In Family Fun's holiday edition this year, they had a great puppetting craft using wooden dowels as the bodies. Here, I've adapted the idea, using paper towel rolls instead.

You will need:

Paper towel rolls
Orange, white, and brown paint
Paintbrushes
Black and Red markers
Various crafting materials for the clothing and accessories

I used a lot of construction paper for the clothing of the various characters, and tin foil folded over numerous times for crowns and swords with random fabric additions. I posted each puppet in its various stages of completion so that you can visualize the steps. If you would like written instructions for any specific puppets, you can comment, and I will try to respond as soon as possible.

I will be away for the next week and a half or so, so I'll probably only blog occasionally during this time.

Enjoy your Presidents Week!

Next week is Presidents Day/Week depending on where you live. To prepare and celebrate, you can make this fun hat!

You will need:

9" stiff paper plate
Black poster board strip
Black sharpie
Razor Blade
Black paint
Heavy tape
Start with the plate and using the marker, draw a 10-12 slice pie in the center circle of the plate. The more slices, the better it will work. Use the razor to cut the pie so that all slices are attached to the outer ring of the plate. Paint the bottom side of the plate black. When dry, fold up the "slices" so that the triangles resemble a crown. Next, measure and cut a strip of black poster board so that it wraps around the plate with an inch to spare around, and as high as you'd like. Tape the triangles to the black strip of poster board, wrapping it around as you go, until the 2 ends overlap. Tape or staple them shut, and voila! You have a black top hat!

I always find that the most frustrating part of making crowns and hats in class is having to size each kid's head, and invariably, measuring incorrectly...sounds familiar???

Well a few years ago, as I was surfing the internet for some ideas, I saw one of those brilliant ideas that make teachers' lives so much simpler- a one size fits all crown!! I wish I could remember where I had seen it to give the teacher her much deserved thanks, but I guess this will do for accolades.

You will need:

Crown/hat
Appropriate decorations
Stapler
Rubber band (!!)

Simply leave approximately an inch and a half at each end of the crown blank for the fastener. Have the kids decorate the crowns, and once they're ready to wear, the magic begins! Fold over 3/4" of one end, and place the rubber band in the flap that you created. Staple the flap shut so that the rubber band is being held securely. Now bring the other end of the crown around, and repeat the process, inserting the same rubber band into the second flap and staple shut.

Voila!! Your hat will now stretch to accommodate the slightly varying head sizes of your children! This is a particularly great trick for homemade class costumes where you'd want the hat to fit more than one child!

Paper plate crowns are fun, versatile, and resourceful!

You will need:

9" (approximately) stiff paper plates
Any decorating mtaerials- paint, sequins, buttons, glue
Razor
Black Marker
Ruler/Straight Edge

Start with the plate and using the marker, draw a 10-12 slice pie in the center circle of the plate. The more slices, the better it will work. Use the razor to cut the pie so that all slices are attached to the outer ring of the plate. Decorate as you see fit. Finally, simply fold up the "slices" so that they are the triangles of the crown and wear!

Everyone knows that the most important item to have for Purim is your very own megillah. But we often forget the second most important item- a functional and protective case! This Megillah case is fun to use because it allows kids to roll and unroll their megillah with ease.

This case requires a lot of teacher involvement, but the actual decor and fun parts are done by the kids. Truse me, it's worth it!

You will need:

Empty Pringles container
2 cardboard dowels from dry cleaning hangers or other wooden dowels if you prefer
Paints ( I did 2 layers, one tempera, one a fabulous glitter paint that I had won from Plaid Crafts! Stay tuned to see them featured here  :)  )
Razor blade
Pair of scissors
Completed Megillah

1. Measure the width of your dowels and cut a hole through the lid of the container using the razor so that there's a drop pod wiggle room once the dowel is inserted.

2. Use the razor to cut a straight line down the entire pringles can. Make a small cut across, and use the scissors to cut a second line down the can parallel to the first- you should end up with a slit in the pringles can that's about 1/10" wide.

3. Have the kids paint the container, or mod podge it with tissue paper- whatever you prefer. I painted it with tempera paint to cover the writing, and then when it was dry painted a coat of glitter paint. You can also provide the kids with a label stating "My Megillah" or use paint markers to write on it. The label won't stick by itself, but you can mod podge it to the container.

4. Cut one dowel so that it is 1/2" or less taller than the actual Megillah, and the second dowel, so that you have approximately 2" extending from the top of the pringles can.

5. If you are using wooden dowels, attach the longer dowel to the end of the megillah, roll it up and place it inside the can. Pull the beginning of the megillah through the eli and attach the shorter dowel. This will prevent the megillah from getting stuck in its case when you roll it using the taller dowel.

If you are using the dry cleaner tubes, you'll need the razor one last time. Cut a slit straight down the length of each tube. Reinforce both ends of your megillah with clear masking tape. Carefully insert the end of the megillah into the slit of the longer dowel, starting from the top and sliding it through. You may want to use a glue gun to ensure that it stays. Next, roll the megillah and place it in the can. Pull the beginning through the slit and repeat the process with the shorter dowel.

6. Place the lid on the can of the megillah- you may want to glue gun it closed.

Happy Purim!

What's Purim without a Megillah, right?

Here are 2 options for Megillahs with a simplified version of the story. Not what you're looking for? You can email me using the contact form, and I may be able to help you out.

The first Megillah is entirely photo scenes, and the second megillah is about 60% gluing activities, and 40% pictures. Both options are available to download here.

You will need the following costume items for the pictures:

King's crown
Tiara
Scepter
Girl's Dress Up- a lot! :)
Haman's hat- or a Pirate hat
2 soldier hats
Kippahs and hats
Torahs
Tea Set/Play food
Balloons- optional
Rocking Horse
Any other fun royal accessories

You can view what each photo page should look like by clicking here.

Happy Purim and Happy Posing!

We were invited to join a contest hosted by Every Creative Endeavor, and have entered. I won't inundate you with requests to vote- I'll only ask this once. Playful Preschool's entries are numbers 52 and 53- Im sure you'll recognize them ;) So if you'd like to do us a favor and vote for our crafts, that would be much appreciated! Thanks

You can vote here

A few years ago, we were going to be learning the letter S during the week before Purim, and I was trying to come up with a craft that would connect to both units. These fun scepters are what I came up with.

You will need:

Paper towel roll
Paint
2-3 Pipe cleaners
Beads
ScissorsRibbon and a single paper fastener- optional


1. Paint the paper towel rolls

2. Give each child 2-3 pipe cleaners- your choice and have them bead most of them, leaving the first and last inch and a half empty.

3. Use the scissors to pierce the diameter of one end of the paper towel roll either 4 or 6 times depending on how many pipe cleaners you chose to use. Ensure that the holes are spaced evenly around.

4. Attach the pipe cleaners using the holes, crossing them over each other so that you either have an X or a * at the top of your tube.

You may be done here or for more effect....

5. Pierce one more hole in the scepter, and attach some curled ribbons to flow from the scepter's head. I needed to use a paper fastener through the ribbons to make them stick, though duck tape would probably have worked as well.

Make a few extra to add to your dramatic play center and watch your kings, queens, princes, and princesses relish in using their handmade crafts for fun!

Purim is the time for making a ton of noise! So fill up your sensory bin with as many graggers and noisemakers as you can find, plus any other Purim odds n ends and put a pair of ear plugs in your ears. 

Have fun!!

Yay! Did you realize that Purim is only one month away?!?

For Purim crafts, I'm not going in any particular order of ideas, so if there's something specific that you'd like to see, please ask on my Facebook page.

1, Firstly, for some ceiling decor. These hanging Hamantaschen are fun, colorful, and skillful!

You will need:

Cream colored paper
Contact Paper
Tissue paper in Jelly colors- purple, red, orange
Scissors
Single hole punch
String

Cut a rounded triangle from the cream paper. Cover one side with contact paper cut to size. Cut the tissue paper into small squares. ave the kids crunch each piece of tissue paper before placing it on the contact paper, holding it in place. Once the contact paper is full, punch a hole at the top of the triangle and tie  a piece of string. Hang from the ceiling!

2. Purim Puppet Theater

In our classroom last year we had a toy grocery store by Melissa and Doug. If you have something similar great, if not, improvise! Simply drape fabric over it to form a puppet theater. Have baskets nearby, or use the grocery bins of this set to place the various Purim related puppets in reach! If you live in New York, Amazing Savings has a great Cowgirl on a horse puppet for $3.99 that I converted into Mordechai on the horse. The kids loved it!

Have fun and Happy Purim!