, widowers, and other people who might be lonely.
3) Prepare a meal for someone who is ill or has a new baby.
4) Volunteer at a soup kitchen or a food distribution center.
5) Make a lemonade stand or bake sale with profits to go to charity.
6) Visit a nursing home.
7) Cut flowers in your yard (not anyone else's unless you get permission!) and take bouquets to relatives and friends that might sometimes be "forgotten."
NEW CHARITABLE IDEAS FOR Summer 2013!
2) Write letters or postcards, or phone, widows, widowers, and other people who might be lonely.
3) Prepare a meal for someone who is ill or has a new baby.
4) Volunteer at a soup kitchen or a food distribution center.
5) Make a lemonade stand or bake sale with profits to go to charity.
6) Visit a nursing home.
7) Cut flowers in your yard (not anyone else's unless you get permission!) and take bouquets to relatives and friends that might sometimes be "forgotten."
NEW CHARITABLE IDEAS FOR Summer 2013!
- With permission of the owners, collect the fruit from neglected fruit trees (in season: figs, pit fruit) or over-run zucchini plants (no home gardener can ever use them all!) and share with those who are less fortunate.
- On a hot day, offer free lemonade, ice tea, or other cold drinks to passersby.
Kitchen Projects
1) Make dinner. Kids can easily make rice, quinoa, couscous, or bulgar wheat; chicken with Lawry's season salt & pepper or BBQ sauce; and a salad made of bagged lettuce, grape tomatoes, baby carrots, and olives. Baked fish is also easy: cover with dill, lemon slices and a dash of salt; then bake covered in a preheated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 15-25 minutes, depending on the thickness.
2) Bake cookies or cake. You can use a mix, but you don't have to. Just remember to pre-measure and supervise closely, especially for the littlest kids.
3) Bake bread in your bread machine. If your machine has a dough setting, you can make pizza dough. The kids will have a blast assembling pizza with their own toppings.
4) Scrambled eggs. These are made easily in the microwave by kids.
5) Teach your kids to make other simple microwaveable items: oatmeal, cream of wheat, and popcorn (tip: boil a mug of water for 1 min. before popping popcorn for best results) seem to be tasty and healthy options.
NEW RECIPES for Summer 2013!
2) Bake cookies or cake. You can use a mix, but you don't have to. Just remember to pre-measure and supervise closely, especially for the littlest kids.
3) Bake bread in your bread machine. If your machine has a dough setting, you can make pizza dough. The kids will have a blast assembling pizza with their own toppings.
4) Scrambled eggs. These are made easily in the microwave by kids.
5) Teach your kids to make other simple microwaveable items: oatmeal, cream of wheat, and popcorn (tip: boil a mug of water for 1 min. before popping popcorn for best results) seem to be tasty and healthy options.
NEW RECIPES for Summer 2013!
- Single-serving chocolate cake
- Frozen yogurt (cheaper than visiting the store daily and just as cool and refreshing!)
Ideas shared by family camping parents
M. D. G. shares this "nice little page for summer projects:"
http://www.scholastic.com/resources/collection/summer-boredom-guide-budget-friendly-learning-adventures-2
See more on our blog page!
http://www.scholastic.com/resources/collection/summer-boredom-guide-budget-friendly-learning-adventures-2
See more on our blog page!