OSTARA/EASTER TREE FROM NISHA (PHS):
Take a good sized tree branch. Found is better unless it's from a necessary pruning. Leave it natural or gild it or paint it white or green. Put it in a holder of some sort, and then make ornaments for it.
Playdoh or salt dough.
Paper mache.
little cookie cutter bunnies, eggs, flowers, etc,
ORNAMENTS:
Easter Eggs and Easter crafts
http://creativekidsathome.com/activities/activity_2.html#Clay Eggs
Woolly Sheep
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10427
THESE ARE ADORABLE
THREAD EGGS - FROM MORINANNA (PHS)
Decorate a tree with these happy eggs in no time.
What You Need:
Use these eggs as ornaments or put them in baskets.
Small oval balloons
Scissors
Embroidery floss or sewing thread
Liquid starch or fabric stiffener
Instructions:
1. Inflate small oval balloons and tie the necks tightly.
2. Soak 12- to 24-inch lengths of embroidery floss or regular sewing thread (use one color or a variety of colors) in liquid starch or fabric stiffener. Soak each piece of floss separately and pull the wet thread between your thumb and forefinger to remove excess liquid.
3. Wrap the wet threads around the balloon one at a time. The thread will stick to the balloon without any additional glue or fastener. Cover the balloon by crisscrossing the threads any way you choose. Use less thread for an open, lacy egg, or wrap additional thread for an egg that looks more solid.
4. Tie a piece of dry thread around the neck of the thread-wrapped balloon and hang it until the thread is dry and hard to the touch. Burst the balloon with a pin and pull the balloon out of the top of the Thread Egg. Place Thread Eggs in a basket or bowl, or attach loops of floss so you can hang several on a tree branch to create an egg tree.
SPRING PROJECTS
http://www.abcschoolhouse.com/seasonal_pdfs/Spring_ideas.pdf
Scented Rocks
Place rocks in a bowl or dish to scent a room. A nice alternative to potpourri!
1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup salt
1/4 teaspoon essential oil (your favorite scent)
2/3 cups boiling water
Food coloring, if desired
herbs, if desired
In bowl, mix dry ingredients well. Add essential oil, and boiling water to dry ingredients. (Scent will be strong, but will fade slightly when dry.) For colored stones, blend in food coloring, one drop at a time until desired shade is reached. Blend ingredients, and form balls into different shape and sizes to look like stones. Allow stones to dry.
Blessing Seed Cake
FROM Raven FireWolf
(Our kids won't go to bed until it comes out of the oven!)
Ingredients:
1 cup poppy seeds
1 cup milk (whole or lowfat)
3 eggs, separated
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed (or a little less, if you are adding some maple syrup)
1-3 Tbsp real maple syrup (not Aunt Jemima), optional
2 cups sifted flour
2 tsp real vanilla extract
2-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sour cream
1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Grease and lightly flour one bundt pan, or two loaf pans
3. Combine seeds with milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Turn off heat. Cover, and let sit until seeds absorb the milk. (The milk will not be completely absorbed.)
4. Cream butter and sugars until fluffy. Add vanilla, egg youlks and seeds with milk mixture. Add maple syrup if you are using it. Add sour cream.
5. Sift flour with baking powder and salt and stir into batter until just incorporated. Do not over-beat.
6. Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold gently into batter. Pour batter into pan.
7. Bake 45-50 minutes until cake tester or knife stuck in cake comes out clean.
8. Cool. Serve with whipped cream and strawberries, or just plain. (This cake freezes great.)
*To keep it simple, make it less messy for traveling and handing out to large crowds, we simply sprinkle powdered sugar on top. Other variations have a cream cheese icing or a lemon curd topping.
EGGS
Easter Egg Fun
www.womans-work.com/NewsInd/easter_egg_fun.htm
EGGSHELL MOSIAC - FROM VESTA:
You can make "Stained Glass" pictures using small pieces of colored eggshell. Either use the shells from the eggs you colored for Ostara or follow the instructions below to color eggshells from either hard-boiled or raw eggs.
Materials
Eggshells
Posterboard (or cardboard from cereal or detergent boxes)
White glue
Food coloring
White vinegar
Paper towels and/or newspaper
a.. In a cup or small glass bowl, mix a few drops of food coloring with about 1/2 c. white vinegar for each color you wish to use.
b.. Soak the egg shells in the food coloring until you have the color desired. The longer they soak the darker they will be. You may wish to crush the shells into small pieces before putting them into the coloring.
c.. Remove the colored shells and spread on paper towels or newspaper to dry.
d.. Draw a simple picture on the plain side of the cardboard. Coloring book pictures are good.
e.. Spread glue in each area of your drawing.
f.. Glue small pieces of colored shell in the different sections of the drawing.
g.. Allow the glue to dry completely before moving your picture
EGGSHELL CHALK
** would make a great gift for spring .. practice making it now for later .ria
4-5 eggshells
1-teaspoon flour
1 teaspoon very hot tap water
Food coloring (optional)
Wash & dry eggshells. Put into bowl and grind into a powder (a mortar and pestle works great). Discard any large pieces. Place flour and hot water in another bowl and add 1 tablespoon eggshell powder & mix until a paste forms. Add food coloring if desired. Shape & press mixture firmly into the shape of a chalk stick and roll up tightly in a strip of paper towel. Allow to dry 3 days or until hard. Unwrap from paper towel & use for sidewalk chalk.
Egg Experiments for Children
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/1465/eggex.html
FROM ??
Eggs can be use in another interesting experiment. The shells are made primarily of calcium - the same substance that makes our bones strong. To illustrate the importance of calcium (and other nutrients) in our bodies, try the following. Take a hard boiled egg and place it in a glass with vinegar. Vinegar leaches calcium out of any substance. Now let this combination sit for 4 hours,and then see what happens to the egg. It will become completely bouncy! Tell
the kids that this is what happens to our bones if we do not supply them with good nutrition. Okay, not exactly what happens, but the principle is the same.
UKRAINIAN EGGS:
All Things Ukrainian - Pysanky ,Stained Glass & Embroideries & Ukrainian Gifts
http://www.allthingsukrainian.com/Supplies/Supplies.htm
Ukrainian (Pysanky) Egg Supplies Product Items from the Craft Stop Online Catalog
http://www.craft-stop.com/store/productprintdetail.cfm?ProdCatID=51
FROM MOUSE (PCC)
You will need:
Fresh eggs ( room temperature)
Writing tools
* (straight pins stuck into a dowel, cork, or pencil eraser)
Wax (equal amounts beeswax and paraffin)
Wax warmer (candle heated container)
Egg dyes ( in containers large enough to submerge eggs)
Paper tissues
Prepare the eggs by "blowing" your eggs before painting. Use a long pin to make a tiny hole at each end; the hole should be a bit larger at the bottom. Pierce and break the yolk with the long pin. Shake to mix the inner contents. Over a bowl or sink, blow through the smaller hole to force the contents out of the larger opening. Rinse the shell and prop on an egg carton to dry. Create the design. First practice your design on paper before applying wax to the egg. Melt the wax. Working quickly to prevent the wax from hardening, dip the pinhead into melted wax and touch it to the egg to create your design. The pinhead touched to the egg will form a small dot. To make a tear drop shape,draw the pinhead along the surface of the egg. These two shapes may be used in different combinations to make a variety of designs. One to three colors are usually used for each egg. Always progress from the lightest to the darkest dye color. When the complete wax design has been applied, place the egg in the first dye solution several times until desired color is reached (10-30 minutes). The longer the egg remains in the dye, the deeper the color will be. Remove the egg and blot dry with tissue or cloth. Once the egg is dry, add additional wax designs and repeat color process with darker dye. To finish, after the final dye bath, remove the wax by holding the egg, a small section at a time, against the side of the candle flame for no more than five seconds. As soon as the section appears wet, blot with a clean, soft cloth.
Continue until all the wax is removed. do not hold the egg over the tip of flame, as carbon will collect and darken your design.
FROM DI:
Tools...I made mine with a ball point pen tip and a chop stick. Cut small hole in chop stick, remove the ball froom the pen tip, insert it in the stick and secure with brass wire. A straight pin inserted in a pencil eraser is another option...use a beeswax candle and dip the end of the pin in the molten wax and use it to apply the wax to the egg. One day I will buy an acutual kitska and the specific dies. For now I use Ritz fabric dye mixed with vinegar ... works like a charm. ( These eggs are not to be eaten)
TREASURE EGGS
FROM MOONDAUGHTER (PHS)
We haven't tried these yet, but are going to in the next day or so. I'll post our results.
Mix 1 cup flour,
1/2 cup salt,
1/4 cup sand, and
1 cup used coffee grounds.
Slowly add 3/4 cup water and knead.
Roll baseball size piece of dough. Make a hole in the egg, fill with treasures, and seal with extra dough. Bake in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes. I'm not sure what the creator of this recipe meant by treasures - we're going to use some pretty crystals and maybe some coins. Also no temp was given,so I'm going to try them at 325. I've e-mailed to try to find definite answers to these two questions, but I still think they'll be neat. The kiddoes just break them open to get at the treasures.
EGG-SHAPED PINATA - FROM NISHA (PHS)
ALso. an egg shaped pinata is fun and easy to make. You take flour and water and make a paste. Take strips of the paper of your choice (I usually use cheap copy paper) and do a couple of layers,of the paper strips and paste over an egg shaped balloon, securing a handle at the top in between two of the layers of paper. Let it dry, in an oven on the absolutely lowest temp if necessary(where the humidity is high) but otherwise overnight is good. Then take tissue paper and do the same thing for the top layer. You can get as fancy as you want. I like the tissue paper because it's not fussy. ANd the little kids can help. But you can paint it too. Or stick big old rinestones or glitter or whatever you want to put on it all over it. Let it dry, and then fill it up, with small toys, candies, whatever you like, and let the kiddo have at it. One note of warning, if it's going to be little kids, you may not want to do more than 3 layers of the paper. If you do, you may have to cut it apart instead of having everything burst open and doing the scramble. We do the blindfold for age 5 and up, and spin each kid the number of years old they are before they get to go at the pinata. The pinata and paper mache are easy and fun to do.
DYING EGGS - FROM??:
Ostara (spring equinox) falls within this month, and the themes are eggs and seeds. Making a variety of vegetable based egg dyes is one activity that can lend itself to homeschooling activities. The process of dyeing eggs with these materials is a transfer of pigment for the plant material to the egg. Pigment is what gives anything color. Some good materials to use are red cabbage or whole beets (for a light purple color), onion skins (for an orange to rust color), carrot tops (for a pale green) and turmeric (for a golden yellow). Experiment with a variety of materials...the results will surprise you! And when you have predictable results, trying mixing two items together to see what colors will emerge. Consult a color wheel for ideas.
FROM MOUSE (PCC):
One thing I have always enjoyed on the Eve of the Spring Equinox is decorating eggs. The rising and rebirth of the sun on or around this day was a time for celebration and dancing among our ancestors. Often, red and gold colored eggs, symbolizing the birth of the new sun, were exchanged with friends and family. A most important symbol of life and re-birth, the egg has links with Creation myths in cultures around the world and is therefore appropriate for followers of almost all beliefs, both Christian and Pagan.
There are many ways of decorating eggs with a range of natural substances and colours that can be applied to your very own design. Natural dyes can be obtained from a range of flowers and vegetables. The general rule is that there is no rule to decorating an egg. Be creative, write about your own special message or adopt a traditional one, then get together all the bits and pieces you need.
Blown eggs
These are the kind that are blown out thru a tiny hole in each end. After blowing out the contents, breathe a wish into the egg for the coming season. Pass a ribbon or string through the holes and knot it on one end. Make sure you leave a long thread to tie to the limb of a low hanging branch or tree in your yard or at a park. Hang the eggs on the branches for the sunrise on Spring Equinox Morn. These will be your creations with wishes attached!
RABBITS
FROM RIA:
make a whole "flock" of boo boo bunnies using pastel washcloths .. rather than use glue google eyes or pompom noses use embroidery thread for eyes and nose (it really doesn't take that long) they are washable too .. I was able to get a dozen plastic reusable "ice cubes" that I put inside mine .. directions are below:
http://www.makingfriends.com/spring/bunny_washcloth.htm
Felt stuffed bunnies-
http://www.openhere.com/holidays/Easter/crafts/craft2/
I have this pattern (actually paid $$ for it) also makes cute gingerbread
dolls in brwonish felt (dry brush with paint for cooked effect)
Bunny Ears for Bean Bag Animals
http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/bunnyears1.html
Origami Bunny
http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/oribunny.html
PLANTS:
PHENOLOGY - record their observations of Spring, keep a record of the plants in bloom each week, with corresponding photos and a choice of either a brief or more detailed description, encourages students and volunteers to register
and report observations, daily updates as the birds begin preparing for their journey north. Users who want to begin identifying the birds that return to their yard this spring may be interested in the Peterson online identification
guide .
FamilyFun: Garden Apron and Gloves
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10378
HERB LIST - GOOD FOR CUTTINGS
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/pdf/herbscuttings.pdf
FORCING THE ISSUE: from ??
It is so fun to force some bulbs and a great activity to do with kids. FORCING is simply planting bulbs in pots now and storing them in a very cool spot for several weeks. Then you bring them out mid-winter and they bloom indoors. Each fall, I try to force several pots of 'Golden Melody' tulips.
MAKE AN INDOOR HERBAL GARDEN - FROM ??
Transform a Sunny Windowsill into a Fresh, Fragrant Herb Garden. This is a great project for kids and adults alike. Easy and fun, it is a great hostess gift or a cool present a child can make to give. The whole project takes an hour or less it's beauty is lasting.
Consider a window box filled with fragrant herbs. Potted herbs are welcome gifts for apartment dwellers longing for a tiny kitchen garden; even people with huge outdoor gardens appreciate having a snip of basil, a pinch of parsley, or a touch of thyme at their fingertips. Pick a window box made of wood, painted pottery, or bright tin, and fill it with small terra-cotta pots planted with herb combinations that compliment each other. Excellent growing companions are the Mediterranean herbs-rosemary,sage, thyme, and oregano, or, to give a wealth of flavors to a basil lover,plant pots with sweet basil, lemon basil, Spicy Globe and Dark Opal. If you like,place packets of herb seeds around the potted plants. That way you give a choice-the seeds can be planted in the window box and the growing herbs can be planted elsewhere. For a final touch, pack the ends of the window box with small glass bottles filled with some of the eclectic basics of contemporary cooking: Organic spice blends, whole cardamom pods, juniper berries,dried orange peel, star anise, dill weed, and coriander seed are a few possibilities.
What you Need
2-3 herb plants, such as chives, basil, Italian Parsley
2-inch terra-cotta pots (one for each herb plant)
potting soil
4-6 selections of fresh-dried herbs, such as dill and coriander, or other
seasonings such as dried orange peel and whole cardamom pods
4-6 half-ounce bottles
16- 36-inch window box (wood pottery or tin)
6 packets of herb seeds
rope, twine, fabric ribbon, or raffia
note cards and / or labels
How To Package It
Transplant herb plants into terra-cotta pots. Fill glass bottles with fresh-dried herbs and spices, leaving a 1-inch space at the tops. Seal with corks or stoppers. For a decorative touch, tie short lengths of twine around the bottles' necks and let hang loosely. Bundle seed packets in groups of two or three and tie each bundle with twine, fabric ribbon, or raffia. Place potted herb plants in the center of the window box. Place seed packets bundles on either side of the plants. Include notes or handmade labels identifying the herbs and their many uses.
WINDOW FLOWER BOX - FROM ??
You will need:
a clear 2 liter soda bottle
a flower that needs to be planted (or seeds)
potting soil
and scissors
Take a clear 2 liter bottle and cut 2 D shaped holes on the sides in the middle so the flat part of the D is at the bottom and the curve is up (a D on its side). Then take a pretty flower like a petunia and potting soil... plant the plant in your bottle and put it in the window... don't forget to water it and watch it to see if it reaches through the neck of the bottle to reach the sun...
FROM ??:
Gardening offers a long term homeschooling lesson. From planting to harvesting, a garden requires patience, consistency and commitment. There are lots of opportunities for impromptu investigations on the various things that appear in a garden. What is that weed, what is that bug....and are these good or bad for our plants. If you have space for a garden, this would be a good time to select your seeds, prep your soil and start your seeds indoors. You can bless them and your garden as a part of your Imbolc and/or Ostara rites. If you have no garden area, do not despair! You too can participate in the growing cycle. On a small scale, you can plant a natural basket of grass to place your eggs in. A shallow bowl filled with soil and grass seeds will sprout into a mini lawn in about 10 days. Children seem to love watching seeds that they pant turn into living green things. It is magical!
Seeds can be used to show the importance of clean water for living things. Take two pots, fill with soil, and place a few bean seeds in each, and label them A and B. Water A with clean water only, but water B with a mixture of water, oil and dishsoap...or simply water with the water left over from dishwashing. Watch the difference between both pots! Record your observations.
Another fun indoor project involving seeds would be to plant a few pots of culinary herbs. Some of the easiest ones to grow would be chives, basil,oregano, parsley and mints. After they have grown for a month or so, they will be large enough to take cuttings to use in a variety of dishes. Children love to smell the herbs, and tasting these will be a fun project in itself. Ask your child what they think these would taste good in.....and boldly follow their lead!
FROM RITA:
In answer to your question about the stepping-stones, any stain glass store and some of the hobby stores (here in Kansas, Hobby Lobby and Michaels) have stepping stone forms. You will want to cover the inside of the form with Vaseline then cut a piece of contact paper the same shape as your mold. Place your mosaic pieces good side to the sticky part of the paper. Once you have your pieces in the design, you want on the contact paper then place the contact paper with the mosaic in the mold. After you have that all in place, pour your concrete in the mold half full. Cut chicken wire the shape of your mold and place on the concrete then finish filling the mold with concrete. Let set for 22 to 24 hours, turn mold over and work mold off the stone. Peal the contact paper off and gently wipe over the mosaic design to clean. The stone then needs to dry for 3 to 4 week on edge. The stone can be used or weather proofed at this time. To weatherproof soak stone in and water sealant over night then let set for a day or two before using in the yard.
WIND:
Bubble Town, soap bubble fun and magic - Home page
http://www.zurqui.com/crinfocus/bubble/bubble.html
More Bubbles | PBS Kids
http://pbskids.org/zoom/do/morebubbles.html
