Part 3 (2/2)

=Toy Lamp= (See under Doll-Houses)

PRUNES AND RAISINS

=Turtle= (_Raisin and five cloves_)

Take a plump raisin and stick into it five cloves for head and legs.

=Man= (_Raisins or prunes_, _toothpicks_)

Make a man by running a toothpick through three raisins for a body. Into the top one stick two other toothpicks, with two raisins each for arms and two other toothpicks with raisins make the legs. Each leg has a projecting raisin for a foot and another large raisin makes the head.

These are fun-makers for a children's party, one at each plate.

SEEDS

=Stringing= (_Squash seeds--dried_, _strong thread_, _needle_)

Little children can be happily occupied making chains of squash, pumpkin, and water-melon seeds that have been saved and made soft by soaking awhile in water. The black seeds of the water-melon alternate prettily with the white seeds of the other gourds. Variety can be introduced by stringing several of one color and then several of another, counting by twos, threes, etc. This gives exercise in counting, in pleasing grouping of colors, and so exercises both the invention and the taste of the very little child.

=Designing= (_Black seeds_, _white seeds_)

Let the child make designs of the seeds upon the table. Place a black one for a centre and a white one on each side. Repeat this figure for a foot or more, placing the groups an inch apart and observe the effect.

Tell him thus to make a design for the frieze of the room. Another effect is produced by placing a white seed as a centre and placing four or five around it. Vary still further by placing a circle of black seeds around the whole. These few examples will serve to indicate the endless variety that can be secured, and is a training in invention and taste.

Let the child always have in mind a design for some particular purpose, as of wall-paper, oil-cloth, etc. Lead him to observe similar effects in carpets, wall-paper, etc. The best of these attempts can be made comparatively permanent by pasting upon small sheets of tinted bristol-board. The chief value in preserving any such work is for purposes of comparison as the child improves.

=Counters=

Save out 24 white and 24 black seeds for counters in checkers, go-bang, etc.

=Squash-Seed Chicken= (_25 seeds_, _white thread_, _two quill toothpicks_, _bit of red flannel_, _feather from duster_)

Take 25 squash seeds and soak till soft. Take five of these and place side by side with pointed ends up. Above these place four, their wide ends coming between the points of the others. Above these place three in the same relative position. Above these put two, and above these and between them place the squash-seed which is to be the head of the chicken.

Now, beneath the original five, place four, pointed ends up; beneath these put three, then two, then one. If these are rightly placed, the pointed ends of one row come just at the sides of the wide end of the seeds above.

[Ill.u.s.tration: How to String the Seeds.]

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