Author Archives: Marie

Snowy Crafts!

Whether you live in a sunny or snowy climate, tis the season for some fun, snow-inspired crafts!

Here are a few ideas for your after school program!

1) Decorate a Snowman Cookie

Supplies Needed:

  • Sugar Cookies (in 2 to 3 diff. sizes- Nilla Wafers work great for the head)
  • White Frosting
  • Mini M&M’s, Skittles (for face and buttons)
  • Twizzlers (for scarf)
  • Black Licorice – cut into pieces (for top hat)
  • Spoons (for spreading frosting)
  • Paper Plates
  • Pretzel Sticks (for arms)

Place 2-3 cookies on a plate. Allow kids to ice using spoons. Decorate your snowman (or woman).

2) Edible Snowballs on a Stick

I’ve posted this one before…it’s one of my favorites!  A fun, winter food craft for your enjoyment that’s super simple too! 

Supplies needed:

  • white chocolate chips or Candiquik** (see below)
  • microwave safe bowls
  • large marshmallows
  • sprinkles
  • craft sticks
  • wax paper (for drying)

A work colleague of mine shared this with me! I tried it out with a group of five year olds and they had a blast!! Have an adult melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Allow the children to attach their marshmallow to a craft stick, dip in white chocolate, and sprinkles (if desired) and allow to dry.

Eat and enjoy!

 

**Log House Vanilla Candiquik, 16-ounce Package, Pack of oneAn alternative to using white choc. chips is a new product I found (well, new for me anyway) called candiquik. This stuff is awesome! It’s microwavable and comes with it’s own tray! Also, as an added bonus — you can dip up to 18-20 projects, and add the sprinkles — all without reheating! This is great because each time you reheat white choc chips they get lumpier and sometimes brown.  You can find this product online at amazon.com or at your local Target store.

3) 3D Paper Snowflakes

I’ve been making regular paper snowflakes all my life and have since passed on my love for making them to the kids at work.  One day while we were making them, one of the kid’s parents came in and said, “Have you ever made a 3D snowflake?” “No! I had not” I replied. (How cool does that sound?) She showed us how to make them, and from that day forward, we loved it.  It looks challenging…and for me the process was hard to remember at first.  But, follow this link to wikihow: How to make a 3D snowflake and you will end up with something that looks like this:

From www.wikihow.com: Make-a-3D-Paper-Snowflake

I hope you all settle in with a cup of warm cocoa and enjoy this Winter season with your charges! What will you be up to this winter?

Game Show Club

Do you remember Family Feud, Jeopardy or Double Dare?

Ok, in the world of advanced video gaming systems, game shows may seem a little outdated, but kids will always enjoy engaging in fun group games. Game Show club can offer a new opportunity for friendly competition. In order to instill a spirit of healthy competition make sure to remind children about sportsmanship and teamwork. If you’d like, you can keep a supply of small prizes to handout at each week for good sportsmanship, as well as for winning games. Here are ideas for a four week club. Continue reading »

After School Club Ideas: A to Z

I have compiled a comprehensive after school club theme list using every letter of the alphabet. Stay tuned for upcoming reviews, strategies, and lesson plans for implementing these ideas! Just for fun I have placed an *asterisks next to clubs I have seen in action and **double-asterisks next to clubs that have been written about here at After School Club Ideas.

  • Art Club*
  • Balloon Club
  • Ceramics or Color Me Mine Club*
  • Dance Club*
  • Extraordinary Earth Club**
  • Fort Club
  • Game Show Club*
  • Hawaiian Club** or Homework Club**
  • Italian Club
  • Jewelry Making Club*
  • Kite Club
  • Lego Club*
  • Money Matters Club
  • Nickelodeon Club*
  • Ooey Gooey Club*
  • Pinata Club*
  • Quilting Club
  • Royalty Club*
  • Scrapbooking Club**
  • Taste of Mexico Club**
  • Unda da Sea Club
  • Viking Explorers Club
  • Woodworking Club
  • X-treme Sports & Games Club
  • Yo-Yo Club
  • Zoo Club

Aren’t those ideas fun? Feel free to use these ideas or even better — share your ideas in the comments section below.  I know there are many more out there!

Scrapbooking Club with Center Friendly Materials

Ever wanted to start a Scrapbooking Club with the kids at your center but worried that all the scrapbooking materials you need to buy would break your budget? Not to worry, you may be suprised that most materials needed you may already have on hand.

 

 

Continue reading »

Summer Learning Loss and Ideas to prevent it

I have been reading several articles lately on the subject of Learning Loss in summer. According to several studies significant learning loss can take place in children during summer or out-of-school months. In a study conducted by Cooper et al [1] it has been found that summer learning loss can be the equivalent of a at least one month of instruction. That number is staggering! So what can us as educators and parents do to help with this statistic? There are many ideas out there that can help combat this problem. Continue reading »

Start up a Chess Club

I have found a great resource for starting your own chess club at this link:  http://www.rockfordchess.org/clubs/starting.htm

I loved the table where they discussed “Optimal” vs. “realistic” playing conditions. The school I work at certainly falls under the latter column. Granted, starting a chess club in an after-school program will be challenging but if you persevere it is likely to be a very rewarding and fun experience for the children                                                                        (bonus: parents will appreciate it too!)

Continue reading »

Adding to Harry Potter Club: Make your own butterbeer!

Have you heard of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida? This amusement park brings the experiences of the Harry Potter Book series to life! I asked a friend of mine who was able to visit about it and he absolutely loved it! Most importantly I wanted to know — what does the butterbeer taste like??  I wanted to find out if I could reproduce it.

Thanks to a little inspiration from friends and work colleagues, here is a recipe to “make your own butter beer.”

  • 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
  • 1 cup cream soda
  • butterscotch syrup

Directions: Put a scoop of ice cream in a cup. Add cream soda. Drizzle with butterscotch syrup. Enjoy!

This would be a fun special event if you happen to host a Harry Potter Club or reading club. Continue reading »

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