Hands-On, Open-Ended Creative Kids' Art Activities

Kids need art like plants need sun. In fact, art imitates childhood, when it grows organically and isn't manufactured. I had a sad childhood experience with formula art. A teacher publicly criticized my piece for not fitting the mold.
Admittedly, I didn't follow directions. She specifically said start drawing in the middle of the page. And I drew a boat along the bottom. I completely forgot, being caught up in the joy of creating. And it killed my confidence. Here's how not to let that happen with kids. Art Imitates Childhood: Hands-On, Creative Kids' Art Activities

Back-to-School Science Crafts: DIY Nature Detective Kit

Hello green crafters, did you miss me? I've had a busy, productive summer and I hope you have too! But now, my thoughts are turning to back to school. Want some nifty nature activities for a back to school kick off? Make science exploration kits, easy, cheap and homemade. Lots of recycled stuff too--you know there wouldn't be an activity on this blog that didn't involve recycled. Make individual nature detective kits for homeschool, elementary or middle school students. Great for special needs kids with learning disabilities or cognitive impairment. Here's the recipe! Back-to-School Science Kick-Off Activities: DIY Nature Detective Kit

Free Printable Preschool Board Games, Learning Activities

I'm a certified special needs teacher for CI (cognitively impaired) students. I always write interactive lesson plans. Hands-on activities, like games, make content relevant, approachable and understandable for both general and special education students. Preschool kids particularly need multi-sensory learning activities. Happily, there are many free printable preschool games available online. Free Printable Preschool Board Games, Learning Activities

Back-to-school bash, Crafts Lollapalooza

Labor Day is a bittersweet holiday. It's a time of summer endings and fall beginnings. Why not start the school year off on a fun note with a back-to-school party? Here's an easy and cheap kids' party plan for students in preschool to middle elementary.

* Choose a positive theme. This gets kids excited about school. Make it a shoe theme with the slogan "We're putting our best foot forward." Or do a football theme--"Kicking off a great year."  Throw a back-to-school bash for your kids

Back to School Kickoff Event: Nature Detective Treasure Hunt

Welcome kids back to school with a super science exploration kick off activity. Make easy inexpensive individual nature detective and science investigator kits for homeschool and elementary or middle school students. Here's an easy school kickoff event that's cheap and hands on. Back to School Kickoff Event: DIY Nature Science Activities

Science Crafts, Lessons Using Recycled Egg Cartons

We know that we need to reduce, reuse an recycle. As teachers, we can demonstrate this important lesson by turning garbage into learning materials and lessons. Egg cartons are one of my favorite items to reuse in the classroom. The possibilities are endless. Here are over 10 ways that you can incorporate this concept into your curriculum and lessons using old egg cartons. You'll save money and be a friend to the environment as well. 10 Science Lessons Using Recycled Egg Cartons 

Free Printable Valentines, Coloring Pages, Cards, Craft Activities

Let's get crafty-cal, crafty-cal! (I know right? Just don't sing the real version!) At Green Crafts we're crafty with a twist: a reduce-renew-reuse-recycle twist. Other than paying for printer ink, these crafts are free. All of them can be printed on any kind of recycled paper you like.

At each holiday I have a few bookmarked websites that I check for free printable crafts, greeting cards, coloring pages and activities. Here are my top favorite free printable valentines crafts websites for Valentine's Day activities. The Toymaker for whimsical, Victorian-inspired Valentine's Day crafts, you can't beat Marilyn's collection at The Toymaker. I've linked you to the Holidays - Valentine's Day page, but be sure to check out all the free printable toys, games, crafts, cut and paste, coloring and novelties at The Toymaker. For Valentine's Day, there are free printable valentine cards, treat boxes, a cute elephant valentine holder, valentine ornaments, treat boxes, a Celtic Valentine's Day treat box, a pixie box, door hangers, party decorations and more. Perfect for preschoolers, homeschoolers, classroom crafts and nursing home craft projects. Let's not forget our senior friends; they love crafts. Read more at Free Printable Valentines, Coloring Pages, Cards, Craft Activities

Green, Recycled Crafts Supplies Organization

When I homeschooled our four children, we lived on one income in a mobile home. Space and money was limited. Here is my diy, budget homeschooling materials list. I've included organization and storage tips, using  shoe boxes, plastic laundry bins and plastic bins with drawers. Read on for how to

Science Recipes--Oobleck, Goop, Silly Putty and Other Dr. Seuss Crafts

Dr. Seuss celebrates his birthday on March 2. We celebrate Dr. Seuss legacy of literature. Dr. Seuss's charming fable Bartholomew and the Oobleck is pure Seuss fun. Here are recipes to make oobleck with your children, homeschool or students. Read more

Mosaic Crafts and Lessons for Valentine's Day

Cross Curriculum Valentine's Day Craft project. Use for Social Studies, Math, Art and Literature. Create mosaics and patterns based on Robert Sabuda's book Saint Valentine. Perfect for homeschool, Catholic school, Christian school and art classes. Read more

Free Printable Turkey Crafts for Thanksgiving

Free Printable Turkey Crafts for Thanksgiving What would the Thanksgiving holiday be for children without turkey crafts? I've been hunting web wide to bring you free printable Thanksgiving turkey crafts for your children, day care, home school, classroom, 4H group or scout troop. Read More

Homemade Photo Frames for Gifts

Cheap Homemade Mothers Day, Fathers Day Photo Frame Crafts
Mother's Day, the second Sunday in May and Father's Day, the third Sunday in June are excellent occasions to make crafts as gifts. For Mother's Day and Father's Day, we like to decorate photo frames and insert pictures of the family. Read More

Spring Cleaning and Redecorating Tips: Frame Childrens Artwork

Spring Cleaning and Redecorating Tips: Easy, Green, Inexpensive Decor
Does your home decor need freshening up? Redecorating is expensive. Here's an idea. Is your fridge door plastered with kids' art projects? Don't toss your child's art; she labored loving to produce it. Recycle her art and decorate on a shoestring.
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Free Printable 'Bartholomew and the Oobleck Activities

Recipes for Oobleck: From Dr. Seuss's Book Bartholomew and the Oobleck
Dr. Seuss celebrates his birthday on March 2. We celebrate Dr. Seuss legacy of literature. Dr. Seuss's charming fable Bartholomew and the Oobleck is pure Seuss fun. Here are recipes to make oobleck with your kids, homeschool or students. I forgot to mention in the recipe to add green food coloring. Read More

Free Printable 4th of July Paper Cutting Crafts

Free Printable Patriotic Projects and Activities These free printable patriotic crafts and activities might be used as lesson plans for school or homeschool. Hands-on activities liven up any lesson! Use these activities for American history, Government, Civics and Social Studies.Decorative and fun! Read on

DIY Moon Sand, Lint Dough, Silly Putty and More Recipes

Silly Putty, Lint Dough, Moon Sand and Other Science Recipes Science and math concepts sink in best when kids are making a noise and mess. Easy, green recipes for hands-on, hands-in fun! Use recycles materials. Make DIY craft dough at a fraction of the commercial cost. Here are several recipes for farting putty, oobleck or goop, green lint dough, Moon Sand and more. Read on

Craft Projects and Toys from the Recycle Bin

Rainy Day Toys and Games from Your Recycle Bin Your recycle bin is a veritable 'green' treasure trove for DIYer and earth-friendly fun. Here are 10 easy, green craft project toys and games from your recycle bin. Perfect for summer fun, rainy day fun, day care, scout troops, summer camp and homeschoolers! Read on

Recycled Gift Crafts

Recycled Gift Crafts, Earth Day seed planting Green, inexpensive Mothers Day gift craft. Paint a recycled jar. Plant a seed or flower. Ideal craft activity for Arbor Day, Earth Day, religious education, scout troop, VBS, science class or summer camp. Makes a great gift for teacher appreciation, bus driver, mail men, day care providers, grandma, babysitter. Read on

No-Sew Lent Devotional Activity- Family Altar or Tablecloth

Lent is a wonderful time to explore green crafts and activities. Here's a no-sew family tablecloth or altar cloth pattern to make. Perfect for CCD, homeschool, family crafts, religious education, Sunday School or service project. Children of every age can participate in this activity. Inexpensive, green, diy, fun activity. Great way to practice spiritual graces of lent. Read more

Homemade Treasure Box

Create a Valentine's treasure box easily with all green recycled materials. Use any theme you like with wallpaper samples and scraps, leftover wrapping paper, magazines, greeting cards and more recycled materials. All you need to learn is little craft trick called decoupage! Fun for all ages! Use for school, home, day care, senior centers, nursing homes and scout troop projects. For a complete how-to guide, click here...