September Newsletter Now Online

The September Activity Village Newsletter is now online, with news of all updates to the site over the last month or so, articles, poems, activity ideas and more.
September Activity Village newsletter

Nanny Cams

In times gone by, the term “nanny cam” referred to a small video camera clandestinely installed in an every day household object to secretly monitor the activities of the hired help inside the home. The images that the camera records from its secret position are then stored on a tape, which is located inside a VCR that may be located inside another room.
Read on to discover the pros and cons of using a nanny cam, as well as important security checks you should undertake before hiring a nanny or household help.
Nanny Cams

The Memory Project - helping children in India and Uganda

We have just come across The Memory Project - an unusual, and we think wonderful, way for children to get involved in helping kids who are less fortunate than themselves in India and Uganda.

There are three ways to get invovled:

1. Memory Portraits - in this program, highly skilled art students create portraits of children living in orphanages around the world. Given that these children who have been abandoned, neglected, abused or orphaned, have few keepsakes, the purpose of the portraits is to provide them with a special memory of their youth and help honour their heritage and identity. If you are an art teacher perhaps you could get your most talented students involved?

2. Books of Hope - in this program, students at all levels work together to create humorous, thoughtful and / or educational books as a way of reaching out to children experiencing extreme challenges. Student-made books are currently being sent to India (for children rescued from slavery and now striving to receive an education) and Uganda (for children who have experienced a brutal civil war). Perhaps your child's class could get involved?

3. Donate to the project

Please have a look at the Memory Project's website for more details.

Flashcard reoource - definitely one to check out!

I have just spent an hour looking through the wonderful flashcards provided at BogglesWorldESL and feel that there is something for everyone there! Although designed to be used in teaching English as a foreign language, there are dolch sight words, ABC flashcards with delightful pictures, cards teaching prepositions, verbs and so on. I also enjoyed the French and Spanish flashcards. Definitely worth a look!
Flash cards

Super Farm, Picnic and Fishing Printable Activities

We have found some really super printables for kids here on three themes: the farm (complete with gorgeous animals and barn), a picnic (your kids will have fun deciding what food goes on the picnic plates) and fishing. Print them out and save them for a rainy day!
Farm, Picnic and Fishing printables

Summer Flip Flops Craft

We are trying to convince ourselves that summer isn't over with this fun flip flop craft idea! Great for using up crafty bits and pieces that you will have lying around the house, you can adapt the craft to suit all ages of kids.
Summer Flip Flops Craft

More Origami for Kids

We've added many new origami models to the site in the brand new "Origami for Kids" section, including some really spooky ideas for Halloween (great fun for cards, invitations, decorations, party activities ...) and a collection of very cute animals. Get your kids a stack of origami paper and start folding!
Origami for Kids