June is National Indigenous History Month

Learn more about how National Indigenous Month and how it happened. Click on the picture to go to CBC Kids.

Cree names across Canada

Watch this fun video from CBC Kids and try to pronounce the longest name of a lake in Canada. Learn about names that come from the Cree language.

gem.cbc.ca/media/canadoodaday/s01e11

Learn about the continent of Asia

Watch this video to learn about Asia. It is such a large area with so many different countries and cultures, languages and religions. There are some really interesting facts in this video.

Learn to Draw Tulips!! Watch this video to learn how to draw and colour in Tulips, one of my favourite Spring flowers!!!

Wild Kratts

Watch this video from the Kratt brothers all about animals that adapt to their icy environments.

CBC Kids - Ice Carving

Watch this CBC kids video on Ice Carving.

Colourful Ice Sculptures

This is an easy and fun art activity during this cold snap. Gather containers, such as ice cube trays, plastic cups, containers or anything that will hold water and be able to stand the cold. Fill the containers with water and add paint (if you don't need to use the container for anything else) or food colouring to colour the water. Set the containers outside to freeze the water (for at least 2 hours or overnight) Pop the frozen ice out of the containers and bring them all outside. Then get creative and build colourful ice sculptures.

Did You Know????

Film makers are using more and more animatronic spies to get up close shots of wild animals.

Spy Jokes

click on the link to read some silly spy jokes

docs.google.com/document/d/1dWdH06zRQBkAD3e1kjADsxJDFFghsbymvzLGm05oWq8/edit?usp=sharing

Wild Kratts

Join the Kratt brothers as they explore the Amazon. The perfect show to watch for World Rainforest Day on June 22. Just click on the picture to go to the video.

Flip Flop Wreath

If your house is like mine, there are always broken, too small or just single mismatched pairs of flip flops hiding in the closet. Why not make a wreath out of them? Just gather your flip flops together, shape them in a circle or in a straight line, and glue them together. Add silk flowers, or other decorations and you have a pretty Summer wreath. Attach a ribbon to the top so that you can hang your wreath on the door or wall. You can even write Welcome on them. Get creative and make it your own.

Camp Counselor

Want to be a Camp Counselor? Watch TVO kids for info on this cool summer job. Just click on the picture of the camp to go to the video.

Friendship Bracelet

One of my favourite things about camp was the crafts!! Friendship bracelets are one of the main crafts at camp. Here is a Friendship bracelet tutorial video that shows you how to create 5 different types of bracelets. Give them a try.

Jokes

Watch this quick video to get some silly jokes you can tell at camp.

World Ocean Day!

June 8th was world Ocean Day. Learn about some of the amazing creatures that call the ocean home. Click on the picture to take you to the National Geographic Kids site to watch their videos on ocean animals.

Drawing lessons!!!!

Learn to draw a cute Sea Turtle!! Click on the picture to go to the drawing lesson on YouTube. Its so cute!!!

Wild Kratts

The crazy Kratts tackle the Ocean in this adventure. So many intersting creatures in the Ocean, learn about some by watching this show.

A great Virtual Festival

From art, to stories to information, the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival has it all. Just click on the picture to go to the home page and then click on Programs and then Education Days to see all the workshops and programs available.

Rainbow Art!

One of the symbols of Pride month is a rainbow. Try to create a rainbow out of items around your house. It can be different coloured dishes, art supplies or even painting unusual objects, like pine cones. Remember to set the colours up in rainbow fashion. Be creative!!!

Weird but True

Learn an interesting fact about water from National Geographic Kids. Just click on the water picture.

OCDSB Outdoor Education Youtube Channel

Did you know the the OCDSB Outdoor Education Center has their own Youtube channel where they post great videos about nature in our area? Here is one that I really liked since I see most of these animals on my daily walks. Go to their site for more videos. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCssRePG6CqXLmRNIDeVnxlQ/videos

Anime Eye Art Tutorial

Since I have a history of Anime book recomendation in this week's picks, I thought it would be great to have an art tutorial about Anime. The eyes are always a focal point in Anime, so I found a great Anime Eye art Tutorial by Appleminte. You can draw whatever you like and then add Anime Eyes to make your art piece look more like the Anime style.

Guinness World Record for the biggest Hamburger

The biggest Hamburger in the Wolrd Record book is one made in Germany in 2017. It weighed 1,164.2 kg. Watch this youtube video on how it was made.

Visit The Louvre

In the mood for visiting a Museum? You can access the huge collection of France's famous Museum, The Louvre, virtually. Just click on the Louvre picture and be taken to the site map. You can visit Ancient Egypt, paintings, sculpures and more. Use the advanced search to find catagories. Enjoy

Create a fireworks display

I love fireworks and during Victoria Day celebrations, we are allowed to set them off. Create your own display by making a firework blast out of q-tips!!!

Materials

• Q-tips

• Paint or markers

• scissors

• glue

• black paper or cardboard

Directions

1. Take about 20 q-tips and cut each into two parts. Sometimes you can cut them so that it makes equal halves and sometimes cut them so that one piece is longer than the other.

2. Choose your paint colours, it could be two or three colours. Paint the tips of the q-tips, where the fuzzy part is with the paints. Try to paint an equal amount with each colour. If you are using markers, colour the tips with the markers so that the colours are very noticable. Let the q-tips dry completely.

3. Take the black piece of paper (or one you coloured black) and arrange your q-tips in a circular starburst pattern. Set the inside circle first and then work out from there.

4. Once you have it set the way you want it, glue each tip down on the paper.

National Geographic Jokes

Here are some jokes about insects. Click on the LOL to go to the short joke video

Draw a Tulip

My Tulips are up and beautiful. Click on the link to go to a drawing lesson for tulips. This is a great lesson, you learn how to draw a tulip and then how to colour it in with shading techniques.

The Kratts talk about Hamsters

Learn about one cute little popular pet, the Hamster. It has super cheeks!! Click on the picture to go to the video on TVO kids.

The Mysterious Moon

Is the moon made of cheese? Find out some interesting facts about the moon with this video from National Geographic. Just click on the moon to go to the video

Build a Feelings Fort

Watch this short video on how to build a fort so that you have some place to chill and be alone. I would love to have a chill zone to call my own. Just click on the picture to go to the video.

National Geographic Kids

Check out some pretty cool jobs. This video shows you a peek into the job of underwater submarine scientists. So Cool!!!! Just click on the picture to go to the video

Colour your cares away!!

One of the best ways I know to destress is to colour. Start with a blank paper and with a pencil just doodle and draw as much as you want. Grab your coloured pencils and start colouring the page in. If you don't want to create your own doodle to colour, there are lots and lots of colouring pages on the internet that you can print out and colour. Concentrating on the colouring, gets me out of my head and calms my thoughts. Give it a try!!!!

World Dance Day

CBC Kids has a short video on Fancy Shawl Dancing. There are so many types of different dances in World, I always love seeing one that is new to me.

Dancing Animals

I loved this cute dancing animal video.

Earth Day Rap

CBC Kids put together a great Rap for Earth Day

Earth Day Show

Join Jessi and Squeeks as they talk about endangered animals, recycled material bird feeders and compost. This video is packed full of information.

Earth Necklace

Just click on the picture to go to the instructions on how to create your own Earth Day Necklace. This site has very easy to follow instructions.

How to Draw a Lantern for Ramadan

Just click on the picture to take you to the learn to draw page. It goes a bit fast, so just pause the video when ever you need more time to catch up. You could use your drawing to make a card for Ramadan.

Paper Airplanes!!!

Turn your room into an Airplane factory. Learn the basics from this video and then try to make different versions using the information you have learned. Decorate the planes and then take them outside to try them out. This would be a great April break activity. Challenge your family to a distance contest to see who can make the plane that goes the farthest.

Decorated Eggs!

Want to decorate eggs but do not have the store bought dye kits? Try thumb or finger print designs instead. All you need is paint or ink pads or markers , and a thin black marker to create designs on white eggs. So cute!!!

Cover your finger pad or thumb pad in the paint or ink and press the covered finger pad onto a hard boiled egg to create a colourful finger or thumb print. Using your imagination, decide what that print could be Once the print has dried, draw in the details with the thin black marker. Now you have original, creative Easter Eggs.

Wild Kratts

Speaking about eggs, one of the largest eggs in the world is the Ostrich's egg. Watch the Kratt brothers learn about the Ostrich. Just click on the picture to go to the video.

Earth Hour 2021!!!

On Saturday at 8:30pm turn off your lights for an hour to show your support for nature and our Earth. Listen to the video in support of Earth Hour 2021

Make Earth Hour Snack Cups

Treats in a Earth Cup, how cute is that!!

Materials

• white paper cup

• Crayons, markers or paint

• pencil

Directions

1. With your pencil, draw sections on your cup so that you will have the green ( land ) go on some of the cup and the blue (oceans) will go on the rest.

2. Using the supplies that you have, colour in the green and blue sections

3. With a black marker or crayon, draw on the face.

4. Fill your cup with tasty treats and enjoy

Check out a quick video about Irish Dancing. If you are interested in seeing more Irish dancing there is a lot on youtube.

Irish Soda Bread

One of my favourite traditional Irish dish is Irish Soda Bread, topped off with butter and jam, Yum!!! Here is an easy recipe on how to make this tasty bread.

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour

• 4 tablespoons white sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ cup margarine, softened

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1 egg

• ¼ cup butter, melted

• ¼ cup buttermilk

Directions

• Step 1
  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

• Step 2
  In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.

• Step 3
  Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Check for doneness after 30 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.

In the past, women were not allowed to vote, to have their say in how the country ran. Meet the 5 trailblazing women who fought for the right to vote.

Women's Day Craft

Create a women's day bouquet with pictures of the women in your family.or of women role models that you look up to.

Materials

• twigs or sticks

• a vase or tall drinking glass or container

• rocks, marbles or clay

• computer images of the women you want to include in your bouquet

• scissors

• coloured paper and glue (optional)

• yarn or string

Directions

1. Take your vase and place the sticks or twigs inside, and fan them out to look separated.

2. Fill the vase with marbles or rocks so that the sticks stay put in the vase. If you are using clay to hold the sticks, place the clay in the bottom of the vase and push each stick or twig into the clay to keep them in place.

3. Print your pictures out from your computer.

4. Cut the women out from the pictures, they can be in abstract shapes or squares or circles or rectangles.

5. If you have coloured paper and want to create a frame around the pictures you can. Just place the pictures on the coloured paper and trace their shapes onto the paper. Then cut out the coloured paper making sure that you cut at least 1 cm away from the traced line of the picture so that the coloured paper forms a frame around the picture.

6. Use the glue to glue the picture to the colour frames.

7. Use your scissors to cut a hole in the top of the picture big enough to pull the string through.

8. Cut the string into 10cm long pieces. Make as many pieces as there are pictures

9. Thread a string piece through a picture and then tie the picture to one of the sticks. Continue this until all the pictures are hung on the sticks making sure they are spread out well among the sticks.

Lions - since March is supposed to come in like a Lion, I thought we should find out more about lions. Here is a quick fact video about lions, just click on the lion picture to go to the video.

Click on the Francophone Communities picture to take you to a map of Cananda, where you can learn about the French communites found in each Province or Territory.

Check out this short CBC Kids Video about bullying. Click on the picture to get the link.

Good Feelings Flags. Put you thoughts on a flag, and decorate you room with positive messages.

Materials

• chop stick or food skewers

• white copy paper 8 by 11

• markers, crayons, pencil crayons

• scissors

• glue

Instructions

1. Fold the paper in half and cut it in half in the middle so that you get two long strips.

2. Use one strip and refold it so that you have two sides, one side you can leave blank and the other you can create you flag on. Or, if you want to create two messages on one flag, you can use both sides of the paper.

3. Create your flag message and design on the paper, useing markers, crayons or what ever you have on hand. Remember that the stick will go where the crease in the paper is, so make sure your message goes the right way.

4. Fold the paper and place the stick in the crease of the paper

5. Using the glue, glue the two inside sides of the paper together, while the stick is in the fold of the paper, so that the paper flag sticks to the stick and the sides and the messages are facing outwards.

TVO kids has a super cute show called Tumbletown Tales where a real hamster and his friends have adventures. In this episode, Tumbleweed the Hamster gets some great advice on how to get through a book that is difficult to read. Just click on this link

www.tvokids.com/school-age/videos/tumbletown-tales/mind-movie-magic

Check out the CBC Kids website for a lot of great information and entertainment. Here is a great article about 5 current Black leaders in Canada. Just click on the picture to go to CBC Kids.

Valentine's Day Craft

You can do this craft even if you have limited supplies at home. You can make them as plain or as jazzed up as you want. So cute and yet so simple.

Materials

• paper roll

• markers/crayons/pencil crayons

• Red paper or paper coloured in red

• white paper

• glue

• scissors

Instructions

1. On the white paper draw circles for the whites of the eyes and draw circles for the coloured parts of the eyes. (you could even colour the eyes right on the tube if that is easier for you) . Cut out the circles and glue them to the tube to make the eyes.

2. Draw a mouth on the tube under the eyes.

3. Cut out a heart that is no bigger than the tube in the red paper, or the white and colour it red.

4. Glue the heart to the front of the tube, under the eyes

5. Cut out two equal sized strips of white paper for arms. Glue one end of the strip to the back of the tube, and one to the heart so it looks like the arm is holding the heart. One strip for each side of the tube to make the two arms.

6. Decorate your tube, or leave it as is

CBC kids has a funny rap song about mochi balls and Spring rolls. It says year of the pig, but this year is the year of the Ox.

National Geographic Kids

Watch the cutest critters you'll want to cuddle video, just in time for valentine's day.

A Poster for Black History Month. The Government of Canada website has an official poster to colour for Black History Month. Click on the picture to go to the link and print the poster for you to colour. There is also a discription of Adinkra symbols and meanings under the poster. They are such intersting designs and meanings. You could try to trace these symbols onto a piece of paper and create your own poster for Black History Month.

I bet you you can't help but smile while watching this cute video from National Geographic kids. Just click on the polar bear.

Homemade Kazoo

Thursday, January 28 is National Kazoo Day. With this in mind, let's make a homemade Kazoo.

Materials

1. toilet paper tube

2. markers or crayons

3. scissors

4. wax paper

5. elastic band

Instructions

1. Take your markers or crayons and decorate your tube.

2. Cut a circle out of waxed paper large enough so that it will cover and hang over the end of the tube.

3. Secure the wax paper tightly over the one end of the tube with the elastic (see photo)

4. With the pointy end of your scissors, or with a pointy thick needle, poke a hole in the tube half way down the tube (this is where the noise will come out from)

5. Put the open end of the tube in your mouth and hum, this should make the wax paper vibrate and cause the kazoo like sound.

Take a quick visit to Scotland

In honour of Robbie Burns Day, visit his country, Scotland. Click on the link to take you to the youtube video.

Hot Cocoa

Nothing is better than a tasty cup of hot cocoa after a long day playing outside in the snow. Here is a very easy recipe for Hot Cocoa, but make sure you have an adult helping with using the stove. You can top your cocoa with whatever you love, marshmallows, cinnamon, whipped cream, crushed peppermint candies, gummy bears, the sky's the limit!!!

Ingredients

• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• ⅓ cup hot water

• ⅛ teaspoon salt

• 4 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the cocoa powder, sugar, water, and salt over medium heat.

2. Cook, stirring constantly until smooth and bring to a simmer.

3. Reduce heat, and stir in the milk, do not boil.

4. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour into mugs and serve immediately.

Penguin Power

All this snow reminds me of animals that live in snowy areas, like the Penguins. I love Penguins!!!! Here is a great video from the Kratt Brothers about Penguins. Just click on the picture to go to the video.

How does a snowflake form?

Join the Kratt Brothers as they discover how snowflakes form. Just click on the snowflake to go to the video.

How to make a snowflake with snowmen in it.

Just click on the link below to go to a video that shows you how. So cool!!!

www.youtubekids.com/watch?v=ly5D9v7caU4

Photo Challenge!!!

To celebrate National Dress up your Pet Day, I have a photo challenge for you.

Try to design an outfit for your pet. Dress your pet in that outfit and then take a photo of them. This is a lot harder than you think. Try and coordinate the outfit so that your pet is sylish or fits a theme. Then try to get them to stay still long enough to get a picture. Good luck!!!! I would love to see a lizard with an outfit on or a hamster. Make sure the outfit is safe for the animal, you know how they love to taste things.

Drawing Lessons

How can you draw a cute puppy or kitten by using the leters b and d? Just click on the pictures to go to the instructions.

Homemade Pet Treats

Since I am not sure what pets you have at home, I won't give you a recipe here on the Fun Stuff Page. However, there are a large amount of sites on the web that you can research for the right pet treat for your pet. Show your pet you love it by makeing them something tasty to eat!!! You could even wrap the treats up in pet friendly paper or display them artistically for your pet. Make a maze for them to find the treats. Have fun with it and watch how much your pet will love it.

Cat Bookmarks

Cat Bookmarks

Save your page in a book with these super cute and easy cat bookmarks.

Materials

• thick paper any colour

• thin markers or coloured pencils, black and pink or red

• scissors

Instructions

• cut a rectangle out of your paper. 5cm wide and 12cm long works well.

• at one end of the rectangle, draw two triangles at the edges so that the tips of the top of the triangle touches the top of the paper.

• cut around the triangles so that it creates the cat's ears.

• use the black marker to outline the ears, draw on a face and two paws. Look at the picture above for reference.

• carefully cut around the outline of the two paws, but not across the top of the paws, just the u shape. This will make the paws stick out from the paper but still be attached

• The paws can hold onto the page you want to return to.

CBC Kids

Baby Cat Adventure Game

Help the baby cat collect all the lemons and stars, while avoiding the mushrooms and angry blobs. Good luck! Just click on the game picture to take you to CBC kids

TVOKids

Wild Kratts - Join the brothers as they look for a North American wild desert cat, an ocelot. Just click on the picture of the Ocelot to go to the video.

Nature Reindeers

It may be chilly outside, but bundle up and go for a fun walk. While you are out there, look for some natural crafting materials like sticks, and pinecones. Once you have brought your collection home, you can put it all together to make these cute reindeers.

Materials

• pinecones

• small thin sticks

• googly eyes, or craft paper to make the eyes

• red pompoms or yarn or red paper to make the nose

• brown felt or paper to make the ears

• glue

Instructions

• set your materials out on the table.

• look at your pinecone and locate the pointer end, this will be the nose end.

• Use the glue to attach the eyes, ears and nose to your pinecone.

• use the sticks to create antlers and then glue them to the pinecone to complete your reindeer.

Wild Kratts - Deer

Since there are deer decorations everywhere this time of year, I thought it would be interesting to learn about this beautiful Canadian animal. The Wild Kratts team searches for a fawn - Buckaroo - they helped a few years ago to find out how he's doing now. In the process, they learn about deer society and the vital purpose of antlers. Just click on the Wild Kratts picture to go to this video

New Year's Eve Pizza

Although it is now 2021 coming up, I thought this was a great idea. Super simple with store bought pizza dough, pizza sauce, Mozzarella cheese and all the toppings you like. Just shape the pizza dough into 2021, spread the sauce on the dough add the cheese and then your personal toppings. Bake as directed on the pizza dough package, and you have a great New Year's Eve Pizza!!!

Recycled Robot Craft

Make a robot from recycled material. The body is a toilet paper roll covered in aluminium foil. Then just go wild with other add ons to make your crazy robot

Materials

• toilet paper roll

• Aluminium Foil

• pipe cleaners

• straws

• bottle caps

• googly eyes or paper eyes

• buttons, beads

• paper scraps

• marker

• glue

• sharpened Pencil

Instructions

Start by covering your tube with aluminium foil, making it as smooth as you can. With your pencil, poke a hole right through the foil and tube on both sides of the tube, make sure the holes are even on the tube. Thred the pipecleaner through the holes so that it makes the arms of the robot. Glue the bottle caps onto the lower sides of the tube to create the wheels of the robot. Use the rest of your materials to create the face, mouth and body of the robot. Don't for get to add an antena.

TVO Kids

TVO kids has an amazing site of videos with coding themes. Just click on the coding picture to bring you to the TVO kids site

One Bowl Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Here is an easy Chocolate chip cookie recipe that only uses one bowl. Make sure you have your parents permission to use the oven.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Butter (melted)

• 2/3 cup Brown Sugar

• 1/3 cup Sugar

• 1 large Egg

• 1 teaspoon Vanilla

• 1 1/3 cup Flour (if you want a thicker cookie, you may use 1 1/2 cups of flour)

• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda

• 1/2 teaspoon Salt

• 1/2 cup Milk Chocolate Chips

• 1/2 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Instructions

• In a microwave safe bowl, melt butter in the microwave until melted.

• Add brown sugar and sugar. Whisk or stir vigorously until smooth. Add egg and vanilla and whisk until silky.

• Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt.

• Fold in milk chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Place in the refigerator and CHILL for at least 30 minutes. Chilling it for 24-48 hours is even better but you must chill it for at least 30 minutes.

• When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, place cookie dough on baking sheets. Bake for 10-13 minutes, or until cookies become a light golden color.

Sloth Climbers

This video has nothing to do with cookies, but it is so cute, I just had to share it. Click on the sloth

Snowy Owl

Since this week's theme is snow, I thought we would look at a bird with the word snow in its name. Snowy Owls are amazing!!! They are found mostly in the North, but they have been coming down to Ottawa more and more during the winter months. Keep your eyes out for these beautiful creatures.

Snowy Owl Craft

Make you own Snowy Owl out of a cup!!

Materials

• I cup, styrofoam, or plastic

• 2 long white feathers, or homemade white paper feathers

• yellow paper

• black paper

• glue

• black marker

Instructions

1. Gather you materials.

2. Cut two circles from the yellow paper to make the eyes

3. Cut two smaller circles from the black paper to make the inside of the eyes

4. Cut a triangle from the black paper to create the beak

5. Glue the black circles onto the yellow circles to create the eyes

6. Glue the eyes and beak onto the cup, near the top, to create the face

7. Glue the feathers to the side of the cup

8. Finish off with the black marker, creating curved lines all around the cup so that it looks like the owl's black lined feathers

SNOW!!!

Here is a cute video with Panda Love and snow from TVO Kids

https://www.tvokids.com/preschool/bamboo-love-kindergarten/videos/snow

Friendship Pins

In honour of Anti Bullying week, I thought of making Friendship pins. We used to do this craft all the time when I was younger and pin them on our coats, shoes, bags, everywhere!!. It is very easy

Materials needed

• several safety pins (can be different sizes)

• small beads (assortment of colors; glass or plastic)

Instructions

1. Pick one of the pins and open it.

2. String beads onto the pointed end of the pin, be careful not to poke your finger. You can do a pattern, or use many coloured beads, whatever you think looks good.

3. Put as many beads on as the pin will allow and then close the pin

4. Give them to your friends to show them they have someone who cares about them.

How to draw a Diwali Diya

Click on this Youtube link to learn how to draw Diwali Diya. See how colourful you can make it.

SNOW!!!

Here is a cute video with Panda Love and snow from TVO Kids

https://www.tvokids.com/preschool/bamboo-love-kindergarten/videos/snow