FUN
SPRING ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS & KIDS

ACCORDION & ORGAMI BOOKS

 

Click here for a PDF of directions to the Orgami
Book. Directions below are for the Accordion
Books (pictured; easier)

1) Your
accordion book can be made from readily available materials:

  • Creative
    tip: Consider gluing several different kinds of papers together.
  • Use
    a glue stick for smooth joints.
  • Re-use
    gift wrapping paper for the cover, reuse cereal box cardboard
    (double layer) for the covers.

2) Decide
how large you wish to make your book - choose height and width.

  • The
    example you see here is based on a 4.25" square - that’s
    the size of the cover. The inside papers are 1/4" smaller
    than the cover.

3) Cut
the paper into strips - in the example, the strips are 4"
x 12". Fold the paper back and forth to make pages.

4) Glue
the pages onto a cover at the front.

5) Glue
the pages onto a cover at the back.Your book can be as long
- or short - as you want it to be. Creative tip: plan some
fold-out sections in your book that can be vertically folded
out. These might contain special quotes, drawings or secret
tips you want to remember.

THANK
YOU CARDS

 

- Focus on recycling
- reusing
wrapping paper by cutting out shapes and collaging them
- cutting
/ shaping cards

DREAM
BOX or MAGIC BOX

 

- Helps imaginative
and creative growth in the home

- Ongoing
- Where to go in your imagination or in real
life?
- Find, cut and shape images to fit in and
on the box
- Recycled box (from holiday packages)

 

TRAVEL
JOURNAL

- Use with a travel
brochure: where to go, what to see, what to do
- Creative
map: label destinations along the way with pictures
- Can be combined with a travel diary, handmade
book of recycled papers (like the accordian books above)

ARTS LEARNING AT HOME

Click
here for ideas from Karen Fitzgerald

FOUND-OBJECT
STAMPING

- Fun
to explore for little ones
- Develops concentration
- Shapes can represent things
- Supports critical thinking - shape combinations

SURFACE-RUBBING
EXPLORATION

- Active
and moving, yet keeps them focused
- Fun to explore for little ones
- What texture FEELS and LOOKS like
- Builds vocabulary

COLLAGE
YOUR DREAM PLACE

- Dreaming time together
- Develops fine motor skills - cutting
- Exploring space and how to organize it; near, middle ground,
far
- Exploring overlapping

CARDBOARD
CITIES-PLAY ARCHITECT

- Helps children think about space
- Develops sensitivity to point of view
- Supports understanding of multiple math concepts
- Teaches recycling

THANK-YOU
CARDS

- Teaches recycling
- Encourages authentic gratitude
- Helps kids be more thoughtful
- Happy way to pass time