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A4 Creatistics Brown Cover Paper

Collage Paper Shapes

Tempera Poster Paint

Masking Tape

Step-by-step:

Using lots of bright colours, apply paint to a paper plate and a cardboard roll and set aside to dry.

When thoroughly dry, cut the paper plate into quarters to make the butterfly’s wings (children old enough to be handy with scissors might benefit from drawn-on cutting lines to follow).

To assemble the butterfly, use strong glue to adhere the four wings to the cardboard roll body and two joggle eyes.

To make the antennae, fold one pipe cleaner in half and adhere two pom poms to the two ends with strong glue.

Stick the antennae to the inside of the cardboard roll with masking tape.

If desired, use strong glue to decorate the wings with scraps of paper, snipping them into shapes as desired and set aside to dry.

When thoroughly dry, personalise further by drawing a mouth and any other features as desired.

Done! Your perfect Butterfly is ready.

TOP TIP – To hang in the learning environment, poke a skewer through the back of the butterfly’s cardboard tube body and thread a length of string through.

Birds Nest

This sweet bird’s nest with a family of little birds is so much fun to make and looks great. Where will your summer birds nest live? Have fun with your colourful, feathered friends as children learn about textures, colours and different ‘homes’.

You will need:

Gloss Paper Squares

Short Feathers

Joggle Eyes

Creatistics A4 Orange Cover Paper

Masking Tape

Acrylic Brown Yarn

Step-by-step:

With brown cover paper, cut one rough semicircle shape and set aside.

With your gloss squares, use a round object (measuring cups work well) to trace and cut out circles – one large and one smaller. Two circles will make one bird. Set desired quantity of circles aside.

Take an orange gloss square, fold it in half and cut small triangles along the folded line. These will open out to make the bird’s beak. Set aside.

Snip short lengths of brown yarn (each roughly 5(L)cm) and set aside.

Ready to assemble! Use all-purpose washable school glue to adhere the pieces together – 1 larger circle to make the bird’s body and one smaller to make the head with a beak. Add feathers for wings and yarn to create a cosy nest.

Add two joggle eyes to each bird and set aside to dry.

Done! Your perfect Birds Nest is ready.

TOP TIP – Young children with emerging scissor skills might enjoy working with a selection of pre-cut shapes to assemble, or paper eye stickers instead of joggle eyes.

Pony Bead Snake

Snakes alive! Beads make a great basis for craft activities, developing fine motor skills in young children and encouraging creativity. Watch a slithering (but friendly) snake come to life in this summer craft activity children will love. Slither along step-by-step here…

You will need:

Multicoloured Pipe Cleaners

Pearl Pony Beads

Assorted Joggle Eyes

Creatistics A4 Yellow Cover Paper

Step-by-step:

Thread the 1st bead onto the pipe cleaner and bend the very end around the bead, securing it in place to prevent the rest of the beads from falling off.

Thread 28 more beads onto the pipe cleaner to form the snake’s ‘body’.

To make the head, thread six beads of the same colour and then curve back around to form a head shape (three beads on each side of the head) and firmly twist the pipe cleaner around itself between two beads at the snake’s ‘neck’.

Bend the remaining length of pipe cleaner back to poke out through the middle of the head to form a tongue.

Use Washable School Glue to adhere two joggle eyes onto the head, and an extra dab of glue as the tail and head to secure for play and set aside to dry.

Done! Your perfect Pony Bead Snake is ready.

TOP TIP – These adorable snakes aren’t just for craft! They make wonderful props for children’s dramatic play and recounting of favourite stories.

Paper Plate Rainbow Sun

Here comes the sun! With some crepe streamers and paper plates, little ones can create a salute to the sun! Encourage environmental awareness and how Planet Earth and the sun work together. Children have the freedom to create the sun’s friendly face, too. Use this craft activity time to teach about weather, heat, clouds and rain (and rainbows!).

You will need:

Unwaxed Paper Plates

Tempera Poster Paint

Assorted Crepe Streamers

Creatistics PVA Washable School Glue

Cotton Wool Balls

POSCA Black Bullet Marker

Step-by-step:

Cut one paper plate in half to make the sun and paint it a bright, sunny yellow.

To make the clouds, glue several cotton wool balls to either side of the paper plate’s flat surface and set aside to dry.

To make the sun’s rays snip yellow and orange paper into long tringles, and either glue or sticky tape them onto the back of the painted plate.

Cut strips of crepe paper roughly 30cm in length to make the rainbow, one each of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.

Arrange the crepe paper into rainbow form and glue or tape the lengths to the back of the sun’s flat surface so they can hang down.

Finish off by personalising your sun further with a smiling face.

Done! Your perfect Paper Plate Rainbow Sun is ready.

TOP TIP – To turn your paper plate rainbow sun into a 3D hanging artwork, simply paint another half plate to glue to the back of the sun, punch a hole through the two sides and hang it in your learning environment with a length of twine.

Spinning Paper Cup Windmill

This craft activity lets children create an adorable windmill complete with moving paper blades. Not only is this handmade activity fun, but it also helps children understand basic motion and wind energy (and maybe they can see some famous windmills around the world!).

You will need:

Tempera Paint

Paper Fasteners Split Pins

Cardboard Colour Squares

POSCA Bullet Marker Pack

Spring Assisted Scissors

Step-by-step:

Decorate a paper cup with brightly coloured paint and set aside to dry.

To make the windmill’s blades, cut two lengths of coloured cardboard (each length measures 9cm long, 2cm wide at the ends, and 1cm wide in the centre).

Use a skewer to poke a hole through the centre of each blade and push a split pin through the holes. Use a dab of school glue to secure the windmill blades to the pin and set aside to dry.

Use markers to decorate the dried windmill cup with windows, a door and any other desired features (remember your windmill will stand upside down).

Use a skewer to poke a hole through the front of the cup, roughly 1.5cm from the top (the bottom of the cup).

Push the split pin (with blades) through the cup’s hole and secure it in place, opening the fasteners inside the cup.

Done! Your perfect Spinning Paper Cup Windmill is ready.

TOP TIP – Make light work of making windmill blades by cutting out a template for preschoolers to trace around or have pre-cut blades ready for younger years.

Wooden Peg Creatures

Peg-tastic animals and shapes! In this fun activity, creativity and imagination will run wild as children create their own little creature that has a spiky feature or rays. How about a “peg-asus” with pegs for wings (see what we did there!)?

You will need:

Wooden Pegs

Cardboard Colour Squares

Scissors

Large Glue-On Eyes

Creatistics Acrylic Paint Pack

Tacky Craft Glue

Step-by-step:

With a pencil or marker, draw your desired creature that features spikes, such as a dinosaur, echidna, hedgehog or a sun.

Carefully cut the shape out.

Use Tacky Craft Glue to attach joggle eyes to your creature and set aside to dry.

Using coloured paint, cover the wooden pegs in your desired shade (green for a dinosaur, yellow for a sun, etc.) and set aside to dry.

Use markers to add desired details, such as fur, feathers, scales, facial features, etc.

When the pegs are dry, peg them into position on your creature.

Done! Your perfect Wooden Peg Creature is ready.

TOP TIP – Young children with emerging scissor skills might enjoy working with pre-cut shapes or paper eye stickers instead of joggle eyes.

So, hands up who’s ready for hands-on summer craft? Enjoy these 7 handmade summer craft activities and if you’d like to download the step-by-step activity pack pdf, click here.

Happy crafting over summer and make sure to share your crafty summer awesomeness with us @modernteaching.

Indigenous Board Book Pack

17/11/202328/02/2024

The hot dozen resources you’ll want for your centre in 2024

At MTA, we love listening to you and understanding what you care about in your early learning centre. We know you’re juggling a LOT of things – budgets, funding, resourcing, staffing and caring for those little growing minds. Our team has curated a fresh dozen resources for all budgets and needs we think you’ll love in 2024. Most importantly, these resources hit the big trends right now:

Creative play – open-ended play, role play and creative expression are crucial elements of early childhood learning. Play provides children with opportunities to improvise, imagine, connect, explore, enquire and make discoveries.

Sensory play – resources that support babies, toddlers and preschoolers to process information through touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing encourage children to learn, develop and grow whilst they’re having fun.

Cultural learning – understanding our world and accepting different cultures is an important skill for any child. These resources allow children to understand their local communities, as well as the larger world through creativity and play.

Motor skill development – Construction resources, puzzles and games are a great way to promote fine and gross motor skills, as well as cognitive skills, such as problem-solving and logical thinking.

1. Dot Art Markers

These are a no-mess, water-based, non-toxic paint-style marker that are fun and easy to use and are a 2024 must-have for your art trolley! MTA’s Dot Art Markers promote early childhood development and layered learning. Expressive art skills, planning, hand-eye coordination and colour recognition can be enhanced using these markers. Gentle dabbing creates dazzling dot patterns while brushing produces a painted look. Children can mix, layer and blend their paint colours while the ink is wet to create a unique mess-free masterpiece. Just as importantly, these bottles are easy to use with a twist-off cap and splash-free, no-spill bottle.

Why you’ll love: All you have to do is dot, dot, dot to create art!

Featured Product:

Dot Art Markers

2. Baby Path Activity Kit

This brilliant Baby Path Activity Kit lets you create an exciting activity centre (or attach panels to the wall) which guides the youngest learners through sights, sounds and tactile sensory exploration. There is endless fun and discovery to be had. With the Colours panel, toddlers learn about early numeracy with size and colour. The colour bars can be turned 360º which adds movement to exploration, providing both a kinetic and a visual challenge. With the Guitar panel, the world’s smallest musicians can produce pleasant sounds using strings of different lengths. The Tinkle panel allows the bars of different lengths to chime and create brilliant sounds. (Suits children aged 12+ months.)

Why you’ll love: It keeps curious minds engaged

Featured Product:

Baby Path Activity Kit

3. Indigenous Board Book Pack

A must-have resource to support cultural learning and early literacy is this gorgeous Indigenous Board Book Pack. This collection of beautifully illustrated board books strengthens cultural perspectives and helps to foster a sense of belonging for all children. The board books in this pack include six titles: My Country; I Love Me; My Body; What Do You Call a Baby…? ;Tjitji Lullaby; Animals in My Garden.

Why you’ll love: Fosters a strong sense of belonging and cultural perspectives

Featured Product:

4. Polydron Giant Octoplay

This construction set from Polydron represents giant fun. It’s excellent for large-scale constructions, as each of the 40 giant plastic octagons slot together. Watch children build large constructions quickly and easily with these natural-toned giant octagons. Polydron’s timeless products have earned the respect of educators and children around the world for over 30 years and are the foremost supplier of geometric construction shapes to schools and early childhood education centres. (Suits children aged 2+ years).

Why you’ll love: Lets children design, construct and problem-solve in a beautifully expressive way

Featured Product:

Giant Octoplay Construction Set

5.Teachables Rainbow Squares Sensory Pads

The rainbow has never felt so in reach before! Rainbow Squares Sensory Pads are a fun, sensory resource that can be used on light boxes, or as a calming fidget tool. Children press on the squares and watch the coloured oil move through the coloured liquid squares for mesmerising exploration. These squishy, captivating sensory pads are a wonderful way to support children’s creativity and open-ended play. (Suits children aged 3+ years.)

Why you’ll love: Supports sensory learning, calming and creativity

Featured Product:

Rainbow Squares Sensory Pads

6.Giant Emotions Fishing Game

Happy? Sad? Angry? Worried? Encourage conversations and the exploration of emotions with this Giant Emotions Fishing Game. Children hook the discs with their fishing rods and identify the emotion they have picked. Engaging in collaborative play with the Giant Emotions Fishing Game will provide opportunities for children to build on their motor skills and hand-eye coordination while developing critical social skills including empathy. A variety of skin tones in the Giant Emotions Fishing game authentically communicates the values of equality and inclusion authentically in children’s play.

Why you’ll love: Encourages exploration of emotions

Featured Product:

Giant Emotions Fishing Game

7.Sorting Bowls & Tweezers Set

Perfect for hand-eye coordination and sorting skills while improving hand strength, the Sorting Bowls & Tweezers Set consists of six colourful bowls and matching tweezers. The tweezers help develop pincer grasp as well as fine motor skills needed for daily living. By working on grasping, picking up and releasing with the tweezers, children are developing hand-eye coordination. As a result, children become more proficient with tasks like handwriting, drawing and forming numbers. Time to get sorting! (Suits children aged 3+ years.).

Why you’ll love: Lets children sort, classify and work on hand-eye coordination the fun way

Featured Product:

Sorting Bowls & Tweezers Set

8.Percussion Set

Say hello to a musical must-have. This assortment of percussion instruments will help children make sweet, sweet music. It includes a tambourine, a wood shaker, a jingle stick, a pair of wooden maracas, wrist bells, an egg shaker, a pair of claves, a triangle with striker and a pair of cymbals. It has everything you need to inspire wonderful musical expression, including an educator-friendly plastic carry back with back straps for hands free portability and easy storage. When children play music, it creates a time for the child to be heard, be creative, be part of a group, show listening skills, patience and most of all fun. (Suits children aged 3+ years.)

Why you’ll love: Helps children make music come to life easily

Featured Product:

Percussion Set

9.Teachables Light Box

A light box is a must-have for any early learning centre and makes the perfect backdrop for exploratory sensory play. This light box is the perfect size to allow little hands to try different items on the surface and create shapes and amazing light shows. The clever design is not only compact and light, but it also has an outer raised edge to support messy play. It includes a USB adaptor and can be used with mains power or with a power bank.

Why you’ll love: Allows exploratory sensory play to come to life

Featured Product:

Light Box

10.Rainbow Bricks

Watch children develop their fine motor skills as they build colourful designs with these Rainbow Wooden Bricks, designed to capture their imagination. Crafted from sustainably sourced rubberwood with a kaleidoscope of colourful transparent acrylic inserts, these blocks offer so many creative possibilities. The natural warmth and tactile appeal of the wood provides a sensory experience that stimulates young minds. With their perfect size and weight, these blocks are easy for tiny hands to grasp. The inserts encourage visual perception and introduce early concepts such as colour recognition and pattern matching. They’re also wonderful to use on a light box. (Suits children aged 12 + months.)

Why you’ll love: Visually stunning rainbow bricks captivate little learners

Featured Product:

Rainbow Wooden Bricks

11.Stockholm Spaces Play Kitchen

Built to inspire endless kitchen role play, MTA’s Stockholm Spaces Combination Play Kitchen includes a cooktop, oven, sink, fridge, microwave, cupboard and benchtop spaces all in one handy unit. It features turning knobs and realistic designs to inspire delicious imaginative role play. The Stockholm Spaces range is practical with an innovative design, made from birch plywood and lacquered for easy cleaning. Many furniture pieces in this range are made from sustainable Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) timbers. This results in an environmentally friendly and sustainable furniture choice for your centre and the environment.

Why you’ll love: This beautifully designed play kitchen inspires endless role play

Featured Product:

MTA’s Stockholm Spaces Combination Play Kitchen

12.Authentic Aboriginal Animal Fun with Dress Up Capes & Puzzles

This set of five colourful animal dress-up capes features stunning Aboriginal artworks from award-winning artist, illustrator and proud Dharug woman, Leanne Watson Redpath. So, if you’re ready for little kangaroos, magpies, emus, crocodiles and cockatoos to play, imagine and interact in your centre, this set is for you. (Suits children aged 3+ years).

Leanne Watson Redpath has also designed this Aboriginal Animal Peg Puzzle Kit with two gorgeous peg puzzles with Australian animals. (Suits children aged 2+ years.).

Why you’ll love: Lets children engage with authentic First Nations art

Featured Products:

Dress-up Capes

Aboriginal Animal Peg Puzzle Kit

To find out more about these resources, or other MTA resources, talk to an MTA Rep or take a look online. Do you still have funding? Maybe these resources could fall within your centre budget. Here’s to a beautiful 2024 in your early learning centre.

09/10/202330/09/2024

Deck the halls: 7 Christmas craft activities that bring the festive!

From wreaths to snow globes, it’s time to get Christmas crafty with these 7 elf-approved activities! While Santa is busy in the North Pole preparing for his big appearance, that’s the cue for all of us down here to plan our festive season arts and crafts. We’ve put our Santa thinking caps on and come up with 7 fun craft activities to bring the joy and merry! They’re as easy to make as kicking back on a sleigh ride with jingle bells on! Little creative minds and hands ready? Let’s gooo!

Elf cup

We took a poll and 100% of Santa’s elves LOVE it when you create little craft versions of them! These finished elf cups look wonderful sitting on a shelf (naturally), on the Christmas table or near the tree. White eco-paper cups are the basis of these cute decorations, painted in green. Then you build your elf’s legs, feet, and cheeky head and hat.

You will need:

White Eco Paper Cups https://www.teaching.com.au/product/jm850

Christmas Paper Chains https://www.teaching.com.au/product/cs5548

A4 Coloured Cover Paper https://www.teaching.com.au/product/teb0001

18mm Joggle Eyes https://www.teaching.com.au/product/sh1038

Strong Craft Glue https://www.teaching.com.au/product/cs0004

A4 Kraft Paper https://www.teaching.com.au/product/teb0087

Assorted Christmas Pom Poms https://www.teaching.com.au/product/th180

Let’s make it!

Cover your cup in green using a marker or paint and set aside to dry.

To make the elf’s collar, cut a strip of white cover paper 28(L) x 3.5(W)cm, and then trim zig-zags into one edge (triangles measuring approx. 1.5cm, with each point roughly 1.5cm apart).

Wrap your zig-zag collar around the top of the cup, attaching with glue at the back.

To make the elf’s legs, take 2 strips of Christmas paper chain and fold them back and forth to make a zig-zag fold.

Use a dab of glue to attach the legs to the base of the cup.

To make the feet, fold a piece of black cover paper in half and draw one point elf shoe with a pencil, cut the pencil markings out, giving you two shoes.

Use a dab of glue to attach the shoes to the very end of the zig-zag paper legs.

To make the elf’s head, cut a piece of brown Kraft paper approx. 15(L) x 26(W)cm, wrap it into a cylinder with an overlap of approx. 2cm, and either tape or glue in place. Pop it into the cup.

To make the hat, free draw a wonky triangle shape (measuring approx. 26cm at the base, going up to a point. Our elf’s hat measures 14cm from the base line to the point).

Cut out your elf hat and glue it onto the top of the elf hat, overlapping the hat onto the Kraft paper.

To make the arms, use the excess paper from the hat and Kraft paper. Cut two strips of brown craft paper measuring 9(L) x 1.5(W), and 4 x coloured paper lengths 8(L) x 1.5cm.

Layer the Kraft paper and coloured paper together – 1 coloured on the bottom, Kraft in the middle with the ends poking out and another coloured on the top, gluing together. Repeat to make the second arm. Use a pair of scissors to round off the brown Kraft paper to form the hands.

Make a small 45-degree fold on the tops of the arms and glue to the elf cup body.

Free draw two ears on the brown Kraft paper – with 0.5cm excess to fold back and glue to the elf’s head.

Finish off by adding a smile and gluing on 2 joggle eyes, a pom pom on the hat and set aside to dry thoroughly.

Done! The perfect Elf Cup is ready!

TIP: Modify for younger age groups with pre-cut shapes or templates to snip out.

Gingerbread house terracotta pot ornament

This gingerbread house ornament is so cute, it’s bound to be a big favourite for little hands to create and give them a tremendous sense of pride in their work! It would look great sitting on a desk, a shelf, coffee table or a windowsill! These little terracotta pot ornaments also make perfect seasonal gifts for loved ones!

You will need:

Terracotta Plant Pots https://www.teaching.com.au/product/sh9802

Fine POSCA Markers https://www.teaching.com.au/product/um300

Christmas Jingle Bells https://www.teaching.com.au/product/sh9475

Assorted Christmas Ribbons https://www.teaching.com.au/product/sh1588

Crystal Clear https://www.teaching.com.au/product/md025

Let’s make it!

Lightly draw your design onto the terracotta pot with a lead pencil – white snow around the rim and fallen snow coming down around the top edges, a little door, candy canes, gum drops, lollies etc. as desired.

Use the white POSCA paint marker to fill in the large white snow areas.

Use the colourful POSCA paint markers to fill in the brightly coloured details, letting your pencil markings guide your art and set aside to dry.

Apply a layer of Crystal Clear to the entire surface of the pot to provide a permanent barrier to moisture and wear & tear and set aside to dry.

Cut a 20cm length of Christmas Ribbon, form a loop and push the two loose ends through the Jingle Bell.

Feed both loose ends through the hole at the top of the pot, trapping the Jingle Bell on top.

Use strong tape or glue to adhere the loose ribbon ends to the inside of the pot.

Done! The perfect Gingerbread House Terracotta Pot Ornament is ready.

TIP: Further personalise your decoration with embellishments, glitter or writing as desired.

Gingerbread pop stick houses

No holiday season is complete without a gingerbread house – the sort you can eat and the sort you can treasure, like these! Whimsical and looking oh-so-delicious, these quaint pop stick houses make beautiful seasonal displays. They’re so pretty to hang around the classroom, on the Christmas tree at home or to gift as thoughtful presents!

You will need:

Paddle Pop Sticks Plain https://www.teaching.com.au/product/jm67

Choc Fudge Brown Classroom Splash Acrylic Paint https://www.teaching.com.au/product/ec1114

Strong Craft Glue https://www.teaching.com.au/product/cs0004

Wooden Coloured Beads https://www.teaching.com.au/product/am1770

Assorted Felt Sheets https://www.teaching.com.au/product/flt016

A4 White Cardboard https://www.teaching.com.au/product/AUS208

Christmas Candy Colour Chenille Sticks https://www.teaching.com.au/product/sh1321

Fine POSCA Markers https://www.teaching.com.au/product/UM300

Assorted Felt Christmas Stickers https://www.teaching.com.au/product/SH1613

Red and White Bakers Twine https://www.teaching.com.au/product/sh733

Let’s make it!

To assemble the pop stick house – trim 9 pop sticks to 2/3 of their original size.

Lay 8 of the trimmed pop sticks in a row and use strong glue to adhere the 9th trimmed pop stick across the bottom (to hold your 8 pop sticks together). Allow to dry.

When your glue is dry, flip over and glue 1 whole-length pop stick to the top of the trimmed pop sticks, covering the trimmings.

Trim 2 more pop sticks to 2/3 of their size and glue these to form a triangle-shaped roof (one end each on the sides, and the other end together to form the roof’s point).

When the glue is dry, trim 4 more pop sticks to fit the roof’s triangular frame, and glue in place. Allow to dry.

When the glue is dry, flip your Gingerbread House over – it’s now ready to paint the front in your desired shade of fudge brown. Set aside to dry.

Now it’s time to make all your decorations. We’ve used coloured wooden beads to decorate the roof and doorknob, felt sheets to make the door, bakers’ twine to trim, Christmas felt stickers and candy colour chenille sticks. The sweet treats have been made using POSCA markers on white cardboard which have been cut out and glued into scraps of white felt to raise them up.

Use strong glue to attach all your decorations to the front of your Gingerbread House and set aside to dry thoroughly (the wooden doorknob might need a 2nd blob of strong glue to hold in place).

Lastly, flip your Gingerbread House over, cut a length of baker’s twine and attach to the back of the house to form a hanging loop) and set aside to dry.

Done! The perfect Gingerbread House Decoration is ready.

TIP: Older age groups might enjoy using glue guns to assemble their houses and decorations.

Iron-on beads tree baubles and Christmas wreath

Have you tried making iron-on bead ornaments? It’s a really simple and fun creative activity, allowing for all sorts of patterns and shapes. You arrange the Christmas-coloured beads on the peg boards to make your desired pattern. You’re then ready to fuse the beads together using a hot iron (adult time!) to make a long-lasting ornament to adorn classrooms, homes or the beloved family Christmas tree.

Baubles – you will need:

Christmas Iron-on Beads Kit https://www.teaching.com.au/product/pb2456k

Red and White Bakers Twine https://www.teaching.com.au/product/sh733 OR

Christmas Ribbon Rolls https://www.teaching.com.au/product/cs9207

Wreath – you will need:

Christmas Iron-on Beads https://www.teaching.com.au/product/pb2456

Square Bead Boards for 5mm Beads https://www.teaching.com.au/product/amb600

Ironing Paper for Iron-on Beads https://www.teaching.com.au/product/amb800

Christmas Ribbon Rolls https://www.teaching.com.au/product/cs9207

Let’s make them!

Arrange the iron-on beads into a design on the bead board.

Warm a household iron to high, making sure the steam is off.

Cover the design with a sheet of ironing paper and iron over until the beads start to melt and fuse together into a colourful and flexible shape.

Allow your design to cool before removing from the bead board.

Peel the protective layer off an acetate sheet and cut two pieces to the size of your frame.

When cool, thread a length of yarn through one of the beads, creating a loop to hand, and tie off (a skewer will help to remake a hole if the beads have completely melted.

Done! The perfect Iron-on Beads Christmas decoration is ready.

TIP: Make sure you have an adult to help or complete the ironing steps.

Snow globe

Do you collect snow globes? Do you have one special one? Have you made one before? A snow globe makes a perfect lasting seasonal treasure for little ones – or a perfect gift for friends or family members. You can make whatever scene you like for the inside of your snow globe, although we went with a snowman! However, you can let your creativity run wild with your perfectly preserved snow globe creation!

You will need:

Snow Globe https://www.teaching.com.au/product/CS6575

Glitter; https://www.teaching.com.au/product/bio-glitter-8211-set-of-8

Oven Bake Polymer Clay https://www.teaching.com.au/product/KC1025

High Temp Glue Gun https://www.teaching.com.au/product/CS1660

High Temp Glue Sticks https://www.teaching.com.au/product/CS1661

Christmas Rhinestones https://www.teaching.com.au/product/SH9727

Christmas Ribbon Rolls https://www.teaching.com.au/product/CS9207

Let’s make it!

Wash your hands with soap and water, and dry thoroughly before using the clay.

Soften the Polymer clay using the warmth of your hands, kneading until it is warm and workable.

Shape the clay into a Christmas scene (a snowman, candy canes, reindeer, Santa, presents, a tree etc). Make sure it’s able to fit inside the snow globe (we’ve made a snowman, 2 candy canes and a platform).

Carefully lay your designs onto a flat baking tray with baking paper.

Put your finished design into the oven and bake at around 130 degrees Celsius for 15 to 30 minutes (baking times may vary depending on the size of your chosen designs).

Let your creation completely cool before handling (any rough areas can be sanded or touched up with paint as desired).

Using a hot glue gun (or strong glue that will be waterproof when dry), adhere your Christmas creations to the inside of the snow globe lid, and set aside to dry.

Fill the snow globe with water and glitter as desired and tightly screw the lid to the globe (securing the lid to the globe with a hot glue gun will add complete security).

Decorate the base of the snow globe with sequins or ribbon as desired.

Done! The perfect Christmas Snow Globe is ready.

TIP: Make sure to have an adult help or complete the steps requiring an oven.

Pop stick nutcracker ornament

This is such a simple but adorable ornament to hang on the Christmas tree! Do you know the story of the Nutcracker? It tells the story of a little girl called Marie (Clara in some versions) and her toys. In the original story, Marie’s toys come to life on Christmas Eve and a Nutcracker figure helps lead the fight against an army of mice! One of the main themes is about the power of imagination. Marie leads people through a magical dream, who see the wonder of Christmas through her eyes.

You will need:

Foam Paint Brush Set https://www.teaching.com.au/product/nar102

Jumbo Pop Sticks https://www.teaching.com.au/product/jm100

Mini Paddle Pop Sticks https://www.teaching.com.au/product/sh956

Student Acrylic, https://www.teaching.com.au/product/student-acrylic-8211-set-of-5

Fine POSCA Markers https://www.teaching.com.au/product/UM300

Gold Bullet POSCA Marker https://www.teaching.com.au/product/UM509

Strong Craft Glue https://www.teaching.com.au/product/cs0004

Red and White Bakers Twine https://www.teaching.com.au/product/sh733

Washi Tape: https://www.teaching.com.au/product/th1625

Let’s make it!

Use a lead pencil to lightly mark out the Nutcracker’s details on 1 x jumbo pop stick (the face, jacket, pants and shoes) and 2 x mini pop sticks (the arms and hands).

Use acyclic paint to block out the colours (washi tape can help create crisp lines) and set aside to dry.

Use fine POSCA paint pens to decorate the details – yellow for the uniform’s buttons, black to make the eyes etc. and set aside to dry.

Lay the pop sticks face down, arrange them into place and use strong tape or glue to hold them in place, and set aside to dry.

Remove the handle from the foam paint brush, add a small squeeze of strong glue inside, and slide it onto the Nutcracker’s head.

Attach a loop of baker’s twine to the back of the ornament with strong glue (we’ve poked the ends into the back of the sponge hat) and set aside to dry.

Done! The perfect Pop Stick Nutcracker Ornament is ready.

TIP: A small pop stick cut in half and running along the back of the Nutcracker will help the body and arm pop stick pieces stay in place.

Paper Jingle Ornaments

These paper crafting favourites will look beautiful hanging around the classroom or on the Christmas tree at home. They can be made in so many different shapes and colours too! Christmas is all about jingle bells and these are a perfect way to bring your own personalised jingle bells to life!

You will need:

A4 Coastal Cardboard https://www.teaching.com.au/product/aus502#

Tinsel Pipe Cleaners https://www.teaching.com.au/product/cl2205

Christmas Ribbon Rolls https://www.teaching.com.au/product/cs9207

Christmas Bells https://www.teaching.com.au/product/gold-038-silver-bells-8211-pack-of-50

Paper Punch One Hole https://www.teaching.com.au/product/acc003

Silver Craft Wire https://www.teaching.com.au/product/THE218

Supertac Glue https://www.teaching.com.au/product/th005

Let’s make it!

Draw your Christmas decoration shapes onto cardboard and cut out (make sure to leave room for the tinsel and bell in the middle, and a hanging hole at the very top).

Use a compass or small round object to draw a circle in the middle of the decoration (roughly 3.5cm diameter).

Cut out the centre hole (fold the cardboard slightly, make a snip and then use the snip to insert your scissors to cut around the circle line). Discard the trimmings.

Cut a short length of beading wire roughly 4cm long, thread a Christmas bell onto the wire, fold the wire in half and push one end through the cardboard decoration, roughly 1cm above the cut-out circle. Twist the two ends around each other to hold the bell securely (trim if needed).

Cut a sparkly pipe cleaner to approx. 15cm in length and bend around to form a circle to fit around the cardboard decoration centre cut out. Twist the ends around the circle neatly. Use strong glue to attach the sparkly pipe cleaner to the cardboard decoration and set aside to dry thoroughly.

When dry, use a hole punch to make a hole at the top of the decoration and tie a length of Christmas ribbon, forming a loop to hang.

Done! The perfect Paper Jingle Ornament is ready.

TIP: It doesn’t need to stop there! Add as much decoration and sparkle as you like with drawings, embellishments and glitter.

So, there you have 7 beautiful Christmas craft activities to give you decorative goodies that young and old alike will love. Hang them, place them, gift them, share them, enjoy them!

If you’d like to download the step-by-step activity pack pdf, click here.

Happy crafting and seasonal wishes and please share your crafty seasonal awesomeness with us @modernteaching

Porcelain Teacup Planters

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23/03/202328/02/2024

13 Mother’s Day handmade gift ideas

Mother’s Day is right round the corner! We’ve gathered up our best inspirational list of thoughtful handmade gifts for the maternal figures in our lives – representing the love and gratitude we feel for them and to celebrate all they do for us each day.

There are so many keepsakes to create! And the beauty of MTA’s open-ended range of Mother’s Day materials is the ability to adapt the activities to children’s ages, needs & suitability – ensuring they can make a personalised treasure that’s just right for their much-loved role models.

Read on for some creative Mother’s Day themed crafts to make ‘Mum’ feel special.

Ceramic Teacup Planter

Keep Mother’s Day flourishing all year round with the Ceramic Teacup Planter. The plain smooth surface of the cup & saucer welcome personalisation with any combination of porcelain markers, POSCA pens, pastel paints or rhinestones. Decorate with a pattern, draw pretty pictures, or write down words of love for Mum. In whichever way you choose to customise your planter, it’s sure to have pride of place on the windowsill – and in Mum’s heart.

STEP-BY-STEP

Give your teacup & saucer a good wash and set aside to dry before applying paint or makers.
Using the Porcelain Markers or paint of choice, carefully draw/paint your design onto the ceramic cup and saucer (paint provides a great overall coverage of colour, while markers provide precise detail).
Set aside to dry thoroughly.
To set the markers and paint for wear & tear, cover with a layer of Crystal Clear.
Set aside to dry thoroughly.
Add soil and a small plant of choice – flowers, herbs or succulents are ideal.

Done! The perfect Teacup Planter for Mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – Practising your design on paper before adding to the plate is a great help when deciding how the final product will look.

Products Used;

POSCA Marker Pastel Bullet

White Chromacryl Acrylic Paint

Crystal Clear

Sand Art Flower Magnets

These beautiful pre-cut sand art flowers make for conveniently effective gifts that Mum’s are sure to treasure! Simply peel off the protective paper to reveal the sticky surface below for you to sprinkle sand over. As you work through the sections, you’ll see your flower blooming before your very eyes. The supplied magnets are perfect to stick your flower onto any magnetic surface – the fridge, dishwasher, Mum’s office computer etc. Now mum is reminded of her blooming treasures every time she sees her flower magnets.

The Coloured sand used for crafting is available in a handy pack of 10, or choose to purchase individually in the pictured blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow and green. The rich vibrant shades are ideal for this project!

Glitter shakers are super handy when it comes to applying the coloured sand too. They come with two types of pouring options from fine sprinkle to steady pour for easy application every time. Feel welcome to add a touch of Bio-glitter to the shakers for your flowers to shine bright!

STEP-BY-STEP

Choose your flower design and coloured sand.
Carefully peel back a section of covering to reveal the sticky surface below.
Pour or shake the sand onto the sticky surface until it’s covered, gently shaking off excess.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the entire flower is covered with coloured sand.
Attach the supplied magnet onto the back of the tulip.

Done! The perfect sand art fridge magnet is for Mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – Painting trays come in handy to catch the excess spill of sand so that it can be used – and avoid a sandy classroom!

Products Used;

Sand Art Flowers

Creatistics Coloured Sand

Glitter Shakers

Iron on Bead Frames

Iron on Beads welcome children to create. They work like open-ended craft materials, inviting children to arrange them into any number of shapes & patterns. Perfect to make jewellery or key tags, trinket bowls, coasters, embellishments and so much more – literally anything your imagination desires.

Perfect for Mother’s Day these pastel-coloured non-toxic plastic beads easily arrange on a bead board; just lay on a piece of ironing paper and with a quick iron over, the beads melt together to hold their shape. It’s super easy! Children can also use them as traditional beads, stitching through the openings as they thread and weave – ideal for beaded jewellery or finishing off hanging decorations.

Available in so many shades, choose from vibrant colours and the handy vibrant pack, pastel colours and the handy pastel pack or bright neon if you’re feeling like some flare. And for younger age groups, they might find the jumbo sized beads more workable along with their jumbo-sized square bead boards, or jumbo assorted shapes boards.

STEP-BY-STEP

Arrange the iron-on beads into a design on the bead board.
Warm a household iron to high making sure the steam is off.
Cover the design with a sheet of ironing paper and iron over until the beads start to melt and fuse together into a colourful and flexible shape.
Allow your design to cool before removing from the bead board. 
Peel the protective layer off an acetate sheet and cut two pieces to the size of your frame.
Sandwich a photo or drawing between the acetate sheets and glue layers together, then glue to the back of the frame.
Set aside to dry thoroughly.
When dry, peel an adhesive magnet from the sheet and attach to the back of the frame.

Done! The perfect keepsake for Mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – Hot irons are not for young children. Have an adult help or complete the ironing steps.

Products Used;

Pastel Iron on Beads

Ironing Paper for Iron on Beads

Creatistics Square Bead Boards

Self-Adhesive Magnetic Sheets

A4 Acetate Sheets

Stained Glass Flowers

Take the hassle out of planning with pre-cut stained glass shapes ready to decorate. Made from black cardboard, these pretty flowers frame the included coloured cellophane beautifully. They even come with their own hanging ribbons. It’s a brilliantly convenient craft pack!

Display on windows, use the ribbons to hang or stick onto greeting cards for handmade gifts that’ll surely bring a smile to Mum. These colourful flowers will last the test of time too– long after cut flowers have wilted these elegant creations will proudly blossom.

STEP-BY-STEP

Choose your flower design and gently press out the petal inserts.
Apply a small amount of glue to one side of the flower (the edge of a glue stick or washable school glue will work with precision).
Press the coloured cellophane onto the glue, snipping the pieces to size as desired.
Use scissors to carefully snip off any excess cellophane from the edges of the flower.
Use a tab of strong craft glue (or sticky tape) to attach the enclosed ribbon for hanging.

Done! The perfect blooms are ready for Mum.

*TOP TIP – Use glue sparingly, too much glue with lead to wrinkled cellophane.

Products Used;

Stained Glass Flowers

Hanging Porcelain Planter

Shrink Film Beaded Key Chain

With her very own handmade key chain, Mum can take your love along with her all the time.

Made using shrink film, this versatile medium works like drawing on a piece of paper – only so much more fun! When you’re finished with your design, simply cut it out, punch a hole in the top (to thread into), and bake in the oven. You’ll see your design shrink before your very eyes! When it’s completely cooled, you’ll see it’s now a durable hard trinket ready to transform into a myriad of things.

Necklaces, bracelets, key chains, bag trinkets, car rear-view mirror accessories & door hanger decorations are all super simple to make. Just thread some beading cord or leather through the hole, add some beads and finish off with a key chain as desired. This is a gift that’s sure to last the distance.

STEP-BY-STEP

Draw keychain designs onto the shrink using the matte side with coloured pencils or permanent markers.
Carefully cut around design and punch a hole to attach the beading cord.
Pre-heat oven to 150°C.
Place each design on a lined tray (matte side up) and bake.
Plastic will begin to shrink after 10 seconds, watch carefully! They will shrink to approx. 60% of the original size.
Remove from oven once plastic has flattened and set tray aside to cool completely before handling.
Thread beading cord through the shrink film decorations and add desired number of beads.
Firmly tie the cord onto the key chain to hold everything in place.

Done! The perfect keychain for Mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – Coloured pencil markings will darken in the oven; a very light shading is all that’s needed for bright vibrant colour!

Products Used;

Hanging Porcelain Planter

Perfect for growing creativity! These adorable porcelain planters are ideal to personalise for Mother’s Day. There are so many ways to decorate them! Pastel paint & felt feathers add calming shades to compliment Mum’s soon-to-be favourite plant, or bold & vibrant paint with glitter glue will surely brighten Mum’s day!

STEP-BY-STEP

Apply your chosen shade of paint to the porcelain planter and set aside to dry thoroughly.
Decorate your planter using POSCA markers with words, drawings, or messages of love, and then set aside to dry.
Spray on a layer of Crystal Clear to protect from the weather and wear & tear.
Use tacky glue to stick on your desired embellishments and set aside to dry once more.
Add soil and a plant of your choice (flowers, herbs or succulents work well).

Done! The perfect planter is ready for Mum.

*TOP TIP – Before applying paint, markers, or embellishments, it’s recommended to thoroughly wash the porcelain planter and set aside to dry.

Products Used;

POSCA Marker Pastel Bullet

Pencil Holder Frame

This Mother’s Day keepsake is not only beautiful, its wonderfully functional too. Decorate the pine wood pencil holder and PVC frame for stationery to sit proudly on Mum’s desk as a reminder of a special occasion for years to come.

Perfect to decorate with pastel paint and special papers (Mother’s Day, Impressionist or Patterned) and then finished off with the cutest accent embellishments (Flowers, Feathers, Wooden MUM Tiles, Glittery Daisies or Flower Rhinestones). Follow the simple step-by-step guide below to assemble yours. The only tough choice here is, how will you decorate yours?

STEP-BY-STEP

Remove the PVC display frame from the wooden pencil holder and set aside.
Using a brush, apply paint to your pencil holder and set aside to dry.
To cover some of the sides with patterned paper, lay the pencil holder onto the paper and use a pencil to trace around.
Lift the pencil holder off the paper, and using scissors, cut around the pencil markings (snipping inside of the pencil markings will ensure the paper fits neatly in place).
Apply a layer of Superstik Glue Stick to the surface of the pencil holder you’re wanting to place the paper on, and then firmly press the paper onto the surface, using your hands to smooth it down.
Repeat steps 3 to 5 for as many sides of the holder as desired (children’s drawings on cover paper also make a beautiful alternative to patterned paper).
Use dabs of Tacky Glue to apply your choice of embellishments and set aside to dry.
For the display frame, print and cut-to-size a photograph or child’s drawing, and gently slot it into place along with the PVC frame.

Done! Mum’s perfect pencil holder is ready.

*TOP TIP – Several layers of paint will provide complete coverage, while paint thinned with water will provide a rustic whitewashed effect.

Products Used;

Pencil Holder Frame

Felt Flowers

Latte Mugs & Marker Value Pack

Personalised Latte Mugs

A one-of-a-kind latte mug is just perfect to remind Mum how loved she is. Whether she’s gearing up for a big day ahead, or ready to relax at the end of it, her very own personalised will be Mum’s go-to favourite cup! These beautiful mugs are supplied as plain white, providing the perfect canvas for children to decorate and personalise with drawings and messages.

STEP-BY-STEP

For best results, we recommend to thoroughly clean your mug with soapy water, giving them a good rinse and dry afterwards (a dishwater is ideal).
Draw or paint your desired designs onto the outside of the mug.
Set aside to dry thoroughly.
To set the mug ready for drinking, wear & tear and dishwasher use it will need to be baked in an oven. Set oven to 150 degrees C, and once oven temp has been reached, bake the mug for 30 minutes, turn oven off and allow to cool before removing.

Done! The perfect latte mug is ready.

*TOP TIP – Paint provides a great overall coverage of colour, while porcelain markers provide precise detail.

Products Used;

Creatistics Chunky Colouring Markers

Akwa Glass & Tile Paint

Love Heart Tie Dye Calico Bag

Tie-Dye (or tied dying) is an ancient art that’s been well-known across continents and cultures for thousands of years. It’s made a modern resurgence with plenty of colourful textile designs to experiment with. All that’s needed is fabric, coloured dyes, and string – although modern tie dye is made a breeze with the use of rubber bands.

Choose any number of coloured dyes in vibrant rainbow and bright fluorescent shades or keep to the pictured warm colour tones of purple, magenta, red, orange, and yellow and you’re all ready to start! It’s the position of the rubber bands wound tightly around the fabric that creates the unique and mesmerising result. Creatistics Tie Dye takes the hassle out of the process too! No need for messy salt & vinegar and tubs of water, simply apply the coloured dye straight from the bottle onto the fabric.

Whichever collected of shades and pattern of rubber bands you choose; Mum’s shopping bag will be the envy of every shopper!

STEP-BY-STEP

Soak your calico bag in cold water and wring out the excess water.
Fold your damp calico bag vertically in half.
Use a Creatistics Colouring Marker to draw a half-heart shape with the centre aligning on the fold (washable markers will come off when you put the bag in the washing machine).
Scrunch the bag with tight pleats following along the marker line, matching up the marking together, and tightly wrap a rubber band around the pleats on the marker line.
Add another rubber band approx. 4cm below the first one.
Keep adding rubber bands until you reach the length of the bag.
Wearing gloves, apply Creatistics Tie Dye straight from the bottle onto the fabric bag, a new colour for each banded section, covering the entire surface.
Place the calico bag into a plastic bag or alternative plastic wrap.
Let sit for a few hours in a cool damp place (a fridge is ideal).
Remove the fabric bag from the plastic bag and remove the rubber bands (carefully cutting away with scissors is ideal).
Hang the calico bag on the clothesline and allow it to air dry.
Once thoroughly dry, place the calico bag in a dryer for 5-10 minutes on a hot spin setting to enable the colours to fully bind (we also recommend to separately wash the bag 3 to 4 times before washing with other laundry to avoid running).

Done! The perfect carry bag for Mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – Educators and older students will find applying the dye straight from the bottle the easiest methods, however younger age groups may find it easier to apply the dye from a bowl with a brush.

Products Used;

Calico Bags

Creatistics Tie Dye

Rubber Bands

Shrink Film Jewellery

Just like the key chain earlier, shrink film jewellery makes beautifully memorable keepsakes and yet they’re easy-peasy to assemble. With just a few simple items and a touch of creativity, in no time at all Mums around the country can proudly sport their Mother’s Day jewellery.

Whether you choose clear shrink film, printable white or pre-cut charms, young creators will have free reign to design the perfect adornments for their mums and much-loved role models. Read on to follow through the steps to make the colourful pictured pendants.

STEP-BY-STEP

Draw jewellery designs onto the shrink film using the matte side with coloured pencils or permanent markers.
Carefully cut around design and punch a hole to thread through.
Pre-heat oven to 150°C.
Place each design on a lined tray (matte side up) and bake.
Plastic will begin to shrink after 10 seconds, watch carefully! They will shrink to approx. 60% of the original size.
Remove from oven once plastic has flattened and set tray aside to cool completely before handling.
Thread beading cord through the shrink film decorations and add desired number of beads.
Firmly tie the cord to hold everything in place, leaving enough room to fit a bracelet or necklace on as desired.

Done! The perfect jewellery for Mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – Coloured pencil markings will darken in the oven; a very light shading is all that’s needed for bright vibrant colour!

Products Used;

Scratch Art Greeting Cards

DIY Mother’s Day cards are perfect for children to use their creativity in imaginative ways to make something just right for their Mum. A thoughtful and loving message inside the card will be something Mum will hold in her heart forever.

And because they’re so quick and simple to make, they’ll be time for children to make a card for all their role models & friends – mums, step-mums, grandmas, aunties, the kind neighbour always offering a friendly wave… Why not get the class together to send kind messages to the residents at the local retirement village? These beautiful cards will make anyone’s day!

STEP-BY-STEP

Using the provided scratch tools scratch away the black surface of a scratch-art heart to reveal the colour gradient below. It could be a special message with words, drawings or pretty patterns.
To make the coloured card front, apply a small layer of glue stick to the front of the card and lay it onto a piece of coloured paper.
Cut away excess paper.
Apply the glue stick to the back of the scratch-art heart and firmly press onto the font of the greeting card.
Set aside to dry thoroughly if needed.
Draw and write loving messages inside.

Done! Mum’s perfect Mother’s Day card is ready.

*TOP TIP – Don’t forget the envelope! It’s a terrific space for children to personalise with drawings, stickers or embellishments.

Products Used;

Scratch Art Hearts & Cards Pack

Hot & Cold Coloured Paper

Alphabet & Number Stamps

Perfect to incorporate printmaking into arts & crafts, this traditional alphabet & number stamp set will print messages of love into all sorts of mediums. Whether they’re used with ink on cards, or stamped into paper Magiclay, silk clay and air dry clay your creations will have that extra special touch this Mother’s Day.

STEP-BY-STEP

With a rolling pin, roll out your chosen clay medium to create a smooth surface.
Use a cookie cutter or free form your clay in your desired shape, eg. Necklace pendants, trinket bowls, key chains, tea light holders, desk paper weights etc.
Gently press the letters/numbers into the clay, forming messages of love, eg. ‘MUM’, ‘XOXO’, ‘BEST MUM’ etc.
Set your works aside to thoroughly dry (don’t forget to poke a hole in your works if you’ll be threading leather or cord to hang).

Done! The perfect message for mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – A sprinkle of Bio-Glitter always adds a touch of sparkle to Mum’s present.

Products Used;

Alphabet & Number Stamps

Now that your craft supplies are organised, have you got your wrapping sorted?

For large presents tissue paper, cellophane or paper rolls that can be personalised with paintings or drawings are ideal. For small items, paper bags are perfect, available in festive polka dots or easy-to- personalise natural or white. Finish off with ribbons made with satin, raffia or jute and you’ll be all set for Mum’s special day.

Now it’s time to gather the class and get your craft on!

Download our Mother’s Day activities PDF Bundle

03/03/202318/04/2024

Celebrating women in STEM: Breaking barriers & achieving amazing things

The world is changing before our eyes. Digital technology has become a core part of our everyday lives. It’s predicted that our future workforce will spend more than twice as much time on tasks requiring science, maths and critical thinking than today.

According to the World Economic Forum’s ‘Reskilling Revolution’, 1.1 billion jobs are expected to be radically transformed by technology in the next decade.

Future careers will rely heavily on 21st century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, cultural awareness, collaboration and problem-solving. These require a priority focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The National STEM School Education Strategy 2016-2026 was agreed by education ministers in 2015 through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Education Council. It supports a long-term change agenda to ensure that students have a stronger foundation in STEM.

So where do girls and women sit in this STEM landscape?

According to the STEM Equity Monitor 2022 (a national data resource on women’s and girls’ participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics), there have been some improvements for girls and women in STEM:

The proportion of girls who know which subjects make up STEM increased by 3 percentage points, growing from 64% in 2019–20 to 67% in 2021–22
The number of women enrolling in university STEM courses increased by 24% between 2015 and 2020.

The proportion of women in STEM-qualified occupations has increased by 2 percentage points, growing from 13% in 2020 to 15% in 2021.
The gender pay gap for full-time workers in STEM industries shrank from $28,994 in 2020 to $26,784 in 2021.

However, there’s still work to do:

Girls’ confidence in STEM subjects is generally lower than boys
Women only make up 36% of enrolments in university STEM courses, and 16% of enrolments in vocational STEM courses.

Women only make up 27% of the workforce across all STEM industries, a one percentage point drop from 2020.
Just 23% of senior management and 8% of CEOs in STEM-qualified industries are women.
On average, women still earn 18% less than men across all STEM industries.

The History of Women in STEM

Women’s underrepresentation in STEM is not a new phenomenon. Historically, formal educational opportunities limited access to the hard sciences and technology. Many women who managed to acquire education were subsequently denied work in STEM fields. Generations of women struggled to achieve success or recognition in what were viewed as male domains.

Trailblazer Women in STEM Rollcall:

Maria Mitchell

The first internationally known woman to work as a professional astronomer, Maria was also the first American to discover a comet, back in 1847. She was the first woman elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1848.

Ellen Henrietta Swallow Richards

This pioneering environmental chemist and industrial engineer is known for her work in sanitary engineering and domestic science in the1800s. She lay a foundation for home economics and was the first to apply chemistry to the study of nutrition.

Elizabeth Blackwell

In 1849, Blackwell became the first woman to receive a medical degree in the US (graduating first in her class) and the first woman on the Medical Register of the General Medical Council in the UK. She tirelessly promoted women in medicine, even when faced with prejudice herself.

Marie Curie

Curie moved from Poland to Paris to study physics and mathematics, becoming the first woman to become Professor of General Physics at the Sorbonne. Her research led to the isolation of polonium and radium, for which she and her husband won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903. Marie went on to win the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1911.

Gerty Cori

After decades of struggle for acceptance, Cori became the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1947 (along with her husband) for her role in the discovery of glycogen metabolism. Thanks to this discovery, we can better understand how the body processes food today.

Rosalind Franklin

Using X-ray data, Franklin’s breakthrough in genetics and biochemistry was proving the 3D double-helix mosaic structure of DNA in 1953. Franklin died after her work was published, while her three male colleagues were awarded a Nobel Prize in 1962. The committee ruled against a posthumous nomination. Dubbed the Dark Lady of DNA, Franklin was unrecognised for much of her work.

Dorothy Hodgkin

Chemist and STEM advocate, Hodgkin succeeded in determining the structure of penicillin which was crucial for its synthetic manufacturing and the role it plays in modern medicine. Hodgkin was awarded a Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1964.

Katherine Johnson

This STEM trailblazer was a mathematical genius who went on to use her geometric knowledge to research and map the flight paths of spacecraft. In the 1960s, her findings were crucial in helping to get the first person to the Moon.

Edith Clarke

Clarke was an electrical engineering pioneer, earning many firsts, including becoming the first professional female electrical engineer in the U.S. In 1948, she was the first woman inducted into the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.

Admiral Grace Murray Hopper

In 1952, computer scientist and mathematician, Hopper, developed the first compiler called A-0, which translated mathematical code into machine-readable code. This led her to co-develop COBOL, an early computer language. She also accurately predicted that computers would be an everyday tool, small enough to fit on a person’s desk!

Chien-Shiung Wu

This Chinese-American nuclear physicist earned many accolades and her 1965 book, Beta Decay, is still a reference for nuclear physicists. Wu’s experiments using cobalt-60, a radioactive form of the cobalt metal disproved ‘the law of parity’ and led to a Nobel Prize in 1957 for two male theoretical physicists, but Wu was excluded.

Dr. Sally Ride

One of only five women selected for the NASA class of 1978, Dr. Ride went on to become the first American woman in space in 1983. At age 32, she was also the youngest American astronaut to have flown in space.

Despite setbacks and struggles, these women broke down barriers, challenged the status quo and set an example for future generations of women in STEM. Continue the STEM Pioneer Deep dive here and here.

Incredible Women in STEM Today

Women in STEM fields are also making huge strides today, as well as inspiring the next generation. Some of these movers and shakers include:

Dr. Joanne Liu

As the first female international president of Doctors Without Borders, Liu played a key role in responding to the Ebola crisis in West Africa and the Cholera epidemic in Haiti and is a passionate advocate for improving global health systems.

Dr. Jane Goodall

A renowned primatologist and conservationist, Goodall has made groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of chimpanzee behaviour. She is also a tireless advocate for animal rights and conservation efforts.

Dr. Fei-Fei Li

A computer scientist and AI (Artificial Intelligence) expert, Li is known for her work in developing large-scale image and video recognition systems. She’s a pioneer in AI and machine learning and a ‘researcher bringing humanity to AI’.

Dr. Jennifer Doudna

This remarkable biochemist and geneticist is best known for her pioneering work on the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing system that earned her a 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. She was named one of the Time 100 most influential people in 2015.

Inspiring Women in STEM Making a Difference Down Under…

Associate Professor Caroline McMillen

A leading neuroscientist at the University of Newcastle, McMillen has made significant contributions to our understanding of the developing brain and awarded numerous awards for her work including an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2020.

Dr. Emma Kendrick

A climate scientist at the University of Tasmania, Kendrick has been at the forefront of research on the impacts of climate change on our unique and fragile ecosystems.

Dr. Adele Green

A skin cancer researcher at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Dr. Green is a leading expert in her field and has made important contributions to our understanding of the causes of skin cancer and ways to prevent it.

Dr. Melina Georgousakis

Georgousakis is a public health researcher in infectious diseases, vaccine development and immunisation. She is also the founder of Franklin Women, an Australian social enterprise for women working in health and medical careers.

The future for STEM Education in Australia

A 2016 Australian Report by The Smith Family on improving educational outcomes of disadvantaged young Australians noted that, ‘educational attainment is even more important in the technology-rich global 21st century… 75% of the fastest growing occupations require STEM skills. However… the uptake of STEM subjects in Year 12 is declining (PricewaterhouseCoopers 2015) as has achievement of technology skills in Years 6 and 10 (ACARA 2015).’

There has been progress in recent years when it comes to turning this around and increasing the representation of women in STEM. Governments and organisations are providing support through scholarships, mentorship programs and workshops. There are several funding opportunities available for those interested in enriching STEM education and pursuing careers in STEM fields:

The Australian Government’s Inspiring Australia initiative provides funding for projects that aim to increase public engagement with science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) offers grants for projects that aim to inspire young Australians to pursue careers in STEM fields.
The Australian Academy of Science provides funding for programs that aim to promote science literacy and encourage students to pursue careers in STEM.
The Ian Potter Foundation offers grants for initiatives that aim to enhance STEM education and support young people in pursuing careers in STEM.
The Foundation for Young Australians provides funding for initiatives that aim to inspire young Australians to pursue careers in STEM
Federal funds will help Flinders University support hundreds of Year 9 female high school students in South Australia and the Northern Territory to build STEM and entrepreneurial skills to compete in future opportunities.

With the support of government, organisations, education and individuals, we can work towards more equitable STEM representation as we prepare students for the exciting opportunities ahead. Let’s keep celebrating the achievements of women and girls in STEM as we power towards a more inclusive STEM-focused future.

How do you support STEM in the classroom? We’d love to hear from you!

One way we make the difference at MTA…

The Smith Family has long recognised the role technology plays in a child’s education. MTA proudly supports The Smith Family and their Learning for Life Program. (Since 2020, the Program has delivered over 5,000 Digital Inclusion Packs to families in need of digital access which include a laptop and/or an internet package along with Tech Support to ensure families have the support they need to use the technology they receive).

Join us for STEAMPOSIUM24 too, brought to you by MTA!

https://www.nobelprize.org/

Sources:

https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/announcement/2022/12/international-womens-day-2023-digitall-innovation-and-technology-for-gender-equality

https://www.twistedscience.com.au/blog/historys-top-5-most-influential-women-in-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-mardi/

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/breaking-in-women-in-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-national-women%E2%80%99s-history-museum/gAWBO5S1I8MMIQ?hl=en

https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/-/media/files/research/reports/research-disadvantaged-young-australians-learning-for-life.pdf

https://www.education.gov.au/australian-curriculum/national-stem-education-resources-toolkit/introductory-material-what-stem/why-stem-important#:~:text=STEM%20learning%20is%20also%20important,will%20be%20important%20life%20skills.

https://www.weforum.org/press/2023/01/the-reskilling-revolution-350-million-people-reached-with-future-ready-skills-education-and-jobs/

https://www.industry.gov.au/news/state-stem-gender-equity-2022#:~:text=Women%20only%20make%20up%2036,enrolments%20in%20vocational%20STEM%20courses.

03/03/202326/10/2023

Easter Art And Craft Activities

Hop into Easter with a Crafty Eggs-Travaganza

Easter is a time for family, friends, and of course adorable Easter craft! From super simple pre-cut ‘everything in the box’ activities to egg-citing multi-step projects for older students to have a crack at, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best!

Read on to adorn your classroom in Easter cheer, assemble the most adorable gifts for some-bunny special and organise an egg-stra special hat parade that’ll be the talk of the town.

So grab your best Easter bonnet and let’s hop to it.

Easter Hunting Baskets

The traditional Easter hunting basket has formed part of our Easter memories for generations, with happy little hunters excitedly gathering hidden choccy eggs around the garden or school grounds. The basket making in the days and weeks before hand would build the anticipation of the festivities to come – and finally the day would arrive!

But it doesn’t need to be chocolate! There’s plenty of treasures for children to hunt for, why not try Easter sticker sheets, felt bunny stickers, mini carrots and fuzzy chicks for imaginative Easter hunting that’s bound to delight.

Simple to make and fun to craft, these cardboard baskets are pre-cut with slots and perforated lines to guide your basket folding. All you need to do is decide how you’ll decorate yours!

STEP-BY-STEP

Apply the glue stick to the backing of your Easter basket and handle.
Press the glue side of the basket onto the backing side of the pattern paper and gently smooth down with your fingers to remove any air bubbles, set aside to dry.
Carefully cut away the excess pattered paper and recut along the pre-cut Easter basket lines
Use the pre-fold lines of the basket to fold the basket into its shape and glue into place.
Decorate your basket with Easter stickers, paper shred and chicks.

Done! The perfect hunting basket is ready for chocolate egg hunting!

*TOP TIP – Younger children will enjoy decorating their baskets with scraps of paper or paint, rather than one sheet of patterned paper.

Products Used;

Impressionist Pattern Papers OR Gingham Paper

Easter Hunting Baskets

Kraft Paper Shred OR Green Crinkle Paper Shred

Easter Stickers

Easter Chicks

Felt Threading Easter Chicks

Felt Threading Easter Chicks

Mess free crafts like these soft & sweet Easter Chicks are super simple to navigate. With all the pre-cut pieces supplied in the kit, students can experiment with sewing techniques as they assemble the components using the accompanying visual instructions. You’ll just need a tiny dab of glue at the end to adhere the little chicks’ eyes, beak, and wings. And ta-da! Your adorable textile creation is finished.

There are so many incredible developmental benefits for young students engaging in basic sewing, including patience and confidence, fine motor dexterity, the ability to cognitively following instructions, the building of valuable life skills and many more.

These little chickees are just about bouncing out of the packet to be assembled! Read on to follow the steps to make one for your very own.

STEP-BY-STEP

Assemble all your pieces – 2 x yellow felt body pieces, filling, plastic sewing needle & yellow weaving thread, 2 x wings, 2 x eyes, a beak and length of orange pipe cleaner to form the legs.
Bend your orange pipe cleaner over to that it forms a long semi-circle.
Using scissors, carefully snip two short lengths off the ends, and use these lengths to twist around the legs to form the chick’s feet, and then set aside.
Thread your plastic needle with the yellow weaving thread and tie a knot in one end.
Place your yellow body pieces together, and using a whip stitch, begin to sew the two pieces together at one side.
Place leg piece inside the 2 body pieces and continue to whip stitch, locking the legs into the body as you continue around the edge.
When you have stitched most of the way around, carefully place your filling evenly into the body and finish off stitching the two pieces closed, tying off with a firm knot (the remaining thread can form a hanging loop if desired).
Using a small dab of tacky glue, attach the 2 eyes, the beak and wings to chick and set aside to dry thoroughly.

Done! Your felt Easter chick is ready.

*TOP TIP – Holding the pieces together with a few pegs will help keep everything stable while younger students sew it all together.

Products Used;

18cm White Sugar Cane Eco Plates

Eco Plate Roosting Nests

Paper plates – a classroom favourite! It’s amazing what you can transform them into. With just a snip of some scissors, a splash of colour, a dab of glue and a sprinkle of creativity, you’re able to make any creative creature.

For this activity we’ve transformed the trusty paper plate into an adorable roosting nest. We know little ones will love filling their nests with Mama Hen and her beloved eggs & chicks. We love the texture and stability the eco sugarcane ‘paper’ plates gave to this activity, providing value for children to engage in pretend play and storytelling with their creations.

STEP-BY-STEP

For the background, apply your choice of pastel paint onto the front side of a plate and set aside to dry.
To make the nest, cut one plate in half, apply gold paint to the back side, and set aside to dry.
To make Mama Hen, cut the remaining half plate into a semi-circle or large egg shape.
Using coloured felt or paper, cut out one white tail, one orange beak and one red comb.
Glue the beak, comb and tail onto Mama Hen and glue on some joggle eyes so she can keep watch over her chicks.
When the painted plates have dried, glue the nest onto the background plate and set aside to dry again (a few pegs will help everything stay in place while the glue dries).
When Mama Hen and her nest is thoroughly dry, pack in Kraft Paper Shred and then rest Mama Hen and her chicks inside their cosy home.

Done! Your very own Easter Roosting Rest is ready.

*TOP TIP – Add some extra goodies to Mama Hen’s nest by gluing patterned paper onto sugar cane plates and cut into oval egg shapes.

Products Used;

23cm White Sugar Cane Eco Plates

Pattern Paper Squares

Gold Fabric and Craft Paint

Assorted Felt Sheets

Joggle Eyes

Kraft Paper Shred

Creatistics Strong Craft Glue

Easter Chicks

Weaving Eggs & Bunnies

Create fantastic weaving patterns this Easter with the Weaving Eggs & Bunnies set. This is a brilliant introduction for children working with textiles as they gain an understanding of the fundamentals of weaving and pattern designs. They’re perfect to decorate the classroom, home or make the sweetest Easter gifts for loved ones. Extend children’s vocabulary as they discuss secondary colours and pastel shades and positional language to describe the action of ‘over and under’ as they work with the satin weaving ribbons.

Take the activity to the next level by adding eyes, nose and decorative details to the bunnies or create a nest for the eggs. Add them to Easter hats and bonnets, use them for storytelling or combine two together to make Easter themed hinting baskets. When children’s creativity is involved, there’s absolutely no limit!

STEP-BY-STEP

Choose your design and pre-cut lengths of satin ribbon.
Weave each length of ribbon over and under the pre-cut slots to form a pattern.
Use a dab of tacky glue to hold the ribbon in place on the reverse side.
Add your choice of detail such as bunny’s joggle eyes and pastel felt facial features or decorate both shapes with adhesive rhinestones or glitter flowers and daisies.
If using glue, set aside to dry thoroughly.

Done! The perfect Easter weaving eggs & bunnies are ready.

*TOP TIP – Experimenting with pattern making and sequences in the classroom will help younger children get the hang of the over and under action to form weaving patterns.

Products Used;

Weaving Eggs & Bunnies

Pastel Felt

Assorted Joggle Eyes

Impressionist Pattern Papers

Colourful Wooden Bunnies

These solid pre-cut wooden bunnies are a terrific experience to incorporate woodwork to the younger year’s classroom. Made from a solid block of unfinished pinewood, they lend themselves to all sorts of decorations. Whether it’s patterned paper, paint, wood markers, POSCA pens, glitter glue or a combination of them all, there’s bound to be a colony of bunnies full of individual personality in no time!

Read on to follow the steps to make the illustrated impressionist artwork inspired bunnies.

STEP-BY-STEP

Lay the wooden bunny onto the impressionist paper and trace around with a pencil.
Lift the bunny off and carefully cut around the pencil markings.
Cover one side of the wooden bunny with Creatistics Superstik glue stick and place the blank side of the paper onto the wooden bunny, matching the bunny paper shape to the corresponding wooden bunny side.
Repeat for the second side.
Apply Tacky glue to Joggle eyes and a Pom Pom tail and adhere in place and set aside to thoroughly dry.
Draw whiskers and other details on your bunny as desired) or add on some Easter themed embellishments. Don’t forget Bunny’s crunchy carrot to nibble on too.

Done! Your adorable Easter Bunnies are ready.

*TOP TIP – Cutting the paper just on the inside of the pencil markings will ensure it fits the wooden bunny exactly.

Products Used;

Wooden Bunny

Pastel Pom Poms

Easter Block Print Stamps

Easter Block Print Stamps

Clay is a medium that lends itself to all age groups and crafting abilities – from beginners right through to experienced potters. And the beauty of air-dry clay is the ability to form incredible works without needing the hassle and expense of firing ovens. Simply use your hands to form coil or pinch pots, shallow dishes, birds in nests, necklaces, wall art, hanging decorations, nature prints, paper weights and so much more!

These adorable Easter themed wooden Block Print Stamps add festive flare to your Easter clay works. Perfectly paired with natural beading cord or leather cord, to make all sorts of jewellery or decorative works. Form your own clay beads or grab yourself convenient packs of beads in natural wood, pearl pony, or painted pink & white wood.

Don’t forget to add a finishing-off sparkle with Creatistics Bio-glitter, and you’re all done!

*TOP TIP – If your clay dries out while you’re using it for extended periods, use a little water on your hands to form a smooth surface. This is particularly handy for smoothing the edges of your works.

Products Used;

Creatistics Air Dry Ceramic Clay

Air Hardening Clay

Flowers of Australia Block Stamps

Wooden Block Print Stamps

Wooden Easter Ornaments

These wooden Easter ornaments are the cutest little blank canvases, allowing for plenty of personalisation as children decorate them to their liking. The finished product can make all sorts of goodies – traditional hanging decorations, key chains, school bag accessories, car rear view mirror accessories, gift tags, Easter hat additions, hunting basket treasures and so much more.

For colourful multi-step creations, the following activity combines modelling with drawing. Although, the beauty of a blank wooden shape ensures there’s no end to the types of mediums that can be used – paint, patterned paper, collage, embellishments, glitter and more.

How will you transform your Easter ornaments?

STEP-BY-STEP

Divide each Magiclay colour pot into 3 portions (each 20g container will cover approx. 3 Wooden Easter Ornaments).
Using your fingers, gently press your portion of Magiclay into a flat rough circle.
Place it onto the wooden ornament and wrap it around, covering the ornaments entire front surface.
Gently mould the clay onto the back of the ornament, using your fingers to manipulate the Magiclay into place. Your ornament should now be completely covered.
Carefully poke a skewer through the ornaments hole to ensure it can still hang when dry.
Set aside to dry for 24 to 48 hours.
Use POSCA paint pens to decorate your shapes and set aside to dry again.
Thread a length of twine/ribbon through the ornament’s hole and tie off securely into a loop.

Done! The perfect Easter decorations for the classroom and home are ready.

*TOP TIP – For large classes or combination of classes, the bulk pack Silk Clay Kit, also available separately in individual colours, will ensure there’s plenty to go round in each student’s preference of colour.

Products Used;

Paper Magiclay Candy Colours

Wooden Easter Ornaments

Natural Beading Cord

POSCA Marker Pastel

Standing Cardboard Easter Bunny

These cute Standing Cardboard Bunny shapes are sure to capture children’s attention. They’re supplied in plain white cardboard to provide opportunities for creativity to shine – collage, paint, draw or stick on any number of embellishments. Add joggle eyes, a nose, a pom pom tail or even tie a decorative bow around the collar. You’re Peter Cottontail is ready to hop down the bunny trail!

Read on to work through the steps for creating your very own pastel toned gingham patterned bunny.

STEP-BY-STEP

Apply a layer of glue stick to one side of the bunny and set aside to dry.
Carefully cut the excess paper from around the bunny, and along the pre-cut standing slot.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 on the reverse side of the bunny if desired.
Use tacky glue to adhere joggle eyes, a pom pom tail (and any other embellishments) and set aside to thoroughly dry.
Slot the bunny-shaped cardboard piece neatly into the pre-cut holder.

Done! Your adorable standing bunny is ready to decorate your desk, mantel, or Easter lunch table.

*TOP TIP – When using glue, allow your decorated pieces to thoroughly dry before slotting the bunny into its standing base.

Products Used;

Standing Cardboard Bunny

Gingham Paper

Pastel Pom Poms

Creatistics PVA Washable School Glue

Assorted Joggle Eyes

Easter Yarn Nests

Are you looking for an oh-so-cute project for older students? This utterly adorable Easter activity uses a process similar to papier mache, in this case using yarn in place of paper, with PVA glue acting as the moist adhesive to bind the yarn onto a balloon and then hardening into a nest as it dries.

Buttery soft pastel toned yarn in light blue, pink, purple and white will make for a super sweet Easter theme while bright & bold coloured yarn will lend itself to artistic flare. When your nest is ready, it can be filled with paper shred in natural, pastel rainbow or green or even snuggly feathers in pastel, bright or natural. Add in some little chickees and hide your choccies away.

In any colour way you choose, your yarn nests will sit proudly on display!

STEP-BY-STEP

Blow up the balloon with a small amount of air so that it resembled an egg shape, firmly tie a knot and set aside.
Pour approx. 1 cup of PVA glue into a shallow bowl.
Cut long lengths of coloured yarn and carefully place them into the glue to avoid tangling, making sure all parts of the yarn are covered in glue.
Slowly wind the PVA covered yarn around the balloon, using fingers to gently move the yarn into place and remove excess glue when wrapping.
Hang to dry (depending on the weather this may take up to a week).
When the glue is thoroughly dry, pop the balloon and remove all pieces while carefully cutting the yarn egg in half to form 2 nests.
Fill each nest with paper shred and decorate with chicks and chocolate eggs.

Done! The perfect cosy Easter nest is ready.

*TOP TIP – Letting the PVA yarn dry between layers will speed up the process (too many layers of yarn and PVA will make it tricky to dry). Be patient, it can take days for some layers to dry thoroughly.

Products Used;

Balloons

Assorted Acrylic Yarn

Kraft Paper Shred

Easter Chicks

Shrink Film Easter Eggs

Have you tried shrink film before? Simply colour, bake, and watch it shrink!

Shrink film is a brilliantly mesmerising activity, and these new handy pre-cut Shrink Film Easter Eggs are sure to create a buzz in the classroom. Use the different patterns to make trinkets, jewellery, and decorations – and the happiest of Easter craft memories.

STEP-BY-STEP

Colour in your design on the matt side of the shrink film using coloured pencils or permanent markers (remember to pop out the pre-cut hanging hole before baking).
Pre-heat oven to 150°C.
Place design on a lined tray (matt side up) and bake.
Plastic will begin to shrink after 10 seconds (to approx. 60% of its original size).
When the plastic has returned to its flat shape remove the tray from the oven.
Wait for the shrink film to cool completely before handling.
When thoroughly cool, thread a length of cord into the hole, and firmly tie off.
Thread desired number of beads onto the cord and firmly attach to your keychain with several firm knots.

Done! The perfect Easter themed key ring is ready!

*TOP TIP – With shrink film, coloured pencils go a long way. A very light shading will result in bold and vibrant colours.

Products Used;

Shrink Film Easter Eggs

Black Lobster Key Tags

Natural Beading Cord

Pearl Pony Beads

Jumbo Coloured Pencils

Easter Clay & Dough Cutters

Working with dough is a satisfying way to entertain children’s tactile stimulation and creativity. It’s also an activity rich with physical benefits – from fine motor strength and dexterity to coordinating dough tools to form creations out of the chosen medium.

This set of Easter Clay and Dough Cutters offers incredible possibilities for children to make and create Easter goodies. In each set there’s an egg, baby chick, rabbit, tulip, and bunny face shape for children to stamp in any number of dough options (play dough, cookie dough, modelling clay, or plasticine).

For children to make permanent works, air dry clay is a handy option, simply roll the clay out as you would for dough, press the Easter shaped cutter into the clay, remove the excess and set your clay ornament aside to dry. Before it’s dry, use a pencil or skewer to carefully poke a hole into the top of the shape will ensure there’s somewhere to tie cording and beads for simply stunning Easter decorations.

*TOP TIP – A light sprinkling of Bio-Glitter will add an extra-special sparkly touch to the experience.

Products Used;

Easter Clay and Dough Cutters

Creatistics Pastel Dough

Plastic Rolling Pin

We hope you’ve enjoyed the latest eggs-travaganza of Easter crafts and are bursting with inspiration for an egg-stra special Easter!

Download: Easter activities PDF Bundle

25/01/202328/02/2024

How to thrive not just survive – 14 top tips for a stress-free year

When a new school year gets underway, it’s often with a feeling of excitement – but also a slight feeling of fear or apprehension. It can be daunting, as you know how busy it will get at times, and how you will be asked to dig deep and find superhuman powers as you tackle lesson plans, new students, different classes, new colleagues, new processes, a new curriculum or a new school environment. That’s on top of your day-to-day teaching. It’s a lot.

While you may feel switching to survival mode is the only way through, it is possible to thrive not just survive. How do you make the school year as enjoyable as possible? Maximise joy and minimise stress with this refresher. It’s thrive time…

1. Remind yourself of the rewards

Teaching can be a job that asks a lot of you. Rather than focus on the negative as you head into the school year, remember the core reasons you chose this marvellous career!

Remind yourself of the impact you’re making.

Look for those ‘aha’ moments with the students.

Congratulate yourself on your tenacity and skills.

Take pride in what you do well.

Remember that you are making a difference every day.

2. Prioritise self-care

Yes, everyone talks self-care. But are you doing it? Take care of your wellbeing in this busy first term when you’re getting established, so you have a deeper well of positive energy to pull from. A few small daily self-care practices can make a big difference in relieving stress, supporting good mental health and showing up for your students in the best way.

If stress is building in the classroom, breathe in deeply, hold it for a few seconds, then exhale slowly for a few seconds. Repeat that deep breathing for 2 minutes to lower your stress response and gain control.

Take a 5-minute brain break or mini-meditation to decompress throughout the day.

Outside the classroom, self-care can mean carving out quiet time, not over-scheduling your life, doing things you love and saying no to things you don’t. When in doubt, reach for an affirmation card to bring you some calm and focus.

3. Eat healthy & exercise

Staying healthy is the single most important way to keep yourself happy and motivated throughout the school year. A healthy diet and exercise regimen is a natural mood enhancer and energy booster too!

Cool moves: Find exercise you like – yoga, walking, gym – and schedule it when you can so it’s a regular part of your work week.

Restorative sleep: Those zzzzzs are a powerful way to stay healthy. Regular sleep lets your body and mind rejuvenate so you can meet the day with energy instead of fatigue.

Food as medicine: Getting the fuel your body needs to stay sharp will help you no end in the classroom. Prioritise fresh fruit, complex carbohydrates, leafy greens and lean proteins. Try to curb unhealthy snacks. (But also cut yourself some slack – you’re only human!).

Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water each day. H2O hack: fruit is loaded with water so you can also top up your intake there.

4. Make time for you-time

Your free time matters. It helps you avoid teacher burnout – especially in the school year when it’s go go go. Here’s how to make it happen so you maintain that energy.

Boundaries: Put some firm boundaries in place. If you can leave schoolwork at school, do! This might mean saying no sometimes to both personal and professional opportunities – but boundaries will make you more content as a teacher.

Thrive tip: Turn off notifications on your phone for work emails!

Happy place: Lean into hobbies, pets, friends, family, Netflix, the beach, road trips… find your happy place outside of school hours and carve out time for it. Having some ‘you time’ and taking the dog for a walk, getting that massage or enjoying a leisurely brunch will help support a healthier balance in your life, and make your teaching time more energised, focused and less stressful.

You’ll be a better you: You work long hours but remember that your personal time is important to protect, so you can keep being the teacher you love being – and your students will thank you for it!

Thrive tip: In each term, book in some watertight ‘you time’ dates – a friend catch up, a bushwalk or a family BBQ. Schedule them in advance so when the term hits, those dates are locked and loaded.

5. Talk to your colleagues

No-one understands the demands of a teaching job like other teachers, so work those workplace friendships! Communication and meaningful social connection can be stressbusting in so many ways.

You’ll laugh and support each other, relax with each other and build healthy perspectives and potential solutions for problems that arise.

Never be afraid to ask for help. It’s a sign of strength. So, reach out, offload and share – remember, a problem shared is a problem halved.

You can help others too which feels awesome!

It’s chemically proven! ‘Feel good’ conversations trigger higher levels of dopamine, oxytocin, endorphins and other biochemicals that give us a sense of wellbeing. Gotta love that.

6. Book some professional development

Upskilling and staying motivated is important, so make time to top up on your professional learning and update your skill set throughout the year. Write a list of what you’d like to learn and seek out conferences or seminars that could inspire your teaching. There are lots of training opportunities offered by so many organisations. You can learn so many new things even in one day. Perhaps you could aim for a bit of PD each term to help with your wellbeing and sense of growth.

7. Keep calm and plan

Before the year goes too far, stay ahead with a physical (or digital) planner. It will give you a great sense of calm and a feeling of accomplishment! Using a teacher planner, jot down notes or goals you want to achieve and put dates in place. The more organised you feel during the year, the more the stress will melt away and you won’t feel so overwhelmed.

8. Make the classroom clean a dream

Classrooms have a habit of getting cluttered really easily, even early on in the school year. Aim to stay on top of tidying throughout the year with a system – recycling, take-home work, rubbish, store away. Perhaps put students in charge of tidying up work on the wall. At the end of each term, do a mini-clean and tidy. Send projects or artworks home that you don’t need to keep in the cupboards or in tubs or drawers any more.

9. Tackle reports like a pro

Reporting is a real skill and twice a year, it will come up on you before you know it! Keep notes along the way (in your planner perhaps) that will help you when it gets to report writing time. Otherwise it can be all-consuming writing meaningful comments and assessments. When the time comes, find a quiet place that works best to write your reports efficiently and use a method that focuses you. Be strategic and disciplined with your time, and don’t let it take over your time completely. You’ve got this.

10. Familiarise yourself with curriculum changes

For many teachers, 2023 is a year of change as the new Australian Curriculum Version 9 (https://v9.australiancurriculum.edu.au/) comes into play as well as revisions to the NZ Curriculum (https://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Refreshing-the-New-Zealand-Curriculum). How do these changes impact your lesson plans? Take the time to understand the implications in the classroom and shape your teaching accordingly. Evaluate the relevance of the resources you’re using.

11. Outsource the admin

Having time to prepare for your core teaching duties is a hot topic!! Research shows that many teachers juggle an ever-expanding workload. To avoid burnout, learn what tasks you can outsource throughout the school year. Put your hand up for admin support wherever and whenever it’s offered and available.

12. Plan holidays

Plan regular mini-breaks or holidays throughout the year. Get online. Book something. Explore travel sites. Plan a home reno. Whether you unwind best with a vacation or staycation, planning a break is motivating and will give you something to aim towards after all the hard work you put in. As a wise person once said, you can’t pour from an empty cup, so make sure a little break, even if it’s just a weekend, fills up your cup.

13. Be imperfect

Remember that what you’re doing every day is enough. Many teachers feel stressed and are prone to burnout because they feel they need to do more. Banish the perfectionism. You’re in a wildly human job at the end of the day, dealing with many different people – students, parents, principal, admins, the school community. Keep stress at bay by reminding yourself that you’re doing enough.

14. Look for the opportunity in each moment

What strengths and skills are you honing in the classroom, even when the moment may not be one of your finest? Find the opportunity in every moment – the good or the bad. The school year may have challenges, but even on the toughest day, there’s a lesson – not just the ones you’re sharing with your students, but one for you. Look for it and see it as the opportunity it is – to self-reflect, to improve, to pivot or to keep doing what you’re doing! Remember, your goal this year is to thrive and keep that passion alive!

Plan for the best and apply some of these tips to keep your tank full! Making your school year stress-free is possible if you prioritise yourself, prioritise your growth as a teacher, connect with others, plan ahead – and don’t forget to hydrate and breathe deep every day! And of course, when you thrive, your students do too.

https://www.teaching.com.au/product/TEB2023-E1

22/12/202228/02/2024

Top EC resources you need for 2023

As 2022 comes to a close and we start to plan for the year ahead, we look back and evaluate the year’s learning curriculum. What worked well? What experiences did the class enjoy most? What resources were the most popular, and what made them barely spend a minute on the shelf as children delved into play each day?

It’s not just the high quality that ensures a resource lasts a long time (that’s important of course), but the high value of that item that makes it a winner. But what’s high value in an early childhood setting?

Undoubtedly it’s the open-ended play value of a resource that allows for endless adaptability. Innovative resources that empower children to inquire and experiment that nourish creative minds to find creative solutions. For children’s autonomy and confidence to blossom, in turn, giving them the desire and strength to explore and continue exploring new and exciting things.

Let’s read on to take a closer look at MTA’s top EC resources for 2022, and some of the reasons why they make the difference.

Early Years Planner Tidal Creek

Is there any better way to start each day than with a satisfying feeling of organisation? Everyone’s favourite MTA Early Years & Teacher Planners are the ultimate organisational tools. Exclusively developed with teachers & educators, these premium quality A4 spiral bound planners provide flexibility for your teaching programme and class curriculum.

It’s not just the flexible layouts of these planners that make them a favourite; it’s also the ‘extras’ featured throughout. There’s inspiration to motivate, teaching tips & ideas to support educators in their profession, dedicated spaces to keep on track with goals & plans and possibly the absolute most important – spaces to make sure ‘me time’, or self-care happens for wellbeing. Brilliant!

The Tidal Creek cover has fast become the most popular, with artwork designed by Lauren Greatorex. Lauren is a proud Malgana, Nyikina and Jabirr Jabirr woman living on Kariyarra County in Port Hedland. Her artwork is inspired by her mission to connect with her ancestral heritage. ‘Tidal Creek’ represents the tidal pools during a king tide on Nyikina. Lauren loves acrylic because of its ability to dry fast, which allows her to layer colours when painting.

We love it when functionality is also beautiful!

Bamboo Counting Set

https://www.teaching.com.au/product/QGP922

Maths meets loose parts! The Bamboo Counting Set consists of 10 bamboo cups with 55 wooden sticks for endless number exploration. Children are encouraged to place the correct amount of sticks in the corresponding cup or find and collect objects in nature or around the classroom. Objects can be sorted in a variety of ways: by size, colour, material, shape, etc. It’s a brilliantly authentic resource for children to learn through doing as they experiment with written numbers and their quantity relationship.

Number sense, or the basics of learning numbers, can be a source of fun and intrigue. Simple games and rhymes, visual aids, patterns, classification and measurement involving numbers can all lead to numerical confidence. Use the Bamboo Counting Set on its own or combine with markers & paper to promote mark-making as children experiment with symbols and their meaning, recognition of quantities and mathematical language.

A lifelong love of maths is ready to begin!

Natural Spaces – Low Heavy-Duty Adult Chair

https://www.teaching.com.au/product/DM4564#

There’s so much to say about the Natural Spaces Low Heavy-Duty Adult Chair, you see, it’s not just an ordinary chair…

This chair is specifically designed for adults to sit at low levels. Educators and teachers often have to sit on children’s furniture which is too small or not stable enough. OHS ergonomic assessments have identified the need for a low chair which is designed for adult use. To solve this problem, MTA have designed a chair which accommodates educator comfort while working at lower heights. This chair is the result of tests that use the innovative ViSafe movement sensing technology. These tests have resulted in a chair which is specifically designed to provide adult educators a comfortable and stable seat while working.

Made with beautiful maple ply and a solid silver metal frame tested to 170kg as specified under AUS/NZ 4688.2:2000. Each leg has a plastic foot to avoid classroom noise and minimise floor scratches. It even features low maintenance wipe clean surfaces. Yes please!

Why is it important for educators to sit at low levels?

Being part of the group where they can meaningfully socialise and engage with their educators and classmates at eye level brings possibilities rich with learning. Children feel a sense of belonging, ensures children feel safer, more in control and more connected. Being at eye level communicates that you’re meaningfully there for them, paying attention to their needs and interests.

We learn by seeing and doing too. When you’re at eye level, you’re there to support and scaffold children’s learning, to role model safe & appropriate behaviours, to join in and demonstrate tasks or the use of tools, including cutlery at mealtimes, scissors at the craft table, speech and communication and so much more.

The possibilities of a chair!

Harmony Outdoor Moveable Play Kitchen

https://www.teaching.com.au/product/HMY10243

Outdoor cooking adventures await! The Harmony Outdoor Moveable Play Kitchen makes a welcoming invitation for copious hours of imaginative culinary play. Built to last, it’s made from sturdy FSC Eucalyptus and features stainless steel fittings & rust-resistant metal hardware for extra longevity. Its manoeuvrability makes this furniture piece a firm favourite too. Whether you’re chasing the shade, resetting play spaces or sharing resources between classes, simply lift one side of the kitchen with the handle and move it about the learning environment on its sturdy wheels.

A child-sized version of a kitchen provides the perfect space to engage in imaginative and creative play, building independence and autonomy to scaffold valuable life skills. It’s a space for children to imitate the actions they see at home and in the wider community, widening vocabulary and communication styles as children work with new objects, engage in conversation and talk about what they’re doing. It can be social play rich in teamwork and problem-solving as children negotiate, share, take turns and work with each other. Or it can be quiet, solitary play where children immerse themselves in their own culinary world as they take a break from a busy day. In any which way, the Harmony Outdoor Moveable Play Kitchen is responsive to children’s changing needs.

What culinary treasures will be served up today?

Magic Scarves

https://www.teaching.com.au/product/GJ2306

Magic Scarves remain a favourite open-ended resource for their limitless play possibilities, with the play value ensuring value for money! Each set of 12 scarves comes in 4 primary colours – blue, yellow, green and red. They’re ultra-durable and yet super soft and light as a feather! They provide tactile experiences that nourish children’s senses, creativity and imaginations for years to come.

You see, Magic Scarves can transform into any myriad of things, giving free rein to children’s imaginings as they adapt the scarf into anything the day brings. Will the scarf be a set of colourful fairy wings, a protective superhero cape or a majestic wizard’s cloak? Whether they’re used for decorative drapery, curtains for cubby houses or puppet shows, small world scenery, music, dance and movement, to wrap around dolls or to wear as dress-ups, the generous 68cm size makes them large enough for just about anything!

They’re a must for every class!

Rainbow Families

https://www.teaching.com.au/product/FR495

The simple design and absence of facial features adds to the open appeal of Rainbow Families, with children’s imaginations, or inner picturing abilities, adapting the figures to represent literally anyone and to express any range of emotions as they engage in play, rich with possibilities. Made with FSC schima and finished with non-toxic paints and dyes, these adorable colourful people also bring peace of mind to an environment well-looked after.

From a doctor with their patients to a café owner and their customers, the whole community can be represented as children use these 16 brightly coloured block play people to imitate real life. They’re ready to engage in small-world play, practise naming and sorting colours, compare and classify sizes and so much more. They enrich play with dollhouses, building sets, towns and roadways and make the most beautiful classroom displays. In any which way you choose, they’re built to last the rigours of play.

Rainbow Families would love to reside in your learning community!

dëna – Kids Diverity Set

https://www.teaching.com.au/product/DTKIT03

Children begin to develop their sense of self from a young age, making their interactions, their environment and wider community influential to their identity. A simple yet significant way to support children in developing a positive understanding of themselves and others is ensuring they have access to a wide range of inclusive learning resources. Learning resources that nourish children’s self-esteem and confidence to flourish while fostering respect and open-mindedness for others.

This dëna Silicon Diversity Set communicates the values of empathy, equality, diversity and inclusion with a powerful tribute to the beauty of all skin tones. The kit includes a large 12-piece rainbow along with 12 people – representing the skin tones of everyone on our planet.

It’s a wonderfully open-ended resource suitable for children of all ages – right from birth. BPA, PVC, latex and phthalate free, these multifunctional silicon sets evolve with children’s developmental stages too. They’re ideal as a teether, a sensory resource, stacking and building, small world play, cooking moulds, water play, classroom displays and more.

Little hands won’t want to put them down!

Multi-Sensory Pre-Writing Tray and Board

https://www.teaching.com.au/product/AKR20616

The Pre-Writing Tray & Board is a multi-sensory tablet for developing pre-writing skills and eye-to-hand coordination through the creative representation of figures using touch – inspired by the Montessori methodology by engaging sensory stimulation to further engage children’s processing and memory. By engaging the thousands of touch receptors in our fingertips, neurons fire signals via nerves to the spinal cord, the brain stem, the thalamus and finally to the cerebral cortex for processing. Children can use this sensory input to explore early literacy and numeracy by experimenting with mark-making in the sand – drawing shapes, and connecting lines and curves as they begin to form shapes, symbols, numbers and letters.

And for easy setup, these sets include all you need to get started – a wooden tray with reversible board (one side is a blackboard for chalk and the other side is a whiteboard for erasable marker pens), chalks, eraser, felt tip pen, a bag of sand (0.5kg) and a sand smoother. Brilliant!

Let literacy and numeracy abound!

Stockholm Rectangle Corner Mirror

https://www.teaching.com.au/product/ACH20212

Mirrors and the reflections they make can be a source of fun, intrigue and experimentation, creating a whole host of incredible learning opportunities too. Available in Rectangle and Square, these Corner Mirrors make terrific spaces for open-ended play that nurture children’s natural curiosity, leading to endless inquiry and discovery.

Made from environmentally friendly FSC plywood, these mirror pieces feature a wooden base panel plus 2 x mirrored side panels for mesmerising mirror investigation. The mirrors themselves are scratch resistant and made from acrylic so they won’t shatter like glass for super safe learning environments and peace of mind.

Add in some open-ended resources to invite children to play with colour, light and reflection or create an inspiring space for dramatic play. Why not add cushions or drape fabric over to create a magical cubby or sensory nook?

Who knows what they’ll be each day!

Wooden Outdoor Pan Scale

https://www.teaching.com.au/product/TEB6265

Numeracy is part of our daily lives – the knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions to use mathematics in a wide range of situations each and every day. Whether we’re managing money, scheduling calendars, measuring cooking ingredients or tallying up sports scores, numeracy plays a big part of what we do.

Promoting the development of numeracy competencies in early childhood welcomes children to become confident & familiar with numeracy from a young age, learning by doing as they engage in mathematical ways of thinking, extend mathematical language and vocabulary as they use mathematical concepts to make sense of their world – in turn, sparking a lifelong love of mathematical knowledge. Who knows where their journey will take them?

A terrific way to enrich numeracy exploration is offering problem-solving situations to experiment with. As children work through solutions to obstacles, they strengthen their analytical skills – resourcefulness, creativity, abstract thinking and logical reasoning.

Made from sustainable Eucalyptus wood, this Outdoor Pan Balance has become a fast favourite to take numeracy exploration into the great outdoors, where children can explore the weight of objects found in nature. Gumnuts, pebbles, pinecones, shells and all sorts of outdoor treasures provide children with natural provocations to explore. Combine found objects with traditional building blocks, Fraction Blocks and loose parts for any number of possibilities.

Experimenting with the weight of objects today can lead to the weight management of intergalactic rockets tomorrow!

Thanks for joining us over here at the Modern Teaching Blog today!

We’ve loved chatting about our Top 10 resources for the year; which one has been your favourite?

21/10/202222/02/2023

13 Crafting Ideas For The Festive Season

The most magical time of the year is fast approaching, which makes now a perfect time to organise your upcoming holiday season arts & crafts.

In this blog, we’ll showcase wonderfully inspiring crafting ideas to get you started. Whether you’re looking for classroom decoration activities or Christmastime keepsakes with memories to treasure for countless years to come, you’ll find all the projects you need for children of all ages including step-by-step guides to take the hassle out of planning.

So, sit back & relax and choose your favourite bright & merry handicrafts to release children’s festive creativity.

Santa’s Cookies Porcelain Plate

Father Christmas must get hungry with all that work he does! Santa’s very own cookie plate will surely go down a treat! White porcelain plates make a wonderful blank canvas for children to decorate with drawings and words, using glass & porcelain markers or paint. Whether it’s “Cookies for Santa”, “Carrots for Rudolf” or a personalised plate for the Christmas lunch table, children are sure to enjoy making their own tableware to be treasured for years to come.

To set the markers and paint for wear & tear and dishwasher use, the plate will need to be baked in an oven. Simply set oven to 150 degrees C, and once the oven temperature has been reached, bake the plate for 30 minutes. Turn the oven off and allow to cool before removing. Santa’s plate is now ready for his favourite snacks.

*TOP TIP – Paint provides great overall coverage of colour, while porcelain markers provide precise detail.

Featured Products;

Porcelain Plates

Glass & Ceramic Paint

Ceramic Hanging Ornaments

Fun & festive ceramic hanging baubles, also in Santa shapes, Christmas trees and candy canes and stockings make beautiful gifts and keepsakes.

Decorate your ceramic surfaces with porcelain markers, ceramic paint or poster paint and finish off with glitter glue or Christmas-themed glitter for extra sparkle and pizzazz.

Perfect for hanging around the classroom, on the Christmas tree at home or to gift as thoughtful presents that will no doubt take pride of place!

Featured Products;

Ceramic Hanging Bauble

Metallic Silver Porcelain & Glass Painter

Glass & Ceramic Paint

Metallic Gold Porcelain & Glass Painter

Air Dry Clay Ornaments

Air dry clay, cookie cutters, wooden stampers and glitter glue – yes please! So many crafting favourites feature in this action-packed handicraft experience. The end results make very special ornaments that will surely adorn the family Christmas tree for countless years into the future. Metallic yarn in red, green, gold, silver or blue makes the perfect hanging cord to match the sparkly austere texture of the glittery clay to hang proudly.

STEP BY STEP

Using the wooden rolling pin, roll out a handful of air-dry clay until it is smooth and flat (roughly 1cm thick to ensure your decorations are sturdy).
Press a cookie cutter shape into the dough and press firmly until it cuts through the clay.
Gently remove the excess clay (this clay can be used again or used to make extra embellishments including clay beads).
Next, press one of the block print stamps into the clay and lift, creating an indented pattern.
Using a skewer or the pointed end of a pencil, gently poke a hole in the top of your shape (ensuring your hole is large enough to thread your chosen cord or twine).
Lift your decoration and gently smooth down the edges with your fingers.
Set aside for 24 to 48 hours to dry.
When the clay ornament is completely dry (firm to the touch) add a thick layer of glitter glue to the surface, letting the glue flow and sit in the indented pattern.
Set aside to dry for 24 hours.
When your ornament is completely dry, thread your desired length of cord or twine through the decoration, and tie in place with a knot.
Lastly, tie off the very ends of the cord/twine with a firm knot to ensure your decoration is ready to hang safely.

*TOP TIP – Adding several layers of glitter glue (and setting aside to dry between layers) will add extra shine and lustre to your decorations.

Featured Products;

White Creatistics Air Dry Ceramic Clay

Christmas Cutters Set

Christmas Block Print Stamps

Christmas Glitter Glue

Pinecone Australian Animal Ornaments

These adorable Australian animal pinecone ornaments pay tribute to the natural environment around us, incorporating flora & fauna-themed natural resources and textiles.

To make these cute critters, simply use strong tacky glue or a glue gun to stick the pre-cut pieces onto the pinecones provided and attach the length of twine at the top to hang on the Christmas tree. Included in the pack are 5 koalas that hold a piece of holly and 5 kangaroos that hold a candy cane – perfect for a festive-themed activity for the holiday season.

*TOP TIP – Pairing this crafting activity with Australian Animal story books or pretend play will enrich children’s exploration of literacy and language.

Featured Products;

Pinecone Australian Animal Ornaments

Mini Glue Gun – Low Temperature

Green and White Bakers Twine

Paper Straw Decorations

Over recent years the nation has been ditching plastic straws to better care for our environment – replacing those harmful plastics with eco-friendly paper alternatives, which is fantastic news both for the environment and for us teachers so we don’t need to ditch our favourite straw crafts!

These sweet Christmas trees are super simple to make, gluing ascending lengths of paper straws onto wooden paddle pop sticks and adding a length of twine to hang. Glitter pom poms or sparkly stars will make the perfect finishing touch to your project.

*TOP TIP – It’s not just Christmas trees that can be made – why not try candy canes, stars and bell shapes, or swap the pop sticks for pipe cleaners for round threaded wreath ornaments.

Featured Products;

Assorted Paper Straws

Red and White Bakers Twine

Glitter Pom Poms

Adhesive Christmas Stars

Paddle Pop Sticks

Creatistics Strong Craft Glue

Gingerbread House

No holiday season is complete without a Gingerbread House! Whimsical and looking oh-so-delicious, these quaint wooden houses make beautiful seasonal displays or props to inspire imaginative play. Made from plain MDF, they’re calling out to be decorated with paint, patterned paper and Christmas embellishments & finished off with Christmas Bio Glitter & Stars.

*TOP TIP – Decorating Gingerbread houses over multiple days will allow glue to dry in between the paper and embellishment layers for a more workable crafting surface.

Featured Products;

Gingerbread House

Christmas Candy Colour Chenille Sticks

Building Pattern Paper

Mini Christmas Trees

Green Pom Poms

Red Pom Poms

Christmas Assorted Buttons

Cotton Wool Balls

Native flora-inspired Christmas Wreath

Traditionally, the Christmas wreath’s evergreen foliage represents growth, and the circular shape having no beginning and no end signifies eternal life. For such a long time they have been hung on the door to welcome the Christmas spirit in to bring good luck to all. These stunning wreaths may just bring you some good luck during the holiday too!

Made from a wooden base to provide a stable surface in which to glue or weave any number of arts & crafts resources, these beautiful wreaths make the perfect adornment for any front door.

The steps below are terrifically age-appropriate for older students. Younger students or preschool-aged children will likely enjoy painting their wreaths with wood-appropriate paint and using PVA washable glue to stick down Christmas collage items.

STEP BY STEP

Apply strong glue over one surface of the wooden wreath and press a sheet of hessian onto the glue, set aside to dry.
When the glue has dried, cut away excess Hessian.
To make the leaves, fold a green piece of paper in half, and then half again (snipping with multiple layers of paper makes for light work). Two pieces of green A4 paper have made all the foliage for one wreath.
Using a pencil, draw leaves or sprigs of leaves onto the paper and carefully cut around. Using a few shades of green will add depth and drama to your wreath.
Arrange your leaves around the wreath and glue into place.
To make the flowers, cut strips of red paper lengthways (1 piece of A4 paper will make 8 flowers).
Using scissors, make fringing by carefully snipping down the length of the paper leaving ½ cm on one edge (snip gently to avoid cutting through the strip).
Next, roll the fringe into a tight coil, adding a little bit of glue to hold in place. Pinch together to hold for a few moments (you can also use a peg to hold them in place until they dry completely). When thoroughly dry you can make the flowers look realistic by gently scrunching the petals to fan them out.
Use strong glue to adhere the flowers onto the wreath.
Glue any additional embellishments onto the wreath as desired.
Attach a length of jute string to the top of the wreath and it’s ready to hang!

*TOP TIP – A layer of Hessian over the wooden wreath continues the natural feel and creates the perfect surface to weave or thread wire ornaments through.

Featured Products;

A4 Christmas Cover Paper

Jute Hemp Twine

Hessian Sheets Natural

Christmas Shrink Film Ornament Pack

Shrink Film Ornaments

Shrink Film makes for incredibly fun art experiments! A teacher’s dream, the Christmas Shrink Film Ornament Pack includes all you need to make a whopping 96 bauble ornaments, with coloured pencils and hanging thread included. Simply use coloured pencils to design your bauble shapes and then bake in the oven to reduce the size by roughly 60%, turning your decoration into thick hard plastic.

The pre-cut Christmas ornaments are wonderfully convenient, however, if you’re after free form to design then the clear shrink film or printable shrink film options are terrifically open-ended.

Baking Instructions:

Colour in your design on the matt side of the shrink film using coloured pencils or permanent markers.
Preheat oven to 150°C.
Place design on a lined tray (matt side up) and bake in preheated oven.
Plastic will begin to shrink after 10 seconds. Remove from oven when plastic has returned to its flat shape.
If your pieces don’t lie completely flat, lightly press with a spatula, cardboard or oven mitt.
Wait for the shrink film to dry completely before handling.

*TOP TIP – With shrink film, coloured pencils go a long way. A very light shading only will result in bold and vibrant colours.

Featured Products;

Shrink Film Activity Pack

Mini Jingle Bells

Woven Christmas Tree Cards

These festive Christmas tree cards incorporate paper crafts & threading together to make oh-so-special greeting cards for spreading the holiday cheer. The metallic and glitter elements add a magical touch to bring children’s creations to life.

To adapt this activity for younger early childhood age groups, simply omit the threading elements, with children enjoying pre-cut lengths of yarn to glue down into a tree design, using washable PVA glue, age-appropriate embellishments and liquid crayon markers to decorate the inside.

STEP BY STEP

Mark the threading holes with a pencil, and then poke a tapestry needle or skewer through the pencil marking all the way through the cardboard.
Cut a length of yarn, thread your needle, and then weave the yarn up and down, threading in and out of the holes until you’ve created a Christmas tree design.
On the front of the tree use a length of metallic gold yarn to weave in and out of the tree, creating a Christmas Tree tinsel design, and tie off on the front reverse.
On the front reverse of the card, secure your yarn with strong tape and create a flat surface).
Glue half a piece of coloured cover paper onto the inside of the card to cover the back of the tree and press down to flatten (glue sticks are ideal for this task, so the paper won’t crinkle).
The front of your card is now ready for embellishments – pom poms, a Christmas star and glitter glue.
Set aside to dry completely for 24 hours.
Your card is now ready for drawings or writing on the inside – paint pens are ideal for vibrant creations over coloured paper.

*TOP TIP – Writing or drawing on the coloured cover paper before sticking it inside the card will make a more workable surface for younger students.

Featured Products;

White Cards and Envelopes

Green Acrylic Yarn

Gold Metallic Yarn

Glitter Pom Poms

Adhesive Christmas Stars

Tapestry Chenille Needles

Christmas Glitter Glue

A4 Christmas Cover Paper

Wooden Snowflake Decorations

Wooden Crafts

Pre-cut Wood Crafts are the perfect combination of woodworking, imagination and art – essentially blank canvases in which children can tinker with paint, glue and collage materials to design & personalise works that are truly their own.

You’ll find an incredibly large offering of wood crafts at MTA, so much to choose from that’ll make teachers giddy with excitement, including convenient ornament or tree packs that include all the glue, paint and embellishments you need to complete the activity.

*TOP TIP – Messy mats or table coverings make brilliant surfaces to protect tables from wet and messy play art activities.

Featured Products;

Wreath with Bow

Hanging Christmas Tree

Wooden Christmas Ornaments

Christmas Collage Pack

Metallic Christmas Collage Pack

Handmade Christmas Paper

Fabric Paint Set

Woven Wire Ornaments

Beautifully simple wire ornaments make a welcoming invitation for children’s personalisation. Use wire, yarn or string to weave around, filling the open space with Christmas colours and finishing off with metallic yarn & beads – and a sparkly pom pom star for the tree. Your woven ornaments are ready to hang on the tree year after year or share as gifts for loved ones.

Yarn can be wrapped around the wire ornaments in free form using your hands only (ideal for early childhood) or incorporate sewing elements into the activity using tapestry chenille needles for older students or plastic lacing needles for younger students. Tying off your yarn after every few wraps will ensure the younger years don’t unravel their creations when they need to take a break.

Tying off your yarn after every few wraps will ensure the younger years don’t unravel their creations when they need to take a break.

STEP BY STEP

Cut a long piece of your desired coloured yarn and tie it around the metal shape (tying the yarn onto the wire shape will ensure you have a firm grip to get you started).
Gently weave the yarn around the shape, wrapping over and under, in and out and all around, pulling firmly to ensure the yarn stays in place.
When your decoration is starting to look colourful and almost finished, it’s time to start adding beads.
Thread or slip a bead over the yarn, adjusting it into place as you continue to wrap the yarn.
Add as many beads for your desired look, and finish tie the yarn firmly to the decoration to keep it all in place.
Lastly, add a length of twine to the top of the decoration, making sure to tie it at the end to create a loop for hanging.

*TOP TIP – The thick acrylic woollen yarn is easier to handle and wrap to create form and colour, with the more delicate metallic yarn bringing a sparkly touch to finish off.

Featured Products;

Festive Terracotta Garden Pots

Personalised pots with seedlings are the perfect growing gift to keep the festive season thriving long after the Christmas Tree has been packed away. Endless decorating options await with the terracotta surface lending itself to porcelain or paint markers, paints and embellishments. Sparkle paint metallic markers and glitter glue add a magical touch for Christmas-inspired decorating.

The terracotta pots are available on their own, or as a Garden Grow Kit complete with wooden plant stakes and herb seeds to make sure the finishing garnish is ready for your Christmas feast!

TOP TIP – Use a spray varnish to ensure your pot is ready for outdoor use with a permanent barrier to dirt, tarnish, wear & tear and moisture.

Featured Products;

Garden Grow Craft Kit

Fine POSCA Markers

Bullet POSCA Markers

Christmas Ribbon Rolls

Natural Hessian Sheets

Iron-On Bead Ornaments

Have you tried making Iron on Bead ornaments? Simply arrange the Christmas-coloured beads on the peg boards to make your desired pattern. You’re then ready to fuse the beads together using a hot iron to make a long-lasting ornament to adorn classrooms, homes or the beloved family Christmas tree.

But it’s not just ornaments that can be made! Iron-on Beads are incredibly versatile – either fused together or used as traditional beads for loose parts threading. Ideal for jewellery including bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Glue them onto wood and paper crafts for textural collage embellishments. Make festive hot drink coasters, gift tag decorations, hanging key chains or bag decorations and even plates for treasured trinkets! My only advice for this activity would be to buy several tubs – because they’re wonderfully addictive!

STEP BY STEP

Arrange the beads into a design on the boards.
Warm a household iron to high making sure the steam is off.
Cover the design with a sheet of ironing paper.
Iron over until the beads start to melt and fuse together into a colourful and flexible shape.
Allow your design to cool before removing from the bead board.
Cut a length of twine and tie onto the top of your ornament ready to hang.

TOP TIP – Iron-on Beads are small loose parts, perfect for school-aged students. Preschool age groups (aged 3+ years) may find the Jumbo-sized Iron on Beads and boards a more comfortable working size.

Featured Products;

Christmas Iron on Beads Kit

Creatistics Iron-on Beads Pack

Red and White Bakers Twine

Red Metallic Yarn

*All these Christmas crafting activities can be modified or adapted to suit different age groups, taking away small parts for children under 3 years of age and replacing them with larger safe parts. Where scissors, glue guns or irons are used, educators may use adequate supervision to suit the needs of the children (pre-cut shapes for young children, PVA glue in place of glue guns etc.) or educators may safely carry out risky steps themselves (such as the iron for iron on beads).

What are your favourite seasonal crafts for the holiday season?

Download: Christmas activities PDF Bundle

26/09/202217/09/2024

Ten Frightfully Good Activities For The Spooky Season

Halloween is such a fun time of year for spooky crafts and activities, with plenty of opportunities to bring out children’s creativity and imagination. From dressing up in costumes and decorating the classroom or home to scavenger hunts, and arts and crafts, there’s something for everyone to have a wickedly good time! Read on for some quick, easy and festive Halloween projects that will have you howling!

Paper Bag Monsters

Paper bag monsters are a versatile craft experience for children to let their imaginations run wild! These plain bags can be decorated in whatever wacky characters come to mind, with children freely exploring the open-ended materials offered and choosing to use them in their own wonderful ways. Add language and storytelling to the experience by creating storylines with their characters or find a cosy spot for children to engage in spooky monster puppet play when their paper bag creations are dry.

Featured products:
Paper Bags
Dot Markers
Jumbo Creations Box
Paper Shapes

Ghost Pencil Toppers

Add some spooky excitement to drawing and writing with these quick and easy paper pencil toppers. Simply draw a ghost character onto thick paper or cardboard and cut the shape out, punch two holes in the ghost and gently thread the pencil or pen through the holes and abracadabra, your adorably spooky pencil toppers are ready for action.

Featured products:
White Cover Paper
Coloured Pencils

Spooky Book Placeholder

Made from only a few simple paper folds and embellishments, this is one cute creature that’s batty about storytime! Grab yourself a square piece of black paper and follow the folding sequence pictured below.

Add some little wings, fangs and joggle eyes, and this adorable spooky book placeholder is ready to join in the reading. Let your imaginations run wild and fold all sorts of fun creatures with a spooky twist – bats, pumpkins, cats, frogs, owls, ghosts and more!

Featured products:
Matt Paper Squares
Gloss Paper Squares

Storytelling Pop Sticks

Storytelling is an activity rich in language and communication! It’s a time for children to hone their concentration and listening skills, explore feelings and emotions, share their own experiences and learn from others in an interchange of knowledge. Stories can explore aspects of STEM, problem solving, memory recall and provide a place where children can freely express their thoughts and imaginings. We love storytelling!

These adorable props provide visual prompts for children and educators to tell a story. Draw some story characters on thick paper or cardboard, colour them in, cut them out and stick them onto pop sticks (for extra durability, the drawings can be laminated before they’re added to the pop sticks). Follow the characters from a favourite storybook or create your own for all sorts of imaginative tales. Once upon a time….

Featured products;
Pop Sticks
Coloured Pop Sticks
Coloured Pencils
Coloured Jumbo Pencils

Spider Tic Tac Toe

Also called Noughts & Crosses, Tic Tac Toe is a fun and simple game for young children to build maths skills, including counting, predictability, problem solving and special awareness. Taking turns to lay their pieces on the board, whoever gets three in a row, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, is the winner! This is a traditional game that can be made up with all sorts of odds and ends – to make the game board, use paper and markers or a hard, flat surface and chalk or sticks. To make the playing pieces, simply find four of something that’s different from the other player’s pieces. We’ve made spooky bottle top spiders in two different colours, but you could use stones, shells, wood slices, counters etc.

Featured products:
Bottle Tops
Pipe Cleaners

Loose Parts Dough Creatures

With loose parts play, anything can happen! Children can move loose parts freely, adapting and turning them into anything their imagination desires. A selection of open-ended loose parts makes a wonderfully inspiring invitation for children to explore, experiment, inquire and invent, and with the addition of dough or modelling clay, children are sure to make some fantastical creations!
To make a treasured keepsake that will last, switch the dough or modelling clay for air-dry clay, which will harden beautifully in a day or so, ready to adorn the classroom or live on at home.

Featured products:
Modelling Clay Kit
Creatistics Dough Kit
Creatistics Dough Set
Craft Essentials Kit

Happy Halloween Bunting

Adorable FREE printable Happy Halloween bunting!

These sweet and spooky characters are sure to bring festive cheer to the learning environment – whether it’s the classroom, after school setting, home learning or weekend fun – the finishing touch to any Halloween party is here. Simply print out as many copies of the bunting as you desire, snip out the shapes, follow the hole punch guide and string up your spooky triangle bunting.
No need to worry about waste either. Paper bunting can be saved and reused next year, snipped up for spooky collage art, popped into the recycling or even shredded and added to the compost to make nutritious soil to grow yourself a real pumpkin!

Featured products:
Jute Hemp Twine
White Cardboard
Happy Halloween Bunting FREE PDF Download

Outdoor Story Stones

Combine storytelling with the wonder of nature with these adorable story stones. Made from a mix of natural stone and resin, they’re built to last the rigours of play outside, allowing outdoor nature play to guide imaginative storytelling. The sights, sounds and textures of the great outdoors all make wonderful prompts for scenes where anything can take place. Story stones can also be made by adding simple illustrations to stones or small wooden branch cuts.

Featured products:
Story Stones – Fairy Tales
Story Stones – Outer Space
Story Stones – Under the Sea

Batty Paper Crafts

Paper arts and crafts are fantastic for children learning about colours and shapes. Snipping paper is also a fun way to work on scissor skills. Joggle eyes will help bring children’s creations to life and may even inspire some spooky storytelling! The paper shape pictures can decorate the classroom or be taken home as gifts to share the excitement of the spooky season.
This activity can also be adapted for different age groups to make sure everyone’s safe. Children confident with scissors may like to snip their own shapes out, where younger ones might benefit from a selection of pre-cut shapes to choose from.

Featured products;
Coloured Paper
Joggle Eyes

Spooky Fairground Bowling

Fairground bowling games are a timeless tradition for all good parties, and this sweet, spooky version is a hoot. Add some wacky faces to sturdy cardboard rolls and take turns knocking them down with any ball you have handy. These ghosty characters look great with plain white rolls or decorated with paint, markers, coloured paper and all sorts of embellishments for endless design options. For older children, numbers can be added for scoring up the total points knocked over for fun maths practice.

Featured products:
Cardboard Tubes
Craft Rolls

*All these activities can be modified and adapted to suit different age groups, taking away small parts for children under 3 years of age and replacing them with larger safe parts. Where scissors are used, educators may use adequate supervision to suit the needs of the children or offer pre-cut shapes.

What are your favourite spooky crafts and activities to celebrate Halloween?

About the Author
Penny Groen is an Early Childhood Teacher who has been working in Early Childhood Education and Care settings around Sydney for 17 years. She has a passion for working in meaningful partnerships with families and communities, providing a responsive and engaging curriculum where everyone feels welcome to contribute. You can see Penny’s interest in the natural world with all the weird and wonderful experiments growing both inside and outside the classroom. Penny’s also known for equipping children with the tools to explore their interests and celebrate the discoveries each day brings.