Here is the great info that Kristelle Hampton shared with us...
1-We just got back website that has a list of 38 ideas of fun things to do and helpful tips while on a road trip with your kids…
This is the link… http://www.wejustgotback.com/default.aspx?mod=tips_road
2-Momsminivan.com is another website with 101 ideas, articles and tips but some of these are links to items for purchase on Amazon etc…
These are the ideas that I used …
3-Road Trip Scavenger Hunt-
These can be found all over the web but the one I used is this… I liked it because it also has one with pictures for younger kids that don’t read.
http://www.momsminivan.com/scavenger.html
4-Licence plate game with a map of the USA –
I gave each of my kids a map of the USA. They would color in the states as we see them. This version of the game gives them a really good sense of our country's geography. Plus, I got into it too… Way Fun!
http://www.coloringcastle.com/pdfs/us_states/united_states_state_names.pdf
Licence plate bingo – This one could be fun but my kids got way more into the previous game.
http://www.scholastic.com/play/print/license_print.htm
5-Disney Character Coloring Pages-
They have any character you’re little ones love and admire! (…Except my daughter’s favorite… Tinkerbell!)
I just did a search for “Tinkerbell printable coloring pages” and there were plenty to choose from.
http://disney.go.com/magicartist/coloring/index.html
6-Discovery Education's Puzzlemaker provides you with the tool to create customized puzzles! It’s awesome… all you have to do to make a word search puzzle is type in the words and it does the rest… just print it and enjoy! It has a whole list of different puzzles you can make to any theme you want… word search, crossword puzzles, mazes, cryptograms, hidden messages etc… Of course, the ones I made, I used Disney characters names and all Disney themes! So FUN! Go try it out… the best part is it’s FREE!
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/
These are a few ideas that I wanted to use but maybe next time…
(These are from the “We just got back” website)
7-Pipe cleaners- Here is another idea for a creative car ride. Buy a package of pipe cleaners in assorted colors from any craft store. They can make necklaces, swords, bracelets, towers—anything their little minds can think up.
8-My kids are always squabbling in the back of the car. Give them each a roll of low-tack masking tape and tell them they can build a divider between themselves, right down the middle of the back seat. Soon, they will be busy and giggling and they will end up with a tremendous wall of tape. When you get to your destination, the wall will come down in one fell swoop. No muss, no fuss.
9-Load my iPod with free audio stories for children from Storynory. Something “just for them” and stories that are age-appropriate. http://storynory.com/
For older kids you can get audio books… We have done Harry Potter before.
After I found and printed all the things I wanted, I stapled it together for each child and then put it on their own basic clipboard that I found cheaply at WalMart for $1.50 each. This was a perfect idea as it was very inexpensive, gave them something hard to write on, easy for them to keep in the pocket in front of them or down the side of the seat, kept it all together …nice and tidy and didn’t take up much room! Isn’t the internet grand?
If you have any questions feel free to call or email me… Kristelle Hampton 801-768-8863 kristelle@segamer.com
Friday, June 25, 2010
Rockhounding Fun..
Here is all the great information Jenni Campbell shared with us about her family rock hunting tradition! Good stuff....
How to get there: From the southern edge of Tooele, travel south on State Highway 36 about 31 miles to the town of Vernon. Continue on highway 36 an additional 4 1/2 miles until you reach a dirt road adjacent to and west of the railroad tracks. Turn north (left) onto the dirt road and travel next to the railroad tracks for 1.7 miles until the road curves to the northwest. From the curve, travel 0.4 miles to the end of the road.
http://www.millardcounty.com/index.htm
Fossil Mountain is one of the better places in the Western US to find a variety of shells and other invertebrate fossils. On this mountain it is easy to find shale rock containing large numbers of fossils. From Delta, drive southwest on US Hwy 6/50 for about 51 miles to the road leading south through Blind Valley. Follow that road southwest and then south for 12.5 miles to a spur which heads southwest to the north side of Fossil Mountain. From the turnoff you can clearly see the mountain. The spur road leads into a wash that defines the north edge of the mountain. Drive to the end of the spur road and then start looking for fossils in the wash and on the mountainside.
The Painter Springs area offers garnets, pyrite, muscovite, quarts and other interesting rocks. It is located just northwest of Notch Peak. Follow US Hwy 6/50 west from Delta for about 54 miles to the Painter Springs Road. Follow it north about 12.89 miles to a spur road that goes east. Follow the spur for one mile to a fork where you stay left. Continue almost another mile to the end of the road. You'll be in the mouth of a canyon, near the springs. Work the canyon bottom and foothills for specimens.
Agate Hill offers excellent agate in many colors. To get to the hill, drive northeast from Delta on US Hwy 6/50 to the Brush Wellman Road (about 11 miles). Follow that road west as if you were going to Topaz Mountain. When you have gone 31 miles you'll come to a road that heads southwest. Follow it for about 3 miles, to where a dirt road forks south. Follow the dirt road for 1.4 miles to its end. Agate is scattered over the top of the large hill to the west.
Coves along the east side of Topaz Mountain contain garnets. From the Weiss Road, drive north along the east side of the mountain for about 2.5 miles and look for the coves.
Apache tears can be found off the south west side of Topaz Mountain.
Obsidian can be found west of Black Rock. Drive Hwy 257 south from Deseret for about 43 miles, until you come to a sign identifying a road that heads east. To Kanosh. Turn east onto the dirt road and travel about 6 miles to the sign for Black Spring. Turn right onto the Black Spring dirt road and park in the open area by the watering trough. Obsidian can be found all around that area. Most pieces are black but some reddish-brown and snowflake obsidian can be found.
Denderite can be found in the Antelope Springs area. Oxide patterns color these rocks to make them look like plant fossils. Find then along a wash about 2 miles south of the U-Dig fossil site. (From Delta go west on US Hwy 6/50 for about 32 miles to the signed road leading to U-Dig. Follow that road 17 miles to the Denderite site.
People work old abandoned mining claims for placer gold, and people actually find small quantities. The effort is mostly centered on old claims in the Amasa Valley, southwest of Marjum Canyon.
Many other spots also offer good rockhounding opportunities. Inquire locally for ideas and directions.
Trilobites
Trilobite fossils are extremely popular with collectors. They are from an extinct group of arthropods that lived from the early Cambrian Period until near the end of the Permian Period. These hard-shelled prehistoric animals lived on the sea floors and reefs for millions of years. They developed into complex and beautiful animals, resulting in a variety of fossil-types.
The Antelope Springs area in Millard County is one of the best places on earth to find trilobite fossils. There are both public and private quarries, so make sure you know where you are. The private quarries are well marked. These private areas charge a fee to dig in their quarries, but can almost guarantee that you will find trilobites.
For more information on the private quarries,
contact information is listed below:
U-Dig Fossils
P.O. Box 1113
350 East 300 South
Delta, Utah 84624
(435) 864-3638
(435) 864-4294 FAX
http://www.u-digfossils.com
E-mail: udig@xmission.com
A New Dig, Inc.
P.O. Box 122
Hinckley UT, 84635
435-864-3691
www.anewdiginc.com
E-mail: anewdiginc@frontiernet.net
Topaz Mountain
Topaz, Utah's state gem, is a semiprecious gemstone that occurs as very hard, transparent crystals in a variety of colors. The topaz crystals at Topaz Mountain are naturally amber colored, but become colorless after exposure to sunlight. The crystals formed within cavities of the Topaz Mountain Rhyolite, a volcanic rock which erupted approximately six to seven million years ago (Tertiary Period) from volcanic vents along faults in the area.
How to get there: From Nephi, Utah, travel 33 miles southwest on State Highway 132 to Lynndyl. Turn south on U.S. Highway 6 and drive for approximately five miles. Turn west on the Brush Wellman road and travel 38 miles until you reach the Topaz Mountain sign. Turn north on the dirt road and drive about two miles, then turn west toward Topaz Mountain.
Useful maps: Utah highway map, Lynndyl and Fish Springs 1:100,000-scale topographic maps, Topaz Mountain East 7.5-minute topographic map, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Recreation and Vehicle Guide to the House Range Resource Area map.
Topographic maps can be obtained from:
Natural Resources Map & Bookstore
1594 North Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
(801) 537-3320 or 1-888-UTAH MAP
Bureau of Land Management maps are available from:
BLM Utah Office
324 South State
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
(801) 539-4001
Sunstone Knoll
Hunting and collecting sunstones glittering in the sun atop Sunstone Knoll is a great way to spend an afternoon, especially with kids. Some of the sunstones (golden labradorite) are the size of small fingernails. Others are larger and yellow in color.
Golden labradorite is believed to increase inner strength, vitality, courage, mental clarity, endurance and spiritual focus. The sunstones are easy to find on sunny days. Otherwise, dig where others have, and look for rocks holding the crystals within hollow cavities by cracking them open.
Sunstone Knoll is about 11 miles south of Deseret, just east of Hwy. 257. Turn left over the railroad track, then follow the road about one-quarter mile onto the knoll.
The sunstone here is a transparent, yellowish labradorite (a plagioclase feldspar mineral) found as crystals in volcanic rocks and on the flats surrounding the knoll.
Fossil Mountain Location Map
From Delta, drive southwest on US Hwy 6/50 for about 51 miles to the road leading south through Blind Valley. Follow that road southwest and then south for 12.5 miles to a spur which heads west to the north side of Fossil Mountain. From the turnoff you can clearly see the mountain. The spur road leads into a wash that defines the north edge of the mountain. Drive to the end of the spur road and then start looking for fossils in the wash and on the mountainside.
Agate Hill Location Map
Drive northeast from Delta on US Hwy 6/50 to the Brush Wellman Road (about 11 miles). Follow that road west as if you were going to Topaz Mountain.
When you have gone 31 miles you will come to a road that heads southwest. Follow it for about 3 miles, to where a dirt road forks south. Follow the dirt road for 1.4 miles to its end.
Elephant Rock
You can almost imagine a trip to the Middle East as you travel along US Highways 50 & 6 in King's Canyon. The geologic formations in and near the Canyon resemble the Rub al-Khali Desert of Saudi Arabia.
About 60 miles west of Hinckley on the south side of the highway as you ascend King's Canyon is Elephant Rock, which is a natural stone arch. You won't miss it, if you watch for an elm tree on the right. A pullover area is provided, and looking to the south you will see the arch, which marks the entrance to Cat Canyon. The arch looks similar to an Indian elephant with a howdah (an overgrown saddle used to carry one or two people on the back of an elephant or a camel) on its back.
Continue traveling west across the top of King's Pass, and you will see a natural, step-pyramid on the right much like the one built by Pharaoh Djoser at Saqqara in Egypt. It is across the highway from a pull-over area.
Great Stone Face
Many Mormons see an uncanny resemblance of this naturally carved formation to profile pictures of church founder Joseph Smith. To reach this natural wonder, take State Highway 257 past Old Fort Deseret approximately three miles to a marker. Once there, turn west on a gravel road and travel for approximately six miles to the north edge of the black lava beds. The formation is approximately 35 feet tall.
Topaz Relocation Site
The internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry during WWII was one of the worst violations of civil rights in the history of the United States. The government and the U.S. Army, citing "military necessity", locked up over 110,000 men, women, and children in 10 remote camps. These Americans were never convicted or even charged with any crime, yet were incarcerated for up to four years in prison camps surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. One such internment camp was Topaz, located near Abraham, Utah.
The story of these camps has become better known, particularly since President George H. Bush issued a formal apology and token monetary compensation to all former internees in 1990. However, the events and causes of this tragic page in history must never be forgotten. If we can understand what occurred and why, we can insure that a similar denial of civil rights will never happen to any future generation of Americans.
This Topaz Museum website contains information about the Topaz Relocation Site. It also lists other resources (books, organizations, websites) that contain additional information about internment. This site is sponsored by the Topaz Museum, a non-profit, volunteer organization whose purpose is to preserve the history of Topaz.
Take the Sutherland road from Delta and follow the signs to the Topaz Relocation Camp Site about three miles northwest of Abraham.
This news article describes our Pilgrimage to the Topaz site:
-- Hundreds help dedicate Topaz as a history landmark by Tiffany Erickson. Deseret Morning News. July 01, 2007
For more information, contact:
Topaz Museum
P.O. Box 241
Delta, UT 84624
http://www.topazmuseum.org
Wonderstone in the Vernon Hills, Tooele County
|
|
Where to collect: Piles of wonderstone are located near the end of the road. A private mining claim is in this area so do not collect on any marked claims or rock piles showing signs of recent mining activity.
http://geology.utah.gov/
June Family Fun...
Jenni Campbell had so many great ideas at the summer fun RS meeting that we can't post them all in one post. Every month we will post her activities for the month. None of us should have bored kids with all this info! :)
JUNE FAMILY FUN
June is the sixth month. In the early Roman calendar, June was the fourth month of the year and had 29 days. Julius Caesar reformed the calendar and gave June another day and moved it to the 6th month of the year. Some believe the Romans named June after Juno, the patron goddess of marriage. The month of June was dedicated to the young men of Rome and some people believe that the name was taken from juniores, the Latin word for young men.
Flower: ROSE Birthstone: PEARL, ALEXANDRITE, & MOONSTONE
1 Brigham Young was born in 1801. Have a pioneer day activity for family home evening. Play old fashioned games, make homemade ice cream and dutch oven cook or cook over an open fire.
Kentucky became the 15th state in 1792. Gather broomsticks or stickhorses and have a Kentucky Derby. Kentucky is famous for it’s beautiful Bluegrass so have a picnic on the lawn.
Tennessee became the 16th state in 1796. Gather the family together and learn how to do the Tennessee Waltz.
2 Swing Day: Go to a park and swing on the swings.
3 Play summer games this day such as hopscotch, 4-square, jacks, marbles and jump rope.
4 Drive-In Movie Day:
5 World Environment Day: Help improve your surrounding environment by going on a trash trek around your yard and neighborhood. Everyone is equipped with a trash bag and a willing heart to pick up as much litter as they can. The person with the most gets a large candy bar. The others are rewarded as well. Don’t forget to throw the wrappers in the garbage can!!!
National yo-yo day: All of you try to yo-yo. Who can do the most tricks with theirs? Who can yo-yo the longest?
6 Baseball Day: Baseball is the game for summer. Gather the neighborhood together and go play a game of baseball or go watch a game at the park. Be sure to discuss the safety rules of the sport and have fun.
7
8 Robert Schumman, a German composer, was born in 1810. Check out some of his music.
Frank Lloyd Wright was born this day. He was a famous architect. Go for a walking tour of down town buildings. Notice the design and structure of these buildings. Which one is your favorite and why?
9 George Stephenson was born 1781 in England. He was an inventor and known as the father of the railways. Take a train ride if you can or go watch the trains at the depot.
Donald Duck’s Birthday today. Go to a park or area where you know there are ducks to feed cracked corn or bread. Go on a swimming outing at the park. Be sure to take some duck feet (fins) and have a swimming relay. Rent a Donald Duck movie, and of course have a quacking contest.
Cole Porter, and American composer, was born in 1893.
10
11 Richard Strauss was born 1864 in Germany.
12
13 William Butler Yeats, an Irish poet, was born in 1865. Read some of his works.
14 Flag Day: Think about the things that you enjoy as a citizen of the United States. Be sure to display a flag on this day. Can everyone recite the pledge of allegiance? Wear red, white and blue today. Eat foods that are red, white and blue. Make a flag cake. Look up other countries flags. Make double pictures of them on 3x5 cards and play a game of concentration. Design and make a family flag.
15 Smile Power Day: Be sure to smile to all family members and those you meet this day. See what power a smile has. It surely brightens up the day of all who sees one.
Arkansas became the 25th state in 1836.
Edvard Grieg, Norwegian composer, was born in 1843.
16 Charles Goodyear was granted a patent for rubber vulcanization. Go for a ride in your car that has those vulcanized rubber tires on.
17
18 Charles Eames was born this day. He was a designer of chairs that were useful and nice looking. Everyone find their favorite chair. Explain why you like the chair you picked.
19 Blaise Pascal, French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist was born in 1623. Have a Math and Science Day. Do all kinds of math activities even when you cook your meals for the day with the kids. Go to a science museum or do some science experiments together.
20 West Virginia became the 35th state in 1863.
Jacques Offenbach, a composer, was born in 1819.
21
22 Julian Huxley was born on this day in 1887. He was a British biologist
June Bug Day: Look for all kinds of bugs that are out in the month of June. See if you can really find a June Bug. They are large brown beetles. Collect them in a bug jar and then be sure to let them go after studying them. Make a notebook of the bugs you all saw and draw pictures of them. See if you can find out the names of them and label your drawings. What interesting fact can you put down for each little critter? Make gumdrop bugs out of gumdrops, pretzels and licorice.
23 Wake Up Early Day: Wake up before the sun comes up. Ride to a place up a canyon or the foothills where you can watch the sun come up. Notice what the sky looks like. Have an early bird breakfast.
24
25
26 Pearl Buck was born this day. She was a novelist. Visit the library today and check out a book that you want to read.
27 Helen Keller was born in 1880. Go blind for an hour. Put blindfolds on and see how it feels.
28 Peter Paul Rubens, Flemish painter, was born in 1577.
29
30
OTHER ACTIVITIES FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE:
Father’s Day: Third Sunday in June. Be sure to make Dad feel your gratitude.
20th or 21st is the First day of Summer: Do a Family Olympics. Make medals out of Kerr lids for canning fruit.
Go on a Rose Walk: Walk several blocks and look at all the rose bushes that bloom in June. Keep track of the different colors and varieties of roses that you see.
Play the game, “I’ll always remember the time when….” with family members. Make sure they are positive and fun memories.
Have a Courtesy Week: Talk about good manners and how to be courteous. See if everyone can earn a Courtesy Crown.
National Rivers Month: Spend a day picking up a bag of trash along a river bank path with your family. If the water is clean and safe, take a picnic lunch and go wading or floating in an inner tube. Look up on a map as to how far the river flows from beginning to end.
Fresh Fruits Month: Go to a farmers market or fruit and vegetable stand and purchase fresh produce to eat for the days or weeks ahead.
Dairy Month: Eat plenty of dairy foods throughout this month.
30 Things to do in June:
Go swing on some swings.
Visit a museum.
Pick fresh berries.
Grill Campfire Pizzas---Frozen pizza dough, Spaghetti sauce, cheese and toppings. Everyone makes their own. Grill it on the barbecue grill outside.
Draw chalk drawings on the sidewalk.
Go visit a farm.
Make large bubble wands out of coat hangers, and wrap cotton twine around the hoop which acts as a soap-holding wick. The bubble solution is made out of 2 cups of Dawn or Joy dish soap , 6 cups of water and ¾ cup of corn syrup.
Go to a place in your state that holds their town celebration in June.
Hold a star gazing party with your family. This means going on an overnighter away from the city lights. Take binoculars and telescopes if you have some.
Have a watermelon seed spitting contest.
Grow something big in a family garden---sunflowers, pumpkins, squash, etc.
Set up a treasure hunt for the family.
Go on a family hike. Take water and trail mix to munch on.
Have a neighborhood pet show.
Go swimming and of course floating in the Great Salt Lake.
Bake a cake. Make it look like a sun.
Gather summer treasures and put in a box. (Rocks, shells, pinecones, etc.) Share your findings at the end of June with the family.
Take pictures of your summer fun together.
Grow some tomatoes.
Make a hideout or clubhouse in your yard.
Search a map of Utah. Pick out a place you have never been or a place that you would like to visit. Make family plans to go there and spend some time.
Have breakfast outside. Set up a breakfast bar with juice, milk, fresh fruit, granola, etc. Let the birds provide the music at this outing.
Watch the early birds catch the worms. After watering the lawn in the evening, get up early the next day to watch the birds digging for worms.
Weave a crown of daisies.
Stage a play.
Have a planned water fight.
Make up an obstacle course.
Make strawberry shortcake.
Have an ice cream social. Make homemade Ice cream and serve to family and friends.
Strike up a backyard band.
JUNE FAMILY FUN
June is the sixth month. In the early Roman calendar, June was the fourth month of the year and had 29 days. Julius Caesar reformed the calendar and gave June another day and moved it to the 6th month of the year. Some believe the Romans named June after Juno, the patron goddess of marriage. The month of June was dedicated to the young men of Rome and some people believe that the name was taken from juniores, the Latin word for young men.
Flower: ROSE Birthstone: PEARL, ALEXANDRITE, & MOONSTONE
1 Brigham Young was born in 1801. Have a pioneer day activity for family home evening. Play old fashioned games, make homemade ice cream and dutch oven cook or cook over an open fire.
Kentucky became the 15th state in 1792. Gather broomsticks or stickhorses and have a Kentucky Derby. Kentucky is famous for it’s beautiful Bluegrass so have a picnic on the lawn.
Tennessee became the 16th state in 1796. Gather the family together and learn how to do the Tennessee Waltz.
2 Swing Day: Go to a park and swing on the swings.
3 Play summer games this day such as hopscotch, 4-square, jacks, marbles and jump rope.
4 Drive-In Movie Day:
5 World Environment Day: Help improve your surrounding environment by going on a trash trek around your yard and neighborhood. Everyone is equipped with a trash bag and a willing heart to pick up as much litter as they can. The person with the most gets a large candy bar. The others are rewarded as well. Don’t forget to throw the wrappers in the garbage can!!!
National yo-yo day: All of you try to yo-yo. Who can do the most tricks with theirs? Who can yo-yo the longest?
6 Baseball Day: Baseball is the game for summer. Gather the neighborhood together and go play a game of baseball or go watch a game at the park. Be sure to discuss the safety rules of the sport and have fun.
7
8 Robert Schumman, a German composer, was born in 1810. Check out some of his music.
Frank Lloyd Wright was born this day. He was a famous architect. Go for a walking tour of down town buildings. Notice the design and structure of these buildings. Which one is your favorite and why?
9 George Stephenson was born 1781 in England. He was an inventor and known as the father of the railways. Take a train ride if you can or go watch the trains at the depot.
Donald Duck’s Birthday today. Go to a park or area where you know there are ducks to feed cracked corn or bread. Go on a swimming outing at the park. Be sure to take some duck feet (fins) and have a swimming relay. Rent a Donald Duck movie, and of course have a quacking contest.
Cole Porter, and American composer, was born in 1893.
10
11 Richard Strauss was born 1864 in Germany.
12
13 William Butler Yeats, an Irish poet, was born in 1865. Read some of his works.
14 Flag Day: Think about the things that you enjoy as a citizen of the United States. Be sure to display a flag on this day. Can everyone recite the pledge of allegiance? Wear red, white and blue today. Eat foods that are red, white and blue. Make a flag cake. Look up other countries flags. Make double pictures of them on 3x5 cards and play a game of concentration. Design and make a family flag.
15 Smile Power Day: Be sure to smile to all family members and those you meet this day. See what power a smile has. It surely brightens up the day of all who sees one.
Arkansas became the 25th state in 1836.
Edvard Grieg, Norwegian composer, was born in 1843.
16 Charles Goodyear was granted a patent for rubber vulcanization. Go for a ride in your car that has those vulcanized rubber tires on.
17
18 Charles Eames was born this day. He was a designer of chairs that were useful and nice looking. Everyone find their favorite chair. Explain why you like the chair you picked.
19 Blaise Pascal, French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist was born in 1623. Have a Math and Science Day. Do all kinds of math activities even when you cook your meals for the day with the kids. Go to a science museum or do some science experiments together.
20 West Virginia became the 35th state in 1863.
Jacques Offenbach, a composer, was born in 1819.
21
22 Julian Huxley was born on this day in 1887. He was a British biologist
June Bug Day: Look for all kinds of bugs that are out in the month of June. See if you can really find a June Bug. They are large brown beetles. Collect them in a bug jar and then be sure to let them go after studying them. Make a notebook of the bugs you all saw and draw pictures of them. See if you can find out the names of them and label your drawings. What interesting fact can you put down for each little critter? Make gumdrop bugs out of gumdrops, pretzels and licorice.
23 Wake Up Early Day: Wake up before the sun comes up. Ride to a place up a canyon or the foothills where you can watch the sun come up. Notice what the sky looks like. Have an early bird breakfast.
24
25
26 Pearl Buck was born this day. She was a novelist. Visit the library today and check out a book that you want to read.
27 Helen Keller was born in 1880. Go blind for an hour. Put blindfolds on and see how it feels.
28 Peter Paul Rubens, Flemish painter, was born in 1577.
29
30
OTHER ACTIVITIES FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE:
Father’s Day: Third Sunday in June. Be sure to make Dad feel your gratitude.
20th or 21st is the First day of Summer: Do a Family Olympics. Make medals out of Kerr lids for canning fruit.
Go on a Rose Walk: Walk several blocks and look at all the rose bushes that bloom in June. Keep track of the different colors and varieties of roses that you see.
Play the game, “I’ll always remember the time when….” with family members. Make sure they are positive and fun memories.
Have a Courtesy Week: Talk about good manners and how to be courteous. See if everyone can earn a Courtesy Crown.
National Rivers Month: Spend a day picking up a bag of trash along a river bank path with your family. If the water is clean and safe, take a picnic lunch and go wading or floating in an inner tube. Look up on a map as to how far the river flows from beginning to end.
Fresh Fruits Month: Go to a farmers market or fruit and vegetable stand and purchase fresh produce to eat for the days or weeks ahead.
Dairy Month: Eat plenty of dairy foods throughout this month.
30 Things to do in June:
Go swing on some swings.
Visit a museum.
Pick fresh berries.
Grill Campfire Pizzas---Frozen pizza dough, Spaghetti sauce, cheese and toppings. Everyone makes their own. Grill it on the barbecue grill outside.
Draw chalk drawings on the sidewalk.
Go visit a farm.
Make large bubble wands out of coat hangers, and wrap cotton twine around the hoop which acts as a soap-holding wick. The bubble solution is made out of 2 cups of Dawn or Joy dish soap , 6 cups of water and ¾ cup of corn syrup.
Go to a place in your state that holds their town celebration in June.
Hold a star gazing party with your family. This means going on an overnighter away from the city lights. Take binoculars and telescopes if you have some.
Have a watermelon seed spitting contest.
Grow something big in a family garden---sunflowers, pumpkins, squash, etc.
Set up a treasure hunt for the family.
Go on a family hike. Take water and trail mix to munch on.
Have a neighborhood pet show.
Go swimming and of course floating in the Great Salt Lake.
Bake a cake. Make it look like a sun.
Gather summer treasures and put in a box. (Rocks, shells, pinecones, etc.) Share your findings at the end of June with the family.
Take pictures of your summer fun together.
Grow some tomatoes.
Make a hideout or clubhouse in your yard.
Search a map of Utah. Pick out a place you have never been or a place that you would like to visit. Make family plans to go there and spend some time.
Have breakfast outside. Set up a breakfast bar with juice, milk, fresh fruit, granola, etc. Let the birds provide the music at this outing.
Watch the early birds catch the worms. After watering the lawn in the evening, get up early the next day to watch the birds digging for worms.
Weave a crown of daisies.
Stage a play.
Have a planned water fight.
Make up an obstacle course.
Make strawberry shortcake.
Have an ice cream social. Make homemade Ice cream and serve to family and friends.
Strike up a backyard band.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
How can I help my Children or Grandchildren grow Spiritually this summer?
Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes. – David Bednar, October 2009
Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home. – L. Tom Perry, April 2010
Websites:
http:// friend.lds.org
Coloring Pages
Play Games
Art contest
Writing contest- for Pioneer day (due June 15)
Scripture Radio Story Series
Make Flannel Board stories from the pictures available
http://lds.org
Mormon Channel that has various things to listen to.
Take talks and see how you can implement them into your family activities
Download talks or music for the travel
U Tube Mormon Messages –
Talk about what is learned from the message
Share it with a friend-then explain what it means to you
Make your own message for family home evening
Non- Digital Activities:
Act out Scripture Stories
Dress up as the characters
Make a Puppet show
Let it be a fun activity for the kids and help them understand the principles of the story
Keep a regular routine of Scripture Study-
Once in a while do it at a different place like the top of a mountain or by a special stream. Etc.
Let all the kids take turns reading so that everyone is involved.
Write down what you have learned in your readings.
Write testimony in a Book of Mormon and take with you to give away when you are on vacation.
Memorize a favorite scripture or hymn and recite it every morning or night.
For Young Children- don’t forget the scripture readers.
Help everyone keep a journal of the spiritual things that happened to them everyday or maybe every week.
Work on family scrapbooks. If they are simple even young children can help
Take a picture everyday of what you have done and record how you feel. It helps increase the closeness of the family.
Have a quiet time every afternoon. [see also # 8 for additional ideas- you could do one on each day of the week]
Listen to church music
Read the scriptures on your own or another inspiring book
Write in your journal
Write Letters to loved ones that are far away.
Provident Living
Let the older children figure out what the family needs to be prepared and help organize it and plan how to accomplish it.
Plant a Garden then work together and share testimonies as you are in the garden.
Let them have their own plot to take care of.
Make it fun and interesting and make sure they understand that all things in nature come from God.
Service – children learn to love others by serving them.
Have a secret service in your family- like you might at Christmas time with a special activity after you have filled a chart with happy faces.
Do a Chore for yourself and one for each member of the family. Especially good for young children.
Let them plan a service project for the family to help someone else. (These are most effective when they can see the fruit of their labors and when they are really serving other people)
A grandparent
A neighbor
A community group-( Be selective with the age and temperament of your children but remember they are more resilient than you think)
Retirement Home
Shelter- Women’s or Homeless (remember you will not actually be able to go to the women’s shelter but they always need items to help)
Hospitals
Schools
Prison
Humanitarian- This is always needed and you can call Salt Lake to see what they need the most. If you choose to do this you might want to let the kids help earn the money to pay for it.
For older families you might consider a service vacation.
Have Sunday Round Robins- (Set up Sunday Stations that the kids can rotate with various activities. This idea came from the LDSLiving Magazine.)
Listening Station (age appropriate)
Joseph Smith Dramatization
Primary Music and Hymns
Scripture Stories, Scripture Scouts
Homemade Tapes
John Bytheway
Reading Station
Friend, New Era, Ensign Magazines
Illustrated Stories from Scriptures
Scriptures
Writing Station
Paper to write or draw what grateful for or what learned in Church that day.
Stickers, pencils etc.
Booklets to make or draw in
Journals
Letter writing supplies
letters to grandma
thank you notes
Christmas cards
Surprise Station
Craft from Friend
DVD to watch
Play a family game
Go on a walk together
Customize for a holiday
Expand one of the other stations for special occasion.
Fieldtrips: (To make a Fieldtrip more meaningful, you need to prepare ahead of time for what you will see or do there. For Example: at the SLC Cemetery you could have the kids look up some information about each of the prophets and have them tell about each of the prophets at their grave site. You will also need a map of the cemetery where the prophets are buried.) Any Activity can be a spiritual activity.
Museum of Church History and Art (Mon. through Fri.: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Sat. and Sun. 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, free)
Church History Library-(Mon,Tues,Wed, Fri: 9:00am to 5:00 p.m.; Thurs 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Sat 9:00am to 2:00 pm, free) Not for young children but through the website they do have an overland database of pioneers that came to Utah.
Family History Library- (probably not for really young children)
does have a small display on the second floor
Tell the conversion story of one of your ancestors then find a map of where they lived.
This is the Place Heritage Park (Mon- Sat 9am-5 pm; Sun 11am-4pm, Adults $9.00, children $7.00 for the summer, thisistheplace.org)
Pioneer Memorial Museum- Closed for Renovations Check website to see if open yet and for related DUP Museums (dupinternational.org)
Emigration Canyon to see the wagon ruts
Temple Square go to lds.org for more information and available programs
Visitor Centers and Tabernacle
Garden Tours
Church Office Building, Relief Society Building, etc.
Welfare Square Tours- 801-240-4872 call to schedule
Humanitarian Tours - weekday tours available 10 am to 3 pm or call 801-240-5954
Social Hall Heritage Museum (Mon-Fri 10am to 9pm; Sat 10am-7pm free)
Beehive House (Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, free)
Salt Lake City Cemetery ( to see the graves of prophets, 200 “N”Street, SLC, 8 am to dusk, 801-596-5020 Can pick up a map at 4th Ave and N Street during business hours, Dept of Public Services, Parks Division, slcgov.com)
Mormon Pioneer Memorial (Brigham Young Gravesite-140 E 1st Ave SLC)
Conference Center(opened Daily 9am to 9 pm, tours available 9am to 8 pm)
Museum of Peoples and Cultures (at BYU)
Park City Family Tree Center (531 Historic Main Street, Park City Utah, Mon-Sat 10am to 9pm, Sun 1pm to 7pm)
Cove Fort (8 am to Sunset April to October, 9 am to Sunset October to April, Cove Fort Days- the first Friday and Saturday in August)
St. George Activities-
Jacob Hamblin Home
Brigham Young Winter Home
Pine Valley Chapel (really in Pine Valley outside of St. George, 11 am to 5 pm, summer hours, lds.org)
St. George Tabernacle and Temple Visitors Center.
Sunrise/sunset hike (don’t forget the flashlights)
Mormon Miracle Pageant (Manti, June 17-19, 22-26, go to lds.org for more information
Castle Valley pageant (Utah, Castle Dale July 29-31, Aug 3-7, Only on even years, go to lds.org for more information
Martin Harris Pageant (only available on odd years)
Other Church History sites (Nauvoo, Martin’s Cove, Kirtland, Independence, etc.)
Any family related sites- including grave yards or old family homes.
Moyle Park in Alpine, See the movie of John Moyle and the temple and then go to park.
Pick a fun activity to do and relate it to a spiritual thing. Example-
Go to the Jordan River and float boats and read/talk about the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.
Go to Timpanogus Cave and at the Edge where there are walls talk about Samuel the Lamanite and how he felt to be up on the wall and preaching. Pretend that all the trees are people trying to hurt him.
Float in the Great Salt Lake and relate to how righteousness involves giving so you don’t get stagnate or how the pioneers came in the valley and felt about not being able to use the lake for water and how much work it is to be righteous.
Go to the movie on Joseph Smith at the JS Building and then go buy a picture of Joseph Smith or church history to hang in their room. Bear testimony of Joseph Smith.
Go Fishing and talk about how you have to be still to feel the Holy Ghost like you have to be still to catch a fish or about the stories of Jesus being a fisher of men.
Go to the Hansen Planetarium and talk about the creation.
Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home. – L. Tom Perry, April 2010
Websites:
http:// friend.lds.org
Coloring Pages
Play Games
Art contest
Writing contest- for Pioneer day (due June 15)
Scripture Radio Story Series
Make Flannel Board stories from the pictures available
http://lds.org
Mormon Channel that has various things to listen to.
Take talks and see how you can implement them into your family activities
Download talks or music for the travel
U Tube Mormon Messages –
Talk about what is learned from the message
Share it with a friend-then explain what it means to you
Make your own message for family home evening
Non- Digital Activities:
Act out Scripture Stories
Dress up as the characters
Make a Puppet show
Let it be a fun activity for the kids and help them understand the principles of the story
Keep a regular routine of Scripture Study-
Once in a while do it at a different place like the top of a mountain or by a special stream. Etc.
Let all the kids take turns reading so that everyone is involved.
Write down what you have learned in your readings.
Write testimony in a Book of Mormon and take with you to give away when you are on vacation.
Memorize a favorite scripture or hymn and recite it every morning or night.
For Young Children- don’t forget the scripture readers.
Help everyone keep a journal of the spiritual things that happened to them everyday or maybe every week.
Work on family scrapbooks. If they are simple even young children can help
Take a picture everyday of what you have done and record how you feel. It helps increase the closeness of the family.
Have a quiet time every afternoon. [see also # 8 for additional ideas- you could do one on each day of the week]
Listen to church music
Read the scriptures on your own or another inspiring book
Write in your journal
Write Letters to loved ones that are far away.
Provident Living
Let the older children figure out what the family needs to be prepared and help organize it and plan how to accomplish it.
Plant a Garden then work together and share testimonies as you are in the garden.
Let them have their own plot to take care of.
Make it fun and interesting and make sure they understand that all things in nature come from God.
Service – children learn to love others by serving them.
Have a secret service in your family- like you might at Christmas time with a special activity after you have filled a chart with happy faces.
Do a Chore for yourself and one for each member of the family. Especially good for young children.
Let them plan a service project for the family to help someone else. (These are most effective when they can see the fruit of their labors and when they are really serving other people)
A grandparent
A neighbor
A community group-( Be selective with the age and temperament of your children but remember they are more resilient than you think)
Retirement Home
Shelter- Women’s or Homeless (remember you will not actually be able to go to the women’s shelter but they always need items to help)
Hospitals
Schools
Prison
Humanitarian- This is always needed and you can call Salt Lake to see what they need the most. If you choose to do this you might want to let the kids help earn the money to pay for it.
For older families you might consider a service vacation.
Have Sunday Round Robins- (Set up Sunday Stations that the kids can rotate with various activities. This idea came from the LDSLiving Magazine.)
Listening Station (age appropriate)
Joseph Smith Dramatization
Primary Music and Hymns
Scripture Stories, Scripture Scouts
Homemade Tapes
John Bytheway
Reading Station
Friend, New Era, Ensign Magazines
Illustrated Stories from Scriptures
Scriptures
Writing Station
Paper to write or draw what grateful for or what learned in Church that day.
Stickers, pencils etc.
Booklets to make or draw in
Journals
Letter writing supplies
letters to grandma
thank you notes
Christmas cards
Surprise Station
Craft from Friend
DVD to watch
Play a family game
Go on a walk together
Customize for a holiday
Expand one of the other stations for special occasion.
Fieldtrips: (To make a Fieldtrip more meaningful, you need to prepare ahead of time for what you will see or do there. For Example: at the SLC Cemetery you could have the kids look up some information about each of the prophets and have them tell about each of the prophets at their grave site. You will also need a map of the cemetery where the prophets are buried.) Any Activity can be a spiritual activity.
Museum of Church History and Art (Mon. through Fri.: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Sat. and Sun. 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, free)
Church History Library-(Mon,Tues,Wed, Fri: 9:00am to 5:00 p.m.; Thurs 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Sat 9:00am to 2:00 pm, free) Not for young children but through the website they do have an overland database of pioneers that came to Utah.
Family History Library- (probably not for really young children)
does have a small display on the second floor
Tell the conversion story of one of your ancestors then find a map of where they lived.
This is the Place Heritage Park (Mon- Sat 9am-5 pm; Sun 11am-4pm, Adults $9.00, children $7.00 for the summer, thisistheplace.org)
Pioneer Memorial Museum- Closed for Renovations Check website to see if open yet and for related DUP Museums (dupinternational.org)
Emigration Canyon to see the wagon ruts
Temple Square go to lds.org for more information and available programs
Visitor Centers and Tabernacle
Garden Tours
Church Office Building, Relief Society Building, etc.
Welfare Square Tours- 801-240-4872 call to schedule
Humanitarian Tours - weekday tours available 10 am to 3 pm or call 801-240-5954
Social Hall Heritage Museum (Mon-Fri 10am to 9pm; Sat 10am-7pm free)
Beehive House (Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, free)
Salt Lake City Cemetery ( to see the graves of prophets, 200 “N”Street, SLC, 8 am to dusk, 801-596-5020 Can pick up a map at 4th Ave and N Street during business hours, Dept of Public Services, Parks Division, slcgov.com)
Mormon Pioneer Memorial (Brigham Young Gravesite-140 E 1st Ave SLC)
Conference Center(opened Daily 9am to 9 pm, tours available 9am to 8 pm)
Museum of Peoples and Cultures (at BYU)
Park City Family Tree Center (531 Historic Main Street, Park City Utah, Mon-Sat 10am to 9pm, Sun 1pm to 7pm)
Cove Fort (8 am to Sunset April to October, 9 am to Sunset October to April, Cove Fort Days- the first Friday and Saturday in August)
St. George Activities-
Jacob Hamblin Home
Brigham Young Winter Home
Pine Valley Chapel (really in Pine Valley outside of St. George, 11 am to 5 pm, summer hours, lds.org)
St. George Tabernacle and Temple Visitors Center.
Sunrise/sunset hike (don’t forget the flashlights)
Mormon Miracle Pageant (Manti, June 17-19, 22-26, go to lds.org for more information
Castle Valley pageant (Utah, Castle Dale July 29-31, Aug 3-7, Only on even years, go to lds.org for more information
Martin Harris Pageant (only available on odd years)
Other Church History sites (Nauvoo, Martin’s Cove, Kirtland, Independence, etc.)
Any family related sites- including grave yards or old family homes.
Moyle Park in Alpine, See the movie of John Moyle and the temple and then go to park.
Pick a fun activity to do and relate it to a spiritual thing. Example-
Go to the Jordan River and float boats and read/talk about the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.
Go to Timpanogus Cave and at the Edge where there are walls talk about Samuel the Lamanite and how he felt to be up on the wall and preaching. Pretend that all the trees are people trying to hurt him.
Float in the Great Salt Lake and relate to how righteousness involves giving so you don’t get stagnate or how the pioneers came in the valley and felt about not being able to use the lake for water and how much work it is to be righteous.
Go to the movie on Joseph Smith at the JS Building and then go buy a picture of Joseph Smith or church history to hang in their room. Bear testimony of Joseph Smith.
Go Fishing and talk about how you have to be still to feel the Holy Ghost like you have to be still to catch a fish or about the stories of Jesus being a fisher of men.
Go to the Hansen Planetarium and talk about the creation.
Great Websites & Blogs for Kid's Craft Ideas, Templates, & Printables
Here are some links to the great information that was shared at last month's Relief Society meeting. More info to come!
http://www.parents.com/fun/arts-crafts/
http://www.crayola.com
http://www.nickjr.com/crafts/index.jhtml
http://www.marthastewart.com/crafts-for-kids
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/
http://familycrafts.about.com/
http://crafts.kaboose.com/
http://www.kidscraftweekly.com/printables.html
http://www.creativekidsathome.com/activities.shtml
http://www.craftjr.com/
http://www.skiptomylou.org/kids-crafts/
http://www.oneprettything.com/
http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/search/label/kids
http://www.plaidkidscrafts.com/
http://www.makeandtakes.com/kids-crafts
http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/
CREATE COLORING PAGES OUT OF YOUR VERY OWN PICTURES:
http://play-zone.crayola.com/play-zone/index.htm
CUSTOM TRACER PAGES
http://www.kidzone.ws/tracers/none/index.asp
http://www.parents.com/fun/arts-crafts/
http://www.crayola.com
http://www.nickjr.com/crafts/index.jhtml
http://www.marthastewart.com/crafts-for-kids
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/
http://familycrafts.about.com/
http://crafts.kaboose.com/
http://www.kidscraftweekly.com/printables.html
http://www.creativekidsathome.com/activities.shtml
http://www.craftjr.com/
http://www.skiptomylou.org/kids-crafts/
http://www.oneprettything.com/
http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/search/label/kids
http://www.plaidkidscrafts.com/
http://www.makeandtakes.com/kids-crafts
http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/
CREATE COLORING PAGES OUT OF YOUR VERY OWN PICTURES:
http://play-zone.crayola.com/play-zone/index.htm
CUSTOM TRACER PAGES
http://www.kidzone.ws/tracers/none/index.asp
Thought for the Day...
Thought for the day-
"I know it is hard for you young mothers to believe that almost before you can turn around the children will be gone and you will be alone with your husband. You had better be sure you are developing the kind of love and friendship that will be delightful and enduring. Let the children learn from your attitude that he is important. Encourage him. Be kind. It is a rough world, and he, like everyone else, is fighting to survive. Be cheerful. Don't be a whiner."
Marjorie Pay Hinckley
"I know it is hard for you young mothers to believe that almost before you can turn around the children will be gone and you will be alone with your husband. You had better be sure you are developing the kind of love and friendship that will be delightful and enduring. Let the children learn from your attitude that he is important. Encourage him. Be kind. It is a rough world, and he, like everyone else, is fighting to survive. Be cheerful. Don't be a whiner."
Marjorie Pay Hinckley
This weeks activities...
Just a reminder about our 72 hr kit activity tomorrow night- Thursday June 24th at 7:00 at the church!
Also--
This Friday, June 25th we'll be having an ice cream social and movie at Wimbleton Park.
The time has changed to 8:00pm so there's less time in between ice cream and darkness.
We'll be watching the movie Bedtime Stories. Bring your own blankets, pillows, chairs and snacks for the movie. We'll provide the ice cream. Hope to see everyone there!
PS. Does anyone have any freezer room to hold 3-gallon buckets of icecream for a few hours? Please contact Jenni Campbell by phone or email. 768-7336 or jenni@infogenix.com
Also--
This Friday, June 25th we'll be having an ice cream social and movie at Wimbleton Park.
The time has changed to 8:00pm so there's less time in between ice cream and darkness.
We'll be watching the movie Bedtime Stories. Bring your own blankets, pillows, chairs and snacks for the movie. We'll provide the ice cream. Hope to see everyone there!
PS. Does anyone have any freezer room to hold 3-gallon buckets of icecream for a few hours? Please contact Jenni Campbell by phone or email. 768-7336 or jenni@infogenix.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)