Love to Laugh and Learn

Fun and interesting learning activities to do with the children in your life

Shear Fun: Learning Where Fabric Comes From

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Shear Fun: Learning Where Fabric Comes From





It’s springtime and the weather is getting warmer, so it’s time for some “shear fun”. Have you ever heard of shearing? It’s kind of like an animal haircut. Starting in the fall animals beginning growing extra thick fur to keep them warm through the cold winter. In the springtime, they start to shed (or lose) their heavy fur.

There are many types of animals whose fur can be made into yarn. Then you know what you can do with that yarn? You can make clothes, rugs and other items you need around your house.

Have you ever seen an animal being shorn? I’ve seen it at our State Fair but last year I was able to experience it at Conner Prairie Interactive History Museum.

Shear Fun watching sheep being shorn at Conner Prairie Interactive Museum.
Shear Fun watching sheep being shorn at Conner Prairie Interactive Museum.

Each spring they have an event called “Shear Fun” where you can watch different animals being shorn. Last year they had sheep and and llamas.

A llama visiting Conner Prairie
A llama visiting Conner Prairie

We learned about cleaning and carding the wool. Carding is brushing the lumps out of the wool.

Wool from sheep that needs cleaned.
Wool from sheep that needs cleaned.

We were able to see people spinning the wool into threads to be used for sewing.

Shear Fun: Spinning wool into thread.
Shear Fun: Spinning wool into thread.

There was even an area where we were able to watch people turning flax (which is a plant) into thread to create clothing and other household items. Did you know you could make clothes out of plants?! That’s kind of neat.

Shear Fun: Turning flax into thread.
Shear Fun: Turning flax into thread.

Understand, Conner Prairie, isn’t just a museum full of exhibits and demonstrations. It’s an interactive, hands-on, get-in-there-and-try-it-yourself, kind of museum. There was an area where we could try our hand at some simple weaving projects.

Shear Fun: Weaving projects
Shear Fun: Weaving projects

And don’t forget the adorable animals. There are so many animals that you can touch and interact with. We had a lot of fun and we learned quite a bit too.

Shear Fun with baby animals.
Shear Fun with baby animals.

This year’s event happens this weekend, May 4th, 2019. Don’t miss out on the amount of “Shear Fun” that’s waiting for you.

Shear Fun at Conner Prairie Interactive Museum.
Shear Fun at Conner Prairie Interactive Museum.

Earth Day: Gardening with Children

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Earth Day: Gardening with Children

As Earth Day approaches, I want to share, with you, the joys of gardening with children. My love of gardening came from my father. He was raised on a farm in West Virginia, and although he married and became an electrical engineer, his love of the land never faded. As I was growing up, Dad and Mom always planted a garden. Sometimes it was small and other times it was huge. Digging in the dirt, playing with worms and watching the plants, start as small seedlings and grow large enough to produce the food for our table, was a treat. I will admit that the weeding and breaking bushel after bushel of green beans got a bit tedious at times; but the vegetables we grew in our garden were better than anything we bought at the store.

I don’t have the green thumb that my Dad and Mom have but I continue to try. A few years ago, because of several health issues my husband has, we decided to try our hand at organic gardening. We chose the Square Foot Gardening method, as taught by Mel Bartholomew. It can be a little expensive in the beginning but I love it because I don’t need a rototiller to break up the ground. It is always soft, loose and easy to work in. And since it’s so easy to work with, it makes gardening with children a breeze.

One of the areas I fail miserably at is having the time to take care of my garden the way it needs to be. I work full time and I live far enough from my workplace that I don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to gardening. It’s mid-April and this is what my garden currently looks like:

Gardening with Children: Garden Needs Work
Gardening with Children: Garden Needs Work

I know, I was taught better than that. I should all ready have my onions and radishes in the ground. I was hoping to have my little helper (my great-nephew) last weekend but he and his mom were busy. Even though he wasn’t able to help me this past weekend, I can share the fun we had getting the garden ready two years ago.

Jeremiah was 21 months old, so as you can see, you can start gardening with your children when they are quite young. Here is one of the reasons that the Square Foot Gardening method works well when gardening with children; the dirt was so soft and loose that he was easily able to help me pull out weeds and old plants. He also helped me loosen the dirt by digging and raking. At first, he wasn’t too sure about getting dirt on his hands but the longer we worked the more he got into it. And I really mean he got INTO it! LOL!

Gardening with Children: Digging in the Garden
Gardening with Children: Digging in the Garden

There is so much learning that can happen while gardening. Realizing that vegetables grow on plants before they get to the store can be a lesson in itself. You can discuss how worms and certain bugs help the garden while other bugs hurt it. Learning about weather, and how the garden needs rain and sunshine to grow, are other lessons. You might find that your child is willing to try different vegetables when they have had a hand in growing and caring for them. One unexpected thing you might find growing, while working in the garden with your child, is the bond between the two of you. So put on some old clothes, grab some rakes and shovels and start growing your own memories.

Gardening with Children: Lessons to learn and memories to make.

Tissue Covered Shamrock Craft

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Tissue Covered Shamrock Craft
with free printable




This shamrock is adapted from my Shimmery Shamrock craft on my post, Learning Activities for the Color Green. Since the legend is that Saint Patrick used the 3-leaved shamrock to demonstrate how God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit exist and work as One, I thought this craft should be changed to a 3-leaved shamrock.

Materials Needed

Materials needed for tissue covered shamrock craft.
Materials needed for tissue covered shamrock.

White cardstock
3-leaved shamrock printable
White liquid glue
Foam applicator or paintbrush
Green tissue paper or napkins of different shades
Scissors

Directions

1. Print a copy of the 3-leaved shamrock onto the white cardstock.

3-leaved shamrock craft printable
3-leaved shamrock craft printable

2. Cut the tissue paper/napkins into, approximately, one inch squares. (I purchased tissue paper at the Dollar Tree. I received several colors for $1)

3. Pour some glue onto a disposable plate.

4. Use the foam applicator or paintbrush to spread the glue on the pieces of the
shamrock. Attach the pieces of green tissue paper or napkins. Be sure to overlap them so you cover up all the white.

Tissue covered shamrock craft.
Tissue covered shamrock craft.

5. After it has dried cut the pieces apart.

6. Now you can glue your shamrock together for a beautiful creation.

Enjoy Saint Patrick’s Day with this fun tissue covered shamrock.

To learn more about Saint Patrick, please check out my post, Saint Patrick’s Day Storyboard. There are several book suggestions as well as a free printable activity.

Related Posts

Saint Patrick’s Day Storyboard
Learning Activities for the Color Green

Saint Patrick’s Day Storyboard

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Saint Patrick’s Day Storyboard
with free downloadable activities




I’ve always enjoyed holidays (decorating, dressing in festive outfits or colors) so I have always enjoyed celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. As I was deciding what I wanted to put into my Saint Patrick’s Day post I realized I didn’t really know why we celebrate it. Oh, you will see me dressed in green, possibly with a shamrock somewhere on my outfit, but I wasn’t sure why. I thought some of you might be in the same predicament, so my post is going to cover some of the history of Saint Patrick’s Day.

Contents

Introducing Saint Patrick’s Day
Storyboard
Story Time
Related Posts
Acknowledgements

Introducing Saint Patrick’s Day

You might think that your child is too young to be learning history but, in reality, the earlier you introduce it and the more fun you have with it, the more likely they will enjoy it. As I state in every learning activity, I like to start with a book. Books are fun. The excitement in a child’s eyes, when they get to see or experience something they read in a book, is priceless.

I’ve listed and reviewed several picture books below in the story time section. Each of them covers some aspect of the history and meanings behind Saint Patrick’s Day. You should be able to pick most of them up at your local library. Here are 3 of my favorites, I would recommend, for beginning this learning activity:

Story Time

For 4 to 8 yrs old: St. Patrick’s Day (Holiday Histories) by Jennifer Blizin Gillis

For 6 to 8 yrs old: Saint Patrick’s Day (Holidays and Celebrations) by Ann Heinrichs Includes Irish poems, songs, a recipe and a craft.

For 8 yrs old and up: St. Patrick’s Day (Best Holiday Books) by Dorothy Rhodes Freeman

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Storyboard

Getting to tell or “read” a story by yourself seems to be one of the many joys of childhood. At least my 3 year old great-nephew really likes to take books, look at the pictures and make up his own story. In light of that, I thought making up a storyboard, about Saint Patrick, might be a fun way to celebrate this special holiday.

This activity will work best after reading at least one of the suggested books. I have created 2 versions of the storyboard. One version is for the younger child. It has all the pictures on it. The other version has several pictures missing from the storyboard. This is to encourage the child to work on sequence of events as well as retelling the story. I recommend laminating the storyboard and cards so they last longer.

After reading a book or two about Saint Patrick, take out the storyboard and cards. Have the child look over the storyboard. See if they can match or put the pictures in order (depending on the age of the child) and explain what happened in the story.

Click on the pictures below to download your free storyboards and cards.
F.Y.I. – The first page is the set of cards that will need to be cut apart.
The second page is the storyboard. The third page gives short storylines for each piece of the story; so you can help direct the storytelling.

Storyboard for Younger Child

Enjoy learning about Saint Patrick and this special holiday with this fun Saint Patrick's Day Storyboard for the Younger Child
Enjoy learning about Saint Patrick and this special holiday with this fun Saint Patrick’s Day Storyboard for the Younger Child

Storyboard for Older Child (yes there is a difference, open them and see)

Enjoy learning about Saint Patrick and this special holiday with this fun Saint Patrick's Day Storyboard for the Older Child
Enjoy learning about Saint Patrick and this special holiday with this fun Saint Patrick’s Day Storyboard for the Older Child

Alternative ways to Play:

  1. After the child has gone through the storyboard a few times try this different way of playing. Give the child the storyboard and then turn all the cards facedown. Have the child pick out one card and see if he/she can find where it should go on the storyboard.
  2. For multiple children: Print off a storyboard and set of cards for each child playing. Give each child a storyboard. Take the cards, shuffle them and place them upside down in a pile in the middle of the table. Take turns picking a card off the top of the pile. Place it on your board and tell the part of the story it represents. If you all ready have that card, place it face up in a discard pile. The turn goes to the next child. The first child to fill his/her board and tells the story wins. If you get to the end of the stack and no one has filled their storyboard then shuffle the discard deck and put it upside down in the center of the table again. Keep going until someone fills their board.

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Story Time

St. Patrick’s Day by Gail Gibbons
Reading Level: Ages 4 to 8yrs old
I like this book for introducing the younger child to Saint Patrick and the meanings behind the holiday. It gives quite a bit of history but, with only a few sentences per page and lots of pictures, it should hold a younger child’s interest. The story covers the fact that Saint Patrick was kidnapped and forced to be a slave, in Ireland, but then escaped. It tells of his devotion to God and how he felt he should return to Ireland and tell the people about God. You child will learn the meanings behind some of the symbols we use when celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. Sit down with your little one and enjoy learning about Saint Patrick.

St. Patrick’s Day (Best Holiday Books) by Dorothy Rhodes Freeman
Reading Level: Ages 8 and up
This picture book is for a little older child. I am very impressed with the details it gives, about Saint Patrick, while keeping it enjoyable. Your child will learn, in a little more detail, of the struggles of Saint Patrick and how he felt God’s hand on him. There is information on several of the legends surrounding Saint Patrick. Your child is encouraged to decide which ones might be true. There is information on the celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day and some of the symbols associated with it. If your child is interested in learning a few more details about Saint Patrick, this is a good book to pick up.

St. Patrick’s Day (Holiday Histories) by Jennifer Blizin Gillis
Reading Level: Ages 4 to 8 yrs old
This is my favorite St. Patrick’s Day book for younger children. It has a wonderful mixture of photos and illustrations, to keep little eyes interested, as you are reading. This simple little book does a great job of covering the major points on the history of Saint Patrick. The information is clear and concise so your little one will get an idea of what St. Patrick’s Day is all about. One of the facts this story brought out (and I hadn’t thought about) is that there are now more people of Irish descent in the United States than there are in Ireland. I highly recommend sharing this book with the little ones in your life. You will be surprised how much they learn about Saint Patrick.

St. Patrick’s Day (Celebrations in My World) by Molly Aloian
Reading Level: Ages 5 and up
I like books that actually teach history an interesting way. Your children will enjoy a lot of great photographs while learning about Saint Patrick. This book covers Saint Patrick’s kidnapping as a young teenager and his calling to return to Ireland. Your children will learn of some of the ways we still celebrate the holiday today. I enjoyed this book because not only does it cover the history but also some of the music and food of Ireland.

Saint Patrick’s Day (Holidays and Celebrations) by Ann Heinrichs
Reading Level: Ages 6 to 8 yrs old
If you are interested in teaching your child about Saint Patrick’s Day, this is a great little book. It is broken up into one or two page chapters with just a few sentences on each page. There are lots of illustrations to enjoy. Your child will learn about who Saint Patrick was and the love he had for the Irish people. You will learn a couple of the legends surrounding Saint Patrick. Enjoy Irish poems and a recipe for Irish Soda Bread.

St. Patrick’s Day (Library of Holidays) by Amy Margaret
Reading Level: Ages 5 to 8 yrs old
If you are wanting your children to learn about some of the history behind Saint Patrick’s Day, this is a great book to share with them. The book covers the story of Saint Patrick being kidnapped and taken to Ireland. Your children will learn of his concern for the Irish people. They will also learn about some of the symbols surrounding Saint Patrick’s Day. This is a great book for your 5 to 8 year old to learn more about the reasons for the holiday.

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Related Posts

Learning Activities for the Color Green

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Acknowledgements

Dancing Crayon Designs

Some of the images for the Saint Patrick’s Day Storyboard were created by Dancing Crayon Designs

Artistic-Educational-Clip-Art-Purple-dragon2x2 copy

Some of the images for the Saint Patrick’s Day Storyboard were created by Artistic Educational Clip Art

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Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss

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Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss




Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss, born Theodor Seuss Geisel, lives in the hearts and memories of many. As his birthday approaches, on March 2nd, we reflect back on how he has touched so many lives.

We each have our likes and our dislikes among his books. One of my favorites is “Hop on Pop”. I love it, especially for early readers, because there are so many “word families” for them to recognize.

I have a love/hate relationship with “Green Eggs and Ham”. The story is kind of fun, but when you have a child that likes to be read the same book over and over again, this one gets a bit monotonous. I do enjoy it enough that I would share it with my preschool classes. It illustrates a lesson I taught my own children; you need to taste something before you decide you don’t like it. Every year, I would make green eggs and ham, at school, for the children to try. I’m not talking about cutesy candies that look like green eggs and ham; I mean we actually ate green eggs and ham.

Green Eggs and Ham

Here is how I created our green eggs and ham. First, I purchased a piece of ham. I place the ham in a shallow dish or bowl and cover it with water that I have colored with green liquid food coloring. I let it sit overnight to absorb as much green as possible.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss: Green Ham
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss: Green Ham

I would have the children help make the green cheesy scrambled eggs. First, they would break the eggs into a bowl and mix them up. I would then ask them what color the eggs were. At this point they look yellow. Next I pulled out the blue food coloring. Yes, blue! I’m throwing in a little color lesson.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss: mixed eggs
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss: mixed eggs

I ask them what color they think the eggs will turn when I add the food coloring. Some will guess blue but others will come up with the correct answer. We will have covered mixing colors earlier in the year so I hope several of them will remember. I add a little milk and then I let them tear up some American cheese slices and add it to the mixture. I have an electric pan so I would first fry up the ham and then cook the cheesy scrambled eggs. The majority of the kids LOVE them and would ask for seconds and thirds. I would make sure that everyone at least tasted it because that was the whole point of the story.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss: Green Eggs & Ham
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss: Green Eggs & Ham

What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book? Do you have a favorite craft or activity you like to do?

Click the picture below for a downloadable recipe for Green Eggs and Ham:

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss: Green Eggs and Ham recipe card
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss: Green Eggs and Ham recipe card