Craft a Pretzel Turkey Collage

      Are you looking for a way to recycle pretzels? Well, I certainly was after a so many were left over from our school's fall festival. We were afraid to eat the crackers for fear of catching a cold or some such thing. So, I did what any sensible art teacher would do. I made a sample turkey out of the left overs of course!

 Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Print out the template twice so that you can cut all of the pieces out; the images are overlapped within the pattern. 
2. Cut and trace around the pattern thus: the tail fan in orange, the body in yellow, the feet in brown, the snood red and the bill orange. 
3. Paste all of these parts in layers according to the photos shown below. 
4. Draw the eyes of the turkey.
5. Paste a piece of brown twine between the back tail fan and a piece of poster board. 
6. Trim the poster board so that only the fan shape shows after you hang the turkey. 
7. Now use a generous amount of clear drying white glue onto the orange construction paper and arrange the pretzels in a decorative pattern on top. 
8. Allow the turkey to dry over night in a warm dry place before moving it around!
   

You will need the following supplies to craft this turkey: 

• print out the template below
• scissors
• brown twine for the hangger
• white school glue
• a very large piece of standard sized orange construction paper
• red, brown, and yellow construction paper scraps
• lots of stale pretzels
• poster board for backing the project
• permanent ink, black felt tipped pen

The full view of may pretzel turkey collage. Teachers might like to display these happy little fellow in their rooms this fall!

I came up with the design idea after cleaning up a table full of discarded treats at our school's fall candy corn festival.

Although the pretzels were no longer safe to eat, I thought surely I could come up with a way to recycle the snacks?

I don't know how long I can keep him without a insect or mouse discovering him but at least he is festive dressed for for this year.

I've included a template/pattern of my pretzel turkey for you to download and print out for the craft above. Don't forget to back the craft with poster board or cardboard. It needs a little extra support!

Thanksgiving

by Clora Allen

November skies are gray and drear.

November winds are sighing.

November grass is brown and sere.

November leaves are dying.

The corn is gone from vale and hill.

The birds have ceased their calling,

The trees are bare, the brook is still.

The old brown leaves are falling.

The apples are stored in box and bin.

With glee the house is humming.

The nuts are gathered, the pumpkins in,-

Thanksgiving Day is coming!

Washington's Birthday

Among the gifted author's utterances was the following noble ode, written for Washington's birthday, February 22, 1878, for a religious journal.

by William Cullen Bryant.

Pale is the February sky,

And brief the mid-day's sunny hours;

The wind-swept forest seems to sigh

For the sweet time of leaves and flowers.

Yet even when the summer broods

O'er meadows in their fresh array,

Or autumn tints her glowing woods,

No mouth can boast a prouder day.

For this chill season now again

Brings, in its annual round, the morn

When, greatest of the sons of men,

Our glorious Washington was born.

Lo, where, beneath an icy shield,

Calmly the mighty Hudson flows,

By snow-clad fell and frozen field

Broadening the lordly river goes.

The wildest storm that sweeps through space,

And rends the oak with sudden force,

Can raise no ripple on his face

Or slacken his majestic course.

Thus, mid the wreck of thrones, shall live

Unmarred, undimmed, our hero's fame,

And years succeeding years shall give

Increase of honors to his name.

The Firemen Say Safety Comes First!

photo by Sylvain Pedneault.

      Firefighting is the act of extinguishing fires. A firefighter suppresses and extinguishes fires to protect lives and to prevent the destruction of property and of the environment. Firefighters may provide other valuable services to their communities, including emergency medical services.

      Firefighters typically undergo a high degree of technical training, in both general firefighting techniques and developing specialist expertise in particular fire and rescue operations, such as aircraft/airport rescue, wilderness fire suppression, and search and rescue.

      One of the major hazards associated with firefighting operations could possibly be the toxic environment created by combustible materials, the four major risks are smoke, oxygen deficiency, elevated temperatures, and poisonous atmospheres. Additional hazards include falls and structural collapse that can exacerbate the problems entailed in a toxic environment. To combat some of these risks, firefighters carry self-contained breathing equipment.

      The first step in a firefighting operation is reconnaissance to search for the origin of the fire, to identify the specific risks, and to locate possible casualties.

      Fires can be extinguished by water, fuel removal, or chemical flame inhibition.

 

Free Smokey The Bear Coloring 

Smokey says, "Keep it clean...around your house!"

Leave a cold trail.

 

Smokey says, "Make sure your chimney and fireplace are fireproof!"

"For a safe barbeque - put your briquets in a fireproof bucket!

Smokey says, "Be Careful With Fire!"

Thanksgiving From the American Sunday - School Union: 1873

      When my father was still alive, he collected small antique books, most usually of a religious origin. This small Union Hymns manual was distributed by the American Sunday School Union in Philadelphia, 1873.

      He told me that such small books were also normally carried by soldiers during the civil war. My father taught as a history professor in religious collages for over twenty years after retiring from ministry, so I suspect that his information is accurate. Although his doctorate was in Greek and Roman history, he frequently taught American Civil War history too.

      I am very thankful for all he taught me about Jesus and this little post is dedicated to him.

Excerpt from the Thanksgiving category of the antique volume:

Thanksgiving.

For the blessings of the gospel. C.M.

Let every mortal ear attend,

And every heart rejoice!

The trumpet of the gospel sounds,

With an inviting voice:-

Ho! all ye hungry, starving souls,

That feed upon the wind,

And vainly strive, with earthly toys,

To fill an empty mind:

Eternal wisdom has prepared

A soul-reviving feast;

And bids your longing appetites

The rich provision taste.

Ho! ye who pant for living streams,

And pine away and die;

Here you may quench your raging thirst,

With springs that never dry.

Rivers of love and mercy here

In a rich ocean join;

Salvation in abundance flows,

Like floods of milk and wine.

The front cover of the New Union Hymns: American Sunday School Union.

The backside of the New Union Hymns: American Sunday School Union.

The inside inscription of the New Union Hymns: American Sunday School Union.

The two illustrations of the New Union Hymns: American Sunday School Union.

Craft a Funny Gobbler From Paper Plates

This seated turkey craft is ready to hang. His tail feathers and body are held together and spin on a brass brad.

Supply List For This Turkey:

• a variety of magic markers
• one black permanent ink marker
• one printed copy of the turkey graphic below
• two paper plates, one larger than the other 
• one brass brad

      This funny paper plate craft is so easy to assemble after coloring the template and drawing "feathers" on to the perimeter of two paper plates. Just find the center of the paper plates and turkey graphic and then poke a brass brad through all three and clamp the elements together. Hang the gobbler up and spin him around to make him look dizzy!

For best results print the turkey graphic out on heavy weight paper. Above you can see how he looks before attaching the tail feathers made from two paper plates.

Download and print this funny gobbler graphic for your next Thanksgiving craft today.

Something to Be Thankful For 

by Clara J. Denton

I'm glad that I am not to-day

A chicken or a goose,

Or any other sort of bird

That is of any use.

I'd rather be a little girl,

Although 'tis very true,

The things I do not like at all,

I'm often made to do.

I'd rather eat some turkey than

To be one, thick and fat,

And so, with all my heart, to-day,

I'll thankful be for that!

Just Admiring the Giant, Halloween, Yard Art on A Lovely Fall Day . . .

What on Earth . . . ?

I think I saw this in a movie once or . . . twice.

What's the . . .?

No way.

Wow, that's a really BIG CAT!

Learn about "Boo at The St. Louis Zoo" 

from GmaGpaAdventures

Strawberry, Raspberries and Bread Graphics for Games and Number Books

Large loaf of bread graphics for games and number books.

Sliced loaf of bread for games and number books.

Tiny strawberry graphics for games and number books.

Baskets of raspberries for games and number books.

Fire Safety Week at Our School

Stop, drop and roll is a simple fire safety technique taught to children, emergency services personnel and industrial workers as a component of health and safety training. It involves three steps a fire victim should follow to minimize injury in the event their clothing catches fire.

Stop, drop and roll consists of three components:

1. Stop – The fire victim must stop, ceasing any movement which may fan the flames or hamper those attempting to put the fire out.
2. Drop – The fire victim must drop to the ground, lying down if possible, covering their face with their hands to avoid facial injury.
3. Roll – The fire victim must roll on the ground in an effort to extinguish the fire by depriving it of oxygen. If the victim is on a rug or one is nearby, they can roll the rug around themselves to further extinguish the flame.

The effectiveness of stop, drop and roll may be further enhanced by combining it with other firefighting techniques, including the use of a fire extinguisher, dousing with water, or fire beating one's skin.

 City of Ocoee's Fire Department's Puppet Show.

I snapped these photos of our kids during fire safety week. I have many more than the few that I have posted here for those parents who would like to request copies, contact me or Jenn at the early learning center. The firemen did a marvelous job of sharing and caring for our students during their visit!

 

Every city in America has programs to teach fire safety.

Ringing the bell on the fire truck.

Children have had a big day learning about fire safety.

Local firemen always take time out to teach preschoolers.

Students wait patiently in line to see the fire engine.

Firemen volunteer to teach preschoolers about fire safety.

Firemen help little ones explore the truck.

Young students explore the fire truck with fire fighters.

Children color in their free fire safety booklets.

  

Smokey Unwinds Puzzle 

Help Smokey untangle his secret message!  

Color the string from his baseball from beginning to end.

answer key to "Smokey Unwinds Puzzle."

 

More Fire Safety Links:

• Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation
• Fire Safety Rap! for kids
• Caillou and The Fire Truck

Halloween Party Favor Ideas for The Classroom

       Treat your students this year with care! A beloved TA from our early learning center gifted  a special treat bag made from a plastic glove to each of our students. Inside of each one she stuffed: a glow light for trick-or-treating safely, Smarties for our little scholars, healthy fruit snacks, gold fish, a tattoo, fun foam stickers and a gummy hamburger.

More Halloween Treat Bag & Small Box Ideas:

1. Batty Treat Holders by Paper Crave
2. itsy bitsy box!
3. 4 ideas from parenting
4. Le Zucche Di Halloween   and Secchiello Pipistrello Porta Dolcetti
5. Sour Cream Containers
6. Ghost bags from coffee filters
7. Halloween Takeout Boxes
8. I Sacchetti Fantasma and Porta Bon Bon
9. Halloween Flashback: Cardboard Tube Bat Treat Holders
10. more coffee filter ghosts
11. Halloween Treat Boxes
12. Candy Corn Cone Favor
13. pixy stick pockets
14. Treat bags silhouette cello

Candy and Fruits and Other Foods Transformed:

1. Apples decorated as spooks!  here too from Disneyland
2. Spider Suckers
3. Witch's broom sucker
4. monster eyeballs
5. Pumpkin Lollipop Holder
6. Wrapped "mummy" apple
7. Grape spider and cheese + a cottage cheese "Boo!"
8. A black olive snake
9. Eggs-quisite Eats for Li'l Devils
10. Tombstone Sandwiches
11. Halloween Five Layer Dip
12. spiderweb pizzas
13. A Jack-o-Lantern Hummus Plate
14. Spooky Spider Snack
15. Deviled eggs and olives for Halloween
16. 'Candy Corn' fruit cups
17. Dracula Pancakes
18. Candy Corn Dipped Marshmallow Pops
19. Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops
20. Ghosts in the Graveyard

Cakes and Cookies For The Classroom:

1. Halloween Treat Tutorial: Mini-Push Pop Oreo Cookie Shots
2. Halloween Cake Pops from Pint Sized Baker
3. Witch's Hat from A Sugar Cone
4. Skeleton Cupcakes
5. Halloween Cupcake Decorating - slide show from Better Homes and Gardens
6. milano ghosts
7. powdered donut eyeballs
8. Halloween trick-or-treat snacks for school

Practice Shading An Owl

This owl is wide awake. Give him big yellow eyes and practice shading in all of his little feathers.

       Above is the "digital tracing," of the image. Students may look at the original sample below in order to practice shading techniques on top of the printed digital tracing. After a student learns shading techniques with a number 2 pencil, he or she may choose to try working with colored pencils or even watercolors in order to enhance the digital tracing above.

A jack-o-lantern maze

Find your way in and out of this spooky Jack-O-Latern maze!

A Safe Place For Trick-or-Treaters to Party

       This past weekend, all of the early learning center teachers and aids assembled at our school's elementary building and hosted the annual Halloween party for both our students and perspective students. Youngsters dressed up in costumes and teachers handed out treats while parent volunteers played games and crafted with kids in the gym.

Elementary students competed in a door decorating contest at our school. I'm not sure what the
winning class walked away with but it's probably safe to assume it
had something to do with food.

The door decorations served to create a festive environment for
trick-or-treaters touring the school

Plan a Halloween Party at Your School:

• School Halloween Parties
• How to Plan a Harvest Party as an Alternative on Halloween
• Filling the Holiday with Light: Halloween Activities and Ideas