Kids are ​so-o-o-o Creative!

If you’re like me, you love to make things. When I was a kid I’d scrounge around the house and find stuff that was broken or being thrown away and I’d make something out of it.  Like many kids, I also loved to invent songs and stories. 

When I grew up I just kept making and inventing because I enjoyed it, and that became my work. Later, I decided to share some of the things I had learned to do with kids (as an artist-in-schools) and then through Earth Arts NW. 

​I was very lucky to be able to work with amazing kids and teachers who always taught me something new!  Here are a few activities we did together that you can do too!  And if you like stories, here’s a LINK to some fine 21st century Folk Tales invented by and with kids.

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​Frontier Jacket!

After inventing a story about Lewis and Clark, 4th and 5th graders at Harvey Scott School (in Portland, Oregon), built props and costumes for a performance of their story.

​They made a cardboard canoe,
a cloth tipi, totem pole hats and costumes, like Merriweather Lewis's Jacket (above).

This Jacket is made from one piece of felt. It has a belt and side ties. The pattern is below.

Frontier Jacket Pattern
​& Instructions

​Learn a New Song!

Here's a favorite song of mine - created with 3rd grade kids.
It comes from an adventure story about 3 unlikely animals who became the best of friends.

​Listen to the song below. Then download the sheet music and story.  If you want to do the activities inside the book, and design the story's cover,
​ just print and go!

Happy Ever After Music

Three animal friends story

​Make a Bear Mask!

While learning about earth species, hundreds of kids also had the change to make a n original piece of eco-art.

The kids made Bears, Snakes, Beavers, Frogs, Lizards, Owls, Mountain Goats, Salmon, Eagles and more! See samples of their work Here.

To make a Bear Mask, just download the pattern (and instructions) below.

Bear Mask Pattern

Bear Mask Instructions