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April is here and with it comes the celebration of Earth Day (22nd) and Arbor Day (25th). I have a great deal of respect for “Mother Earth” and want to keep her beautiful for my grandchildren to enjoy. I am an advocate of recycling and sometimes my children tell me I go too far. Like the time I pulled over on the side of the road to pick up a few cans. They were very embarrassed! My friends laugh at me when we’re playing games and I keep score on the back of used envelopes & cash register receipts. It seems to be an obsession but I think it’s a good one. So this month’s activities will include environmentally friendly activities. If you’re cooking or doing a messy craft with your grandchild I’ve included a pattern for making a newspaper apron. When you’re finished with it, it can be recycled. As a family, plant a tree in honor of someone or something. For a reading and writing activity there’s a Recycled Baggie Activity. Making a paper bead necklace is a great math patterning activity and uses paper you might normally throw away. This month I have included a special section with websites and books specific to the environment. There’s so many fun things to do with your grandchildren to celebrate the environment, pick one then share it with me on my blog.

Materials: 5 sheets of newspaper for each apron, yarn, scissors, paper punch
Directions:
1. Stack together the 5 sheets of paper so the edges are even.
2. Cut away the armhole sections as shown in diagram. The dimensions may not be exact depending on the size of your newspaper.
3. Punch 4 holes - 2 at the neck and 2 at the sides.
4. Tie the yarn securely in the holes.
It’s now ready to put on and use to protect your clothes when doing a special project. Be sure to recycle the paper when the apron is no longer needed. A word of caution: don’t wear the apron over light-colored clothing, the ink has a way of rubbing off.

Materials: A variety of paper that you might normally throw away or recycle (magazines, Sunday colored comics, wrapping paper, small scraps of colored paper), scissors, glue, pencil, yarn.
Directions:
1. From your variety of paper, cut strips measuring about 4 inches long. The width may vary from ½ - 1 inch depending on the size of bead you want.
2. Wrap the strip of paper tight around a pencil.
3. Glue the end of the bead.
4. Slide the bead off the pencil.
5. Make enough beads for a necklace or bracelet and string with yarn.
The math connection is stringing the beads in a pattern using color, size or both.

Materials: Sandwich bag, a piece of paper the size of the sandwich bag, a variety of items you might normally throw away or recycle (magazines, colored paper scraps, wrapping paper, ribbon, yarn, sequins, etc.).
Directions:
1. Create a picture with recyclable items and glue on one side of the paper.
2. Write a short story or poem on the opposite side of the picture. If your grandchild isn’t writing yet have them tell you what to write and they can sign their name.
3. Slide the paper in the sandwich bag. The items from the picture won’t get lost and your grandchild with have the picture and the story they created together.

Variation: You can use a photograph of a special event or a post card from a vacation and write about it. The sandwich bag will keep it protected.

With Earth Day on April 22nd and Arbor Day on April 25th, planting a tree would be a fun activity to do with your grandchildren. When you plant the tree it’s great to dedicate it to someone special or something you want to celebrate. One year my children and I planted a tree in honor of my father, their grandfather. We each wrote a special note and buried it in the ground with the tree. My children began calling it grandpa’s tree. If you don’t have a space to plant a tree find a park or another public place. Check with your city, I’m sure the donation of a tree would be greatly appreciated. To find information about planting trees and other Arbor Day activities go to arborday.org.