My own children and my students of various ages enjoyed making these cookies - putting them together is like playing with plasticene. Check out a YouTube video that includes a recipe and shows how! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up14UMtBnoI Sorry I couldn't get the video to link or to embed in this post but you can go to it quite easily if you cut and paste this URL into your browser. So...if you need a break from "school work" this weekend and especially if you have kids to enlist - make cookies together and blog about it!!! Guilt-free activity except for the calories.

Are you looking for ideas for blog posts? Here are a few you may not have thought of. If you notice that someone else has posted an interesting art of craft idea, try it yourself (for example, try making a 3D snowflake by following the instructions that I linked in my last post!. Then blog about your experience, with a photo of your creation if possible. As I mentioned in class, choose a section of your text book to read and post about - the Seed Strategy chapters are full of activity ideas that you can link to PLOs in your post. Many art galleries of the world also feature online tours - google and see what you can find to share - if I had time today, I would check out a Vincent Van Gogh tour from Amsterdam. To balance your interest in visual arts with performing arts, choose a dancer, actor, or musician to learn about online and feature - branch out from those you already know by searching broad topics, i.e. blues musicians, and choosing someone who is featured as new and promising or as a seasoned and recognized classic artist in that genre. And don't forget to blog about your participation in our Visual Art Show, as well as how your group worked together or what you learned in the presentations that we will enjoy on Tuesday. Just a few ideas to help you keep up your momentum!

Snowflake Craft and Decoration

Children love to create stunning displays in their own classroom or in the foyer of their school. Here are my favourite 3D snowflakes that I used in various ways over the years - I had forgotten how to make them but found out again with a quick internet search. These 3D paper snowflakes can be made in all different sizes and with various kinds of paper. After a little practice with plain paper, try it with two squares of metallic gift wrap, glued together so both sides are shiny!Click here for the instructions.