A Crafty Book Report Of Walt Disney

This Book Report Idea Is An A+

When Chris had to do extra credit for his book report of Walt Disney,  he chose to make a recycle DIY bottle sculpture craft of him, here's how!

The Book Report:

Christopher's elementary class project was to read a book from the WHO WAS Series of biography books for kids.  Each child chose to read a different book and was encouraged, as extra credit, to make an image of the person they read about. 

The book Christopher chose to read and illustrate for his report was "WHO WAS Walt Disney". Since Christopher chose Walt Disney, he made an image of Walt for the extra credit. We are glad he went the extra mile! 

 WHO WAS Series of Biography books for kids.

His Extra Credit Project:

Given suggestions by the teacher, one of the project choices was to use a soda bottle. He started with a large 2 liter Soda Bottle, which he filled with some sand to make it stable.

Start with an empty soda bottle

• Then he added some scraps of felt to make his outfit 
• He covered a foam ball with clay for the head and mustache.
• We suggest if you make one, you use DIY LINT Clay.  
• Plus he added yarn scraps for hair, eyes and an arty outfit!

The bottle sculpture half decorated

Finally,  to make it look just like Walt Disney, he added his finishing touches: 

• An artist beret 
• Mickey Mouse patch from felt scraps
• A palette from recycled cardboard
• Some paint and a brush  

Voila it's Walt!

The finished sculpture of Walt Disney!

Great Job Chris!  Clever and creative just like Walt.  

Not only did Chris learn about one of the most visionary people of the world, he leaned how to upcycle and get crafty, like a Planetpal!

Definitaly an A+.

Happy National Weather Observers Day.

It's National Weather Observers Day! Learn About Weather, Fun Facts About Weather and Weather Phenomena

Happy Teachers Day!

We love Teachers at Planetpals :)

To Play Pley Or Not To Play - A Review

Recycling Legos - What a great idea!

When we heard about Pley we were so excited!  What a great idea to recycle Legos because there are so many sets and pieces that can accumulate!  This idea was not only Earth friendly, but cost saving, because conceivably, you could get about 3-4 sets a month.

Being Planetpals, it was a perfect idea for our Grandchildren. A lesson on recycling.  So, for an upcoming Birthday we ordered a subscription. You can imagine how excited my Grandson was that he had all those Legos coming. He couldn't wait!

Wait he did,  many months.  

Because that first anticipated set did not arrive.  So, I called the company.  I couldn't reach a human being.  Simultaneously, I emailed them.  I got an email advising me that there was a big Christmas backlog (his birthday was early November) and that they would be sending a set as soon as possible and giving me a credit for that first free month.  The set finally came, two months late. My grandson made it as soon as he could, then sent it back to get another set. Well, the second set never arrived.  Not for Christmas, not for New Years.

When I contacted them again, I asked to stop my subscription. I told them that my grandson was experiencing too much disappointment because he was waiting and the sets were not coming, and that was not how I wanted a gift from me to be.  

Another disappointing thing was the email i received back.  Pley told me that I would have to continue to pay my subscription because there was no way out, and if I didn't want my grandson to continue with the subscription,  I could transfer to some other kid.  What?  

So, I called the credit card company and put a block on Pley because they refused to cancel it.  They did and told me I will be given a complete credit. Whew.

Next billing cycle. I receive one credit, and one charge.  Upon calling the credit card company, I am told that Pley contested the subsequent refund! 

For us Pley was a "No More Play"

We no longer wait for Pley to arrive, but I have since read many reviews and many comments on blogs. Many parents, like us, not only thought Pley was a good recycling idea, but the idea of getting several sets a months for one fee appealed to many, too. 

But that is not the case when sets were not delivered on timely manner or at all, and in many cases parts were missing once or more than once.  Those that contacted PLEY often received the same responses we did and a non concern from the company.

What to do?

Why not exchange Legos with friends

If you are like us and love the idea of recycling Legos and giving them extended life, but don't want to get into a negative and costly situation, perhaps you can start a Legos swap group among friends and neighbors or even at school. If you don't want to keep all those sets around, donate them to a school or organization when you are finished with them.  You can achieve the same thing.  Here's how to have a swap.

Why not re-use those Legos for other things!

Our Legos board on Pinterest is chock full of great ideas (over 300 of them!) for all those lego parts.  Check them out…But beware: your kids will have to use their imagination!

May it be the FULL MOON!

Did you know we call the moon names?

The moon has been given names from different peoples based on the calendar and their culture for centuries! Some of May moon names are: The Milk Moon, Bright Moon, Hare Moon, Grass Moon, Planting Moon, Panther Moon, Dragon Moon and the Moon When Leaves Are Green.

The full moon for this May occurs on Monday, May 4th at 3:42am Universal Time (11:42pm on May 3rd in Eastern Time).  On Sunday night, this Full Moon will be at 13 degrees and 23 minutes of Scorpio opposed the Sun in Taurus.

See the names for every month: http://www.planetpals.com/ancient-full-moon-names.html

Learn more about the Full Moon Names,  Moon Phases and Moon Facts at Planetpals!

Happy May Day!

It's May and there are lot's of ways to help this beautiful Earth!

Check them out:

Planetpals Spring Journal

Planetpals Nature Journal

Planetpals Summer Journal

See what ECO Friendly events are in May

What's Eco Events Are Happening in May

Keep Smiling With A Healthy Mouth

With These Simple Tips You Will Be On Your Way To A Healthier Smile

Don't Overlook Dental Care!  

Research suggests that the health of your mouth mirrors the condition of your body as a whole. For example, when your mouth is healthy, chances are your overall health is good, too. On the other hand, if you have poor oral health, you may have other health problems. 

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, there is a relationship between gum (periodontal) disease and health complications such as a stroke and heart disease. Women with gum disease also show higher incidences of pre-term, low birth-weight babies.

According to MouthHealthy.org Brushing your teeth is an important part of your dental care routine. For a healthy mouth and smile the ADA recommends you: 

Don't Brush Away The Importance of Brushing:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled brush. The size and shape of your brush should fit your mouth allowing you to reach all areas easily. 

• Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won’t do a good job of cleaning your teeth. 

• Make sure to use an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. 

The Proper Brushing Technique Is To:

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.  

• Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes.  

• Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth. 

• To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes. 

• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh. 

Keep Your Toothbrush Clean and Disinfected:

• Soak your toothbrush in antibacterial mouthwash. Rinse thoroughly before using again.

• For everyday cleaning, you can store your toothbrush in a small cup of hydrogen peroxide. When you brush your teeth, change out the hydrogen peroxide.

• Boil your toothbrush for about 3 minutes. Although it is hard on your toothbrush, boiling water will most germs.

• A toothbrush can be put into the silverware compartment of the dishwasher to be sanitized. Run your toothbrush through on the hot cycle without soap.

• Purchase a UV toothbrush sanitizer. These nifty gadgets work by combining steam with dry heat to sanitize your toothbrush. However if you don’t want to shell out the money, studies show that soaking your toothbrush in Listerine works almost just as well.

Lots more ways to be healthy:
What is Here For You To Learn About A Healthy Lifestyle: 

• Health and Food Precautions
• Food Pyramid 
• New Food Pyramid " MY Plate "
• Healthy Lunch and Green Lunchbox
• Healthy Kids Checklist
• Healthy Food Recipes
• Healthy Edible Food Art Crafts