DIY Teacher Appreciation Gifts

As the school year winds down, let’s give a shout-out to all those dedicated teachers who’ve spent 9 months focused on your child’s papers, projects and maybe even introducing them to their new favorite book.

In celebration of the end of the school year, here are some simple, thoughtful thank you gifts that you can create with your child!

“My teacher is AW-esome” To make this simple gift, grab a pack of A&W Root Beer and a sweet treat. (Added bonus if you know your recipients’ favorite candy) Complete the gift with a handmade tag or note!

“Thank You for helping ______ grow!” Nothing says spring like a pot of flowers or plants! Once you pick out the perfect bloom, simply take a ruler and make a handmade thank you card, like the example below.

Dress Up a Card with a Homemade Touch There are plenty of free, printable cards to use as the base for this craft; your child can write on the backside expressing gratitude for everything that their teacher has done throughout the year!

“Piecing you together” Does your child’s teacher have a sweet tooth? This simple craft calls for a mason jar, a bag of Reese’s Pieces, ribbon, and a hand crafted sign.

“It’s so refreshing to have a teacher like you!” Here at Meadow Farms, we definitely value eco-friendly ideas like this one: find a reusable drinking glass, your favorite tea flavor or Crystal Light, and a homemade sign. A great gift to start a relaxing summer vacation!

This spring, let’s take a pause to remember something; teachers are some of the most important people in our young lives. They can be like second-parents - people who provide knowledge and guidance to last a lifetime. That’s why we encourage creating your own handmade note of thanks to compliment your gift!

Have fun creating this craft with your child - and remember how much you valued your teachers when growing up! For more craft ideas and free pintables follow us on Pinterest and check out our “Teacher Appreciation” board.

Earth Month 2014

Picture from here.

Every April we rally in support of our grand planet by observing Earth Month. The month culminates with the celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd. This springtime holiday highlights the importance of environmental protection through a number of sustainable practices: recycling, using efficient transportation, and education on environmental topics.

This year, we here at Meadow Farms Fundraising want to promote the fact that being environmentally conscious should not be dedicated to just one month or day of the year; and becoming savvy of environmental concerns can start at any age.  

With that being said, it’s crucial to know how to properly recycle. Some of the big ones:

• Make sure to rinse out plastic and glass containers, while removing caps.
• Flatten out boxes. 
•  Be cognizant of what you can’t recycle: this list includes plastic wrap, Styrofoam, and aerosol cans. 

For more complicated recycling we encourage you call your city when referring to: batteries, computers, paint, hangers, and appliances.

So, with all these little complex pieces in play, a question might surface for parents: how do you teach and encourage youngsters to recycle? Here’s a short list of good strategies:

• Story time – There are several books about recycling particularly geared toward young children. Reading with your kids presents an ideal opportunity to start a conversation on the importance of recycling. 

• Get Involved – Label all of your recycling bins in your home with pictures of what is recyclable. Once they’re recycling, you might even want to create a reward system when goals are met.

• Show Them – Point out the items that can be recycled and the items that cannot. It’s always good to show your children what objects have been made from recycled material.

• Arts & Crafts – Get creative! You can make your recycling bin into something that encourages recycling. One of our favorites? Turning a recycling bin into a basketball hoop. Additionally, you could get your children to turn items that can be recycled into art projects.   

Hopefully these tips help you out not only during Earth Month but all year long! Meadow Farms believes that recycling is extremely important, we are proud to say that our wrapping paper is made in the USA and is a 100% recyclable product.

Good luck and have fun! 

·        

 

·