I have to admit that this has been a hard blog post to write friends. I was really excited to work on it last Thursday and tell you all about my Grandpa and Grandma Scott and their amazing pool area and flowers and hummingbird feeders. About how much I miss all of my grandma’s hummingbird clothing and jewelry. How they have been gone 20 years and there is nothing I want more than being able to spend another day with them.
However, that morning I got word that my Uncle Doug, my Grandpa and Grandma Scott’s youngest son and my Dad’s younger brother, had passed away. And so it has felt like losing that side of my family all over again. We do not get together with my Dad’s family like we did before they left us. We have not seen my Uncles as much as I would like. And now we have even less family to get together with.
The more I think about it, though, the more I needed to write this blog post this week. It’s like somehow I knew that I would need to feel my Grandparents close by. It’s like the hummingbird is now a reminder of another person that is hovering and watching from a distance. And I take a certain amount of comfort in that.
Thank you for your patience as I worked through my grief and finally got to the point where I can write a blog post to you again. I need this – probably far more than you do, if I’m being honest. Which I always strive to be. So, anyway, this one is for my Uncle Doug and my Grandpa and Grandma Scott. May we all always feel our loved ones hovering and watching.
Supply List
- Paper plate
- Brown and red paper
- Toothpick
- 2 google eyes
- Markers
- Scissors
- Glue
Step-by-Step Directions
For this craft, I start with folding the paper plate in half and then cutting it on the fold. In order to make things easier later on, I also fold the plate half in half, but I do not cut it yet.
After your plate is cut, it is time to color your hummingbird wings. There are hummingbirds in a rainbow of colors, so I pretty much go with whatever colors look good to me each time I make this. You could google a hummingbird photo if you want to make it look more realistic. It’s your hummingbird. For mine, I color it like a rainbow – lots of arches of different colors nestled together. This gives it the appearance of blurred wings moving quite quickly.
You should also choose a bright color for your toothpick beak. I color 3 sides of my toothpick since the other side will be glued down.
Now that your wings are colorful and dry, you can cut the plate half in half on the fold line.
The next cutting job is the body. It is shaped like a peanut or a bowling pin – or kind of like a Weeble if you are my age. I cut my free hand, but you could definitely make an 8 on your paper with a big bottom and little top and use that as a cutting guide.
Now it is time to make the ruby throat. Cut a half circle of red that is about the same as the distance across your hummingbird’s neck. I like to cut a sliver off the top to make it look like the throat is rounded.
At this point you should have everything you need to assemble this craft.
I attach the ruby throat first.
Then I glue the wings – kind of high in the body.
Next it is time for the toothpick beak and the eyes.
That’s it – your hummingbird friend is ready to display – or it will be as soon as all the glue dries.
As I say every week, my goal with this blog is to make sure that people leave each of my posts feeling equipped to practice articulation or phonics with their learner. So, I always have a game from my Teachers Pay Teachers store (Autumn Emigh Creative Communication Solutions) on special sale for you. This week, it is a game called “Hummingbird H Race.” The product includes instructions with a link to a digital Google Slides game. You also receive printable game boards in color and black and white. The digital and printable versions of the game contain the same initial /h/ words for your learner to practice. Get it until September 11th for half price – just $1.00!
Just click on the photo above or HERE to get your copy today! And be sure to fill out the form below to get on my email list. Not only are my email subscribers the first to know when each of my blog posts goes live, they also get information about products, events, and summits each week. I’ll always do my best to make it worthwhile for you to stick around, but it is super easy to unsubscribe if you ever wish to.
The final news I have for you this week is that I will be scaling back to a bi-weekly blog. When I started my job, I still had a lot of free time. As my caseload has grown, my free time has shrunk, and I no longer feel like I can offer you a quality product and blog every week. So, for now, every other week will have to do. I hope you get to see some beautiful nature this week – hummingbirds or otherwise! I will be back in two weeks with a Chalk Sunshine craft and a Sunshine Hidden Picture game!
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