SEASONAL CAPSULE

Taken from Copycat Press 1992.  It is out-of-print - http://www.wix.com/allenheathers/copycat-magazine-fan-page#!about  If I was doing this at home, I would change the boxes to say bedroom instead of classroom.

MILK JUG EASTER BASKETS

This project started with the students drawing Easter pictures and designs on milk cartons.  (I had parents cut the cartons into the shape needed.)  Then, we started making the traditional Easter Bunny Basket.  All baskets looked more or less alike.  Finally, we extended the project to students having a choice of which basket to make.
We would do one type of basket a day.  The students who wanted to make that basket would meet in a center with a parent volunteer.  It might take a week to complete all the baskets.  Once the baskets were complete, we planted grass.  You can make this into a science project.  The grass needs about 5-6 weeks to grow.  It helps the seed germinate, to put the baskets in plastic bags (from grocery stores) for a few days.  Watch that you take the bags off before the project gets moldy.  I used grow lights on cloudy days.  On nice days, we put the baskets outside.  I would monitor the baskets.  If some weren't growing, I would add grass.  If it gets too long, let the children used scissors to give it a "haircut".  They love this concept!

DIRECTIONS FROM THE INTERNET:

Gather your supplies and start about three weeks before Easter.  We started earlier to make sure everyone had Easter Grass.

Find a shallow container that's just big enough to fit inside the basket you want to use. (Make sure the pot has drainage holes.)

Fill the container with potting soil and sprinkle grass seed on top.  I asked the nearest garden shop what to use.  Some years, I would even get the material donated!

Place it outdoors in the sun or on a sunny windowsill.

Water it daily.  We used a spray bottle.  Each child was in charge of spraying their own each day.

Wait until the grass has grown a few inches high and then tuck the container into a basket and let the Easter Bunny fill it with springtime treats.  See DECORATIVE EASTER EGG posting.

NOTICES SENT HOME:

~ Please send in 3 or more blown eggs by March 1^st.  We plan to work on our eggs the week we take the ITBS.  We will make cascarones from the eggs and put them in our Easter Basket.

~ Please send in gallon plastic milk jug as soon as possible so we can get them cut for our Bunny Baskets.

~ We need parent volunteers to help us make our Bunny Baskets the week of ITBS.  If you can help please let me know.

THE DIPSYDOODLE

Sometimes you just want to have fun in your classroom.  This is such a cute poem for Spring.  Young children love it.  While you memorize it, explain what the problem is.  Also look for rhyming words, contractions, adjectives....You can extend this to writing projects about Dipsydoodle.
The Dipsydoodle isn't brainy-
He plays outside when it's cold and rainy.
If he'd only learn to use his noodle.
He wouldn't be called The Dipsydoodle.

EASTER GIFT CARD

When you need to send a card/cards to someone in a hurry, this idea is quick and cute.  Use a large cutout for the center picture, give the students a 2x2 piece of paper to make a fingerprint picture.  For ideas, use Ed Emberley Print Books.  Emberley is best known for his children's book work - particularly instructional drawing books. Emberley believes that everyone can learn to draw. His drawing books for children feature clear step-by-step instructions employing numbers, letters, and shapes graded to the early elementary school level.  Emberley has illustrated or contributed to over 50 books, many of which were first published between the 1960s and 1980s.   You can find the books at any bookstore.

APRIL BULLETIN BOARDS

The first bulletin board is showing off student work.  The next two are listing student names.  The final board is vocabulary for science and writing.

LADYBUG SUN CATCHER

This is a cute project to decorate your windows.  You can put these with grass or flowers and they add just the right touch.  Students trace the template twice with a white crayon on black construction paper.  Carefully cut out the pieces in the body.  Place a piece of red tissue paper inside the two construction pieces and glue.  Take black sharpie pen and draw dots.  Add a face if you wish.  You are done and ready to decorate your window.  http://okscribbler.blogspot.com/2010/03/daffodil-bulletin-board.html

LARGE SPRING BASKET TEMPLATES

These make cute Spring Baskets.  Make as large as you wish.  Help the students place the template on the folded construction paper.  I stapled the construction paper closed so it would not move as the students were cutting.  Make sure they understand not to cut the folded edge sections.  Choice of colors should be spring colors. Once the student is finished tracing their basket, set up another student.  Monitor the students as they cut out the basket.  It is the most difficult part of the project.  Have students write a poem to go along with the basket.      

DAFFODIL BULLETIN BOARD

This makes a wonderful bulletin board to use as a backdrop for student work you would like to display.  I used cupcake liners as the center of the daffodils for a nice 3D look.

RAINDROP WRITING

Read CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS and culminate with a bulletin board or ceiling hanger.  Have students color a rainy day picture, their favorite thing to do on a rainy day, write a rainy day story or create a poem.  Hang a real umbrella and use colored raindrops.

SPRING FLOWER TREE

This is a beautiful bulletin board for spring. Have students color and complete their tree. Make sure their name is on the tree. Then have students write a poem about trees or spring. This can be done easily if you format the poem. Center the TREES poem by Joyce Kilmer on the bulletin board. Put student art and poetry around it.

TREES

I think that I shall never see

A poem as lovely as a tree

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day

And lifts her leafy arms to pray,

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair

Upon whose blossom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems were made by fools like me

But only God can make a tree.

­Joyce Kilmer

RAINFOREST FROM SODA BOTTLE

ALL ABOUT SEEDS EXPERIMENT

PUSSY WILLOWS IN A VASE

An easy project!  Have sample pictures of Pussy Willows or bring in real ones so your students understand what they look like.  Choose the size of vase template that will fit the paper you are providing the students.  Have a variety of wall paper books so students can choose a print they want for their vase.  Students need to trace and cut the vase and then glue it to the lower center section of their paper.  Draw some brown lines that intersperse coming up from the vase.  Students need to put 1 dot of glue for each piece of Puffed Rice Cereal.  Print the student name on the bottom of the vase and post to enjoy.  To enhance this art project write some poetry.

TORN PAPER FLOWERS

Need to bring a breath of fresh air into your classroom  for SPRING?  This is a very easy paper project.  Have a variety of scrap paper available to the students to choose from.  Children do better if the project is demonstrated first.  You can add a poem or connect to a book like Miss Rumphius.  These would be a beautiful gift for the elderly that stay at home!    

See another torn paper project: http://okscribbler.blogspot.com/2010/03/torn-paper-bunny-head_19.html

"EGGS"CHANGE

PAPER PLATE CATERPILLAR CRITTERS

BLOTTO BUTTERFLY

This would make a great gift for the elderly that your students know. 

RAINBOW COMPOUNDS

The colors of the visible spectrum are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. You can remember these colors simply by:

Roy G. Biv - 
Red 
Orange 
Yellow 
Green 
Blue 
Indigo 
Violet 

There is also a cute sentence to remember: