Past Imagination – Activities

Discussion Questions

  1. How does the Nature Fairy look when the maiden first approaches him?  How does he say that he got this way?  How does the maiden help him?
  2. How does the Great Wind Fairy appear when the maiden first sees her?  How did they get this way? How does the maiden help her?
  3. Describe the Troll Princess.  What does she look like?  How does she act?  What happens to her when she starts being kind?
  4. The prince and maiden talk about responsiblity being the key for finding happiness.  How can you be responsible with the earth?  How can you be responsible in your relationships?

Activities

PB Bird Feeders

Supplies:  Pinecones, yarn, peanut butter, paper plates, birdseed, and glitter
Use this project to introduce a lesson about birds or conifers.  Have kids collect pinecones from home and around school so everyone has one to make a feeder.  Tie a string to the top of your pinecone so it can fit around a tree branch.  Then take a knife and spread peanut butter on the pinecone.  Make sure it is thick enough so the birdseed sticks.  Now, pour birdseed on a paper plate and roll the cone on the seed so it sticks to the peanut butter.  Hang the bird feeders on a branch at least six feet off the ground to protect birds from predators.  Tie the feeders up at home or in a tree near your classroom.
A different spin:  Help your winged friends build their nests by mixing bits of yarn with the birdseed.  It will stick to the pinecone and birds can build homes with it.
Journal:  A Little Bird Told Me…
Create a story about advice a bird gave you or pretend you can speak frog language.  What would you talk about?  What questions would you ask?

Potions
Before doing this project, discuss the importance of following instructions. Then, tell the kids they must write explicit instructions for a potion. On their paper, they need to write the title of their potion, as well as measurements and steps.  The ingredients must be found in or around home or school.
Note:  Potions Mix-Up (see below) is the second part of this activity, but you can omit it.

Potions Mix-Up
Supplies:  Potion recipes, Ziploc bags, Styrofoam bowls
To continue the Potions activity, shuffle the potion cards and hand them out to everyone in your group. No one should have their own potion. Now, this is where it gets fun…kids must find all of the ingredients and combine the potion into their Ziploc bag/bowl.
Remember, students must follow exact instructions.  If a recipe tells you to add sand and it wasn’t in the ingredients list at the top, then it must be omitted.  It’s fun to see exactly how many potions come out like they should.

Pepper Spell
Supplies:  Pepper, cake pan, water, and liquid detergent
Fill the pan halfway with water and sprinkle pepper on the surface.  Make sure you can see the floating pepper clearly.  Then, squeeze a drop of liquid detergent into the cake pan. Observe and record what happens. Answer these questions:
What do you observe before adding the detergent?
What happened when you added the detergent?
Why?

Love Your Mother Earth
Supplies:  Various recyclable materials (cans, jars, bottles, etc.), construction paper, and markers.
This activity takes four to six hours to complete, so it’s a good idea to do each step on different days.

The first stage in this activity is making puppets.  Each student chooses a different, recyclable item and names it.  For example, a glass jar could have a catchy name like Plex E. Glass.
The second step is to decorate the item like their character.  You can use a variety of materials besides construction paper and markers.  Yarn for hair, pipe cleaners for arms, and googly eyes add a special touch.
Finally, the group will come together with their invented characters and will create a skit.  The skit can emphasize the importance of recycling or can teach kids what harms the environment.  You’ll be surprised with the message your group produces.
A different spin:  Children can work on poems individually, instead of the group skit.

Paint and Hang a Birdhouse
Buy a kit or completed house at a hobby store. Paint it so it looks pretty. Then use a clear coat to protect it against the elements. Watch the little birds make their homes in your creation.
A different twist: If you are feeling very crafty, build the house from scratch. Reearch birdhouse designs online to find one that’s age and skill appropriate.

Recipe

Dirt Cake–Serve this “cake” in a flower pot and add artificial flowers and gummy worms for the full effect.  Serve with a new garden trowel.

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
* 2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
* 3 1/2 cups milk
* 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
* 32 ounces chocolate sandwich cookies with creme filling

Directions

1. Chop cookies very fine in blender.
2. Mix butter, cream cheese, and sugar in bowl.
3. In a large bowl mix milk, pudding and whipped topping together.
4. Combine pudding mixture and cream mixture together.
5. Layer in flower pot, starting with cookies then cream mixture. Repeat layers.
6. Chill until ready to serve.
7. Add artificial flower and gummy worms. Enjoy!