Activity Days: Springville Art Museum

We have done so many fun Activity Days activities that I haven't shared with you yet.  I've really enjoyed working with the 8-11 year old girls from our church.  They are so energetic and fun.  Last month we took a trip to a local art museum.  It was really fun.  They had all kinds of different galleries mostly focusing on local artists.  I had no idea that my area produced such talent.

The museum had some really fun activities for youth groups.  On of them was a scavenger hunt.  They gave us a box of items and told us which gallery to go to.  The girls had to find the items in the paintings.  It was a great way to encourage them to look closely at the paintings and really appreciate them.

 We found a really fun painting that the girls tried to recreate posing like the subjects in the painting.  They were so cute agonizing about how to get it just right.  We called this one "Life Imitates Art".

Here they got to do their own interpretation of a picture.  The caption says "What is this horse thinking?".  They each wrote down what they thought it was thinking and pinned it to the wall.

 In the basement they had an area where the girls could draw their own pictures.  It focused on animals and the girls got to draw their own animal picture and hang it on the wall in the children's gallery.  It was fun to see how creative they were!

Goal Completed:  Developing Talents #5

Activity Days: Tour of Brigham Young University

We had a great time taking our Activity Days girls on a tour of a local university.  We are blessed to live in close proximity to Brigham Young University, my alma mater.  For me it was a trip down memory lane but for the girls, it was an eye opening experience.

During the 30 minute drive to BYU, we talked about its history and how it has grown and evolved into one of the top universities in the nation.  We also talked about the importance of education and why it's important to work hard in school while they're young to make life easier for them when they grow up.

As we walked around campus the girls started asking what kinds of things you could study in college.  So we decided to take a poll.  We asked as many students as we could what their major was.  We got a surprising mix of everything from Public Relations (my major) to Engineering and Medicine.  In all, I think there was close to 20 different majors mentioned.

We challenged each girl to work hard in school, even though they are only in the 4th and 5th grades so that they would have a lot of great opportunities in their futures.

We also talked to them about how having a good education will benefit them as they move on to fill roles as wives and mothers.  They learned that a good education will help better their lives whether they choose a career in the workplace or at home.

Goal completed:  Preparing for Young Women #4

Activity Days: Making Journals

I haven't posted any of our Activity Days projects for a while.  We seem to get so involved in the activities we are doing that I forget to take pictures.  Bad Activity Days leader!!

Well, we did a really fun project today.  It would be fun for the primary age kids, the young women or for a rainy day activity at home.  The girls really had a fun time.  It is neat to see how creative they can be.  Some of the girls went all out and decorated their journals a lot, and some went for the more simple approach.  But all in all, it was a really fun activity.

We talked about the importance of keeping a journal and about what kinds of things should be recorded.  We also talked about what would have happened if the authors of the scriptures hadn't written down their experiences.  Imagine not having the 4 gospels of the New Testament, or the writings of Nephi, King Benjamin or Alma in the Book of Mormon.  We also talked about how important our writings will be for our children and grandchildren.

Okay, on to the journal making!

Supplies needed:

• Composition notebooks
• Assorted scrapbook paper
• Scissors
• Glue (We used white school glue)
• Paper plates (For holding the glue)
• Foam brushes
• Pencils
• Stickers, ribbon, assorted embellishments 

Begin by letting each girl choose the scrapbook paper they want.  Cut the paper so there is about a half inch over hang on all 3 sides of the notebook that open.  Spread a THIN layer of glue over one of the covers of the composition notebook.  Allow it to dry for just a few seconds.  Then carefully place the paper over the notebook and press out all the bubbles.  Repeat with the back cover.

My front cover.

 Fold over and glue down the overhanging paper.  Cut another piece of scrapbook paper to fit inside the cover to hide the glued down edges.  Spread glue inside the cover and carefully place the paper inside the cover.  Repeat on the inside of the back cover.

I opted for an off white paper for the inside cover of mine.  Some of the girls used a patterned paper. 

Create a "binding" on the edge by cutting strip of paper about 3 inches wide and as long as the notebook and glue around the bound edge of the notebook.

The binding.

Add additional embellishments to make it your own.

I went for simple!

Activity Days: Cleaning the Nursery Toys

For Activity Days last month we decided to do a service project.  My partner, Mechelle, and I both have little ones that go to nursery.  And as many moms out there know, the nursery toys get gross.  Fast.  We figured they hadn't been cleaned in a while, so we worked it into our Activity Days plan.

One of the goals in the Serving Others section of the Faith in God books is to read and discuss the parable of the good Samaritan as told in Luke 10:30-37.  Plan and complete a service project that helps a family member or neighbor.  After completing the project, discuss how it helped your faith grow stronger.

We went to the church and inventoried the situation in the nursery.  And as we expected, the nursery toys hadn't been cleaned in a while.  We told the girls to look at the nursery and smell the nursery and tell us what they thought.  They thought it could use a good cleaning.  Then we discussed the parable of the good Samaritan and how it related to us as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After the lesson, we got to work.  We gave each girl a cloth and had a bucket of cleaning solution to use.  We removed each toy from the cupboard and scrubbed.  We had to change the cleaner in the bucket several times because the toys were so dirty. When all the toys were clean, we wiped down the cupboard where they are kept and also all the tables and chairs.  We then organized the toys in the cupboard.  When we finished the nursery looked and smelled great!  The girls were really excited about what they'd done.

For this activity you'll need:

• Scriptures
• Rags or cloths for cleaning toys
• A bucket with a cleaning solution that doesn't require rinsing  (That is very important since many nursery toys end up in children's mouths)

We felt like this was a great way to encourage the girls to give service and teach them how important it is.



Goals Completed:  Serving Others #1

Activity Days: Plastic Bottle Herb Planters

For our first Activity Days activity in August we made indoor plastic bottle herb planters.  It was a fun outdoor activity.  We wanted to teach the girls about the difference between using fresh and dried herbs, and how to grow them indoors so they were available year round.  We let them smell and taste the difference between fresh and dried herbs, and encouraged them to use their new basil plants when they cook with their moms.

This activity took about 30 minutes and we had something else planned to go with it that I'll share later.  To extend this to take a full hour you could let the girls decorate their planters.  Use some contact paper and stickers or glitter glue.  Just make sure that anything you use to decorate can handle a little water since it could get wet when the girls water their plants at home.

For this activity, you'll need:

• 2 liter plastic bottles
• scissors
• potting soil
• herb seedlings

Advance preparation:

For each planter, remove the label and any remaining adhesive.  Mark a line 5 inches from the bottle's base.  Using scissors or a utility knife, puncture the bottle at the mark.  Then use scissors to cut all the way around the bottle around the mark.

For the girls to do:

With the cap in place, invert the bottle's top portion and insert it into the base.  Fill it partway with soil.  Transplant the seedling, adding soil and pressing gently until the seedling is secured in the planter.

Lift out the soil filled top portion and remove the cap.  Add about 2 inches of water to the planter's base, enough to cover the lip of the inverted bottle top when you replace it.  Give the seedling some more water to help it get established, then place it in a sunny spot.  Add water as needed to the planter's base.

Goals Completed:  Alternate activity in Developing Talents
Source:  Family Fun

Activity Days Mommy Daughter Activity

I am just kicking myself right now!  We had such a fun activity last week and I forgot to take my camera along.  ARGH!  Even if I don't have any pictures to share, I'll fill you in on the fun.

We decided to hold a Mommy Daughter Dinner at a nearby picnic area and focus on modesty.  As these amazing girls transition from kids into young women, we wanted to remind them of the importance of being healthy and modest.  We served a healthy (and delicious) dinner that emphasized the 4 food groups.  After dinner we had a really great activity-modesty paper dolls.  I found some great paper doll patterns at Wendy's Activities.  We used scraps of fabric that had been donated by ward members.  The girls created their own modest fashions.  It was really fun to see how creative they were.

Picture courtesy of Wendy's Activities.

You will want to set a time limit on this activity.  Some of our girls came up with some really involved outfits.  The girls that didn't finish their 3 outfits were able to take some fabric scraps and finish at home.

We invited a member of our bishopric to speak about modesty.  He talked about how people wear uniforms to work everyday.  (Some of the girls dads are policemen, fire fighters and construction workers)  He pointed out that the uniforms and safety equipment are worn to keep their dads safe.  As young women in the gospel, their modest clothing is to help keep them safe as well.  He also spoke about how the way the girls dressed affected the young men around them.

Next, we invited the Primary president to speak.  She did a great job and was really creative in her presentation.  She brought along one of the young women (who was also her sister in law) to do a demonstration.  While she was talking about the importance of being modest, wearing well fitting clothes and sitting properly in dresses, the young woman was sitting in a skirt with her knees apart (she was wearing biker shorts under her skirt), she bent over to pick something up off the ground and her shirt came up and showed her back and the shirt she was wearing was too big and kept sliding off her shoulder.

We could hear the activity days girls whispering and in some cases gasping at the young woman.  They were shocked.  The Primary president then talked about how modesty wasn't just the clothes we wear, but also our behavior.  One of the girls even asked the Primary president if that was how they looked in primary.  They really got the message!  She ended her presentation by sharing her testimony of her love for the girls and the importance of being modest when most of the world doesn't think its important.

It ended up being a fun and spiritual activity.  We got a lot of great feedback from the moms and we felt it went over really well.

Goals completed:  Developing Talents #9 and Serving Others #7 (If you involve the girls in the planning)

Marbleized Paper Cards

This is the freshly dried cards.  After a little while in the envelopes they will flatten out and look really cute!

For our first Activity Days activity, we made Marbleized Paper thank you notes.  It was great because we passed off a goal in both the developing talents and the Serving Others sections of the book.  I found this great project at a site called Unplug Your Kids.

For this project you'll need a shallow pan that is large enough to fit the paper.  We used 9 x 13 pans.  You'll also need food coloring, cooking oil, white card stock (we used blank greeting cards that I found in the craft/scrap booking section at Walmart.  Regular paper doesn't work nearly as well.),  water and eye droppers.

Put just enough water in the pan to cover the bottom.  If the water is too deep, the color will sink if you don't work quickly enough.

Put about 1/2 tablespoon of oil and 1 teaspoon of food coloring in a glass or small bowl.  The ingredients won't mix.  Beat it hard with a fork until well blended.  Its like mixing an oil and vinegar salad dressing and will take a minute or two.

Using the dropper, place drops of colors on top of the water.  The drops will stay in a blob or maybe explode a bit.  Experiment with different colors and putting one color inside another.

When you have dots of color all over the surface of the water, use a toothpick or a fork to make patterns in the colors.  When you are happy with the designs, gently place the paper on top of the water.  Leave it for about 30 seconds or until the oil starts to show through the back of the paper.  Then gently peel the paper off of the water.  It will leave beautiful, colorful patterns on the paper.  Let the paper dry completely.  Be sure to use clean water and fresh drops of food coloring/oil for each card.

Use a lot of food coloring for a bright vibrant look, or less for a more pastel look.

To make the cards:

Since the oil soaks through the paper and leaves stains, we took cute scrapbook paper and cut it to fit inside the cards.  The girls wrote a note to someone to tell them what they appreciate and respect about them.  Then we used a glue stick to glue the notes inside the cards.

**The cards will curl and warp from the water.  But don't worry!   After a little time in an envelope they will flatten out and be beautiful!**

Goals Completed:  Serving Others #2, Developing Talents #4 or as an alternate activity.

Activity Days!!

I have been lucky enough to be assigned to be the Activity Days leader at our church.  Activity Days is a program for the 8-11 year old girls where we have fun activities twice a month and teach gospel principles along the way.  We help them earn their Faith in God award and develop their testimonies of the Savior.  Our activities center on 4 areas, Developing Talents, Serving Others, Learning and Living the Gospel and Preparing for the Young Women Program.  In addition to completing 8 goals in each area, the girls are also encouraged to pray daily, reads the scriptures regularly, pay tithing and attend church meetings regularly.  It is really a joy to get to teach these amazing girls.

So this is one more thing I get to add to my plate.  Thank goodness it's something I'm excited about and looking forward to.  What makes it even better is that I get to share the experience with 2 of my daughters, Brandee and Brinlee!  My partner and I have some really fun activities planned, so stay tuned and check back every other week for new ideas.  Most of the projects/activities would also work well to keep kiddos entertained and busy during the summer months, so keep that in mind as you read the blog!