Colorful Crayon Easter Eggs

Materials

• white eggs
• tongs
• empty egg carton
• crayons

Instructions

1. Hard-boil white eggs. Remove them from the hot water with tongs or a slotted spoon, dry them, and rest them in an empty egg carton or on plastic bottle caps (an adult's job).
2. Color them with the crayons' tips or remove the paper coverings and use the crayons' sides. For a speckled effect, grate a crayon and sprinkle the bits over the eggs. The waxy eggs are very slippery, so take care when turning them to color the underside.
3. When you're done coloring, leave them to dry for about an hour.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Craft - HAIRY Caterpillar

Materials

• 4 cups potting soil
• 4 tablespoons quick-sprouting grass seed (we used ryegrass seed)
• Small yogurt container or paper cup
• Knee-high nylon stocking
• Colorful ponytail holders
• Scissors

• Plastic bag
• Bobby pin
• Googly eyes
• Pipe cleaner
• Small pom-poms

Instructions

1. Combine the potting soil and grass seed in a large bowl.
   
2. Cut the bottom from a small yogurt container or paper cup for a funnel, then slide a knee-high nylon stocking over it, as shown.
   
3. Pour or spoon 3⁄4 to 1 cup of the soil mixture into the stocking, then slide a colorful ponytail holder over the end of the stocking to section off the pocket of soil. Repeat this process to make 5 soil-filled segments. Tie a knot in the top of the stocking and trim away any excess nylon.
   
4. Submerge the caterpillar in water for 10 minutes, then place it in a plastic bag and let it sit overnight.
   
5. Remove the bag and loop a semi-straightened bobby pin through the front of the stocking, then glue a googly eye onto each end of the pin. For antennae, cut a pipe cleaner in half, glue a small pom-pom onto one end of each half, and stick them in place.
   
6. Set your caterpillar on a plate by a sunny window and generously water the whole thing every other day. Your critter should sprout hair in about 4 to 5 days.
   

Friday Family Funtime - Make a Paper Airplane

Thrifty Thursday - Colorful Spring Flower Lei

-cut out some flowers, circles & leaves in varying colors from cardstock/construction paper

-decorate your flower pieces any way you choose using markers, crayons or pencil crayons

-cut up your straws into approximately 1 inch long pieces

-start stringing your flower peices & straw beads onto your string

-when you`re done tie the ends of the string together and you`re done

Wednesday Wellness - Gluten Free Sweet & Salty Popcorn

Photo by Jonah G.S.Sweet & Salty Popcorn
(makes a really big bowl)
2/3 c. popcorn
2 Tbsp. oil (for popping)
4 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. confectioner’s sugar
 
Pop the popcorn according to the package directions.  We add the oil and popcorn kernels to a large stockpot over medium heat.  Remember to put the lid on and do use a clear lid if possible (it just makes it more fun). Take the pot off of the heat when the popping starts to slow down. It will continue to pop after you take it of of the heat.
While you’re waiting on the popcorn, melt the butter and dissolve the sugar into it. Do make sure that your confectioner’s sugar it gluten free.  Confectioner’s sugar has corn starch mixed in with it and not all cornstarch is gluten free due to cross-contact issues. If you’re not sure, I think that brown sugar would make a great substitute. Honey or agave nectar might also work. You can always experiment by making a small batch of popcorn and testing the altered recipe before the big day.  Also, if you are dairy or casein free, you can substitute whatever “butter” you use.
Once you have your popcorn and syrup ready, drizzle half of the syrup over the popcorn and mix well. Repeat with the remaining syrup and then serve while hot.

National Poetry Month Classroom Ideas

1. Tape students reading their own poems or poems by others; encourage them to share the tapes with parents and friends.

2. Organize a student poetry reading at the local library or bookstore.

3. Decorate the classroom or the school with illustrated poems and pictures of poets.

4. Hold a poetry exchange day with poems wrapped as gifts.

5. Invite local poets to your school for readings, workshops, or discussions.

6. Create a poetry book display in the school library.

7. Have your students write lines on small pieces of poster board and make them into poetry mobiles.

8. Encourage your local newspaper to sponsor a contest for student poets.

9. Read a poem over the public address system each morning.

10. Create and send poetry greeting cards to celebrate National Poetry Month.

11. Have your students write short poems, put them in balloons, and set them free.

12. Xerox a different poem for each day in April and hand them out at lunchtime.

13. Publish student poetry in your school newspaper or magazine, or on your website.

14. Publish a special anthology of student poems.

15. Create a school poem and ask each student to contribute one line.

16. Give students a list of words and ask them to create a poem using those words.

17. Invite students to write poems in response to their favorite poems (or to songs, TV shows, or artworks).

18.Encourage students to write in the voice of someone else -- a parent, friend, or teacher.

19. Hold poetry workshops where students discuss one another's work.

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Friday Family Funtime - Get an Egg in a Milkbottle

Thrifty Thursday - Popsicle Stick Pencil Holder

Materials Needed:

• Popsicle Sticks
• Paint
• Bathroom Tissue Roll or Tin Can
• Cardboard
• Rubber Bands
• Craft Glue
• Paint Brush
• Scissors

Instructions:
Paint the craft sticks whatever color or colors you like.Let them dry. You cn also leave the craft sticks their natural color if you prefer.
If you are using a bathroom tissue roll, cover one of the holes with a circle cut from cardboard. Trace around one of the bathroom tissue roll ends onto the cardboard, cut it out, and glue it onto the end of the bathroom tissue roll.
Glue the painted craft sticks around the outside of the bathroom tissue roll or tin can until it is completely covered. Once you are done gluing on the craft sticks, wrap a few rubber bands around the can to hold the sticks in place until the glue dries.
Make several in different sizes. You can also embellish the cans with wooden shapes, buttons, sequins, or any other craft supplies you have on hand.

Wednesday Wellness - Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cookies

• 2 cups smooth or crunchy natural peanut butter
• 2 cups Splenda
• 2 large eggs
• (optional:3/4 cup of oatmeal, and a teaspoon of vanilla)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
2. Thoroughly mix together the peanut butter,Splenda , and eggs in a bowl. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until center appears dry, about 8 minutes. 
4. Allow time to cool before eating.

Friday Family Funtime - Guide to Geocaching - 16032

Thrifty Thursday - Make Your Own ISpy

Container Options: Empty peanut butter jar, 2 liter bottle, Ziploc bag
Uncooked white rice
Various items (see below for ideas)

Put the rice and treasures in the jar, making sure to leave an inch or so of space between the top of the rice and the lid as you want the rice to be able to move freely inside the jar.

The fillings may include beads (these are my favorite–so much variety!), foam shapes (you can make your own), card stock paper punches, ribbon, paper clips, a tiny picture of your child, puzzle pieces, legos, miniatures, beans, popcorn seeds, googly eyes, shells, little bells, small Christmas decorations, and confetti, Penny, mini clothes peg, button (I may use more in different colors/shapes), small silk flower and leaf, small dice safety pin (I plan to hot glue it closed), small hair clip, small letters of some kind, marble, pair of googly eyes

Wednesday Wellness - Sugar Free Rugelach

• 1 cup margarine
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped raisins
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons Splenda
• 1 1/2 cup apricot spreadable fruit

1. Cream together the margarine and cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer. Blend in the vanilla. Mix in the flour. Chill the dough.
2. To make the Filling: Mix together the chopped raisins, chopped walnuts, Splenda and cinnamon. If you have a food processor, place the whole walnuts and raisins into the bowl, sprinkle with the cinnamon, and chop them together by processing in short pulses.
3. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions. Roll out each portion into a 10 - 12 inch circle 1/8 inch thick on a lightly floured board or between two sheets of waxed paper.
4. Spread a light layer of preserves (approximately 2 tablespoons) onto each dough circle. Sprinkle each circle with approximately 1/4 cup of the chopped nut-raisin-cinnamon mixture.
5. Cut each circle into 16 wedges using a pastry cutter or a pizza cutter. Roll each wedge from base to point. Place point down on a lightly greased or parchment lined baking sheets.
6. Bake for 15-17 minutes at 375 degrees F (or until golden). Remove to racks to cool.

Friday Family Funtime - Make a Family Newsletter

Give your family communication a whole new twist with a Family Newsletter.  They are fun, educational, and more importantly a great way to keep families connected. For those families with grandparents or relatives living in different cities, they may want to send a copy to Grandma, Granddad, or Aunt Sue to help them stay in touch.  The important thing is to get everyone involved and make it something everyone enjoys.  Filling out the envelope and attaching a hand written letter will help to develop writing skills and learn how to address and envelope. 

This can be made using any word processing program on a computer, or it can be handwritten.  Be sure to include an important photo of the family from the previous month. 

Thrifty Thursday - Egg Carton Trashcan

• 7 egg cartons
• Pipe cleaners --> 3 or 4 should be enough
• 9" aluminum pie plate (gently used (and cleaned) pie plates work great)
• A plastic shopping bag to use as a liner

Tools

• Scissors (that you don't mind cutting pipe cleaners with)
• Hole Punch

Assembly

1. Take your egg cartons and carefully remove the tops to all of them by gently tearing along the seam that connects the top to the bottom. Discard the tops of the cartons.
2. Take one of the bottoms and punch 3 holes down each side so that the holes are tucked in the little nooks between egg cups and evenly spaced. Continue doing this to all the egg carton bottoms. The photo below depicts the hole placement. 
3. Set egg carton bottoms aside. Now take your pipe cleaners and cut them all up into roughly 3" long pieces. Set aside.
4. Now take two of your egg carton bottoms and place them side-by-side and right-side-up. Your punched holes should line up. Start at the holes at one end. Take one of your pipe cleaner cuts and push both ends through the two side-by-side holes that are now lined up.
5. Flip both cartons over. Take the two pipe cleaner ends that are sticking through and twist them together. Bend them and tuck the sharp ends in to create a fuzzy looking nub.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the two cartons are tied together. Now take another carton and tie it to the bunch. Keep repeating this until all 7 egg carton bottoms have been tied together side-by-side.
7. Stand the bunch upright with the inside of the egg cartons facing you. Nuzzle the aluminum pie plate in the lowest layer of egg nooks and curl the the egg cartons around it so that the pie plate is acting as the bottom of your waste basket.
8. Now tie the first egg carton bottom to the last.
9. Line your new receptacle with a plastic shopping bag.