Beetle

Subject: Math Games

Materials: 1 dice, paper and pencil

Directions—The object of this game is to be the player to complete the drawing of a “beetle.”  The players determine their order by rolling the die.  The player to roll the highest number goes first.  The first player tries to roll the number one.  If this player is not successful, he or she passes the die to the next player. Each player gets one roll per turn.  The numbers must be rolled in order from one to five.  When a player rolls a one, he or she draws the body of the beetle.  The head is drawn when any player rolls a two the number three must be rolled twice—once to draw three legs on one side of the body and again to draw the legs on the other side of the body.  The number four must also be rolled twice for the antennae.  A player can draw one eye after rolling a five.  The first player to roll a second five can add the other eye.  This completes the beetle, and the final player wins the game.

Clockwise Dice

Subject: Math Games

Materials: 2 dice, paper and pencil

Directions: The object of this game is to be the first player to roll the numbers 1 through 12 in the correct order.  Roll one die to determine who goes first; the highest starts.  The first player rolls both dice in an attempt to roll a 1. If he or she is successful, the first number in that player’s sequence has been completed.  He or she may continue rolling to get the subsequent numbers until the dice fail to show a correct number.  If the player does not roll a 1, then he or she must pass along the dice to the next players and wait for another turn.  For the numbers through 6, both dice may be added together in order to earn the appropriate number.  It is also possible for a player to score two numbers in one throw. For example, if a player rolls a 4 and a 5, then the next number needed in the sequence would be a 6. The numbers 7 through 12 must be obtained by adding the numbers on the dice together.  The first player to roll 1 through 12 wins.

Fifty Points

Subject: Math Games

Materials: 2 dice, paper and pencil

Directions: Each player rolls one die to determine the order of play; the highest roller goes first.  The first player rolls both dice.  A score is made only when doubles are thrown.  Two ones equal two points, two twos equal four points, two fours equal eight points, and two fives equal ten points.  To make the game interesting, two sixes equal 25 points, and two threes wipe out a player’s total point tally.  After the first player has rolled once, the next player is give a turn.  The game is over when one player reaches or goes over 50 points.

Homemade Shrinky Dinks

Subject: Arts & Crafts

Materials: Toaster Oven set a 350 degrees, Small clear plastic drinking cups, Sharpie Markers in assorted colors, Spatula, nonstick cooking spray, pot holder

Directions: Spray your toaster oven tray with some nonstick cooking spray, so the cups will not stick.  Decorate a cup with Sharpie markers.  Put the cup mouth side down on the cooking sheet.  Watch as the cup melts, and when it is flat, use the spatula to take it out, and flatten the cup with the spatula.  Now you have a cute decoration.  You can use a paper punch and punch a hole in the rim of the cup after you decorate it but before you melt it, so that when you take it out you can thread it with string to use as an ornament.  Make ornaments, a mobile, a necklace, medallions, etc.

Rocket Slider Game

Subject: Games

Materials: 2—1 liter or 2—2 liter soda bottles, duct tape, 2—12 foot pieces of rope, 4—plastic shower curtain rings

Directions: First you will cut the plastic bottles in half.  Then tape the tops of the bottles together along the cut ends.  Thread both pieces of string through the bottles.  Attach the string to the 4 shower curtain rings.  Allow the kids to decorate their rockets. Each person holds two handles and moves away from the other player until the strings are tight.  Push the rocket towards one of the player’s hands.  That player will open their arms and pull the strings apart to launch the rocket toward the other player.  Put your hands together to allow the other player to shoot the rocket back to you.

Check out this activity and others in Kid Concoctions and Contraptions by Danita & John Thomas

Slimy Science!

This plastic polymer looks wet and sticky, but will snap if pulled, bounce if thrown, and slump into a puddle if left on the counter.

Subject: Science & Math

Materials: 2 Tablespoons Elmer’s Glue, 2 Tablespoons water, 1 drop food coloring, Borax Solution—1 Tablespoon Borax to 1 Cup of water

Directions:

1.      Combine the glue and water in a cup.  Stir with a spoon until they are well mixed.

2.    Add 1 drop of food coloring to the glue—water mixture.

3.    Add two teaspoons of the borax solution.

4.    The Mixture will start to form a blob, stir and add more borax solution if it does not clump together.  It is ready to play with.

 Adapted from Mad Professor: Concoct Extremely Weird Science Projects by Mark Frauenfelder

Science Art!

Make a spaghetti painting using colored pasta on a paper plate.

Subject: Science, Arts & Crafts

Materials: Cooked, drained spaghetti, food coloring, paper plates

Directions:

1.      Place cooked, drained spaghetti in small bowls.

2.    Add drops of food coloring to each bowl.

3.    Stir spaghetti until it is coated and arrange on a paper plate to create a picture. 

4.    Let the spaghetti picture dry overnight.  It will stick to the paper!

Adapted from Science Arts by MaryAnn Kohl and Jean Potter

Tasty Science - Hydroponic Bean Sprouts

Here is a fun experiment that kids can eat! - Teach kids about the science of growing plants with water.  With this method, people can grow vegetables in places where the soil is infertile, poisoned, or in torrid deserts or icy climates.

Subject: Science, gardening

Materials: 1 glass jar, 1/3 cup bean seeds (try mung beans, lentils, wheat berries, or peas), water, a small piece of clean cotton cheesecloth, a large rubber band

Directions:

1.      Measure the seeds into the jar.  Fill the jar with warm water and soak the seeds overnight.

2.    The next day, pour off the water, cover the top of the jar with the cheesecloth and hold it in place with the rubber band.

3.    Lay the jar on its side in a dark place.

4.    Every day, rinse the beans with warm water through the cheesecloth.

5.    Your sprouts will be ready in 3—4 days.  Do not wait until they grow roots.  Wash the tiny sprouts in cold water, and take out any unsprouted seeds.

6.    Let them sit in the sun for 2—3 hours, which give them a better color.

7.    The tiny bean sprouts are ready to eat!  Try them on a salad or in a sandwich.

 Adapted from Science Wizardry For Kids by Margaret Kendra and Phyllis S. Williams.

Chopsticks

Play a game that gives students a chance to practice using chopsticks by picking up a variety of items off a table.

Subject: Multi-cultural, small-motor development

Materials:  Chopsticks (available at most grocery stores), different items of varying sizes for students to practice picking up, such as: cotton balls, dried beans, uncooked macaroni, pencil erasers, small wads of paper, rubber bands

Directions:

1.    Spread out the selected items on a long table.

2.    Give each participant a set of chopsticks.

3.    Give everyone a chance to practice holding and handling the chopsticks.

Ø     Instruct players to hold one chopstick like a pencil, slightly toward the thick end.

Ø     Next, slide the second chopstick between the thumb and second finger so it rests on the middle finger.

Ø     Hold the lower chopstick steady, and practice moving the upper chopstick only.

1.      Choose four players for each game. On the shout of “hashi” (chopsticks) the game begins!

2.    The first player to pick up one of each item is the winner!

Stained Glass Windows

Stained glass windows act as color filters.  You can make your own with construction paper and colored cellophane or tissue paper.

Subject: Arts & Crafts, Social Studies

Materials: (for 10 children) 10 pieces of black construction paper or card stock, assorted colors of tissue paper or cellophane, pencil, scissors, white glue or tape

Directions:

1.    Choose a pattern to put on your window.  Draw your design on the black paper.

2.    Decide on your color scheme and mark the different colored areas on your paper.

3.    Cut out the shapes from the paper, but remember to leave enough paper between the areas so you can stick the colored cellophane or paper down.

4.    Cut the colored cellophane or tissue to fit behind the holes. Allow a little extra on each piece to stick to the paper.

5.    Fix the colored shapes onto the paper with glue or sticky tape and hang your stained glass window in the light.

Reverse Garden

Plant a garden in reverse, and investigate what “biodegradable” means.

Subject: Science

Materials: deep pan, trowel, soil, variety of garbage (apple core, dried leaves, newspaper, plastic foam, old sock, empty can, etc.), watering can or pitcher

Directions: Instead of planting seeds and bulbs and watching plants and flowers sprout blossoms, bury different kinds of garbage and observe them as they decompose.  Fill a deep pan with soil, and bury several kinds of garbage under the soil.  Plant an apple core, some dried leaves, a crumpled piece of newspaper, a piece of plastic foam, an old sock, and an empty can.  Water your garden every couple of days.  Dig up the garden after a week, and see what is happening to the items.  Rebury your decomposing plantings, and continue to water every couple days.  Dig up the garden again, and observe it after 2 or 3 more weeks.  Then replant it one more time, and check it in several more weeks.  Note what changes and how and what does not.  You may want to keep a journal and make sketches each time you unearth your garden for observation. (Be sure to wash your hands or wear disposable gloves each time you work in your garden.)

Adapted from 365 After School Activities published by Publications International, Ltd.