Pass the Story, Pass the Picture

Pass the Story and Pass the Picture are great activities when your kids say, "I'm bored, there is NOTHING to do!" 

Hand them paper and any writing supplies - pencils, crayons, markers, pens and then get started.

First decide on a time limit. I like to do 1-2 minutes.  Someone starts to write a story or draw a picture while another person is the timekeeper.  After the alloted time is up the paper is handed to the next person to continue writing the story or drawing the picture.  Continue passing the paper around until your kids want to stop.  Read the story aloud or show everyone the picture.  You usually end up with a very silly, funny, ridiculous story or a crazy picture.  Have fun.

Sports Pennants

                                       

Pennants are fun for cheering on your favorite players and teams. My daughters and I made one for each girl on their soccer team.

Materials:
12 in x 18 in foam sheet
Glue or hot glue gun
Foam letters and sports pieces
Scissors or Exacto knive
Stick - I used a painter's stick.  A dowel rod would work too.

Instructions:

1. Trace and cut out the pennant shape from the 12 x 18 foam sheet

   

2. Decorate with foam.  I used letter stickers

3. Put the pieces in place before sticking them down

4. Use the hot glue gun to put the soccer ball in place

5. Use the hot glue gun to stick the painter's stick at the end of the pennant

Teacher Gift

My girls like to give the new teacher a gift on the first day of school.  For the last couple of years we have been decorating organizers that we get at the office supply store.  We add pens, pencils, paper clips, rubber bands, and sweet treats.

We use 3D paint or puff paint to write the teacher's name.  The girls decided to decorate their pencil boxes too.

Paper Chains

Is your child constantly asking you when Halloween or Christmas or their birthday is? Paper chains are a great way for them to countdown to a special day or event.They have been around a long time and are still fun to make.

Lauren and Natalie made chains to countdown the number of days until the first day of school. The red, white, and blue chains match their school colors. I hung it up at their height and everyday they tore off one chain and counted how many were left. School was here in no time!

Materials:

colored paper
glue
paper cutter

Step 1: Cut the paper into long strips

Step 2: Glue strip into a loop. Insert a second strip and glue.

Step 3: Hang up at child's height

School Bus

I always made a big school bus with my class went on their first field trip. I liked to add the names or a photo of my students. You can do the same idea at home. Your children can add their classmates to their bus. Then talk about where they are going and what they will see on their field trip. You can also make it to celebrate the first day of school.

Materials:

• scissors
• markers/crayons/colored pencils
• 2 brads
• 2 black paper circles
• 1 yellow paper school bus

Instructions:

1. Let children decorate school bus
2. Attach wheels to bus with brads