Creative Family Fun

Your one-stop shop for kids activities and family fun

Terri Thompson

Cardboard Tube Tiger Craft for Kids

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Our cardboard tube zoo is growing and it’s time to add a tiger to our collection of animals.

No zoo is complete without a tiger, right? It’s one of my favorites!

So, we grabbed our supplies and set to work adding a cardboard tube tiger craft to our collection.

Grab some cardboard and paints to make this fun Cardboard Tube Tiger craft for kids. It's so much fun to make and play with!

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Supplies Needed

Empty cardboard tube
Orange craft paint
Black craft paint
Orange construction paper
Google eyes
Glue
Black marker

Grab some cardboard and paints to make this fun Cardboard Tube Tiger craft for kids. It's so much fun to make and play with!

How to make your cardboard tube tiger craft

First, you’ll want to paint your cardboard tube with your orange craft paint.

While your paint is drying, use your orange construction paper to make your ears. The ears are small, so you only need a scrap of paper.

Cut out two rounded triangles for your ears. Use your black marker to draw smaller triangles on each ear for the inner ear.

Grab some cardboard and paints to make this fun Cardboard Tube Tiger craft for kids. It's so much fun to make and play with!

Once your paint is dry, you can make your tiger’s face.

Glue your google eyes where you want your face. While the glue is drying, use your black marker to draw a nose (upside down triangle), mouth (“w” shape), and whiskers.

Glue your ears to the inside of the top of your cardboard tube so they peek out from the top. Line them up directly above the eyes.

Grab some cardboard and paints to make this fun Cardboard Tube Tiger craft for kids. It's so much fun to make and play with!

Finally, it’s time to add your stripes to your cardboard tube tiger.

Use your black craft paint and paint stripes all around your tiger. We left an open space in the front, since we noticed in pictures that tigers don’t have stripes on their belly.

Once you’re satisfied with your stripes, let your paint dry.

Ta-da! That’s it. Once your paint and glue have dried, your tiger is ready to join your zoo.

What other animals do you want in a cardboard tube zoo?

Grab some cardboard and paints to make this fun Cardboard Tube Tiger craft for kids. It's so much fun to make and play with!

If you enjoyed this cardboard tube tiger craft, the above photo is perfect for sharing on Facebook. Or, you can share the photo below on Pinterest.

Grab some cardboard and paints to make this fun Cardboard Tube Tiger craft for kids. It's so much fun to make and play with!

You may also like one of these fun animal crafts

Cardboard Tube Cheetah Craft

Cardboard Tube Hippo Craft

All About Tigers: Books, Crafts, and Activities

Tiger Finger Puppets at Moms and Crafters

Awesome Apple Science Experiments

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Apples, apples, everywhere.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t go anywhere in September without finding fun apple stuff, from apple desserts to apple games, and even fun apple science projects.

That’s right, we’re going to take those apples, have some fun, and do a little apple science.

Learn and have fun with one of these awesome Apple Science experiments for kids. This fun fall science is always fun to do!

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for more details.

You’ll find fun chemistry experiments and a few physics experiments. Plus, you’ll even try a few kitchen science experiments.

These fun projects are all great ways to have fun and learn at home.

Learn and have fun with one of these awesome Apple Science experiments for kids. This fun fall science is always fun to do!

Awesome Apple Science Experiments

Combine science and art when you make this fun Fizzing Apple Art Project at Kids Play Box.

Do a twist on the classic baking soda and vinegar volcano when you experiment with Apple Volcanoes at The Resourceful Mama.

Explore gravity when you try this Apple Races physics project from Little Bins for Little Hands.

How many pennies does it take to get an apple up an inclined plane? Answer the question when you try this fun experiment at Kid Minds.

Find out what happens to an apple under various conditions when you try this simple Apple Rotting Experiment from Gift of Curiosity.

Can you make an apple lose weight? Explore weight with this fun Apple STEM Weight Loss Experiment from JDaniel4’s Mom.

Learn and have fun with one of these awesome Apple Science experiments for kids. This fun fall science is always fun to do!

More Fun Apple Science Projects

Can you turn an apple into a boat? Little Bins for Little Hands shows you in this fun STEM challenge.

Use acids and bases from your kitchen to see how they effect apples with this simple science experiment from Coffee Cups and Crayons.

Turn an apple into a shrunken head with this spooky science project from Teach Beside Me.

Can you keep an apple from browning? Test your theories with this fun experiment from Kitchen Counter Chronicles.

How does heat change an apple? Answer this question in the kitchen when you make up a batch of Slow Cooker Applesauce from Creative Family Fun.

Don’t these all sound like fun? Grab some apples, put on your thinking cap, and try one (or all) of these fun apple science experiments.

Learn and have fun with one of these awesome Apple Science experiments for kids. This fun fall science is always fun to do!

You may also like one of these fun science ideas:

Jack Be Nimble Science Experiment

Fun Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids

Little House Inspired Science – Making Butter

Chemical Reactions with Pennies at Creative Family Fun


Salt Tray Spelling Words

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You know what’s more fun than writing your spelling words with pencil and paper? Writing them in a salt tray!

A salt tray is easy to set up and fun to use. I’ve seen it used often in a preschool setting for kids that are just learning to write.

But, it’s just as appealing to older kids. My third grader loves the chance to practice Salt Tray Spelling Words.

Put down the pencil and practice spelling words in a sensory tray. Salt Tray Spelling Words is a great hands-on way to practice.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for more details.

How to set up

You will need a container that is large and flat. You’ll want the sides to be high enough to help contain the mess.

I used a wooden box that we happened to have. The container isn’t important. Just grab a cake pan or baking dish from the kitchen. They work great!

Fill your container with salt so that it makes a thick covering over bottom of your dish.

Tip: Put your container on top of a towel for easy clean-up. No matter how carefully we use this, we always get salt outside of the container. The towel will help trap the salt before it gets on the floor and makes clean up a breeze.

Put down the pencil and practice spelling words in a sensory tray. Salt Tray Spelling Words is a great hands-on way to practice.

Practice Salt Tray Spelling Words

Once your salt tray is ready, it’s time to practice spelling words.

Have your child use their fingers to write each word. To erase, just shake the container a bit and the salt evens out.

When you’re done, just pour the salt in a storage container and reuse it for another salt tray. We use the same salt time and time again.

Put down the pencil and practice spelling words in a sensory tray. Salt Tray Spelling Words is a great hands-on way to practice.

You may also like one of these fun spelling ideas:

Write Spelling Words with Cotton Swabs

Spell with a Driveway Letter Grid

Write Spelling Words in Shaving Cream

Writing with Paint in a Bag

Buy the 31 Ways to Practice Spelling Words Ebook

You can purchase a printable form of this book for $7.50 The book is designed to print and turn into a half-page size booklet. It’s perfect to keep at your homework station. Your kids can flip through and find a fun way to practice their spelling words.

The ideas will be convenient and ready to use. No need to turn on the computer every day for ideas.

Most activities require little to no prep time. And, if you make sure you have all the supplies on the Master Supply List (included in the book) on hand, you’ll be able to do any of these fun spelling word ideas any time.

Storybook Snack Time: Baked Apples

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After school snack time is a very important part of our day.

My girls and I reconnect, chat about our day, and sometimes just settle in with a good book and some yummy food.

One of our favorite snacks in the fall is baked apples.

We’ve always got a bowl full of apples and tend to indulge in them a lot during September and October.

Enjoy a special treat after school with this yummy baked apples snack and list of apples books. It's fun to have a special storybook snack time.

This post contains Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information.

This recipe for baked apples is super simple to make and requires only three ingredients. And, it’s a fun recipe for the kids to help bake.

Combine this snack with a good book about apples and you’ve got a fun way to reconnect after school or any time.

Enjoy a special treat after school with this yummy baked apples snack and list of apples books. It's fun to have a special storybook snack time.

Ingredients Needed

3 medium-sized apples
2 tbsp. light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

This recipe makes 2 snack-sized portions. It’s very easy to double (or triple) to make as much as you need.

Enjoy a special treat after school with this yummy baked apples snack and list of apples books. It's fun to have a special storybook snack time.

How to make your baked apples snack

Slice and peel all of your apples. I usually slice them the same as if I were serving them raw.

If you have one of those nifty apple corer and slicer gadgets, use that. Your apples will be the perfect size.

Enjoy a special treat after school with this yummy baked apples snack and list of apples books. It's fun to have a special storybook snack time.

Throw your apples in a bowl with your brown sugar and cinnamon.

Mix them up until your apples slices are evenly coated.

*Note: we love the taste of cinnamon, so feel free to adjust the amount of cinnamon to your tastes.

Enjoy a special treat after school with this yummy baked apples snack and list of apples books. It's fun to have a special storybook snack time.

After your apples are coated, put them in an 8×8 square baking pan.

Put them in a 375 degree oven for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, your apples are starting to get juicy and your house will smell like apple pie. Yummy! Stir the apples and pop them in the oven for 10 minutes more.

Now it’s time to eat! For a special treat, we love to put a little whipped cream on top.

My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Enjoy a special treat after school with this yummy baked apples snack and list of apples books. It's fun to have a special storybook snack time.

Enjoy a fun apple book during snack time

While you’re eating those apples, indulge in a good story. There are many great books about apples, but these are some of our favorites.

Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington

Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman

The Apple Pie That Papa Baked by Lauren Thompson

How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro

The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons

Apples, Apples Everywhere!: Learning About Apple Harvests by Robin Koontz


Baked Apples (serves 2)

3 medium-sized apples
2 tbsp light brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Slice and peel your apples. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Stir to coat the apple slices evenly. Put in an 8×8 baking dish and bake in a 375 degree oven for 10 minutes. Stir. Bake for 10 minutes more. Serve immediately.

You May Also Like One of These Fun Apple Ideas:

Slow Cooker Applesauce

Apple and Pumpkin Mini Books

Black and White Apple Prints

Apple Pie Play Dough at The Imagination Tree

Cinnamon Apple Peels at Mama Smiles

Black and White Apple Prints: A Lesson in Contrast

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I just love making apple prints and every year we do some version of this quintessential fall project. Although my girls would be perfectly happy doing a traditional version of the project – apples prints with red or green paint – I wanted to do something a bit different this year.

I updated the project, added a little twist, and used it to illustrate an art concept – contrast.

Learn about the art concept of contrast when you create this fun twist on the traditional apple prints kids craft: Black and White Apple Prints.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for more details.

What is contrast?

Very simply, contrast is a difference. It’s often shown in by using opposite elements. It’s used to create visual interest and drama in a piece of art.

One of the best ways to show contrast is through the use of black and white. I knew it would be the perfect way to illustrate this concept to my daughters using apple prints.

Learn about the art concept of contrast when you create this fun twist on the traditional apple prints kids craft: Black and White Apple Prints.

Supplies Needed

White card stock
Black paper
Glue
Apple
Black craft paint
White craft paint
Paintbrushes

Create Your Black and White Apple Prints Project

To begin the project, we wanted to create a piece of black and white checked paper.

We used the white card stock for a base. We cut the black paper into squares the same size as 1/4 of your piece of card stock.

Encourage your kids to do a little work with fractions and measurement to complete this step.

Glue your black paper to your card stock in opposite corners. It should look like the picture above. We used a glue stick for this step so we wouldn’t have to stop and wait for the glue to dry.

Learn about the art concept of contrast when you create this fun twist on the traditional apple prints kids craft: Black and White Apple Prints.

Now it’s time for the apple stamping! Cut an apple in half from the top to the bottom. You’ll use one half for the white paint and one half for the black paint.

Instead of dipping our apples in paint, we brushed it on for a more even coat.

Make one stamp in each of the four squares. Use white paint on the black paper and black paint on the white card stock.

Learn about the art concept of contrast when you create this fun twist on the traditional apple prints kids craft: Black and White Apple Prints.

Black and white apple prints are a very simple project, but it perfectly illustrated our art concept. We created a cool twist on a traditional craft and learned all about contrast in the process.

I love how the final project turned out. I think I’m going to frame these!

Learn about the art concept of contrast when you create this fun twist on the traditional apple prints kids craft: Black and White Apple Prints.

The 2nd Grade Blogging Team has been hard at work creating fun activities about apples. Check out the rest of the ideas below.

How to use an apple to explain basic fractions from Crafty Kids at Home
Apple Array Practice for Second Grade from Look! We’re Learning!
Apples Graphing Activity from Sallie Borrink Learning
Free Number Order Printable Apples from Life Over C’s
Preserve an apple from getting brown from Planet Smarty Pants
Apple Descriptions {adjectives} from School Time Snippets
Nouns and Verbs – Apple Theme from 123 Homeschool 4 Me
Apple Toothpick Tower Challenge from Preschool Powol Packets

Learn about the art concept of contrast when you create this fun twist on the traditional apple prints kids craft: Black and White Apple Prints.

You may also be interested in one of these fun art projects:

Symmetry Butterfly with Warm and Cool Colors

Painting on Music: Exploring Austria Though Art

Chinese Character Printmaking Project