Sun Catchers

• Use a fine-grit sandpaper to sand down the label side of an old CD. Paint over the sanded surface and allow your paint to dry. Glue sequins, glass beads and crafting jewels onto the CD. Fold a long strand of mono-filament fishing line or colored ribbon in half. Push the folded point through the hole in the center of the CD while holding the ends above the outer rim of the CD. Push open the folded end to form a loop and pull the ends back down through the loop. Bring the ends back up and tie your sun catcher to a curtain rod above a window so the light passing through the window will hit the sun catcher.
  
  

Wreaths

• Purchase several pieces of fabric to construct a wreath. Alternatively, cut up old baby blankets and favorite clothes that your child has outgrown. Use a foam circular halo as the base of your wreath and cut the assorted pieces of fabric into strips measuring approximately 1-inch thick and 12-inches long. Tie each strip of fabric around the foam base, making a strong knot in the middle of the strip so the extra fabric hangs over the sides of the foam base. Lay another strip directly beside the first and knot it. Cover the entire foam base with knotted strips following this procedure. This craft project helps third graders improve their fine motor skills while they utilize critical thinking skills.
  
  

Mobiles

• Begin by cutting five shapes on construction paper. Decorate the shapes with markers, glitter glue and crayons. Have each child go outside and find three thick twigs. Use a hole puncher to make holes at the top center point of each shape. Thread a piece of fishing line through the hole and make a knot to secure the shape to the line. Repeat for all of the shapes. Tie the free ends of the fishing line to the ends of the twigs. One twig will have a free end, and all the other ends will have shapes hanging from them. Select one of the twigs with two hanging shapes, and tie one end of the fishing line around the middle of this twig. Tie the free end of this fishing line to the end of the twig that doesn't have a second hanging shape. Use another piece of fishing line to hang the mobile.
  
  

Light-Switch Plates

• Purchase plastic light-switch covering plates from your local home improvement store along with a variety of acrylic paints and fine-tipped paintbrushes from a paint supply store. Have each child paint a scene on the plastic switch plate. Some children may struggle with inventing a scene to paint, and they may need some help to get started. Some appropriate scene ideas to suggest include a meadow, the ocean, a garden and the sky. Spray a clear-coat sealant over the painted light-switch plates to protect the paint from scratches.