Tag: preschool

Graduation Crafts for Kids of All Ages

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Happy Graduation, Shopkickers!

With an introduction like that, we think you likely have a great idea about Mrs. Lamb’s topic from today’s Facebook Live. Yes, graduation! But, rather than simply talking about what it’s like to graduate from preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, college, or even graduate school and beyond, Mrs. Lamb chose to share unique and fun crafts you or you and your graduate can make together. Below are all of her suggestions!

Graduation Lollipop Craft:

This craft is fun and simple! Mrs. Lamb also shared a great idea if you’re celebrating a high school graduate – make a lollipop for each year they spent in school, then present all of the lollipops together in a bouquet.

You will need:

  • Rainbow Lollipop
  • School Picture
  • Graduation Cap Sticker (or DIY)

How to make:

  1. If necessary, cut the photo down so it can fit onto the front of the lollipop. It does help if you cut the photo into a circle.
  2. Glue the photo onto the lollipop wrapper. Mrs. Lamb used a glue stick.
  3. Add a graduation cap to the top of your graduate’s head in the photo.
  4. Enjoy!

Graduation Label the Graduate Craft:

As Mrs. Lamb notes, this craft is perfect for kindergarten graduates. They will be able to color their graduate, and they will also practice cutting and pasting. They’re all great fine motor skills for young learners!

You will need:

  • This PDF
  • Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencils
  • Scissors
  • Glue Stick

How to make:

  1. Print out the PDF.
  2. Ask your student to color it in.
  3. Ask your student to cut out the labels.
  4. Match each label to the correct item, and glue it on.
  5. Hang up your graduate’s art!

Graduation Make a Graduate Craft:

This craft will allow your graduate to create a self-portrait. It’s a wonderful choice for a preschool or kindergarten graduate if you would like to help your student. We also think it’s perfect for older kids who have fine tuned their skills, especially a high school or college student who is majoring in art.

You will need:

  • Computer, Sketch, or Construction Paper
  • Pencil, Markers, Crayons, and/or Colored Pencils
  • Lined Paper
  • Glue

How to make:

  1. Create a self-portrait on a piece of sketch or construction paper.
  2. Add a cap! Mrs. Lamb created the one in her son’s piece by cutting out a black square from construction paper and adding a tassel she made with thread.
  3. Ask your student to describe their favorite thing they learned and why they enjoyed school.
  4. Enjoy your graduate’s art!

Graduation Smarties Craft:

Smarties are fun and delicious, and they are also sold as oversized candy, which means they look like a diploma! If you’re celebrating a graduate who is getting ready to leave for college, this would be a wonderful way to present them with cash in a creative fashion.

You will need:

  • Oversized Smarties – Mrs. Lamb found hers at Walmart.
  • Tassel
  • Tape
  • Cash

How to make:

  1. Wrap your bill around the Smarties. We found it’s best to tape it into place to make sure it stays put.
  2. Tie on a tassel.
  3. Present your graduate with candy and cash!

Graduation Memory Jar:

For students who are leaving for college (hopefully!) in the fall, Mrs. Lamb shared an excellent idea. Create a memory jar filled with pieces of paper that are either rolled up or folded. On each one, share things that will make your graduate smile, like quotes, drawings, song lyrics, short notes, and obviously memories you have shared with them.

You will need:

  • Paper
  • Pen, Pencil, or Marker
  • Mason Jar

How to make:

  1. Write your memories onto small sheets of paper.
  2. Roll up your completed sheets and add them to your jar.
  3. Seal and decorate the outside of the jar (if you want to!).
  4. Gift the jar to your graduate!

Graduation Water Bottle Craft:

We are all trying to stay hydrated, and a custom water bottle makes hydration more fun! Decorate a water bottle, and fill it with something that’s meaningful to them. Cash and quarters are definitely a welcome surprise for high school seniors heading to college!

You will need:

  • Water Bottle
  • Permanent Markers
  • Graduation Cap (feel free to make one or purchase a sticker!)
  • Interior Items (cash, change, candy, etc)

How to make:

  1. Decorate the exterior of the water bottle using permanent markers. Think about adding the graduate’s next school or their name onto the bottle!
  2. Drop anything you want to gift inside.
  3. Top with a graduation cap.
  4. Gift to your graduate!

To all who are graduating, we are celebrating with you! Stay tuned until next Thursday to watch Mrs. Lamb’s next segment on Facebook Live.

How to Homeschool: Two Easy Crafts for Preschoolers

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Mrs. Lamb was back on Facebook Live yesterday, and this time she answered your question about how to encourage preschool age students to be creative. Throughout her broadcast, Mrs. Lamb explained how to do two different crafts with young kids between the ages of three and seven. We loved seeing the results of her mosaic art and dot art projects, and we’re excited to share more about each below! 

Mosaic Art:

Supplies:

  1. A picture either hand drawn or printed onto a piece of paper (a coloring book picture could work too!)
  2. Construction Paper
  3. Glue Stick

Why It’s Important:

This project encourages preschoolers to work on their fine motor skills because they will need to rip small pieces of paper. The skills they are exercising through this craft are the same skills they will use when they begin to work on their handwriting. That’s why projects like this one are important! Students can also learn about colors, math (you can ask them to count how many pieces of paper are needed to fill in each section), and staying within the lines.

Directions:

  1. Draw or print the outline of an object onto a piece of 8”x11” paper. The outline is important because your student will be filling the interior with paper.
  2. Tear small pieces of construction paper
  3. Beginning with the large sections, glue each piece of construction paper onto the larger paper within the section where your student would like it to be placed. The small pieces of paper should overlap. 
  4. Repeat steps 2 + 3 until the outline is filled in.
  5. Hang your preschooler’s project up! Placing it face out on a window is a great idea, so your neighbors can enjoy your student’s colorful art during their walks.

Dot Art:

Supplies:

  1. A picture either hand drawn or printed onto a piece of paper (a coloring book picture could work too!)
  2. Water Based Paint (Crayola works well!)
  3. Q-tips

Why It’s Important:

Like the mosaic art project, dot art encourages your student to work on their fine motor skills because they are pinching a Q-tip while they’re painting. They can also work on coloring within the lines, learning the difference between cool colors and warm colors, and how to describe their work.

Directions: 

  1. Draw or print the outline of an object onto a piece of 8”x11” paper. The outline is important because your student will be filling the interior with paint.
  2. Dip your Q-tip into the paint and paint dots* onto the paper.
  3. Repeat until the page is complete.
  4. Ask your student to describe what each color they’re using means to them and make a color guide.
  5. Hang your preschooler’s art in a place where you and your neighbors can enjoy it!
  6. *If your preschooler would prefer to paint longer strokes using the Q-tip, that’s fine too! As Mrs. Lamb points out, they are still working on their fine motor skills.

The important thing to keep in mind with either project is there isn’t a right or wrong way to complete them. Encourage your child’s creativity along the way! 

For more ideas and to see Mrs. Lamb explain (and make!) the projects, make sure to watch her Facebook Live. We’ll see you back on Facebook tomorrow for Mrs. Lamb’s next session!