Tin Can Robot #GiftedProgramProjects

My Mom has a migraine right now so she let me make this post about the project that I did from the Gifted Program that I am in. In my class, there are two of us who are in the Gifted program and we always have fun when we go there on Thursday.  I love it because  get to do things that our other classmates doesn't do in our regular classroom just like these projects.

Our teacher in the Gifted class  gave us  the tin can robot  kit and we brought  one can to build our robot.  

I had so much fun doing this because I learned how to  put screws and other  cool stuff around the tin.

I name my  robot Crush Crush and my friend named hers Cherrie Cherry because she brought a cherry can.  Crush crush can walk.  We put battery in it so it can operate when you turn the switch on.  My Mom  recorded a video when I  was letting  this walk, she said that she will update it  when she feel better  later.  Thanks Mom!

Another project that we did is this 55-pieces 3D puzzle foam kit that we assembled into the subject that we chose. Before we made this, we did a research and made a short report about it, the history and other important facts.

Mine is the Empire State Building and my friend's  was the  Statue of Liberty.  Building this project is fun but tricky.  I tore up a couple of pieces because they were hard to  insert into the holes but I  hot glued them back  when I brought it at home.  

Based from what I read, The Empire State Building  has been named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Coloring Pages for KIds

My children's school is closed today which I am very happy because it is frigid outside and walking out is not a good feeling. So what are we going to do on their off-days? Well, we are doing some arts and crafts and I am checking out the available coloring pages at www.coloringpageskid.com.  We will also be doing some  reading later on and I will let them play their video games after we got done with all the other things that we plan to do today. If you are planning to  have something to do with your kids, visit  http://www.coloringpageskid.com and check out their coloring pages available, they have a ton.  You can download it for free.  Below are some photos of my kids coloring, one of their favorite past time and hobby.

Do this count? Lol.

To avoid  that kind of mess, go to the website and print your kids something to color on.

Fun Holiday-Themed Projects for Kids

Holiday season approaches and with it, winter break for your children.

The time out of school allows time for family visits and a lot of holiday fun but it also invites boredom. Keeping the kids entertained and letting them help decorate for the season will make everyone happy.

Surfing the internet will reward you with several websites offering free holiday templates and coloring pages. The templates come in handy when cutting shapes and even if you chose not to use any, ideas will begin stirring.

Supplies

You will need:

· A printer

· Ink and Brother toner

· Safety scissors

· Glue

· Crayons (paint, colored pencils or chalk)

· Construction paper and card stock

· Empty toilet paper rolls

· Sparkles

Paper Cutout Figures

You will find a variety of crafting ideas to help keep your children happy and fill your house with Thanksgiving cheer.

Thanksgiving paper dolls make great wall and refrigerator decorations. Print your templates for a Native American boy, turkeys and pilgrims with your choice of full-size or smaller.

Print out the various body parts and color where needed. You also have a choice of color or black and white templates. Next, cut out the parts, carefully, and glue them together to make a holiday paper decoration.

You can attach magnetic strips to the backs of the figures for hanging on the refrigerator (optional).

Toilet Paper Roll Crafts

Empty toilet paper rolls make crafts that look three-dimensional and can stand-up on their own. Find the picture you like or a template on a website that offers free printouts. You can even search your own picture files to make figures everyone recognizes. Size your picture appropriately before printing so the body does not extend below the end of the toilet paper roll.

Print your pictures and cut them out carefully. Glue the body and other parts on the empty roll and let it dry.

Thanksgiving Place Cards

Get the kids involved in Thanksgiving dinner by making name cards to place around the table. Make it fun for everyone by adding a picture of the person, a picture of his or her favorite food or anything your imagination comes up with.

Using the card stock, print the diner's name and picture on the card stock in any font desired. Or, have the kids print guest's names on a piece of paper and scan them into your pictures for printing on the place cards.

The place cards can go on empty toilet paper rolls or folded into traditional triangles and set out so guests know where they will sit.

Christmas Cards

Send home made Christmas greetings this year. With computer technology, your children can make studio quality cards that feature pictures of the entire family and quick notes inside to wish all the season's best.

This project can drain your ink and toner so have extra around so the whole mailing list gets a card. With homemade cards, each card will hold unique messages and pictures that everyone will appreciate.

Christmas Countdown Calendar

This project will last through the Christmas season. The free template comes with countdown numbers and activity cards. The activities include writing a letter to Santa Claus, awarding the best-decorated house in the neighborhood and donating a toy to the needy.

Print out the calendar, countdown cards and activity cards from the link. Carefully cut them out and countdown to Christmas morning.

3-D Christmas Tree

For this project, you need more empty toilet paper rolls, buttons, sparkles and other small shapes to decorate the finished trees. You can leave out the small items if you are working with kids under three.

Print out the free templates and cut along the dotted lines of the pyramid shapes. Fold as shown in the instructions, insert the empty toilet paper roll and decorate as many of these little trees as you want around the house.

Paper Poinsettias

Make bouquets to fill your house with Christmas cheer that will not die or hurt your pets. You need red and green construction paper, glue, yellow tissue paper and your printer to print the free template.

Cut out the poinsettias along the dotted lines and glue them together as illustrated by the instruction. Fold flowers for a home full of flowers when your guests come.

With your helpers decorating, this holiday season will hold many great memories and treasures to keep.

Rainy Day Activities for Children

With autumn now here in full force we are expecting lots more rainy weekends and with lots of outdoor activities off limits what can you do to prevent your children quickly getting bored of being stuck indoors? Here are some fun rainy day activities for kids this autumn and winter.

Online Games

Free online games for kids are great for children of school age, they can be played on the computer or even a tablet device and, thanks to the many developments in games they are educational as well as fun. Knowing your child is learning things related to their age or school activities can be great peace of mind! Make sure you pick a game which is age appropriate for your child so they can get the most out of it and if possible help them find a game related to the activities they have been completing in school.  If you have an iPhone or iPad you will find lots of learning games available for free in the app store!

Baking

Baking with your children is a fun way of spending the afternoon and the skills they will learn whilst doing so will be invaluable! The possibilities are also endless, you could invest in a child specific cookbook which means easier recipes with less ingredients so your child can take a more hands on approach, you could simply use some of your own recipes, or you could make bases such as cookies and cupcakes and get your child you add the toppings and decorations such as icing, sweets and dried fruit. With Halloween approaching it can be a fun time to follow a spooky theme with your cakes and cookies! As well as baking you can also teach your child how to cook simple meals, or even create your own mini pizzas and let your children choose the toppings!

Arts and Crafts

This can be as fun as baking, although without the yummy treats at the end! Arts and crafts can be as simple as painting a picture. If you have a family birthday coming up or other such event why not let your child get creative and make handmade birthday cards? They have a far more effective touch than something which was store bought! Handmade gifts can also be created for the grandparents. Examples of such include creating salt dough hand and foot prints with your child which they can then paint! Salt dough opens up a world of handmade gift possibilities which are truly unique to your child's imagination.

Treasure Hunting

Perfect for the younger children, especially ones that love pirates and adventure. Create a series of clues or a map and then hide treats or further clues and questions around your house. This is a fun activity that everyone can get involved in and helps develop problem solving and map reading skills. Although this can be seen as an Easter activity it can easily be completed throughout the year with modifications for the time of year and the treats which are being used.

Sarah is a mummy blogger in the UK 

Get Creative with Duck Tape®

This post brought to you by Walmart. All opinions are 100% mine.

My skills in craft is very limited but I am glad that we are surrounded with love ones who loves to create crafts with my kids.  My sister-in-law is very crafty  but since we seldom  see them these days, my daughter and I just get ideas from YouTube.  Right now, she is very interested in making pop up cards which I find very interesting.  Earlier,  she got hooked in making craft project using Duck Tape®.  It all started when one of our  closest neighbor gave Ms. Burrito two rolls of Duck Tape®. 

They made this handbag out of the Duck Tape®! Isn't that a cute bag? I am planing to buy Duck Tape at Walmart next time we go there so my daughter can use it in her pop up cards. I will document it so you can see it.

THere are so many things that you can do with Duck Tape®.  You can  make a boring  picture frame into a beautiful  one by using a Duck Tape® as a boarder.  You can get  a lot of creative ideas by  following them on Twitter.  THe  ideas you will see is  endless, so get creative with Duck Tape®.

Dora the Explorer

My kids are no longer  interested in Dora but one day out of boredom, my daughter  drew this.

I remember those times when they were still  into watching the Dora show.    I would hear the "Do-do-do-do-Dora, Do-do-do-do-do-Dora... Dora, Dora, the Explorer..." song lol.

Anyway, I find it interesting that  even if she doesn't watch the show anymore,   Dora's image still lingers in her mind.  These two are growing up so fast.  I wish I can hold on to their innocence lol.

Picasso, Our Little Ms. Burrito's Favorite Painter and Sculpture

One early morning, after she got done cooking breakfast (omelet and  potato hash) for us, she  had this urge to paint.  She put some fruit in a bowl, set it  on the table then she took the  two small  wooden chair and set it on the kitchen floor.  She then put a bond paper  on top of  folded newspaper , put some paint in a disposable plate, and started painting.

After 30 minutes or so, this is what she came up with.  I don't have an art inclination so I am so proud of my little girl for having that  ability to draw.  Both of kids love arts, they got that trait from their Dad, thanks God for that!   

Now, I have a great idea what to get her for her birthday.  She's turning 8 in few months and I think that a  good paint set would  make her very very happy.  I have to buy a frame for this painting as well so I can hang it up in our kitchen.    During their  Spring break, she  did some arts like cloud painting and stuff, will have to make a post about that sometimes.  

I remember  her 2nd grade teacher asked me if my daughter is taking  art lesson and I told her that she isn't.  She thought that Ms. Burrito is really talented.  It made me feel so  happy, I actually shed  tears in front of the teacher, wahh what a cry baby lol.  Oh well, what can I say, I am very emotional when it comes to my  Burritos.

Ms. Burrito's Favorite painter and Sculpture is Pablo  Picasso.  She reads  his biography online and  admire his works.  She even make these little people  from his playdoh.  she calls this one, the cave man.

She calls these group, the Little People.  She  said that it's actually "Us" as a family.

So there goes  my little girl's Picasso-Inspired creations.

Puffy Paint

I am glad that Mr. Burrito is into arts and crafts now.   He used to ignore us when we encouraged him to do arts and crafts with us but now he is very interested.  They used their Puffy Paints  on this particular activity instead of using crayons.

Little Girl Misses Mommy

While I was waiting for the other Mommies to arrive at the school's cafeteria, I took advantage of the time by taking pictures of the arts/drawings that are posted on the wall.  The librarian at the school is also the art teacher, she is  member of an art  organization and she  always encourages  the kids to practice their talents.

My daughter told me a couple of weeks ago that the art teacher saw her sketch  and ask her if she can  use  it as exhibit in an art show.  Man, that  motivate Ms. Burrito to sketch some more.  She told me that if she should have known that it was going to be displayed, she could  have made it better.  

She said that she  was just sketching this because the little girl that was in her mind was missing  her Mom.  "That's why, she looks sad" she said.

Weaving Loom

Ms. Burrito find crocheting a little complicated so she stop doing it for a while. Her Aunt, Chris,  gave her a set of weaving loom during her birthday and she loves doing it. 

Thank you so much Chris, you ignited  another  interest from my  princess.

To make one pot holder, it cost $1.25, she charges 75 cents for labor so she sells them for $2 each.

We bought her  additional boxes of loops because she got  an order from our friend in Texas.  I hope you enjoy  my little entrepreneur's creation.  She is my  apprentice hehehe.  Way to go Ms. Burrito.