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Showing posts with label craft projects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label craft projects. Show all posts

Dec 9, 2009

The Hanukkah Story

Happy Hanukkah!

menorah, menorah candles, hanukkah candles, happy hanukkah
Hanukkah begins at sunset on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, and ends at sunset on Wednesday, December 28, 2011. 

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights. In Hebrew, the word “Hanukkah” means “dedication.” The name reminds us that this holiday commemorates the rededicating of the holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C.

In the Jewish Temple there was an eternal flame that burned day and night as a symbol of Jewish faith. After many Jews were killed and the the inside of the Temple and the eternal flame was destroyed by the Syrian-Greeks. A small band of Jewish farmers, shepherds and teachers was led in a fight against the kings army by Judah Maccabee.

They had no experience as soldiers, very few weapons, and was ten times smaller than the kings army. But they believed in what they were doing, fighting for there right to practice their religion and this belief gave them strength, courage and hope!

After three years winning battle after battle the Maccabees reached Jerusalem and reconquered it. Saddened by what had happened to their Temple and eternal flame, they fixed the Temple and at last were ready to rededicate the Temple to God.

The problem was they only had enough oil to light the lamp for just one day, but instead the oil burned on for eight days! It was a miracle! With joy the Jews proclaimed " Let us celebrate these days every year so that The story of the Maccabees victory over the Syrian army, and the miracle of the oil will never be forgotten!

We have come to love the story of Hanukkah and learn more about it every year, it is another reminder of the miracles we are given everyday by God.


Want some great Hanukkah activities you can do with your family?

Hanukkah Color Pages
Printable Hanukkah Worksheets
Hanukkah recipes
Learn about Traditional Hanukkah foods..



Light the Menorah!

A Menorah is a set of nine candles, eight of the candles represent the eight days the light stayed lit in the Temple. The middle candle is the helper candle and is lit first and used to light the other eight candles from left to right. On the first night the Shamash lights one candle, on the second night, two, on the third night three candles and on until the eighth night when all candles are burning brightly.

The candles are lit from left to right, so that the last candle added is the first lit.


Prayer is given to God on each day a candle is lit....

Blessed art Thou, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.

Blessed art Thou, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has wrought miracles for our ancestors At this season in days of old.

Blessed art Thou, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has kept us in life and sustained us And enabled us to reach this season.


All three prayers are said on the first night, but on the other nights only the first two are said.


Learn about Hanukkah this is the best time to do it!


Happy Hanukkah And Many Blessings!

Dec 6, 2009

Free Printable Poinsettia Flower Craft

Free Printable Instructions For Great Holiday Crafts!

Hello, I found this great holiday craft idea, it is easy to make and would be great as Christmas decorations. Paper Poinsettia Flowers, for ages four and up, great for your home school. Get a book about poinsettia flowers and make it a whole learning experience as well as fun! My kids loved this and yours will too!



poinsettia flowers, poinsettia craft idea, poinsettia crafts for kids

Nov 6, 2009

Free Coloring Pages

Free Printable Coloring pages

This is a great site if you are looking for free printable color pages of all kinds!
I wanted to post about it, we printed out a human anatomy color page and there are so many more we will be printing, my kids love to color and so do I, we some days do it all day!

I hope all is well and you are having a great fall season, and I wish you the best!

From Joanne



Apr 16, 2009

DLTK's Crafts for Kids Toilet Paper Roll Crafts

Do you have toilet paper rolls and would like to do something with them? My son is collecting them and we have a bunch so we wanted to do some art projects with them, I found this site with tons of ideas and templates you can print for FREE and make all kinds of toilet paper rolls things with your kids!

The picture is a Mothers Day candle or you could make it a vase for fake flowers!

Apr 14, 2009

No-Cook Paper Mache Paste Recipe

This no-cook paper mache paste recipe is a good one to make with kids because it is easy to make and does not require heat.

Materials Needed:
Water
Flour

Instructions:To make this paper mache paste, simply mix together 1 part flour to 2 parts water. You will want it to be the consistency of thick glue, but you also want it to be runny and not thick like paste. Add more water or flour as necessary.

Mix well to remove any lumps.

A few helpful tips I have read in regards to using this paste are:

If you live in an area with high humidity, add a few tablespoons of salt to help prevent mold.
If you don't like the smell of the glue mixture you can add a few sprinkles of cinnamon or cinnamon to sweeten it up!

You should be able to store this glue in a covered bowl or jar, in the refrigerator, for a few days.

Follow these simple steps and create wonderful paper mache masterpieces!

Difficulty: Average
Time Required: days
Here's How:

Create your paper mache form (find directions for crating a form here) and prepare your desired paper mache paste (find recipes for paper mache paste here).
Tear newspaper into strips.

Dip one piece of newspaper at a time into prepared paper mache paste.

Hold the strip over the paste bowl and run it through your fingers to squeeze off excess paste.
Stick the newspaper strip over the form you want to paper mache, and smooth it down with your fingers.

Completely cover your creation with a layer of newspaper strips. They should all be over-lapping.

After one layer is applied, let it dry about 24 hours.

Add another layer of newspaper strips and let dry another 24 hours.

Repeat this process until you get the desired effect, but you should have at least three layers.
Paint, decorate and proudly display your creation!

Tips:
Tear the newspaper into strips -- do not cut it! Torn strips lay smoother.
Be generous when dipping the newspaper strips into the paste -- you want each piece thoroughly saturated!

Let each layer dry completely before adding another.

You can use the paper mache pulp recipes I shared here to add extra detail to your form before, during of after you add the paper mache layers.

Mar 23, 2009

We Made the Play Dough This Weekend! Play Dough Recipe Great for Home Schooling

We made the play dough and it was easy, I never made the cooked play dough before and I only made the uncooked kind once. We followed the best play dough recipe let it cool and then I divided it in half, I had my son pick the food colores he wanted then I needed the drops of food coloring in with the play dough until it was well blended. The kids love it and the texture is great, it is not sticky and it works great!

I just wanted to tell you about it, I am definitely going to make this again!

Tell me what you think!

Mar 19, 2009

Easy Play Dough Recipe

Kids Love Play Dough And It Is Super Easy To Make!

The secret ingredient is cream of tartar. This recipe makes play dough that is not grainy like uncooked play dough and keeps for a long time.

Play Dough

4 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 cups water
4 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup cream of tartar

Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan. Cook and stir over low/medium heat until play dough is completely formed and no longer sticky.

Allow to cool slightly before storing in an air tight container or zip lock bag.

Mar 10, 2009

St Patricks Day Shamrock and Links to Color Pages for the Kids

Meet me at Cafe Mom The word "shamrock" is an old Irish word "seamrog" which means "little clover."

Saint Patrick used the plant to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Shamrocks have been considered by the Irish as good-luck symbols since earliest times, and this superstition has persisted in modern times among people of many nationalities.

On March 17th, St Patrick's Day is celebrated around the world, with the "wearin' o' the green".


Many folk ask the question 'Why is the Shamrock the National Flower of Ireland ?' The reason is that St. Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagans. Saint Patrick is believed to have been born in the late fourth century, and is often confused with Palladius, a bishop who was sent by Pope Celestine in 431 to be the first bishop to the Irish believers in Christ.


Jan 27, 2009

Chinese New Year Paper Lantern project

homeschooling, homeschool curriculum grade K

The Chinese New Year is this Week and My kids and I are not only reading about it we are going to do some fun projects click the link below for a fun color and cut n paste Chinese Lantern project!






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