requires:

* piece of flannel or
              receiving blanket
* large piece of cardboard
* paperclips
* felt pieces
*********************************

Stretch flannel over cardboard and secure
with paperclips.  Cut shapes out of felt. 
will stick to the flannel.  Use stencils to
trace and cut out a variety of shapes.

requires: 

*celery stalk with lots of leaves
* red and blue food coloring
          * 2 cups with water                                  ********************************

Cut large slit up the middle of the celery stalk
but be sure not to cut all the way up.  Fill each
cup with water.  Add a couple of drops of blue
food coloring to one cup and red to the other
cup.   Put one half of the stalk (area that is slit)
in each cup.  Let sit overnight. The next day the
kids will be so excited to see that half of the leaves are red and half are blue. 

requires:  

*popcycle sticks
*glue 
*construction paper
*************************

Use popcycle sticks and glue to create buildings.  Let each child decide which part of a town they want to make.  After they are dry put them all together to create the town. Use the construction paper for grass, trees, streets, etc.   This is a several day project because the buildings will take awhile to dry.

requires:  

*index cards
*stapler
*pen, crayons or markers
**************************

Cut index cards in half and staple together on one side to create a "book".  Decide on an easy thing to draw and have children draw pictures showing progressive action on each page. Then when they flip through the book quickly it will look like the item moves.  A bouncing ball or a bird in flight are great beginners objects because they are easy to draw.

requires:

*construction paper
*popcycle sticks
* glue     
*crayons or markers
**************************

Trace child's handprint onto construction paper.  Cut out and let child decorate with eyes, nose, mouth, etc.  Then glue to the top of a popcycle stick.   Use puppets to do a "show".

requires: 

* construction paper
* glue      
*crayons 
*pictures cut out from magazines and greeting cards
*************************

Fold paper in half.  Use crayons and pictures to decorate then let the kids write a special message for mom and dad inside.  Help the younger kids with the writing.