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Lego Finger Labyrinths (Build Your Own!)

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I ran a prayer workshop the other day and was looking for a way to make some tactile finger labyrinths that children could play with. Le…

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Turn headbands into fun party crowns using pipe cleaners and a few simple add ons! This easy DIY is perfect for any celebration.

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A catapult for kids to make is what we are featuring today! What kid doesn't want to launch something across the room? Build a catapult to develop this love even more.

We hope your kids love this activity as much as our own do.

This post contains affiliate links.

Catapult for Kids to Make

Before building our craft stick catapult, I showed my 3 year old how to turn a spoon into a catapult. Simply press on the spoon end and the other end lifts up. You can't make an easier catapult than that.
Supplies needed:
Build a Catapult for Kids

1. Stack 5 craft sticks together, and rubber band the ends.

2. Stack 2 craft sticks together, and wrap a rubber band around the very end.

3. Separate the 2 craft sticks. Place the stack of 5 craft sticks between the 2 craft sticks.

4. Wrap a rubber band around all of the craft sticks to hold the catapult together.

5. Glue a milk cap {or something similar} on to serve as a launching platform.

6. Push down on the top craft stick and release to launch an object from the milk cap.

Catapult Science

Now create a simple experiment using the catapult of your choice. Try one of these experiments.

Launch an object from the catapult multiple times and measure how far it travels each time.

Launch different objects from the catapult and measure how far each object travels.

Compare catapults. Build more than one catapult {the same or different design}. Launch the same object from each catapult and measure how far it travels.

Can you think of any other catapult experiments? Do you have a favorite catapult design?
More Kids Activities

What a fun way to launch something in the air! Kids can build a catapult AND learn about science at the same time. For more kids activities involving launching things, you might be interested in these ideas:

Did you know? We wrote a science book!

Our book, The 101 Coolest Simple Science Experiments, features tons of awesome activities just like this one that will keep your kids engaged while they learn. How awesome is that?!

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Easy {and Fun} Catapult for Kids to Make

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A catapult for kids to make is what we are featuring today! What kid doesn't want to launch something across the room? Build a catapult to develop this love even more. We hope your kids love this activity as much as our own do. This post contains affiliate links.

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Stained glass & sun catchers - The Artful Parent

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Lots of fun sun catcher crafts and stained glass art projects for kids. Easy and fun kids art activities to try at home with your kids!

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Painting Fireworks is a super easy and fun New Year's Day Celebration activity - Creating Fireworks with Paint!

Using some of the left over cardboard rolls from the Christmas gift wrap, we created different length 'firework' fans for printing with paint. The print pattern created by the cardboard roll fans mimics that of fireworks brilliantly and children can create as many different size and coloured fireworks as they like.

What you will need?

You will need coloured paint (we have only chosen 4 colours), large sheets of paper and cardboard tubes.

Cut the cardboard tubes into different lengths as shown in the photo, to create different size firework prints.

Please note:

Do not place the cardboard tubs into the paint until you are ready to use them because after a while the cardboard strips become soft and will break off after they have been in the wet paint for some time.

The Fireworks Painting was inspired by reading the story The Night Before New Year's written by Natasha Wing and illustrated by Amy Wummer. This is a fun story that you can read to children as an introduction to the theme activity.

Some Ideas:

When printing the fireworks onto the paper, we used a 'bounce and twist' motion as we transferred the paint and fireworks pattern onto the paper.

Start printing with the largest fireworks cardboard fan first and print over the top with the next size down to the smallest.

Create a fireworks using the smallest cardboard fan first overlapping the paint with the next biggest until the largest.

Create single coloured fireworks with no overlapping with several colours.

Talk about the different sizes, which one is the largest fireworks and which one is the smallest?

Watch videos or read stories that show fireworks.

Add a small amount of glitter to the wet paint to finish off the 'fireworks' effect!

Let's Learn

Learning Opportunities

Imagination and Creativity

Fine Motor Development

Hand-Eye Coordination and Control

Cause and Effect

Colour recognition and creating new colours.

Language development - New vocabulary such as fireworks, New Year's Day, etc.

Click here for more PAINTING activities & play ideas

Click here for more CELEBRATION & FIREWORKS activities & play ideas

Available in our online shop:

Please click on the product names to view full product details.
Printable Dot-to-Dot Alphabet Letter Charts Printable Dot-to-Dot Number Rhyme Charts

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Painting Fireworks is a super easy and fun New Year's Day Celebration activity - Creating Fireworks with Paint! Using some of the left over cardboard rolls from the Christmas gift wrap, we created different length 'firework' fans for printing with paint.

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Plastics Activities and Lessons — PlasticFreeMKE

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Paper Spinner (scissors and coloring activity)

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We have created a paper spinner base.First, color two sheets of the same pattern front and back.After coloring, cut one piece with scissors and attach it to a piece of cardboard or thick paper.Next, cut off the circle along with the cardboard and attach the backing paper to the back side as well.Finally, punch holes in

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I love a craft that is easy for the kids to do and had a pretty end result! Natural suncatcher wind chimes are both of those things.

Start out by getting the kids involved and active. Send them into the backyard or take a walk to collect find flowers and leaves!

We just went around the yard finding pretty colors of flowers and interesting leaves. We tried to keep everything small in size but didn't limit to just that.

You could definitely make this part an entire activity in itself and do a scavenger hunt for certain colors, textures, or shapes. We always love a good scavenger hunt, and nature ones are classic!

Finding special things in nature is fun, but remember that a little bit will go a long way for this activity.

Once we collected our nature goodies, its time to set up to make a collage of it all.

Don't forget the extra special part: these double as gorgeous suncatchers, too!

Homemade Nature Suncatcher Wind Chimes for Kids to Make

To make your found nature into wind chime suncatchers, you'll also need:

Contact paper

Scissors

Marker or pen

Rings from Mason jar lids

String (we used hemp cord - affiliate link - but yarn works too)

A sturdy stick

Cut a small piece of contact paper and trace the mason jar rings onto the contact paper side (not the part you peel off). Trace as many as you have rings for.

Then peel the backing off the contact paper and tap onto the surface, sticky side up.

This is where the kids get to be as creative as they'd like!

Hand over the stash of nature items they found and let them fill in those circles.

We found it very cool to peel apart the flowers if they were big. To have a petal instead of a whole flower.

Or if the flower was closed up or bell-shaped, we peeled it open to fan it out.

They made for some gorgeous suncatchers!

Once their collages were complete, we finished off the suncatcher with another piece of contact paper over top.

Press them as flat as you can, sticking the contact paper wherever you can.

Such pretty suncatchers already!

Then we cut them out. Along the circles we traced.

Henry, my oldest who is 6, cut his himself. I went back over them to cut them a tad bit smaller though.

We traced the outside of the mason jar ring. So to fit in the ring, they had to be slightly smaller.

Then I tied a knot around the rings using the string we had on hand.

I simply pushed the suncatcher circles into the ring. We didn't need to tape them, they stayed securely in place.

But I can see that you may need to.

I also tied the strings onto a stick to make them into a wind chime that we hung on our porch. Two actually, and I love looking at them!

I love the simplicity of the raw mason jar rings. But I also think it would be fun to spray paint them to give them color, too.

However, I plan to use the lids again at some point for my jars, so I didn't want to "ruin" them at this time.

The boys are so proud of their suncatcher wind chimes! They love them!

And the sound they make is actually quite pleasant peaceful. I was nervous it would be clanky, but it's actually quite nice.

How do you use natural materials in your DIY craft projects?

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Nature Suncatcher Wind Chimes for Kids to Make | HOAWG

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I love a craft that is easy for the kids to do and had a pretty end result! Natural suncatcher wind chimes are both of those things. Start out by getting the kids involved and active. Send them into the backyard or take a walk to collect find flowers and leaves!

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Screen-Free STEM Activities for Kids and Children's Books - myworldtheirway.com

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How to make Pinwheel without Pins | DIY Kids Craft

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Find out simple step by step instructions on how to make a pinwheel without pins as a safe alternative for young kids and toddlers ?

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15 Awesome Science Art Projects for Kids

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STEM becomes STEAM as we integrate science with art in these awesome science art projects for kids! Get ready to get your mind blown!

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By Amy Cowen on August 3, 2021 9:00 AM
Use these free STEM lessons and activities to help students get hands-on building, testing, and exploring the science of the water cycle.
With more than 70% of Earth's surface covered in water, water is one of the planet's most abundant natural resources. Thanks to the natural hydrologic cycle (water cycle), water on Earth is continuously recycled. In this process, water shifts between solid, liquid, and gaseous forms, occupying all three states of matter at varying times. As water moves between land, the oceans, and the atmosphere, the distribution of water (where it is located or in what state) is always changing, but the total amount of water on Earth stays approximately the same. Amazingly, the water on Earth today is estimated to be more than a billion years old! (For more information to support introducing the water cycle, see the Teaching About the Water Cycle and the Future notes at the bottom of this resource.)

The free STEM lessons and activities below help students model and explore the water cycle, the various processes, the role landforms and water bodies play, and questions related to sustainability and the importance of water conservation.

The resources below have been grouped as follows:

Note: Science Buddies Lesson Plans contain materials to support educators leading hands-on STEM learning with students. Lesson Plans offer NGSS alignment, contain background materials to boost teacher confidence, even in areas that may be new to them, and include supplemental resources like worksheets, videos, discussion questions, and assessment materials. Activities are simplified explorations that can be used in the classroom or in informal learning environments.

Lesson Plans and Activities to Teach About the Water Cycle

The System

Evaporation & Condensation

Evaporation and condensation are important processes related to how water shifts between states of matter in the water cycle. Evaporation is the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas (water vapor). Condensation is the process by which water changes from a gas to a liquid.

Precipitation & Melting

Precipitation and melting help move water along in the water cycle. Both represent processes in which the state of water changes to a liquid form. Precipitation is a critical step in the water cycle as it involves liquid or frozen water falling to the Earth. It can be observed in weather events like snow, hail, and rain. The melting of frozen water (ice) also puts water back in motion in the water cycle.

Note: The Climate Change and Sea Level Rise lesson provides a related lesson that is NGSS-aligned for grades 5-8. In this lesson, students create and use a model to investigate what will happen to sea levels because of global warming.

Collection & Storage

As precipitation occurs, water is collected and stored in various natural and manmade reservoirs. More water on Earth is in storage than is actively moving through the water cycle at any one time. Approximately 96.5% of the Earth's water is in the oceans, but water is also stored in other surface-water reservoirs. Natural reservoirs include things like lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, and icebergs. In addition to surface-water reservoirs where water is collected and stored, precipitation is also collected by soil, where it continues to move through the water cycle.

Note: For a shorter lesson involving the modeling of riverbeds, see the Build a River Model activity.

Sustainability

With a finite amount of water on Earth, there are concerns about water availability in the future. In the Exploring Our Growing Need for Water lesson, students explore water sustainability issues, including groundwater depletion, access to clean freshwater, and water waste. Students will also learn about agricultural water use and investigate how the water needed for growing crops compares to the water needed for raising animals on farms and ranches. Questions: What accounts for the depletion of groundwater? Does it take more water to grow crops or raise animals? What kinds of water waste might individual families and communities be able to reduce? See also: Make Environmental Sustainability Actionable for Students with These Lessons.

Teaching about Water Cycle Science in K-12

The water cycle is powered by the Sun and involves processes of melting, sublimation, evaporation, freezing, condensation, deposition, and precipitation as water moves from clouds to land to oceans and back again. While water is abundant, less than 3% of the planet's water is freshwater (which includes the kind we drink). (Close to 97% of the Earth's water is in the oceans.) Since water can't be manufactured by humans, we can't increase the amount of water on Earth, which means global access to freshwater is a sustainability issue for the future.

The water cycle is also tied to weather systems on Earth. As temperatures rise due to global warming, what changes will occur in the water cycle? Rising temperatures will, for example, speed up evaporation. Similarly, rising temperatures will have an impact on the ice caps. With the relationship between weather, climate, and the water cycle, there are many areas for discussion, research, and exploration with students at all grade levels. As a natural resource in need of conservation, and with many parts of the world facing severe drought scenarios or limited access to freshwater, students, families, and classrooms can also explore sustainability, ecological footprints, and more with lessons in the Earth Day collection. See also: Make Environmental Sustainability Actionable for Students with These Lessons.

Vocabulary

The following word bank contains words that may be covered when teaching about weather using the lessons and activities in this resource.

Thematic Collections

Collections like this help educators find themed activities in a specific subject area or discover activities and lessons that meet a curriculum need. We hope these collections make it convenient for teachers to browse related lessons and activities. For other collections, see the Teaching Science Units and Thematic Collections lists. We encourage you to browse the complete STEM Activities for Kids and Lesson Plans areas, too. Filters are available to help you narrow your search.

Development of this resource to support educators teaching K-12 STEM curriculum topics was made possible by generous support from the Donaldson Foundation.

You Might Also Enjoy These Related Posts:

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11 Activities to Teach Water Cycle Science | Science Buddies Blog

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By Amy Cowen on August 3, 2021 9:00 AM Use these free STEM lessons and activities to help students get hands-on building, testing, and exploring the science of the water cycle. With more than 70% of Earth's surface covered in water, water is one of the planet's most abundant natural resources.

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A Simple and Powerful Water Cycle Lesson

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Explore the Earth’s water cycle in this lesson and hands-on activity that demonstrates how water molecules move through Earth’s systems.

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Being kind is one of the most critical skills that people need to know because it makes the best first impression and shows emotional intelligence. It helps in personal and professional settings, and lets people know that you care about them as human beings, not just about what you need from them. However, kindness is something that needs to be learned and seen, it does not just happen naturally. The following activities for students are great ways to get kids started with killing people with kindness and start with social-emotional learning in the elementary classroom. This post includes affiliate links.

Discussions

1. Class Brainstorm

Have your students decide as a class what kindness looks like and how they can show kindness to others. Not only does this start the conversation around being kind, but it also teaches them to work together, communicate their thoughts, and express responses to others' thoughts. This can be used as a classroom chart (or anchor chart) throughout the year.

Learn More: PCDN.co

2. Kindness Discussion Prompts

This activity can be used in morning meetings where each day has a new discussion prompt. Pull a new one out every day and ask students to reflect on the question or statement; it can also increase their emotional intelligence.

Learn More: Coffee And Carpool

3. Reflection

Use this digital resource made by a teacher to talk to children about kindness, and what it looks and feels like. After they have had a chance to write their reflections, have them share and discuss them with the rest of the class, highlighting positive behaviors.

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

4. The Red Umbrella

Read this picture book about kindness aloud to students and they will hear about a red umbrella that is demonstrating kindness to everyone they meet. Have students reflect on what they heard and what they can do in their own lives, perhaps writing on sticky notes and placing them around the room. This is sure to become one of their favorite books.

Learn More: Think Grow Giggle

5. The Smallest Girl

This book is about being kind to and standing up for, others, no matter how big or small you are. Read this book aloud and students reflect on times people have been kind to them and vice versa.

Learn More: What Do We Do All Day

6. Science of Kindness

Being kind to someone, or having someone be kind to you, actually affects our brain in a positive way and makes us happy. This video walks through what happens in the brain when kindness is present (either giving or receiving), and after, students can reflect on their reactions to what they saw.

Learn More: Randomactsofkindness

7. Kindness Videos

This website has a series of videos all about kindness, its importance, and how kids can practice it. Pick a couple (or show them all!) and have a discussion about what they learned from the videos.

Learn More: Jodi Durgin

8. Choose Kindness

This organization creates resources for everyone to celebrate World Kindness Day (November 13th). This particular resource is a PowerPoint about why kindness is so important, and it can lead to a discussion with students about why they think it is important to be kind.

Learn More: Twinkl

Modeling

9. Clothespins

Your students will act like spies on a secret mission when they go out looking for others who are being kind or exhibiting another positive trait. Have students discuss positive traits they would want to see in others, then write each one a clothespin and have them put the clothespins on others when they see them representing that trait.

Learn More: Instagram

10. Write Notes of Kindness

Want to avoid having to put objects on other people? Have students write positive notes on kindness cards or notes of appreciation to give to others who have been kind to them.

Learn More: Instagram

11. Kindness Calendar

Start every day of class with an opportunity to be kind to others and build a culture of kindness! This calendar has numerous suggestions for how students show kindness on a daily basis, making it an important part of their lives.

Learn More: Teach Starter

12. Compliment Box

Keep the compliments flowing with this beautiful compliment box being a permanent fixture in the classroom. Students can write compliments on slips of paper and put them into the box, and then a certain point in time, teachers can pass them out to the recipients.

Learn More: Teach Starter

13. Kindness Challenge

Create a sense of healthy competition and practice social skills by having students complete this free sheet of ways to be kind as fast as they can. Just make sure they are reflecting on the acts they are doing, not just marking them off the list!

Learn More: The Pathway 2 Success

14. Kindness Gift

Have students demonstrate kindness by creating a gift box for someone special in their life. They can make crafts or bring stuff to put in the box, and this printout can go on the box to let the recipient know that they are appreciated.

Learn More: Thirty Handmade Days

15. Be Kind to Yourself

Kindness is typically thought about happening between two or more people, but it is also important to be kind to yourself. This lesson plan walks through the importance of self-kindness using a PowerPoint and guided meditation.

Learn More: School Of Kindness

16. Spin for Kindness

Kids can make their very own wheel of kindness with this spinner! Have them cut it out, decorate it, and make it into a spinner, then watch them as they spin to determine what act of kindness they should do.

Learn More: School Of Kindness

17. Tic-Tac-Toe

Have elementary students practice kindness towards their classmates by expressing why they are grateful for them in this cooperative game. They will have fun competing in teams and walk away feeling happy - a double win! If you have a teaching assistant, you have two games going at once to spread out the students.

Learn More: Random Acts Of Kindness

18. Lend a Helping Hand

A great opportunity for students to practice kindness is to give back to others, especially their teachers or other helpful adults. This activity has students identify who they want to help, ask them what they can do to give them a helping hand, and then do that action.

Learn More: Random Acts Of Kindness

19. Friendly Fridays

Fridays can be so difficult in the classroom because everyone (teachers included!) is so excited for the weekend. Use this excitement to introduce Friendly Fridays, an opportunity for kids to something kind for someone else on a weekly basis.

Learn More: Edutopia

20. Kindness Jar

Have students show when someone was kind to them by having them use a kindness jar. Use colored pompoms where each one represents a kind action, and they can keep filling until their cup (jar) is full.

Learn More: Carrots Are Orange

21. Make a Game Plan

It is important to make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to learning and practicing kindness. This series of steps is helpful for students, families, and communities to get off on the right foot in their kindness journey.

Learn More: We Teach Kindness

22. Ideas of Kindness

Need ideas for your own kindness calendar or random acts of kindness week? This resource offers 20 ideas for ways you can incorporate kindness in your classroom and in your students.

Learn More: Mom Junction

Crafts

23. Kindness Quilt

What better way to feel happy about being kind than a cozy quilt? Students can use this resource to make their own quilt, or to contribute to a class quilt, about the meaning of kindness.

Learn More: Twinkl

24. Paper Chain

Create a classroom decoration and spread kindness - a double win! Kids will write down ideas of how to be kind on strips of paper, read them out to the class, and then form a paper chain to hang up in the classroom.

Learn More: Twitter

25. Kindness from A to Z

Read this book aloud, assign each student a letter, then have them make an illustration based on what was in the book. After they are done, post them in the classroom, serving as a visual reminder of 26 ways to be kind. This can also be done to make a kindness bulletin board.

Learn More: Amazon

26. Kindness Stones

Have students get their design skills with writing kind words on stones and decorating them. They can then place them anywhere they think someone will find them and make that person's day.

Learn More: Coffee Cups And Crayons

27. Fortune Teller

Instead of predicting the future, have students make these paper fortune tellers that result in performing acts of kindness. It is a fun way for students to make something and see how many tries it takes to get all of the acts.

Learn More: Coffee Cups And Crayons

Activities

28. Kindness Journal

Practice kindness while playing a game of telephone. This journal has random acts of kindness and requires the person to complete one before passing it to the next person who continues the cycle. See how many people this go through and how many acts of kindness it inspires.

Learn More: Etsy

29. Be Kind Break

This online project is a series of videos, activities, and lessons to teach children about kindness. Sign up at the link for multiple pre-planned activities that are sure to have your students beginning for opportunities to be kind.

Learn More: YouTube

30. The Compassion Project

Looking for something robust, say, 24 activities in one place? The Compassion Project is just that and offers offline and digital activities for kids to engage with over time.

Learn More: Everfi

31. Every Living Thing

This is a collection of short stories, each one about kindness. Split up students into small groups, assign each group one of the stories, and have them read their assigned story. After, the groups should create and deliver a presentation about the plot of the story and what they learned from it.

Learn More: Amazon

32. Pumpkin SPICE

Fall is the perfect time for this activity where students explore the acronym "SPICE", which revolves around different ways to be kind. Add a little spice to your classroom, get ready for fall, and teach kids about being kind - a triple win!

Learn More: Counselor Keri

33. Lend a Hand

This is a collection of poems about kindness. Have students read two or three poems, then write their own about being kind to others. Challenge students to actually follow through on the kind actions they write about.

Learn More: What Do We Do All Day

34. Ripple Effect

One act of kindness can often lead to other acts, and the ripple effect begins. Have students explore this idea in this hands-on and mindful activity using only a bowl of water and some food coloring, and watch their minds be blown.

Learn More: Counselor Keri

35. Kindness Break

Have more time to do a whole lesson on kindness? Use this lesson plan which involves reading and reflecting on a book and practicing saying kind things to others.

Learn More: Autism Speaks

36. Caring

Have even more time? Try this unit on teaching kids about caring that consists of four lessons and two projects that they can engage with. This will certainly up the kindness game in the classroom.

Learn More: Health Unit

37. Random Acts of Kindness Week

Spend a whole week teaching kids about kindness with this excellent resource made by an elementary school counselor. This website has detailed lesson plans and activities that showcase kindness, including those differentiated for various grade bands.

Learn More: Elementary School Counseling

38. Acts of Kindness Worksheets

This company that focuses on Social Emotional Learning made a whole series of worksheets and activities that teach kids about being kind. As a bonus, kids will also start to learn about empathy!

Learn More: Centervention

39. Kindness Activities

Kindness activities can also be educational and tie in with academic standards. Study.com published this list of kindness activities that has students working their brain and their heart.

Learn More: Study.com

40. Practice Self-Kindness

This site is made by an elementary teacher who wanted her students to practice being kind to themselves in addition to others. There are a variety of activities, big and small, that will get students on the path to appreciating themselves.

Learn More: SSS Teaching

41. Edgar the Egg

Help Edgar be happy by sprinkling kindness on him! Students see an egg sinking in water and add sprinkles of kindness (salt) to another jar of water where he can then float in happiness. This is a great way for students to visualize how being kind to someone can change them.

Learn More: Whole Child Counseling

42. Dance for Kindness

This video includes a song about kindness, and there is even a dance to go with it! Play this for kids and they will be singing and dancing about kindness before you know it.

Learn More: KindnessSG

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42 Kindness Activities For Elementary Students: Discussions, Modeling, Crafts, And Ideas - Teaching Expertise

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Being kind is one of the most critical skills that people need to know because it makes the best first impression and shows emotional intelligence. It helps in personal and professional settings, and lets people know that you care about them as human beings, not just about what you need from them.

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I know in today's world it is easy to send private messages to people. Emails, text messages, messaging through social media. We don't have an issue with getting people information, and it really isn't too hard to send messages privately.

But back in the day, it wasn't that easy. (Please don't ask which day, this isn't a history blog ;)) People had to find ways to hide and encode messages that could only be read by their intended recipients.

The allure of such a secret message hasn't gone away. Kids love the idea of hidden codes and messages, so we can use that to teach them a little chemistry. All you need is a lemon, some paper, and a heat source.

Time to make lemon juice secret writing, codes for kids.

What's In This Post?

Lemon Juice Secret Writing

This secret writing is really easy to do. Even toddlers can get in on the fun. (Though they will need some adult help with the heat part.) Once your kids try this they will want to do it over and over.

Supplies for Lemon Juice Secret Messages

You only need a few items to create these awesome secret messages.

Writing Your Lemon Juice Secret Message

This is super easy to do.

Step 1: Squeeze the juice out of a lemon. You don't want the seeds in it, but you don't have to be too careful with it.

Step 2: Use your cotton swab or paintbrush to write your message. Dip it into the juice mixture and lightly paint onto your paper. You don't want to go too heavy with the ink, it can make the paper dry a bit bumpy. This isn't a huge deal, but it can make the message clear without decoding.

Step 3: When you are done writing your secret message, set the page aside to dry.
More Must Do Activities
How To Decode Your Secret Message

The decoding part probably needs the help of a grown-up. You need to take put your paper on a baking sheet in a 250-degree oven for about 20 minutes. As your message heats up it will turn brown so you can read it!

Note: You can also hold your paper up to a lightbulb or candle to see the message appear. These ways are cool, but it is easy for young children to get tired and bored from holding the page up for a time. I prefer the oven method because it is easier for young children to do. Your child can play while you wait. Plus there is less of a fire risk.
Find Your Next Favorite Activity!
Trouble Shooting Your Secret Code

As I mentioned earlier, if you put too much of the 'invisible ink' on your paper, the paper will dry bumpy and you can tell there is a message on it. Some kids won't care about that, some will. There are things you can do to combat that.

Fix 1: Use less ink. Yeah, this one only works if your children realize it before starting, but it doesn't hurt to mention in.

Fix 2: Add more lines of ink around your message to camouflage the real message. When dry it will just look like a bunch of strange markings. But once you heat up the paper the real message will become clear.

This one can be a little more challenging to use if your child is too young to write words. You will want to ask questions to know what is the intended design and what is the camouflage.

Fix 3: A final fix can be done after your papers are dry. If you notice that the message is clear from the dried ink, crumple the paper. The distressed paper will make it hard for the message to stand out without decoding it.

This method adds a little element of fun as you make the message tiny so as to be less conspicuous when delivering it.

The Science Behind the Secret Message

So this is a fun activity and pretty cool. But knowing how this works is even cooler.

The magic of this reappearing ink is in the citric acid. Lemon juice is acidic, and the specific acid it contains is citric acid. While that is there the lemon juice will remain pretty colorless. So when we write with it the juice dries clear.

When we add heat we break down that citric acid. Without those bonds, some carbon is freed. And that carbon oxidizes in the air, where it turns brown.

Think about apples that turn brown once they are cut. This is the oxidation process as well. The heat speeds up the process.

This invisible ink is so much fun to play with. You can leave all kinds of fun messages for each other and learn a bit about chemistry. Perfect for hours of fun.

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Lemon Juice Secret Writing: DIY Invisible Ink Science - Team Cartwright

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I know in today's world it is easy to send private messages to people. Emails, text messages, messaging through social media. We don't have an issue with getting people information, and it really isn't too hard to send messages privately. But back in the day, it wasn't that easy.

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KidCitizen is part of the Congress, Civic Participation, and Primary Sources Project, supported by a grant from the Library of Congress.

ACTIVITIES EXPLORING CONGRESS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR GRADES K-5

KidCitizen provides a growing set of interactive episodes where K-5 students work with primary source photographs to explore Congress and Civic Engagement.

We are working with the University of Puerto Rico on Spanish language versions of three more episodes. Enter your email, and we'll tell you when they are ready!

The app's episodes capitalize on the active and social nature of young children's learning, using primary sources for rich demonstrations, interactions, and models of literacy.

Digital Accessibility Resources

The KidCitizen team is gathering resources to help all TPS Consortium partners work on Usability and Accessibility of digital and online resources.

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KidCitizen games for young grammar school children to work with Primary Sources

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Awesome Science Activity for Kids: Make a CD spinning top!

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Reuse an old CD to make a spinning top- an easy craft for kids and a great science lesson on physics! This STEM / STEAM activity if perfect for kids of all ages and meets the NGSS for Kindergarten on pushes and pulls!

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Lego Makerspace Challenges by Teaching in sunny AZ | TPT

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Parachute day in P.E. class is the best. Watching that parachute float up and down is mesmerizing. Running around a parachute is great exercise. And working together to keep all the balls on a parachute during a game of popcorn encourages cooperation. Parachute play isn't just fun and games, it teaches:

Cooperation

Social skills like sharing and taking turns

Hand-eye coordination, balance, and mobility

Core and arm muscles

Social interaction and communication

Listening and responding

Parachutes are also inclusive. Everyone can participate, and they're an enjoyable sensory experience for many kids. All you need to get started are a couple of basic supplies, like this parachute and ball pit balls from Amazon.

Here are 37 parachute games to try with students.

1. Mushroom (The Classic)

Let's start with the basic mushroom. Students spread out in a circle, holding the edge of the parachute. Students pull the parachute taught and lower it. On the signal, they raise the chute upward, all working together. The goal is to all get under the parachute at the same time and sit down, pulling the parachute behind them so that it creates a mushroom shape.

2. The Umbrella

The umbrella-a mushroom format, but keeping hands up-is a great way to practice teamwork before students move on to more advanced parachute games.

3. Make Waves

All the students hold the parachute and move it up and down to create waves.

4. Treasure Under the Sea

Place "treasures" (balls, bean bags, small stuffies) in a box underneath a parachute. Make waves above it and students are sent in as "divers" to collect the items.

5. Cat and Mouse

Assign students the role of cat and mouse. When the "mouse" is called, the mouse starts crawling under the parachute. Once the mouse is under the parachute, call "cat" and the cat starts crawling after the mouse to see if they can tag the mouse. Set a time limit for the cat to seek and then switch roles.

6. Parachute Tag

Have students lift the parachute high. Then call one student's name and have them run to the other side before the parachute comes down and tags them.

7. Jellyfish

Students sit and wave the parachute while a ball is rolled under it. Then students sit under the parachute and send the ball back out.

8. Climb the Mountain

Students work together to create a "mountain" out of the parachute and then, two at a time, try to climb the mountain as the other students hold the mountain steady.

9. One-Hand Run

Each student holds the parachute with one hand and extends the other hand for balance. The students run clockwise in one direction, then change hands and run in the other direction. Use music to prompt students to change directions.

10. Popcorn

Put balls on top of the parachute and wave it so that it looks like popcorn popping. Start with a few balls and then add more and more!

11. Parachute Switch

Using a large parachute, have students hold the edges of the parachute. Give each student a number so there are some repeating numbers (so, if you have 20 students, have them number 1-10 so there are two of each number). Then, call out a number and have the students with that number run under the parachute.

12. Parachute Tug-of-War

Divide students into two teams. Ask the teams to stand on either side of the parachute and hold it. Each team has to try to pull the opposite team onto their side.

13. Windy Day Song

Use this song to warm students up to using the parachute with younger students.

14. Merry-Go-Round

Have students hold the parachute with one hand and hop, skip, or jump in a circle. The result looks like a merry-go-round.

15. Turtle Walk

Have students space out evenly and hold the edges of the parachute. The goal is for students to get into the parachute and make it look like a turtle's shell. Then, once they have the shape, they try to walk and move the parachute like a turtle's shell would.

16. Turtle Race

If you have two parachutes and enough students, have them divide into two groups, create two turtles, and then race as parachute turtles.

17. Parachute Twister

Use the parachute as a twister board and call out activities for students to do while they have their hands on one color and their feet on another.

18. Shoe Shuffle

Assign students numbers 1 through 6. Have no. 1 children throw their shoe into the middle. Lift the parachute and have students retrieve the shoes. Then, repeat the procedure with number 2, 3, and so on.

19. Parachute Dance Around the Clock

Students hold on to the parachute and dance clockwise, counterclockwise, backward, and forward depending on your direction. Play music so they can move to the tempo and make it more challenging.

20. Toss the Fleas

Hold the parachute taut. Put all the balls (fleas) on the center of the parachute. Divide students into teams. The goal is for one team to throw the fleas and the other team has to not let the fleas out.

21. Parachute Keepy-Uppy

Students hold the edges of a parachute. Throw a beach ball onto the parachute and students have to work together to keep the ball from bouncing out.

22. Alligator

Students lie on their backs and put the parachute on top of them, holding it firmly down. Then they crawl slowly with the parachute over them.

23. Man in the Middle

A student sits in the middle of the parachute and the other students move the parachute to create waves around them.

24. Under the Bridge

Students stand at the edge of the parachute and grip the edges. One student is the referee and they call out names randomly (or, have them draw sticks with the students' names on them). When a student's name is called, they must cross the bridge or go under the parachute. The rest of the students try to capture the student who is passing by bringing the parachute down.

25. Weather Station

Students spread out evenly around the parachute. One child is the weather reporter. The weather reporter calls out what type of weather it is. Flutter, wind, storm, tornado (run around), hail (add balls). Have students create movements for other types of weather too.

26. Color Quiz

Place the parachute on a flat surface. Students stand around the parachute. The teacher announces a color and students must identify the color on the parachute. Students can run to the color, jump on it, or lift it.

27. Shake Hands

Assign a number to each student. Students hold the parachute up, and the teacher calls out two random numbers. The students with those numbers run to the middle and shake hands. They can also introduce themselves in the process.

28. Number Switch

Have students sit or stand around the parachute. Assign a number to each player. A teachers calls a number and those two students switch spots by running under the parachute.

29. Fruit Salad

Students hold on to the parachute. The teacher assigns fruit names to each student in a sequence (apple, grape, pear, berry). Make sure that each fruit is assigned to two players. The students move the parachute up and down. The teacher calls names of fruits, and when their fruit is called, students cross under the parachute.

30. Row the Boat

Students sit in a circle, holding on to the parachute. Working together, they pull back and forth so they are moving back and forth and working their abdominal muscles.

31. Rocket Launch

Place a ball in the middle of the parachute and see how high you can send it.

32. Shark Attack

Students take turns being sharks and rescuing other kids who are moving the parachute.

33. Duck, Duck, Goose

Students hold on to the parachute and move it while the student "goose" taps on the student "ducks." They have to run all the way around the parachute to sit back down without being tagged.

34. NASCAR

Students lift the parachute up, and then three students at a time run around the circle as fast as they can. The goal is to get back to their places before the parachute comes down.

35. Parachute Volleyball

If you have small parachutes, play volleyball using the parachutes and large beach balls over a net. Or if you have one large parachute and a beach ball, divide students into two teams. One team is on each side of the parachute and tries to knock the ball off the other side, past the other team.

36. Parachute Golf

Throw a ball into the middle of a parachute and have students shake the parachute so that they can count the number of shakes that it takes for the ball to go through the hole.

37. Mad Scientist

One child stands in the middle of the parachute with their head touching the fabric. The other students pull the parachute back and forth over the student's hair until it stands on end. A great introduction to static electricity!

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37 Parachute Games That Kids Will Really Grab Onto

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Parachute games develop social skills, hand-eye coordination, and cooperation, not to mention they're mesmerizing and fun!

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LEGO® is pretty cool and great for STEM based activities! What is STEM, read all about it!This time, my son wanted to try out a zip line like we had seen in a book. I knew there would be several interesting concepts he could explore through hands on play! Check out our collection of over 4 0 unique building ideas with LEGO®. So many great ways to incorporate LEGO® into a STEM environment!

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Simple LEGO Zip Line for Exploring Slopes, Tension and Gravity!

Science is everywhere! You don't need to purchase a fancy science kit. We love to explore STEM around the house and use common materials and supplies we already have on hand! MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR BEST SCIENCE AND STEM.

This is truly the perfect way for kids to look at ordinary items in new ways and invent something different with them. Science doesn't just come in a box, well maybe a LEGO® box! Make sure to check out our new LEGO® book, The Unofficial Guide to Learning with LEGO®!

LEGO Zip Line Set Up
Supplies Needed {affiliate links included}: LEGO®! {our favorite starter kit} Parachute Cord or String
Getting started with a LEGO zip line. His idea was to build something for a LEGO® guy to sit in as he zipped down the line. This is a great opportunity to test out those master builder skills!

I helped him start by putting a mini figure on a base and suggested that he build up and around him! When he reached the top, I told him he needed to leave a space for our parachute cord to slide through. He wanted to use two curved pieces, but not necessary.

So now that you have your LEGO® man safely secured in his contraption, it's time to set up your LEGO zip line. We actually started by securing the parachute cord to door handle and then securing the other end on the railing of our 2nd floor balcony.

My son was very excited....until it crashed and broke.

Here's a good time to explore some scientific concepts like slopes, gravity, force, etc ! Make sure to ask questions! What happened to the LEGO® man?

The angle of the slope was too great, gravity pulled it down very fast, there was no breaking method or friction to slow him down, and the force that he hit the wall with broke him apart! Read more about our zip line fun below.

We love LEGO for learning and playing with at our house!

We cut the parachute cord shorter. Again I attached it to the door handle, but I showed him how we could be the other anchor for the zip line.

By keeping tension on the line and raining our arm up and down, we could control the slope of the zip line. He loved that he could use the lego zip line to make the LEGO® man travel back and forth.

If my son did not keep the cord tight however, the LEGO® man was stuck. Great hand eye coordination activity too!

What he learned through hands on play with the LEGO® zip line!

speed up the lego man by increasing the angle of the slope

slow down or stop the lego man by evening out the angle of the slope

return the lego man by decreasing the angle of the slope

gravity works to pull the LEGO man down the zip line but the angle of the slope can slow gravity

tension on the cord is needed to maintain travel

Build a quick and simple LEGO® zip line with just a couple of items! Next time maybe we will add a pulley system, but for now this playful, easy LEGO® zip line was perfect for afternoon play. The discoveries made will last a lifetime!

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Lego Zip Line Homemade Toy Zip Line for Kids

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LEGO® is pretty cool and great for STEM based activities! What is STEM, read all about it! This time, my son wanted to try out a zip line like we had seen in a book. I knew there would be several interesting concepts he could explore through hands on play!