I saw this great craft on Martha (or somewhere, I cannot find the original link now) that I thought would be a perfect one for me and the kids to do before Thanksgiving.  A vase with dried beans and peas glued to the outside - it might make a nice Thanksgiving centerpiece and it includes a lot of glue, which means that it will be something that the kids would enjoy.  I filled some small bowls and ramekins with a variety of beans and dried things and gave them each a jar and a bottle of glue.
 
Me: These are lentils, flat and brown.  These are split peas, flat and green.  Aren't they pretty?  These are pinto beans, speckly and brown.  These are black beans, and yes Sophie, they do look like coffee.  These are black-eyed peas, they can watch you wherever you walk in the room.

Martin: I'll take a pea.  (laughing and poking Sophie)
Me: Well here you go, share with Sophie.
Martin: I have to share my pea with Sophie? (laughing more)
Me: Yes, I only have one container.  Put it between the two of you.
Martin: More PEE for me!
Me: Oh, you.  I get it.  You're not even in school yet so I didn't see that coming.  Oh, haha, very funny.  SHARE THOSE DRIED UP PEAS AND GET YOUR GLUE OUT.

So, with that awesome start, we finally got going on the project. 

Sophie didn't want to turn the jar into a vase, only wanting to put beans on the flat bottom of the jar.


Martin definitely liked the glue, making puddles on the counter and gluing his beans and peas right there instead of on the jar.  I didn't notice it right away because I spent much of this activity trying to keep beans and peas from going down the heating duct on the floor.

Kid project rating: D for Don't try it, it Doesn't work well
Good thing matchup: Preschoolers - 0, Martha 1