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Preschool: crafts, science and games
Leaf-star wand Preschool · Craft · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: Cardboard from a cereal box; A few leaves, fresh or dry; White glue; A small paintbrush or a twig; A stick; Tape.
- A grown-up cuts a star from the cardboard.
- Brush glue over the star. A bundle of twigs makes a fun little "broom."
- Press leaf pieces all over the star, a little overlapped.
- Tape the stick to the back as a handle.
- Let it dry, then wave it and make up a spell.
Pairs well with a witch-and-broom picture book.
Where did the pumpkin's color go? Preschool / Kids · Science · 15 min · Adult helps
You need: White paper; Orange, green and black markers; A clear zip bag; A clear tub or big bowl of water; A paper towel.
- Draw a big orange pumpkin on the paper. Add a green stem.
- Slide the paper into the zip bag, press out the air and seal it.
- Hold the bag over the tub, then lower it slowly into the water.
- Look at the pumpkin through the water. Does the orange look faded?
- Lift the bag out and look again. Where did the color go?
It is a light-bending (refraction) trick: light bends as it moves through water and plastic. Marker types can change the result, so test one first.
Sticker rainbow Preschool · Craft · 10 min
You need: Paper; Stickers or dot stickers; A crayon.
- Draw three or four curved stripes, like a rainbow.
- Use red, orange, yellow and green stickers, one color per stripe.
- Press the stickers along the stripes.
- Say each color out loud as you go.
Torn-paper mosaic Preschool · Craft · 20 min
You need: Colored paper or old magazine pages; A glue stick; Plain paper.
- Tear the paper into small pieces. Tearing is great finger practice.
- Sort the pieces by color.
- Rub glue on the paper in a big shape, like a circle or a heart.
- Press the pieces on until the shape is full.
Sponge-stamp shapes Preschool · Craft · 15 min · Adult helps
You need: An old kitchen sponge; Washable paint on a plate; Paper.
- A grown-up cuts the sponge into a square, a circle and a triangle.
- Dip one shape into a thin layer of paint.
- Stamp it on the paper. Make a row, then a pattern.
- Name the shapes you made.
White-crayon secret picture Preschool · Craft · 15 min
You need: A white crayon; White paper; Watery paint; A brush.
- Draw a picture with the white crayon. Press hard.
- Paint over the whole page with watery paint.
- Watch your picture pop out as the paint slides off the wax.
Coffee-filter butterfly Preschool · Craft · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: A coffee filter; Washable markers; A spray bottle or a dropper of water; A clothespin or pipe cleaner.
- Color the filter with bold dots and lines.
- A grown-up sprays or drips a little water on it so the colors spread.
- Let it dry flat.
- Pinch it in the middle with the clothespin to make wings.
Tape-resist painting Preschool · Craft · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: Painter's tape or masking tape; Paper; Washable paint; A brush.
- Press strips of tape across the paper in any pattern.
- Paint over the whole page, tape and all.
- While it is still damp, a grown-up peels off the tape.
- Look at the clean lines left behind.
Floor-tape road Preschool · Game · 20 min
You need: Painter's tape; Toy cars; Three or four wooden blocks.
- Stick tape on the floor in long, winding roads.
- Add a loop, a bridge made from a block and a parking spot.
- Drive a car along the road. Say "stop" and "go" together.
- Add one new road each time you play, like a tunnel.
Sock puppet Preschool · Craft · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: A clean sock; Paper scraps; Strong glue or tape; Yarn; A marker.
- Slip the sock on your hand so your fingers make the mouth.
- A grown-up glues on paper eyes, a nose and a tongue.
- Add yarn for hair.
- Let it dry, then give your puppet a name and a voice.
Paper-bag puppet Preschool · Craft · 15 min
You need: A paper lunch bag; Crayons; Paper scraps; A glue stick.
- Lay the bag flat with the fold at the top.
- Draw a face on the flap, with the mouth right at the fold.
- Glue on paper ears or hair.
- Put your hand inside and make it talk.
Tube binoculars Preschool · Craft · 15 min · Adult helps
You need: Two cardboard tubes; Tape; Yarn; Crayons.
- Tape the two tubes side by side.
- Color them any way you like.
- Tape a loop of yarn on to wear around your neck.
- Go on a "look and find" walk.
Egg-carton caterpillar Preschool · Craft · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: An egg carton; Scissors; Paint; A pipe cleaner.
- A grown-up cuts the carton into a strip of six cups.
- Paint the cups in bright colors and let them dry.
- A grown-up pokes a pipe-cleaner feeler into the front.
- Cut a green paper leaf and let your caterpillar crawl to it.
Animal mask Preschool · Craft · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: A paper plate; Crayons; Elastic or yarn; Paper scraps.
- A grown-up cuts two eye holes in the plate.
- Color it like your favorite animal.
- Glue on paper ears.
- Tie on yarn or tape on a stick, then move and sound like your animal.
Finger painting in a bag Preschool · Craft · 10 min
You need: A zip bag; Washable paint; Tape.
- Squeeze a few blobs of paint into the bag. Press out the air and seal it.
- Tape the bag flat to a table or window.
- Press and squish to mix the colors.
- Trace letters or shapes with a fingertip.
No mess to clean up.
Color-ice painting Preschool · Craft · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: An ice cube tray; Water; Food coloring; Craft sticks; Paper.
- Fill the tray with water and add a drop of color to each cup.
- Stand a craft stick in each one and freeze for a few hours.
- Slide an ice cube across paper like a crayon.
- Watch the colors blend as the ice melts.
Magnet fishing Preschool · Game · 15 min · Adult helps
You need: Paper; Paper clips; A big magnet; String; A stick.
- Draw fish on paper and cut them out. Clip a paper clip on each.
- Tie the string to the stick, then tie the magnet to the end.
- Spread the fish on the floor like a pond.
- Catch one, name its color and count your catch.
Use a big magnet and keep it away from kids who mouth things.
Sink or float Preschool · Science · 15 min
You need: A tub or bowl of water; A spoon, a lid, a leaf, a sponge, a rock and a toy; A towel.
- Gather the six things from the list.
- Guess for each one: sink or float?
- Drop them in one at a time.
- Sort them into two piles, then talk about why.
Skip anything small enough to swallow.
Rainbow walking water Preschool · Science · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: Six clear cups; Water; Red, yellow and blue food coloring; Paper towels.
- Set the cups in a circle. Fill every other cup with water.
- Add red, yellow and blue to three of the full cups.
- Fold a paper towel strip and set one end in each cup, one full and one empty side by side.
- Wait and watch the color climb the paper towel.
- See the new colors appear in the empty cups.
It takes about 15 minutes to start and a few hours to finish.
Shadow tracing Preschool · Nature · 20 min
You need: A sunny day; Paper; Crayons or chalk; A toy or two.
- Set a toy on the paper outside in the sun.
- Trace the edge of its shadow.
- Come back in an hour. Did the shadow move?
- Trace it again in a different color.
Color hunt bag Preschool · Game · 20 min
You need: A paper bag or basket.
- Pick red, blue or green for the day.
- Walk around the house or yard and find things that color.
- Put the safe ones in the bag.
- Pull them out and name each one. Pick a new color and go again.
Mystery touch bag Preschool · Game · 10 min
You need: A cloth bag or pillowcase; A few safe items like a spoon, sponge, leaf and soft sock.
- Hide the items in the bag without showing.
- Reach in and feel one. Describe it: bumpy, soft, cold.
- Guess what it is.
- Pull it out to check.
Laundry-basket toss Preschool · Game · 10 min
You need: A basket; Rolled-up socks; Tape.
- Put a tape line on the floor.
- Stand behind it and toss socks into the basket.
- Count how many land inside.
- Step back and try again.
Painted-rock friends Preschool · Craft · 25 min · Adult helps
You need: Smooth rocks; Washable paint or paint pens; A brush.
- Wash and dry the rocks.
- Paint a base color and let it dry.
- Add faces, dots or stripes.
- Line your rock friends up on a windowsill.
Skip this one for kids who still mouth small rocks.
Handprint animals Preschool · Craft · 15 min
You need: Washable paint; Paper; Wet wipes; Crayons.
- Paint your palm and press it on paper. Wipe your hand clean.
- Turn the print into an animal. Fingers can be feathers, a mane or a tail.
- Add eyes and feet with a crayon.
- Write the date on the back.
Big-pasta necklace Preschool · Craft · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: Large tube pasta; Yarn; Tape; Markers.
- Wrap tape around one end of the yarn to make a stiff tip.
- Color the pasta with markers if you like.
- Thread the pasta on the yarn and make a pattern.
- A grown-up ties the ends.
For kids who do not chew on things. Watch closely.
Bubble-wrap print Preschool · Craft · 15 min
You need: Bubble wrap; Washable paint; Paper; A brush.
- Paint a thin layer on the bumpy side of the wrap.
- Press it on paper and peel it away.
- Try a new color on top.
Fork-print flowers Preschool · Craft · 15 min
You need: A plastic fork; Washable paint; Paper; A green marker.
- Dip the back of the fork in paint.
- Press it down in a circle to make petals.
- Draw a stem and leaves with the marker.
- Make 5 flowers to fill the page.
Paper-bag owl Preschool · Craft · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: A paper lunch bag; Paper scraps; Glue; Crayons.
- Fold the top of the bag down to make a head.
- Draw big eyes on circles of paper and glue them on.
- Add a triangle beak and little wings.
- Stand it up and say "who, who!"
Shape train Preschool · Craft · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: Colored paper; Scissors; Glue; A big sheet of paper.
- A grown-up cuts out squares, circles and triangles.
- Glue a long strip across the sheet for the track.
- Build train cars from the shapes.
- Name each shape as you glue it.
Cereal-box puzzle Preschool · Craft · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: An empty cereal box; Markers; Scissors.
- Cut off the front of the box. Turn it so the plain side faces up.
- Color a big, bold picture.
- A grown-up cuts it into five or six big pieces.
- Mix them up and put the picture back together.
Wet-chalk drawing Preschool · Craft · 15 min
You need: Sidewalk chalk; A cup of water.
- Dip the chalk in the water for a few seconds.
- Draw on the sidewalk or on dark paper.
- Compare a dry line with a wet one.
Water painting walk Preschool · Nature · 15 min
You need: A paintbrush; A cup of water.
- Take the brush and cup outside.
- Paint the fence, the steps and a rock with plain water.
- Watch it disappear in the sun. Which spot dries first?
Ribbon dance Preschool · Game · 15 min · Adult helps
You need: Ribbons or strips of cloth; A stick or cardboard tube; Tape; Music.
- Tape the ribbons to the stick.
- Play some music.
- Swirl slow, then fast, high, then low.
- Freeze when the music stops.
Number cups Preschool · Game · 15 min
You need: Five paper cups; A marker; Large pasta or dry beans.
- Write 1 to 5 on the cups, and draw that many dots on each.
- Count out that many pieces into each cup.
- Check by counting out loud.
- Mix them up and do it again.
Watch kids who still taste things.
Matching shakers Preschool · Game · 15 min · Adult helps
You need: Pairs of small containers with lids; Rice, dry beans or pasta; Tape.
- A grown-up fills two containers with the same thing and tapes the lids shut. Do this with three kinds.
- Mix up all the shakers.
- Shake each one and listen.
- Find the matching pairs.
Muffin-tin color sort Preschool · Game · 10 min
You need: A muffin tin; Colored paper squares; Blocks, buttons or crayons in 4 colors.
- Put a different color of paper in each cup.
- Find things around the house to match.
- Sort them into the cups.
- Say each color out loud.
Pillow obstacle course Preschool · Game · 15 min
You need: Pillows; A blanket; Some chairs or a table.
- Set pillows to hop over and a blanket tunnel to crawl through.
- Add a line of tape to walk like a tightrope.
- Do the course as a different animal each time.
Keep it on a soft floor.
Leaf people Preschool · Nature · 20 min
You need: Fallen leaves; A glue stick; Paper; A marker.
- Collect leaves of different shapes.
- Arrange them into a person or an animal on the paper.
- Glue them down.
- Add faces and hands with a marker.
Stained-glass window Preschool · Craft · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: Clear contact paper; Tissue paper scraps; Tape; Scissors.
- A grown-up tapes the contact paper to a window, sticky side out.
- Tear or cut tissue scraps.
- Press them on the sticky side in any pattern.
- Look at the colors when the sun shines through.
Salt-and-glue painting Preschool · Craft · 25 min · Adult helps
You need: Cardstock; White glue; Table salt; Watery paint or food coloring; A brush or dropper.
- A grown-up squeezes a glue line drawing on the cardstock.
- Sprinkle salt over all of the glue and tip off the extra.
- Touch a wet, colorful brush to the salt and watch the color travel.
- Dry it flat for a day.
Blow-paint monsters Preschool · Craft · 15 min · Adult helps
You need: Watery paint; A straw; Paper; A marker.
- Drip a blob of watery paint on the paper.
- Blow through the straw to push the paint into legs and arms. Blow out, never suck in.
- Let it dry.
- Add eyes and a mouth to turn it into a monster.
Toy-car track painting Preschool · Craft · 20 min
You need: Washable paint; Toy cars; A shallow tray; Paper.
- Pour a little paint in the tray.
- Roll the car wheels through the paint.
- Drive across the paper to leave tracks.
- Try a different car for each color.
Countdown paper chain Preschool · Craft · 15 min · Adult helps
You need: Colored paper strips; A glue stick or tape.
- Make a loop from the first strip.
- Link another strip through it and close it.
- Make one loop for each day until something fun.
- Pull off one link each morning.
Cardboard box house Preschool · Craft · 30 min · Adult helps
You need: A large cardboard box; Markers; Scissors; Tape.
- A grown-up cuts a door and a window.
- Draw bricks, doors and flowers on the outside.
- Add a blanket for a rug.
- Move in a stuffed friend or two.
Nature walk bracelet Preschool · Nature · 15 min · Adult helps
You need: Wide clear tape; Flat leaves, petals and grass.
- A grown-up wraps tape around your wrist, sticky side out, so it slips off easily.
- Walk and press flat treasures onto the tape.
- Show the bracelet to someone, then peel it off.
Paper-plate sun Preschool · Craft · 15 min · Adult helps
You need: A paper plate; Yellow and orange paper; Glue; A crayon.
- Color the plate yellow.
- Cut paper strips for rays.
- Glue the rays around the edge.
- Draw a happy face in the middle.
Preschool: more words of the day
- gentle: Soft and careful, not rough.
- giant: Super big.
- tiny: Very, very small.
- whisper: Talk in a very quiet voice.
- wiggle: Move with little quick wobbles.
- bumpy: Full of lumps, not smooth.
- sparkle: Shine with tiny flashes of light.
- tiptoe: Walk quietly on your toes.
- fluffy: Soft and puffy, like a cloud.
- sticky: Hard to pull off or apart.
- slippery: Smooth and wet, so things slide.
- crunchy: Crackly when you bite it.
- shiny: Bright and glossy in the light.
- spin: Turn around and around.
- tumble: Roll over and over.
- build: Put pieces together to make something.
- patient: Calm while you wait.
- empty: Nothing is inside.
- heavy: Hard to lift.
- above: Higher than something else.
- below: Lower than something else.
- beside: Right next to something.
- between: In the middle of two things.
- through: In one side and out the other.
- zoom: Move very fast.
- quiet: Making little or no sound.
- noisy: Loud.
- cloudy: Covered with clouds.
- windy: Full of moving air.
- chilly: Cool enough for a sweater.
- sleepy: Ready for a nap.
- silly: Funny and playful.
- grumpy: Cranky and in a bad mood.
- cheerful: Happy and bright.
- tidy: Neat, with everything in its place.
- messy: Not neat.
- gallop: Run fast, like a horse.
- slither: Slide along like a snake.
- flutter: Flap lightly and quickly.
- twinkle: Shine with little blinking lights.
- echo: A sound that bounces back.
- freckle: A tiny brown dot on skin.
- rumble: A low, rolling sound.
- puzzle: A game of pieces that fit together.
- bounce: to spring up and down, like a ball. Bounce three times!
- giggle: a happy little laugh.
- tickle: a light touch that makes you wiggle and laugh.
- squish: to press something soft until it goes flat.
- twirl: to spin around and around.
- pretend: to make believe something is real.
- listen: to use your ears to hear carefully.
- huge: very, very big.
- balance: to stay steady without tipping over.
- scoop: to lift something up with a spoon or your hand.
- stack: to put things one on top of another.
- sort: to put things into groups that match.
- shape: what an object looks like around its edges.
- circle: a round shape with no corners.
- triangle: a shape with three sides and three corners.
- mirror: glass that shows you your own face.
- shadow puppet: a shadow shaped by your hands.
- crinkle: the noise paper makes when you squeeze it.
- chirp: the short, high sound a little bird makes.
- hop: to jump on one foot, or like a bunny.
- skip: to move forward with a step and a hop.
- march: to walk in a strong, steady beat.
- peek: to take a quick look.
- snack: a small bite to eat between meals.
- juicy: full of liquid, like an orange.
- sweet: tastes like sugar or honey.
- sour: a sharp taste, like a lemon.
- brush: a tool with bristles for painting or tidying hair.
- button: a small round thing that holds clothes closed.
- zipper: a pull that closes a coat.
- sock: soft cover for your foot.
- bubble wrap: plastic with little air pockets you can pop.
- splat: the sound of something soft landing flat.
Kids: crafts, science and games
Where did the pumpkin's color go? Preschool / Kids · Science · 15 min · Adult helps
You need: White paper; Orange, green and black markers; A clear zip bag; A clear tub or big bowl of water; A paper towel.
- Draw a big orange pumpkin on the paper. Add a green stem.
- Slide the paper into the zip bag, press out the air and seal it.
- Hold the bag over the tub, then lower it slowly into the water.
- Look at the pumpkin through the water. Does the orange look faded?
- Lift the bag out and look again. Where did the color go?
It is a light-bending (refraction) trick: light bends as it moves through water and plastic. Marker types can change the result, so test one first.
Paper airplane test lab Kids · Science · 30 min
You need: Several sheets of paper; A tape measure or ruler; A pencil and paper for notes.
- Fold three different airplanes, one with wide wings, one with narrow wings and one with a bent-up tip.
- Guess which will fly farthest.
- Throw each one three times from the same spot and measure each flight.
- Write down the distances and find the winner.
- Change one thing on the winner, like adding a paper clip, and test again.
Balloon-powered car Kids · Science · 40 min · Adult helps
You need: A small cardboard box or milk carton; Four bottle caps; Two straws; Two wooden skewers; A balloon; Tape.
- A grown-up pokes the skewers through the straws and sets them across the box bottom as axles.
- Tape a bottle cap wheel onto each skewer end.
- Tape a balloon to the end of a straw and tape the straw to the top of the car so it points backward.
- Blow up the balloon through the straw, pinch it and set the car down.
- Let go and watch it zoom. Measure how far it goes.
Secret code wheel Kids · Game · 25 min · Adult helps
You need: Two paper plates or cardstock circles, one smaller; A pencil; A brad or a pin; Scissors.
- Draw 26 equal sections around the edge of each circle.
- Write A to Z around the big circle and again around the small one.
- A grown-up pins the small circle on the center of the big one.
- Turn the small wheel to line up A with another letter, and write a short message using the matching letters.
- Share the starting letter with a friend, who can decode it.
Lava lamp in a jar Kids · Science · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: A clear jar or bottle; Water; Vegetable oil; Food coloring; Salt.
- Fill the jar about a quarter full of water. Add a few drops of food coloring.
- Pour in oil until the jar is almost full. Let it settle.
- Sprinkle a pinch of salt on top and watch the colored blobs sink and rise.
- Keep sprinkling and watching.
Water and oil do not mix. The salt pulls drops of oil down, then they float back up.
Invisible ink Kids · Science · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: Lemon juice and a little water; A cotton swab or small brush; White paper; A lamp or a warm sunny window.
- Mix equal parts lemon juice and water in a small dish.
- Dip the swab and write a message on the paper. Let it dry completely.
- A grown-up holds the paper near a warm lightbulb or in strong sun.
- Watch the message turn brown.
Never use a bulb that is too hot to touch for long.
Plant a bean in a jar Kids · Science · 15 min
You need: A clear jar; Paper towels; A dry bean; Water.
- Wad up paper towels and fit them snugly against the inside of the jar.
- Pour in a little water so the towels are damp.
- Tuck a bean between the glass and the paper towel.
- Keep the towels damp and watch for roots, then a sprout, over a week or two.
- Draw what you see each day.
Comic strip story Kids · Craft · 30 min
You need: Paper; A ruler; Pencils and markers.
- Draw six boxes in two rows.
- Think up a character, like a lost robot, and one problem they have.
- Sketch what happens in each box. Keep the words short.
- Ink the lines and color it in.
- Read the comic aloud to someone.
Friendship bracelet Kids · Craft · 40 min
You need: Three or more colors of embroidery thread or yarn; Tape or a clipboard; Scissors.
- Cut strands about an arm's length and knot them together at one end. Tape the knot to a table.
- Divide into three groups of strands, one color each.
- Braid them over and under until the bracelet fits your wrist.
- Knot the end and trim the extra.
Cardboard loom weaving Kids · Craft · 40 min · Adult helps
You need: A piece of cardboard; Yarn; Scissors; A big plastic needle.
- A grown-up cuts small notches along the top and bottom edges of the cardboard.
- Wrap the yarn up and down through the notches to make the warp.
- Thread a second strand through the needle and weave over and under.
- Push each row snugly together.
- Tie off the end and tuck it in.
Straw rocket Kids · Science · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: Paper; A straw; Tape; Scissors; A pencil.
- Wrap paper around the pencil and tape it into a tube.
- Pinch one end of the tube closed and tape it shut. Add paper fins.
- Slide the tube over the straw.
- Blow hard through the straw and watch the rocket launch.
Aim away from faces.
Cartesian diver Kids · Science · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: A clear plastic bottle with a cap; A medicine dropper or a small pen cap; Water.
- Fill the bottle almost to the top with water.
- Fill the dropper partly with water so it just floats on top.
- Drop it in the bottle and cap it tightly.
- Squeeze the bottle and watch the diver sink. Let go and watch it rise.
Squeezing pushes water into the dropper, so it gets heavier.
Paper bridge challenge Kids · Science · 30 min
You need: Sheets of paper; Two stacks of books; Coins; Tape.
- Set two stacks of books about 8 inches apart.
- Lay a flat sheet across them. How many coins can it hold?
- Fold, roll or pleat another sheet to make it stronger.
- Test it and compare. Which shape holds the most?
Make a board game Kids · Game · 45 min
You need: Cardboard; Markers; A die; Coins, buttons or bottle caps for game pieces.
- Pick a theme, like a jungle trip or a space race, and a finish square.
- Draw a winding path of squares on the board.
- Color 3 squares green for bonus and 3 red for trouble.
- Write the rules on a card.
- Play with a friend and fix anything unfair.
Salt-dough ornaments Kids · Craft · 60 min · Adult helps
You need: 1 cup flour; 1/2 cup salt; 1/2 cup water; A rolling pin; Cookie cutters; A straw.
- Mix the flour, salt and water into a dough.
- Roll it out about as thick as a pencil.
- Cut shapes and poke a hole at the top with the straw.
- A grown-up bakes them on low for a few hours until hard. Let them cool.
- Paint and add yarn loops.
Not for eating. It tastes very salty.
Layered liquid tower Kids · Science · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: A tall clear glass; Honey; Dish soap; Water with food coloring; Vegetable oil.
- Pour the honey into the glass.
- Slowly pour in the dish soap down the side of the glass.
- Add the colored water the same way.
- Pour in the oil last.
- Drop a small, safe item like a grape and see where it stops.
Liquids have different densities, so they stack.
Newspaper hat Kids · Craft · 20 min
You need: Two sheets of newspaper; Tape; Markers.
- Fold one sheet in half.
- Fold the top corners down to meet in the middle.
- Fold the bottom strips up on both sides and tuck them.
- Open it and decorate. Wear it for a parade.
Paper quilling Kids · Craft · 30 min · Adult helps
You need: Thin strips of colored paper; Glue; A toothpick; Cardstock.
- Roll a strip tightly around the toothpick and slide it off.
- Let it loosen a little and glue the end.
- Pinch it into a teardrop, leaf or square.
- Glue the shapes to the cardstock to make a flower or animal.
Treasure map Kids · Craft · 30 min · Adult helps
You need: Paper; A tea bag and warm water; Pencils; Markers.
- A grown-up dips the tea bag in warm water and dabs the paper to make it look old. Let it dry flat.
- Sketch your backyard or a park with landmarks.
- Mark an X for the treasure and add a compass.
- Hide a small prize and trade maps with a friend.
Sundial Kids · Science · 30 min
You need: A paper plate; A pencil; A sunny day; A watch or clock; Markers.
- Poke the pencil through the center of the plate so it stands up.
- Set the plate in a sunny, flat spot.
- Every hour, mark where the shadow falls and write the time.
- After a few hours you have your own clock. Use it to tell the time the next sunny day.
Pinhole viewer Kids · Science · 30 min · Adult helps
You need: A box with a lid; Foil; A pin; Wax paper; Tape.
- A grown-up cuts a square window in one end of the box.
- Tape foil over it and poke a tiny hole with the pin.
- Tape wax paper over a window at the other end.
- Point the foil end toward a bright scene and look through the other end. The picture appears upside down.
Never look at the sun.
Tin-can phone Kids · Science · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: Two clean cans; String; A nail and hammer; Tape.
- A grown-up pokes a hole in the bottom of each can and smooths any sharp edges with tape.
- Thread the string through both holes and knot the ends inside.
- Stand apart until the string is tight.
- Talk into one can while a friend listens to the other.
Bottle mini greenhouse Kids · Nature · 30 min · Adult helps
You need: A clear plastic bottle; Scissors; Soil; Seeds; Water.
- A grown-up cuts the bottle in half.
- Fill the bottom with soil and plant a few seeds.
- Water lightly and set the top back on like a lid.
- Put it in a sunny window and keep the soil damp.
- Draw the sprouts as they grow.
Shoebox diorama Kids · Craft · 45 min · Adult helps
You need: A shoebox; Paper; Glue; Markers; Scraps and toy figures.
- Pick a scene from a book, a habitat or a place you imagine.
- Paint or color the inside of the box for the background.
- Fold and glue paper tabs to stand up trees, rocks and animals.
- Add small details. Write a short title card.
Origami fortune teller Kids · Game · 15 min
You need: A square sheet of paper; A pencil.
- Fold the square in half both ways, then fold all four corners to the middle.
- Flip it over and fold the corners to the middle again.
- Fold in half and slide your thumbs and fingers under the flaps.
- Write colors on the outside, numbers inside and a fun task under each flap.
Weigh it: flour or sugar? Kids · Kitchen · 40 min · Adult helps
You need: Flour; Sugar; Measuring cups and spoons; A bowl; A kitchen scale (optional).
- Measure 1 cup of flour, then weigh it if you have a scale.
- Measure 1 cup of sugar and compare the weights.
- Guess which will be heavier. Check.
- Use the same measurements in a simple recipe.
Rock candy crystals Kids · Science · 30 min · Adult helps
You need: A cup of water; 3 cups sugar; A jar; A skewer; A clothespin.
- A grown-up heats the water and stirs in the sugar until it dissolves. Let it cool a few minutes.
- Pour the syrup into the jar.
- Hang the skewer from the clothespin so it dips in without touching the bottom.
- Wait a few days and watch crystals grow.
Magic milk painting Kids · Science · 15 min
You need: Milk in a shallow dish; Food coloring; A cotton swab; Dish soap.
- Pour a thin layer of milk on a plate.
- Drop in a few colors.
- Dip a swab in dish soap and touch it to the milk.
- Watch the colors burst and swirl.
Parachute drop Kids · Science · 40 min · Adult helps
You need: A plastic bag or cloth; String; A small toy; Tape; A safe spot to drop from.
- Cut a square from a plastic bag.
- Tie a string to each corner and tie all four to a small toy.
- Fold it up and toss it into the air.
- Time how long it takes to fall and try different sizes.
Book spine poem Kids · Craft · 20 min
You need: A stack of books; Paper; A pencil.
- Stack six to ten books so the spines read as lines.
- Write the titles in order, top to bottom.
- Read it aloud. Does it make a poem?
- Swap books around to make a new one.
Rain gauge Kids · Science · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: A clear plastic bottle; Scissors; A ruler; Tape; Pebbles.
- A grown-up cuts the top off the bottle and flips it upside down in the base like a funnel.
- Put a few pebbles in the bottom so it stays put, then tape the ruler on the side.
- Set it outside away from trees and the roof.
- After each rain, read how much fell and write it down.
Paper pinwheel Kids · Craft · 15 min
You need: A square of paper; Scissors; A pencil with an eraser; A pushpin or thumbtack; A ruler.
- Draw lines from each corner almost to the middle. Cut along the lines.
- Pick up every other corner and fold it to the center without creasing.
- A grown-up pins the points to the pencil eraser through the center.
- Blow on it or run outside and watch it spin.
Pins are sharp. A grown-up does the pinning, then the pin stays hidden behind the paper.
Marble run Kids · Game · 30 min
You need: Paper towel tubes or paper strips; Tape; A box or a wall; A marble or small ball.
- Tape two or three tubes to a box or a wall at a downhill slant.
- Line up the ends so a marble rolls out of one and into the next.
- Roll the marble from the top and watch where it goes.
- Change one slope and race it again. Which was faster?
Keep marbles away from little siblings who still put things in their mouths.
Flipbook animation Kids · Craft · 25 min
You need: A stack of sticky notes or small paper; A pencil; A marker.
- Draw a tiny picture on the last page of the pad, like a ball at the left edge.
- On the page before it, draw the same picture a little farther along.
- Keep going backward, moving it a tiny bit each page.
- Flip the pages with your thumb and watch it move.
Orange-half bird feeder Kids · Nature · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: An orange; A spoon; String or yarn; Birdseed.
- A grown-up cuts the orange in half. Scoop out the fruit and eat it.
- Poke three small holes near the rim and thread a string through each.
- Tie the strings together at the top.
- Fill the peel with birdseed and hang it from a branch.
- Sit quietly nearby and count the visitors.
Hang it where cats cannot reach. Take it down when it gets moldy.
Floating-needle compass Kids · Science · 20 min · Adult helps
You need: A sewing needle; A bar magnet or fridge magnet; A leaf or a bit of cork; A bowl of water; A real compass to check.
- A grown-up strokes the needle along one end of the magnet 30 times in the same direction.
- Float the leaf in the water and lay the needle on top.
- Wait for it to settle and point.
- Check it against a real compass. Which way is north?
The needle is sharp. A grown-up handles it, and it goes back in a safe place after.
Static-electricity butterfly Kids · Science · 15 min
You need: Tissue paper; Scissors; A balloon; A wool sweater or your hair.
- Cut two small butterfly shapes from tissue paper.
- Blow up the balloon and rub it on the sweater for 20 seconds.
- Hold the balloon just above the butterflies.
- Watch them lift and flutter up to it.
- Try different weights of paper. What lifts best?
Backyard scavenger bingo Kids · Game · 30 min
You need: Paper; A pencil; A ruler; A pencil crayon or marker.
- Draw a grid of 9 squares, 3 by 3.
- Write one thing to find in each: a smooth rock, a feather, a yellow flower, something round, a bug, a leaf with holes, and so on.
- Go outside and check off squares as you find them.
- Get three in a row for bingo, then try to fill the whole card.
Story dice game Kids · Game · 20 min
You need: Paper; A pencil; Scissors; A small box or cup.
- Cut 18 small squares of paper.
- Write a character on six of them, a place on six and a problem on six.
- Put them in the box and pull one of each.
- Tell a short story using all three, out loud or on paper.
Take turns. Everyone picks a card and adds one sentence.
Walking rainbow Kids · Science · 20 min
You need: Six clear cups; Water; Red, yellow and blue food coloring or washable markers; Paper towels.
- Set cups in a circle. Fill the first, third and fifth with water and color them red, yellow and blue.
- Fold six paper towel strips in half lengthwise.
- Put one end in a colored cup and one end in the next empty cup, all the way around.
- Wait ten minutes and watch the color climb up the paper and fill the empty cups with new colors.
Washable markers work too: draw on the strip and let it dip in plain water.
Pop-up card Kids · Craft · 25 min
You need: Paper or card stock; Scissors; Glue; Markers.
- Fold a sheet in half like a card.
- Cut two short slits in the fold, a thumb-width apart, and fold that piece forward.
- Close the card and press the fold firmly so it pops forward inside.
- Glue a drawing onto the pop-up piece, like a cake or a bird.
- Decorate the front and give it to someone.
Weather journal Kids · Nature · 15 min
You need: Paper; A pencil; A ruler; A pencil crayon.
- Rule a chart with a row for each day of the week.
- Add columns for sky, wind, temperature and your own feeling about the day.
- Check the weather at the same time each day and fill in a row.
- At the end of the week, find the most common weather. Make a graph of it.
Kids: more words of the day
- gigantic: Extremely big.
- persist: Keep trying and do not give up.
- brilliant: Very bright, or very smart.
- fragile: Easy to break.
- scatter: Throw or spread around in many directions.
- ponder: Think about something carefully.
- enormous: Very large.
- vanish: Disappear.
- sturdy: Strong and not easily broken.
- glimpse: A quick look.
- wander: Walk around with no plan.
- adventure: An exciting trip or experience.
- imagine: Make a picture in your mind.
- explore: Go somewhere to find out about it.
- predict: Say what you think will happen.
- estimate: Make a good guess about an amount.
- evidence: Facts that help show something is true.
- balance: Staying steady without tipping over.
- honest: Telling the truth.
- determined: Not letting anything stop you.
- cooperate: Work together.
- synonym: A word that means almost the same as another.
- antonym: A word that means the opposite.
- metaphor: Saying one thing is another to make a picture.
- rhyme: Words that end with the same sound.
- character: A person or animal in a story.
- illustrate: Draw pictures for a story or idea.
- pattern: Something that repeats in a set order.
- fraction: A part of a whole.
- average: The usual amount in the middle.
- perimeter: The distance around the edge of a shape.
- sequence: Things in a set order.
- compare: Look at how things are alike and different.
- curiosity: A strong wish to learn.
- crafty: Good at making things, or sneaky.
- meadow: A grassy field.
- canyon: A deep valley with steep sides.
- archaeologist: A scientist who studies old things people left behind.
- experiment: a fair test to find something out.
- volume: how much space something takes up, or how loud it is.
- mass: how much stuff something is made of.
- friction: the rubbing that slows things down when they touch.
- magnet: a metal object that pulls on iron.
- static: a small build-up of electric charge that makes hair stand up.
- reaction: what happens when things mix and change.
- dissolve: to mix into a liquid until you cannot see it.
- vibrate: to shake back and forth very fast.
- echo: a sound that bounces back to you.
- spectrum: all the colors of a rainbow, in order.
- molecule: a tiny group of atoms joined together.
- atom: the tiny building block of everything.
- continent: one of the seven huge land areas on Earth.
- equator: the imaginary line around the middle of the Earth.
- peninsula: land with water on three sides.
- island: land with water all around it.
- valley: low land between hills or mountains.
- volcano: a mountain that can erupt with hot melted rock.
- earthquake: a sudden shaking of the ground.
- map key: the box that explains the symbols on a map.
- compass rose: the symbol on a map that shows north, south, east and west.
- timeline: a line that shows events in order.
- biography: a true story about someone's life.
- fiction: a made-up story.
- nonfiction: writing about real facts.
- simile: comparing with like or as, like 'quick as a fox.'
- adjective: a word that describes a noun.
- verb: an action word.
- noun: a person, place or thing.
- prefix: letters at the start of a word that change its meaning.
- suffix: letters at the end of a word that change its meaning.
- dialogue: the words characters say to each other.
- conflict: the problem in a story.
- factor: a number that divides another number evenly.
- area: how much flat space a shape covers.
- budget: a plan for how to spend money.
- persistence: keeping going even when it is hard.
- patience: staying calm while you wait.
- honesty: telling the truth.
- respect: treating people and things with care.
Teens 13+: crafts, science and games
Zine mini-magazine Teens 13+ · Craft · 60 min
You need: A sheet of paper; Scissors; Pens and markers; Magazine scraps.
- Fold the paper in half three times to make eight small panels, then unfold.
- Fold in half the long way and cut a slit along the center fold.
- Push the ends together to make a booklet.
- Fill each page with a theme, like a hobby, a recipe or a poem.
Hand-lettering poster Teens 13+ · Craft · 45 min
You need: Paper; A pencil; Pens or markers; A favorite quote.
- Write a quote you like in plain letters first.
- Redraw it with bubble letters, curls or shadows.
- Add a border with simple patterns.
- Ink the lines and color it.
Embroidery sampler Teens 13+ · Craft · 60 min
You need: A piece of fabric; An embroidery hoop; Embroidery thread; A needle.
- Draw a simple design on the fabric with pencil.
- Stretch the fabric tight in the hoop.
- Stitch the lines using a backstitch.
- Fill in any shapes and knot the thread on the back.
Watercolor galaxy Teens 13+ · Craft · 40 min
You need: Watercolor paper; Watercolor or watery paint; A brush; White paint or gel pen.
- Wet the paper with clean water.
- Drop in blues, purples and pinks and let them blend.
- Let it dry.
- Flick white dots for stars and add a few bigger ones.
Macrame keychain Teens 13+ · Craft · 40 min
You need: Cotton cord; Scissors; A key ring; A comb.
- Fold four cords in half and loop them through the key ring.
- Tie square knots in a row down the cord.
- Tie a few more rows.
- Trim the end and fray it with a comb for a tassel.
Pressed-flower bookmark Teens 13+ · Nature · 30 min
You need: Fresh flat flowers; Heavy books; Cardstock; Clear tape.
- Press the flowers between book pages for a week.
- Cut cardstock into a bookmark shape.
- Arrange the flowers on the cardstock.
- Cover with clear tape and trim the edges.
Photo journal page Teens 13+ · Craft · 30 min
You need: A notebook; Pictures printed or cut out; Glue; Pens.
- Pick the 5 best photos from this week.
- Arrange them on the page.
- Add short captions about how they felt.
- Decorate the margin with doodles.
Cardboard sculpture Teens 13+ · Craft · 60 min · Adult helps
You need: Cardboard; A craft knife (adult use); Glue; Paint.
- A grown-up helps cut shapes from the cardboard.
- Slot or glue the pieces into a standing shape, like an animal or a robot.
- Reinforce the joints with extra cardboard.
- Paint it.
Paper circuit card Teens 13+ · Science · 45 min · Adult helps
You need: A card; A coin battery; An LED; Copper or foil tape; Tape.
- Draw the path for the electricity on the card with foil tape.
- Place the LED so its legs touch the tape trail.
- Tape the battery in place so it makes a loop.
- Fold the card to close the circuit and watch it light up.
Keep coin batteries away from younger siblings.
Cook one meal from scratch Teens 13+ · Kitchen · 60 min · Adult helps
You need: A recipe with 6 ingredients or fewer; Ingredients from the kitchen; Pots and utensils.
- Pick a recipe with 6 ingredients or fewer, like pasta with sauce. Read all the steps first.
- Make a shopping list from what you do not have.
- Prep the ingredients before you start.
- Cook it, then write one thing to do differently next time.
Soap carving Teens 13+ · Craft · 45 min · Adult helps
You need: A bar of soap; A plastic knife; A toothpick.
- Sketch a simple shape on paper.
- Lightly scratch the outline on the soap.
- Carve a little at a time and brush off the shavings.
- Smooth the edges with your fingers and let it dry.
Save the shavings for hand washing.
Bullet journal spread Teens 13+ · Craft · 40 min
You need: A notebook; A ruler; Pens.
- Draw a simple weekly layout with a box for each day.
- Add a space for goals, a habit tracker and a doodle corner.
- Fill in this week.
- Review it at the end of the week.
Story prompt jar Teens 13+ · Craft · 30 min
You need: A jar; Paper strips; A pen.
- Write twenty short prompts on strips, like "a door that was never opened."
- Fold and drop them in the jar.
- Draw one and write for ten minutes without stopping.
- Read the best one aloud.
Design a board game Teens 13+ · Game · 90 min
You need: Cardboard; Markers; A die; Index cards.
- Pick a theme, like a space race, and one goal to win.
- Draw the board and make the cards.
- Write clear rules and a way to break ties.
- Play-test with two people and revise.
Logo design lab Teens 13+ · Craft · 45 min
You need: Paper; A pencil; Markers.
- Pick an imaginary business, like a bakery or a bike repair shop.
- Sketch ten logo ideas in ten minutes.
- Pick the strongest and simplify it.
- Redraw it large in two colors.
Air-dry clay pinch pots Teens 13+ · Craft · 45 min
You need: Air-dry clay; A bowl of water; A toothpick; Paint.
- Roll a ball of clay and press your thumb into the center.
- Pinch and turn it to thin the walls evenly.
- Smooth with a little water and carve a pattern.
- Let it dry for a day, then paint.
Draw one object five ways Teens 13+ · Craft · 40 min
You need: A mug, a shoe or a piece of fruit; Paper; Pencils and pens.
- Place the object where the light is good.
- Draw it in a quick outline.
- Draw it again with shading, then with only dots.
- Try a continuous line and a cartoon version.
Blackout poetry Teens 13+ · Craft · 25 min
You need: A page from an old newspaper or discarded book; A pencil; A black marker.
- Read the page and circle words that catch your eye.
- Choose words that can be read in order to make a short poem.
- Black out everything else with the marker.
- Read your poem aloud and give it a title.
Use a page that is going to be thrown out.
Mini diorama portrait Teens 13+ · Craft · 60 min · Adult helps
You need: A small box; Paper; Glue; Scissors.
- Pick a grandparent, a pet or a favorite place.
- Cut layers of paper for the background, middle and front.
- Glue the layers a little apart so the scene has depth.
- Add small details and a caption.
Compost bottle test Teens 13+ · Science · 30 min · Adult helps
You need: Two clear bottles; Soil; Kitchen scraps; Water.
- Fill two bottles with soil and scraps.
- Keep one damp and one dry.
- Check each week and note smell, color and texture.
- Write a short report on which broke down faster.
Tabletop catapult Teens 13+ · Science · 45 min · Adult helps
You need: Craft sticks; Rubber bands; A spoon; Marshmallows, pom-poms or rolled-up socks.
- Stack six sticks and band them at both ends.
- Band two more sticks together at one end and slide the stack between them.
- Tape the spoon on top as the launcher.
- Launch soft objects and measure distance.
Aim at a target, never a person.
Eraser block print Teens 13+ · Craft · 35 min · Adult helps
You need: A new rubber eraser; A pencil; A craft knife (grown-up); A stamp pad or paint; Paper.
- Draw a simple shape on the flat side of the eraser.
- A grown-up carefully cuts away the parts around your drawing.
- Press the block on an ink pad or dab it with paint.
- Stamp it on paper and repeat to make a pattern.
Cut away from your fingers on a mat. Test the print on scrap first.
Bake bread from scratch Teens 13+ · Kitchen · 150 min
You need: 3 cups flour; 1 packet yeast; 1 tsp salt; 1 1/4 cups warm water; A bowl; A loaf pan.
- Stir the yeast, salt and flour together, then mix in the warm water.
- Knead on a floured counter for 8 minutes until smooth.
- Cover and let it rise for an hour. Shape it and put it in the pan.
- Let it rise 30 more minutes, then bake at 375°F for about 35 minutes. Use oven mitts.
The water should feel warm, not hot, or it will kill the yeast.
Record a short podcast Teens 13+ · Craft · 40 min
You need: A phone or computer; A quiet room; A pencil and paper.
- Pick a topic you like and write three bullet points, not a script.
- Record the intro, then each point, then a closing.
- Listen back and cut anything that rambles.
- Make a title and share it with family.
Use only your first names, and keep it private.
Stop-motion short film Teens 13+ · Craft · 60 min
You need: A phone or tablet; A stack of books to prop it up; Modeling clay or small toys; A table.
- Prop the phone so it cannot move. Set the scene.
- Take one photo, move the clay a tiny bit, and take another.
- Repeat 40 times or more.
- Play the photos in order in a stop-motion app or slideshow.
Paper-cut silhouette Teens 13+ · Craft · 40 min · Adult helps
You need: Black paper; White paper; A pencil; Small scissors or a craft knife; Glue.
- Draw a simple scene on the back of the black paper, like trees or a skyline.
- Cut along the outline slowly. A grown-up helps with a craft knife.
- Glue the black cut-out onto white paper.
- Add one color behind it, like a watercolor sky.
Budget a day out Teens 13+ · Game · 30 min
You need: A notepad; A pencil; A calculator or a phone.
- Pick a pretend budget, like $40 for the day.
- List what you want: food, a ticket, a snack, a treat.
- Look up real prices and add them up.
- Trim to fit. What did you give up, and what is worth keeping?
Hand-bound notebook Teens 13+ · Craft · 45 min · Adult helps
You need: 6 to 8 sheets of paper; A sheet of card stock; A needle; Thread; A hole punch or awl.
- Fold the papers in half and tuck them into a folded card cover.
- A grown-up punches three holes along the fold.
- Thread the needle and stitch up through each hole and back down, then tie off inside.
- Trim the thread and decorate the cover.
Use a thimble or a thick pad under the paper. Go slowly with the needle.
Comic page Teens 13+ · Craft · 40 min
You need: Paper; A pencil; A fine pen; A ruler.
- Fold the paper to make 6 panels and draw the lines with a ruler.
- Pencil the story first: a beginning, a problem and a twist.
- Add speech bubbles and short text.
- Go over the lines in pen and erase the pencil.
Photo scavenger hunt Teens 13+ · Game · 30 min
You need: A phone or camera; A list of 10 prompts.
- Write 10 prompts, like a leading line, a texture, a shadow, something tiny and a reflection.
- Walk around your home or yard and take one photo for each.
- Pick your best three and say what made them work.
- Make a collage or a slideshow of your favorites.
Skip faces and street signs. Take photos of things, not people.
Egg-drop challenge Teens 13+ · Science · 45 min · Adult helps
You need: A raw egg; Tape; Paper; Cotton balls or a sponge; A small box.
- Pick a drop height, like the second step, and mark it with tape.
- Use only the materials to protect the egg.
- Drop the egg onto a hard floor. Check if it broke.
- Redesign it and try a little higher.
Put a tray or old newspaper under the drop and wash hands after touching raw egg.
Water filter model Teens 13+ · Science · 40 min · Adult helps
You need: A plastic bottle with the bottom cut off (grown-up); A coffee filter; Sand; Gravel; Cotton balls; Muddy water; A cup.
- Turn the bottle upside down in a cup. Put the coffee filter at the neck.
- Layer cotton balls, sand and gravel on top.
- Pour the muddy water in slowly.
- Watch what comes out. How much clearer is it?
The water is still not safe to drink, even when it looks clear.
Mini terrarium Teens 13+ · Nature · 40 min
You need: A clear jar with a lid; Small stones; Potting soil; A small plant or moss; A spoon; A spray bottle.
- Put a layer of stones at the bottom for drainage.
- Add soil and make a small dip for the plant.
- Plant it and press the soil down gently.
- Mist the soil and close the lid. Check it every few days.
Keep it in bright, not direct, sun and open the lid if the glass is always foggy.
Chalk pastel sunset Teens 13+ · Craft · 30 min
You need: Black paper; Chalk or soft pastels; A tissue.
- Color bands of yellow, orange, pink and purple across the paper.
- Smudge the edges together with a tissue.
- Add black silhouettes of hills or trees at the bottom.
- Add a few dots for stars at the top.
Chalk dust is messy and best done on newspaper. Do not breathe in the dust.
Five-phrase language cards Teens 13+ · Game · 30 min
You need: Index cards or paper; A pencil; An app or library book to check words.
- Pick a language and five useful phrases: hello, thank you, please, goodbye and a favorite.
- Write the phrase on one side and the English on the other.
- Quiz each other for five minutes and shuffle.
- Use one phrase at dinner each day this week.
Memory palace Teens 13+ · Game · 25 min
You need: A list of 10 things to remember, like your grocery list; A pencil; Paper.
- Pick a place you know well, like your house, and list 10 spots in order, from the door to the bed.
- Picture each thing on your list in a silly way at each spot.
- Walk through the place in your head and recall the list.
- Test yourself tomorrow to see how many you kept.
Plan a family dinner Teens 13+ · Kitchen · 60 min
You need: A pencil and paper; The kitchen; A recipe you like.
- Pick a dinner and write the menu with a main, a side and a drink.
- Check what you have and write a shopping list for the rest.
- Work out the cooking order so everything finishes together.
- Cook it with a grown-up nearby and serve it.
Wash hands, use oven mitts and keep knives for the cutting board only.
App screen wireframe Teens 13+ · Craft · 30 min
You need: Plain paper; A pencil; A ruler; A marker.
- Draw a phone outline on the paper, a rounded rectangle.
- Pick one app idea, like a chore tracker.
- Sketch the home screen with a title, two buttons and a list.
- Add a second screen and draw an arrow showing how you get there.
Modular origami cube Teens 13+ · Craft · 50 min
You need: 6 squares of paper; Tape (optional).
- Fold each square into a modular unit using a simple step-by-step guide from a library book or video.
- Make six of the same units.
- Slide the flaps into the pockets to link them into a cube.
- Press it flat on a table, then decorate each face.
Seed paper Teens 13+ · Craft · 45 min · Adult helps
You need: Scrap paper; Water; A blender (grown-up); A strainer; Wildflower seeds; A sponge.
- Tear the paper into small bits and soak it for an hour in warm water.
- A grown-up blends it to a mush and pours it into a strainer.
- Mix in a pinch of seeds and press it into a flat sheet.
- Dry it on a towel. Plant a piece in soil and keep it moist.
Use a blender only with a grown-up, and plant seeds that grow well in your area.
Teens 13+: more words of the day
- ambiguous: Open to more than one meaning.
- benevolent: Kind and wanting to do good.
- candid: Honest and direct.
- diligent: Careful and hard-working.
- eloquent: Speaking or writing clearly and well.
- resilient: Able to bounce back after trouble.
- pragmatic: Practical and focused on what works.
- nuance: A small difference in meaning or tone.
- skeptical: Not ready to believe without proof.
- inevitable: Sure to happen.
- meticulous: Very careful about details.
- perspective: A point of view.
- rhetoric: The art of using words to persuade.
- bias: A leaning for or against something, often unfair.
- credible: Believable and worth trusting.
- ethical: Following ideas of right and wrong.
- innovate: Come up with something new.
- collaborate: Work together to make something.
- paradox: A statement that seems to contradict itself but may be true.
- irony: When the result is the opposite of what you expect.
- symbolism: Using objects or images to stand for ideas.
- ephemeral: Lasting only a short time.
- ubiquitous: Seeming to be everywhere.
- tenacious: Holding on and not giving up.
- lucid: Clear and easy to understand.
- mundane: Ordinary and a little dull.
- plausible: Seeming likely to be true.
- objective: Based on facts, not feelings.
- subjective: Based on personal feelings or opinions.
- correlation: A link between two things that change together.
- causation: When one thing makes another happen.
- equity: Fairness that gives people what they need.
- frugal: Careful about spending money.
- entrepreneur: A person who starts a business.
- inflation: A rise in prices over time.
- budget: A plan for how to spend money.
- interest: Money paid for borrowing, or earned for saving.
- compound: To add to something already there, like interest on interest.
- primary source: A first-hand record, like a letter or photo from the time.
- thesis: The main claim of an essay.
- analyze: Break something down to understand it.
- infer: Figure out something from clues.
- context: The setting that helps explain meaning.
- satire: Humor that points out mistakes in people or society.
- allegory: A story with a hidden meaning.
- motif: An idea or image that repeats in a work.
- syntax: How words are arranged in a sentence.
- control group: The group that is left unchanged for comparison.
- algorithm: Steps to solve a problem.
- prototype: A first test model of something.
- iterate: Repeat and improve.
- negotiate: Talk to reach an agreement.
- hypothesize: to make a testable guess before an experiment.
- secondary source: someone's later writing about events, like a textbook.
- foreshadowing: hints in a story about what will happen later.
- critique: a careful, fair review of someone's work.
- analogy: a comparison to explain something, like 'a cell is like a factory.'
- logic: careful step-by-step thinking.
- fallacy: a mistake in reasoning that sounds convincing.
- ethics: the study of right and wrong.
- binary: a number system with only 0 and 1.
- exponent: a small raised number that says how many times to multiply.
- probability: how likely something is to happen.
- ratio: a comparison of two amounts.
- entropy: the tendency of things to spread out and get messier.
- catalyst: something that speeds up a change.
- momentum: how hard it is to stop a moving thing.
- inertia: the tendency of things to keep doing what they are doing.
- velocity: speed in a certain direction.
- wavelength: the distance between two peaks of a wave.
- genome: all the DNA instructions in a living thing.
- hemisphere: half of a sphere, like half of the Earth.
- latitude: how far north or south a place is.
- longitude: how far east or west a place is.
- topography: the shape of the land.
- democracy: government by the people, usually through voting.
- treaty: a formal agreement between countries.
- civics: the study of how citizens take part in their community.