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Hello Harmony Day, 2024!

Harmony blog header

14 ways to celebrate our cultural diversity in an inspiring way… 

Harmony Day (Thursday 21 March 2024) is part of Harmony Week that celebrates Australia’s amazing cultural diversity. During this week, schools celebrate inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for all Australians, from the traditional custodians of the land to those who have come from many countries around the world. 

This week of inclusiveness is celebrated from Monday 18th March 2024 to Sunday 24th March 2024 so there are plenty of opportunities to create and participate in activities all week long. 

With its motto ‘Everyone belongs’, Harmony Day is a day we appreciate our differences and similarities, promote inclusiveness and show mutual respect for everyone, regardless of race, colour, religion, or background. 

 

Why we love Harmony Day 

  • It celebrates diversity 
  • You can celebrate your own way 
  • It unites cultures 

Statistics show that diverse communities, companies and civilisations are happier, healthier and more prosperous. So, including everyone really does make the world a better place! 

 

The history of Harmony Day 

Harmony Day was first celebrated in Australia in 1999. People celebrate it by reflecting on the ways they can live in harmony with their neighbours. In 1998, the government commissioned a study into the nature of racism that highlighted a greater need for people to ‘live in harmony’. As a result, Harmony Day was created to encourage everyone to respect each other and appreciate the country’s vibrant multicultural background. 

 

Fascinating facts 

Some interesting statistics about Australia’s diversity today from ABS 2021 Census Data: 

  • 29.1% of Australia’s population were born overseas.  
  • 51.5 % of Australian residents were born overseas (first generation) or have a parent born overseas (second generation)    
  • We identify with over 300 ancestries in Australia 
  • 812,728 people identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. This is an increase of 25.2% since 2016, representing 3.2% of the population. 
  • 167 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages were used at home by 76,978 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The most widely reported language groups used were Arnhem Land and Daly River Region Languages (14.5%) and Torres Strait Island Languages (12.0%). 
  • Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia 
  • The top five most reported ancestries included English 33.0%, Australian 29.9%, Irish 9.5%, Scottish 8.6% and Chinese 5.5%. 
  • Mandarin is the most common language other than English spoken in Australia with 685,274 people using Mandarin at home. 
  • This is followed by Arabic (367,159 people), Vietnamese (320,758 people), and Cantonese (295,281 people). 
  • Punjabi had the largest increase, showing 239,033 people using Punjabi at home. 
  • Nepali featured in the top five languages used at home in both ACT (1.3%) and Tasmania (1.3%). 
  • 85% of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia 

 

How to celebrate Harmony Day 

As an educator, you can use this day (or week) to help students understand the importance of celebrating diversity, inclusion, respect, empathy and community. Harmony Day activities help us understand how all Australians equally belong to this nation and enrich it. We’ve put our thinking caps on and curated some ideas that schools can use to celebrate Harmony Day 2024 in a respectful and engaging way. 

  • Wear orange 

On the official Harmony Week website, it tells us that ‘orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week’ as it ‘signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.’ So, ask your class or school to wear something orange on Harmony Day to show their support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia. 

  •  Share stories 

What better way to promote diversity than by exploring different cultures and customs from your peers? Encourage students to share stories about their backgrounds with their classmates. Storytelling is such a personal way to learn about different traditions and a way to promote cross-cultural understanding. This beautiful Fair Trade Aboriginal Symbol Kit would make a great year-round addition to any classroom. 

  •  Eat the world’s yummiest food 

Food is a universal language that brings people together. Encourage students to bring in a traditional dish from their culture or organise a multicultural food festival. This is a fun (and yummy) way for children to learn about different cultures and celebrate our culinary similarities and differences. Perhaps your class can bake a Harmony Cake, mixing different ingredients to produce a delicious and harmonious result.  

  •  Get arty & crafty 

Arts and crafts are a fantastic way to explore diversity and for students to display their heritage. Why not organise a poster or art competition around the theme of Harmony Day? For art and craft projects that showcase different cultures, inspire your class to create a traditional item (think Chinese paper lantern, mask, origami or Indigenous basket) or create a symbolic diversity tree of hands or paper chain of people from around the world. This is a great all year round Multicultural Craft Kit. 

  •  Role play with multicultural families 

Consider role play or putting on a show with a set of stylised multicultural dolls or characters or even finger puppets. We love our beautiful Fair Trade Multicultural Families handmade in India under Fair Trade conditions, especially for younger age groups. 

  •  Make music! 

Encourage students to bring in music from their culture and play during class. We love this allrounder Cultural Music Set. Alternatively, look at celebrating Harmony Day with a class choir. Choose a unifying song to bring their voices together. Invite students to perform their song in a cultural performance for the school at assembly. Music is a fabulous way to celebrate cultural diversity. 

  •  Multicultural dance party 

Students can learn traditional dances from different cultures. Or enjoy a multicultural dance party with the traditional music the students share. What a great way to appreciate the beauty of cultural expression. Alternatively, organise a Cultural Dance Workshop. Invite a dance instructor or member of the community to teach traditional dances from different cultures. 

  •  Traditional costumes  

Dress-up Day in traditional cultural costumes is a fun and interactive way for students to showcase their unique heritage and celebrate the diversity of their peers. There are so many intricate and beautiful traditional costumes to see and celebrate. 

  •  Inclusive classroom activities 

Harmony Week classroom activities are a simple way to promote diversity. You could encourage students to teach each other phrases or words in different languages, starting with ‘hello’. Or think interactive, and use videos as stimulus, or take the class on a 360-degree virtual tour of another country using your interactive panel.  

Some other classroom starters here: 

https://www.harmony.gov.au/get-involved/schools/early-childhood 

https://www.harmony.gov.au/get-involved/schools/primary-school 

https://www.harmony.gov.au/get-involved/schools/lower-secondary 

  •  Cultural display

Set up a cultural display in your classroom, featuring artifacts, pictures and other items from different cultures around the world. Encourage students to contribute to the display by bringing in items from their culture or a culture they’re interested in. This is a great way to spark conversations about different traditions. 

  •  Invite guests to chat!

Help students gain a better appreciation of different cultures firsthand by inviting a guest speaker or local community member to engage in some personal cultural storytelling. Real, lived experiences make for a more authentic way to bring a different cultural perspective to life. 

  •  Explore your diverse community 

Give students a deeper understanding of the cultural diversity of their community by going on a community walk. Point out cultural landmarks, such as religious buildings or monuments and discuss the significance of these landmarks to the community.  

  •  Involve students in community outreach programs

Organise community outreach programs for older students to participate in. Visit cultural centres, attend festivals or volunteer with community organisations. This provides an opportunity for students to connect with people from different cultures, gain a deeper understanding of these communities, and make a difference in the world. 

  •  Harmony Day pledge

Ask students to take a pledge to promote harmony, respect and inclusion in their school and community. They could write and decorate their own pledge with their own heartfelt message, then place their pledge on the classroom walls. 

 

Celebrating Harmony Day in the classroom is an excellent opportunity for you to engage students in meaningful conversations and activities that promote understanding, empathy and a sense of community. By promoting cultural diversity and inclusiveness, teachers can create a learning environment that celebrates the unique differences and similarities of all cultures. Let’s come together, celebrate our diversity, and make Harmony Day a day to remember! 

 

 

Shop multicultural resources 

At MTA, we have some amazing pedagogically sound resources that embrace diversity, inclusiveness and multicultural celebrations all year long… 

 

Other links to inspire: 

Visit the Australian Government Harmony Week for schools website for a collection of lesson ideas organised by level of schooling and subject area and aligned to the Australian Curriculum and resources for Harmony Week including templates for posters, invitations and certificates as well as frames, filters, graphics and banners for websites and social media. Learn more about understanding diversity and culture at the Multicultural Education webpages. Find out more about Planning Harmony Week here. 

 

Download our free Harmony Day Art & Craft  activities here.

 

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Cultural resources showcase – what’s new & inspiring in 2024

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Authentic resources in the cultural space can be so creative! We love hearing how you use them with your students and children to engage, teach and tell stories. With a stronger focus on embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into both the Early Years Learning Framework and the Australian Curriculum, our goal, as always, is to support you in your teaching practice.  

SUPPORTING THE NEW EYLF V2.0 

The new EYLF V2.0 has been updated to include the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of being, knowing and doing, and inclusion. A new principle on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives emphasises the importance of respectfully and truthfully reflecting the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is achieved through community involvement and culturally sensitive practices.

 SUPPORTING THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM V9.0 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures are embedded into the new curriculum as a ‘cross-curriculum priority’. In short that means incorporating it through content and enriching learning in the most authentic way! Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures is incorporated through content to deepen students’ understanding of First Nations Australian histories and cultures. 

 

We’re excited to show you what’s new this year and how to make the most of these resources. From books and craft to puzzles and games, we’ve rounded up the best new cultural resources in 2024 right here. (Remember to check out our tried & trusted favourites too!) 

 

Children’s Books

 

Beautiful big books 

Beautiful big books opened centerfold

We love this distinctive series, illustrated and written by talented Aboriginal artist and storyteller Kiz Costelloe, a proud Mandandanji and Noonuccal woman. All A3 size with 16 pages in each, they suit ages three and above. Storytime with big books (all those captivating illustrations and stories!) increase children’s imagination and sensory learning skills, plus provide wonderful classroom discussions. Here, children learn about food and animals that are not just a source of inspiration but have cultural significance. 

 

Gathering Bush Tucker Big Book  

This book takes young readers on a journey into the heart of Indigenous culture… travel through the Australian outback and learn about bush tucker, from honey ants to emu eggs.   

 

Creatures from Sea Country Big Book 

Readers encounter sea creatures from a graceful sea turtle to a shy octopus, as well as pay homage to Indigenous communities and their deep connection to the ocean.  

 

Animals from Land Country (Aboriginal Art) Big Book 

In Indigenous culture, native animals are bearers of ancient wisdom, guardians of the land and symbols of deep spiritual meaning. Here, children explore the diversity of Australia’s animals from a shy echidna to a graceful kangaroo. 

  

About the artist: Kiz was born and raised in Rockhampton, Queensland with her mum and sister. Her elders are her biggest inspiration and getting to carry on her Uncle’s legacy by pursuing art and sharing his name and stories is something she values very deeply. 

 

 

Our Yarning Stories  

Yarning Stories Books

This inspiring library of books has been written by First Nations people to reflect diverse cultural identities from regional, remote, rural and urban communities. Each set contains ten stories focusing on connection to the world around us. Research shows that children achieve more when they begin their learning journey reading stories that reflect the lived experiences of their community and history, engaging children to become life-long learners. These authentic collections make a wonderful addition to any children’s book library. 

 

Let’s Start Reading 

Hug a Bug, Bush Sounds, Tiny Dancer, Wheels Are All Around… these are just some of the titles in this set that build curiosity and fascination with our world. 

 

Let’s Connect with Country & Culture 

This set of stories talks to the importance of community, country and culture. Titles include Feet on the Ground, Where I’m From, Being Me, Island Boy Dreams and The Big Storm. 

 

Let’s Get Active 

Let’s Play Footy, Not Inside, Learning with Grandpa… this book set celebrates connection to family, community and adventure! 

 

Let’s See Animals 

In this set, readers explore native wildlife from an Indigenous perspective. Titles include: Crocodiles in My Uncle’s Yard, Baby Bird and Bush Basketball (will that cheating emu ever play fair?). 

 

Let’s Collect Tucker 

Readers are invited to get stuck into some bush tucker with delicious tales of bush food and connection to country. Titles include Eggs For Breakfast, Nanna’s Barramundi and Waiting for Mangoes. Yum!  

 

 

Puzzles and games

Board games, memory games, snap card games… we have some new cultural resources in this area that feature stunning illustrations and are perfect for developing cognitive skills and hand-eye coordination, as well as helping children to learn about Aboriginal culture and history.  

Let’s take a look at some of our new kits and sets. 

 

 

Aboriginal Art 10 Puzzle & Poster Set 

Aboriginal Puzzles

This set features 10 beautiful hand-cut animal puzzles created by Aboriginal artists Kiz Costelloe & Rhea Blair-Kearins. Each puzzle has 18 pieces to keep little hands and minds busy. 

 

 

Aboriginal Games Kit 

Aboriginal board games

This kit offers up a collection of Aboriginal games to set up your centre or school space. It includes: 

 

  • The Bushwalk Bush Tucker Board Game 
  • Serpents and Sticks Board Game 
  • Aboriginal Art Animals Memory Game 
  • Matching Aboriginal Art Game 
  • Aboriginal Tools Memory Cards 

 

 

 

Fave from the kit: 

The Bushwalk Bush Tucker Board Game  The Bushwalk Bush Tucker Board Game

A fun way to teach little ones all about bush tucker! Follow the animal track and move forward but be careful of those snakes! The first person to get to the campfire wins. Perfect for ages three years and above. It’s hand-made in Australia from radiata pine with artwork by Kiz Costelloe. 

 

  

 

 

 

Aboriginal Bush Food Kit 

Aboriginal games kit

Set up a cultural corner with this kit of books, games, signs and more. It’s ideal for learning about traditional bush food, encouraging role-play and opening conversations about First Nations People and their culture. For thousands of years, Aboriginal people have utilised and cared for the Australian landscape. Plant foods consumed across the continent varies greatly, and the harvesting of these foods forms an important part of cultural, spiritual and community life. This educational kit includes:   

  • Bush Tucker Poster 
  • Bush Foods Snap 
  • Bush Foods Snap-Saltwater Country 
  • Bush Food Garden Sign 
  • Gathering Bush Tucker Big Book 
  • Australian Indigenous Food Set 

 

 

Fave from the kit: 

Bush Foods Snap – Saltwater Country Bush Foods Snap – Saltwater Country

With this Snap Game (which can also be used as a Memory Game), children can learn about the concept of matching pairs and learn about some Australian native plant bush foods found on Saltwater Country. 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Aboriginal Symbols Kit 

Aboriginal Symbols Kit

An easy way to increase the cultural insight of children is by teaching commonly recognised Aboriginal symbols. Aboriginal symbols represent the earliest form of communication used by our First Nations people and are a special way in which Aboriginal stories are told and shared. Their use and meanings vary across the country and between Aboriginal groups. This kit is perfect for developing an understanding of the meanings of each symbol. It includes: 

  • 20 Aboriginal Symbols Sign 
  • Aboriginal Art Symbols Memory Game 
  • Ceremony Symbols Bunting 
  • Aboriginal Symbol Cards 

 

 

Faves from the kit: 

20 Aboriginal Symbols Sign20 Aboriginal Symbols Sign

This bright and colourful rainbow Aboriginal Symbols Sign showcases 20 symbols. Hang in your classroom or use flat on a desk and use in storytelling and art activities. 

 

 

  

 

Faves from the kit: 

Aboriginal Symbol Cardsrica1302

This set of 20 Aboriginal Symbols cards is A6 in size with each made of high quality 350gsm artboard. Aboriginal symbols are often used to express stories around hunting and tracking, animals, connection to country, and people and community. 

 

  
Faves from the kit: 

Aboriginal Art Symbols Memory Games Aboriginal Art Symbols Memory Games

Engage with Aboriginal art while developing your memory skills with this fun, educational game that features matching pairs of Aboriginal symbols. 24 cards (12 matching pairs) are presented in a pine wooden tray. 

 

About the artist: Card art is by Shareen Clayton, a proud Wiradjuri woman, born and raised in Sydney, NSW. She’s mastered her skills in art for over 20 years having been inspired by her artistic parents. 

 

  

 

 

 

Aboriginal Symbols Sand Drawing Games 

Shareen Clayton has also provided the symbol illustrations for this sensory resource that lets children create art patterns. Little fingers can trace 16 Aboriginal symbols in the sand for a unique sensory experience. Once the symbol is drawn, use a screed to smooth out the sand so children can create their next masterpiece. Ideal for those aged three and above. 

 

 

 

Aboriginal Animal Flag Puzzle Luke Mallie 

Aboriginal Animal Flag Puzzle Luke Mallie 

Luke Mallie is an award-winning artist who has earned the reputation as one of Australia’s best Indigenous artists and designers for his amazing artwork. This beautiful Luke Mallie artwork of animal designs layered on the Aboriginal flag represents the connection of animals to country. 20 puzzle pieces ideal for little ones aged three and above. 

 

 

Art and craft

 

 

Bayadherra Art Smock

Bayadherra Art Smock  

We adore this and think you will too! When little ones want to indulge in messy play, this long-sleeved Creatistics art smock helps keep clothes dry and clean. It’s designed in collaboration with Bayadherra, founded by proud Aboriginal Yorta Yorta brother and sister Luke and Siena Tieri. Best of all, it’s easy to pop on or off, comfortable to wear and can be quickly wiped down after use. It’s available in sizing for the littlest artists (1–3 years) and older children (3–6 years) and also comes in sets of 10 for your group of art-loving children.  

 

About the artist: 100% Aboriginal-owned and operated, Bayadherra is a group of emerging artists with a mission to promote reconciliation, cultural awareness and understanding by reflecting their First Nations heritage in authentic contemporary art pieces. ‘Bayadherra’ in Yorta Yorta language means ‘turtle’, the spiritual animal totem of the Yorta Yorta clan: a name reflective of Luke and Siena’s Aboriginal identity and connection to community and Country. 

 

Room decor

 

Durable floor mats  

When you’re building your suite of cultural resources for your centre or school, consider these statement floor mats with authentic artwork digitally printed onto them. We love these colourful new designs that are so functional for creating zones, as well as vibrant for play and creating an authentically inspiring space. These mats feature artwork by First Nations visual artist, John Smith Gumbula. They’re tough and ready for action too! Both mats feature a durable short weave polyester surface with non-slip rubber backing, so they’re great on hard floors or carpet (200 cm in length and 140 cm in width). 

 

 

Dreamtime Country Sacred Lands Indoor Floor Mat

Dreamtime Country Sacred Lands Indoor Floor MatThis first mat in our showcase features Gumbula’s artwork ‘My Country, Sacred Place’. 

 

 

 

Darambal Country Indoor Floor MatDarambal Country Indoor Floor Mat

This second amazing, printed floor mat showcases the artwork ‘Darumbal Country’. 

 

 

 

 

Ready to support your teaching practice with some amazing new cultural resources? Hit the links and please let us know how your children or students connect with these authentic resources. Happy teaching! 

 

Shop the cultural showcase:  Product wishlist

 

Discover more of MTA’s cultural resources here. 

 

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Have a crafty Easter with these 6 egg-citing craft activities

Easter craft header image

 

Break out the bunny onesie, because Easter’s coming! It’s time for hat parades, egg hunts, chocolate bunnies and colourful craft egg-tivities!  

Here are 6 egg-cellent, egg-straordinary and egg-stra special craft activities to help little crafters create gifts, ornaments, cards and other seasonal cuteness. They’re easy, and they produce beautiful Easter treasures! Let’s hop right into it…  

 

 

Wooden Weaving Bunny

 

Wooden Weaving Bunny

 

You will need:  

Wooden Weaving Bunny 

Pastel Paint 

Pastel Acrylic Yarn 

Plastic Lacing Needles  

Joggle Eyes 

Pastel Pony Beads 

Green Silk Clay 

White Silk Clay 

Mini Carrots 

 

 

Step-by-step: 

Assemble the Wooden Weaving Bunny by slotting the bunny into the stand.  

Apply your desired shades of pastel paint to the bunny and stand, and set aside to dry. Repeat paint application if desired.  

Cut a workable length of yarn roughly 40cm long and thread one end onto a plastic lacing needle. Tie the other end around a section of the bunny with a firm knot at the back. 

Thread the lacing needle with its yarn through the pre-cut holes of the bunny, weaving in and out all over as desired.  

When there’s only a short length of yarn left, remove the plastic threading needle and tie onto the bunny with a firm knot at the back.  

Repeat steps 3 to 5 with as many colours of thread as desired.  

When you’ve reached the last length of thread, begin by tying the end to the bunny and then slot a pastel bead onto the yarn, setting it in place at the front of the bunny while weaving. Continue adding pastel beads as desired and tie off the end of the yarn firmly at the back.  

Mix green and white silk clay together to form a pastel green and press down onto the stand to cover the surface.  

Use craft glue to adhere joggle eyes, a pom pom tail and a few carrots.  

Done! The perfect Weaving Bunny is ready.  

 

TOP TIP: Younger age groups can swap the beads for ready-to-use foam or felt shapes with a dab of glue. 

 

 

 

DIY Stencil Cards

 

 

You will need:  

Easter Stencils 

Pastel Coloured Cardboard 

Creatistics A4 White Cover Paper 

Pastel Paint 

Creatistics Glue Sticks 

Connector Colour Markers 

Stationery Scissors 

Bio-Glitter – Pack of 12 

 

Step-by-step: 

Pour a small amount of pastel paint onto a flat surface (painting trays, plates, etc). Use a brush or roller to even out the colour. 

Lay an Easter Stencil over a piece of white cover paper and secure in place with a bit of masking tape.  

Gently dab a sponge into the paint (avoiding large blobs).  

Gently dab the sponge over the stencil, making sure to sponge all the sections of paper through the stencil’s cut-out pattern.  

Carefully remove the masking tape and lift the stencil off the paper. Set the paper aside to dry.  

Fold a piece of pastel cardboard in half (two short lengths together) to make a card.  

When the paint has dried, cut out the stencilled shape and use a glue stick to attach to the card.  

Use coloured makers, Bio-Glitter and joggle eyes as desired to add detail to the cards and set aside to dry.  

Done! The perfect DIY Easter Stencil Card is ready.  

 

TOP TIP: For early childhood-aged children not yet confident with scissor skills, pop the stencil directly onto the pastel card to paint the pattern. 

 

 

Sponge Print Fridge Magnets

 

Sponge Print Fridge Magnets

 

You will need:  

Easter Sponges 

Pastel Cardboard

Wooden Pegs 

Self-Adhesive Magnetic Sheets 

Creatistics Strong Craft Glue 

Joggle Eyes 

 

Step-by-step: 

Pour a small amount of pastel paint onto a flat surface (painting trays, plates, messy mats, etc) and use a brush or roller to spread the colour to an even layer. 

Gently press an Easter Sponge into the paint, then lift out of the paint and gently press down onto the cardboard. Lift off once more, leaving the painted print on the cardboard. Repeat as desired with each shape to fill the paper. Set aside to dry.  

Use the leftover paint or POSCA markers to add detail over the dried paint (an orange beak, patterns on the eggs, etc) and set aside to dry.  

Feed the dried painting through a laminator and set aside to cool down.  

Carefully cut around the shapes.  

Use strong craft glue to attach a wooden peg to the back of the laminated shape and joggle eyes onto the chick & bunny and set aside to dry.  

Peel and stick a self-adhesive magnet to the back of the peg.  

Done! The perfect Easter magnet is ready.  

 

TOP TIP: Easter sponges are wonderfully versatile! Sponge the shapes onto cards, wrapping paper and Easter Hats. Or snip the prints out and paste them onto pop sticks for adorable storytelling props! 

 

 

Wooden Diorama Frame 

 

Wooden Diorama Bunny

 

You will need:  

Wooden Easter Diorama Frame  

Pastel Paint 

Pastel Acrylic Yarn 

Pastel Pom Poms 

Glitter Foam Flowers 

Sequin Flowers 

Adhesive Rhinestones 

Green Crinkle Paper Shred 

Joggle Eyes 

Mini Carrots 

Creatistics Strong Craft Glue 

   

 

Yarn Chick, Bunny & Egg Ornaments 

 

Yarn Chick and Bunny

You will need:  

Creatistics Pastel Paint 

Pastel Acrylic Yarn 

Wooden Easter Ornaments 

Joggle Eyes 

Creatistics Strong Craft Glue 

Matt Paper Squares 

Coloured Tissue Squares 

Pastel Pom Poms 

Natural Beading Cord 

Paper Magiclay  

 

Step-by-step: 

Cover the wooden ornament in a layer of pastel paint and set aside to dry. Repeat paint application as desired. 

For the Bunny and Chick, cut a workable length of yarn, wrap it around the wooden ornament, and tie it with a strong knot.  

Wrap the yarn around the ornament until it looks full of colour (if needed, add another length of yarn). Tie the yarn off securely at the back.  

For the Bunny – snip three lengths of beading cord 10cm in length, tie a knot in the middle to make whiskers, and press a small amount of pink Magiclay around the middle to hide the knot and make a nose. Attach in place with craft glue, along with two joggle eyes. Set aside to dry.  

For the Chick – scrunch two tissue squares from the centre to make the wings. Fold an orange paper square in half and roughly draw a foot. Snip the foot out (you should now have two) and snip a small triangle shape along the remaining paper’s fold to make a little beak. Attach the feet, wings, beak and two joggle eyes in place with craft glue. Set aside to dry.  

For the Egg – use the craft glue nozzle to ‘draw’ lines and squiggles on the surface, carefully placing short lengths of yarn over the glue. Finish off with a few pom poms and set aside to dry.  

For each decoration, snip a short length of beading cord, thread it through the pre-cut hole and tie it into a loop to hang. 

Done! The perfect Easter Yarn Ornament is ready.  

 

TOP TIP: Taping the yarn at the back of the ornament with masking tape periodically will provide support for children with emerging fine motor skills. 

 

 

Roller Print & Yarn Bonnet

 

Easter Bonnet

 

You will need:  

Easter Rollers 

Cardboard Easter Hat 

Creatistics Pastel Paint 

Pastel Pom Poms 

Pastel Acrylic Yarn 

Bio-Glitter – Pack of 12 

Tacky Glue 

Creatistics Strong Craft Glue 

Painting Tray 

 

Step-by-step: 

Pop-out each piece from the large sheet of card. 

Use brushes or sponges to apply a thin layer of pastel paint to the pieces and set aside to dry.  

Pour a contrasting-coloured paint onto a messy mat or painting tray and use a brush or roller to smooth the paint to an even layer. Only a little paint is needed to make smooth prints.  

Gently roll the Easter Rollers in the paint, ensuring an even layer of paint over each raised shape.  

Roll the paint-loaded Easter Roller over the cardboard pieces, leaving behind its colourful print. Repeat as desired and set aside to dry. 

Use the strong craft glue nozzle to ‘draw’ wavy lines over the crown and brim pieces, snip lengths of pastel yarn and gently press into place using the glue lines as a guide. Use the craft glue to ‘draw’ lines and shapes to shake Bio-Glitter onto, and small blobs of tacky glue to adhere the pom poms. Set aside to dry. 

To assemble, sticky tape the scalloped crown piece together by the tabs, making sure it will fit the brim.  

Sticky tape the tabs on the bottom of the crown piece to the underside of the brim. 

If desired, sticky tape the tabs on the top circle to the crown piece (making a shelf to hold extra decorations). Set aside to dry. 

Done! The perfect Easter Hat is ready.  

 

TOP TIP: There’s no need for precise designs! The free-form style of this Easter Hat craft is wonderfully open-ended. 

 

 

We hope you love getting crafty this Easter and creating these 6 fun activities. If you’d like to download the step-by-step activity pack pdf, click here. Happy crafting, and please share your crafty Easter creations with us @modernteaching. 

 

 

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Celebrate summer with 7 handmade craft activities full of sunshine and fun!

Summer craft Header

From sand art to a paper plate sun… try some quick, cool fun over the long, hot summer. Celebrate the colours, textures and feathery, fluttery creatures of summer with these 7 super-easy craft activities. Designed for little hands to deliver a big result, share your summer craft handmade creativity and tag us @modernteaching! We love seeing your style! So roll up your sleeves and dive in! We’ll guide you through each summer-loving step.

 

 

Sand Art Jar

 

Sand Art Jar

Summer in a jar! This is so simple, dreamy and impactful. Making a humble jar take on summer sand beach vibes is so easy! It will look so cute on a shelf and teaches children about colours, patterns and textures. Follow along step-by-step here.

 

You will need:

Glass Storage Jar

Creatistics Coloured Sand

Dispenser Bottles with Cap

Creatistics Strong Craft Glue

 

Step-by-step:

Take the lid off the glass jar and set aside.

Use a spoon or dispenser bottle to pour layers of coloured sand into the jar one at a time.

Use as many colours and layers as desired until the jar is completely full.

Apply a thin layer of Strong Craft Glue to the rim of the lid and tightly screw onto the jar.

Wipe away any excess glue and set aside to dry.

Done! The perfect Sand Art Jar is ready.

 

TOP TIP – Make mesmerising layers by tilting the jar slightly in different directions when adding each colour of sand.

 

 

Cardboard Tube & Paper Plate Butterfly

 

Cardboard Tube & Paper Plate Butterfly – 1

Make a family of adorable butterflies and watch your heart flutter. These butterflies can be as colourful and imaginative as you like. Why not create a summer theme wall for your butterflies to fly free?

 

You will need:

Cardboard Tubes Assorted

Unwaxed Round Paper Plates

Assorted Joggle Eyes

Multicoloured Pipe Cleaners

Pom Poms

All Purpose Washable School Glue

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

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:

A4 Creatistics Brown Cover Paper

Gloss Paper Squares

Short Feathers

Joggle Eyes

All Purpose Washable School Glue

Masking Tape

Creatistics A4 Orange Cover Paper

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 craft, Blue background

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

All Purpose Washable School Glue

 

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

 

Sunshine Craft, Yellow background

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

Creatistics A4 Yellow Cover Paper

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

 

Spinning Paper Cup Windmill – 1

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

All Purpose Washable School Glue

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

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.

 

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Light up your classroom with holiday cheer! 🎄

Christmas playlist header

Enjoy these timeless classics, modern pop hits and Aussie-themed Christmas tunes, perfect for creating a festive and fun atmosphere.

Whether you’re decking the halls or singing along with Santa, these tunes will keep spirits bright in every classroom. Perfect for singalongs, dance-offs or just spreading the joy of the season! Enjoy! 🎅🤶

Listen now>

 

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

Child playing in bedroom

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 

Child with dot maker paints

 

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

Child playing with Wooden sensory toy

 

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

Children's books

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:

Indigenous Board Book Pack

 

 

4. Polydron Giant Octoplay

Children playing with construction game in garden

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  

Child holding sensory squares

 

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 

Children playing with magnetic fishing game in garden

 

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  

Sorting bowls and tweezers

 

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 

Percussion Musical Set in basket

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  

Light box with colourful seashells

 

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  

Rainbow blocks

 

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 

Children playing with wooden 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 

Children playing with dress-up capes

 

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).

Australian wooden puzzles 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. 

 

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

Christmas

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

Christmas Craft 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

Christmas Craft 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

Christmas Craft Gingerbread Pop Stick HouseNo 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

Christmas Craft 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

Christmas Craft 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

Christmas Craft Pop Stick Nutcracker

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

Christmas Craft Paper Jingle Ornament

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

 

 

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13 Mother’s Day handmade gift ideas

Mother's Day Intro Image

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 

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;

Porcelain Teacup Planters 

Glass & Porcelain Markers 

POSCA Marker Pastel Bullet  

Creatistics Pastel Paint 

White Chromacryl Acrylic Paint 

Crystal Clear 

 

 

Sand Art Flower Magnets 

 

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-Bead Frame

 

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 

Tacky Glue 

A4 Acetate Sheets

Self-Adhesive Magnetic Sheets 

 

Stained Glass Flowers

 

Stain Glass Window 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 

Creatistics Superstik Glue Stick  

Tacky Craft Glue  

 

Shrink Film Beaded Key Chain 

 

Shrink Film 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;

Clear Shrink Film 

Natural Beading Cord

Key Chain 

Natural Wooden Beads 

Paper Punch One Hole 

 

 

Hanging Porcelain Planter 

 

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;

Hanging Porcelain Planter 

Creatistics Pastel Paint 

POSCA Marker Pastel Bullet 

 

Pencil Holder Frame  

 

Wooden Pencil Holder

 

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

Creatistics Pastel Paint 

Tacky Glue 

 

Personalised Latte Mugs 

 

 

Personalised Latte Mug

 

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;

Latte Mugs & Marker Value Pack 

Glass & Porcelain Markers 

Akwa Glass & Tile Paint 

 

Love Heart Tie Dye Calico Bag 

 

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

Creatistics Chunky Colouring Markers 

Rubber Bands 

 

Shrink Film Jewellery 

 

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;

Clear Shrink Film 

Natural Beading Cord 

Coloured Pony Beads 

Natural Wooden Beads

Paper Punch One Hole

 

Scratch Art Greeting Cards 

 

Scratch Heart 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  

 

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

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Celebrating women in STEM: Breaking barriers & achieving amazing things

Women in Stem Blog Intro

 

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! 

 

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Sources: 

https://www.nobelprize.org/ 

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. 

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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

Easter Hunting Basket

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

  1. Apply the glue stick to the backing of your Easter basket and handle.
  2. 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.
  3. Carefully cut away the excess pattered paper and recut along the pre-cut Easter basket lines
  4. Use the pre-fold lines of the basket to fold the basket into its shape and glue into place.
  5. 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 

Creatistics Superstik Glue Stick  

 

 

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

  1. 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.
  2. Bend your orange pipe cleaner over to that it forms a long semi-circle.
  3. 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.
  4. Thread your plastic needle with the yellow weaving thread and tie a knot in one end.
  5. Place your yellow body pieces together, and using a whip stitch, begin to sew the two pieces together at one side.
  6. 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.
  7. 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).
  8. 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;

 Felt Threading Easter Chicks

Tacky Craft Glue 

 

 

Eco Plate Roosting Nests

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

  1. For the background, apply your choice of pastel paint onto the front side of a plate and set aside to dry.
  2. To make the nest, cut one plate in half, apply gold paint to the back side, and set aside to dry.
  3. To make Mama Hen, cut the remaining half plate into a semi-circle or large egg shape.
  4. Using coloured felt or paper, cut out one white tail, one orange beak and one red comb.
  5. Glue the beak, comb and tail onto Mama Hen and glue on some joggle eyes so she can keep watch over her chicks.
  6. 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).
  7. 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;

18cm White Sugar Cane Eco Plates

23cm White Sugar Cane Eco Plates 

Pattern Paper Squares 

 Creatistics Pastel Paint

Assorted Felt Sheets 

Joggle Eyes 

Kraft Paper Shred 

Gold Fabric and Craft Paint 

Creatistics Strong Craft Glue 

Easter Chicks

 

 

Weaving Eggs & Bunnies

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

  1. Choose your design and pre-cut lengths of satin ribbon.
  2. Weave each length of ribbon over and under the pre-cut slots to form a pattern.
  3. Use a dab of tacky glue to hold the ribbon in place on the reverse side.
  4. 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.
  5. 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 

Tacky Craft Glue 

 

 

Colourful Wooden Bunnies

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

  1. Lay the wooden bunny onto the impressionist paper and trace around with a pencil.
  2. Lift the bunny off and carefully cut around the pencil markings.
  3. 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.
  4. Repeat for the second side.
  5. Apply Tacky glue to Joggle eyes and a Pom Pom tail and adhere in place and set aside to thoroughly dry.
  6. 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 

 Impressionist Pattern Papers 

Creatistics Superstik Glue Stick  

 

 

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;

Easter Block Print Stamps 

Creatistics Air Dry Ceramic Clay  

 Air Hardening Clay 

Flowers of Australia Block Stamps  

Wooden Block Print Stamps 

 

 

Wooden Easter Ornaments

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

  1. Divide each Magiclay colour pot into 3 portions (each 20g container will cover approx. 3 Wooden Easter Ornaments).
  2. Using your fingers, gently press your portion of Magiclay into a flat rough circle.
  3. Place it onto the wooden ornament and wrap it around, covering the ornaments entire front surface.
  4. 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.
  5. Carefully poke a skewer through the ornaments hole to ensure it can still hang when dry.
  6. Set aside to dry for 24 to 48 hours.
  7. Use POSCA paint pens to decorate your shapes and set aside to dry again.
  8. 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

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

  1. Apply a layer of glue stick to one side of the bunny and set aside to dry.
  2. Carefully cut the excess paper from around the bunny, and along the pre-cut standing slot.
  3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 on the reverse side of the bunny if desired.
  4. Use tacky glue to adhere joggle eyes, a pom pom tail (and any other embellishments) and set aside to thoroughly dry.
  5. 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 Superstik Glue Stick

Tacky Craft Glue 

Assorted Joggle Eyes

 

 

Easter Yarn Nests

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

  1. Blow up the balloon with a small amount of air so that it resembled an egg shape, firmly tie a knot and set aside.
  2. Pour approx. 1 cup of PVA glue into a shallow bowl.
  3. 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.
  4. Slowly wind the PVA covered yarn around the balloon, using fingers to gently move the yarn into place and remove excess glue when wrapping.
  5. Hang to dry (depending on the weather this may take up to a week).
  6. 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.
  7. 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 

Creatistics PVA Washable School Glue

Kraft Paper Shred

 Easter Chicks

 

 

 

Shrink Film Easter Eggs

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

  1. 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).
  2. Pre-heat oven to 150°C.
  3. Place design on a lined tray (matt side up) and bake.
  4. Plastic will begin to shrink after 10 seconds (to approx. 60% of its original size).
  5. When the plastic has returned to its flat shape remove the tray from the oven.
  6. Wait for the shrink film to cool completely before handling.
  7. When thoroughly cool, thread a length of cord into the hole, and firmly tie off.
  8. 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

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

 

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