Making a Bed for Stuart Little

It's been less than normal around here since the end of January. So, after our wonderful visit with my parents I was expecting to get back to a somewhat normal routine where we were a little more focused on "school" than we were when my parents were here. Well, the FLU bug that bit us stifled my plan. So, I've been itching to teach my little ones, but knew that Ben needed something that would be easy to chew until he regained his strength. So, yesterday at lunch he began showing signs of great improvement and I was reminded that I had recently purchased a copy of E.B. White's Stuart Little. So, I read the first three chapters to them yesterday.

I was determined to have a more normal school day today so soon after breakfast we did math. I remembered a passage from Stuart Little and thought of a fun craft. So, I read two more chapters of Stuart Little and then I reread part of chapter 1 and the kids and I set to work on measuring how tall Stuart was and making his bed.

"When Mrs. Frederick C. Little's second son arrived, everybody noticed that he was not much bigger than a mouse. The truth of the matter was, the baby looked very much like a mouse in every way. He was only about two inches high; and he had a mouse's sharp nose, a mouse's tail, a mouse's whiskers, and the pleasant, shy manner of a mouse. Before he was many days old he was not only looking like a mouse but acting like one, too-wearing a gray hat and carrying a small cane. Mr. and Mrs. Little named him Stuart, and Mr. Little made him a tiny bed out of four clothespins and a cigarette box." -excerpt from Chapter 1 of Stuart Little

I just so happened to have the round clothespins pictured in the book's illustration. I wish I would have known I needed a couple of cigarette boxes last week. I would have asked my father for them. At first we tried to make Stuart's bed out of a thin piece of cardboard, but realized that wasn't such a great idea, so instead we used the top and bottom of a checkbook box.



The kids really enjoyed making the bed for Stuart. They are the ones that thought of making him a pillow and blanket.



I found them making a home for Stuart later. Actually, Annie ended up renaming her mouse Stephanie and found a baby doll and bed for it. She named the baby Stella. :)





















Later I found both mice in Annie's Little People dollhouse. Needless to say it proved a worthwhile craft. They really seem to be enjoying the book too. Actually, I am really enjoying reading Stuart Little to them.

Papier-mache (Paper Mache) Hot Air Balloons

The number one way people get to my Expressions of A Child of God blog is because they are googling how to paper mache (papier-mache) hot air balloons. The original post I did was primarily for me and my family so I did not include steps or tips. I thought I would put together a more helpful post for those of you trying to papier-mache hot air balloons. So, here goes:

Papier-mache Hot Air Balloons:

Getting started:
1. Select a work area where you can mop. I covered our dining room table with an old table cloth and let my kids work there.
2. Tear old newspapers into strips.
3. Blow up some balloons by mouth. I used 12" helium quality balloons.
4. Mix up flour and water to form a nice paste. (I did 1-part water & 1-part flour). DLTK has some other recipes to try.
5. Place balloons in bowl or pot that allows them to be propped up and exposed during the papier-maching.







6. Take a strip of newspaper and dip it into the flour/water mixture. Place the freshly coated paper on the balloon. Repeat until the balloon is covered with a layer of moist newspaper. Do not worry about covering the portion of the balloon where it is tied.




7. Let the balloons dry overnight. (Drying tip: Soon after they aren't too wet take some curly ribbon and tie them at the end. You can hang up side down to dry over the bath tub or outside. I will warn that if they are left hanging up-side down too long they will eventually fall as the balloon will pop. You'll also need to protect to floor where they are hanging with a towel or other newspaper so you don't end up papier-maching the floor. This isn't that big of a deal....)

8. At this point you might repeat the papier-mache layer on the balloon. I did not. I found them to be good enough for me.








9. After papier-mache step is complete. Pop the balloon and disgard it in the trash. Remember balloons are choking hazards, so please throw them away.
10. Poke two holes in the top of the balloon to create a means of hanging the balllon from the ceiling.
11. Take a pipe cleaner or fishing line to create a loop for the balloon. Note: Be sure that the top is well papier-mached to create a stable place to hang the balloon when finished.
12. In order to secure the structure take a container used for margarine or sour cream and place it in the opening at the bottom of the balloon. I used those toss and go sippy/juice cups in a couple of mine. Secure container to the balloon with maskingor duct tape. (it's easier to paint masking tape, but if you get the cool colored duct tape it could work well. You could even use the duct tape in later steps to secure the basket.)

13. The balloon should be able to set on the table by itself now.






14. Paint each balloon with tempera paint.










15. dry each balloon. (I hung them in my crepe myrtles in our little courtyard. I thought they were very pretty hanging in the trees.)











16. Select basket for the bottom. You could use almost anything. A fruit or vegetable container might work well. Or one of thos little plant containers.
17. Decorate basket. (You might papier-mache it).
18. Adhere pipe cleaner/fishing line to the sides of the basket.
19. Adhere other end of cleaner or line to the balloon. (hot glue might work well for this)
20. Your project should be complete.
21. Hang the balloons. Unless you created a very sturdy basket it will be next to impossible to get this project to stand up on its own.


Advice:
1. Selecting the item representing the basket is very important. After getting the balloons papier-mached it seemed that they were sturdier and much heavier than that flimsy cardboard I was trying to use for baskets. It might be worth putting papier-mache on whatever you choose to use for the base. Maybe a little chicken wire too. This about.com link has a great list of all kinds of items that could be papier-mached for large projects. Ideally you will be hanging the finished product so the basket may not be extremely important, but I contend it's worth making it sturdier than I initially did.

2. I tried to use pipe cleaners to connect the balloon to the base. Not sturdy enough. A wire hanger might work better. Or perhaps some chop sticks. or fishing line.

3. Realize that papeir-mache takes time. Everything must be given ample time to dry.

4. Put aprons on yourself and your children.

here are few other links for you:

I did my project after visiting this link http://www.homeschoolzone.com/craft/hotairballoon.htm

http://www.explorium.org/Ballooning%20Activities%20for%20your%20Classroom.htm



If anyone has any comments or encouragements about papier-maching hot air balloons that you'd like to share please comment. Have Fun!

Bonus: We made these balloons in July. I used the structure as a head for scarecrow in October.
Meet Fred.

I've Finished Kindergarten

I've finished KINDERGARTEN! I did it! I'm 31 years old and am very proud of my accomplishment. Yep, I, actually Chris & I, taught Benjamin everything he needed to know to complete Kindergarten and enter first grade. I am very proud of Ben for his hard work and dedication. And, I am very proud of myself for all that he has learned/completed.

Homeschooling

My favorite thing about homeschooling my six-year-old son and my four-year-old daughter is wonder in their eyes and smiles on their faces as they discover the world around them.

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