Baby Food Jars

[Jennifer in OK]

I have an abundance of baby food jars and am looking for an idea on how I could use them on an arts and crafts project. This would be for 4th graders. I am working on a Native American unit, holidays are coming up, or I could do something later in the year. Thanks for any ideas!

 

[karrie]

butter

you can make butter in a jar with heavy whipping cream. This is what I am doing with my students this coming week. You can google "butter baby food jar" and you will get the exact recipe if you want

 

[Mrs. G]

Candle votives

I have seen activities where they take small pieces of different colored tissue paper and use watered down white glue to stick the paper to the outside of the jar. When it dries it is shiny. Votive candles can be put inside and given as gifts for Mother's day or Christmas.

 

[Nat]

re:candles

my daughter did this for halloween...with orange, yellow and black...cute
I've had the kids grow a plant in them for mother's day...they made a little well with popsicle sticks turned out really nice.
nat

 

[Bertie]

snow globe

I've seen several websites that suggest ways of making baby food jars into snow globes by hot gluing a small decoration on the lid, adding water and sparkles, and then hot gluing the lid shut. It seems to me there is one more thing added to the water, maybe for cleanliness, but I can't remember.

 

[Tylana]

crystals

If you teach crystals you can have the kids make mini sugar rock candy in the jars. I found the recipe on line last year. I didn't get to make them, but I thought it was a cute idea.

 

[speeder1]

For Easter and Mothers day I use the jars as mini flower pots. I use that spray insulation (for around windows and doors) and spray it into each jar (it will expand). I do this at home, then we cut squares of tissue paper and a piece of curly ribbon to go around the bottom. For the flowers, Easter we use our hands to make a cut out for Easter Lily's and for Mother's Day we use coffee filters and water base markers to make multi-colored flowers. Oh, I almost forgot, I use Easter grass to cover the foam. They are cute.

 

[Suezie]

Stems

Hi Speeder1,

I love your idea of using the expanding foam. What do you use for the stems on the flowers?
Thanks,
Suezie

 

[speeder1]

I use pipe cleaners and then if they are to weak, I reinforce with a heavier guage wire. We have also used Popsicle sticks with the pipe cleaners taped to it. I have used many things to get those lil' bugers to stand up.

 

[Suezie]

Thanks

Thanks!! I was thinking the same thing (pipecleaners or popsicle sticks). I'll look for some strong pipecleaners or just twist two together!

 

[Jennifer in OK]

Thank you!

Thank you all for the great ideas. I going to start putting together the ideas and get materials to use with the jars!

 

[iteach3rd]

votives

These are so pretty when lit and are really easy to make!!
We put stickers on the jars (suitable for any season you happen to be in. We used snowflakes so they would be used all winter. Then have the kids brush liquid glue around the entire outside. Roll the jars in salt and let them dry (don't coat the salt too thick)
The stickers show through when dry, and when you light a votive candle inside, it sparkles like snow!

 

[Earthgirl60]

What kind of stickers?

Hi! This is a really cute idea! WHat kind of stickers do you use?

 

[TeachingSarah]

Love these!

Great ideas! I will be using some!