Crack! Yum!

I have an old nutcracker - I think it came from my grandmother.  Every fall I put it out as a center choice.  I first check to be sure there are no nut allergies and make all the necessary precautions.  (With some children - it is not possible to even have the nutcracker out.)  If all is a go, I buy a variety of nuts in bulk and put them with the cracker.  The children adore it!

It provides several opportunities:

• The child has to "twist" the end that holds the nut tightly in the holder.  This exercises important fine motor muscles.
• To crack the nut, it takes a strong and intentional push down of the handle.  This takes strength and focus - both important skills.  This is a great activity for children with lots of energy!
• Finally, it provides a delicious morsel of nutmeat.  This helps the children to understand where nut meat comes from!  And, oh, how yummy!

It is nice to store the nuts in a lovely basket.  The children line up to crack nuts -so I have not made it to the basket!

Walnut People

I first saw these sweet tiny folks in a Waldorf classroom.  They are super easy to make and provide wonderful play for a crisp Autumn day!

You will need the following supplies:  a strong tacky glue, walnuts, acorn caps, 1 inch wooden balls with an 1/2 inch hole (I used what I had on hand but it is nice to pick a wooden ball in relationship to the walnuts you are using), 1 inch wooden discs and scrap pieces of woolen cloth (I used clothing from a thrift store).

Step One:  Squeeze a dollop of glue on a wooden disc.

Step Two:  Place a walnut on the disc so that it sets securely. This is the plump body!

Step Three:  Apply glue to the edge of the wooden ball and set on top of the walnut.  

This is the head. 

Step Four:  Pick out an acorn cap and apply glue to the outer rim of the cap.  

Place on top of the wooden ball as the hat.

Step Five:  Cut out a small rectangle of cloth.  

Hold it up to the walnut figure to estimate size.  I like to round the corners.  

Step Six:  Using a running stitch, gather the cloth.

Step Seven:  Tie thread around the neck of the walnut figure.  It is simple to make trees by gluing pine cones to a wooden disc.  Look for pine cones with a flat bottom.

Here's a little fellow with a cape that is not gathered.  Have fun!