National Plant Appreciation Day of Play

Devote the day to celebrate the household plant with this fun day of play.

Start the day by drawing a cute face on a bowl with sharpies and then plant some sprouts for a fun way to start to celebrate national plant day.  Oh crafts shares the details.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ohcrafts.net/kids-plant-cups-with-face.php

Next, study how water travels through a stalk of celery by placing a stalk of celery into water mixed with food coloring.  The color will slowly travel through the stalk.

Next, learn about the parts of a plant with gloria fuertes kids blog.  She doesn't provide a template, but does provide ideas for how to create labels and parts.

Get the instructions here:
http://gloriafuerteskidsblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/parts-of-plant-art-crafts.html

Next, take a break for a fun cucumber flower snack, with a celery stalk stem and cherry center from highlands ranch.

Get the instructions here:
http://highlandsranch.macaronikid.com/article/526818/macaroni-menu-flower-and-bug-lunch-ideas

After the snack, learn more about the parts of a plant with a short video from brain pop jr, which also has a link to more ideas for activities:
http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/plants/partsofaplant/preview.weml

Finally, follow a seed's journey Eric Carle style with his book The Tiny Seed.  Check it out from the library of find it on Amazon.

A Cozy Playdate

Cozy up with this mitten based play date for both indoor and outdoor fun

 

Begin the play date by repurposing a pair of cozy socks into a pair of warm mittens with pam's party and practical tips.  Older kids can hand stitch the mittens closed with yarn and younger kids can lace them with pre-cut holes.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.pamspartyandpracticaltips.com/2012/03/wool-sock-mittens.html

Next, read the classic children's book The Mitten by Jan Brett.  Check it out from the library or it's also available on Amazon.

Next, take a break with this adorable mitten sandwich snack from meet the dubiens.  It's especially impressive since she incorporates everything from chicken to carrots.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.meetthedubiens.com/2010/11/fun-food-friday-brrr-baby-its-cold.html

Finally, complete this fun math estimation and probability activity from swamp frog first graders where kids get to predict how likely it is for each animal to actually be able to fit into a mitten.

Get the instructions here:
http://swampfrogfirstgraders.blogspot.com/2010/12/animals-in-mitten-probability.html

A Frozen Playdate

 Frozen fun and activities make for this chilly play date. 

Start the play date with these fun paper snowflake patterns from the movie Frozen from anthony herrera designs.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.anthonyherreradesigns.com/index.php/8-ahd-blog/15-frozen-snowflakes

Next have a fun sing-a-long with the Disney song videos containing lyrics on YouTube.

Next, make Frozen popcorn balls made with white and blue M&Ms, snowflake sprinkles, and marshmallows from life made simple.

Get the instructions here:
http://lifemadesimplebakes.com/2014/04/popcorn-snowballs/

Finally watch the movie.  Available at Amazon.

Frosty the Snowman Playdate

Have a fun winter day with this Frosty the Snowman play date.  

Begin the day by making this cute snowman photo frame.  Start by painting a wooden frame blue and then use a smaller brush to paint on some white snow.  Next make a felt snowman using white circles for the snowman.  Adding buttons, a glitter paper scarf, googly eyes, and felt nose, hat and mouth to finish.  One artsy mama shares the details.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.oneartsymama.com/2014/12/snowman-photo-frame.html

Next make banana snowmen adding mini pretzel stick arms, blueberry buttons, and mini chocolate chip eyes from the picky apple.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2011/12/13/north-pole-breakfast/

 

Next it's time to read the classic book Frosty the Snowman by available at Amazon.

Or get the lyrics for free from http://www.kidsongs.com/lyrics/frosty-the-snowman.html.

 

End the play date with a viewing  of the Frosty the Snowman movie also available at Amazon.

Or watch it for free on YouTube (in two parts):