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Summer Reading and Crafting: Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen

June 29, 2012 by AllFreeKidsCrafts

It’s time for kids to begin their summer reading! If your kids don’t like to sit down and read, introduce hands-on experiential learning through Summer Reading and Crafting from AllFreeKidsCrafts.com. The kids crafts and art projects below will help children understand important themes in the story.

See last week’s post about The Giving Tree here.

The Stories:

Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales

Book images courtesy of Amazon.com

Hans Christian Andersen was an author and poet who remains famous today for writing children’s stories like “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and “Thumbelina.” These tales, written in the 1830s and 1840s, tell stories about fantasy, courtly life, animals and morality. Since their publication, Andersen’s stories have become cultural icons, inspiring countless books, films, and television shows. Most of Andersen’s stories are simple enough for young children to enjoy, while older kids can learn about the customs of the time and study the message behind each tale.

Important Concepts:

Andersen was criticized because some of his stories lacked a specific moral, but the stories often feature familiar situations that children face in their daily lives. Reading a number of them will provide children with a series of messages, advice and lessons for growing up.

 The Ugly Duckling

“The Ugly Duckling” deals with bullying and can help children cope when they are being teased at school. It also indicates that good things may come of a little patience.

 

The Emperor's New Clothes

“The Emperor’s New Clothes” teaches children to think for themselves and to resist peer pressure.

 

Thumbelina

“Thumbelina” is an excellent story for children because it features a strong, adventurous little girl in a big world who faces the elements and decides her own fate. The story can teach children how to make their own decisions as they mature and become more independent.

Crafting with the Stories of Hans Christian Andersen:

Walnut Shell Animals
Kids can use walnuts to create some adorable ducklings and swanlings (also known as cygnets) just like the Ugly Duckling. Remind the kids that they are beautiful no matter what the bullies might say and make these Walnut Shell Ducklings.

 

Medieval Castle and Court
Teach kids about the customs of real princes and princesses by making and playing with Red Ted Art’s Medieval Castle and Court from recycled materials. Even young kids will enjoy playing with these recycled crafts and re-enacting the story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”

 

Woodland Fairy Folk
When reading “Thumbelina,” kids can get outside and find the magic in nature by making Twig and Toadstool’s Woodland Fairy Folk between tales. Kids can even make a little Thumbelina out of a pine cone.

What are your favorite fairy tales? I like the ones by the Grimm brothers as well!

 

Filed Under: Kids Crafts Projects Tagged With: Favecrafts, hans christian andersen, Jessica Farris, Kids Crafts, summer reading, summer reading and crafting

Summer Reading and Crafting for Kids: The Giving Tree

June 21, 2012 by AllFreeKidsCrafts

It’s time for kids to start on their summer reading list! If your kids aren’t overly fond of sitting down and reading, introduce hands-on experiential learning through Summer Reading and Crafting from AllFreeKidsCrafts.com. The kids crafts and art projects below will help children grasp and conceptualize important themes in the story.

The Book: The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree by Shel SilversteinImage courtesy of Amazon.com

The Giving Tree is a beautiful story of love, friendship and sacrifice written and illustrated by poet, author, artist and songwriter Shel Silverstein. One of his most famous books, The Giving Tree tells the tale of a young boy who loves a tree. The tree provides the boy with everything he needs throughout his life, while receiving nothing in return. When the boy is an old man and the tree has given her shade, apples, and even her trunk to her young friend, she is only a stump and has nothing left to give the boy except a quiet place to sit.

Important Concepts:

The Giving Tree provides open-ended lessons in selflessness, giving, love and sacrifice. The relationship between humans and nature is also a good topic to discuss with children. These concepts can be complex ideas for young readers, so creating crafts associated with the books allows children to form visual and tactile associations that will help them remember the important details of the book.

Crafting with The Giving Tree:

The Giving Tree Scenes on Cookie Canvases: These tasty treats provide a sweet and pretty canvas upon which children can draw or paint their favorite scenes in edible ink.

Story Scenes on Cookie Canvases


Hand and Armprint Giving Trees
:
Children can use their hands and arms to make artwork that looks like the Giving Tree. Have them draw a picture of themselves in the shade of the tree like the boy from the story.

Hand and Arm Print Trees


The Giving Tree Leaf Rubbings
: Have children head outside with some homemade crayons to make rubbings of different sorts of trees. Talk about the different patterns in nature and discuss the ways we can use natural resources.

Leaf Rubbings and Dappled Crayons


The Giving Tree’s Apples
: The Giving Tree gave away all of her apples to the boy because she loved him so much. Have children make these paper bag apples and give them away to the people they love. They can even fill the bags with small gifts and handmade items for a more selfless and “giving” project.

Paper Bag Apples

If you enjoyed reading about The Giving Tree and exploring these great educational kids craft ideas from AllFreeKidsCrafts.com, check in again next week for some more great ideas!

What are your kids reading this summer? I want to know! Tell me in the comments below!

Filed Under: Kids Crafts Projects Tagged With: book, educational crafts, Kids Crafts, nature crafts, shel silverstein, summer reading, summer reading and crafting, the giving tree

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Full Project Tutorials

Project of the Day & Giveaway: PinWheel Wreath

Today’s Project of the Day for National Craft Month comes from the fine folks at Provocraft!  Brighten up your door with this easy to make spring project. Visitors will love being welcomed by the fun design and whimsical feel. And don’t forget to enter our Giveaway by answering the question below in the Comments Section […]

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