Summer in Canada happens in a flash, before you know it we’ll all be huddled up in winter coats taking shelter from icy winds and blowing snow.
Before that happens we are taking advantage of summer at the Canola Learning Centre by getting outside as much as possible with outdoor kid’s crafts. Fun and affordable activities for the kids to enjoy while soaking up their vitamin D in the sun.
Body Art
Kids love painting on tattoos and making a mess. Here is a great way to use up all of your old and partial crayons. The kids are going to have a blast and no worries because the cleanup is easy with some soap and water!
Ingredients:
1 muffin pan
6 baking cups
1 of each coloured crayon, any brand, unwrapped.
½ cup canola oil, divided (125 mL)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 200oF (100oC)
- Line a muffin pan with baking cups, one for each colour you wish to make. Break unwrapped crayons into smaller pieces and place in the baking cups.
- Place muffin pan in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until crayons are melted. Be very careful taking the pan out of the oven.
- Working with one colour at a time, add 1 tsp of canola oil to one baking cup. Stir until the canola oil is completely absorbed by the melted crayon. Add another 1tsp (5 mL) of canola oil to the same baking cup and stir until completely absorbed.
- Repeat step 4 until each crayon colour has had 2 tsp (10 mL) of canola oil added. Let cool.
- Start painting using your finger or a paint brush!
TIP: Try adding glitter! After you add the canola oil to your muffin cup, add in ¼ tsp (1 mL) of glitter and stir.
Fireworks
A fan favourite. Simple and inexpensive enough to do over and over again!
Ingredients:
1 tall clear glass (14 oz/400g)
Water
2 Tbsp canola oil (30 mL)
Food colouring
Directions:
- Fill the tall glass almost to the top with room-temperature water.
- Add canola oil to the glass and let the water and oil completely separate.
- Add a few drops of food colouring to the glass. You can use any colour combination or stick with one colour.
- Watch and wait until the food colouring sinks in the glass!
Bug Repellent
It can be hard to enjoy the fantastic weather we are having when there are pesky mosquitoes and flies biting us. This is an easy recipe kids can make and wear to repel bugs.
Ingredients:
10-25 drops essential oil of choice – the best essential oils to use to repel mosquitoes and flies are: lemon grass oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil and peppermint oil. They smell great too!
2 Tbsp canola oil (30 mL)
Directions:
Mix Ingredients in a spray bottle or container. The bug repellent can be sprayed on or applied as lotion.
Order Craft for Kids
Order a copy of Crafts for Kids that you can take on the go and use to plan your next crafty adventure!
Be Well…Megan Ellis
Megan is a seed farmer, English student and lover of food.
She is passionate about creating connections between the farm and our everyday lives.
The way to her heart is through bad puns, cute animals and rare steak.
Get to know her @Meganellisfarms.
