• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • About
  • Shop
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

teach mama logo

teach mama

helps families connect & build bridges between home & school, by amy mascott

  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

super snow day crafts: sock puppets!

home / Activities / foundations / pretend play / super snow day crafts: sock puppets!
21 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

Cora has fallen hard for her Laura Joffe Numeroff mini-library that arrived under our Christmas tree this year (and who wouldn’t?). Although we’ve had her books for years now, we’ve never had the mini-versions, and Cora really loves them.

In the spirit of If You Give A Moose A Muffin,ย  she’s been asking me to make sock puppets all month long.ย  Every single day.

So when the storms hit us this past week, and we were without power, before our fingers got too cold to move, we rocked the sock puppet for our little Cora.

And Cora was one happy gal.

  • Sock Puppets: I am no seamstress.ย  I am so far from a seamstress that it’s not even funny.ย  We don’t have a sewing machine, and I don’t know how to hem.ย  I can barely do buttons.ย ย  Maddy and I both beamed for days after our daisies and first day flowers, and that was (gulp) years ago now.

So these sock puppets took us time that I was not prepared for.ย  Luckily, we had no power, so we had all the (daylight) time in the world.ย  But they came out so cute, that it was well-worth our time. Maddy and Cora have had fun playing with them and doing their hair until their little arms get tired from holding their puppets up.

The lonely sock basket–a happy home for un-matched socks

We started by getting our sock basket–the home for all unmatched socks.ย  No time for sockย  sorting today.ย  We were on a mission to find the best socks for our sock puppets.

Cora checks out Moose’s sock puppets.ย  A little too tricky for us.

Cora grabbed If You Give A Moose A Muffin so we could see exactly what kind of sock puppets Moose and his buddy made. They’re animal puppets! Cora said.

Right. And after a little bit of convincing, she understood that they might be a little tricky for us to make.

Cora puts her eyes, nose, and mouth in place.

We can make girl puppets instead, I said.ย  Look at all the yarn we can use to make long, long hair.

We do have a ton of yarn from my wild and crazy scarf-knitting days. Who knew that years after knitting scarves, the leftover yarn would become sock puppet hair?

Rapunzel! Let’s make Rapunzel puppets! Cora had a new goal.

We pulled out a few reams of yarn, but the girls decided on thick brown yarn for their sock puppets’ hair. I made huge loops and secured the top with rubber bands.ย  Then the girls cut the loops from the bottom so that all the ‘hair’ hung loosely.

Weย  had enough loops so that if we braided the hair, each strand would be two pieces of yarn thick. It was perfectly perfect.

Cora cuts her sock puppet’s hair.

Maddy sewed her girl’s hair on, using whatever method she wanted, and she did a super job.ย  I didn’t really know of a great method, and neither did she. We were both just doing what we could to keep the hair secured.

Cora and Maddy chose eyes, noses, and mouths from a sewing kit that my mom made for Maddy, and the girls made tiny pencil dots where they wanted everything to go.

What we realized way too late was that our future sock puppets have to be made from adult-sized socks. I struggled trying to fit a needle and my big hands into the teeny socks they chose. But you live and learn, and I’m sure a more skilled crafter would have a better idea as to how to make this work.ย ย  I did not.

Maddy and Cora sat patiently as I tried and tried again, and occasionally they’d hang out in the living room where Owen was playing a Gobble It marathon with his dad.ย  He wasn’t feeling the sock puppets, and that’s cool; sock puppets are a hard sell when your dad’s home and is as much as a game-player as you.

Maddy’s sock puppet is ready to meet her sock puppet sister.

So we finished up the sockย  puppets, as our morning was almost over and it was time to get snow clothes on so we could head up to the sledding hill.

It was fun–a learning experience for us all–and great fine motor practice for Maddy with the bit of sewing and braiding she did.ย  Not to mention that the pretend play that comes along with dolls of any kind is a super way of passing time on a stuck-in-the-house, way-too-cold-to-go-out snowy morning.

I love that it was If You Give A Moose A Muffin–a book we’ve read dozens of times in the past but one that Cora saw with different eyes–little eyes that inspired us to craft it up with sock puppets.ย 

As with Cora Cooks Pancit, my tiniest really wants books to come alive for her in a way that I don’t recall with Maddy and Owen when they were her age. I’m sure it was because my hands were so full back then that I couldn’t even think about doing that for them, or perhaps it’s just the beauty of how different we all are, how we all see things with a slightly different set of eyes, that they never really thought that way.

Whatever it is, I’m enjoying the ride.

And remember, if you’d like to guest post on teach mama, sharing a way that just 1 book moved you or your family, let me know!ย  I’d love to share other ways that books inspire families to craft, travel, cook, whatever. . .

You May Also Like...

  • Navigating Education in a Time of Uncertainty: A Virtual Summit for Educators
    Navigating Education in a Time of Uncertainty: A Virtual Summit for Educators
  • Virtual Summit for Educators: Navigating the Online Classroom & Beyond
    Virtual Summit for Educators: Navigating the Online Classroom & Beyond
  • photo books for kids and family: 15 best, coolest, most clever and creative
    photo books for kids and family: 15 best, coolest, most clever and creative

About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro ยท http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

Previous Post:new for us friday: star fruit
Next Post:just 1 book: author guest postโ€“dawn little (and giveaway!)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brandy

    January 30, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    You’re such a good mom.

    Reply
    • amy

      January 30, 2011 at 7:36 pm

      As are you, my friend–we’re all just doing the best we can with what we have, right? And I just so happen to have a huge basket of un-matched socks and two girls who wanted puppets. :*)

      Reply
  2. Ticia

    January 30, 2011 at 5:43 pm

    I so want to know where you got a mini-library of these books! I love miniature books, and so does my daughter.

    Reply
    • amy

      January 30, 2011 at 7:35 pm

      Ticia–
      Costco had them at holiday time, but I’m not sure if they’re still around. . . five books, perfect size for tiny hands. Awesome.

      Reply
  3. Callie Feyen

    January 30, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    If You Give A Moose A Muffin is my favorite of her books. The pictures are hysterical!
    I am beyond impressed with those sock puppets. I don’t own a sewing machine and can’t hem either, but I think I might have to try these guys out. I linked to this post on my blog because I was writing about my puppet activity with my kiddos. I used plastic spoons and paper. ๐Ÿ™‚
    http://sit-a-while.blogspot.com/2011/01/not-by-hair-of-my-chinny-chin-chin.html

    Reply
    • amy

      January 31, 2011 at 8:40 am

      Callie–
      Thanks so much for your pat on the back–and for the link! Can’t wait to check out your puppets, from one non-seamstress to another! :*)

      Reply
  4. Susan @WhyMommy

    January 31, 2011 at 10:08 am

    Love this! What I love most about it, though, is how you reached OUT of your comfort zone to help your kids experience something new, and to gain the experience of making it themselves.

    Awesome!

    Reply
    • amy

      January 31, 2011 at 11:06 am

      Susan. Thanks, my friend. Means so much!! xoxo

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sidebar

amy mascott profile blog

join the coolest club around:

  • About
  • Contact
  • disclaimer
  • terms of use
  • privacy policy
  • Site-Map

Instagram


our books

setting the stage for rock-star readers
raise a reader

Find Us On Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Helpful Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us On Instagram

View
Open
UMD Womenโ€™s Basketball ROCKS!! โค๏ธ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ–ค๐Ÿ€

We absolutely love watching you play, @terpswbb !

We love watching you perform, @marylandcheer !

And @mightysoundofmd we love your music and your hilarious signs! ๐Ÿ˜ฌ๐Ÿ˜ณ

See you in Greenville! 

#terpsbasketball #terpswbb #umd #familyfun #marylandcheer #umdfamily
View
Open
Tomorrow is St. Patrickโ€™s Day!

Are you ready? 

https://shop.teachmama.com/

#saintpatricksfun #stpaddysforkids #familyfun #classroomactivities #teachmamashop
View
Open
This is how we use the St. Patrickโ€™s Day Brain Teaser Scavenger Hunt! ๐Ÿ€

Super easyโ€”and makes kids work a little for their golden chocolates! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Grab them here: https://shop.teachmama.com/product/st-patricks-day-scavenger-hunt-4-pack/

<< Tag a pal who needs to know about this and would LOVE to use it with kids or students! >>

#stpatricksdayfun #saintpaddysday #stpaddysforkids #stpatsfun #linkinbio
View
Open
and then there were six
๐Ÿฑ๐Ÿฆ๐ŸฆŠ๐Ÿฆ„๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฐ

thank you @thewoobles for giving my mind, heart, and hands something fun to do during a really challenging few months. 

#crochet #thewoobles #brainbreak #teachersanitysaver #shescrafty
View
Open
With great sadness, I'm writing to share that my brother-in-law, Jeff Mascott passed away from pancreatic cancer earlier this week--at home, surrounded by family and friends. 

The family is very grateful for the community's immeasurable help, encouragement, and prayers over the past several months since Jeff's diagnosis. 

Jeff's obituary will run this weekend in the Post: 
https://www.collinsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Jeff-Mascott?obId=27420280&fbclid=IwAR2YTRooCyaLTikfjLeqF4gM-GaB1amZI2OmVl1VtKLUOjWj3Wo4URD8lC8#/obituaryInfo
View
Open
Flowers and a basket of @traderjoes faves are salve for a tired and weepy soul. ๐ŸŒท

Thankful for great, longtime friends ๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›

#itshardtobeahuman #thankfulheart #wlhs4evah #teacherbffs
View
Open
Almost 30 years of friendship!! I love these smart, beautiful, strong and creative women who walked with me through my early days of teaching. 

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š

Thank you, Wilde Lake High School, for bringing us together way back when. 

๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›

Missed you, jigofjoy ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š

#weareteachers #andoneprincipal #wildelake #wlhs4evah #teacherbffs #wildelakehs #teachersofinstagram #celebratewewill
View
Open
Today marks the 4th time in 3 weeks that I have had to hang new Kindness Reminders Tear-off Sheets! 

Makes my heart ๐Ÿฅฐ!! 

Some kids come by every day and give one to a new person. Others take a bunch for the week. One 2nd grade girl comes by evey morning to tell me who she gave hers to the day before. 

Every little bit helps, friend. And every interaction matters!

#kindnessrocks #adoormadeforme #teachersofinstagram #makeadifference
View
Open
Best crew for one of the best @terpswbb games weโ€™ve seen all season! 

And of course super job by @marylandcheer and @mightysoundofmd too! 

#terpswbb #terpsbasketball #familyfun #marylandcheer

Copyright © 2023 ยท teach mama media, llc ยท All Rights Reserved

  • 5
21 shares