DIY Truffula Trees! (Dr. Seuss's The Lorax)

Appropriately enough, my last post was about New Year's resolutions of which I am realizing I never actually made (for myself).  Here's my Spring time resolution: remember to take photos and post more often. Here's the first step to accomplishing that goal!

I recently helped host a Dr Seuss themed party.  As center pieces for the party I had this idea to make Truffula trees and place them in bottle 'vases.'  Personally, I think it turned out pretty cute.  Here's what I did (sort of step by step... that whole taking photos as I go thing is a work in progress).

Ok, so I will be honest about the fluffy top material- it's about $5 for 6 feet. When you are doing just a few and you want multiple colors you're going to end up with some left overs.  If you are a cost-aware teacher (I love my bargins) you might want to make a whole bunch of trees, or at least go to the store with one of those 40% off coupons AC Moore and Michael's always has out.



Materials:

• Dowels (I used 1/2" thick, 3ft dowels)
• White paint (small bottle of 'craft' paint)
• 1 inch foam brush
• Glue gun and glue sticks 
• Something to cut your dowels (I used a little saw and cutting box made for dowels)
• Marabou Boa medium weight 
• Black marker (Sad to say, my trusty Sharpies failed on this one.  Mr. Sketch worked perfectly though!)
• Some sort of working surface you can dispose of (I used a large poster board), the feathers will get messy!

Step 1: Cut the dowels to 18".
Step 2: Paint the dowels with two coats of white paint.  The stems need to be bright white.
Step 3: (When the paint is dry) Use a black marker and make zig-zag esk rings randomly around the stem.
Step 4: Cut the Marabou boa into 8 inch sections.  Glue one end of the piece to the top of the stem.  Twist and wrap the piece around the stem and attach with dots of hot glue to make it stick but remain 'fluffy.'

 Step 5: Repeat with other colors until you're work space looks a little like Big Bird and friends may have exploded and you have something like this:

I used my Truffula trees for a party so they were added to these vases and Seuss-esk ribbon was added around. To finish off the tables, Seuss books were added next to each vase.  My trees are currently sitting in a tall, shiny metal 'vase' (bucket) in my classroom, appropriately being 'recycled.'

And just think, this is pretty close to planting that last Truffula seed!

I am Ms. C and I speak for the crafters of these trees! (Hopefully you're picking up on the Lorax spin-off quote).

New Year's Resolutions

It took 2 days and some small group work but by the end of the day today I was holding 17 completed New Year's resolution goal setting organizers.  Tomorrow, the plan is to send home this sheet as home work.  The idea is that the parents will talk to their children about why they chose the resolution that they chose and help their child think of ways to reach that goal.  Crossing my fingers that at least half of these resolutions come back on the due date assigned.

The only thing different about this PDF and what I am handing out is that I am handwriting on "My resolution is" onto the top line to help the parents see how to use the lines.

PDF link: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0By1GkRIpToipN0dPQjJUOTI3czQ

I hope this is useful for someone! 

Happy New Year!

New Year's Resolutions, Kinder-style!

Happy New Year!  Today my Kinders worked on the first part of a project to create New Year's resolutions.  I really wanted to do this as my January home project but I was concerned about there being too many variables to this project for homework.  I am still pretty set on wanting the writing of each resolution to be a home project so I took the process apart. 

First, I read Squirrel's New Year's Resolution.  Squirrel has a hard time making a New Year's resolution but helps her friends throughout the day.  The focus of the book was that a New Year's Resolution is something that makes you a better person or helps you help other people.

I found an idea on http://littlemissglamourgoestokindergarten.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/new-years-resolutions.html to have each student break down what they can do, almost can do and want to do before creating a resolution.  I felt that my Kinders needed a little more space to work with.  I also added an area for an illustration and removed the resolution writing piece.  With these elements in mind I created this paper (for the best effect you'll need to print on 8.5" x 14" paper.) https://docs.google.com/open?id=0By1GkRIpToipT1AyTHBQajI4dmM

Once I create the form for the New Year's Resolution writing I'll upload those as well. 

Here's to a new year full of special moments with special little people!