Art

As you can see from my image, my copy of Things to Make and Do is a bit battered and stained.  Although this small book doesn’t have any many crafts in it as some do, I like it because it has projects in it that I haven’t found in most other craft/art books.  Let me take a moment to tell you about this helpful book.

What do you get?

Produced by Scholastic Services, this almost 80 page book contains about 40 projects.  These range in difficulty from easy (book marks) to hard (prickly vase).   Well written instructions help the maker complete their projects well. Part of the author’s goal is to help the young makers design and create projects they may be able to sell.  To that end she enclosed a small section at the close of the book to assist them in their endeavors (things to do). 

The Nitty Gritty

Illustrator Ethel Gold provides simple drawings to guide the maker in their projects.  Some of the projects look remarkably simple, but their complexity is see as you go through the steps to make them. The projects use items often readily found around the house, I didn’t run into anything I didn’t know what it was.

I have to admit, I did need to research what crafting wax is. I’d heard of it before but wasn’t sure what it looked like. Now I know more eh?

I mentioned a couple of the projects to my lad and he thought they sounded good to make.  “That could be helpful mom” and “do you think something like that I could sell?”   It’s good to raise an entrepreneurial lad you know?  

This project made me think of  how my mom likes to make cards. Designing them well for each person, the pride she takes in giving something personal to others.   It’s cool to see and this project would be a good first step in helping a new generation learn the skill of card-making. 

Things to Make and Do
Linda Beech
Ethel Gold (illustrator)
Scholastic Book Services
80 pages, softcover
Crafts, Projects, Make it
 

I grew up with Bright Idea books floating around with things to do with children.  Published in 1984 they have been around a spell.  This particular book, Seasonal Activities, is filled with not just craft ideas, but with different things you can do with children throughout the different Seasons of the year.

What do you get?

Seasonal Activities is divided into Four sections along with a reproducible materials section.  128 pages filled with over 150 activities to do for children 5 to 11. 

Each page lists the age range geared for, most often 5-9 or 7-11, with some variation, the type of activity, the size of group needed, and the supplies required.  Each activity was previously published in the Scholastic Magazine, and as such has been tried and tested.  Simple black and white illustrations dot the pages.

Even though my lad is 13 years old, I found activities that I will be modifying to use over the coming year as we study Canada and the wars.  Things like travel study guides, radar mapping, cleaning barracks and more.  Do they need to be adapted sure?  It’s all part of the learning right?

My Thoughts:

I love the sheer variety of things to do.  From kite-flying to building a collage.  There are things to delight and entertain any number of curious, creative 5-11 year olds. With some modifications, they could even be used at hands-on, stem projects for older students as well. 

Seasonal Ideas

Bright Ideas
Scholastic Publications
Softcover, ages 5-11,
crafts, activities, seasons

Found on Amazon.