Paper Mache' Hot Air Balloon
Need: small cardboard box, newspaper, pipe cleaners, 15 inch round
balloons, flour & water, tempera paint, duct tape, twine
Mix flour and water to make the paper mache' paste. Tear newspaper
into 3 or 4 inch pieces. Blow up the balloon and paper mache'
covering all of the balloon. Cover the balloon 2 or 3 times and let
dry over a weekend.
Cut 4 short pieces of twine and 2 long pieces of twine. Take the 4
short pieces of twine and tie to a small box. Then tape onto the
sides of the balloon to hang below the balloon.
Tape the 2 long pieces of twine near the top of the balloon and tie
the 2 pieces together to use to hang the Hot Air Balloon. Paper
mache' the balloon with 2 or more layers and let dry.
When dry have children paint their hot air balloons. The children can
use the pipe cleaners to make people to sit in the box of the hot air
balloon or hang from the box. When dry hang from the ceiling in the room.
Paper Mache' Ant Hill
Need: 2 liter soda pop bottles, paper plates (or cardboard),
newspaper, paper mache' paste, masking tape, paint.
Cover the tables with newspaper and then wax paper. You will only
need the top part of the pop bottle. Cut the pop bottle in two or how
tall you want the ant hill to be. Place the top part of the bottle in
the center of a paper plate. Tape the pop bottle top to the paper
plate. Now run strips of masking tape from the top of the bottle to
the edges of the paper plate. It will now look like a hill.
Paper mache' covering the masking tape and the top part of the paper
plate that it is taped to. Leave the hole in the top of the bottle
open. Don't paper mache' the bottle opening. After the first layer is
dry add 2 to 3 more layers of paper mache'.
After the paper mache' has dried paint your ant hill. Brown would
work good or any color you would like it. Take some pipe cleaners and
let the children bend them to look like ants to place on and around
the ant hill
Indoor Greenhouse
Need: bottoms of clear 2 liter soda pop bottles, sand, dirt, seeds.
Each greenhouse will use 2 bottoms from soda pop bottles. Cut the
bottles to have one bottom about 4 inches high (bottom of the
greenhouse). Then cut the other bottle so that it is about 9 inches
high (top of the green house).
In the 4 inch greenhouse bottom place a small amount of sand. You
could also add some small rocks to help drainage. Add soil and seeds.
Water then slip the 9 inch bottle over it to create a greenhouse.
Place the greenhouse in a sunny spot. Depending on the seed you used
plants should appear in 2 to 5 days.
The Walking Stick
Need: one stick per child (large and tall), sandpaper, string,
feathers, beads, and paint.
Have children gather dry (not green) fallen branch's from a hardwood
tree (maple, ash, or hickory). Each child needs to find a stick that
feels comfortable. Usually just a little higher than the child's
waist and easy to grip.
Peel away the bark on the stick and sand it with sandpaper. When it
feels smooth the children can paint their sticks.
To personalize the stick more children can take a string about 5 to 6
inches long. Tie a knot at one end of the string. Put beads on the
string and tie a feather on the end. Tie the end of the string that
does not have a knot in it to the stick. One great looking walking stick!
Green Refreshing Drink
Need: lemonade and blue Kool-aid
Make a colorful and refreshing summer drink. Mix lemonade and blue
Kool-aid together to get a radioactive green summer drink.
Banana Nut Pudding
Need: 3 bananas, 1 1/2 cups applesauce, 3 tablespoons peanut butter,
2 teaspoons lemon juice, 6 paper cups, blender.
Mix all the ingredients in a blender. Save some banana. Spoon into
cups. Place a few bananas on top. Then refrigerate before serving.
Fresh Fruit Juice
Need: fresh fruits, stocking, blender, 1 cup water, bowl
Blend fruits and 1 cup water until it is fully mixed (about 30
seconds). Place a stocking in a bowl. Pour the juice from the blender
into the stocking and squeeze the stocking until all that is left in
the stocking is the remains of the fruit (peel, seeds, or pulp). Pour
juice into cups and drink.
If your juice turns out on the tart side, you can sweeten it
naturally with honey, pitted or chopped dates, raisins, grapes or
juice. You could also use the traditional method- add sugar.
Contributed by: Bridgett Lewis
Sun Baked S'mores
Need: graham crackers, foil pie plate, aluminum foil, chocolate
chips, miniature marshmallows.
Have children place graham crackers flat in a foil pie plate,
sprinkle with chocolate chips and miniature marshmallows. Then lay
another graham cracker on top. Cover the pie plate with aluminum foil
(label with child's name). Place the covered pie plates outside in a
sunny hot place. Check after about 10 minutes. They are done when the
sun has melted the chocolate and marshmallows.
Sunshine Dessert
Need: Canned pineapple rings, yogurt and squirt syrup
Have each child place a pineapple ring onto a large paper plate. Fill
center hole with flavored yogurt. Have children draw "rays"
coming out in straight lines away from the pineapple ring. Contributed By: Jerie
