A "Self-sticking" Snowflake
a snowflake pattern
fabric paint (the
kind that squeezes out of a bottle)
ziplock baggie
glitter
The great thing
about these snowflakes is that they stick to any shiny
surface like a
refrigerator or glass window. Put the snowflake pattern in
the plastic baggie
and zip closed. On the outside of the baggie trace
over the snowflake
pattern with the fabric paint. Wear old clothes or a
craft apron to
do this part because it's easy to get some paint on your
clothes. While
the snowflake is still wet sprinkle glitter over the paint.
Carefully shake
off any excess glitter. Let dry. When completely dry
peel off the baggy
and put it up somewhere where every one can see
it!
Ice Candle
5 gallon plastic
bucket or pail
nonstick cooking
spray (optional)
water
candle
Some nice freezing
weather
Spray the inside
of the bucket with the no-stick spray or rub with a little
oil. This helps
if you have problems with the ice sticking to the bucket
when it's time
to remove. Fill the bucket three quarters of the way full
and set outside
to freeze. Leave overnight (depending on how cold it
is!). In the morning
remove the ice block from the bucket. On the
bottom there should
be an area that is still liquid. Drain out the liquid
and slush and turn
it over. Allow to freeze for at least for four more
hours. The pocket
where the water was now makes a great place to
insert a candle.
Light and place outside in your yard when it's dark for a
beautiful ice "crystal"
candle luminary!
Note: Adult
supervision and participation is required for this
activity.
Snow Scene in a Jar
empty small jar
((like a babyfood jar)
hot glue gun
epoxy glue
small plastic toy
animal (they have them in toy stores everywhere)
white rocks, big
pieces of gravel, plastic tree etc.
glitter (some of
the new iridescent ones are beautiful & available at
hobby stores)
water
food coloring if
desired
Use hot glue gun
to glue rocks and animal to the bottom of jar. Fill with
water and add food
coloring if desired. Spoon in some glitter and use
epoxy glue to glue
lid onto jar. Be sure to have an adult help with the
epoxy glue.
Shake to make it snow!
Note: Adult
supervision and participation is required for this
activity.
Other Snow Activities:
Build a snow cave
or pit. Snow Caves For Fun and Survival - by
Ernest Wilkinson
is a great book for how to do this.
Make snow angels
in the snow.
Look for animal
tracks in the snow. See if you can find the tracks of
dogs, cats, birds,
and other wildlife in the snow. Check out a book from
your local library
on animals and animal tracks and see how many
different animal
tracks you can identify.
Try out some snow
shoes. Rent, borrow, or buy some snow shoes and
see if you can
master walking on deep snow. You can even try making
your own out of
a curved branch and heavy twine. The trick to snow
shoes is to be
sure and lift your toes up when you try and walk!
When it's very cold outside...
Blow bubbles outside,
They won't pop when it's -30 to -40 degrees
below zero outside.
Write a poem about
the snow and cold. What does the cold feel like?
Smell like? Sound
like? Write your observations down in the form of a
poem.
Make peanut butter
cookie cutter treats for the birds. Take old bread
slices and cut
out shapes with cookie cutters. Let them dry and harden
enough to spread
with peanut butter. Cover the
peanut buttered
shapes with black sunflower seeds and hang outdoors
on trees or anywhere
birds might come! Use a bird book to identify the
birds
See what happens
to something plastic in the cold. Take an old
plastic soda pop
bottle and leave it outside for at least an hour. Then
squeeze and see
what happens. Why do you think it might have done
something different
than if it was warm?
Cozy up inside and read a book!
Scavenger Hunt
Bundle up and go
outside with friends to search for these signs of
winter!
-Three different
seeds that have fallen on the ground
-A tree bud with
leaves tightly packed for winter
-A spider egg sac
(you might find one attached to a fence or porch)
-An empty bird's
nest (check in bushes and low tree branches)
-A mushroom
-A cocoon (usually
found hanging from the stalks of dried plants)
-Witch Hazel
-A winter rosette
(daisies, Queen Anne's lace, and mullein flowers
leave a circle
of green leaves hugging the ground)
-A leaf scar (this
forms on a branch at the point where a leaf falls)
-A cattail plant
-An oak gall (it
looks like a brown golf ball and contains baby wasps)
-Four insects,
such as millipedes, centipedes, crickets, and ants (look
under large rocks)
-A leaf skeleton
(the remains of previous years' leaves)
-Frost crystals
in the soil
You can either check
them off when you find them or carry them
carefully home
to get a closer look. Don't forget to return your findings
to where you found
them.
Pine Cone Pizzazz
One pine cone
per person
Glue
Glitter
Beads, sequins
or colored
popcorn
Yarn
Take pine cones
and paint the tips with glue (or to dip them into the
glue). Then sprinkle
glitter on them. Add beads, sequins or colored
popcorn for additional
decoration. They make great decoration pieces
for the holidays.
Or tie yarn around one of the top tiers of the cone and
hang them on the
tree.
This craft is great
for kids three and older, but should be supervised by
an adult.
Note: Adult
supervision and participation is required for this
activity.
"Stained Glass" Leaf Hanging
leaves - any color,
yellow, brown or green
old crayons
crayon sharpener
wax-paper
newspaper
iron and ironing
board
yarn or string
Find some pretty
leaves outside. Have an adult help you sharpen
some crayons and
save the shavings. (You can also have an adult
grate some old
crayons on a grater). While you are at it, have
the adult cut you
a piece of wax-paper 12" long and 6" wide.
Arrange leaves
and crayon shavings on half of the wax paper. Fold
the wax paper in
half over your arrangement. Be sure and get a grown-
up to help you
with the iron, (you know how nervous
they are about
us kids getting hurt or burned). Cover the ironing
board with several
layers of newspaper. Lay the wax-paper on
top and cover with
one layer of newspaper. Press with an iron set
on medium heat
for about 30 seconds (you want the crayons to
melt). Now you
have a beautiful fall hanging to put in a window.
You can cut around
the wax paper with pinking scissors, and punch a
hole to place a
piece of string through.
Wacky Bubble Brew
2/3 cup Joy liquid
dish washing detergent (not dishwasher detergent)
4 cups warm water
1 tbls glycerin
(available at drug store)
A sunny day
Pour the water into
a large bowl. Add the liquid detergent and stir. To
this brew, add
the glycerin and stir a bit more. Then dip the bubblers
into the brew and
blow to your hearts content. Note: Bubblers can be
any items around
the house that have holes in them and won't get
soggy in water,
like spatulas, an empty strawberry carton, a clean fly
swatter, etc.
Sidewalk Chalk
2 cups water
2 cups plaster
of paris
2 tbls tempera
paint (wet or dry)
toilet paper tubes
with duct tape over one end to use as mould
lots of sidewalk
and your imagination
Combine ingredients
and stir. Let stand a few minutes. Line tubes on
cookie sheet lined
with foil or wax. Pour mixture into holders, let stand
until semi firm.
Remove holders and let dry completely--ready to use
in about 1 to 1
1/2 hours. (Never pour plaster down sink!)
Clean-up: Chalk cleans up easily with water.