Draw Star Wars: The Clone Wars from Klutz Books is filled with tips, techniques, practice space, and translucent overlays to make you a master of drawing. Start with stick figures, move onto basic shapes, and finish up with the details. Use the included double-tipped metallic-colored pencils and black marker to make 20 Clone Wars characters come to life.

How to enter:

To enter, please leave a comment on this post before midnight (eastern time) November 30th. Be sure the email address you leave in the form is valid so I can contact you if you win.
Shipping Guidelines: The Draw Star Wars: Clone Wars book giveaway is open to participants with a United States mailing address only (international readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.)

Check out the book trailer:

Need more intricate coloring sheets?

June Moon Visionary Art

Mandalas at Coloring Castle

Along the same lines, here are some fun kaleidoscope images to color:

Kaleidoscope1

Kaleidoscope2

To celebrate the launch of the site, we’re having a great giveaway! There are two ways to enter and you may enter as many times as you like!

1. You’ll receive one entry for every FunPlace you add to the database, and it only takes a minute to add a playground, library, museum, restaurant, etc so it’s easy to enter! You must enter a valid email address in the form so we can contact you if you win.

2. You’ll receive one entry for every other place you post info about this contest- your blog, Twitter, a forum, etc. Just send us a link to where you’ve posted it via the contact form.

Entries must be in by midnight EST Friday November 20th. All places added must be in the United States and we will ship to either the US or Canada. Hint: you don’t have to have been to the place personally to add it. Just find some great places using the internet and add them if you run out places you’ve been to!

There will be 3 winners:

1st Prize – a $100 Amazon.com gift card

2nd Prize - an Ematic 2GB Color MP3 Video Player with 1.5-Inch Screen, FM Radio and Voice Recording and a Techno Source Micro Rubiks Revolution

3rd Prize – 4 Klutz Books

Paper Fashions Fancy, Window Art, Fancy Friendship Bracelets, and Invasion of the Bristlebots! Klutz Books are awesome- these will turn you into a Klutz fanatic!

Good luck!

ABOUT THE CONTEST

Winter the Dolphin has been an inspiration and hero for children and adults alike. When Winter was just three months old, she was rescued from a crap trap which had seriously damaged her tail. It wasn’t clear that she would survive but she did. However, the damage to Winter’s tail was so extensive that it fell off. To everyone’s amazement, a prosthetic company stepped in an fitted Winter with a prosthetic tail. Now Winter is using her new tail and thriving.

Scholastic wants to hear about an animal that has most inspired your children by having them tell us about their favorite animal hero in 200 words or less.

One grand prize winner and his/her guardian will receive a trip to visit Winter at her home in Clearwater, Florida, one night’s stay at a hotel, $500 travel voucher, a Winter prize pack and a Nintendo DS Game system! 10 runners up with receive a copy of Winter’s Tail, a Winter’s Tail Nintendo DS game and a Winter plush doll!

HOW TO ENTER

Send entries to:
Scholastic’s Meet Winter the Dolphin Contest
557 Broadway
New York, NY 10012

Each entry must include student’s name, age, and grade; teacher’s name; and school name, address, and phone number.

All entries must be received by November 30, 2009. Winners will be announced on or around December 14th. No purchase necessary. Open to legal residents of 50 United States and D.C. ages 6-14 as of November 30th 2009. Void where prohibited. Click here for complete contest rules.

Click here to open and print the Jesus in the Manger coloring sheet

And here are some printables from the Bible verse color sheet site:

Luke 2:11 – Manger Scene

Luke 2: 14 – Angel

Also, don’t miss the Christmas activity sheets at Printables4Kids!

There is a new inspiring book out telling the story of how a dolphin overcame the loss of her tail called Winter’s Tail.

When Winter, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, was found trapped with her tail badly damaged, she was not expected to survive. This is her miraculous story, from her rescue to learning how to swim again to her unprecedented success using a prosthetic tail. This is also a celebration of her indomitable spirit.

One lucky winner will receive this awesome prize pack:

Winter’s Tail game for Nintendo DS
Dolphin Plush
Dolphin Key Chain
Copy of Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again Book

How to Enter:

Simply leave a comment on this post before midnight October 14th (eastern time) telling us who or what inspires you, or your favorite inspirational quote! Be sure to put a valid email address in the form field so I can contact you if you win. The Winter’s Tail book promotion is open to participants with a United States mailing address only (international readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail!)

You and your family can meet Winter the Dolphin! Participate in the Winter’s Tail Virtual Field Trip to Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida!
Watch the Webcast Live!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
1:00 P.M. – 1:45 P.M. (ET)

Check out the book trailer:

ADDITIONAL LINKS FOR YOU TO EXPLORE:
Meet the Authors
Discussion Guide / Lesson Plan

Halloween doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Here are some ways to make Halloween free or very easy on the wallet:

Recipe to make free homemade fake blood and face paint – why go out and spend money on this stuff when you have the ingredients in your pantry?

Make Your Own Halloween Costumes – huge list of ideas and resources here, including no-sew costumes, animals, creatures, cardboard box costumes, costumes for couples and more.

Free Halloween Music – yikes, this was some creepy stuff. Would be great to play on your doorstep to scare the little trick or treaters. You can save the tracks to your computer by right-clicking on the file name and choose Save Link As or Save Target As.

Free Halloween Printables – some fun coloring pages and activity sheets

Kids have the freedom to learn, play, search and discover over 2 million games, websites, videos and photos on their own. KidZui has the largest number of games, websites, videos and photos reviewed by parents and teachers anywhere. Kids can customize their browsing experience and interact with the Kidzui community by tagging a commenting on pictures, videos and games and sharing them with friends.

Kidzui makes it easy for parents to stay updated on their kids’ activities by sending them a report each week. It also allows parents to view and block friends as needed, and you can add any web site to your child’s account that you’d like them to be able to access. There is also a paid membership upgrade that includes additional features, such as homework helps and other extra features.

I have not tried this yet, but am planning to install it. Has anyone tried it and want to report on how it works for your kids?

UPDATE: I have installed Kidzui- it rocks. My 4 year old son loves it. It makes it so easy for him to surf around and find fun games and videos to watch.

*via Dacotah.net

This is a guest post by Rebecca of www.scavenger-hunt-guru.com

Looking for a fun kids activity that you can do anywhere? How about a scavenger hunt! They are easy to organize and tons of fun for all ages. Scavenger hunts will get your kids running around and learning in an experiential fashion. They can be done indoors, outdoors, in the classroom, in the car, and even while camping.

If you are looking to create your own hunt, this site has that covered too with a list of scavenger hunt ideas already brainstormed and broken down by location. Simply pick and choose what you want to put on your list!

Here is a list for a simple indoor hunt:

purple crayon
holiday decoration
red book
dirty sock
yellow candle
plastic cup
rubber band
necktie
earplug
post-it-note
glue
photo of the pet
left tennis shoe
baseball cap
paper clip

The important thing is to be prepared, have fun with it and end while the kids are still wanting more. Try doing one scavenger hunt a week with the kids. They’ll love it!!! The Scavenger Hunt for Kids site has a comprehensive collection of hunts to get you started.

Be sure to check out the top ten list of outdoor activities for kids and bring those fun kids games outside the walls of the house!

Happy Hunting!!!

Here’s how to enter: please leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite kids movie is. Entries must be in by midnight, Monday August 24th. Be sure to include a valid email address in the form so I can get in touch with you if you win.

(I am very sorry, but I can only ship to US/APO addresses.)

Two First Prize Winners will receive:

Kids Backpack (two styles!!)
“Green Splat” T-shirt
Lollipop
Sticker sheets
Frisbee
Beach ball
Hat
Yo-Yo

One Grand Prize Winner will receive the complete prize pack listed above as well as the Shorts “Phlat” Ball
(Retail value of $23 / Transforms from a 9” flying disc to a 6” ball when thrown)

Grand Prize Pack = Retail Value $109.50. First Prize Packs = Retail Value $86.50 each

Here’s a quick synopsis of the movie:

Shorts is set in the suburb of Black Falls, where all the houses look the same and everyone works for BLACK BOX Unlimited Worldwide Industries Incorporated, whose Mr. Black’s BLACK BOX is the ultimate communication and do-it-all gadget that’s sweeping the nation.

Other than keeping his parents employed, however, Mr. Black’s BLACK BOX has done nothing for 11-year-old Toe Thompson, who just wants to make a few friends…until a mysterious rainbow-colored rock falls from the sky, hits him in the head and changes everything. The Rainbow Rock does Mr. Black’s BLACK BOX one better: it grants wishes to anyone who holds it. Before long, wishes-gone-wrong have left the neighborhood swarming with tiny spaceships, crocodile armies, giant boogers…and outrageous magical mayhem around every corner.

But it’s not until the grown-ups get their hands on the Rock that the trouble really starts. Now Toe and his newfound friends must join forces to save their town from itself, discovering along the way that what you wish for is not always what you want.

RELEASE AND INDEMNIFICATION:
BY ENTERING THE SWEEPSTAKES, ENTRANTS RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND EACH OF ITS RESPECTIVE PARENTS, DIVISIONS, AFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, AGENTS AND ADVERTISING AGENCIES (COLLECTIVELY, “WBEI”) FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LOSSES, DAMAGES, RIGHTS, CLAIMS, AND ACTIONS OF ANY KIND ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM THE SWEEPSTAKES OR PARTICIPATION IN ANY SWEEPSTAKES-RELATED ACTIVITY (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE REMOVAL FROM THESITE OF, OR DISCONTINUATION OF ACCESS TO, ANY MATERIALS), OR RESULTING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE, OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE AWARDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SWEEPSTAKES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, AS WELL AS CLAIMS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS, DEFAMATION, AND/OR INVASION OF PRIVACY.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY:
IN NO EVENT WILL THE WBEI BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF ANY ACCESS TO AND/OR USE OF THE SWEEPSTAKES SITE, THE DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM THE SWEEPSTAKES SITE, THE REMOVAL FROM THE SWEEPSTAKES SITE OF, OR DISCONTINUATION OF ACCESS TO, ANY MATERIALS, OR THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE, OR MISUSE OF, OR ANY HARM RESULTING FROM THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF, OR PARTICIPATION IN, ANY PRIZE AWARDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SWEEPSTAKES.  WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE SWEEPSTAKES, ALL PRIZES, AND ALL MATERIALS PROVIDED ON OR THROUGH THE SITE ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.