Sparkle Stories Blog

In the story, "Gift of Sweetness" Sylvia chose a branch from an old dear tree for a magic wand! She cut off the parts she didn’t want to use and then painted the wand. Use this printable to design your own and then try it out on a real branch!

Three fun ideas for stick forts! This printable shows kids how to make forts by weaving saplings around trees, using a large branch for a lean-to, and stacking bundles of sticks with rope. Color these pictures in and then try it yourself!

While Martin & Sylvia are waiting for their dinner in a French restaurant in the story “Can’t Wait to Wait,” Mr. Weber suggests the children play a drawing game where each person draws only part of the figure. One draws the head, another the body, another the legs and the fourth draws the feet. We've created a printable for this fun activity!

Martin and Sylvia learn a creative way to “write” thank you notes in the *Martin & Sylvia: Saturdays!* story “Picture Thank You’s”. They draw pictures to represent the words in the card, and create a “key” so that the thank you note can be decoded! It’s fun for the creator and the reader.

This printable teaches kids to collect dried grass and bark and other soft natural materials to make little mouse houses next to stumps and big rocks.

Use these materials (or others you have on hand) to make a model of your town! In the story "Our Town" Daddy gives Martin & Sylvia clay, toothpicks and popsicle sticks to make a gazebo, a town hall and a police station. What will you build in your town?

In the story “Free Sledding,” Martin & Sylvia find the most fun way to sled is to make up your own unique ways of going down the hill. Here are some of their favorites - what are yours?

In the *Martin & Sylvia: Saturdays!* story, “A Proper Uniform”, Martin and Sylvia are inspired to create their own “Explorers” uniforms, complete with badges. With this printable, you can join their Explorers team. You'll find Martin & Sylvia's badges. There are also two plain ones so you can create your own.

You can make your own pesto using all sorts of ingredients: basil, arugula, or mint! Pine nuts, walnuts, or sunflower seeds! Plus oil, garlic and different cheeses. Use this printable project page to get you started.

You can make your own out of wooden clothes pins. Download this printable project page to learn how!