Summer Learning Crafts

Summer
Learning Crafts
Let’s play. Let’s learn. Let’s bond.
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Fun summer
crafts can create
special memories,
nurture creativity,
and make your
kids a little
smarter, too! !
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Out-­‐of-­‐school crafts, art projects, and other creative experiences have monumental implications on child development. Summer is a wonderful time to create fun projects with your child while also applying what we now know from brain-­‐based research to enhance cognitive processes and academic growth. Creativity has become a hot topic in education. Education policy makers, business leaders, and school leaders are advocating student creativity in the curriculum. Phrases like the “maker movement” and “inventing to learn” are creating a shift in the way we prepare our children for success in school and beyond. Fortune 500 companies continue to look for the brightest and the best. Forty years ago, these were the students with strong reading, writing, and math skills. Today, they want those who have strong academic skills embedded into creative thinking, communication, and innovation. The projects in this guide will help parents reinforce essential skills, prevent summer learning loss, and promote creativity with children ages 4-­‐12. Each activity includes literature suggestions, step-­‐by-­‐step instructions for amazing projects, and the cognitive, social-­‐emotional, and family beneLits that the project provides. For most of us, life is hectic and schedules can get crazy. Even though we spend a lot of time with our kids, it’s easy to miss the simple opportunities to create special moments. Reading, crafting, and making memories together is a wonderful way to nurture your relationship and give kids numerous academic advantages. More importantly, simple activities like these can help you develop an invaluable bond with your child. !3.
Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
SUMMER LEARNING LOSS
Since 1906, countless studies confirm
that children experience learning loss
when they are not actively engaged in
academic activities over the summer.
In addition, there can be a negative
impact on children physically, as they
gain body mass index nearly twice as
fast during the summer than during the
school year. Other findings indicate
that the negative impacts are
compounded later in their academic
careers. Children who are not routinely
involved in educational summer
experiences in the early years are
more likely to make poor social choices
during their teen years, drop out of
school, and engage in other high-risk
behaviors. !
There are a variety of ways that
parents can take the lead in
demonstrating that learning isn’t
confined to a classroom and prepare
their children for the coming school
year with a significant academic
advantage. Summer is a great time to
discover your children’s learning
interests and challenges.!
Unlike school, where the focus seems
to be on grades and test scores, fun
summer learning crafts can provide
valuable opportunities to reinforce
essential skills, foster healthy social
and emotional development and
develop deeper connections within the
family. !
THE BENEFITS OF ARTS
AND CRAFTS
Recent brain-based research indicates
that the arts significantly enhance
pathways in the brain and improve
learning. In fact, human activities
required for the arts are fundamental to
brain function. During a child’s early
years, there is an explosive growth of
cells and connections within the brain.
Many of creative arts and crafts
activities – previously regarded as
“frivolous” – can engage the senses
and help wire the brain connecting the
neural networks that are essential for
successful higher-order thinking and
learning. Painting, drawing, cutting,
and pasting help children develop
!4.
style” (i.e., active participation through
discussion, taking turns reading,
turning pages, etc.) raises the child’s IQ
by more than 6 points. Seeing, hearing,
and discussing a story is one of the
most effective ways that children can
build the neural connections in their
brains that build essential language
skills. Routinely reading with your child
promotes longer attention span, larger
vocabularies, and better listening skills,
imagination, and critical thinking.!
cognitive and visual spatial skills as
well as fine motor skills. Dance and
song develop gross motor skills and
may enhance memory. Color can also
significantly improve children’s ability to
remember information. !
These types of activities in the early
years enhance both brain development
and emotional well-being. When young
children have many different
opportunities for arts and crafts, they
experience a wide variety of positive
outcomes including enhanced longterm memory, creativity, selfexpression, and innovative thinking. !
THE BENEFITS OF
READING TOGETHER
The benefits of reading to and with
children cannot be overemphasized.
There is a special kind of intimacy
created by wrapping your arms around
your child with a picture book on your
lap. This special connection makes
children feel safe and loved which
increases their emotional well-being.
The positive emotions associated with
these kinds of emotional experiences
not only help you develop a special
bond with your child, but also help your
child acquire a love of reading and
build a strong foundation for academic
success. !
Studies show that parents who read to
and with their children from an early
age help form important attitudes about
reading that kids will carry with them
throughout their school years. A recent
study published in Perspectives on
Psychological Science* concluded that
reading with a child in an “interactive
Books are a springboard for learning
“life’s lessons” and reinforcing gradeappropriate content and skills. Fairy
tales and fantasies can stimulate their
imaginations, while nonfiction picture
books can teach them everything from
the life cycle of a butterfly to how birds
build nests. There are so many rich
picture books available that teach
children about relationships, dangers,
feelings, families, friendships, manners,
and individual differences. The
bonding experience of reading a book
together can both address anxiety and
educate kids. It also gives parents
quality one-on-one time to address
their fears and establish healthy
communication strategies early on. !
COGNITIVE,
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL &
FAMILY ADVANTAGES
Each project “starts with a story” to
help you make reading together an
easy part of your routine. The books
have been carefully selected to be an
integral part of each project to help
reinforce the idea that reading not only
helps us learn, but also that it is an
enjoyable activity that brings us closer
together. !
Don’t skip the book - spending 10 or 15
minutes reading together will
significantly enhance the activities with
the kind of emotional rewards that will
turn moments into memories. !
Simple projects such as these provide
cognitive benefits, social-emotional
benefits and family advantages which
will promote what we want most for our
kids - healthy creativity, innovation, and
success later in life. !
Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Contents
Batik Place Settings
3-D Beach Photo Frame
Photo Booth Fun
Upcycled Cook-Out Caddy
Bird’s Nest and Eggs
Friendship Boards
Summer Memory Book
Clothespin Magnets
www.elmers.com
Inspiring people to create, build, and learn for life.
Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Batik Place Settings
Family dinners are more important than you might
think. Research shows that kids and teens who share
family dinners 3 or more times per week perform
better academically. More frequent family dinners are
related to fewer emotional and behavioral problems,
greater emotional well-being, more trusting and
helpful behaviors towards others and higher life
satisfaction.!
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Turn the chore of setting the table into a fun family
activity with colorful placemats and napkins. Teach
children the proper place setting and promote good
table manners, responsibility, and family time with an
inviting dinner table that you create together. !
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Cognitive Benefits:!
Fine motor skills
Visual-spatial skills
Figurative language
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Social-Emotional Benefits:!
Risk-free construction and creative expression
Promotes novel thinking and constructing
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Family Advantages:!
Encourages family dinner time and promotes positive social behaviors
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Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Supplies: !
White or pre-dyed 100% cotton fabric
Rit Dye (liquid)
Elmer’s ® School Glue Gel (blue)
Foam sponge brushes (various sizes)
Plastic table cover
Plastic wrap
1-cup containers
Rubber stamps or stencils (optional)
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Prep, create, and clean-up time:!
2-3 hours
Drying time:!
24 hours
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Start with a Story!
The Table Sets Itself by Ben Clanton is a delicious story that transforms a common task into a humorous adventure. The fun story, whimsical illustrations, and clever puns provide the perfect springboard to teach children the proper place settings and commonly used =igurative language. Perfect for any child that groans when asked to set the table! !
Additional Literature Suggestions: Whoopi’s Big Book of Manners by Whoopi Goldberg Don’t Behave Like You Live in a Cave by Elizabeth Verdick !
Instructions 1. Cover work surface with a plastic table cover to protect it in case of spills.
2. Overlap sheets of plastic wrap so they are slightly larger than the fabric to be dyed. Place fabric on top of plastic wrap.
3. Using Elmer’s® School Glue Gel (blue), apply your design to fabric. You may pour the glue directly on the fabric, or use stamps or stencils to create a design. ✦
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For stamps, use a brush to apply the glue gel evenly to the stamp before pressing it onto the fabric. Clean out open areas in the stamp with end of brush to remove any excess glue. For stencils, use Elmer’s Spray Adhesive to adhere stencil to fabric. Then using a stencil brush, apply the glue gel to open areas on the stencil. For hand drawing designs, use the bottle nozzle to create designs or letters directly on the fabric.
4. Allow the glue to air dry overnight or use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process. Holding the dryer too close to the fabric for too long can create burn marks, so watch carefully.
5. Wearing latex gloves, shake the Rit® dye bottles before pouring. Measure and mix 1 teaspoon liquid dye or 2 teaspoons powder dye with ½ cup very hot tap water; stir well. Pour dye and water into 1-­‐cup containers. Add more dye for more intense colors or use more water for lighter colors.
6. Use foam sponge brushes to apply one or more dye colors around resist-­‐created designs.
7. Cover the batik-­‐dyed fabric with plastic wrap and seal the edges. Cover bottom of microwave with paper towels to protect against spills and place plastic-­‐wrapped fabric in the microwave. Set microwave for 1 – 2 minutes. DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED. Watch carefully to be sure plastic wrap does not melt and fabric does not scorch.
8. Use pot holders to carefully remove plastic-­‐wrapped fabric from microwave. THE PLASTIC WRAP WILL BE HOT. Wait a few minutes to allow the plastic wrap to cool.
9. Remove plastic wrap and rinse fabric in cool water until the water runs clear of dye. Wash again in warm water with mild detergent. Rinse and air or machine dry. !
The History of Batik!
The dyeing technique of batik originated in the Indonesian island, Java. Batik is made by drawing designs on fabric which resists dye creating inverse designs of color. Even young children will delight in the process and =inal product of their batik designs. Traditional batik processes use hot wax to create the designs. The wax acts as a resist preventing the dye from penetrating the fabric and creating an inverse color design. However, Elmer’s School Glue Gel (blue) is washable and a faster, easier method for children than hot wax while delivering the same great results. Get creative with batik on tote bags, hats, t-­‐shirts, or any cotton fabric item. The possibilities are endless! Browse the projects at Rit Dye Studio for more ideas. www.ritstudio.com !
Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
3-D Beach
Frame
Sunshine, sand castles, and seashells!!
Kids learn through all of their senses, and they love
to touch and manipulate things. When they combine
activities that include talking, listening, and
manipulating materials, they are activating different
areas of their brains. The more parts of the brain we
use, the more likely we are to remember that
particular experience and connect with it in the future. !
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A beach vacation can be a great place to engage all
of the senses with a fun family craft. Take advantage
of all the natural resources around you and create fun
3-D photo frames to capture the memories. A little
sand, a few shells, some Elmer’s Glue-All® and an
inexpensive wood photo frame are all you need to
create a vacation souvenir that the whole family will
love. !
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Supplies:!
Elmer’s Glue-All®
Wooden photo frame Paint
Paint brushes
Shells
Clean sand
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Prep, create, and clean-up time: !
1-2 hours
Drying time: !
24 hours
Cognitive Benefits:!
Fine motor skills
Visual and spatial development
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Social-Emotional Benefits:!
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Tactile manipulation reduces stress
Family Advantages:!
Fun, family activities don’t have to cost a lot of money… They can be as simple as playing in the sand together. Make the family vacation one that everyone will remember!
Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Start with a Story
The Sand Castle Contest by Robert Munsch (author of Love You Forever) is a great book to use as a springboard for this fun family craft. The character in the story is excited to be on vacation, but he’s even more excited about the local sand castle contest. He builds such an extraordinary sand castle complete with sand tables and chairs, a sand refrigerator, and sand food. Children love this fun story and colorful illustrations. Instructions
1. Begin by painting the wood frames. If you plan to do this activity at the beach, you may want to paint
the frames in advance. A few simple strokes of blue and white tempera or acrylic paint will create a
nice waves effect and contrast well with the sand that you’ll layer on top.
2. When you arrive at the beach, take the whole family on a seashell hunt. Look for a wide variety of
small, colorful shells and enjoy the time spent collecting them together. In a small bucket mix equal
parts of Elmer’s Glue-All® and clean sand. Let the kids use their hands to make sure that the glue is
evenly mixed through the sand. It should be fairly stiff, but pliable enough to mold on the frame.
3. Use your fingers to apply the sand-glue mixture to the bottom of the wooden frame. Mold the mixture
to create the look of the beach. Make sure that the sand stays even with the bottom of the frame. You
may need to scrape sand from the bottom of the frame so that it will stand upright.
4. Before the sand-glue mixture dries, add a layer of glue and place a few shells into the sand.
5. Place the frames in a location where they can dry undisturbed. Do not leave them where they can get
wet. Depending on the thickness of your sand-glue mixture, it could take more than 24 hours to dry.
When dry, the sand-glue mixture will harden to preserve your shells and creativity.
6. Get the family together for a fun photo session so that you can fill the frames with smiles!
Build a Sand Castle Sculpture with 10 - 3 - 1
Sand castles are fun to make, but children are often disappointed to find them
gone the next day when the tide has washed them away. To make your sand
sculpture a bit more permanent, Elmer’s School Glue or Elmer’s Glue-All will
work as an in-sand cement base as well as a finishing spray to preserve your
masterpiece until it’s time to leave. And since both are non-toxic, they will not
harm the environment.
Build the base of your sand castle with slightly wet sand. In a bucket,
create a mixture of sand, water, and glue to build the sculpture.
Combine 10 cups of sand, with 3 cups of water, and 1 cup of glue
and mix well. Kids will love the freedom to dig in and get messy.
Use smaller cups, cones, or buckets to add molded sections and build
up the sculpture. Add small amounts of water if the sand begins to
harden. Once the masterpiece is finished, you can use glue and water as
a finishing spray. Combine one part glue with two parts water in a spray
bottle. Spray the entire sculpture to protect it from wind and light rain.
Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Upcycled
Cookout
Caddy
Enjoy family dinners outdoors.!
Summer wouldn’t be complete without cookouts
and picnics. You may be surprised to learn that
the benefits go far beyond a great burger on a
warm evening. Research shows that one factor
fosters environmental awareness more than anything
else - spending time outdoors. Children between the
ages of 5 and 10 who spend more quality family time
outdoors foster a love and respect for the
environment that they carry with them through
adulthood. There are also clear links between
childhood immersion in nature and creativity. !
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Make family dinners outside a priority and reinforce
the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling.
Environmental education in the classroom is
important, but you can make it much more relevant
and meaningful to your kids when you model
responsible behavior and give them opportunities to
follow your lead.!
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Cognitive Benefits:!
Fine motor skills
Decision-making and problem-solving
Visual and spatial development
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Social-Emotional Benefits:!
Respect for nature
Awareness of human impact on the environment
Greater involvement and concern for community well-being
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Family Advantages:!
Promotes quality family time and environmental consciousness
Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Supplies:!
Clean, empty containers (for silverware)
Empty box (for napkins)
Paper grocery bag
Elmer’s Glue-All®
Jute or yarn
Small pebbles or shells
Plastic plate
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Prep, create, and clean-up time: !
1-2 hours
Start with a Story
Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel is a fun adventure of a young superhero who teaches others about recycling. This is a fun and easy story to use as a springboard to teach kids that little things matter when it comes to caring for our environment and we all have a responsibility to do our part. Young kids will get hooked by the main character, and the fun rhymes and rhythm will keep them engaged. Additional Literature Suggestions: The Garbage Monster by Joni Sensel The Wartville Wizard by Don Madden Why Should I Recycle? by Jen Green Recycle: A Handbook for Kids by Gail Gibbons Changing Habits, Living Green by Darlene Stille Instructions
1. Choose the containers you want to recycle to hold silverware and napkins. Frozen orange juice containers or soup cans work well for the silverware. Just make sure that there are no sharp edges. Small boxes like the packaging for granola bars or rice work well to hold a small stack of napkins. Thoroughly clean and dry the containers you’ve chosen. 2. Use jute or yarn to cover the silverware containers. Place a few lines of Elmer’s Glue-­‐All® along the length of the containers and wrap them with the jute. The project in the photo shows a very neat wrap, but let kids get creative with the pattern. A random wrap can turn look great, too. When the entire container has been wrapped, tuck the end under the last strip of jute and add a generous dollop of glue to hold it in place. Let dry completely. 3. Use a paper grocery bag to cover the box that will hold the napkins. One simple way to do this is to wrap the entire box like a present, and then cut the top end off to create an opening. (Parents can use an X-­‐ACTO® knife to cut a clean opening at the top of the box.) Thin boxes (an inch or so wide) work better than wider ones as they will prevent the napkins from sliding down into the box.
4. Use markers, paint, ribbons, or other embellishments to decorate the containers. Let dry completely. 5. Send the kids on a pebble hunt. Encourage them to Yind small, colorful pebbles that will be used to hold the containers in place on the plate and add weight to the caddy. Wash and dry the pebbles thoroughly. (You can also use seashells or purchase inexpensive bags of decorative pebbles or shells from most craft and hobby stores.)
6. Arrange all of the containers on a plastic plate. Pour a generous amount of Elmer’s Glue-­‐All on the plate around the containers. Then, pour small pebbles or sea shells on to the glue. 7. Fire up the grill, bring your creative cookout caddy to the picnic table, and enjoy a great family dinner together!
Talk to your children about being “green”
Simple activities like this one teach children that we all have a role to play in protecting the planet. Projects that promote “going green” demonstrate that we all have a responsibility to respect our planet and there are many ways to reduce or recycle. Have a conversation about the little things that help such as turning off lights when you leave a room, reusing grocery bags, or playing outside instead of watching television or playing video games. Make it a family goal to be more mindful of your carbon footprint. Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Eggs in a
Nest
Make like a bird and build a nest!!
Young children are fascinated when they find a bird’s
nest. By the time summer rolls around, most of the
eggs have hatched and the chicks are growing into
fledglings. There are so many different kinds of birds
and they build different kinds of nests to keep their
babies safe and warm. Bird-watching is a great way
for kids to learn about their development process,
teach kids how birds make their nests, and let them
make their own creative nest and eggs. !
Supplies:!
There is something especially fun for kids about
getting a little messy with glue. Since Elmer’s School
Glue is washable, and non-toxic, there is no need to
worry about letting them roll up their sleeves and use
their hands to make something really cool!!
Prep, create, and clean-up time: !
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Cognitive Benefits:!
Fine motor skills
Life cycle of living things
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Social-Emotional Benefits:!
Respect for living things and nature
Family Advantages:!
Promotes quality family time and greater awareness of the natural world around us
Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Elmer’s School Glue
Yarn
Newspaper
Paper plates
Small round bowl (in the shape of a nest)
Plastic wrap
Small balloons
Paint
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1-2 hours
Drying time:!
24 hours
Start with a Story!
Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer Ward and Steve Jenkins features a different type of bird’s nest on each spread. The rhyming text is perfect to read aloud together, and additional information is provided about each bird at a higher reading level. The colorful paper cut collage illustrations help kids understand how complex some nests really are and introduces them to a variety of bird species. Birds, Nests & Eggs by Mel Boring is another great resource for young bird lovers. This guide for kids ages 5-­‐10 also includes additional activities and a 7-­‐page scrapbook for drawings and notes. !
Other literature suggestions: !
A Nest Full of Eggs by Priscilla Belz Jenkins Even an Ostrich Needs a Nest: Where Birds Begin by Irene Kelly A Place for Birds by Melissa Stewart !
Instructions !
1. Start with a small bowl that will serve as a mold to shape the nest. Place the bowl face down on a paper plate and cover the bottom of the bowl with plastic wrap. The plastic wrap will prevent the nest from adhering the the bowl. 2. Pour a bottle of Elmer’s School Glue in a shallow bowl. Thin the glue with about 1/2 cup of water. Mix the glue solution thoroughly. This glue solution will be used for both the nest and the eggs. 3. Create the nest by dipping pieces of yarn into the glue and placing them on the plastic wrap covering the bowl. There is no right way to arrange the yarn, and it doesn’t have to be precise. Encourage your child to be creative and have fun with the process. Continue to dip the yarn in the glue mixture and add pieces to the bowl until you cannot see the bowl underneath. 4. Mold the yarn around the bowl with your hands to “tighten” the nest a bit. It helps if you wet your hands to do this. 5. When the nest is Vinished, move it to a place where it can dry completely and won’t be disturbed. 6. Next, it’s time to make the eggs. Blow up a small balloon to the size that you want the eggs to be. Tear newspaper into small pieces. The smaller the pieces, the smoother the egg will be. 7. Dip the newspaper pieces into the glue mixture and apply them to the balloon. Continue this process until the entire balloon is covered with the paper -­‐ except for knot in the balloon. 8. Place the eggs on a paper plate and leave them in a location where they can dry completely. 9. When the eggs are dry, carefully cut the tie off of the balloon. Carefully, use your Vinger to remove the balloon from inside the egg. This hole makes it easy for children to hold the egg while they paint it. Let them dry completely. 10. When the nest is dry, remove it from the bowl and peel off the plastic wrap. Place the eggs in the nest and enjoy the colorful creation!
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Take it one step further…!
Now that your child has a good understanding of how birds make their nests, you can extend their learning even further by creating a “natural nest” with twigs, leaves, grass, pine needles, etc. Enjoy a scavenger hunt together to Vind materials that birds might use in their nests. Collect the items and decide which items will help the nest be strong enough for the eggs but pliable enough to hold the shape. This is a bit more challenging for children, but with a little creativity and some out-­‐of-­‐the-­‐box thinking, you’ll be amazed at what they can create! Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Friendship
Boards
Celebrate relationships with family
and friends!!
Friendships are important to children, and research
shows that children tend to have better attitudes
towards school when they have friends and feel
accepted among their friends. Summer can be a
great time to create memories with good friends.
The friendship bonds that children form with their
peers can be among the most important and
rewarding relationships of their lives. Moreover,
they are vital to their social development and future
success. Without the structure of school, summer
can provide both freedom and anxiety for some kids
as they cultivate relationships with their peers. !
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Reinforcing the characteristics of a good friend and
having conversations with children about how their
actions make others feel will help them make
lasting friendships as well as recognize the
important people in their lives. Friendship boards
are fun and easy for kids to make and personalize
to capture the summer memories with family and
friends.!
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Cognitive Benefits:!
Time management skills
Creativity, measurement, and spatial organization
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Social-Emotional Benefits:!
Social perception, self-regulation, positive emotions
Family Advantages:!
Communication, cooperation, empathy, responding to the emotions of others
Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Supplies:!
Elmer’s Cork Foam Board
Elmer’s Dry Erase Foam Board
Elmer’s CraftBond® Fabric & Paper Glue
Elmer’s Glue-All®
Fabric
Ribbon
Gemstones, buttons, large foam letters and other embellishments (optional)
Dry erase markers
Binder clips
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Prep, create, and clean-up time: !
1-3 hours
Start with a Story!
Have you Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud is a wonderful book to encourage positive behavior and the impact that our words and actions have on others. While this 32-­‐page award-­‐winning book has grown into a character development program for all school-­‐age children, the concept of @illing a bucket is one that all kids can relate to and gives them a great visual as they interact with friends and family. !Another similar story is How Full is Your Bucket? For Kids by Tom Rath. As the main character interacts with friends and relatives throughout the day, he recognizes how happy people make him feel happy and grumpy people leave him feeling grumpy, too. !Older readers may enjoy Wonder by R.J. Palacio. This chapter book for children ages 8-­‐12 shares one boy’s perception of empathy, compassion, and acceptance. Get two copies and read them together but independently so that you can discuss the message and theme of this powerful story of friendship. !
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Instructions !
1. Depending on which foam boards inspire your child, there are really so many possibilities for this project. You may decide to make the largest portion cork foam board for pictures and cards. Or, you may decide to make the larger area dry erase board so that your child can change the look and the message every day. It’s fun to let children decide how to arrange their boards and give them materials for more than one section -­‐ one for dry erase markers, the cork board for push pins, and a another for photos, etc. !
2. Cover one section in fabric to make it stand out from the base board. This section not only adds variety to the board, but also makes it very easy for the child to quickly add a photo, souvenirs, greeting cards, etc to his or her board. An easy way to do this is to measure a piece of fabric that is slightly larger than the square foam board. Using Elmer’s CraftBond® Fabric & Paper Glue, cover the board with the fabric and glue the edges to the back of the board. Then use ribbon or elastic to create a square or diamond pattern across that portion of the board. !
3. Next, apply a generous amount of glue to the back of the smaller board and place it on the largest board. Use binder clips to hold hold the smaller accent boards in place while the glue dries. !
4. It is simple to add a fabric pocket to store dry erase markers, extra push pins, etc. Fold the fabric in half and glue each side to the board leaving a little give in the center. Reinforce with staples or thumbtacks. !
5. Add some sparkle with Elmer’s Glitter Glue or glue other embellishments such as gemstones, buttons or sequins. Encourage your child to be creative with colors and decorative additions. !
6. Attach a wide ribbon to the back of the board with Elmer’s Glue-­‐All® to hang on the wall or door. !
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Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Summer
Memory
Book
Capture family memories that
you’ll keep for a lifetime!!
Family journaling has a wide variety of benefits for
children beyond writing words, sentences, and
paragraphs. Studies show that journal writing can help
children express and validate their feelings. A
collaborative journal is a great tool to help kids put their
thoughts in writing and enhance communication skills. !
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Transform an ordinary spiral notebook into a family
memory book that will serve as a timeless keepsake
for years to come. Chronicle your summer by
encouraging each family member to add to the book.
Take turns adding entries with words, pictures, photos,
or souvenirs. Model good grammar, spelling and
punctuation, but don’t get hung up on the “correctness”
of the entries. The idea is to let everyone put their
thoughts into words and express their feelings to
capture your special times. !
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Cognitive Benefits:!
Expressing thoughts in words
Expanding ideas and recalling details
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Social-Emotional Benefits:!
Improves communication and expression
Illuminates others’ perspectives
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Family Advantages:!
Captures family memories and individual stories
Improves family unity
Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Supplies:!
Spiral notebook
Fabric or wrapping paper
Elmer’s CraftBond® Fabric and Paper Glue
Elmer’s Disappearing Purple School Glue Stick
Markers or crayons
Scissors
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Prep, create, and clean-up time: !
1 hour
Start with a Story!
Amelia’s Notebook by Marissa Moss is a great book to introduce journal writing to children ages 6-­‐10. Amelia, the main character records all of the important events in her life using words and pictures. The funny tales and illustrations include moving to a new place, dealing with siblings, and making friends. !
Road Trip by Roger Eschbacher is a great book to use as a springboard for the family vacation journal. The family in the story collect postcards, take photos, and stay in motels on their journey to visit relatives. !
The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant is a wonderful read-­‐aloud because every child can relate to what it is like to visit relatives or have them visit you. It also describes those things so common to family vacations such as getting up early, packing food for the road trip, and the feelings you experience when you Ginally get there. !
An Island Scrapbook: Dawn to Dusk on A Barrier Island by Virginia Wright-­‐Frierson tells the story of an artist and her daughter who explore and record the sights and sounds of a summer vacation. They sketch, paint, and write about everything they see and do as they create a special scrapbook recording their memories. !
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Instructions !
1.
Cut a piece of colorful fabric or wrapping paper that is slightly larger than the cover of the notebook. Measure from just inside the spirals to the edge of the notebook cover and add 2 inches. Measure from the top of the cover to the bottom and add 4 inches. Using Elmer’s CraftBond® Fabric and Paper Glue, afGix the fabric or wrapping paper to the inside cover. Let dry completely. 2. Use markers or crayons to add the title of the memory book. Add foam or construction paper shapes to further personalize the book. This makes the memory book inviting and gives kids a sense of ownership and purpose to add their thoughts to the book. 3. Keep the book and a container of markers, crayons, and a glue stick in a place where every family member can access it. 4. Encourage family members to add entries for particular days or events one page at a time. Write the date at the top of each page and add photos, movie stubs, or other memories that can be glued into the book. If the family is going on a road trip or vacation, take the memory book with you. Attach a pen or marker to the book with a string.
5. If your children are reluctant to write in the book, model a few entries and be sure to write about them. You can gently nudge them to add to the book by starting with a conversation about your entries. You’ll Gind that they will look forward to read what you have written and in no time, they will be writing or drawing their own entries. 6. Whether you’re writing about a family vacation or just everyday activities, a family journal is a great way to keep kids reading, writing, and reGlecting on the important things in their lives. Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Clothespin
Refrigerator
Magnets
Turn the refrigerator into the
Museum of Us!!
Displaying the drawings and other artwork that children
create lets them know that you value it and them.
Recent research indicates that displaying children’s
work at home may be more important than displaying it
on a school bulletin board because it conveys the
sense that it is important and adds meaning to what
they create. !
!Turn ordinary clothespins into fun refrigerator magnets
to display those marker masterpieces, watercolor
works of art, and paper collage creations. Create a
flower garden magnet set with tissue paper or a
reminder of the beach with some of the shells you
collected there. Whatever the theme of the magnets,
this simple activity is a great way to showcase your
child’s work all through the year and demonstrate that
his or her work is important. !
Cognitive Benefits:!
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Fine motor skills
Social-Emotional Benefits:!
Enhances self-esteem
Celebrates achievement Promotes creativity
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Family Advantages:!
Demonstrates a value for the creative process
Instills a sense of belonging and worth
Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Supplies:!
Wooden clothespins
Magnetic tape or magnetic cards cut into strips
Elmer’s Glue-All®
Tempera paint or markers
Elmer’s Glitter Glue (optional)
Air-Dry Clay (optional)
Tissue paper, construction paper, lace, ribbon, gemstones, and other embellishments
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Prep, create, and clean-up time: !
1 hour
Start with a Story!
Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail by Laurence Anholt describes the story of a world-­‐famous artist and a little girl who learned how to have con9idence in her own artistic abilities. The illustrations of Picasso’s art are beautiful and the factual information threaded throughout give children an understanding of his life. This story is a great springboard for the activity because it shares how Picasso often used ordinary objects or trash to create art. This book not only teaches children about Picasso, but also communicates an underlying message of courage and self-­‐esteem in each individual’s ability to create art. !
Laurence Anholt’s Camille and the Sun6lowers is another wonderful picture book that tells the life story of Vincent van Gogh. Like Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail, this book includes pictures of van Gogh’s work and factual information about how his work was criticized, and for many years, was not appreciated. !
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Instructions !
1.
Paint the clothespins with tempera paint or decorate them with markers. Decide what embellishments to add to the bottom of the clothespin. The top of the clothespin should be open so that you can open and close the pin to display papers. 2. Encourage your child to be creative and think about what they would like to add to the clothespin. You may suggest adding shells that you collected at the beach or make a fun creation out of construction paper or tissue paper. You could also provide Air-­‐Dry Clay for your children to sculpt bugs, bees, animals, etc. After they have sculpted the object, let the clay dry completely and then paint it. 3. Tissue paper 9lowers are simple to add to the clothespins. Simply cut squares of tissue paper approximately 3” x 3”. Pour a small amount of glue into a shallow container or paper plate. Place the eraser end of a pencil in the center of the tissue paper square and twist the ends around the pencil. Dip the eraser end into the glue and then af9ix to the end of the clothespin. Trim the ends of the tissue paper to look like the petals of a 9lower, and add leaves from tissue paper or construction paper. 4. Measure the length of the clothespin and cut a strip magnetic tape to attach on the back of the clothespin. The adhesive on the back magnetic tape is not sticky enough to adhere to the wooden clothespin. Add a thin line of Elmer’s Glue-­‐All® to the strip and press and hold it to the clothespin for a moment or two until it sets. You can also use an old magnetic business card or calendar by simply trimming a strip the correct size and gluing it to the back of the clothespin. !
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The possibilities for this activity are endless. You can use lace or ribbon, gemstones, glitter glue, or foam shapes to embellish the clothespins. Just be creative, have fun with it, and display your child’s work proudly!
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Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Photo Booth
Fun
Capture their creativity and their
smiles with these fun photo props!!
Humor and laughter are invaluable to the quality of
our lives - especially when things get a little tough.
Parents who welcome silliness in the family routine
are better able to help children heal bad moods, deal
with disappointments, alleviate stress and bring the
whole family back into sync. !
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Kids need opportunities to laugh, pretend, and just be
silly. Digital cameras make photo fun easy and
instantaneous. With a few creative props and a little
imagination, turn your family room into a fun studio
and set the stage for an award-winning production.
These fun and easy props will showcase kids’
creativity and make lots of smiles. !
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Cognitive Benefits:!
Fine motor skills
Characterization and sequencing
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Social-Emotional Benefits:!
Risk-free play, communication skills, understanding emotions
Family Advantages:!
Use role-play to improve family communication and create lasting memories
Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
Supplies:!
Elmer’s Chalk Foam Board
Elmer’s Glitter Glue
Elmer’s Glue-All®
Cardstock
Dowel rods, craft sticks, or straws
Markers or crayons
Chalk
Scissors
Prop templates (page xx)
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Prep, create, and clean-up time: !
1-2 hours
Start with a Story!
Picture Day Perfection by Deborah Diesen is a wonderful story to engage children in this activity. Every school-­‐
age child can relate to picture day. The boy at the center of this story wants to make sure his picture is perfect, but a little bedhead and other problems get in the way. Children will enjoy the silly illustrations and charming story, and they learn that the most important part of the picture is the smile. !
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Instructions !
1. Cut out the templates on page xx. In addition, draw speech bubble, thought bubble, or picture frame shapes on Chalk Foam Board. Children can cut the basic shapes, but an adult should use an X-­‐ACTO® knife to cut out the lenses of the glasses and the speech and thought bubbles from the Chalk Foam Board. 2. Use markers or crayons to decorate the shapes. Add some sparkle with Elmer’s Glitter Glue or glue other embellishments to the props such as gemstones or sequins. Encourage your child to be creative with colors and decorative additions. 3. Let the shapes dry completely. 4. Once the shapes are dry, use Elmer’s Glue-­‐All® to glue a dowel rod or craft stick to the back of each prop. (You can also use unsharpened pencils, or long sturdy straws to use as handles.)
5. Using chalk, let your child write fun exclamations of summer on the Chalk Foam Board. After snapping the photos, children can erase and write a different phrase for another photo. 6. Put on your happy faces, get silly, and let the fun begin! !
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Create a Photo Story !
With a digital camera, it is easy to create a photo story in a slide show format. Have a conversation with your children about the various ways in which we communicate feelings other than words such as body language and expressions. Get creative with them to plan a “silent movie” and decide which props they might need to tell their story. Each time they change the phrases on the speech/thought bubbles, snap a photo. When the “photo story” is ]inished, assemble the photos in the correct order to create a slide show. You can add background music that matches the mood of the story, and many basic slideshow programs allow you to add titles, credits, and transitions. Activities such as these will reinforce essential reading comprehension skills such as characterization, sequence, and story elements. And, they will love to see themselves as the stars of the show! Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
INSIDE EVERY
CHILD IS A
CREATIVE
VOICE WAITING
TO BE HEARD
Written by Dr. Melissa Hughes, Ph.D. Dr. Hughes is the Education Advisor for Elmer’s Products, Inc. and holds her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction. Her research focuses on the achievement gap impacted by summer learning loss and parental involvement. Throughout her educational career, Melissa has taught in both the public K-­‐12 sector as well as the university level. She has authored more than a dozen instructional resource publications for teachers and works in schools across the country to improve teaching and learning. References: How to Make a Young Child Smarter: Evidence from the Database of Raising Intelligence, by John Protzko, Joshua Aronson, Clancy Blair. Perspectives on Psychological Science, January, 2013. Raising Healthy Children: The Importance of Family Meals, by Anghela Paredes, Eshani Persaud, and Karla Shelnutt. Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, July, 2013. Family Dinner Meal Frequency and Adolescent Development: Relationships with Developmental Assets and High-­‐Risk Behaviors, by Jayne Fulkerson, Mary Story, Alison Mellin, Nancy Leffert, Dianne Neumark-­‐Sztainer, Simone French. Journal of Adolescent Health, September, 2006. Children’s Work: Visibility Leads to Value, by Diane Weaver Dunne. Education World, September 2000. !
Growing up green: Becoming an Agent of Care for the Natural World, by Louise Chawla. Journal of Developmental Processes, 2009. Harvard Project Zero. Project Zero was founded in 1967 to study and improve education in the arts. www.pz.harvard.edu Children and Nature Network. The Children & Nature Network is leading the movement to connect all children, their families and communities to nature through Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2014
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Westerville, Ohio 43082
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