Crafts for the Red, White, and Blue

Holidays with children are always fun!  Being a preschool teacher, I get to do lots of projects for all the different holidays throughout the year, but Fourth of July is one of my favorites.  I love the colors red, white and blue, the American flag decorations, and of course the parade and fireworks that start and end this great day.  Getting the kids involved with all the planning and decorating of any holiday is always helpful and sometimes more importantly a way to pass a boring afternoon ☺  Here are two easy projects you can do with art supplies at home to decorate your backyard and “shake, shake, shake it” at the parade!

Star Spangled Windsock

Supplies:

• Blue & white construction paper
• Red yarn or ribbon
• Red and white tissue paper
• Hole puncher
• Glue
• Stapler
• Red dot paint (you can also just use crayons or markers)

Directions:

1. Start by decorating your white paper with red dot paint, red markers or crayons, glitter, whatever you have in your art supplies at home that is the color red.
2. Cut star shapes out of the white paper and glue onto the blue paper.
3. Cut the red and white tissue paper into long rectangle strips.
4. Either tape or glue the red and white tissue paper streamers onto the bottom opposite side of the glued on stars.
5. Roll the blue paper into a circle and staple together, hole punch two holes on opposite sides of the paper and string your red yarn or ribbon and tie a knot.
6. Place the string of your new craft onto a tree branch!
7. Pour yourself and your kiddo some lemonade and just sit back and watch your festive windsock fly in the breeze ☺

Fourth of July Noisemakers

Supplies:

• Dry beans
• Paper plate
• Glue
• Stapler
• Crayons, markers, glitter, paint, stickers (anything red, white and blue)

Directions:

1. Place a handful of dry beans into a folded in half paper plate and staple the plate together.  I find it helpful to staple half of the plate together and then pour the beans in so they aren’t falling out.
2. Go ahead and decorate with your Fourth of July color themed supplies on both sides of the plate.
3. Get ready for the parade by putting on some marching band music and “shake, shake, shake it”!

While the kiddos are making their festive decorations go ahead and throw together a themed snack for them!

Here are some ideas:

• Skewers: banana, strawberry, blueberry, repeat.
• Sparklers: pretzel rod dipped in vanilla frosting and covered with red and blue sprinkles.
• Mix: raspberries, yogurt covered pretzels & blueberries
• I’m definitely going to try out this new recipe I found for Patriotic Rice Krispy Treats

Have Fun and Happy Fourth of July!