I'll bet you can find a terrific idea here!

Here is a link that might be useful: Family Fun Spring crafts

Decorating clay flower pots and planting zinnias in them.

you can make goo and talk about the science of how it works (I don't know the science, didn't do well in chemistry- just know the kids LOVE the goo!).

Basically, you mix cornstrach and water (you can add food coloring). Not sure if there are exact measurements but you get this plasma like substance. If you do this, I recommend doing it outside! It acts like cement when it dries out!

Can also make play dough to stretch the experiment out and then talk about the differences/similarities in the substances.

I was gonna send you to familyfun.com, too.

Or this one, which I'm sending out with a wink and nod. ;o)

Here is a link that might be useful: Martha Stewart Kids

The book "Ultimate Book of Kids Concoctions" (there are several issues) is a fantastic place to look for fun crafts and activities that use normal, household stuff. There are recipes for paint, clay, all kinds of crafts, etc.

The sponge balls are fun to make (you cut sponges into strips, then attach together with electrical ties) and fun to play with. I let the kids make them, and give them assorted uses--if you leave the electrical tie long, they make great glass cleaners (I teach a children's cooking class). Or you can cut the ties off, so you have a fun ball to play with. We use them instead of water balloons for that game where you pair off, standing in 2 lines, and toss your balloon (or wet sponge ) back and forth, stepping back a step until you drop your balloon or sponge.

Or how about making chocolate clay with them? You can google for the recipe. Fun to make, then they can play with it, modeling animals or whatever, and afterwards, eat it (it tastes a little like Tootsie Roll to me).

You can make beads from magazine pages. The more colorful, the better. Cut long triangles--about an inch or 2 wide at the short side, and 4-5-6" long to the point. Put the most colorful side down, roll the strip up on a round toothpick, glueing the point. Let dry and string, alternating with purchased beads, if desired, on plastic laces.

You can also color pasta--put a tablespoon or 2 of water in a plastic jar, add a few drops of food coloring. Add pasta with holes in the middle (elbows, etc), and shake the jar until evenly colored. Spread out on a cookie sheet to dry. String on plastic laces. A tip for stringing beads/pasta--TAPE one end of the lace to the desk, or tie one bead or piece of pasta on the string. Makes it easier to string without losing the beads/pasta, etc.

If you read the book Strega Nona to them, you could have the students draw a picture of the town, then hand out white yarn for them go glue on to represent the run-away pasta.

I've taught some 5 year olds (and many older kids to do straw weaving. It's fun and all you need is soda straws and scraps of yarn. Little too complicated to explain in a few sentences, but if you google "Straw weaving', you'll find directions.

Have fun!

Easter is April 12th. If your date is before that, you could do an Easter theme. Otherwise, you could do spring, flowers or birds.

For birds, you could make bird feeders or bird houses. Here is a bird house from a milk jug. http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/earthday/birds/house.htm They could paint if they wanted.

Stepping stones made from aluminum pie tins, cement and marbles are fun.

Tye (Tie?) dye t-shirts are great. Everyone brings a t-shirt from home and you supply the rubber bands and kit.

Planting flowers or seeds and making your own tin can container and decorating it would be pretty fun too.

Danglers - Have the kids string acrylic beads on fishing twine.

This one is quick and easy, I did it for my daughter's combined birthday party last month. I had to entertain a variety of children, boys and girls, ages from 5-9.

I went to Michaels about bought felt sun visors (they were marked down 50% at the time) along with accesories to decorate the visors such as: glitter glue in assorted colors and felt stickers (with the peel-off paper backing) in various shapes and colors and letters of the alphabet.
It kept the children occupied for anywhere from 5-20 minutes, plus drying time.

Good luck! If all else fails, head to Michaels for cheap inspiration.

I was wondering if you could do Easter or not (I guess depends what religion all the kids are). If so, you could do some edible craft like the bird's nest treat thing.

Or, you could focus on Mother's Day and make something for mom. Here's one for bath salts. You could also make those chocolate melting spoons.

http://www.holidaycrafts4kids.com/mom_bath_salts.htm

Kids seem to like to make birdfeeders... I know there's one you use pine cones and 'paint' with peanut butter then roll in bird feed. I think there's a milk carton version too which may be good for the spring.

This is way different and not really a craft but one of my favorite ever gifts from school. Have the kids ask mom to type out one of the kid's favorite recipes for a cookbook. Take the recipe but then ask the kid how to make the food and write down his directions. For chocolate chip cookies he may say: Mix in some white stuff and 5 bags of chocolate chips, some potato chips, throw in a spoon of sugar and some soda and then put in the over at 500 million degrees for 5 hours or when the alarm clock goes off. Of course you may have to coax the kids for some specifics... what are the ingredients, at what temp., how long, etc.. But, the way kids perceive the recipes is hysterical. Once you get the recipes, you can make them into a cookbook for the mothers. On one side will be the correct recipe as the mother submitted, and the other side will be the kid's version. It's a really cute idea if you ever have the time and money to do such an activity.

Thank you all SO much for all the ideas! I'll definitely have something good to submit tonight.

Thank you!!

This is probably too late, Nicole, but maybe you can find something fun to do here with the kids here whenever you feel like it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kid craft blog...