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	Projects: Family Calendar Supplies: "the basics" Optional supplies: personal computer, scanner , ink jet printer. Getting started: There are a few ways to start this project with your kids. As always, decide on a theme first and work from there. Do you want each calendar page to be pictures of sailboats? Or horses? Or sports? Or would you rather have the kids create images that relate to the month itself (snowman for January, fireworks for July, pumpkins for October)? Maybe each month could be dedicated to a particular event happening...like someone's birthday or the birth of a new cousin or sibling. Next, have the children create images using your basic supplies. Try to mix it up a bit... do you have an art project saved from a previous school year? Does your child like to paint rather than draw with crayons? Indulge them and their imaginations. Does it really matter that Becky's dog only has three legs? No, it doesn't...and if Timmy wants to make the sky purple and green and the grass red, let him! The most basic of calendars can be completed with drawings on plain paper, but more exciting and individual calendars will incorporate collage, paintings, maybe even some images rendered on the computer. Apple computers have a drawing program in their Apple Works bundle and there are a few drawing programs your child may be familiar with, like KidPix (often used in schools and only for PC users). These programs are great for experimenting with scanned images and/ or photographs from digital camera. Another (and not-so-unique) idea is to use family photos for the calendar pages, again relating the imagery to the events of the month.
	Many computer word processing programs also have calendar templates that you can customize and print, adding in any special dates like birthdays, etc. I have included a hand made blank calendar page for you to experiment with (each square measures 1- 1/2"); kids would enjoy marking any special days with stickers or small drawings. Finishing touches: OK, so now that you have 13 great images (one for each month, plus one for the cover sheet, if desired), you're ready to put it all together. The easiest (and maybe the most costly) is to take the images to a copy shop (Staples or The UPS Store) and have them put it all together for you, including using a spiral binding at the top and punching a hole for hanging purposes. Are you more of a DIY-er? Take the images to the copy shop along with the calendar pages; tape them together along the 11" edge from the back side. You should now have an 11"x 17" page. Set the copy machine to 11"x 17" paper and make as many copies as needed (personalized calendars make great gifts), then secure with brass tabs at the top edge. Note: color copies are more expensive than regular black and white, but are cheaper than a new ink cartridge for your ink jet printer. << download calendar (pdf) << download calendar (Word Document)