Category: Crafts

crafty jack, Jack - o - Lanterns!

10/16/2020

It's that time of year, hot cider, pumpkins, apples, CANDY, and my favorite: Jack-O-Lanterns! This year I I grew some remember when we read "Seeds Move!" by Robin Page and I showed you some of the seeds I started? I ended up with three lovely pumpkins for this Halloween!

But I wanted a few more pumpkins, so I hope you enjoy this Jack-O-Lantern craft and make a few of your own too!

You will need:

Two paper plates
Assorted orange coloring materials (crayons, colored pencil, marker, etc...)
Scissors
Glue Stick
Black Paper
Add-ons: I used a green pipe cleaner for the stem and green paper cut as a leaf.

Begin by stacking your two paper plates together.
Cut the side of the plate off, making a flat "bottom" for your pumpkin.
Separate your two plates and place them upside down.
Now here comes the fun part, coloring your plates (Jack-O-Lanterns). Remember; this is the back side of the plate. I used a combination of lines, shapes, and all sorts of shades of the color orange.
Flip your two plates over.
On one of your plates, cut a Jack-O-Lantern face. You may need an adult to help you cut the shapes out of the plate.
Use your glue stick and glue the black paper over to cover your cut our Jack-O-Lantern face. This will be glued to the side of the plate you would normally be eating on.
Here is where you can add your own extra touches. For me, I used a green pipe cleaner I twisted as my stem and a green piece of paper cute into a leaf like shape.
Glue your extras to the lip of the plate, then glue the rest of the edges.
Place the plate together so the edges are touching, and the flap ends are one the bottom.
Prop up our new Jack-0-Lantern!

supplemental stem

8/19/2020

aluminum penny boats

This weeks supplemental STEM project here at museum is one that is easy to recreate at home and with a little imagination has the opportunity to take us anywhere. Even out to the stormy seas! This project is pretty simple and only requires a couple of materials to get started. You will need...

Aluminum foil
Pennies (between 100-150, if you don't have pennies you can use rice, cereal, etc. these materials just are not reusable. Whatever you use try to make them as close in weight as much as possible.)
A bucket half way full with water
For a more advance experiment you will also need a bouncy ball as well as a yard stick.

Your challenge is to see how many pennies (or penny substitutes) your boat can hold before it sinks to the bottom of the bucket.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS...

What miss mitchell saw

8/6/2020

Today we read 'What Miss Mitchell Saw' story by Hayley Barrett, art by Diana Sudyka. Thanks Ms Lauren! What did you think of the story? If you missed it, don't forget that you can still watch it on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/herschellmuseum.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this was book was how persistent and observant Miss Mitchell Was. Constantly looking and observing the night sky. You can be like Miss Mitchell too! When was the last time you went outside at night and just obersrved the night sky?

Alternatively I have also come up with this great quiet time activity inspired by 'What Miss Mitchell Saw' and the popular 'I Spy' series. I had a left over jar (thanks Bread Hive!) though I recommend plastic in case we drop them. I filled mine with glitter, star sequins, and foam space stickers I stuck together, black beans, and dyed rice. The stars, black beans, dyed rice, and glitter were meant to give it the feel of the night sky! Before assembling the 'hidden' objects, my space foam pieces, I made a list, can you find: Two orange planets, a planet with three rings, four astronauts, etc.

But you can make your jar any theme, with any 'hidden' objects. Small toys, Dollar Tree items, Marbles, etc. filled with beans, rice, glitter, or Styrofoam pellets! What will you make?

Ps, to dye my rice for my jar (or sensory bins!) I use this great recipe below:

Colored rice

You will need:

Large bowl
Spoon
1 Cup rice
1 Teaspoon vinegar
3-4 drops food color
Cookie sheet to dry on

Directions:

Place rice, vinegar, and food color in bowl
Mix thoroughly with spoon until evenly colored
spread out on a cookie sheet to air dry for 5-6 hours

Kinetic Walking Horse

7/31/2020

The Tale of paul bunyan

7/3/2020

Did you enjoy today's storytime? Incase you missed it, we read 'The Tale of Paul Bunyan' story by Lori Haskins Houran and art by Luke Flowers. Do you recognize Luke Flowers? He was also the illustrator of our last storytime read, 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers'. I hope you enjoyed it!

Below is a template to make your own beard - just like Paul Bunyans!

Download Template

Simple art bouquets

5/20/2020

This is such a fun and simple craft to do with any age

and a great opportunity to explore and discuss the elements and principles of design!

Elements of Design: space, line, shape, value, texture, Form, and color

Principles of Design: balance, rhythm, pattern, emphasis, contrast, unity and movement

All you need is some colored paper, sticks (I used skewers), clear tape, black marker, and scissors.

I went to town making some fun weird shaped "n's" and domes for leaves. I filling in some with black shapes, lines, dots, dashes, etc. I cut them out not really minding how much of the green was showing around them as I went.

Similar with the flowers. I made some scribbly circles, chunky tulips, and lots of petals. I Cut them out leaving a gap as I went roughly cutting around the shapes of my imaginative flowers. This was so much fun experimenting with the thick and thin end of my maker and making fun patterns.

I taped the pieces to my skewers and tossed them in a toilet paper roll vase I sketched over with some blue markers. I even stuck a few in some pots around the house that didn't have flowering blooms to add some color.

Also a good opportunity for those practicing scissor skills because you do not need to worry too much if you are a on a line or not and just cut the shape that feels best for them. No fear of "messing up"!

Can you spot some of the elements and principles of design on one of our carrousel horses?

Thursday: Children's Book Week #bookweek2020athome

5/7/2020

Thank you ms. marissa

for reading "The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family" words by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali and art by Hatem Aly.

This book is so inspiring for any of experiencing something new. I love how Asiya handles bullies! You can make your own paper boat today like Faizah sails in when is dreams of her sister's "hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky."

Write a message of positivity, something that makes you proud in your boat. Set it sail or keep it as a reminder when you face bullies.

Wednesday: Children's Book week #bookweek2020athome

5/6/2020

thank you ms. lauren

for reading "A Book For Escargot" story by Dashka Slater, pictures by Sydney Hanson! What will you go pick out from the library when they reopen? A book about snails? A new cookbook? Not a french one I hope! No, nothing against french cookbooks - we just love beautiful snails.

You can make your own bookmark inspired by the handsome, beautiful, Escargot for your next read. You can download the PDF below.

download "a book for escargot" bookmark template

Tuesday: Children's Book Week #bookweek2020athome

5/5/2020

I hope you all enjoyed "The Very Lonely Firefly" today by Eric Carle. No one should have to feel lonely, especially right now. See you tomorrow for Ms. Lauren, our STEM facilitator, who will be reading "A Book For Escargot" words by Dashka Slater, Pictures by Sydney Hanson.

Make your own fireflies

You can make some fireflies of your own for your home to hang in the windows for you and firefly friends

You will need:

Scissors
Orange & yellow tissue paper
Contact paper
Black paper
Glue
White pencil

Check our these other great Eric Carle animated classics

Monday: Children's Book Week #bookweek2020athome

5/4/2020

Thank you Mr. Ian

for reading "Strictly No Elephants" story By Lisa Mantchev art by Taeeun Yoo today for our first day of celebrating Children's Book Week! Did you like the story?

You can make your own pet elephant out of paper and a toilet paper tube too! You can download the PDF of our elephant template below to get you started. Happy crafting!

Download "Strictly No Elephants" Craft PDF

win a book week swag-bag

Don't forget to share your elephants with us on social media using #HCFM and #BookWeek2020atHome if you want to be entered in to win a free Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum Children's Book Week swag-bag! Details below:

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