Crafts Archives - Page 2 of 20

Cute Shark Mask Template

June 27, 2020 By Deirdre

This cute shark mask template will be fun to decorate with your kids. The mask would be fun to work on during Shark Week or while studying the ocean. It is based on a paper plate shark mask I created several years ago. While many of you have made that mask, I thought more of you would like a mask that is easy to cut out and decorate.

Shark Themed Books

If you are having your children craft this mask while celebrating or studying ocean life, you may want to read them a book about sharks. Below you will find several wonderful shark books.

The links below are affiliate links.

Getting the Cute Shark Mask

The cute shark mask is a PDF. You will need to open the Cute Shark Mask Template with Acrobat Reader or another PDF reader. Once you have the template open, you will want to print it out on cardstock. Traditional printer paper will be way too flimsy. If you have heavy copy paper, it would work too.

Decorating the Shark Mask

There are so many ways you can decorate the shark mask. We used teal acrylic paint and painted it on with a fork. Fork painting gives some texture to the mask. Here some other ways you could decorate the mask.

First, you could color the mask with crayons or markers.
Second, you could glue small squares of blue tissue paper to the mask. It will look a little like a mosaic.
Third, the mask could be painted with cotton balls or a paintbrush.

Wearing the Mask

There are a number of ways you can wear the mask.

First, you can punch holes on either side of the mask. Then you can attach yarn to both of the holes. You can tie the two pieces of yarn in the back.
Second, you can attach a strip of cardstock to both sides of the mask. Your children can then slip the mask over their heads.
Third, you may have children that don’t want to wear the mask on their face. You can attach a wooden craft stick to the mask. Children can hold the mask over their faces.

If you are looking for some other shark-themed activities, you will find some really cool ones below.

Newspaper Shark

Shark Cootie Catcher

Shark Pool Noodle Launcher

Cow Mask Printable Template

June 26, 2020 By Deirdre

This cow mask printable template will be fun to color and wear. First, children could decorate as part of a farm unit of study. Second, the mask could be colored after reading a book about farm animals. Third, the mask would be a fun craft to put together during a birthday party with a farm theme. Finally, the cow mask would be fun to wear to a cow event like Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A.

Getting the Cow Mask

You can download the Cow Mask Printable Template and open it up with Acrobat Reader. You need to have a program like Acrobat Reader to open the Cow Mask PDF. Once you have opened the mask template, you can print out as many copies as you like.

Decorating the Mask

You can decorate the mask in a number of ways. Below you will find a list of the ways I came up with to decorate the mask.

Crayons
Markers
Watercolor Paints
Glue small construction paper squares to the mask. It will make it look like a mosaic.
Glue small buttons to it to give it texture.
Use a fork to place pain on it. Fork painting will give the mask texture.

Ways to Wear the Cow Craft

There are a number of ways you can wear the mask.

First, you can punch holes on either side of the mask. Then you can attach yarn to both of the holes. You can tie the two pieces of yarn in the back.
Second, you can attach a strip of cardstock to both sides of the mask. Your children can then slip the mask over their heads.
Third, you may have children that don’t want to wear the mask on their faces. You can attach a wooden craft stick to the mask. Children can hold the mask over their faces.

If you like this mask, here are some more you will like:

Pete the Cat Mask

The Kissing Hand Racoon Mask

Where The Wild Things Are Mask

Before Decorating the Mask You Could Read a Book About Cows

The links below are affiliate links.

Click, Clack, Moo is the book I read to my kindergartners when I introduce them to the computer keyboard and finding specific letters on the keyboard.

Directed Drawings – Drawing Insects with Algorithms

April 10, 2020 By Deirdre

Directed drawings invite children to work through a set of pictures or written directions to create a picture. Coding algorithms do the same thing. They use a series of steps to complete a task. This fun set coding worksheets feature Blockly blocks. When the Blockly block algorithm or series of steps is followed, an insect is drawn.

You will find two versions of each of the directed drawings worksheets. If your children are readers, then you will want them to do the algorithm with words and pictures sheet. If your children are not readers or would find the word distracting, then you can have them do the sheet without words.

Getting Ready

You May Want to Read a Book

Before you start this activity, you may want to read a book about insects. Below are some of my favorite insect books. When you read a book before starting an activity, you help your children do several things. You activate or engage the information your children already have about insects. You also help your children build background knowledge of insects. Finally, you give them the opportunity to listen or read a good book.

The links below are affiliate links.

Downloading the Directed Drawings Set

The directed drawing set is a PDF. You will need to have a PDF reader like Acrobat Reader on your computer to open it up. Each of the insects was created as a separate document. You can download all of the insect pages or just one of them.

Directed Drawing -How to Draw a Ladybug with an Algorithm
I know some of you call ladybugs by another name. If you called them ladybirds, this is an opportunity for your children to learn a different name for them.
Directed Drawing – How to Draw a Butterfly with an Algorithm
Directed Drawing – How to Draw a Bee with an Algorithm

Getting Started

There are several ways to work through the sheets. You can work step by step with your child. If you choose to do that you may want to draw an insect of your own on your own sheet. Children can also work through these on their own.
I think it is a good idea to talk through the steps before starting each of the directed drawings. When they finish their drawings, it is a good idea to doublecheck and make sure they have completed each step.

If you like this coding activity, here are some more you will like:

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish Coding Activity

Offline Coding Academy – Muffin Tin Algorithm

Offline Printable Coding Games

How to Make Liquid Starch Slime Algorithm

Offline Code Academy- How to Draw a Nutcracker

November 4, 2019 By Deirdre

This Offline Code Academy free printable set of worksheets walks children through how to draw a nutcracker. You will find three versions of the worksheet in this set. It will be fun to pull out this activity as Christmas draws closer. You can use it as part of a coding unit, part of a unit on The Nutcracker or in a STEAM art center.

Read a version of The Nutcracker

Your children may not be familiar with the story of The Nutcracker. Below you will find several different versions of the story you could share with your children.

Links below are affiliate links.

Getting Ready for the Activity

The first thing you will need to do is decide which version in the How to Draw the Nutcracker with a Blockly Block Algorithm worksheet set you will want your children to work on. There are three versions of the worksheet in the set.

First, you will find a worksheet that features words and pictures in the Blockly blocks.

Next, you will find a worksheet that features just words on the Blockly blocks. This version invites your children to decide what each algorithm set is asking them to do. They won’t have a picture to refer to as they figure out how to draw a nutcracker.

Finally, you will find a version that just has pictures on the Blockly blocks. Children will have to look carefully at each of the pictures to see what they will need to add to their nutcracker. If you have children that have reading challenges or don’t read English, this would be a great version for them.

Starting the Activity

There are many ways you can have your children work on this activity. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, you can have this set be part of a coding activity, Nutcracker unit, or art center. After reading your children one of the books above, you could have them do any of the following:

Work on drawing the nutcracker step by step as a group.
Have children work on it in a center on their own.
Use it to introduce Blockly block coding to your students. Then you can have them follow the algorithm to work on it on their own.

If you like this Offline Code Academy worksheet, here are some more draw and color algorithm worksheets. Each of them as a list of children’s books you can read with or to your children to introduce the worksheets theme.

Drawing a Christmas Tree Based on an Algorithm

Thanksgiving Coloring Pages and Algorithm Activity

Flying Robot Printable STEAM Activity with Blockly Block Building Directions

November 2, 2019 By Deirdre

Your children will have a blast decorating the robot printable in this STEAM activity. This activity also invites your children to create a pulley that will allow the robot to fly. All the directions you will need to put this STEAM activity are displayed in Blockly blocks on the Creating a Flying Robot with an Algorithm Code Worksheet. Let me walk you through how I shared this STEAM activity with a group of my students at school.

Reading a Robot Book

I love to introduce a lesson by reading my students a book. Below you will find some of my favorite robot-themed books for children.

The links below are affiliate links.

Getting Ready for this STEAM Activity

Printing out the STEAM Activity Worksheet

You will want to print out the Creating a Flying Robot with an Algorithm Code Worksheet on white card stock. It will give the robot a rigid body. If you choose to use printer paper, it will create a floppy robot.

Gathering the Supplies Needed for This Project

First, you will need markers to decorate the robot with.

Second, you will need scissors to cut out the robot.

Third, you will need straws that your children can cut into sections to attach to the back of the robot with tape.

Fourth, you will need the tape to tape the straws to the robot.

Finally, you will need the yarn your children will thread through the straws.

Explaining The Activity to Your Children

Creating the Robot

After you have set out the supplies your children need for this project, you will want to read through each of the steps on the Blockly blocks with your children. You will want your children to understand what the directions or algorithm is asking them to do.

Some of your children will need to do more than read the directions with them. Some may need you to do each step with them. I did each step with my class. Here is what I told them:

Color your robot
Carefully cut out your robot.
Tape two straw pieces to the back of the robot vertically.
Thread the yarn up one straw and down the other. The yarn will need to be long enough to leave a loop above the straws.
Tie knots in both ends of the yarn.
Hang the loop over a knob.

Playing with the Robot

Start by having your children pull one end of the yarn.

After that, have your children try pulling both ends of the yarn.

Finally, have your children try pulling one end and then the other.

Your children will find that one of the methods shared above will work better for them than others. Have your children help you decide which method works best. (In other words, there is one way that will work best.) It will be fun to have your children figure out which way works best on their own or with your guidance.

Here are some more STEAM activities you will love!

Let’s Make Robot that Look like Robo-Pete the Cat

STEAM Turkey Disguise Project

Pool Noodle Shark with Rubber Band Launcher

June 27, 2019 By Deirdre

A number of years ago I shared with you a shark-themed pool noodle craft. Recently my friend Caren can up with a way to use my craft idea to make a flying shark with a rubber band launcher. Your kids are just going to love it. It will be fun to make during Shark Week, an ocean-themed birthday party, or an ocean unit at school. While your children will love shooting into the air, I have listed a number of ways that your children can use their shark to explore math concepts at the end of this post.

Before your children start creating their pool noodle sharks, you may want to read them a book about sharks. It will help them gain some background information on sharks and what they look like.

Links below are affiliate links.

Creating the Pool Noodle Shark with Rubberband Launcher

Getting the Supplies Ready

You will need to gather and prepare the following supplies:

6-inch section of a pool noodle
Clothespin with a spring in the center
Thick rubber band
One whole popsicle stick
One half of a popsicle stick
3 fins cut out of a blue foam sheet
2 rows of teeth cut out of a white foam sheet
Black Sharpie marker
Serrated knife
Exacto knife

Getting the Pool Noodle Ready

1. You will need to cut a mouth section out of one end of the pool noodle.
2. Then you will need to cut slits on either side of the pool noodle. The slits need to be right across from each other. You will want them to be about 3 inches from the front of the pool noodle.
3. Next, you will need to place a slit on the top of the pool noodle about 3 inches from the front of the pool noodle.

Finally, you will need to create slits to place the teeth in inside the mouth. You will need a slit at the top and one at the bottom.

Putting the Shark Together

1. You will need to place the rubber band long ways around the clothespin.
2. Place the clothespin in the mouth of the shark. You will want it just barely stick out of the shark’s mouth.

1. Then you will place the whole popsicle stick through the side slots in the shark. A section of the popsicle should stick out on both sides of the shark. (This popsicle stick will hold the rubber band in place too.)
2. A fin will then be glued onto each end of the popsicle stick.
3. Next, you will place the half section of the popsicle stick into the top slot.
4. The final fin will need to be glued onto the half section of the popsicle stick.

Next, you will need to draw eyes on the shark.
The teeth will need to be slipped into the mouth slits.
Finally, you will remove the clothespin from the rubber band.

Playing with the Pool Noodle Shark

Children will need to hold the shark in one hand. Then they will place the pointer finger on the other hand into the rubber band end that is sticking out of the shark. They will need to pull the rubber band forward and the shark back. When they feel the tension on the rubber band, they will let it go and it will fly off their finger.

Math Concepts You Can Explore

Your children can try launching the shark at various angles.
Children can measure how far the shark flies with a measuring tape.
Your children can skip count or count up to a specific number before launching their shark.

Here are some more shark-themed activities!

How to Do Sharks Float?

How to Make a Pool Noodle Shark

How to Draw a Shark with an Algorithm Worksheets

Pi Day Activities and Crafts Kids Will Love

March 9, 2019 By Deirdre

Pi Day is March 14th because the first few numbers in Pi are 3.14. (March is the third month and the 14th is the 14th day of the month.) Pi or π is the symbol used in mathematics to represent the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. That is approximately 3.14159.

Your children will have a wonderful time exploring the numbers in Pi and the circumference of a circle while they work on the activities below. You find activities and crafts below that your children young and old will enjoy.

Pi Day Activities

Free Printable Circle Puzzle Filled with Pi Numbers from Teach Beside Me

Your children will have fun putting the puzzle together and exploring the numbers in Pi.

The link below is an affiliate link.

Free Sir Cumference Leason Plans from Math Greek Mama

This set of plans was designed to explore the concepts shared in the book Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi. The board game in the set looks like lots of fun.

Pi Day Card Game from Math Greek Mama

Your children will need to collect the playing cards displaying the numbers in Pi and place them in the correct order.

Make Pies

Your children can make pies. Then they can measure their diameter and circumference.

Race to the Number Around a Circle by Pink Stripey Socks

Your children will have fun racing from chalk number around a circle to another. What great gross motor activity!

Exploring Circumference with Cylinder Shaped Containers from Layers of Learning

You will probably find containers that are cylindrical in your pantry. Your children will have a blast find the circumference of each of them.

Pi Day Printable Poster from Cindy Lam

There are several posters to choose from in this free set from Cindy Lam. Some would be better for young children and others are better for older children.

Pi Math Game from Royal Baloo

This is a fun way to explore Pi with young children. They will have a great time collecting paper pies as they move around the free printable gameboard.

Pi Day Cuisenaire Rods Activity from Mama Smiles

Each Cuisenaire rod will be assigned a number found in Pi. Your children will construct a row of skyscrapers using the rods lined up in Pi number order.

Pi Day Patterning Page from For the Love of Teaching Math

This free worksheet activity set is a fun way to explore patterning with your kids.

Pi Day Crafts

Create a Circular Suncatcher

Your children can create a paper plate suncatcher that features the numbers in Pi around its edge and the Pi symbol in its center.

$Math art with pi and graph paper$

Create a Pi Skyline

Your children can create skyscrapers on graph paper that represents the numbers in Pi.

Pi Day Grid Art from Tinker Lab

Children will use three colors to fill 15 square in 14 minutes. The first couple of numbers are 3.1415

Pi Day Bracelet from Momgineer

Your children will create a bracelet that uses colored beads. Each color of bead represents a specific number found in Pi.

Free Pie Shaped Templates to Decorate from Tally’s Treasures

You can download this pie wedge template onto cardstock and have your children decorate them.

Pi Day Inspired Art Activity from Pink Stripey Socks

Your children will have fun connecting the numbers in Pi in order by weaving yarn from each number to the next.

Pi Day Activities from my TPT Shop

This set is free to download.

This algorithm set is only three dollars!

If you like these math activities and crafts, here are some more you will love.

$Kindergarten Worksheets- Gold Coin Math Mats$

Gold Coin Number Mats

All About Me Worksheet that Explore Number Concepts

Roll and Cover Big Green Monster Activity

$Editable Math Printables Activity$
Free Frog Printable Flip Box and Cards

Fox Paper Bag Puppet Template

February 28, 2019 By Deirdre

Years ago I made fox sock puppet for JDaniel to play with. Over time you asked for a template for the fox’s face. Earlier this week finally added several sizes of fox face puppet templates to the post. One is just the right size for a paper bag fox puppet. Today I have an even larger fox face paper bag puppet template for you. Both the template from the set and today’s template would be great for puppets.

Links below are affiliate links.

If you haven’t read Fox in Socks, to your children yet I think they are going to love it. There are fun tongue twisters throughout the book.

Getting the Paper Bag Puppet Template

First, you will need to download the Fox Paper Bag Puppet Template.

Then you will need to open the template in Acrobat Reader.

Supplies for the Paper Bag Puppet

You will need the following supplies to make the paper bag puppet:

Red Copy Paper
Paper Lunch Bags
Glue
Wiggly Eyes (Optional)

Putting the Fox Puppet Together

You can print the fox head right onto the red copy paper. If you want your children to color the fox head you could print it out on white paper.
Next, you will need to cut out the fox head.
You will also want to cut out a piece of copy paper that will fit on the bottom section of the paper bag. You can place the paper bag on top of the paper and trace the outline of the bottom half of the bag.
Then you will want to glue the fox head and body paper onto the paper bag.
Finally, you can have your children glue wiggly eyes over the eyes on the fox head if you like.

Ways to Use the Puppet

Here are some ways that your children can use the puppet.

Your children can wear the puppet while retelling the story.
Children can read the story while wearing the puppet.
Your children can picture walk through the story with the puppet telling about what they see in the illustrations.
They can tell tongue twisters while wearing the fox puppet.

Here are some more Seuss themed activities:

Fox in a Sock Puppet

How to Make Oobleck Slime with an Algorithm

Horton Hears a Who Listening Activity

$Learning Activities with Dr Seuss Characters$

Cat in the Hat Math Mats

Christmas Crafts for Kids – Egg Carton Christmas Tree

December 15, 2018 By Deirdre

This Christmas craft will be such fun to do with your kids. You will have to do some prep work to get it ready for them. Once you have the various parts cut out of them, they can put it together. It is one of those Christmas crafts that you will display year after year. We will have the tree my son created. I love seeing it out and reminiscing about how we put it together.

Links below are affiliate links.

Your children might enjoy looking through a Christmas themed book that features Christmas trees, while you cut out the various parts of the craft. Below you will find some of my favorites.

Getting the Christmas Crafts Ready for Your Kids

You will need to gather the following supplies

Green Acrylic Paint

Gold Acrylic Paint

Scissors

Two Egg Cartons Per Child

Glue

Buttons

Star Pony Beads

A piece of cardboard 13 inches by 11 inches in size.

The first thing you will need to do is cut out your tree shape. The tree section is 11 1/2 inches tall and the trunk is 1 1/2 inches tall. You will see below that I made the base of the tree wide and rest of the tree is a triangle. You don’t have to copy what we did.

Next, you will need to cut out the six egg carton sections. The bottom row will use one side of the egg carton base. (It has six egg cups.) The row above it will need five egg sections or cups. Then the next row will need four egg sections. A three-section row will come next. You will use the section leftover from the four-section row for the two-section row. The top section is the leftover piece from the five-section row.

Painting the Egg Carton Tree

There are three sections of the tree to paint. You will want to start with the sections that you need to paint green. All of the backs of the egg carton pieces need to be painted green. The tree part of the cardboard tree will also need to be painted green.

While they are drying, your children can paint the trunk of the tree gold. Gold paint will add a little shimmer to their Christmas crafts.

Gluing the Tree Together

Each of the egg carton rows will need to be glued onto the tree. You can glue them all on at once or wait until a section is dry before adding another row. Once you have all the sections glued on, you may want to place a book on top of the finished tree or trees. It will press then egg carton sections onto the tree and help them to adhere.

Decoration the Tree

You can decorate your tree with any Christmas themed odd and ends you have a home. We used buttons and star-shaped beads. You could also use any of the following.

Holiday Stickers
Beads
Mini Ornaments
Pom-Poms

If you like this Christmas craft, here are some more you will love:

Handprint Christmas Trees

Ribbon Candy Ornament

Fine Motor Christmas Wreath

Good Night, Gorilla and Other Zoo Animal Egg Carton Crafts

April 9, 2018 By Deirdre

This week I am going to featuring zoo animal-themed activities and printables. Today’s activity is an egg carton craft based on the gorilla in the book Goodnight, Gorilla. After learning how to put the gorilla together, you will find a collection of egg carton crafts based on other zoo animals at the end of this post.

Links below are affiliate links.

Before your children create the gorilla, you will want to read the book Good Night, Gorilla. They will enjoy watching the clever gorilla use the zoo keeper’s keys to let each of its friends out of their cages.

Egg Carton Crafts Supply List

Half of the Top of A Cardboard Egg Carton
Two Half Ovals Cut from the Front Flap of the Egg Carton
Two Small Pieces Cut from the Front Flap of the Egg Carton
Scissors
Silver Sharpie
Black Sharpie
Black Acrylic Paint
Silver or Gray Acrylic
Glue or Tape
Narrow Paint Brushes

Putting the Gorilla Together

You will need to start by drawing the outline that will separate the gray inner area of the gorilla’s face from the black area. A silver sharpie is perfect for drawing the outline.

Then you will need to paint the inner area of the face silver or gray. We found that silver acrylic paint doesn’t soak into the egg carton. While your paintbrush still has gray paint on it, you can pain the two small egg carton pieces gray or silver.

Next, you will need to paint the outer area and the side of the egg carton black. While you still have black paint on your brush, you can paint large black dots on the small circles to create the gorilla’s eyes.

When the paint has dried on the small gray pieces, you can draw the mouth on one and the nose on the other.