Children can dance around with these sparklers all day and all night or you can make them to tuck into plants or table centerpieces for a little burst of color.

Materials:
Pencil
Colored tape
Chenille stems
Star garland
Glue

Directions:
• Remove the eraser from the pencil by grabbing onto the eraser and pulling it out. The eraser will not be used as part of this project (it may be discarded).
• Carefully wrap the colored tape around the pencil, making sure it is smooth the entire length of the pencil. (Electrical tape works well for this and is available in a variety of colors.)
• Cut two chenille stems in half so you have 4 pieces about 6 inches long. (Metallic chenille stems give an extra sparkle.)Cut eight pieces of star garland, each one about 6 inches long.
• Fill the eraser hole with craft glue.
• Grab hold of all of the pieces of chenille stem and garland that you cut. Hold them so one end of each piece is even.
• Carefully poke the ends of the chenille and garland into the hole.
• Once the glue is completely dry, bend the chenille stems and star garland so they look like the sparks shooting off of a real sparkler.

You can use red, white and blue colors for independence day or others colors to match your party theme.

Here is a project you can do with your children when the rain finally comes to an end!

Children can create masterpieces in your driveway with this home made sidewalk chalk

Materials;
Plaster of Paris
Powdered tempera paint
Toilet paper rolls, small paper cups or candy molds

Directions:
Mix together one cup of plaster of Paris with one cup of water. Add color to the mixture with powdered tempera paint. Blend well and let stand for a few minutes. Pour the mixture into the molds you have chosen. Set aside and let dry completely. (Drying can take several hours to several days depending on the size of the mold.) Once dry, remove the calk from the molds. Set it aside to dry for approximately 24 more hours.

Would you enjoy taking your children to free Movies this summer?

The Free Family Film Festival offers selected G & PG movies each week all summer long. Movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating is limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.

Tickets for our 2009 Free Family Film Festival are exclusively available at select theatres’ box office on the day of the show.


Hooksett 8
100 TECHNOLOGY DR
Hooksett, NH 03106
603-626-7177

06/23/2009-06/24/2009
March Of The Penguins (G), Evan Almighty (PG)

06/30/2009-07/01/2009
Space Chimps (G)

07/07/2009-07/08/2009
Horton Hears A Who (G), Inkheart (PG)

07/14/2009-07/15/2009
Wallace And Gromit (G), Igor (PG)


07/21/2009-07/22/2009
Charlotte's Web (G), Alvin And The Chipmunks (PG)

07/28/2009-07/29/2009
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (G), Star Wars: Clone Wars (PG)

08/04/2009-08/05/2009
Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G), Kung Fu Panda (PG)

08/11/2009-08/12/2009
The Tale Of Despereaux (G), Journey To The Center Of The Earth (PG)

08/18/2009-08/19/2009
Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: Veggie Tale Movie (G), Bee Movie (PG)

You can win a gift certificate to a fast food restaurant of your choice by submitting a paragraph (or two) telling us why one of the TV dads listed below had the greatest influence. The winning submittal will be posted in the Cool Things Blog.

This idea came about after reading a website that had the following to say about thirteen TV dads.

“They may not be real, but these dads have wielded tremendous paternal influence over generations of American families.”

What kind of influence do you think they have had? Which TV dad influenced you the most? How? Which dad is most like your dad? If you could have one of them for a dad, which would you choose and why?

Here they are in chronological order.

Ward Cleaver
Ben Cartwright
Andy Taylor
Archie Bunker
Mike Brady
Howard Cunningham
Heathcliff Huxtable
Steven Keaton
Dan Connor
Homer Simpson
Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor
Ray Barone
Tony Soprano

Is there a TV dad not listed here that you would vote # 1? Feel free to add his name.

Send your paragraph by Tuesday, June 16 to bowchurch@juno.com.
The winning submission will be posted on Wednesday, June 17.