Christmas With The Squirrels

       ''When Christmas day comes all the little squirrels,'' said daddy, ''meet near the largest tree, which they pick out for the occasion. Then there is a wild scramble up the tree for the branches, where the squirrels perch themselves, and finally the feast begins.''

       "After they have finished their scrumptious Christmas dinner they play 'tag,' or 'hide-and-seek' and many other games, which make the branches wave around as they jump from one tree to the other. Prizes are offered by the older squirrels for the sports and games which are played. The prizes are usually extraordinarily big nuts or very red apples. Sometimes, too, kind children just before Christmas put nuts in the trees where the squirrels can find them. That makes the squirrels very happy, and they call these nuts their Christmas gifts.''

• The letter "S" is for Squirrel
• Two Squirrels for Coloring
• Did You Know?
• Christmas in Squirrel Village

The Pride of Toys

       "Oh, I'm so proud," whispered little brown Teddy Bear.

       "You're no more proud than I am," said a little white lamb. "Please pinch me - so - and then I will say: 'Baa-Baa-Baa.' ''Ah, that will make someone happy.''

       The toys were in Santa Claus' toy-shop and they were getting very much excited. There were still some to be finished - in fact, there were many to be finished, but none of them were worried, for they knew perfectly well that Santa Claus never left any toys unfinished.

       That was the wonderful part of Santa Claus. He could be rushed and hurried and he could be so busy that you wondered how it was possible for him to do so much and you might think, if you didn't know, that some of those many, many things wouldn't be done. But the toys knew, for the tools which Santa used to make them with whispered to them many secrets.

       ''He may be busy,'' the tools always told the new toys, ''but he'll finish you and you'll go to the children on Christmas day.''

       "How proud I will be,'' whispered the Teddy Bear once more, ''if I am put on a tree. They say that Santa hangs toys on Christmas trees. But then I would be just as proud if I were put in a stocking. How I would love to peep my head out from the top of a stocking and see the children as they come downstairs early Christmas morning! In fact, I would be proud no matter where Santa put me, or how he gave me. It's a great big and wonderful pride to be a toy made by Santa Claus which is given to a child on Christmas day.''

       ''That is what we all feel,'' said the other toys.

• Visit The Teddy Bear Index
• Teddy Bear Play-Doh Mats for Early Learners

A Peppermint Christmas Tree Tutorial

A decorative, peppermint Christmas tree made from a cone for a mantle, shelf or table display.

       This peppermint candy tree is not made of real candy, but of clay that looks like candy. It is something that students who are in fifth or sixth grade or even older, may like to craft. It will take several days to complete it and lots of patience. 
       The supplies that you will need to accomplish this Christmas project include: a Styrofoam cone, a recycled yogurt cup, Sculpey oven bake clay, red spray paint, white acrylic paints, fancy gift wrap paper, a miniature wooden ornament for the tree topper, a toothpick, Mod Podge, and tacky white glue.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Roll out the oven bake clay into many small balls. If you make many of these the project will take longer to craft. If you make fewer of them, a younger student will be able to complete a simpler version of the tree.
2. Place all of the clay balls on a cookie sheet and then gently press each one flat with you finger tips. Bake at 275 degree oven for 8 or 9 minutes. Check the instructions printed on the box of the Sculpy to make sure if these are the same as mine. Choose those instructions over mine if you should have a different type of clay.
3. After these two steps, even older children may need adult supervision with the baking and spray painting.
   
4. Wear oven mitts. Remove the flattened clay with a cake knife or thin spatula before all of the rounds cool completely. 
5. Place the miniature, faux peppermints into a cardboard box and spray paint them red. Do this step of the craft outdoors because spray paint is toxic. Wait for the paint to dry completely and then repeat the same step for the unpainted sides of the clay pieces.
6. Now apply small drops of tacky white glue to the pretend candies and stick these to the surface of the tall cone on it's sides only. You will need to do a side at a time allowing the glue to dry before turning the cone to glue more pieces on. Keep the cone on it's side for this process. Once you have all of the clay candies on the cone and the glue is dry, you may then turn the cone upright. 
7. Using a very tiny brush, paint the white swirls onto each red faux candy. Let all of the paint dry.
8. Meanwhile, clean the surface of a used yogurt container.
9. Spread Mod Podge on it's outside surface and apply the decorative paper. Let dry.
10. Glue the yogurt cup 'stand' to the bottom of the decorated cone.
11. Glue a wooden ornament to a toothpick. Let dry.
12. Poke the toothpick down into the top of the Styrofoam cone with some glue and let dry. Paint the wooden ornament in the colors of the tree, red and white.
13. Seal the entire surface with Mod Podge
    

Left, the balls of clay, Center, the balls flattened. Right the clay is spray painted red.

Left, the topper is a wooden reindeer. Center the tree stand is decoupaged. Right, the cone should be glued to the top of the recycled yogurt cut to add height and finish to the decorative tree.

More Peppermint Candy Crafts:

• Christmas Penny Peppermint Ornaments
• Paint Santa's Peppermint Express!
• How to make mini cotton batting candy canes...
• Craft wool peppermint lollipops for the tree

The Christmas Dog

        ''A little girl named Peggy,'' said daddy, ''wrote a letter to Santa Claus, and this is what she said:      

''Dear Santa Claus: 

       I would like a rag doll and a doll which says Mamma and Papa, and can shut her eyes. I also want a book and a set of paints, and please, dear Santa, bring my mother and daddy a doggie to guard the house. I want a doggie too, but mother and daddy also want one, so we could all share one doggie.

"'Your affectionate little friend, Peggy.''

P. S. Please give my love to your Reindeer and a great deal of love for you, dear Santa Claus.

       ''She put her letter down by the fireplace and the next morning it was gone, for she had addressed it quite correctly to 'Mr. Santa Claus, By the Fireplace.' As he was on the lookout for letters such as these around Christmas time, of course, he got it safely.

       Now Santa Claus loves to get letters. His mail around Christmas time is tremendous. But the more he gets, the more he chuckles and laughs to himself. 'Oh this is splendid,' he says, as he opens letter after letter. Days went by and Peggy kept wondering what Santa Claus would bring her for Christmas. She thought of writing him again about the doggie, for her mother and daddy would say so often.

      ''It would be a great protection if we only had a dog. This house is rather far away from the rest, and then we would be safe. Besides, a dog is such a companionable animal and the children would love him.''

       ''Somehow, she didn't like to write again to Santa Claus, but just before bedtime each night, she would whisper up the chimney - 'Please, dear Santa Claus, don't forget the doggie - and the doll, and the paint box - and - and,' but by this time her mother had led her off, for she would have gone on talking and talking to Santa Claus. And if she had kept on talking and missing her sleep, she would have been too tired to enjoy Christmas Day when it came.

       At last it was Christmas Eve. Again Peggy called up the chimney, and she put her stocking first on one side and then the other. And by her stocking hung four smaller ones, for Peggy's little sisters and brothers.

       ''Good night, Santa Claus, Merry Christmas. My love to the Reindeer,'' called Peggy for the last time. And the younger children called out too, 'Good night, Santa Claus, give our love to the Reindeer.'

       And off they all trotted to the land of dreams which they had to pass through before Christmas morning would come.

       The next morning, bright and early, Peggy and her sisters and brothers were up looking at their stockings. Such goodies as they found! Peggy got her rag doll, and a doll who could shut her eyes, and say 'Mamma, Papa.' And she got a set of paints and a fine book.

       Her sisters and brothers got the presents they had asked for, and they had such fun over the oranges in their stockings. Several of them were covered with black soot which Santa had dropped coming down

the chimney! They loved to think of how Santa Claus had picked out these very oranges himself.

       But when the first excitement was over, Peggy thought to herself, 'There is no doggie.' But then she thought Santa Claus was not supposed to get her everything she asked for. So after brushing away a tear which had fallen she began to laugh and play and say, 'Merry Christmas,' over and over and over again, to her mother and daddy, her sisters and brothers. But in a moment or two they all thought they heard a whimper outside the front door. 'I shall see what can be outside,' said Peggy, with beating heart. She opened the door! And there stood a little white dog, shivering miserably in the cold. 'I have no home,' the little dog's eyes seemed to say, and as Peggy held him closely to her she said, 'I know Santa Claus sent you here, and I wish you a Merry Christmas! And this is to be your home, Doggie dear!'

• Here's A Puppy to Color for Christmas!
• Let's paint a polka-dot puppy for the Christmas tree...

Paper Chain Wreath Craft

The finished paper chain wreath.

       This paper wreath craft will preoccupy busy little hands for two days I think. First, art students should make a very long, green paper chain. To fit on this paper plate wreath, they will need to make sure that the links of that chain are smaller than those they might make for their own Christmas tree. For this part of the craft they will need green construction paper, scissors and white school glue. 

       First, make a small loop by rolling a narrow piece of paper in on it's self, end to end, and glue these ends together. Next, loop the second link through the first and glue it's ends together. Continue on until you've made approximately seven to eight feet of green linked chains.

       Then take a paper plate and cut a large hole from it's center; this will become the wreath structure in which students will build a wreath on top of. Glue green construction paper on top of this paper-cut wreath to cover it properly. Then glue the green, construction paper chain around and around the surface of the paper wreath to cover it completely. Let the wreath dry.

       Now students can decorate their chain link Christmas wreaths how they like... I chose to decorate this example with cotton ball snowmen. I cut scarfs and hats from decorative Christmas themed papers, rectangles for the neck scarves and triangles to curl and top off the heads of each snowman with a hat! I glued these snowmen to the wreath using hot glue. Teachers and parents must be present to help children with glue guns. I would suggest that adults attach these snow folk for the students.

       Then young crafters may attach red pom-pom noses using white school glue. Make 'black coal' eyes and smiles with the tip of a permanent black ink marker.

Left, the wreath with attached paper chain. Center, the snowmen are smiling!
Right, a red bow tops everything off!

• Paper Chain Template for Child Crafts
• The Pioneer Doll's Christmas Tree
• Gingerbread paper chain displayed on a Welsh cupboard

A Story of the Fireplace

        Jack and Evelyn and daddy were watching the dance which was taking place in the Fireplace. They saw the beautiful costumes the Fire Fairies wore and they saw them blaze and flame and then become quiet. ''They're eating their supper now,'' said daddy. ''The Fire Fairy cooks have finished everything and now they are all enjoying the goodies.''

       But soon the flames began to die down and only a few little flashes of light and fire were seen from time to time.

       ''Those flashes and flames,'' said daddy, ''are some of the Fire Fairies who are still wide awake enough to ask the Fire Witches questions. For the Fire Witches tell bedtime tales. Soon the Fairies will be sound, sound asleep. They love to be put to sleep by the Fire Witches.''

       The flames died down entirely and only a little smoldering went on in the Fireplace.

       ''The witches are saying good-night,'' said daddy. ''Then they too will go to bed. But the ashes that will be left - nice warm ashes - they will be the pleasant dreams that are left behind for the Fire Fairies.''

       The fire had gone out! Only some ashes could be seen, but in one corner a few red coals had appeared.

       ''What are they?'' asked the children.

       ''They're the King and Queen of the Fireplace and they've come to see that their people are all fast asleep. Then they will go to sleep, but they will first whisper a 'Thank you' to the Witches who tell the marvelous stories.'' And just as daddy said that, the children heard a faint, crackling noise, and then they knew that every creature of the Fireplace had gone to sleep in their warm ashes of pleasant dreams.

The Toy Shop

        "Why, here we are again," said the first toy to the second toy as they looked at each other on a counter in the shop, for they had met before in Santa's workshop.

       "Oh!" continued the first toy.  ' 'A child is coming to look at us! Oh, there are ever so many children coming into the shop, and there are grown-ups too, and their voices - oh, aren't their voices nice! They

sound so merry and so happy and as if they loved each other and the whole world.

        ''I'm being bought, I do believe,'' the first toy added.

       ''Oh, so am I,'' said the second toy. ''I'm going to be wrapped up.''

       ''We must be going to be presents from the mothers and daddies of the children as Santa will come to get most of these toys just before Christmas.''

       ''Good-by,'' said the second toy; ''merry Christmas''

       ''Merry Christmas,'' said the first toy. ''Oh see! How the children are standing outside that window looking at the tree with all our friends upon it!

       ''Wouldn't you think the window would break? See their faces right against the window pane.''

       And as Santa Claus heard the reports of the pleasure of the children over this year's toys, he smiled to himself and said:

       ''That is all I want as a reward for my work!''

• Visit Santa's Workshop to find patterns for toys...

Make a Frosty Ice Skate Paper Wreath

I colored my ice skates blue, green and red. But you may color them however you wish!

       To make this ice skate paper wreath you will need to gather the following supplies: a paper plate, ribbon for a hanger, silver, blue and white scrap wrapping papers, a print of the ice skates below, colored pencils, white school glue and a stapler.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Remove the center of the paper plate using the tip of their scissors and cutting along the scored center circle. Discard the circle into a paper craft bin for other use.
2. Punch a hole into the top of the wreath.
3. String a blue or grey ribbon through and knot it for the hanger.
4. Use white school glue to attach multiple icy branches to the paper plate wreath. To make many branches quickly, stack four or five layers of wrapping paper on top of each other and cut simple branch shapes all at once. (see the photo below)
5. Download the ice skate clip art provided at the bottom of the blog post; print it out on your home computer and color the ice skates however you like.
6. Cut these out and paste them to the front of your wintery wreath. 
7. Hang your skate wreath in your classroom or home!
   

Left, the wreath with icy covered branches attached with glue. Right, the branches up close.

I used a metallic bronze pencil to color in the blades at the bottom of my skates.
Print and assemble Victorian looking ice skate ornaments at my Belsnickle Blog.

Ice Skates for personal or classroom use only.

Make a Christmas Card Window to Hang

        Young children can either hang this holiday card window on a Christmas tree or in their room or as a decoration anywhere in their home to remember their loved ones. 

A charming and traditional way to recycle past memories and Christmas cards. The greeting card,
Christmas window craft has been around for 100 years!

       The supplies you will need for this craft include: recycled cardboard, Christmas greeting cards depicting outdoor scenes, glitter, white school glue, cotton balls, a craft knife or scissors, wire for hanging and acrylic paint for the window panes.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Collect and save old Christmas cards that illustrated charming scenes of outdoor views, people sledding, ice skating, or of a tiny neighborhood, like the example shown above. 
2. Measure your Christmas card so that you can make a window pane the same size.
3. Cut the window pane from scrap cardboard leaving square or diamond cut panes intact.
4. Cut a shallow set of side pieces approximately 1/2" wide to glue around the exterior of the window pane before attaching the card if you are looking at an outdoor scene with snow. In this shallow space will create a shallow space you may wish to glue cotton batting 'snow' and glitter to make the winter view more convincing.
5. Paint the window pane. Let dry.
6. Glue the recycled Christmas view to the backside of the window pane.
7. Shape wire and attach at the back or top of your window so that it may be hung.

More About Christmas Cards:

• The History of Christmas Cards
• Craft Miniature Snow Scene Baubles - using recycled Christmas cards too!
• Decoupage Retro Paper Mache Baubles - use left over Christmas paper and cards

DIY a Christmas Toy Soldier Candy Container

        To make this candy container you will need the following supplies: a recycled coffee creamer bottle, masking tape, permanent black marker, pom poms, two buttons, small amount of yellow or gold foam sheet, red braid, acrylic paints, Mod Podge, hot glue and hot glue gun.

This candy holder shaped and styled after a toy Christmas soldier should be filled to the brim with
a child's favorite candy on Christmas Day or on St. Nickolas Day. These coffee creamers have 
such dramatic lids that remind me of toy soldiers! These bottles are made from very thick plastic, 
perfect for recycling into a kid craft after they're contents are gone and the bottle is washed
 thoroughly, of course...

  

       Children love to anticipate what Santa will fill this container with! Alternatively, an older sibling may wish to make this craft, fill it with candy, wrap it up and gift it to a younger member of their family as a gift.

Step-by-Step Instructions: 

1. Wash out the interior of the bottle and cap thoroughly before using it to craft with.
2. Apply masking tap to the entire surface of the bottle, excluding the cap only.
3. Draw a toy soldier design on the bottle, use my own if you wish. Draw with a permanent marker once you have the end design determined.
4. Paint with bright, cheerful colored acrylic paints.
5. Hot glue one details like buttons, foam sheet ruffles, pom-poms and a matching red braid to hold on the toy soldiers tall, dramatic hat...
6. Mod Podge the painted surfaces.
7. Unscrew cap to insert your choice of candy, I prefer M&Ms. Replace cap which may be opened at the top to pour out small candies as desired.

More Toy Soldier Crafts:

• Marching orders for Christmas toy soldiers...

A "Hands On" Christmas Wreath Craft

Finished "hands-on" classic Christmas wreath craft.

      This is a three part craft project that is completed at the end of a week. The wreath is something students in first through third grade may accomplish and take home for Christmas break to hang in their own rooms.

       Teachers may cut the centers from paper plates, punch holes for ribbon loops and tie a hanger on prior to giving each younger student to craft. 

       As usual, little ones should get into the habit of signing their names to the backside of crafted items prior to making them, so that teachers won't forget the project belonging to each student.

Supply List:

• one paper plate per student
• green construction paper 
• painted green paper
• paste paints or finger paints (shades of green)
• white butcher paper for paste painting 
• plastic combs (Hair combs in pack from Dollar General will do.)
• red pom-poms
• yarn for hanging the wreath
• stapler for attaching the hanger
• white school glue
• scissors
• green glitter (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Day One: Students paint green paste papers using plastic combs and finger paint. Use generous amounts of pale and dark green paints to comb across white butcher paper and sprinkle in some green glitter too! Let the paper dry over night or for two days if needed.
2. Day Two: Students will trace around their hands on top of the paste paper and green construction paper using a pencil, green marker, or white crayon. Then they will cut out their hand tracings to use to cover the paper wreath. (above) 
3. Day Three: Students assemble their wreaths on the paper plates. Older students may cut out their own paper wreaths from the paper plates. Remove the center of the paper plate using the tip of their scissors and cutting along the scored center circle. Discard the circle into a paper craft bin for other use.
4. Punch a hole into the top of the wreath.
5. String a red ribbon through and knot it for the hanger.
6. Use white school glue to attach hand traced 'evergreens' to the paper wreath.
7. Glue on red pom-poms for berries.

More Fun Christmas Crafts for Students:

• Craft a Snowman from A Paint Stirring Stick
• Quick and Easy Christmas Bauble Craft!
• Little ones can print snowmen with their hands for Christmas

Patterns for Penguins

The versatile, playful penguin pattern!

       This cheerful construction paper penguin pattern comes in handy for educators who need to decorate a winter or Christmas themed bulletin board. Each penguin may be labeled with student names and stapled to a scenic view on a bulletin board.

       Penguins can also include numbers or letters and hung on a "wash line'' across the top of a boarder on the wall. 

       Or perhaps teachers would like to include simple math problems or fractions on the belly of each penguin, then laminate the critters for a thematic set to introduce young students to a game.

        Or, simply glue together the parts of the penguins in a step-by-step assignment to help teach little ones 'how' to follow instructions as these are read aloud. There are so many uses for paper patterns like this one within the context of a classroom.

       Penguins are a playful winter theme that may be used beyond December to decorate with. Keep them up through January and February to introduce new units of study in the natural sciences!

       If you want them to look more festive for the holidays, students could cut triangle shaped stocking hats and rectangle shaped scarves from printed papers and tape these on top of their paper pets!

More Winter Weather Fun:

• Coloring collection at Crayon Palace Blog here
• Assemble a mini book, read a story, make a paper chain all about penguins...

Template/Patterns for construction paper penguins by kathy grimm.

Cut Simple 3-D Christmas Trees

Left, 3-D paper Christmas trees are cut in stacks of three sheets of paper, thus six sides are 
made when the trees are folded in half down the center. Right, see the tree craft with 
pom poms included.

      
       To make these easy little three-dimensional paper trees you will need to download and print on either your home computer or school computer the template provided here.
       The following supplies are needed: a stapler, hot glue and glue gun, colorful papers, scissors, and pom poms.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Download and print the template for our paper Christmas tree. Link above.
2. Cut-out the tree shape and trace around it on top of 3 to 4 stacked papers. I chose green and red, but any color would be attractive. Cut the stack all at once.
3. Fold each duplicate paper cut tree separately, in half exactly.
4. Staple down the center of the stack on the fold line. You will need to do this four times down the center.
5. Now fan out the paper tree so that it stands on it's own.
6. Hot glue pom poms in between the tree halves to decorate.

More Christmas Tree Crafts:

• Kids can cut and paste a heart-shaped Christmas tree
• Glue together a modern looking tree ornament...

Craft a Paper Snowman Wreath

        This easy paper snowman wreath is made with: a white paper plate, a stapler, construction paper (black and white), pom poms, decorative scrapbook papers, white school glue, a cord for the hanger and student scissors.

Left the basic snowman shaped wreath. Center, glue the colorful Christmas tie between the 
wreath and the snowman head. Right, the finished wreath with all the cheerful trims.

       

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Download and print out the template pieces from our blog for this snowman craft here. This particular craft may be used at Christmas using themed papers or it could also be made just during the winter months using different themed papers too.
2. Poke a small hole into the paper plate using the tip of your scissors. Then cut out the circle in the center of the paper plate marked by a seam. This cut-away section will become the head of your snowman.
3. Staple the head to the top of the paper plate rib to create a basic snowman wreath. (see photos above)
4. Now cut out the bow pattern and trace around it on top of decorative paper. Cut out the bow, paste this between the head and body of the snowman wreath using white glue. Let dry.
5. Using a black magic marker, draw the different sections of the bow shown on the printed template copy of it.
6. Cut out the pattern for the snowman's top hat and trace around this on top of a piece of black construction paper.
7. Glue a decorative paper ribbon on top of the top hat and add trims. I've included a tiny holly leaf template for this.
8. Glue or staple the top hat onto the snowman's head.
9. Glue on the pompoms for his eyes, nose, mouth and holly berries.
10. Cut long strips of white construction paper approximately 3 inches wide. 
11. Cut fringe into these strips and curl them with your scissors.
12. Glue the fringes onto the snowman wreath to add texture and 3D surface area.
13. Glue on a red tie ribbon to hang the wreath from his top hat.

More Snowman Crafts:

• Crafty Kid's Christmas Corner at my Belznickle Blog here

An easy paper Christmas light garland craft...

Left, rainbow colored lights. Right, yarn 'electric cord' connecting the lights in one long garland.

       These easy little vintage Christmas lights look so cute on a teacher's bulletin board or on a child's Christmas tree in their bedroom. Use the template/pattern below to cut them out of layers of festive colored construction papers all at once. Then paste on black switches or color these with a black crayon. Paste a black yarn electrical cord on the backsides of the bulb switches connecting the light bulbs to one long garland.

Templates for three different crafts at Thrifty Scissors: electric light bulb garland,
a snowman wreath and 3-D paper Christmas trees.

• Holiday Lighting Magic
• A glowing electric light bulb garlands for web pages
• Color these antlers full of ornaments

Grandpa's Glasses.

 Grandpa's Glasses

Author Unknown

My grandpa has to wear glasses,

'Cause his eyesight is not very strong,

And he calls them his "specs," and he's

worn them

For ever and ever so long

And when he gets through with his 

reading

He carefully  puts them away,

And that's why I have to help find them

'Bout twenty-five times a day.

But at night when we sit 'round the 

table,

And papa and mamma are there,

He reads just as long as he's able,

And then falls asleep in his chair.

And he sits there and sleeps in his 

glasses,

And you don't know how funny it

seems;

But he says that he just has to wear them

To see things well in his dreams.

Backward Kiddy Kar Race

        This race is much funnier if there are only a few contestants. There should be only two teams, with two on a team, the first one on each team being provided with a kiddy kar. These first two riders are asked to turn their cars around so that they are facing away from the goal, and then sit on their cars with their backs to the goal. When the starting signal is given, they start racing to the goal, backwards. When they reach this goal they are to return to the starting point, going backwards of course, and give up their kiddy kars to the second members of their teams. These second victims run the race in the same inverted order.

• See what a Kiddy Kar or Kiddie-Kartoy looks like
  

Hobby Horse Race

        There are seldom more than two players on a team, that being sufficient ! The first one of each team is supplied with a hobby-horse. When the signal is given, these riders start riding their horses to the goal. If they ever reach it, they are to return and give their horses to the other member of their team. Experience proves that most second riders never get a chance to ride, for too many first riders fall by the wayside!

•  What is a hobby horse?
  

Hobby Horse Cup 

Nose Push Race

        If contestants in this race are expected to look respectable for the rest of the party, a sheet should be provided for the race-course. There are not more than three contestants, each one of them being provided with a peanut, and, we hope, a long and practical nose. Contestants are asked to kneel at one end of the sheet, put their peanuts on the sheet before them, and when the signal is given, to push the peanuts to the other end of the sheet and back, using their noses as the pushers, their hands being clasped behind them.
       The winner is not the only one who deserves a prize in this contest!

The Pea Pushing Race - A big nose helps!

Siamese Twins Race

        Children are paired off into couples, the two members of a team having their backs to each other, with their hands joined at the side. One of them is facing the goal. At the signal, all teams start racing to the goal and return, their method of locomotion being anything they choose. Usually they try to run, but they soon get over that foolishness, and finally discover that the best and safest means of getting there is to hop, both members of a team hopping at the same time. The relay plan may be used.
       There is no prize good enough for the winners of this race!

Relay Races

        In several cases a suggestion is made to the effect that the relay plan may be used. When this is used, all the children are divided into groups of equal size, members of a group standing in lines or columns or couples, as the case demands. When either the first runner or the first couple has run the course, the second contestants are touched off, and then the third and fourth, and so on until all members of a team have run the race. The team whose last runner or couple first finishes the required stunt, gets the prize as the winning team.
       Relay races are particularly good for large groups, for a great many children can take part in a race which requires comparatively little space.

The Snow House

       ''At night after the children had gone to bed and it had grown colder and colder Old Man Snow came around to see what the children had been doing,'' said daddy.
       " 'Well, well, well,' he said as he saw a snow house and a snow fort and a snow man, 'this is fine. They appreciate me. They know what handsome things I can make. This is really gorgeous.
       " 'Look, Prince Icicle, isn't this fine?'
      "Prince Icicle appeared with a number of the other princes and princesses who hung down from the roof of the snow house and the top of the snow fort and from the shoulders of the snow man. Prince Icicle himself took a very fine place over the doorway of the snow house.
       " 'Isn't this handsome?' asked Old Man Snow. 'Our fine king will be delighted and his royal majesty will be honored.'
       "As Old Man Snow said these words along came King Snow. He wore a most beautiful crown of snow and he showed the Icicle family the compliment of wearing icicles from his beard and his crown and his locks of snow and from his hanging snowy sleeves.
       " 'They stopped me as I went by the brook,' said King Snow, 'and begged me to have some of their jeweled icicles. Don't they sparkle beautifully? Yes, they asked me to have them, and the brook, which
was beginning to freeze around the edges, begged me to listen to its story. 
       'It had so much to tell of its travels, how it ran down a long and winding hill and how it couldn't help trickling and laughing all the time with the jokes and merry tales it kept hearing.'
       "So Old Man Snow, King Snow, Prince Icicle and the other princes and princesses talked all through the night and told wonderful stories as they sat in the children's snow house."

Craft and Color More Snow:

• Cutting snowflakes and drawing snowman... - Read all about Wilson Bentley too...
• See how we made a snow house for our Christmas display!
• Young people can craft a snowman from a paint stirring stick
  

Baby Bears

       "In the winter, at the start of the new year," said daddy, "when Mother Bear was sleeping and dozing and dreaming in her home back in the hole of a big rock, the little bears arrived. She taught them about the berries they must eat and about the things which would make them feel well and strong. She also told them of the bad things they must not touch - the things which would make their little tummies feel very miserable indeed and which would make them quite, quite sick.
       ''And when, at last, they went out of the cave, and saw the real world, the trees and the forest paths, they wanted to start off at once for adventures, for the world looked so mysterious and wondrous.
       " 'Do you want to leave your old mother?' the black bear asked.
       " 'We love you, mother, but we want to see the world,' they said.
       " 'Bang,' suddenly went a gun and Mother Bear received a slight wound.
       ''The baby bears were around her in a flash, but mother bear was safe, for the man with the gun had hurriedly gone when he had seen how near the old bear was. And he had seen her teeth and had almost
been able to feel them!
       ''And the babies knew their teeth would never have done. They, too, had had a glimpse of their mother's anger and their mother's strength.
       ''And as they licked the wound they said,
       " 'We won't leave you, Mother Bear. We don't know the world as yet.'
       ''And Mother Black Bear groaned with the hurt from the slight wound in her shoulder, but still more she grunted with pleasure, for her babies had seen that they still needed their mother.'' 

More Bears To Color:

• Color the polar bears at the zoo
• Color-by-number: Bear Bone 
• These bears have their marching orders
  

Facts About Toucans

The Toucan

 Interesting Facts About Toucans:

1. In ornithology, it's genus is called Rhamphastos.
2. These birds are all natives of tropical America.
3. They are easily distinguished by their enormous bill.
4. Toucans are irregularly toothed along the margin of their mandibles.
5. All of these species live prefer to live in pairs.
6. Toucans love the shade of the forests.
7. They occasionally congregate in small parties with each other.
8. These birds do not approach human habitations when they have only lived in the wild.
9. They are generally covered with black feathers and the throat, breast and rump adorned in white, yellow and red.
10. Their bodies are short and thick. 
11. Their tails are rounded or even, varying in length among their species. 
12. They can turn their tail feathers up over their back when roosting.
13. Toucans may be easily tamed and live in confined spaces well, even in cold climates.

See Toucans:

• 10 Most Beautiful Toucans

 

Timmy Toucan's monstrous bill!

The interesting features of the stingray...

 A stingray is a fish allied to the rays proper, which are cartilaginous fish related to sharks. It has many distinct characteristics:

1. It is remarkable for it's long, flexible, whip-like tail, which is armed with a projecting bony spine.
2. The spine is very sharp at the point, and furnished along both edges with sharp cutting teeth.
3. Although most stingrays are found in tropical marine waters, one of the species is common on the East coast of North America and sometimes inflict serious wounds with their tails.
4. These fish are vulnerable to extinction due to unregulated fishing.
5. The flattened bodies of stingrays allow them to effectively hide or conceal themselves in their environments.
6. The stingray uses it's paired pectoral fins for moving about.
7. These fish come in a wide range of colors and patterns.
8. They feed primarily on mollusks and crustaceans.

Stingray pups prove that slimy 

can be cute by Animal Planet

The Rhyming Years

       "Well," said the Old Year, "I am going to make up a poem about myself. I feel quite poetical."

       "And," said the New Year, "I will, too." For the New Year didn't want to have the Old Year think that he was unable to do anything like that, even though he was young. But he felt very much pleased when the Old Year said: ''Though I have lived twelve whole months, I have not become a poet.''

       ''I think age should be given the right to speak first,'' said the New Year.

       The Old Year shook his white hair and smiled so that the wrinkles in his face all ran in together.

       This is what he said:

''Yes, it is true I was feeling old,

Yes, it is true I was also cold,

Yes, it is true I heard them cheer,

Welcoming in the glad New Year.''

       Then New Year recited this verse:

''Of course, you see I was out for fun,

My life has only just begun,

They said 'He is young and full of vim,

No one can help but welcome him.'

       "You mustn't think I am conceited," he added. "I say a lot to make my rhyme come out right."

       "Of course," said the Old Year, "for I do too. Well, I will give my second verse. Don't believe it all, though!" Then the Old Year took an old harp he had and he began to play and sing, and this was what he sang:

''And Poor Old Year - he almost wept

As he packed up his things and left.

But as he turned to say good-by,

Something in him made him cry:

'Though my work is mostly done,

I, have, too, had lots of fun,

And 'ere I go upon my way,

This I certainly would say:

'Happy New Year, big and small,

Happy New Year, short and tall,

Happy New Year, every one!

May you all have lots of fun!' "

A New Year's Party

        "Just because it was the first day of the year," said daddy,"and because parties were about the nicest things in the world to the mind of a little girl named Ella, her mother decided to give her one.

       "It certainly does seem like the first of the year, or the first of something," said Ella. 'It's a new day, a new year and we have new toys and new games. We are even going to have supper out of new dishes.'

       ''For among the presents Santa Claus had brought to Ella was a fine set of dishes. They were pink and white and there were six cups and saucers, six little plates, a teapot, sugar bowl and cream jug. It was really a very complete set.

       ''They had thin bread and butter, hot chocolate with whipped cream and a cake which Ella's mother called a New Year's cake. It was pink and white on the top with pink sugared trimmings on the white frosting.

       ''In the center of the cake was one pink candle, for Ella's mother said it would be quite impossible to have a candle for the number of years there had been, and too, it would be nice to have a new way and just consider the year a day old.

       ''After the cake had been almost entirely eaten they played house. Each little girl took a corner of the room as her house and fixed it up with some of Ella's things. They all had their own dolls and many

of their other toys so they really felt quite at home.

       ''Then they began calling on each other, dressing up in shawls and old hats which Ella's mother let them use. After a while they heard a flutter, flutter against the window pane, and then another little flapping sound.

       ''It's a little bird,' said Ella, as she looked out of the window. 'It's right on the sill, and I am dreadfully afraid it has hurt its wings. Poor little dear.'

       ''They opened the window and Ella took the little bird in her hands. Oh, how cold the little bird's feathers were!

       '' 'We'll take care of you,' said Ella. They gave the little bird some bread-crumbs and some water. Then he had a delicious piece of lettuce from the seeds which Ella had started in a box in her room.

       ''Pretty soon the bird began to grow much better and hopped and chirped about the room, and then they let him out for he had simply been very hungry.

       '' 'We'll put some suet in that tree over there,' said Ella.

       '' 'Let's put some bread-crumbs,' said her friends, and then one of them added,

       '' 'And let's give some of the New Year cake crumbs too.'

       ''So the little bird was given a regular New Year's feast, and Ella and her friends were among other children who decided to look after the feathered people through the cold months of the winter and to give them bread-crumbs and suet which they love so well.''

• Christmas for the birds...
• Fun things to do with your dolls on New Year's Day!

The Brave Little Sister

       ''There was once a little boy who had a young, little sister," said daddy. "He was very disappointed that his sister didn't care more for long walks and boys' games and that animals seemed to frighten her.

       "He used to scold her about it instead of helping her to get over her fear. One day these two children were taking a walk. They went into the country along a quiet road. They passed a little house in which lived an old woman who had a great many cats. She was very strange and her cats seemed to be strange too. Anyway, it was said that they hated people they didn't know.

       The little boy didn't believe this, and when his sister tried to hurry by the house, he laughed at her.

       "Oh, come and see this nice cat!" he said. And he tried to pick the cat up.

       "The cat objected to strangers, as all the people had said, and she started to scratch the little boy. With a cry his sister rushed to him. She grabbed the back of the cat and got him off. Then she cried ''Shoo!'' to the cat, which made him go right home, for he didn't care about hurting the little boy. He only would not be played with.

       " 'I shall never make fun of you again, sister,' he said. 'You saved me by taking off that cat, of which you were afraid. I have not been at all a nice brother to you, and I don't deserve such a good sister, for it was love for me that made you forget about your fear. But you may be quite sure I will never make fun of you in the future, for really you are the brave one.' ''

The Bravery Medal

       "Two children," said daddy, "were skating on a pond. It was a blustery, snowy afternoon, and they were the only ones on the ice.''

       "A big dog was taking a good run on this cold winter's day when he spied the children on the pond."

       ''He went down to the pond and ran across it a little way, but the ice had a bad way of creaking, and he was sure it was not so very firm.He decided that he had better stay around to see that nothing happened to the children.''

       ''He had been there but a moment or two when a terrific crack in the ice sounded. It gave way, and the two children fell through. The sheet of ice broke rapidly, and the water was soon clear for some distance around them.''

       ''Quickly the dog went to the rescue of the children and swam to the shore with them. He saw some people drive by in a sleigh on the road above, and he barked so frantically that they stopped to see what the trouble was. Then, of course, they drove the two children to their home. The big dog went along too. The hero simply said 'Bow-wow!' when later they fastened a medal on his collar. He wanted to tell them that he thought they were being very good to him, and he thanked them, but at the same time he was so modest that he didn't think he had been so brave. He felt any other dog would have done just the same, as he adored children.

The Pet Monkey

       "Once there was an old lady," said daddy, "who lived all alone.

       One day, though, she went to town and bought a pet monkey.

       She named him Niles. He was only seven inches long and had a curly tail. He was a very dark gray color. He proved to be a most expensive pet, for he liked all the most delicious fruits and would only eat his bread and rice when plenty of rich cream was poured over it. What fascinated him above all was the old lady's rings.

      "When the old lady saw how fond Niles was of jewels she took out her jewel box. Niles had the most glorious time playing with its contents. He decorated himself with all the beads and chains and bangles

and looked at himself in the mirror. He shook all over, for he liked the noise as well as the glitter of the jewels.

       ''So the old lady was very, very happy with her pet monkey. Niles was delighted with his new home and his new mistress, for he had never had jewels to play within the pet shop."

More About Silly Monkeys:

• Make a sock monkey for your 18" Doll...
• How to make a cute little monkey from a clothespin...
• The Animal Store

The Pink Cockatoo

        ''On the morning of the birthday of a little girl named Natalie,' said daddy, ''pink cockatoo was ready to greet her when she awoke. Well, you can imagine how happy Natalie was. And she kept saying over and over again:

       Oh, how lovely you are.' The cockatoo would raise up his pink crest on the top of his head at that - just as some people raise up their foreheads - only his crest went way, way higher. He did that whenever he felt like it, and he always felt like it when he was being talked to. ''And after a very short time the cockatoo was just as tame as could be and he seemed to grow more beautiful every day.

       ''Before long he began to talk just as a parrot will and follow Natalie around the house. He had his food out of special little pink dishes Natalie had given him to match his pink feathers, and every morning

he took his bath in a pink soup bowl which he thought was very fine indeed.

       ''Maybe you will think he got spoiled by so much fussing and attention, but he just became tamer and tamer every day. He learned many tricks and would often perform them for Natalie's friends.

       ''And when it came time for Natalie's next birthday she gave a party. On the invitation it said the party was being given by Natalie and the pink cockatoo. And in one corner was a little colored drawing Natalie had made of her cockatoo. When the cockatoo saw it he put his crest way up in the air, and said in a funny voice:

       ''Goodie, Natalie,' which was his pet name for his Mistress.

       ''And this is a truly true story, you know.''

More About Cockatoos:

• The Cockatoo
• Practice shading a rose-crested cockatoo
• The Cockatoo Primer Page

The Selfish Oyster Crabs

       You know, I think oyster-crabs are perhaps the most selfish of all the sea animals," began daddy. ''The oyster-crabs really belong to the crab family. They are called oyster-crabs, however, because above all things they love the juice of an oyster and absolutely live on it. And what I am going to tell you about now is the way they get it.

       "First of all, the oyster-crab hovers around the oysters and then picks out a nice, fat, juicy looking oyster, saying to himself: ''You look as if you could feed me well without any effort. I think I will crawl into your shell.' So then he crawls right inside the oyster's shell and proceeds to enjoy himself. He prefers just to 'sponge' on others, as the expression goes!" 

More About Oysters:

• Starfish love to eat oysters too!
• Your dolls can craft oysters on the half shell for a party...

Naughty Wind

       "The Clothespins on the line," said daddy, "were having a very jolly time."
       "I'll blow those clothes away," said the North Wind.
       "Oh, no you won't' said the Clothespins in chorus.
       "You are only little wooden things,' said the Wind. 'I am strong and powerful and can do just exactly as I like.'
       ''Now the Fairies saw that the Clothespins were doing their work so well that they thought they would like to help them, so they all perched on the line and began to sing:

'Heigh-ho, heigh-ho,

Let the North Wind blow,

The Clothes-Pins and we,

Will certainly see,

That the clothes will stay here.

The day's nice and clear,

The sun's good and strong,

And the wind is quite wrong.

To try such a trick,

But the Clothes-Pins will stick.'

       ''The Clothespins did stick to the line and the Fairies helped them, singing all the time. The Wind kept on blowing and tried his hardest to get the better of the Fairies, but he had no luck at all and the Clothespins won!''

More About Clothespins:

• The Clothes-Pin Dollies by Camilla J. Knight
• The Popover Family - series by Ethel Calvert Phillips
• Scout Clothespin Doll Crafts

Warren's Address

 WARREN'S ADDRESS
(At the Battle of Bunker Hill.)
BY JOHN PIERPONT

Stand! the ground's your own, my braves!
Will ye give it up to slaves?
Will ye look for greener graves?
Hope ye mercy still?
What's the mercy despots feel?
Hear it in that battle peal!
Read it on yon bristling steel!
Ask it, - ye who will!

Fear ye foes who kill for hire?
Will ye to your homes retire?
Look behind you! they're a-fire!
And, before you, see
Who have done it! - From the vale
On they come ! - and will ye quail?
Leaden rain and leaden hail
Let their welcome be!

In the God of battles trust!
Die we may, - and die we must;
But oh, where can dust to dust
Be consigned so well,
As where Heaven its dews shall shed
On the martyred patriot's bed.
And the rocks shall raise their head
Of his deeds to tell!

Columbia

 COLUMBIA
BY TIMOTHY DWIGHT
(Written during the author's services as an army chaplain,1777-78.)

Columbia, Columbia, to glory arise.
The queen of the world, and the child of the skies ;
Thy genius commands thee ; with rapture behold,
While ages on ages thy splendor unfold !
Thy reign is the last, and the noblest of time,
Most fruitful thy soil, most inviting thy clime ;
Let the crimes of the East ne'er encrimson thy name.
Be freedom, and science, and virtue thy fame.

To conquest and slaughter let Europe aspire ;
Whelm nations in blood, and wrap cities in fire ;
Thy heroes the rights of mankind shall defend,
And triumph pursue them, and glory attend ;
A world is thy realm : for a world be thy laws,
Enlarged as thine empire, and just as thy cause;
On Freedom's broad basis, that empire shall rise,
Extend with the main, and dissolve with the skies.

Fair science her gates to thy sons shall unbar,
And the east shall with mom hide the beams of her star.
New bards, and new sages, unrivaled shall soar
To fame unextinguished, when time is no more;
To thee, the last refuge of virtue designed,
Shall fly, from all nations the best of mankind ;
Here, grateful to heaven, with transport shall bring
Their incense, more fragrant than odors of spring.

Nor less shall thy fair ones to glory ascend,
And genius and beauty in harmony blend ;
The graces of form shall awake pure desire,
And the charms of the soul ever cherish the fire ;
Their sweetness unmingled, their manners refined,
The virtue's bright image, instamped on the mind.
With peace and soft rapture shall teach life to glow.
And light up a smile in the aspect of woe.

Thy fleets to all regions thy power shall display,
The nations admire and the ocean obey ;
Each shore to thy glory its tribute unfold,
And the East and the South yield their spices and gold.
As the day-spring unbounded, thy splendor shall flow,
And earth's little kingdoms before thee shall bow ;
While the ensigns of union, in triumph unfurled,
Hush the tumult of war and give peace to the world.

Thus, as down a lone valley, with cedars overspread,
From war's dread confusion I pensively strayed.
The gloom from the face of fair heaven retired;
The winds ceased to murmur ; the thunders expired ;
Perfumes as of Eden flowed sweetly along,
And a voice as of angels enchantingly sung:
Columbia, Columbia, to glory arise,
The queen of the world, and the child of the skies.''

The Battle of Trenton

 THE BATTLE OF TRENTON
(Dec. 26, 1776.)

On Christmas-day in seventy-six.
Our ragged troops with bayonets fixed.
For Trenton march away.
The Delaware see ! the boats below!
The light obscured by hail and snow!
But no signs of dismay.

Our object was the Hessian band,
That dared invade fair freedom's land,
And quarter in that place.
Great Washington he led us on,
Whose streaming flag, in storm or sun,
Had never known disgrace.

In silent march we passed the night.
Each soldier panting for the fight,
Though quite benumbed with frost.
Greene, on the left, at six began.
The right was led by Sullivan,
Who ne'er a moment lost.

The pickets stormed, the alarm was spread,
The rebels risen from the dead
Were marching into town.
Some scampered here, some scampered there.
And some for action did prepare ;
But soon their arms laid down.

Twelve hundred servile miscreants,
With all their colors, guns, and tents,
Were trophies of the day.
The frolic o'er, the bright canteen
In center, front, and rear was seen
Driving fatigue away.

Now brothers of the patriot bands,
Let's sing deliverance from the hands
Of arbitrary sway.
And as our life is but a span,
Let's touch the tankard while we can.
In memory of that day.

The Battle of Bunker Hill

       The advance of the British army was like a solemn pageant in its steady headway, and like a parade for inspection in the completeness of its outfit. It moved forward as if by the very force of its closely-knit columns it must sweep away every barrier in its path. Elated, sure of victory, with firm step, already quickened as the space of separation lessens, there is left but a few rods of interval, a few steps only, and the work is done! But right in their way was a calm, intense, and energizing love of liberty, represented by men of the same blood and of equal daring.
       A few shots impulsively fired, but quickly restrained, drew an innocent fire from the advancing column. But the pale men behind the scant defense, obedient to one will, answered not. . . . The left wing is near the redoubt It surely is' nothing to surmount a bank of fresh earth but six feet high; and its sands and clods can almost be counted, it is so near, so easy, sure! Short, crisp, and earnest, low-toned, but felt as an electric pulse from redoubt to river, are the words of a single man, Prescott Warren, by his side, repeats them. The word runs quickly along the impatient line. The eager fingers give back from the waiting trigger. Steady, men! Wait until you see the white of the eye! Not a shot sooner! Aim at the handsome coats! Aim at the waistbands! Pick off the officers! Wait for the word, every man! Steady!""
       Already those plain men, so patient, can count the buttons, can read the emblems on the belt-plate, can recognize the officers and men whom they have seen at parade on Boston Common. Features grow more and more distinct. The silence is awful ! These men seem breathless, - dead! It comes, that word, the word waited for - ''Fire!'' That word had waited behind the center and the left wing, where Putnam watched, as it lingered behind breastwork and redoubt. Sharp, clear, and deadly, in tone and essence, it rings forth, "Fire!"
       From redoubt to river, along the whole sweep of devouring flame, the forms of men wither as in a furnace heat. The whole front goes down. For an instant the chirp of the grasshopper and the cricket in the freshly-cut grass might almost be heard; then the groans of the suffering; then the shouts of impatient yeomen, who leap over obstacles to pursue until recalled to silence and to duty.
       Staggering but reviving, grand in the glory of their manhood, heroic in the fortitude which restores self-possession, with a steady step, in the face of fire and over the bodies of their dead, the remnant dare to renew battle. Again the deadly volley; and the shattered columns, in spite of entreaty or command, move back to the place of starting, and the first shock of battle is over.
       A lifetime when it is past seems but as a moment! A moment sometimes is as a lifetime. Onset and repulse! Three hundred lifetimes ended in twenty minutes!