Fairy Tales in Different Cultures-Vasilissa and Baba Yaga
Sharing Saturday 14-20
What a busy and beautiful week it has been here! Last week's Sharing Saturday had so many wonderful ideas!! If you have not had a chance to check them out yet, you should!! They are so inspiring!! Thank you to everyone who shared and to all who visited and left comments!! We had a two-way tie for most clicked. I am not sure what to think since one was clearly a spring craft and the other was a summer round-up. For the other features I chose some of my favorites and broke them into two displays so the pictures will be bigger.
Not-So-Common Cents -- Blog Tour & Giveaway
The Year of the Monkey -- Exploring Chinese New Year with books & Chinese New Year Link Party
We have explored the lunar new year and more specifically the Chinese New Year for several years now and have tried many different crafts, recipes and books (see below for a sampling and links). We have looked at the Chinese Zodiac and as of yesterday we have begun the year of the monkey. Last year was the year of the sheep.
A Monkey Valentine Craft from a Kit |
Artists from Around the World
I recently read an article about how multiple art-focused field trips raised the scores of standardized tests. At a time when so many school districts are cutting the arts it is important to see the whole picture. Today I am going to share some books about artists from different countries around the world. We will start with Japan and Yayoi Kusama. The first book is Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity by Sarah Suzuki and illustrated by Ellen Weinstein.
Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month -- Book Round-Up
Source: World Atlas |
- A is for Asia by Cynthia Chin-Lee
- Asian Children's Favorite Stories by David Conger, Marian Davies Toth & Kay Lyons
- Asian Holidays by Faith Winchester
- Come Look With Me: Asian Art by Kimberly Lane
- I Dreamed I was a Panda by Debra A. Johnson
- Floating Clouds, Floating Dreams Favorite Asian Folk Tales edited by I. K. Junne
- Moon Magic: Stories from Asia by Katherine Davison
- The Tiger's Whisker and Other Tales from Asia and the Pacific by Harold Courlander
- Folk Tales from Asia by Asian Cultural Centre for Unesco
- Tikki Tikki Tembo and More Stories to Celebrate Asian Heritage DVD produced by Weston Wood Studios, Inc.
- Asian Kites by Wayne Hosking
- Haiku: Asian Arts and Crafts for Creative Kids by Patricia Donegan
- Asian-American Crafts Kids Can Do! by Sarah Hartman
- A Kid's Guide to Asian American History by Valerie Petrillo
- Asian Crafts by Judith Hoffman Corwin
- Monkeys of Asia and Africa by Patricia A. Fink Martin
- Really Wild Animals: Adventures in Asia DVD produced by National Geographic Society
The Year of the Horse is part of a series of books about the Chinese Zodiac |
The Phillipines
Sora and the Cloud Review |
Vietnam
Mongolian Gers -- Tent Houses
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
So I had big plans to start reviewing books on Japan. I have quite a pile. However they are going to wait until next week and into June because I found one other Asian country to cover on my bookshelf. Today I am going to share with you Story of the Mongolian Tent House by Dashdondog Jamba, retold by Anne Pellowski and illustrated by Beatriz Vidal. Before I begin my review, I would like to add that there are not a whole lot of books about or from Mongolia or many crafts or resources for kids. When I did a search for craft ideas most of them were adult crafts and for sale. I think this is a topic that needs a bit more exploring and I am going to share what I did find.
Fun Facts about Fluffernutters (& Fluff) for National Fluffernutter Day!
Today is National Fluffernutter Day! Have you ever had a fluffernutter? It is a sandwich with peanut butter and Fluff (or marshmallow crème). It is a childhood favorite for many children in New England. When Hazel was in third grade we went to the Lynn Museum on a school trip. It was there that I learned about the history of Fluff. I thought today I would share some fun facts about Fluffernutters and Fluff with you!
Books that Make Imaginations Soar for Ages 2 - 8
Today I am sharing some fun picture books that are for ages in the range of 2 to 8 and they make your imagination soar. The first book is Pop! by Jason Carter Eaton and illustrated by Matt Rockefeller.
New Year Traditions from Around the World
Rice & Rocks -- A Multicultural Book Review
Today I am sharing with you a new multicultural picture book that shares the messages that we are all different but very much the same. It is Rice and Rocks by Sandra L. Richards and illustrated by Megan Kayleigh Sullivan. It is being released next week!!
Chien-Shiung Wu -- The Queen of Physics
Today is International Women's Day so it seems appropriate to continue with our learning about different women who made a difference in our world. Today I am featuring an international woman who was born in China and moved to America to further her education. Every year I like to focus on at least one woman in math or science, and today is the day. I was drawn to Chien-Shiung Wu. Perhaps it is that she was snubbed by the Noble Prize (due to a scandalous affair there is no Noble Prize for mathematics) or perhaps it is that she worked on the atomic bomb (I have a great uncle that I never met who also worked on it), but whatever the reason I decided to feature her today.
Sharing Saturday 14-34
Thank you to everyone who shared with us last week and a special thank you to everyone who took the time to visit what others shared! We did not have a most clicked, so I picked three categories of features. With schools starting up across the country, Back to School seemed appropriate (though I'm still in denial and can stay this way for another week and a half even if her new school uniforms arrived today), Lessons, and finally Pumpkin Bread (I guess fall is really coming soon with several pumpkin bread recipes shared).
1) From Juggling Act Mama: Back To School Teacher Gift
2) From Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes: Back To School Book and Poem
3) From Krafts and Kiddos: First Day of School Printables
4) From There's Just One Mommy: Back To School "I Spy" Craft
5) From Stella123: Kid Activity: DIY Back To School Pencil Sharpeners
6) From Sunshine and Hurricanes: Why I'm Not Excited School Is Starting
1) From Munchkin and Bean: Colonial Small World {Safari Ltd. Review}
2) From Wugs and Dooey: Exploring Patterns, Colour and Symmetry with Tiles
3) From Five Painted Lane: Make a Treasure Map
4) From My Catch A Star Classroom: Introducing Children to Herbs
1) From Yesterfood: Pumpkin Bread (with nuts)
2) From Life with Garnish: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
A Few Simple Guidelines:
1) Please follow Crafty Moms Share via GFC (or one of the other ways that work for you).
2) Link any kid-friendly, child-centered post. Please no etsy shops or giveaways, etc. Remember to link to your actual post.
3) Post the Sharing Saturday button on your sidebar or somewhere on your blog to help spread the word.
5) If you do not have a blog, but want to share an idea you can leave it in the comments or e-mail it to me with a picture (if possible).
Fun Facts about Dandelions with Craft & Recipe Round-Up
This week is National Wildflower Week! The other day I shared a post on Facebook about dandelions. A friend had posted it and I assumed it was true but wanted to know for sure. I decided to investigate the common wildflower, dandelions, and wow, what an interesting plant. First, did you know dandelions are in the same family as the sunflower and aster? Whether you see wishes, food or weeds, there is something here for you including where they came from, how to harvest them and how to rid your yard of them if you really want to (fun fact 11).
Math Lesson: Geometric Origami
I haven't done a math lesson post in awhile and here is a fun one! It goes along with the Geometric Origami Mini Kit by Richard L. Alexander and Michael G. LaFosse.
This kit includes a booklet, a DVD and some mini origami paper. The booklet has instructions for six different origami items and the DVD demonstrates how to make all six. The nice part of having the DVD is sometimes origami instructions can be a bit confusing, so being able to actually see them is great. This is a fun kit that is very reasonable and each project lends itself to a math lesson. I made up a lesson for the first project for various ages and will give suggestions for the second one.
Sharing Saturday 14-42
Thank you to everyone who shared with us last week and a special thank you to everyone who took the time to visit some of the other posts shared!! Once again I found the ideas to be amazing!! There was not most clicked, so I picked some favorites. There are so many Halloween ideas, that I decided to go with non-Halloween, but you should check them out especially if you want some Halloween ideas!
Review of American History: Asians in America #readyourworld
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Today I am sharing the first of my reviews for Multicultural Children's Book Day. Today's book shares about fourteen Asian Americans and what they achieved with their lives. The book is part of the Casey S. Bell's American History series.
All About Vietnam -- Book Review & More!
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May is Asian American and Pacific Island Heritage Month. All month long I will try to share books, crafts, and activities to help celebrate this fun heritage. Today I get to share the newest book from one of my favorite series about Asian countries. It is All About Vietnam: Projects & Activities for Kids: Learn About Vietnamese Culture with Stories, Songs, Crafts & Games by Tran Thi Minh Phuoc and illustrated by Nguyen Thi Hop and Nguyen Dong. It is a middle grades reading level but can be shared with younger kids if you do the reading!
Crafty Stay-cation Activities -- Crafty Sunday Review
Sharing Saturday 13-35
Thank you to everyone who shared with us last week!! And a very special thank you to all the people who took the time to check out some of the amazing ideas shared!! With Hazel starting school next week, I am finally starting to think about back to school. Since we are one of the later schools to start I have seen lots of ideas on-line including at last week's party. Our features will be about back to school, fall, some favorites and we had a most clicked from Gift of Curiosity: Apple Printable Pack.
1) From Planet Smarty Pants: Questions for the New School Year
2) From Sunshine and Hurricanes: Armed and Ready to Make Lunch
3) From Krafts and Kiddos: Simple Ways to Make Back to School Easy
4) From Willamette Valley Wonder Woman: Back To School Free Printable Lunch Notes
1) From Enchanted Homeschooling Mom: Back To School Wreath
2) From Stella123: Back To School Pinwheel Pencils
1) From Schooling a Monkey: Healthy Snack Idea: Apple Chips Recipe
2) From There's Just One Mommy: 12 After School Snack Ideas
3) From Kandy Kreations: Fun Family Tradition with Cookie Friday
1) From Toddlers Through Preschool: Observing Trees
2) From An Idea on Tuesday: Painting Without a Brush
3) From Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds: Fall Watercolor Art
A Few Simple Guidelines:
1) Please follow Crafty Moms Share via GFC (or one of the other ways that work for you).
2) Link any kid-friendly, child-centered post. Please no etsy shops or giveaways, etc. Remember to link to your actual post.
3) Post the Sharing Saturday button on your sidebar or somewhere on your blog to help spread the word.
5) If you do not have a blog, but want to share an idea you can leave it in the comments or e-mail it to me with a picture (if possible).