Make a Chicken Puppet and Chicken Craft Ideas

How to Make a Hen Puppet with a Paper Bag

Looking for chicken craft ideas for a Minecraft birthday party? These chicken crafts do double duty. These paperbag puppets are also silly and fun for a The Little Red Hen puppet show. To make a chicken or rooster puppet, you'll need paper bags, balloons, crepe paper, and construction paper. It is easy when you follow these instructions: how to make a chicken puppet. 

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.

Tips for Working with a Child with Autism

Tips for Playing and Working with an Autistic Child

Tips for Working with a child with Autism.

We are sharing some tips for working with a child with autism. I know, I know, you  don't want to use the words Autistic child, but these words help those who aren't as in the know find this information when searching the web. After several years working with children of all ages, races, and denominations, I have tips for playing and interacting with an autistic child, and all types of childhood disorders, diseases, or states of mind. Let's face it, there is no such thing as normal!

Social Interaction is a key concern for parents with a child who has Autism. Remember, play is the work of children. Does your child engage with you or with other children while playing? If your child has been diagnosed with Autism, the answer is more than likely no. 

As parents or caregivers you can adjust your style of play to make playing with a child with a sensory processing disorder more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Making small adaptations to the environment will help parents to observe and begin to understand how their child’s mind works. Forget how you remember playing as a child; be open to a new way of playing and a different kind of interaction.

All children like to make their own decisions and choices. If you set up several stations with various types of play opportunities, your child may be drawn to one or more of them. Don’t jump in or show too much excitement. Sit back and become a silent observer doing research while your child explores his new environment. At first, it may be interesting but intimidating for the child. Let them explore or simply observe the invitations you have provided for play.

Perhaps, you have ordinary cardboard boxes in varying sizes. Leave some empty to let your child explore his imagination.  Fill others with different types of toys. Depending on the age of the child, make appropriate “toy” choices. A box filled with pots, pans, and wooden spoons is a scientific experiment. Contain your desire to show your child how to bang on the pots or wear one as a hat. 

Let your child teach you how they want to play. A simple thump on the pot could frighten the child and ruin the experience for everyone. The idea of wearing the pan as a hat could also discourage the child. 

In the coming days or weeks, as your child becomes more comfortable observing or playing with the toys, you can slowly introduce your style of play. Sit across from the child; don’t worry if they are not watching you. Just play.Gently, put the pan on your head. Pretend to stir soup in a pot. What happens if you scrape the bowl? Observe how your child reacts, but don’t force or ask them to play yet. 

Be patient; if your child isn’t interested today, move on to a new toy. By playing by yourself, you are demonstrating how to play, how you play, and letting your child know it is okay to play alone. 

Remember, it is okay to play alone! All children learn through play, so never discourage them.

In time, your child may begin to feel less threatened.They may do what you do, or they may choose a toy and hand it to you to see what you will do with it. If they don’t, keep trying with quiet encouragement. Keep experimenting with new ideas, but always watch your child’s facial expression and body language. If they don’t like what you are doing, change it.  

Hopefully, one day your child will accept your invitation to play. 

Need some more ideas? Here are ten sensory play activities for kids.



Recommended:


Circle Time Activities


Autism Breakthrough: The Groundbreaking Method That Has Helped Families All Over the World*

Earth's Water Supply Lesson Plans for Elementary

Elementary Lesson Plan on Earth's Water Supply for World Water Day

Where do we get water? How does it get to our faucet or in our water bottles? This lesson and curriculum on the water supply and water cycle will answer these questions. Scroll down for quizzes, science experiments, companion art projects, and more Earth's Water Supply Lesson Plans for Elementary students. When is World Water Day? When is Earth Day? Keep reading!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links, if you click and make a purchase, I get a small commission. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on!

Where do you get your water?

World Water Day is March 22. Earth Day is April 22. 

Arbor Day is often also April 22 or the last Friday in April, depending on the state. 

First things first,  watch this short video on clean water. We recommend "Flow" and "Tapped." Here is a very good, free excerpt from Tapped. "The Story of Bottled Water" is also good and free to watch. Netflix has a similar film about the Nestle Corporation Water. 

The Story of Bottled Water.

Now, watch this video on how water is cleaned and used via the sewage treatment plant. This excerpt from, "Big River" teaches how water is filtered for nitrates. 

Water Treatment Interactive from the EPA.

The Nitrogen Cycle from PBS is an interactive learning chart. Also, print and read this downloadable Nitrogen Cycle brochure from Stem Sims. It has quizzes and articles to help you learn more indepth about the cycle of Nitrogen!

If you want to learn more about big business watch GMO vs. NON-GMO. This is a full length documentary.

We have a Brainpop subscription, if you go in as an individual you can pay monthly, but you have to commit to a full year. You can also get a Brainpop Jr. subscription for children in K-3. No affiliate here, we just love Brainpop.

There are free lesson plans and activities on Brainpop.

If you subscribe to Brainpop, you can watch a video on the Water Cycle and this video on Water Supply. Brainpop has a daily free video, so click over either way and learn something new. While you are there, read the info about the Water Cycle in the left sidebar. For younger kids (K-3), watch this version of the water cycle.

Lesson Plans for Earth's Water Supply

Read these Facts about Water Pollution.

The Water Cycle infographic.

Review the Water Cycle infographic above. Grab some paper and markers and draw your own version of the Water Cycle. When completed, share it with classmates or family and hang it for display. To show what you have learned, draw a Water Supply infographic without the help of a cheat sheet! :)

After all you've learned, visit this water supply quiz from the EPA or this (Brainpop) quiz on the water supply. If you have a Brainpop subscription, also do the activities and fyi for water supply.

Free Water Cycle Worksheet Printable PDF.

Learn about the Scientific Method (from Brainpop) so you can start an experiment about Science Projects.

Water Science Experiments:

Clean the Water 

Salt Water vs. Fresh Water Egg Experiment (Easy)

Just for Fun:

Need a break from all of this school work? 

Play a free online game about Water or do a Water Word Scramble. 

Related Activity: Free online Game about Fish and free video about Fish.

Arts and Crafts Component:

Make a Water Cycle Bead Bracelet (Preschool, K-6)

Water bottle recycling craft.

Recycle Water Bottles into Art (All ages)

Recommended Reading:

Celery Science Experiment

Bread Science Experiment

The Water Cycle: Evaporation, Condensation & Erosion (Earth's Processes)

The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor

The Magic School Bus Wet All Over: A Book About The Water Cycle

6 Froggy Birthday Party Ideas for Book Lovers

Celebrate Froggy's Birthday with these 6 Fun Ideas

In honor of Jonathan London's newest Froggy book, which was released March 10, 2015, we're sharing 6 froggy birthday party ideas for book lovers. Feel free to share your own frog theme birthday ideas too. Enjoy!

Froggy's Birthday Wish by Jonathan London.

Froggy's Birthday Wish
Froggy is celebrating a birthday. He gets lots of wonderful, exciting presents, but he isn't happy. He wants something else. Finally, Froggy's mother shows him her present. Now Froggy is happy!

This book is fun to read in a classroom setting for a birthday celebration. You might like this fun birthday cake craft to go along with the story.

Birthday Cake Craft.

Another fun birthday activity is to make your own Pinata from construction paper and a cardboard tube. Froggy had a moon pinata, but we're making a traditional donkey pinata. This mini pinata is perfect as a party favor or place setting decoration. Just fill with your favorite candy or treats.

How to make a donkey pinata party favor.

You will need: construction paper, scissors, paste, 2 cardboard toilet roll tubes or 1 cardboard paper towel tube, and tape.

To make a donkey pinata birthday party favor:

Cut 1/2" strips of your favorite colors of construction paper. Use tape to attach to the base of the tube (torso) as seen in figure 1. Wrap until the cardboard tube is covered and tape to attach the end. Next, cut 1/4 of the other cardboard tube. This will be the head (see figure 2). Cut four 1/2" slits, 1/4" apart on one end of the head. This will allow you to connect the head to the end of the other tube. Leave the two center slits to attach the ears. With the leftover piece of the cardboard tube, cut two ears as shown in figure 3. Slide the ears into the center slits and then slide the outer slits onto the end of the other tube as shown in figure 4.

Next, wrap the head and ears just like the torso portion. Now, cut small strips and glue to cover the donkey until it looks like a real pinata as seen in figure 5. Cut two 2" wide strips of paper. Wrap one into a link, tape the ends, and stick into the head. This will be the nose. When complete, use construction paper to make a mouth. Use the other one on the other end- this will keep the candy in place. Finally, cut eyes out of construction paper and attach.

Congrats! You've made a mini pinata party favor. Breathe a sigh of relief... yep, it was harder than we thought it would be too, but if you are relaxing watching television you can knock several out in an hour. Practice makes perfect!

Froggy's Worst Play Date by Jonathan London.

Froggy's Worst Play Date
Froggy wants to go out to play, but all of his friends are busy. Good news! Mom has set up a playdate with Frogelina. He has to watch the Frog Prince. At the movie, they eat popcorn and have a food fight! In the end, Frogelina steals a kiss from her froggy prince!

Have you ever tried this movie popcorn trick?

Do you know the trick to eating popcorn?

This little girl doesn't know the trick! At your next birthday party, amaze your friends with magic. Did you know movie popcorn will jump on your tongue? Yep, all you have to do is stick your tongue out over a bowl of popcorn and Voila! The popcorn attaches to your tongue! Try this with our homemade microwave popcorn.

Fun Popcorn Recipe for a Birthday Snack

This is an fun alternative to Brown Sugar Pop Tarts.

Cinnamon Brown Sugar Popcorn

6 Cups Plain, Unsalted Microwave Popcorn (see recipe above)

¼ Cup Amish Country Buttery Popcorn Topping

¾ Tsp. Ground Cinnamon

¼ Cup Brown Sugar

Pour butter into paper popcorn bag and shake to mix. Add brown sugar and cinnamon, and shake bag again. Enjoy.

What else can you do with popcorn? Things to do with popcorn.

To celebrate the book, make a Frog Prince Puppet. Here's a similar frog puppet pattern and how to from DLTK. We used a mini paper plate and styled our puppet to look like Froggy! If you want, add a yellow crown to make a frog prince.

Frog puppet for Froggy's Worse Playdate theme birthday party.

 You will need: mini paper plates, paint or markers, scissors, tape, and construction paper.

Froggy's Best Babysitter
Froggy's parents are celebrating their 10th anniversary. Froggy has to stay home with his baby sister and a baby sitter. Froggy makes lots of messes, and he plays in the bathtub with his baby sister.

Froggy's Best Babysitter by Jonathan London.

As a companion craft for this book, and a fun activity for your frog theme birthday party, you might like to make a froggy pond sensory play bin like this one from Growing a Jeweled Rose.

A froggy sensory play bin, like this one from Growing a Jeweled Rose,
 is a fun birthday party activity for toddlers.

Have you enjoyed these books and companion birthday activities for book lovers? Are you ready to plan your own frog themed birthday party? 

Recommended Reading:

Birthday Party Activities and Ideas

Ladybug Picnic Party Activities

Froggy Birthday Party Supplies:

Kiss The Frog Party Game *

Froggy Birthday Party Kit - 32 Person*









ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Tips for Busy Families on the Go

Is your busy family always on the go? You need tips to make life easier!

We keep busy with lots of academic activities, but we also love to hike, swim, and play outdoors. As homeschoolers, we are involved in a special playgroup that enjoys playtime in local parks, roller skating, jump centers, and educational field trips. It seems, like many other busy families, we are always on the go and looking for tips to make life easier and less hectic.

Enjoying learning about different species of fish.

Also, as busy homeschoolers, we search for special activities for physical education and fitness that can be a valuable educational experience. We are always coming up with new ways to learn while having fun. We especially love outdoor activities, but that can lead to cuts, scrapes, and allergies.

Dolphin and Manatee hunting in a kayak with Grandpa on the Manatee River.

When you head out for a hike or to go exploring the Manatee River in a kayak, it is important to always have a first aid kit, extra clothes, water bottles, bug spray, and we take allergy meds and Epipens too! Active families need to function like a team and be ready for just about anything. Now, we can take Puracyn® Plus along too. Puracyn® Plus is the first step in first aid. It helps clean wounds and is less irritating than peroxide or alcohol and more effective than soap and water. I find it amazing that it is safe for the eyes, ears, and mouth too! 

Puracyn® Plus is a convenient alternative to the otherwise messy job of cleansing the wound area, can be applied on the spot and on-the-go, and it won’t cause cell damage the way hydrogen peroxide can. It is the perfect addition to your first aid kits saving you the need for several different products.

We needed our Puracyn® Plus during Spring Break. Mayhem was excited about kayaking with Grandpa on the Manatee River. When she ran to the kayak, her clothes got stuck and toppled over a giant, concrete pelican! Then, when she hopped into the kayak, the tear from the pelican incident caught onto something in the kayak and scraped her leg. The pants are beyond repair, but her leg recovered nicely with a little help from Puracyn® Plus.

Getting some swimming in after a long road trip.

Now through March 27th, enter the Play to Win with #TeamPuracynPlus Giveaway on the Puracyn® Plus Facebook page for the chance to be one of three randomly selected winners to receive a Puracyn® Plus Sports Emergency Kit, including a $50 gift card to a sporting goods store of your choice and Puracyn® Plus product. Join us on Pinterest too.

Enter to win a Puracyn® Plus Sports Emergency Kit.

New Puracyn® Plus Duo-Care™ Wound and Skin Cleanser is the next generation first step in first aid for cleansing, debriding and hydrating wounds, and is formulated with a pH balanced, hypochlorous solution, designed to improve the most essential part of the wound treatment process – preparation of the wound bed. If you have diabetes, Puracyn® Plus Foot Wash and Skin Cleanser is essential in helping to make foot care part of your daily self-care routine. To learn more about the brand visit www.puracynplus.com
“This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. All opinions, text, and experiences are my own.”
To learn more about the Puracyn® Plus, LIKE the brand on Facebook and follow the brand on Pinterest. This is a product-sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Puracyn® Plus Duo-Care™ Wound and Skin Cleanser. The opinions and text are all mine.


Recommended:

Homeschool PE Egg Hunt for Elementary Students: Fun for a Family Get Together Party too!

Get Fit with this Creative Physical Education Easter Egg Hunt for Parties or PE Class

This Egg Hunt isn't just for Easter. Add physical fitness to your family get together, birthday party, gym class, or homeschool PE. Hide the eggs outdoors, and then hide physical fitness activities inside each egg. Make a game out of working out! In the video below, we improvised and had fun turning exercise into a fitness game that got the whole "family" involved. Enjoy!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.

15 Resources for Dr. Seuss Lesson Plans Elementary School and Homeschool

Lesson Plans for Elementary and Homeschool Dr. Seuss Curriculum

Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday with Dr. Seuss Lesson Plans for Elementary and Homeschool. We've scoured the web, especially our favorite blogs and websites, for companion activities for. Dr. Seuss books. When is Dr. Seuss birthday? March 2. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links. Click and make a purchase and we get a commission.

Teacher Resources: Lesson Plans for Elementary and Homeschool Dr. Seuss Curriculum.

Dr Seuss Day Activities Teacher Resources

• Make a fake cake to celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday.
• In depth exploration of Dr. Seuss books for homeschool.
• Companion activities for Dr. Seuss books.
• Free printables for Dr. Seuss birthday.
• Daisy Head Mayzie Activities.
• Sue Snue Activities.
• Sneetches racism activity.
• Oh the Places You'll Go lesson plans.
• And to Think that I saw it on Mulberry Street lesson plans.
• Mulberry Street Coloring Page.
• Horton Hears a Who lessons.
• Free Weather Worksheets and Oobleck Printable Activities for Bartholomew and the Oobleck.
• Scientific exploration with Oobleck recipe with cornstarch.
• The Political Dr. Seuss from Independent Lens.
• Wondering when Read Across America is? Dr. Seuss' birthday, of course! March 2. Read Across America activities.

Recommended Reading:

Bartholomew and the Oobleck: (Caldecott Honor Book) (Classic Seuss)


And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street


Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Cinquain Poetry: Fun Adjective and Adverb Video Lessons and Online Activities for Homeschooling

Cinquain Poem Examples for Students

In this online homeschooling lesson, we explore adjectives and adverbs and then use what we've learned to write a Cinquain poem. We found some fun videos and activities to help teach the difference between an adverb and an adjective. Scroll down for examples of Cinquain poetry. Enjoy!

Cinquain Poem Examples for Students.

What does an Adverb do?

An adverb modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Adverbs answer questions like: How? When? Where?

What does an Adjective do?

An adjective modifies nouns, pronouns, and phrases acting as nouns. Adjectives answer questions like: What kind? How many? Which one?

The adjective and adverb flash card video below is from Maple Leaf Learning. This video is best for preschool and early elementary, though it did help my third and fifth grader remember the difference between an adverb and an adjective.

Now that you are all caught up on adjectives, here is another fun video, which is more appropriate for second to sixth grade.



Here is another video from Grammaropolis. This one is my favorite!




Go old school and learn adverbs and adjectives with this Schoolhouse Rock grammar video.





Now, take what you have learned and use adjectives and adverbs to write a Cinquain. That's just a fancy word for a five line poem. Cinq means five in French.


Arts and Crafts Element

Supplies Needed:

Old Magazines
Construction Paper
Paste or Glue
Marker

Cut out adverbs and adjectives from old magazines.
Draw a line down your paper.
Label one side "Adjectives" and the other side "Adverbs".
Paste the words in the proper column.

Use the words to write a Cinquain poem.


Language Arts Element

How to Write a Cinquain

Line 1:  Use one word to describe the subject.

Line 2:  Choose two words to define the subject.

Line 3:  Pick three words to tell what the subject did.

Line 4:  List four words about how it happened.

Line: 5: Choose one word that restates or summarizes the action in your poem.

Math Element

Did you know there is math in poetry? It is better known as rhythm. If you completed all of the steps above, congratulations! You have written a simple Cinquain. Now, you are ready to plug in some more numbers and write a more complex Cinquain.

Rewrite your poem (or write a new one) using the following method. A true Cinquain is made up of a series of syllables.

Line 1: One word = two syllables.

Line 2: Two words = four syllables.

Line 3: Three words = six syllables.

Line 4: Four words = eight syllables.

Line 5: One Word and/or two syllables.

Once you've crafted the perfect poem, get some handwriting paper. Neatly, write your poem in Cinquain form. Decorate the paper to illustrate the actions and ideas in your poem.

Proudly display your poem for all to see!

Here are our examples of Cinquain poetry:

               Fishes.

      Black and Festive.

They wanted Mosquitoes.

Finally, they ate Mosquitoes.

              Delish!

-Jake

Is fishes a word? Yep.We used creative license to get two syllables in our first word. Jake wanted to write a poem about fish. So, he wrote a poem about various species of fish, or fishes to make the Cinquain work.

                       Kittens.

                 Tiny and Blue.

           Chasing Tiny Critters.

Catches the Fastest, Finest Chicken.

                     Pounces!

- Mayhem

Recommended Reading:

A Is for Angry: An Animal and Adjective Alphabet*

Poetry Patterns and Themes*







ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

5 Best Sleepover Games and Activities for Teens

Plan the Best Sleepover Ever with These 5 Cool Games and Activities for Teens

These five, easy party ideas for teenagers will help you plan a fun sleepover or even the best slumber party ever! Click the links to find more great birthday party ideas for both teen boys and girls. Enjoy!

5 Best Sleepover Games and Activities for Teens.

• Backwards Birthday Party

Have all the guest wear all of their clothes backward.

• Who's in the Bag?

Play, "Who's in the Bag?", at your next sleepover.

Before the party, mark straws with the number of party guest minus

one. On the last straw, write "it" with a Sharpie. Have each guest 

choose a straw. Get everyone's sleeping bag and roll them out on 

the floor in a large room. Send "it" into the bathroom or a closet.


Now, everyone else climbs into a random sleeping bag (not their 

own). Pull the bag over your heads so "it" cannot see who is who.


When "it" comes back, he taps the foot of a bag and asks one question. 

For example:  "What is your favorite color?"

The person in the bag, disguises his voice to answer but answers truthfully.

Now, "it" guesses who is in the bag. If he guesses wrong, he moves to the next bag. If he guesses right, the player gets to come out of the bag and watch the fun!

Play continues until all player's identities are revealed.

• Cool Sleepover Game for Girls or guys, just change the sex of the hotties you choose to share :)

The guys from One Direction.

Before the party, find photos of cute guys. Make a Pinterest board

just for the party. Pin as many cute guys as you can find, then pull 

them up on the television screen with Chrome Cast. What would 

you do with him? Make Out, Marry, or Dump?

• Whip Cream Fingertips

Sleepover prank: place whipcream on a sleeping beauty's fingers, then tickle her nose.

Put some whip cream on the fingers of the first one to fall asleep. 

Unlike peanut butter, which is sticky and can be deadly if anyone 

at the party has a peanut allergy, whip cream is an innocent 

slumber party prank. Now, gently tickle sleeping beauty's face. 


Watch what happens! For the record, I hate pranks. I'm opposed. 

If you are the first one to fall asleep, you probably won't be a fan 

of sleepover pranks either, so keep this in mind when choosing 

activities for your party.

• Cell Phone

Play "Cell Phone", a sleepover game similar to 20 questions, but better!

Gather the party guests and pick one to be "it". Send it to the 

bathroom with loud music or headphones. Now, the rest of the 

group chooses a noun for the game. 

For example: Cat, Car, Flower, Food.

Now, bring "it" back to guess the chosen word.

"It" has to ask questions about the unknown word. So, she replaces 

the unknown word with Cell Phone. She asks each player a 

different question.

For example: "Is the Cell Phone purple?" or "Does the Cell Phone 

breathe?"

Like Twenty Questions, the other players (in on the secret word),

say yes or no until "it" gets the answer correct.


The last player to answer the question before she guesses correctly

becomes the next "it".




Recommended Reading:



Sleepover Party Mad Libs*



Group Games Played in a Circle*



The Everything Girls Ultimate Sleepover Party Book: 100+ Ideas 

for Sleepover Games, Goodies, Makeovers, and More! 

(Everything® Girls)*




The Unofficial ONE DIRECTION Big Sleepover Trivia Party 

Game: Find Out Who Loves One Direction The Most! - Star 

Version (One Direction Trivia Party Game Book 2)*

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)