Little flag

In anticipation of Canada Day!

Materials:

• white paper (for a more durable flag use thick paper such as cardstock)
• scissors
• red crayon / marker / pencil crayon / paint
• drinking straw (the one shown is approx 19cm in length)
• tape
• optional: print out an image of a maple leaf, glue
  

Instructions:

• adult to cut paper down to appropriate size to match straw handle (one shown in image is approximately 14cm wide by 6.5cm high)
• draw red lines for two red stripes, one on either end of the flag
• draw red maple leaf in centre of flag (or cut out image of maple leaf for pasting onto flag)
• have child colour red stripes and maple leaf red
  
  
• tape flag to end of drinking straw
• wear safety glasses to avoid having your eye poked out by a very excited flag waver!
  

Hand flower

This was created at our local Ontario Early Years Centre.

Materials:

• construction paper of contrasting colours (petals and centre)
• glue
• pencil (with which to trace little hands)
• scissors
  

Instructions:

• have an adult trace four or five hands on construction paper (petals) -- if you are giving this as a gift, it is a nice touch to have one hand per member of the family!
• have an adult cut out the hands
• have an adult cut out a circle for the centre of the flower (the one shown is about 10cm in diameter)
• have child glue the hands to the back of the flower centre
• if desired, improvise stem with popsicle stick, pipe cleaner or construction paper (alternately glue the whole thing on a large piece of paper and draw the stem in -- along with flowers and birds!)

Handprint placemat

(This idea came home from school.)

Materials:

• large sheet of coloured construction paper
• smaller sheet of white paper (shown cut with scalloped edges)
• marker / crayon for drawing on paper
• fingerpaint for making handprint
• glue
• smocks to keep child and adults clean
• clear contact paper or laminate large enough to cover the sheet of construction paper
  

Instructions:

• write any messages ("Happy Mother's Day," "Happy Father's Day," "Happy Birthday" etc) on the white sheet of paper leaving room for two handprints
• have child make handprints around text
• glue white sheet of paper to construction paper
• laminate

This is a terrific gift idea for a "special" occasion such as Mother's Day, Father's Day or a parent / grandparent birthday!