Magic Marker Monday: "Big" Top

Michelle's post a couple of weeks back reminded me of a great little craft the kids did for Carnival Week at Summer Camp - the Paper Circus!

Paper people and tent parts were coloured and then cut and pasted.

James liked the the tent. He was not that interested in the people. This has me thinking that he'd probably like making a circus train, and maybe a station. Hmmmmm ....

I love how he decorated teh stripes with numbers!

For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own, visit
5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

                                
  

Magic Marker Monday: Picto Name

We've seen letters like these before, when James was in a mainstream preschool in the afternoons. This time he was able to do more colouring himself, and work on cutting and pasting the letters himself.

A very festive project from summer school!

For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own, visit 
5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

                                    
  

Magic Marker Monday: Camp Art

Both kids attended the morning session of our town's Summer Camp. It's really been the perfect program for us for several years. By now, much of the staff knows James, or get to know him quickly. The theme was Wacky Water Week, which is reflected in the crafts they completed and brought home.

James did a pretty nifty job on his sea medallion and fish plate painting. He has not, to date, named his squid. He's insisting it's a jellyfish.

Left to right: plate fish, sea medallion, squid/jellyfish in a bottle.

His sister made some really cool fish art:

I love this one in particular: it's how I feel some mornings.

For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own, visit
 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

                                
  

Magic Marker Monday: Valentine Puppet

I know we're almost a month beyond the holiday but ... catch-up is the name of my game, lately!

James brought this simple craft home from school. He loved his "puppet" - I could tell from the sound of his voice as he talked about it and the fact that he sought it out over the iPad for play time.

I think we can buy more Popsicles (we are going from cold and hail back up into the 70s this weekend) and start planning some Easter-themed ones and build a little puppet troupe.


For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own, visit
5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

                                  
 

Magic Marker Monday: Heart Chart

This project is from last year. I love how he includes himself:

Expression of abstract concepts and feelings is a challenge for James. Not only is this activity appropriate for the coming holiday, it's a good exercise in self-expression.

What would your Heart Chart look like?

For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own, visit
5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

                             
  

Magic Marker Monday: Edible Art

James was invited to a former classmate's superhero birthday party. It turned out great! The party was at their house, with superhero games made and hosted by his family.

One of the activities was to frost and decorate cookies. This is a great party activity that I will need to remember. James held back at first, but then decided to try it.

It was nice for me to see him around the table with the others, joining in and having fun. And when it was over, he had a nice souvenier.

I asked how they handled the preparation and they said they helped make and roll out the cookie dough. They left in the fridge overnight and the next morning rolled it out and cut simple circles. They baked them before the party and had them ready to go with the toppings. One thing I saw that was new to me: squeezable frosting pouches with a spout -- awesome for kids to use!

Here's what they looked like -- James' is the smeary one in back, without Skittles:

For more scrumptious masterpieces or to share some of your own,
visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

                             
  

Magic Marker Monday: Cut Ups

Our experiments with cutouts continue. And now we're getting a little ... free-form.

Exhibit A: The Cow Thing?

James brought this home from school.
I don't know what it is, but I like it!

 James' sister is on a roll and doing everything on her own. Wow!

She saves the cut-outs for negative space art.
Maybe the Mary Blair exhibit at Disneyland wore off on her?

Love the secret hidden message ...

... and extra picture!

Total Grrrrl Art

To see some fun seasonal arts and crafts, or to share some of your own,
visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

                              

       

Magic Marker Monday: Valentines

We use the boxed valentines from the Dollar Store for classmates at school. For family and close friends, we make out own.

I break out the handy pad o' coloured construction paper, heart cookie cutters, glue, scissors, pencils, markers, and scrapbooking hoogies ...

... and the kids break out the creativity (with a sometimes assist from Mom and candies):

For more creative works and ideas, visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.


  

Magic Marker Monday: Dressy Best

I was looking at another Christmas tree ornament that James made at a holiday event this year. It reminded me of how he is growing and becoming more independent, as in putting on clothing correctly.

I know he had some help to get the clothes on the gingerbread person so neatly, but he's been very interested in choosing shirts and pants as well as dressing by himself this school year. I am certain he picked out the foam attire for his creation as well.

There are some days where he decides to be Mr. Goofball and put everything on backward, but mostly he has practiced so that he puts his shirts on correctly and makes sure his pants and underclothing are the right way front (which is a relief -- seeing those tags in front just aggravates the mom in me).

He consistently protests having to put things on his feet by putting the heels of his sox on top of his feet and putting his shoes on the wrong foot.

But for art projects? He does it right!

Visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.


  

Magic Marker Monday: Basic Holiday Fun

Halloween morning. It's after breakfast, the TV is off, the kids are literally bouncing around (love that indoor trampoline) yet I am still struggling to reach full awake status. What to do ...

Make cards!

We broke out our economy pad o' construction paper (big back to school sale at Target), scissors, crayons, sparkle pen, FREE stickers from Trader Joe's (just when I think I could not love them more!) and adhesives (both tape and glue stick). Result: almost 45 minutes of colourful fun:

James' card is the green one on the left.

Here is the inside of his card:

I traced his pumpkin and them helped him cut it out. I offered him the scissors in between his left & right hands and he chose his right. Yes, I am still obsessing -- shhhh! James wrote his name with crayon on the right.

Here is our collection of spooky creations:

Visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday creations!