Archive for April, 2011

Fun Friday: Story Time + Craft: Recycle Every Day! By Nancy Elizabeth Wallace and Earth Day Necklace

Saturday, April 30th, 2011

Here’s what we did for Fun Friday on April 29th.


The Story

The book was Recycle Every Day! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace.

The Songs

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Sing to the tune “Eensy Weensy Spider”

Reduce, reuse, recycle are words that we all know.
We have to save our planet so we can live and grow.
We might be only children but we will try, you’ll see.
And we can save this planet.  It starts with you and me.

Recycle
Sing to the tune “Twinkle Twinkle”

We recycle what we use.
Separate things and you should too!
Glass and paper, plastic, tin,
Go in your recycling bin.
We must start now, we can’t wait.
Quick or it will be too late!

The Craft: Earth Day Necklace

What you’ll need:

  • 1 ½ in circles with earth or recycle symbol
  • 2 in or larger circles cut from card stock or recycled milk jug lids
  • Green and blue pony beads
  • String, yarn or shoe strings
  • Scissors
  • Glue

How to make it:

Print and cut out earth or recycle symbols.  We use ones I found at DLTK’s Crafts for Kids – Earth Circles and Recycle Symbol. You can print them in color or black and white (we’ve linked directly to the color images and used the circles for the Paper Plate Earth Day Wreath).

If using the black and white template have the child color them before cutting them out.  Then glue them on the recycled lid.  Punch a hole in the top of the lid.  String the lid and blue and green beads on the string to make a necklace.

About Fun Friday

Fun Friday is a weekly event at KangarooBoo in Valley Junction. Join us for interactive storytelling, singing, and crafts. A fun way to foster a love for reading and develop your child’s imagination. This event is free — no registration required.

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Fun Friday: Story Time + Craft: The Big Bunny and the Easter Eggs by Steven Kroll

Saturday, April 23rd, 2011

Here’s what we did for Fun Friday on April 22nd.


The Story

The book was The Big Bunny and the Easter Eggs by Steven Kroll.

The Songs

Funny Bunny

Bunny, bunny, bunny, you’re so funny (Smile and put fingers on a dimple spots)
With your twitching nose (wiggle nose)
Bunny, bunny, bunny, you’re so funny (Smile and put fingers on dimple spots)
From your head (point to head) to your toes (Point to toes)
Bunny, bunny, bunny your ears are funny (make bunny ears with hands)
They’re too big for you, Bunny,
Bunny, bunny, you’re so funny (Smile and put fingers on dimple spots)
Everyone loves you (Hug Yourself)

Hop, Little Rabbit…

Hop, little rabbit, hop, hop, hop,
Hop, little rabbit, don’t you stop.
Hop, little rabbit, one, two, threee.
Hop, little rabbit, hop to me.

The Craft: Handprint Easter Chick

What you’ll need:

  • Yellow construction paper
  • Orange construction paper
  • Pencil
  • Crayons or Markers
  • 2 Wiggle Eyes
  • Yellow feathers (optional)
  • Scissors
  • Glue

How to make it:

From the yellow construction paper:

  • Cut an egg shape approx. 5 inches long.
  • Trace and cut out both of child’s hands.
  • Cut two identical strips 1 inch wide and several inches long.
From the orange construction paper:
  • Cut a triangle beak.
  • Cut two chick feet.

Decorate the egg shape with crayons or markers.  Glue the hands to the back of the egg so they stick out like wings.  Glue on the beak and wiggle eyes to make the face.  Accordion folds the two strips of yellow paper.  Glue one foot on the end of each strip.  Glue the other end of the strip to the back of the chick to make the legs.  Glue a few yellow feathers to the top of the head.

If you want to hang the chick, punch a hole at the top and insert a loop of yarn or string.

About Fun Friday

Fun Friday is a weekly event at KangarooBoo in Valley Junction. Join us for interactive storytelling, singing, and crafts. A fun way to foster a love for reading and develop your child’s imagination. This event is free — no registration required.

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Easter egg hunts in and around Des Moines

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

Easter Bunny The hunt is on! Easter egg hunts are such a fun event for the kids and it happens around this time of the year.

There are always a handful of churches and organizations that host this spring time blitz. Here are a few we’ve found in and around Des Moines, Iowa:

Saturday, April 16th

Johnston Community Education Eggstravaganza
Time: 9:30 am
Where: Johnston High School (map it)
Admission: Free
Hunt through the Johnston football field for treats and prizes! The “Egg” Stravaganza is a fun event for participants and spectators alike. Hop on over to Johnston, but don’t be late! The hunt starts at 9:30 a.m. SHARP! All participants must be eight years old or younger. Spectators are welcome.
More information »

Valley United Methodist Church Easter Egg Hunt
Time: 10 – 11:30 am
Where: 4201 Ashworth Rd, West Des Moines, IA 50265 (map it)
Admission: Free
For all ages but especially toddlers through 4th grade! Outside on the church grounds if weather permitting/inside if inclement weather!
More Information »

Sunday, April 17th

Mt. Olive Lutheran Church / Easter Egg hunt and Fun Fest
Time: 1-3 pm
Where: 5625 Franklin Ave, Des Moines (map it)
Admission: Free
Come hunt eggs, get your face painted, play some games, have fun! Prizes, too.
More Information »

Saturday, April 23rd

The Clive Firefighter’s Association annual Easter egg hunt
Time: 9 am
Where: Linnan Park, 8500 Alice Ave., Clive (map it)
Admission: Free
The egg hunt is for children ages 1-10. The younger children will hunt for eggs on the tennis courts in a controlled area. Parents may help. The older kids will be turned loose on the park’s grass area to find as many eggs as possible. There are special eggs that can be exchanged at the fire station for a prize.
More information »

Living History Farm Family Easter Party
Time: 9am – 1pm
Where: Living History Farm (map it)
Admission: $5.50/person or $5.00 LHF members
Fun for the entire family including: toy hunts, preschool Bunnyland, live rabbit exhibits, barnyard animal walk, horse and wagon rides, traditional games and egg decorating. Townsfolk will open their doors for spring visitors in the town of Walnut Hill. Free pop, popcorn and steak and egg wrap while quantities last.
More information »

Waveland Park Neighborhood Association Egg hunt
Time: 10 am
Where: The grounds of Hubbell Elementary, 800 42nd St. and the Roosevelt athletic complex. (map it)
Admission: Free
Get there early – the hunt begins EXACTLY at 10. Bring your own basket. Lots of prizes and an appearance by the Easter bunny!
More information »

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Gallery Night in Valley Junction

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

It’s that time of year again. Gallery Night is this Friday, April 15 from 5-9 PM in Valley Junction.

For a list and map of participating merchants and galleries download the flyer (PDF).

For more information visit the Valley Junction website.

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Fun Friday: Story Time + Craft: Will You Be My Friend? by Nancy Tafuri and Birds in Nest Craft

Sunday, April 10th, 2011

Here’s what we did for Fun Friday on April 8th.


The Story

The book was Will You Be My Friend? by Nancy Tafuri

The Songs

Robin Red Breast

Way up high, little robin flying just so (put hands up as high as possible)
Quick down low for a worm he must go (put hands low, almost touching the floor)
With a wing on the left and a wing on the right, (extended arms one at a time)
Fly to your nest for soon it will be night (flapping arms like flying)

Two Little Blue Birds

Two little blue birds
sitting on a hill
one named Jack
One named Jill
Fly away Jack
Fly away Jill
Come back Jack
Come back Jill

The Craft: Duck Headband

What you’ll need:

  • Plastic egg (one half for each bird)
  • Construction paper
  • Paper bag
  • Scissors
  • Glue

How to make it:

Cut off ¾ of the top of a lunch size paper bag.  Roll the bag down to form a nest.  Shred the part of the bag that you cut off to use later for bedding in the nest.

Fold a small piece of orange construction paper, cut out a triangle on the fold; this will be the bird’s beak.

Cut out two construction paper wings for each bird. Make a small fold at the bottom of the wing.  This will give you a place to put the glue.

Glue your beak and wings onto your birds. Most plastic eggs have air holes on them, which look great as your bird’s eyes. If your eggs don’t have air hole, you can draw some on with a permanent marker or use wiggle eyes.

Put some glue on the bottom of your eggs and glue your birds into the paper sack nest.

Place the shredded paper in the nest around the birds and your nest is complete.

About Fun Friday

Fun Friday is a weekly event at KangarooBoo in Valley Junction. Join us for interactive storytelling, singing, and crafts. A fun way to foster a love for reading and develop your child’s imagination. This event is free — no registration required.

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Fun Friday: Story Time + Craft: Webster J. Duck by Martin Waddell and Duck Headband Craft

Monday, April 4th, 2011

Here’s what we did for Fun Friday on April 1st.


The Story

The book was Webster J. Duck by Martin Waddell

The Songs

Little Duck Song

Little ducks go quack, quack, quack
Quack, quack, quack,
quack, quack, quack-
Little ducks go quack, quack, quack
In the springtime.

Five Little Ducks

Five little ducks went out to play Over the hill and far away Mama Duck said “Quack, Quack, Quack” And four little ducks came waddling back.
Four little ducks went out to play Over the hill and far away Mama Duck said “Quack, Quack, Quack” And three little ducks came waddling back.
Three little ducks…
Two little ducks…
One little duck went out to play Over the hill and far away Mama Duck said “Quack, Quack, Quack” And no little ducks came waddling back.
No little ducks went out to play Over the hill and far away PAPA duck said “QUACK, QUACK, QUACK” And five little ducks came waddling back!

Six little ducks

Six little ducks
That I once knew
Fat ones, skinny ones,
Fair ones, too
But the one little duck
With the feather on his back
He led the others
With a quack, quack, quack
Quack, quack, quack,
Quack, quack, quack
He led the others
With a quack, quack, quack

Down to the river
They would go
Wibble, wobble, wibble, wobble,
To and fro
But the one little duck
With the feather on his back
He led the others
With a quack, quack, quack
Quack, quack, quack,
Quack, quack, quack
He led the others
With a quack, quack, quack

The Craft: Duck Headband

What you’ll need:

  • orange construction paper
  • yellow construction paper
  • 2″ x 18″ yellow construction paper strip (headband)
  • 3 yellow construction paper feathers or feathers
  • 2 sticky dots or wiggle eyes
  • glue
  • scissors
  • stapler

How to make it:

Setup: Cut the duck bill from a folded piece of orange paper, leaving the folded edge uncut.  Cut out a semicircle approx 8 inches from the yellow construction paper for the duck’s head.

Steps:

  1. Glue the head to the center of the headband.
  2. Glue the duck bill to the middle of the head and add sticky-dot eyes.
  3. Make small cuts around each feather.
  4. Glue one feather to each side of the head and set the other feather aside. Let the glue dry. (Size the headband and staple the ends of the strip together.)
  5. Glue the third feather to the back of the headband. Let the glue dry before wearing.

About Fun Friday

Fun Friday is a weekly event at KangarooBoo in Valley Junction. Join us for interactive storytelling, singing, and crafts. A fun way to foster a love for reading and develop your child’s imagination. This event is free — no registration required.

Posted in Arts & Crafts | Tags: , ,  | No Comments »