With the arrival of summer all that I can think about is taming our 15 acres of woods. I have been working on making play areas in the woods for the kids. They do not really need MY help as they have the entire woods at their disposal... but some semi focused spaces are nice. We do not do the plastic thing as natural spaces and natural materials are so much better for kids. Unfortunately these days we do not live in a world that grows free-range children. Instead the problem of "nature-deficit disorder" predominates. This term describes the fact...
I get bored easily, so in my years as an elementary art teacher, I would continually try out new ideas with my students, and I liked to introduce the kids to different artists each year. When I repeated a project or idea, I tried to give it a new 'spin'. But there were certain projects I did every year without fail, and never tired of them (I suppose that's like a singer singing the same favorite song in concert after concert, year after year). They were the projects everyone expected to see, no matter what. But this year, I am retired, and this time of year, four particular annual projects are on my mind, and are not likely to be in my replacement's repertoire. Thumbprint Pussywillows! *Note: the pussywillow pic at the top of this post was found on facebook, and I apologize that I do not know the source. But it's so cute I wanted to share it with you! Before everything starts to blossom and bloom in the spring, there are the pussywillows! Year after year, in early March, I have slogged around in melting snow to find pussywillows and bring them to school for my kindergartners to see and touch. In years where I couldn't find them outside, I resorted to purchasing them in the floral department of my local supermarkets. I'd put some on each table, and we would examine how the black seed pods would open and let the little soft silvery pussywillows out. The kids would color a vase, and maybe a table, on colored construction paper, and draw the stems and seed pods. Then, with tempera paint (a mix of white with a dab of black and a hint of silver) they would use their little thumbs to stamp the soft fluffs. Spring Hats! You may call them Easter bonnets, but this little Jewish art teacher (me) simply called them spring hats, and my kindergartners made them every year before spring break. The materials were paper plates with a hole punched on each side and a ribbon or hunk of fat yarn strung through, colored paper tape, scissors, and moist sponges to activate the glue on the paper tape. The kids learned how to fold, cut, bend, twist, and curl the tape, and the hats became as crazy as they wanted. Here's a group of happy kindergartners! Teddy Bear Chairs! The 2nd graders in my school district take an annual springtime field trip to tour the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, traveling by ferry across Lake Champlain to get there. Many of the students purchase a Build-a-Bear while at the factory, plus they all have some sort of stuffed animal friend at home. So each year, my 2nd grade students built teddy bear chairs, out of 4 toilet paper cores (the legs), 2 paper towel cores (the back supports), two 7" squares of cardboard from shipping cartons (the seat and the back), and Elmer's Glue-All. We painted them either with acrylic paints, or tempera covered with a tempera varnish or Mod Podge to seal the paint. I think my replacement has chosen to make bear beds instead, and I'm sure they will be adorable. But they won't be the chairs! Q-Tip Lilacs! I have some lilac trees in my backyard. Every year when they bloomed, I would cut big bunches of them and bring them to my art room, putting a vase full of fragrant flowers on every table. Ahhh!! Every year, one first grade teacher, upon smelling the flowers, would say this to her little ones: "Do your very best today! This is my favorite project! I will hang them all up for Author's Day!" Then the students would create a vase, a table, stems, and leaves, and finally paint the flowers using Q-Tips with with various tints of violet, lilac, blue, pink, and white. Over the years, the vase, table, stems and laves were done with various materials: crayon, oil pastel, collage, etc., but the flowers always were exuberantly painted with cotton swabs.
thebeldam
here is so much to cheer about this holiday season with more new boutiques, shops and...
If you're debating whether to visit Dallas or Houston, check out this post to learn about the pros and cons of each city from a Texan POV!
Today I wanted to share with you all things Stratford at Willow Creek. Keep in mind each suburb, city, and neighborhood has so much to offer.
Weighing the pros and cons of visiting Austin vs Houston? Check out this post to learn what to expect and what I recommend in each place!
- Results from #10
GALVESTON – As more rain threatened to deliver another soaking this weekend to the...
Hello there, Today I wanted to share with you all things Willow Creek Farms, Brookshire TX. I know that there are tons of neighborhoods to choose from in the Houston area, but I also know there is one that perfectly fits your needs. Each suburb, city, and neighborhood has so…
Good evening dear friend, Today I wanted to share with you all things Northampton Estates, Spring TX. Keep in mind each suburb, city, and neighborhood has so much to offer. I know that there are so many to choose from in the Houston area, and I know there is one…
Willow Smith has shared a stunning photo of her modeling for Mugler's latest fragrance, Alien Goddess, which launches on August 15.
Bekijk hier Laminaat - Beautifloor Houston 120x19 Willow Beige. Altijd Scherpe Prijzen! Bekijk onze website of kom langs onze Showroom in Hoofddorp!
Southeast Texas Rockets started off Wednesday and Thursday with travel and set up days in Smith Point. After cloudy and rainy days in Central Texas that resulted in the rockets being tested without…
View Brightland Homes’ Willow floor plan in our Balmoral East community. Schedule your appointment today.
Whether its beef rib or ice cream sundaes, these dishes top H-Town’s most-photographed charts
Zestimate® Home Value: $937,754. Southern Colonial by Whitestone in desirable walkable location! Outstanding architectural features: double arches in center hall, 3-story spiral staircase, 20ft ceiling in butler's pantry, New Orleans courtyard. Light-filled rooms, immaculate details. Enormous chef's kitchen and great room, formal living and dining. First floor master. Four more bedrooms PLUS 3rd floor den and storage/flex room. Room for cocktail pool on full size lot. Mosquito system. Zoned to Harvard Elementary!
