Star Spangled Shelf Paper

We used the "Star Spangled Shelf Paper" to edge the table.

I was always impressed with Laura Ingalls Wilder's mama.  No matter how many places that husband of hers drug her out to, she would try to dress it up a little--even a sod house which was normally considered very temporary housing.  In one book, Laura describes her mom making her own shelf edging to make the shelves a little more attractive.  I thought this would make a nice decoration for our dessert table at our Achievement Days Country Fair.  Here's how to do it:
I used packaging paper and taped pieces of paper together as I needed to.  Then you fold the strip of paper into 1/2-inch accordion pleats.  Cut out half a star.  A star cookie cutter or printing off a star from the computer and using it as a pattern by folding it in half would work.  I also gave the according fold a scalloped look so it looked lacy.  Carefully unfold the paper and smooth it out.  Fold the edge with the stars down so that the stars hang down over the edge of the shelf.  Secure the paper on the shelf with pieces of tape if you want to.

Cornhusk Dolls

Landmark Park, Dothan, AL  2002

Members of our Junior Troop included my 9 yr. old daughter, Elise and 11 yr. old daughter Christen and a homeschool friend of Christen's.  Sidekick Bryce is working on his own cornhusk doll while the three girls demonstrate to other visitors of Landmark Park at a special event (probably Heritage or Harvest Days).  Between our homeschool group and Girl Scouts, we visited Landmark Park a lot!--usually free since we were doing some sort of service while there.  The following instructions Cornhusk Dolls can be found at Pioneer Days, by David C. King (ISBN 0439259398).

Cornhusks have a smooth side and a rough side.  Always keep the smooth side facing out.

1. If the cornhusks are green, dry them until they are straw-colored.  Place between sheets of newspaper.  Store in a warm, dry place for 5 or 6 days, or until color turns.  (Can be found in produce section of grocery store or in craft stores).
2. Cover work area with more newspapers (we used a plastic table cloth).  Soak dried husks in water for about 5 minutes before working with them.  This will make them softer and easier to shape.
3. Remove all the husks from the water and shake the water out of them.  Cover the ones you are not working with, with a damp towel.
4. Cut off the pointed tips of all the husks with craft scissors to make the shapes more alike.
5. Form the doll's head by taking a large piece of husk and folding it in half.  Stuff 3 or 4 cotton balls under the fold.  Tie a piece of heavy thread (candle wicking is good) around the husk 1 to 2 inches from the fold to create a head shape (we actually used thin pieces of cornhusks to do this).  The ends of the husks will extend several inches below the neck.
6. For the arms, cut a thin piece of husk about 7 inches long and wrap it around the 6-inch piece of wire or pipe cleaner.  Fold back the tips of the husk at each end of the wire.  Tie them with the thread at the wrists to form hands.  (You can omit the pipe cleaner/wire--they can be made without this).
7. Slide the husk-covered wire between the two halves of the husk below the figure's head to form the arms, one on each side of the body.  Carefully bend the arms into any position you wish.
8. Tie a piece of thread around the doll's waist.  Stuff 2 or 3 cotton balls between the husks to fill out the torso.
9. For a full skirt, place 3 or 4 husks around the doll's waist, but point the husks up, so that they extend above the figure's head.  Tie the husks around the waist with thread, then fold them down over the tied thread to created the skin.
10. If you would like, glue a little corn silk to the head for hair and use felt-tip pens to add facial features--eyes, eyebrows, nose, and mouth.  (I prefer not to do step 10 and leave them more natural).

making the skirt

how I like to leave the dolls

Here is the simplest version for making Cornhusk Dolls found in the Nov/Dec '98 CopyCat Magazine, p. 11.  See my post for homeschoolers or teachers of K-3rd graders: http://homemakersjournal.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/native-american-culture-activities-for-kids/indian0018/

Native American Culture Activities for Kids

Any time I can include food in teaching I try to do it--so here's my attempt.  This is so wonderful to eat. When I lived out west (Colorado and Utah) they served something similar to this (a yeast bread) and called it scones.  It was served with honey butter.

Fry Bread
Vegetable oil for frying
1 c. self-rising flour
1/2 c. hot water
In a heavy skillet, heat about 1/2-inch vegetable oil over medium-high heat.  In a medium bowl, combine flour and hot water.  Blend well.  (Mixture will be sticky.)  Turn out on a lightly floured surface.  Turn once to coat with flour.  Knead dough until smooth, about 10 turns.  Roll out to about 1/8- to 1/4-inch thickness.  Cut into squares.  Stretch each square slightly.  Fry to light golden brown on one side.  Turn and brown on other side. Makes 6 to 8 fry breads.

Two Favorites from My Library:
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush (0590447068), retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Indian Legends Unit
Legend of the Indian Paintbrush Lesson
About the Book

The First Dog (0590994433), written and illustrated by Jan Brett
Book-Related Activities
Teaching with Jan Brett Books

The shown badge (top) was left over from a Girl Scout Activity Day long-since over when I became the troop leader.  I decided to do a Native American homeschool unit with my three children to use up the leftover badges.  We often went to the Kolomoki Mounds State Park in nearby Blakely, Georgia so our interest in Native American history was already peaked.

They have camping facilities, but we mostly liked to go to their museum which featured an open mound.  My kids liked it so much they made their own replica of the inside of an Native American mound.

One of the activities for our badge was to make a Native American musical instrument.  So we made drums and drew "Indian-like" drawings on them.

The kids enjoyed making tepees--instructions are included in the unit below.

Go to http://homemakersjournal.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/native-american-culture-activities-for-kids/ to find the appendix to this unit.

Origami Earrings

Elise made these for me as a gift.

Here's a fun activity that my daughters enjoyed when they were in their tweens.  One summer I bought the book and materials for them and they did this completely on their own!  The book is, Friendship Origami, by Jill Smolinski (ISBN 0737398590)

Art Badge Camp

Our Temporary Art Gallery

In the South, the advent of summer vacation is always marked by church posters advertising VBS ... Vacation Bible School. You can't miss it--they're everywhere! I can remember one summer, as a little girl, walking with my cousins to the nearest church to attend Vacation Bible School. VBS is mostly given in the evenings these days, but back then, there were enough homemakers sufficient to provide it during the daytime.  

For the most part I enjoyed the experience and many times when my children were young, I wondered why the LDS didn't do something "like unto it." So one summer, as I was helping with Cub Scouts and Webelos, I offered to put on an "Art Camp" in order to get through a pretty involved Cub Scout Art Badge. I think it was only two or three days, and I had one other mom as a helper. I think we did pizza one day, and they brought their lunches the other days.  

Most of the boys pictured are wearing one of their first art projects: screen-printing t-shirts. Of course our's say "Scout Art Camp." Each boy brought their own t-shirts and I had plenty of paints left over from past Girl Scout projects. These shirts made good art smocks so their clothes stayed clean.