Gina and Beret are mostly off-duty this week, but we thought we’d remind you of a few past projects to tide you over during what remains of the holidays. Here are projects that are easy, fun, and use common household materials. String of lights? Check. Alka-Seltzer? Check. Put those holiday items to a new use. Continue reading “A Blast from the Past”
Book-Cycling Part Three: Stationery Sets
posted by Gina
Finals are over, my friends. After a bitter (seemingly endless) battle with American Psychological Association’s 6th Edition, my last paper is in, my last performance performed, and my last all-nighter (seriously, I am way, way too old for those) pulled – at least until next semester.
And now it’s time to scramble about and deal with all the holiday prep I’ve neglected the past two weeks. If you’re in the same boat, I bring to you a delightful (and delightfully easy!) idea for a homemade gift.
The Book Page Envelope!
These are just fun. And easy! What’s not to love? Continue reading “Book-Cycling Part Three: Stationery Sets”
Jello Worms
posted by Beret
Ages: This project is suitable for any age, though very young children might have a hard time squeezing the worms out of the straws.
At first glance, this project may seem better suited to the Halloween season. It would certainly be fun then as well. In a few short days, however, the winter holidays begin, and small people everywhere will have long stretches of unstructured time. It is always a good idea to have a couple of projects up your sleeve. You know, in case someone breaks their sibling’s favorite new toy, or loses Sorry! for the fifth time in a row, or–even worse–discovers that their best friend’s Santa brought an iPod Touch. Who knows, maybe you just want to pry their little eyeballs off of a screen for a few minutes. In any event, it’s nice to have a game-changing activity on hand.
Jello Worms were a little messy, but great fun to make and to eat. Continue reading “Jello Worms”
Book-Cycling Part Two: Book Wreath
posted by Gina
Before we begin, I’d just like to take this moment to give myself a round of applause for getting this post up on time. It’s finals time round these parts, and I’ve got a good hundred pages of brilliance to turn in.
Thank you. Thank you all.
And now I present – The Book Lover’s Holiday Wreath!
Book Review: No Talking
posted by Beret
Age Range: Grades 2 to 7-ish
Last year, Gina introduced me to Andrew Clements with her review of Frindle. I read it to my kids and we were hooked…but unfortunately, we found it hard to find the right follow up from Mr. Clements.
I found Room One and Extra Credit on the library shelves, but for some unknown reason, my girls refused to check them out. We tried Lunch Money, but gave up three or four chapters into it. It was too practical. In fact, it felt as if it were written specifically for teachers to use in math class.
Note: Gina completely disagrees! Loves this book! Thinks it’s delightful!
We tackled A Wrinkle in Time and a couple of Jerry Spinelli books instead.
It took months before we were ready to give another Clements book a go. Something about this one caught my eye, however. It has occasional entertaining illustrations. It is smart and funny. The type is generously-sized, and the chapters are short.
AND, IT IS FABULOUS. Continue reading “Book Review: No Talking”
Book-Cycling Part One: Card Carrier
I’ve been a little obsessed with Book Art recently. I have three books on pop-up crafting. I have a huge file of google images. I pled with the director of my PhD program to help me find a way to fit “Printmaking: the Book as Art” into my requirements. (No go. “I can stretch a lot, but I can’t stretch Studio Art into Research Methodology,” he said.)
Both this site and this site (they have naughty titles, but completely innocent AND AMAZING content) have become the source of far too much daily gazing. I mean, look at this!
Resources for Young Writers
posted by Beret
Seeing as I can’t grow a mustache this month (c.f. Movember), I’d like to focus on writing instead. November’s actually the easiest month of the year to do so.
Writing is often a solitary activity, and left to my own devices, I am easily mesmerized by videos of adorable animals frolicking, or meatheads having staple gun fights. Any time outside of teaching, parenting, and editing would be easily devoured by YouTube and Iron Chef.
Consequently, I am a huge fan of writing groups, writing classes, National Novel Writing Month (a.k.a. NaNoWriMo), National Blog Posting Month, and all of those organized writing extravaganzas. I thrive with structure and community, deadlines and systems of accountability. I like having someone looking over my shoulder–not annoying people, mind you, but the delightful, word-loving types.
The year I did NaNoWriMo was crazy and fabulous, with pep talks from Jonathan Franzen rolling into my inbox, videos to entertain and encourage me, forums, essays, and write-ins at local coffee shops. It was all designed help build and maintain my momentum, and I loved it. I wrote more that month than ever before or since. Some of it’s a load of crap, but nestled in there are nuggets I never would have created watching Maru.
There’s a lot going on for adult writers. But let’s say you have a non-adult or two around who likes to write. What’s out there for them? Continue reading “Resources for Young Writers”
Gina’s Favorite Halloween Reads
posted by Gina
It just doesn’t seem right to love books and to love Halloween and not post about Halloween books on Halloween. I realize nothing can top Beret’s Ghost Cake with Flaming Eyes, but as I spent much of today thinking lovingly of the picture books I proudly displayed in my classroom library each October, I thought, why not share? All contain little to no nightmare-inducing possibilities and are just as delightful for adults as for kiddos. Continue reading “Gina’s Favorite Halloween Reads”
Ghost Cake with Flaming Eyes! + Halloween Science Projects
posted by Beret
Age Range: almost any, depending on who handles the fire.
When I was eight years old, my mother gave me a copy of the Betty Crocker Cookbook for Boys and Girls. Not the first edition, people. This cookbook has been around since 1957.
My copy looked exactly like this:
It was full of frightening recipes. Weird little polka dot pizzas made with frankfurters. A cake that looked like a hamburger on a sesame seed bun. Recipes calling for instant minced onion, pickles, Bisquick, and bottled dressing. I pored over the pictures in it, but I only ever made two things: a gingerbread ski chalet (of course!) and the GHOST CAKE WITH FLAMING EYES.
Now, you can make one, too. Continue reading “Ghost Cake with Flaming Eyes! + Halloween Science Projects”
I dropped the ball, but I still brought you flaming pumpkins
My intent was to write a spectacularly awesome post about something Halloween-y.
Here’s what happened instead: the spouse disappeared into a black hole at work, the kids had a school holiday, and I interviewed and accidentally got an extra job.
I did come across a few nifty ideas, though. Below are links for all kinds of activities involving pumpkins–for everyone from the four-and-under crew up to adults. If you need to take a sneak peek at flaming pumpkins–which I totally understand–scroll down to the photo of a pumpkin in a body bag. Continue reading “I dropped the ball, but I still brought you flaming pumpkins”
LobeStir 