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 “Scrapbooking Club with Center Friendly Materials”
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!)
Children love learning magic tricks. I can always tell when a new magic trick is being passed around at school because a handful of excited children will all show me the trick on the same day! Why not capture that magic and excitement by offering up a Magic Club?
Here are some ideas:
1) The Bubble Game, from Creative Kids at Home
What child would not want to be encased in a giant bubble? (ok even as an adult I would want to do this.) Really adorable idea!!! And very doable in the after school setting.
Supplies needed: bubble solution, hula hoop, small stool, & hula hoop
2) Learn Magic tricks– Here is a link to activity village with some great magic trick videos.
Supplies needed: clear wax crayons from Easter Egg Kits, white paper, watercolors, paintbrushes.
4) Special Event- Have a special visitor “magician” put on a Magic Show or demonstration for the students.
Hope you have a bippity boppity magically teriffic time with your magic club!
Yum, Yum! Have you seen the latest in fun baked goods craze? Last year we saw the rise of the cupcake….this year its the scrumptious cake pop or cake ball.
We had a Bake Sale a few months bake to support a wonderful program called Pennies for Patients whose proceeds go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The kids had a blast with this fundraiser and also supported a wonderful cause. Continue reading “Cake Ball Craze”
Brr..it’s cold outside. Time for some fun winter projects. Whether you live in snowy New York City or Sunny Southern California (well…rainy as of late!) you can partake in the following projects with your young ones.
Hello everyone, and Happy School Year! Summertime has come and gone and the kids are back in school. I’m sure everyone is deep into their fall lesson planning! One of my favorite parts of my job is planning new and fun activities for the children in my program. In the past I used to devour my small supply of Resource Books just looking for some new, fresh content. I still use my trusty books but I also use the internet quite often. Today I wanted to share a few of my favorite sites for free printable activities, coloring pages, word searches, and puzzles that I have found over the years with all of you!
For Coloring Pages:
http://www.pudgybunny.com/color.html
~ Pudgy Bunny was the first Online Coloring Page Site I found many years ago! It is still my favorite go-to place to find coloring pages to this day. Maybe it is because it is called Pudgy-Bunny? I am a sucker for anything cute and bunny related!
For word searches and crossword puzzles:
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/
~ Create your own personalized crossword puzzles and word searches!
For crafts and themed activity pages:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html
Where is your favorite place to go online to find free printables?
Each year as I am preparing for my return at the beginning of the school year I gear up for a great year. I think about all the new kids I am going to meet and what they are going to be like. Will there be more boys or girls? Will they like outside games or crafts more? What will their favorite books and hobbies be? Usually I am very well-prepared — I’ve laid out lesson plans and event ideas that are sure to keep everyone happy, safe and entertained. I have my magic sack of handy dandy, tried and true games and activity ideas that I just know the kids are going to love! Continue reading “Breathing new life into your After-School Program: Introducing an Idea-Sharing Forum”
