When is Roald Dahl Day: Activities

When is Roald Dahl Day?

It's Roald Dahl Day! Sept. 13, 2015. How will you celebrate? This year, we did several activities including, a "The Witches" party. We've included a list of our favorite Roald Dahl books which are perfect for Elementary Students. Scroll down to see how you can win a free copy of your favorite Roald Dahl book and a fun printable crossword puzzle. Enjoy!

Have a "The Witches" Party to Celebrate Roald Dahl Day or Halloween!

We found The Witches movie on Amazon. The movie has some scary moments, but we won't give those away. Depending on the child, the whole concept of the story could be traumatic. The Witches are everywhere wearing human masks! How can you tell a witch? She'll have purple, glowing eyes, among other things!

The Witches is an award-winning story by Roald Dahl about a boy, his grandmother, and a hotel full of witches. 

"This is not a fairy tale. This is about real witches."  

Books by Roald Dahl include The Witches and James and the Giant Peach.

After we watched the movie, we visited the Roald Dahl website and chose some fun ideas for lessons. We made posters that explain how to spot a witch. Beware! They are everywhere.

We have a fun idea to make human masks!

• Copy a photo of someone in the classroom or house, paste it to tag board, and then decorate it with markers or colored pencils. When done, cut out, poke holes in the ears, tie an elastic string through each hole, and wear it!

• To make it more fun, also make a witch mask and wear it underneath your human mask. Tee Hee! Now, that's fun!

You'll want to make some spooky treats and creepy snacks for your party. We found these cute witch broom donuts at Giggles Galore.

Witch Broomstick Donuts! Find the How to at Giggles Galore.

We don't want to give the story away. You'll have to read it and watch the movie to understand why we made a mouse craft. We have lots of recyclables around the house, so we turned a styrofoam cup and a plastic grocery bag into a cute little mouse.

Make a mouse craft with recyclables.

To make the little mouse, paint a styrofoam cup your favorite color. Poke a pipecleaner in the bottom, curl it around a pencil to make a curly tail. Roll up a grocery bag, place it inside the cup, and then tape on foamy or construction paper eyes, nose, and ears. Eek! That was easy. Preschoolers will enjoy making this simple mouse craft.

Then, each kid chose a Roald Dahl book to read. We chose The BFE and Monster....

Roald Dahl Reading List

Charity
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Danny, the Champion of the World
Enormous Crocodile
Esio Trot
Fantastic Mr Fox
George's Marvellous Medicine
James and the Giant Peach
Matilda
Museum
Revolting Rhymes
Short stories
The BFG
The Twits
The Witches

Hop over and like and comment on our Facebook Page post about Roald Dahl, and you can win a "The Witches" Prize pack and a Roald Dahl book. Contest ends Sept. 20, 2015.

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Cognitive Craft Benefits for Children: Twig Log Cabin Ornament

Twig Ornament Highlights Benefits of Crafting with Children

Crafts aid in child development; it is proven to be true! There are cognitive benefits to crafting with your kids. So, get out your crayons, glue, pom poms, felt, and glitter, and get crafting. Scroll down for details on our fun craft activity for school-age children. Enjoy!

Make a twig log cabin ornament.

If you are a busy working mama don't worry- enroll your child in a local class, take them to a library program, or sign them up at a childcare program like ChildTime.

Many child care programs, often considered as only day care for preschoolers, offer before and after school care, homework help, and summer camp in addition to their preschool classes and care.

At ChildTime, fun and educational mornings and afternoons await your child. The My Best Self! program for school-age students focuses on goal-setting and reflection, and is complemented by homework support, team-building opportunities, and physical activity. The programs give children structure with a mix of independent and organized activities (including crafts), education, and recreational opportunities.

So, what are the cognitive benefits of Crafts?

Crafting can improve coordination between the right and left side of the brain, as well as, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

In small children, using crayons, scissors, and glue helps develop muscles in fingers and hands. Think small motor skills.

Adults can build bonds while interacting with children during craft time. The social interaction promotes language skills through face to face engagement. Older children need these bonds to feel a sense of security during all the changes they face in puberty. Learn more about emotional bonding.

As children age and want to spend more time with screens and less and less time creating with their hands, before and after school programs are a great way to encourage human interaction and continue to build skill for following directions and completing projects.

Want to bond and practice the cognitive benefits of crafts at home? You might like this fun craft activity!

Make a twig star and wrap it with your favorite color yarn for a fun, holiday ornament.

How to Make Twig Ornaments

You've probably seen the stars made out of Twigs on Pinterest. We thought we'd try that with the kids. This is not as easy as it looks! I would not try it with preschoolers. After playing around with the twigs, some wire, and wood glue, we came up with little log cabin twig ornaments!

Make fun twig ornaments after a nature hike with children.

This a great activity to bond with your kids of all ages. Preschoolers will especially enjoy the prep required to make them. We headed out for a nature hike. Find a small twig and challenge your children to find straight twigs the same diameter. Collect several in varying lengths. 

After your hike, lay out the twigs in the shape of a house.

Older kids can attach the twigs at each overlapping corner with some small wire, floral tape, or kite string.

Be sure to attach a loop at the top to hang as an ornament.

Next, lay more small twigs across the house so they look like the logs of a log cabin. Attach with wood glue or strong school glue.

Let dry for 10-15 minutes.

To Make a Twig Star:

If you are a skilled twig designer, you can make a star and wire it together at the overlapping corners as seen above. Once complete, cut yarn, and have children wrap the star in their favorite colors. We cut several 6" pieces of yarn and then glued then ends down so that it doesn't unravel.

Imagine all the crafts your kids can make at ChildTime!

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Another Twig Craft for Children

Twig Pencils*

Stick Man*


This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Learning Care Group. The opinions and text are all mine.

Circle Activities for Teens Middle School Age Youth

Circle Games and Activities for Youth: Camp Songs and More

Camp Songs always bring back the best memories! Circle Time isn't just for preschoolers! Circle Activities and Games are fun for teens too. If you're planning activities for an after school program, summer camp, scouts, or youth group, these school-aged circle camp activities make nice icebreakers. We've used these group circle games and songs to welcome kids to camp, introduce each other, and as a way to make attendance and head counts fun. 

After School Snack Ideas: Weekly Menu Planning

Menu Planning for After School: Try These Snack Ideas

After School Snack Ideas don't have to be just chips or apples. There are a variety of easy to prepare items intended for breakfast that are ideal for after school snacking. Check your local Walmart freezer isle to find snacks kids will like that are easy to prepare and affordable. We're sharing weekly menu ideas that we used in our day care. Scroll down for a Free Weekly Menu Planner Printable.  Enjoy!

After School Snack Ideas: Weekly Menu Planning Free Printable.

Walmart is your place for Back to School prep.

#fuelforschool

When prepping the menus each week, we made sure that the menu included a dairy item, a fruit or vegetable, and a good source of protein. Often times, we combined a craft activity with the snack making edible art. All of the items in our menus are available at Walmart where you get great value for your money.

Sample Weekly Menu Plan

Monday: 
Jimmy Dean Pancake and Sausage on a Stick, Apple Slices, Milk

Tuesday:
Yogurt Ice Cubes, Grapes, Cranberry Apple Juice


Wednesday:
State Fair Corn Dogs, Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, White Grape Juice

The original corn dog of the Texas State Fair.

Thursday:
Rainbow Pudding Graham Sandwiches, Bananas, Milk


Friday:
Jimmy Dean Sausage Egg and Cheese Croissant Sandwiches with Apple Juice

Kids go all day with very little to eat. School lunches don't fill them up, and a lot of kids don't eat them anyway. When you can have a quick filling snack after school, your kids will be happier at homework time. Some kids may eat less at dinner, but you'll know they had a good source of protein after school- so you won't worry as much. A lot of kids are hungrier after a good quality snack, so they'll be ready for a healthy dinner.

Free Printable PDF Weekly Menu Planner

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Jimmy Dean®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Homemade Pudding Pops Recipe

Easy Recipe for Homemade Pudding Pops

Want to know the easy way on how to make pudding pops at home? These homemade pudding pops are so easy, you won't believe you never thought to make them. No pudding pop recipe required! Enjoy!

Homemade Pudding Pops Recipe.

Want to make Jell-O Pudding Pops? Most boxes have the recipe, but if you can't find one, click this link: How to Make Jell-O Pudding Pops at home. I was going to share one of the cute commercials from the 80's, but when I went to share one... Ouch! All of the controversy... no thanks. 

Super Easy Way to Make Homemade Pudding Pops.

To Make Homemade Pudding Pops, follow these easy steps:

1. Buy some snack pudding: Generic, Swiss Miss, Jell-O.

2. Buy some craft popsicle sticks.

3. Pop your stick into the middle of one of the pudding cups.

4. Freeze for at least an hour.

5. Enjoy!

Tip: You'll want to warm the cup up with your hands so the pudding will easily slide out. Yes, it really is that easy. It makes a refreshing snack on a hot, summer day. Yum!

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Universe Lesson Plans: Solar System Activities

• Solar System Lesson and Activities

• So many Solar System Activities, so little time! In these universe lesson plans, we've rounded up the most unique solar system projects and shared them in this online Solar System Lesson with fun, free games. Scroll down for activities for each grade level. Enjoy!

Universe Lesson Plans: Solar System Activities.

• This Solar System activity is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. Of course, even older kids will get a kick out of making a hat and parading around the classroom!
• 
  

Find this Solar System Activity at Primarythemepark.com

Younger children will enjoy Astronomy Ad Libs with Curious George.

NASA has many universe related lessons, but this one on how to estimate star size is pretty cool and targeted for kids in grades 6-9.

NASA comparison of Star Sizes chart.

• 
  

Is there life on Mars? Brainpop.com has a free video on Mars with quizzes, games, and activities. Subscribers can watch a video on the SOLAR SYSTEM and one on the OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM too! Be sure to read the FYI's for interesting solar system facts, and do the online activities.

Want to size up the universe? This free interactive universe game from Smithsonian is a fun way to learn through edutainment!

Click the image for Sizing up the Universe from the Smithsonian.

Practice Solar System Grammar and Vocabulary with this Hangman Game from eslgames.com.

Click the image to play Solar System Hangman.

For more solar system language arts, do these Space Libs.

Solar System Switcharoo is a fun game from NASA.

Interactive Science Space Game.




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Moon Lesson Plan

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Futuristic Craft for Kids

National Geographic Kids First Big Book of Space *

5 Earth Day Activities for Adults

5 Adult Activities for Earth Day

Looking for something to do around the office to celebrate Earth Day? These 5 Earth Day activities for adults will help you have a fun and enriching celebration. When is Earth Day? Earth Day is April 22.

This post contain Amazon Affiliate Links. 

If you click and make a purchase, I may get a small commission. Thanks for that!

• In the Fall of every year, Indianapolis, Indiana has a day of community service. Indy Do Day is a mini vacation from the office. We think incorporating something like this into an Earth Day celebration would make an awesome experience. Get the whole office on board. Plant a community garden or better yet, make it personal. Find local senior citizens in need, and do some yard work, gardening, or recycling for them. Find a way to give back to your community that will have an impact on the environment.

Indy Do Day activities are perfect for Earth Day. Photo from Indydoday.com

• Another, simple way for adult co-workers to celebrate Earth Day is to go on hike! Sure, you'll get some complaints. Plan ahead, and make it a field trip of sorts. Make sure everyone comes prepared with water, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, bug spray, and bags to collect any trash you find along your journey. 

Everyone needs the fresh air. It is a great way to bond with your office mates. You'll feel like you are playing hooky, but use the time to brainstorm ideas to make the office more green.

A hike is a simple way for adults to celebrate Earth Day.

• Have you ever been to a recycling plant? We have. It is a very interesting experience. Most people are surprised to discover all of the different things that can be recycled. Find an incentive (maybe a gift card) and then ask your co-workers to bring in some recyclable items- not trash! Think real recyclables like an old, broken, bronze lamp, metal scrap, old appliances... Collect all the aluminum cans from the office and take them with you (rather than letting the recycling truck pick them up as usual).

Now, take a caravan to your local recycling plant! We go on Saturdays and have to wait in a long line. They pay with a receipt that you cash out at an ATM like machine. After you go, you'll understand why so many people offer free pick up of old appliances. You might even want to become a dumpster diver.

Ways to Recycle Plastic Bottles

The cash for junk is pretty impressive, especially when you think about it being trash that you saved from going into a landfill!

Get cash for metal at Ray's Recycling plant.

What about that gift card? Award it to the co-worker whose junk brought the most coin! What? You think they don't deserve it because they already got a big payoff? Use the money you earn from recycling to donate to a save the earth cause.

• Have your own little Earth Day celebration with an organic recipe.

• Get a group of adults involved in Earth Day activities by volunteering in a preschool, shelter, or nursing home. Find some fun Earth Day crafts like the ones below, and take the day off while you educate and enrich the lives of others. 

Help children grow an indoor garden.

Make an Earth Day Pin Craft.

Whatever you choose to do, have fun, and make a difference!

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Country Study Lesson India

8 Creative Ways To Teach Your Child About The Indian Culture

In this country study lesson, our guest blogger, Aradhana, shares about the homeschooling experience in India. Scroll down to learn creative ways to learn about Indian Culture and to watch some Indian videos. Enjoy!

Country Study Lesson on India includes dress up time!

Long before the arrival of our little one, my husband and I had decided that we’d homeschool our child. Having understood all the pros and cons of homeschooling, we made this choice for our child to be able to shape up his future in the best way possible. In India, the concept of homeschooling is still in its nascent stages, and unsurprisingly, our decision wasn't received well within our community. Even today, we battle people’s preconceived notions about our choice. 

We know, however, that homeschooling is the best way to ingrain the importance of culture and values in our child along with training him on various academic concepts. Being so artistically 
inclined myself, I always opt for fun and creative means to train my child on various subjects, especially cultures. Not only does this improve his grasping power, but it also makes learning a lot of fun. 

Here are eight creative ways you can teach your child about the Indian culture:

1. Traditional Dress Up – Whenever I begin teaching my son a lesson about a particular Indian state, I always team it up with a fun traditional dress-up activity. My little one looks forward to the exotic costumes that he gets to wear each time. I also hold group learning sessions where both, little boys and girls can understand what the respective male and female costumes of each Indian state look like. We end the session by taking lots of pictures and making memories for a lifetime!

2. Exploring Local Cuisines – I am lucky to be a part of a family that loves food! My son (thankfully) has no qualms about trying out new cuisines, which makes my life a lot simpler! 

Every Sunday, we as a family go out to try authentic Indian meals where I also share fun facts about that particular cuisine with my child. After the dining session, I organize a quiz for him by including questions about a region’s cuisine, the dining style of people there, their cultural and religious symbolism, etc. For example, in many South Indian states of India, people eat with their hands because according to ancient Vedic wisdom, doing so benefits the mind, body and spirit.

Authentic Indian meal.

3. A Trip To The Houses Of Worship – I have been brought up with the belief that all religions are equal, and there is something beautiful to learn from every caste and creed. Though my husband and I follow two different religious beliefs, we have given our child the freedom to practice whichever religion wants. Along with imparting him the knowledge about all religions, I also take him on regular visits to places of worship, so he gains a better understanding on what every religion practiced in India stands for.

4. Dance and Drama – Me along with my group of friends, organize a monthly dance show put up by the kids in our locality. Since the locality we live in has families from different parts of the country, each month we follow a new theme focused on regional dances from different Indian states. This gives the kids abundant cultural exposure while it also promises the audience a visual treat!

Indian dances and culture.

5. Handmade Cultural Keepsakes – My little one thoroughly enjoys craft activities! He insists that each of his lessons have at least one craft activity. He loves to decorate his room with the outcomes of his artistic endeavors. Given his fondness for art and craft, I try to teach my child as many Indian crafts as I can. Diyas for Diwali, Indian flag for Independence day, rangoli for auspicious occasions and collages and coloring activities inspired by the Indian ancestry are a few of his favorites! 

Handmade Indian crafts and  Cultural Keepsakes for Diwali.

6. Historic Storytelling Sessions – One of the most amazing things about India is its glorious heritage and history. It has a marvelous collection of folklores that can be dated back to many centuries together. My son loves hearing fanciful stories from the Mahabharata, Ramayana,  Panchatantra, Puranas, Hitopadesha and Jatakas. I also read to him about our struggle for independence and the notable personalities whose sacrifice and patriotic fervor got the country where it is. He is always intrigued about India’s history and refuses to sleep until I read out at least one tale to him.

 Panchatantra Stories in English.

Here's a video for The Monkey and the Wedge.



7. Cultural Movie Marathon – Thank God for technology to have sparked kids’ imagination by leaps and bounds! Whenever I teach my little one any lesson on Indian culture, I try to end it with a movie. Doing this helps him remember even the little details about a subject, better. Especially while teaching my son about Indian mythology, films work the best! He is better able to connect with the characters, visually. My Friend Ganesha and Chhota Bheem are his favorite films. 

8. Travel – I have always been fond of traveling and adventure, and I think it’s from me that my child gets it too! In about every three months, we plan a trip to a new part of the country we haven’t seen before. The diversity of India can never cease to amaze you. There’s something new to see and learn from each and every city, town or village of the country. My son carries a travel journal where he makes a note of all the places he has visited and the stories behind each of those places. He also loves to stick a “memory’ of each place in his travel journal.

I love the concept of homeschooling for the very fact that my child gets a lot of first-hand and practical exposure than mere bookish knowledge. It helps widen his horizons and makes learning a memorable and enriching process! You could try these activities to teach your child about other cultures as well. 

 Aradhana is from India. She is a veteran writer on topics concerning parenting, child nutrition, wellness, health and lifestyle. As a regular contributor to popular sites like Huffington Post, Natural news, Elephant journal, Thehealthsite, Naturally Savvy, Curejoy and MomJunction.com, Aradhana writes to inspire and motivate people to adopt healthy habits and live a stress-free lifestyle.



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Things to do in Tampa with Kids: Lowry Park Zoo

Have you taken your kids to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa?

The Lowry Park Zoo is the perfect thing to do in Tampa with kids. The zoo is consistently voted the #1 zoo in America. We were lucky enough to visit the zoo during Zoominations. Admission to the zoo is all inclusive. That means, buy one ticket and ride as many rides as you want! 

Don't miss the African safari ride.

We loved Zoominations so much, that it wasn't until we returned home that we realized we hadn't taken any pictures of the animals! Rest assured, the animals are the highlight! Scroll down to learn more about them and other activities at the Lowry Park Zoo. Enjoy!

Things to do in Tampa with Kids: Lowry Park Zoo.

Zoominations at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa.

Sure, every zoo is similar. Every zoo has animals, but the way they live at the Lowry Park Zoo is special. The Aviary is amazing. You walk down a path where birds walk next to you or fly over your head- they aren't afraid. So many beautiful species call this aviary home. The parrot aviary at Busch Gardens (which is near the zoo) was nice, but if you wanted a bird to come see you, you had to buy special food to feed them. 

Chinese dragon lantern at the Lowry Park Zoo.

What is the meaning of the Chinese Dragon?

Beautiful elephant, Chinese lanterns.

Cool dude enjoying the food at Wallaby Station.

My kids enjoyed the cafeteria just as much as the rest of the zoo! We have a membership to the Indianapolis Zoo, so we spend a lot of time there. Usually, we pack a lunch. At the Lowry Park Zoo, the food is in a room. Chefs are behind a wall. They have the most popular items ready to grab and go! If you want something else, they will quickly prepare it for you.

Once you've grabbed your main course, you walk to other windows and grab fruit, vegetables, water, drinks, and sides. The cash register is outside the room. There is very little wait time.

During our trip, the kids had their own money to budget. They were thrilled to be able to choose whatever they wanted and pay themselves! Jake didn't want to spend too much. He had a large slice of pizza, fries, and a soft drink for about $8. Mayhem... well, if you are a regular reader, you know how it goes. Mayhem spent about $20! She had the pizza, some fruit, chips, dessert, and drinks. The point is, you don't have to spend a lot of money, but you can if you go crazy! Self-serve isn't for everyone.  :)

Panda lanterns in front of the carousel at the zoo.

Chinese Dragon.

The elephant lanterns were right outside the Zoo Safari. This is the best safari ride we've ever taken. It is worth the wait. The safari area is enclosed with netting and gates that separate the animals. Many times, the safari vehicle stopped to wait for animals to pass. The guides are excellent! The information is interesting and informative. Feel free to ask questions.

Coy pond lantern sculptures.

These dinosaurs are Chinese lanterns too!

The primates are fun to watch. Just don't be like Jake! While watching the chimpanzees, he decided to climb a nearby tree. Oh my! I was busy chasing Mayhem, when I realized he wasn't with me. The grandparents found him in the tree. I thought they were joking! Not Jake. Yes, Jake.

While relaxing in a branch, he lost his sandal down the box that surrounded the tree. Yep, it looked like a scary place to go. I kept thinking about snakes, scorpions, and fire ants. Unhappily, (and forced by Mom) he jumped down into the sandy pit and got it. Life has consequences. Luckily, the chimpanzees didn't notice.

Beautiful peacock lanterns.

More peacock lanterns.

Koalas, tigers, rhinos, elephants, primates of all sorts, birds of all kinds, ponies, llamas, wolves, black bears, oh my! These are just some of the animals you'll see. There's a log ride, a carousel, train, bumper boats, mini-coaster and more! Shows and talks, and even a manatee hospital! The zoo has lots of vegetation, so it doesn't get too hot. Everyone will find something they enjoy.

Tampa Lowry Park Zoo Rides

Traditional Chinese Lanterns.

Tampa Lowry Park Zoo Coupons

Want discount admission? Enjoy the zoo for free on your birthday! If you are a member of your local zoo, you might get discounts or be admitted free with the zoo's reciprocal program.

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Visit the nearby Manatee Viewing Center

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Zoo by Gail Gibbons*