No Time For Flash Cards » Fourth of July

Super Easy 4th of July Wreath

admin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 07:01:05 +0000

I stand by that title, this really is the easy and cheap too, but still a super cute 4th of July craft . We used felt but you could use fabric if you have it on hand. My son was busy playing knights with his grandparents visiting from Texas but I think he could have made this with me. It’s a great patterning lesson, though I would guess most 5 and under would tire of it after a few minutes so make this a group endeavor if need be.

Gather your materials. You will need a paper plate, scissors, and three sheets of felt in red, white and blue.
Cut your felt into strips ours were about 8 inches long.
Cut the middle out of your paper plate.
Start tying – doing a simple double knot.
Continue the pattern all the way around.

Uncle Sam Puppet For The 4th of July

admin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 07:20:47 +0000

This is the first Uncle Sam craft we’ve ever made. Being Canadian I don’t have a great reserve of creative ideas for 4th of July but after brainstorming with my mother in law and looking at my supplies available we settled on making an Uncle Sam paper bag puppet. It’s easy to adapt to many different ages and the end result was so awesome!Oh and if you want to sneak in some learning this craft is full of all sorts of shapes.

Gather your materials, You will need a paper bag ( ours was a blue one so we also use some paper bag for his face), googly eyes, red, white and blue construction paper, glue, a circle, heart and star paper punches and scissors.
Start by cutting out the following shapes. Depending on your child’s age and ability make fewer of these for little guys and for older ones have them cut out their own. We used 2 red triangles for the bow tie, a blue square and red rectangle for his hat, and circle for his face. I made smaller rectangles to make his hat striped but it was too much for my guy.
Punch out the circles and stars from the white paper. My son loves using these punches but if you don’t have one or a child who is giddy to use it try cotton balls! If you are using paper punches if you put down a fabric place mat it helps stop runaway paper from getting loose.
Punch out or cut a heart.
Time to add glue. Make sure you are only gluing on the bottom so you can use the bag as a puppet.
Add the face , hat, eyes and more glue for the beard. He was super fast and didn’t need my help so my step by step pictures are a wee bit garbled! This is the look he gave me when I begged him to pause for a picture.
Use the circles to make the beard. Add the triangles for the bow tie and heart for a mouth.
Add the brim of the hat and the stars!
Let dry.

My Favorite Book About The 4th of July

Apple Pie Fourth of Julyby Janet S. Wong is an awesome book. I am always awed by authors who can tackle complicated “adult” issues in the pages of a children’s book successfully. In this case the issue is 1st generation identity and immigration, at least that’s my take. The little girl in this book is sulking around her parent’s store on the 4th of July. They are busy making Chinese food for customers she is sure won’t come, who would want Chinese food on such an American holiday is her rational. Of course there are layers about her connection to her ancestral culture and her own national pride. As a proud owner of a green card and a Canadian passport I relate to this story, sure the differences are as deep or as obvious to an outsider when this book ended with fireworks I got tingles of pride for my adopted country. Fantastic book- and my son liked it too.

We have lots of other 4th of July book reviews do you have a favorite?

Easy 4th of July Crafts

admin — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 07:32:53 +0000

Time to celebrate the USA with fun patriotic crafts and activities for kids. I have a few fun new ones planned for next week but I need to stock up on some red white and blue paint. Today I will feature the best from the past few summers so they don’t get lost in the archives!

Flag Craft – that flag lasted years!

Handprint Fireworks – great for all ages.

Cookie Cutter Prints make drawing stars a breeze.

These Cupcake Liner Fireworks are super simple and crazy cute!

This Star Garland can be a family project with toddlers pitching in with finger painting!

Handprint Fireworks

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:01:56 +0000

I am sure there are versions of this craft all over , I haven’t seen any lately but here is our take on a fun 4th of July craft. It’s the first craft we’ve done since the baby arrived and it was awesome to get back to “normal” making it with my little man. I like it because it’s simple but really adorable.

Gather your materials. You will need a piece of white and a piece of black construction paper, red and blue paint, glue, 2 plates, scissors and glitter.
Start by putting the paint on the plates.
Dip your child’s hand in , get it well covered.
Print on to the white paper.
Repeat with other hand and color. We did 2 hands each.
If your child is like mine have extra paper on hand to keep finger painting with the extra paint. This gives the hand prints time to dry some as well .
Let the hand prints dry a little and cut out.
While I cut them my son washed his hands, my sink, and my breakfast bowl… I wasn’t complaining.
Although I ended up doing all the gluing because he was having fun in the sink. So now glue the hands together to look like fireworks.
Add glue for the glitter. If the paint is still wet, you won’t need glue on the hands.
He came back for glitter, imagine that!
Let dry.

Need 4th of July Books? Check these out

Fourth of July Crafts

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 07:02:22 +0000

Cupcake Liner Fireworks

Sponge Painted Flag

Red White and Blue Sensory Tub

Patriotic Rice Crispie Treats

Flag Place Mat

Patriotic Cupcakes

Red White and Blue Playdough