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We do a lot of process art activities around here, where the experience of creating is more important than the finished product and kids learn about materials, techniques, themselves, and their ideas as they create and experiment.

That's obviously awesome, right?

But what about when you want to do a craft with a finished product that you're aiming for and step-by-step instructions to get you there?
I still encourage you to take a process-oriented approach!
With the craft activities for kids that follow, you can follow the step-by-step instructions to make your own fairy houses and rock art, but you can be creative, take an experimental attitude, and make it your own. Every step of the way.

For example, with the fairy houses, you get to decide the size of the house, the shapes of the windows and doors, the decorations to use, and more!
There's always room for creativity, even within the structure of a craft with step-by-step instructions!

9 Process Craft Activities for Kids

Everyone loves to make fairy houses! The details are just adorable: tiny little doors and windows, pitched roofs with miniature chimneys, little gardens for the make-believe inhabitants. It's the kind of craft activity guaranteed to encourage hours of imaginative play.

And it is an achievable clay project to try at home-even if you're new to ceramics.

As there are lots of materials pressed into the clay, these pieces can't be fired so we use air drying clay for this project.

Want to make some charming little rock houses for your garden or for play?

These cute houses are super fun for kids to make (using rocks as a canvas is surprisingly satisfying!) and a cute addition to your garden. You could also use them for pretend play, of course, or gift or display them. ​

Here's how to make a cardboard castle for kids' pretend play QUICKER and EASIER than you thought possible. You'll want a cardboard box, cardboard tubes, a glue gun, and some paint sticks.

Learn how to create fun robot puppets that actually MOVE using cardboard and other recycled materials in this make and play project for kids

Go for a nature walk and gather natural materials to use for this beautiful nature mobile. Painted air dry clay beads add the finishing touch!

These vibrant cardboard masks are so fun to make AND inspire hours of imaginative play for kids. Create multiple creatures out of upcycled materials for a whole set!

A simple unicorn craft for kids made from toilet paper rolls. Plus a pegasus or three! And a way to weight the feet so they don't tip over. The kids had so much fun making and playing with these!

Clothespins, air dry clay, and artificial flowers are what we used to create these whimsical flower fairies! After finishing these, why not try making a fairy house as well?

This simple DIY fishing game for kids is easy to make with cardboard and magnets. Includes instructions for making your own magnetic fish and fishing rod plus ideas for pretend play. (We used the fishing game with a Fort Magic canoe.)

Kids Craft Kits by Kid Made Modern

Looking for some fun craft supplies? Read our review of Kid Made Modern's open-ended craft kits and maybe try one out with your kids!

Happy crafting!
Here are some of our favorites:

Arts and Crafts Supply Library - Basically the mother of all craft kits. It has all the good stuff, including pom poms, sequins, beads, felt, pipe cleaners (fuzzy sticks), googly eyes, jewels, craft sticks, embroidery floss, and more. As you can imagine, it's BIG.

Metal Mash Up Craft Kit - Metallic everything! This kit includes wire, metallic pom poms (my kids loved them), metallic card stock, pipe cleaners, beads, and sticker tape.

Pin It For Later
Children's Art Enabler, Mother of Two, Lover of Cherry Pie and Nature

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Try These 9 Amazing Process Craft Activities for Kids

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We do a lot of process art activities around here, where the experience of creating is more important than the finished product and kids learn about materials, techniques, themselves, and their ideas as they create and experiment. That's obviously awesome, right?

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Check out CMA's how to videos or RSVP for free live classes, given daily via zoom.

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Free At-Home Resources for Families

Closed for General Admission
Closed for Under 5s Drop-In Class

Closed for General Admission

Closed for Under 5s Drop-In Class

Activity CMA Live: Music Time with Tom

Join Tom, moms, toddlers, and tikes for our first online music time experience with familiar songs and interactive gestures. It's easy to join in the fun! This class is led by Tom Burnett, CMA Director of stART Studio. Please Note:...
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10 am - 10:30 am

Recommended Ages: Under 5

Activity CMA Live: Tuesday Club CMA with Raquel

Join us for 45 minutes of fun, play, and art-making. Bring your creative energy, make new friends, and share your art with others! This class is led by Raquel Du Toit, CMA Associate Director of Programming. Please Note: This class will...
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Activity CMA Live: Movement with Mackie

Join CMA for a live creative movement and drama class! Recommended for children ages 4-7 and their families, this 15 minute drop-in class will use elements of creative movement, drama, and storytelling to get participants moving and using their imaginations....
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Each day the museum is unable to open puts the future of CMA in further jeopardy. Each dollar we receive directly supports our programming and ensures that CMA remains a pillar of educational and artistic leadership in New York City. Donate Today

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Home - Children's Museum of the Arts New York

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Free At-Home Resources for Families Closed for General AdmissionClosed for Under 5s Drop-In Class Closed for General Admission Closed for Under 5s Drop-In Class Activity CMA Live: Music Time with Tom Join Tom, moms, toddlers, and tikes for our first online music time experience with familiar songs and interactive gestures.

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Toilet Paper Roll Crafts for Kids - No Time For Flash Cards

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Buying craft supplies is not anyone's number one priority now, especially with tighter budgets during quarantine, but keeping your kids busy at home is a priority. So what's the best solution? Use what you have on hand to make fun crafts while you are in quarantine!

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These art projects build on inspiration from works found in the museum.

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Looking to get creative? Our collection is a perfect place to find inspiration. The artworks and activities below are just the beginning.

These activities are great for children ages 7 and up, but can be enjoyed by learners of all ages. Younger children may benefit from the help of an adult. Feel free to use any materials you have on hand for these quick creative projects.

For related educational resource packets, visit our educator resource finder.

Shadow Stories

This painting by Hughie Lee-Smith reads like a scene in a mystery novel. The sky is darkening over a desert. Two figures are wandering the empty landscape. They seem too focused on their own paths to notice one another. A source of light creates long shadows on the sand. Who are these people? What is this place? What will happen next?

Play with light and shadow as you make your own drawing inspired by this mysterious artwork. This can be done indoors using artificial light or outdoors in the sunlight. Find a large piece of paper to draw on- an unfolded paper grocery bag will work. Place small figures, blocks, toys, or other objects with interesting shapes on the paper. Shine a flashlight on the objects (or place in the sunlight) and look together at the shadows they cast. Experiment with the placement of the objects and angle of the light source to create long and short shadows. Use your favorite mark-making tools to trace and color the shadow-shapes. Create a story about your drawing. Begin with the phrase, "Last night I had the strangest dream ..." As you share your dream, describe what you saw, heard, touched, smelled, and experienced.

Materials:

* Large sheet of paper or an unfolded grocery bag
* Markers, crayons, or pencils
* Assorted objects (toys, blocks, etc.)

Fanciful Flowers

Communities come together to celebrate important family milestones like weddings, birthdays, and graduations. For The Wedding, Jacob Lawrence was inspired by his roots, growing up in the Harlem community of New York City. "I paint the things I have experienced," Jacob Lawrence stated. In this work, a couple and their attendants stand in front of the celebrant at a solemn moment and the colorful church expresses the joy of the occasion. Brightly colored shapes form the stained-glass windows that frame the ceremony, while the altar is covered with flowers of every shape and size.

Create a display of fanciful flowers to celebrate a special occasion. Gather colorful and decorative materials you find around the house. Spell out a message on shapes you cut out. Accordion-fold thin tissue paper or facial tissues, twist a pipe cleaner or wire around the middle to secure the folds, and then gently fluff the paper to make a flower. Experiment with a variety of paper colors and textures. String flowers together with the written messages and add curled ribbon and bows. Drape the decoration on a window or doorway, or at the entry to your home. Fill containers with paper flowers and have a party!

Dance Party

"The event was a word-of-mouth happening. The people, the music, and just the atmosphere became my spiritual inspiration."
-Mikki Ferrill

Mikki Ferrill was a black female photojournalist who captured intimate, everyday images of Southside Chicago communities in the1970s. She spent nearly a decade photographing the Garage, a weekly experimental pop-up Jazz music venue, where she was known as "The Picture-Taking Lady." Her photographs capture the uninhibited joy and style of this underground happening.

Have your own pop-up dance party at home inspired by the Garage. Clear a space, put together a playlist, put on outfits that make you feel good, and lose yourself in music and expressive movement. With the energy in full vibe, take turns capturing the experience using a camera or phone. Experiment with perspective, framing, and focus.

When the party ends, look at your photos together. Play with contrast and filters to change how your images look. If you can, print and display them on your walls or share them digitally with friends or family.

Bunch, Fold, Drape

Is this a painting or a sculpture? In the 1960s, Sam Gilliam pushed the boundaries of traditional painting. Instead of applying paint with a brush to stretched canvas, he chose to playfully drip paint on and stain loose fabric. Embracing expression and chance, he would then bunch, fold, and drape the fabric into shapes. His imaginative approach inspired decades of experimentation, inviting other artists to radically reimagine what a painting could be.

Try making your own drape "painting" at home inspired by Gilliam's process. Gather fabrics, sheets, dishcloths, and clothes. Pile the materials high, lay them across furniture, bunch tightly, fold intuitively, and collaborate with gravity by hanging the fabric. Pay attention to color and shape, but don't worry or overthink it. Just play. As Gilliam says, "you have to hang loose."

Present your artwork to family and friends. If they aren't already familiar, show them Sam Gilliam's paintings online and have a conversation about this influential African American artist.

Show of Strength

This clay sculpture of a Japanese wrestler, or rikishi, dates from the fifth or sixth century CE. The role of wrestling in this ancient period is not known-whether for entertainment or for important rituals-but wrestler figures along with other human and animal figures were placed around monumental burial mounds, perhaps to protect the deceased.

This wrestler stands solidly on two feet, wearing a headband and a harness around his waist, and raises his arm in show of strength. See if you can stand like this wrestler and mimic his facial expression. How do you feel when you stand in this powerful pose?

Sculpt your own wrestling match using whatever materials you have handy. Play-doh, clay, tinfoil, paper, or pipe cleaners are all great options. Create two wrestlers in their strongest, most confident poses. Face the sculptures towards one another. Who will win this show of strength?

A Window of Your Own

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed unique windows for each building that he created. Wright referred to these windows as "light screens" because the clear glass let in natural light while the vibrant colors and geometric designs provided a decorative element. Imagine looking through this window and seeing your neighborhood through the floating shapes.

Create your own window designs with wax paper, tissue paper, liquid glue, water, and a black marker. Water down the glue and use a paintbrush to apply it to the wax paper. Cut the tissue paper in geometric shapes and place it on the wax paper. Connect your shapes by drawing lines with the black marker. Once the arrangement is dry, hang it in your window and let the sun shine through.

Standing Tall

Hero Construction is a large sculpture made entirely out of pieces of metal, including old pipes and car parts, that Chicago artist Richard Hunt found on the street and in junkyards. Hunt transformed these metal scraps into a human figure by welding, or melting, them together at a very high temperature. Standing over five feet tall, this figure strikes a powerful pose. Stand tall like this hero and see how it feels!

Try creating your own heroic sculpture using tinfoil, paper, or pipe cleaners. What powerful pose will your figure take?

Game City

Take inspiration from Red Grooms's colorful sculpture depicting downtown Chicago and create a three-dimensional table top game featuring your neighborhood. You'll use an empty cereal box, construction paper, glue, markers, dice, and found game pieces.

Cut open a cereal box and lay it flat for your board game base. Draw a winding path from one side to the other, with a start and finish square at each end. Divide your path into colorful squares, or steps. Include game-play directions, like "lose a turn" or "jump back three spaces" along the route. The more set-backs and surprises, the more fun the game will be.

Then, create pop-up landmarks to move through on the game board. Draw things from your neighborhood like buildings, parks, or playgrounds on construction paper. Leave a one-inch border at the bottom of the drawing before cutting it out. Fold the one-inch border to make a foot for your landmark and glue the foot to your game board.

Grab some small items from around your house to use as game pieces and get playing! Roll the die to start-youngest person goes first.

A Homey Nest

Springtime is the season birds build nests, lay eggs, and care for their young. In Nestlings, artist Vera Berdich depicts chicks eagerly awaiting the arrival of a parent and some food. They look cozy, wrapped tightly in their nest and settled in the branches of a tree.

Birds carefully select their materials and spend days creating their nests; you can make one using simple materials in a shorter amount of time. Find something small in your house that could use a cozy home: a stuffed animal, a toy, or something given to you by a loved one. Collect materials from around your living space-a brown paper grocery bag ripped into strips or folded to make a pocket, scraps of fabric and bits of fluff, leaves or very thin twigs from outside, or pipe cleaners if you have them. Try different ways of weaving and layering these materials until they stick together in a nest form. Place your object inside, find a good perch in your home, and snap a picture to share your nest with a friend!

Power Up

This wooden door was carved by Nyaamadyo Koné, an artist in Côte d'Ivoire, Africa, who was commissioned to make it for a building where rituals were held.

Images that symbolize power cover the door. On the top section, discover a dancing figure wearing a large mask. In the middle section, find ibis birds that can reach into the water with their long beaks as they wade in streams, and skillfully pluck out tasty fish to eat. On the bottom, look for a powerful crocodile that has just captured a snake in its powerful jaws.

Are you strong as an elephant, nimble as a tiny mouse, curious as a cat, loyal as a dog, or maybe all of these? Choose an animal to represent your special power and design a door for your room. Repurpose cardboard from an empty cereal box. Cut it into an interesting shape, use markers to draw the shapes of animals, and decorate them with patterns formed by repeated lines and shapes. Punch a hole on each side of the top edge of your artwork and attach a ribbon or shoelace to hang it up.

Eyes to the Sky

Imagine standing next to Georgia O'Keeffe as she painted the Shelton Hotel in New York City, where she lived in the 1920s. As you look up and squint at the tall building, the sun shines brightly in your eyes and causes you to see sunspots. O'Keeffe captured this sensation by painting orange and yellow spots dancing across the scene.

Step outside your home and look at your neighborhood. Turn around and look up at the top of your house or building. Use a pencil or crayons to draw the shape your building makes against the sky. Add shading and color to show sunlight and shadows.

Make a Starry Mosaic

In this work, Alma Thomas applied paint in a mosaic-like style to depict the sunlit sky and the Apollo 10 spacecraft as seen from the ground. Look at how Thomas used color and pattern to depict the vastness of space and the intense, fiery power of a rocket launch. Create your own scene using colored tissue or construction paper, or even pages from a magazine, torn into irregular shapes and sizes to mimic the artist's brushstrokes.

Design Your Suit of Armor

Armor was elaborately decorated to indicate wealth and status. Often, symbols of virtues such as faith, prudence, and justice were etched in the metal to signify the virtues of the knight wearing the armor. Consider which virtues would represent you and how would you symbolize them, and design a suit of armor for yourself.

Home Sweet Home

This painting by Félix Edouard Vallotton depicts a quiet scene of a woman and a child in a red room. Drawing inspiration from your own living room, bedroom, or kitchen, create a drawing of an interior scene that shows off how the room is decorated. Consider including a member of your family, a pet, or a friend.

For more inspiration, view works from the exhibition Intimate Modernity, which features works by artists who focused on interior scenes as a way to experiment with color, form, pattern, and atmosphere.

Animal Mix-Up

Ganesha is a Hindu god who has the head of an elephant and the body of a human. Think about an animal you like and the qualities you admire in this animal. Paint, draw, or sculpt an imaginary figure that combines features of this animal (or many animals you like) and a human. You can use whatever materials you have on hand-aluminum foil is a great option for making easy sculptures. Finally, give your creation a name.

Make a Shadow Box

This shadow box, one of the many that Joseph Cornell created in his lifetime, combines whimsical found objects to evoke an adventurous trip or journey. Create your own memory box using objects from around the house. First, think of a past event that was important to you, like a birthday party, a holiday, or just a significant moment. Then, find objects around the house that remind you of the event and an empty shoe box or tissue box. Create a collage with the found objects inside the box, and decorate the outside of the box with scenes or images from your memory.

The Person in the Mirror

Chicago native Archibald John Motley painted this self-portrait while looking at himself in a mirror. Look for the clues that demonstrate his portrait is a mirror image. For example, on what side does the button appear on his suit coat? Pose in front of a mirror and sketch yourself. What happens to your image when you draw from a reflection? Motley included a painter's palette to indicate his identity as an artist. What items would you include in your self-portrait to communicate who you are or who you want to be?

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Art-Making Activities | The Art Institute of Chicago

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Looking to get creative? Our collection is a perfect place to find inspiration. The artworks and activities below are just the beginning. These activities are great for children ages 7 and up, but can be enjoyed by learners of all ages. Younger children may benefit from the help of an adult.

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Materials: cardboard tubes; paper; coloring supplies

Time: 15 minutes

Have students use cardboard tubes as viewfinders to explore their world more closely. Select any scene (maybe an outdoor scene such as the one depicted above) and focus on a detail of an object, a face, or a setting through the viewfinder to be the subject of a drawing.

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Materials: cardboard tubes; paper; coloring supplies Time: 15 minutes Have students use cardboard tubes as viewfinders to explore their world more closely. Select any scene (maybe an outdoor scene such as the one depicted above) and focus on a detail of an object, a face, or a setting through the viewfinder to be the subject of a drawing.

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from Reesh & Sal

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10! Choose Your Challenge Workout (Jumping Jacks & Burpees)

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The Fred  - Justin Bieber - Baby ft. Ludacris

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Creative Cupid Shuffle - (Around the World)

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Solve this fun caterpillar problem!

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Create your own number story! First, decide if you want to make an addition or subtraction number story.

Try to create more than one and make your very own number story book!

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With this measuring activity, before you measure, make predictions!

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Music enrichment for K-3 week of 4.13-4.17 

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This is a mix of art and just for fun activities.

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This website provides rich math tasks your child can do at home. Enjoy!

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Choose an activity to do from this board. Make it fun, print and roll a dice and see where it lands!

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Fundations Choice Board for Level K Unit 1-3 1 (1)

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Alphabats - Rhyming Words is a fun word game that helps students practice phonemic awareness. Kids click on the bats’ bellies to hear the words, then match the words with rhyming sounds. After matching 6 words correctly, players get to help the bats collect fireflies.

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Find an item in your home or in your backyard that starts with the sound of the alphabet. Did you find one item that began with each letter?

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Kindergarten Phonics Games

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* Dress up in a fun costume, or make your own! Take a picture of you in your costume!
* Write and draw about your costume!
*Write a story about your costume!

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Here are some pre-written clues for an indoor treasure hunt!

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If you're stuck in the house with kids, try a classic treasure hunt or scavenger hunt that's fun and gets them moving. Create a clue to find a location or item, then have another clue waiting at that spot. That tip leads to the next spot, and so on. Place a treasure, such as a toy or treat, at the final destination. This self-directed activity empowers the child to complete a task on their own (or cooperatively if playing with others). At the same time, the child learns about sequencing, which is the importance of following steps in order.

Before You Get Started

There are different types of treasure hunts: indoor hunts, backyard or neighborhood hunts, or a photo-based hunt. You can increase the level of complexity and scope of the hunt, depending on the child's age. Determine the type of hunt that is right for you and the child. Create or print out clues.

Make some ground rules. Anticipate that the child will be excited to get started. Rule one: No running. If more than one child is playing along, they will be a team. The second rule should involve taking turns to read the clues.

Ready-Made Clues for an Indoor Hunt

The treasure hunt should be a workout for the brain with hints that require some thinking. Rhyming clues have built-in kid appeal. You can make a version for preschoolers with pictures that you draw or print from the computer. Take a look at this ready-made list of clues about ordinary indoor objects. The answer key follows.

1. I have four legs, but I don't have feet.
I come in handy when it's time to eat.

2. My job is to put an end to sleep,
Which I do with music, a buzz, or a beep.

3. For fast heating or cooking, I am tops.
And, oh, that good smell when my popcorn pops!

4. I'm packed really full of boxes and cans.
I may hold a broom or a mop or a dustpan.

5. Flour and sugar and coffee and tea,
I keep these handy but hard to see.

6. I can take you to places you've never seen,
But first, type your password in on my screen.

7. I'm loaded and unloaded, but I'm not a truck.
Having a helper like me is a great piece of luck.

8. I rain on you when you need a scrub.
I'm very much like my friend the tub.

9. I make it possible to have fresh food.
Everyone agrees I'm one cool dude.

10. Watching your favorites is lots of fun.
But don't watch too much! Kids need to run.

11. I never get angry, but I do get hot.
I'm the perfect place for a pan or a pot.

12. It's my job to give all your clothes a tumble,
Which I do while making a bit of a rumble.

13. I have a round knob and also a lock.
Visitors and salesmen may give me a knock.

14. I'm one part chair and one part bed.
Up with your feet and down with your head.

15. I take your clothes for quite a spin.
But first, they get wet. That's how I begin.

16. I'm filled with feathers or other soft fluff.
To sleep without me can be quite tough.

17. Turn me on, and I'll give you a light.
I'm used some in the daytime but mostly at night.

18. A story, they say, can take you away,
But a book still needs a place to stay.

19. I have drawers and also a nice flat top.
For homework I'm helpful-keep working, don't stop!

20. I'm hungry! I'm hungry! Please feed me a slice.
I'll spit it back out all brown and nice.

21. I'm not a selfie, but I do show faces.
Find me in bathrooms and a few other places.

22. Adults go here when they first wake
And at other times when they need a break.

23. Most every day, you step on me.
All I require is a bend of your knee.

24. I go round and round and get really hot.
In larger families, I'm used quite a lot.

25. I'm paper, but I'm not used for writing a letter.
The spot by your potty suits me much better!

26. I have hands but no arms and also a face.
And my hands always move at the same steady pace.

27. I may have eyes, but I really can't see.
People love to make fries out of me.

28. The more I dry, the wetter I get.
A little one can be used for soaking up sweat.

29. I hold all the words you need to know.
Use me to make your vocabulary grow.

30. I'm never wicked, but I do have a wick.
I come in all sizes, from skinny to thick.

Answers: 1. Kitchen or dining table, 2. Alarm clock, 3. Microwave, 4. Pantry, 5. Kitchen canisters, 6. Computer, 7. Dishwasher, 8. Shower, 9. Refrigerator, 10. Television, 11. Kitchen stove, 12. Clothes dryer, 13. Front door, 14. Recliner, 15. Clothes washer, 16. Bed pillow, 17. Lamp, 18. Bookshelf, 19. Desk, 20. Toaster, 21. Mirror, 22. Coffee maker, 23. Stairs, 24. Clothes dryer, 25. Toilet paper, 26. Clock, 27. Potato, 28. Towel, 29. Dictionary, 30. Candle

You can edit this list to incorporate items that are specific to your home. If your home has more than one of these objects, the child/children may have to check out more than one location before they find the next clue. If clues are ambiguous, it can make the game last longer, gives the children more exercise, and adds to the fun.

To make the hunt more challenging, assign each item a point value based on how difficult it is to find. Tween children or grandchildren particularly enjoy this type of hunt.

Outdoor Treasure Hunts

When the weather is nice, treat the kids or grandkids to an outdoor treasure hunt. Similar to the indoor treasure hunt, use clues to point to items or locations in the yard or outside the house.

If the child is doing this activity outside or is old enough to do a neighborhood hunt, make sure traffic isn't an issue. Consider an enclosed park as a safe location.

Photo Treasure Hunts

Treasure hunts involving cameras are a fun way of incorporating technology in the mix. Children love using devices to augment their daily experiences. There are two ways to do this. You can use "photo clues" and take pictures of odd nooks and crannies in your home. Print out the images and place them as a pointer, directing the child how to find the next spot.

Children might appreciate a photo-only treasure hunt, which is suitable for those who are old enough to use digital cameras or smartphones. In this scenario, the child will be taking the photos. Make a list of items in the home or outside and ask them to take a photo of that item. Give the child a set period to find the object and take their photographs. The child can work in a team or on their own.

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Use These Clues for an Indoor Treasure Hunt

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If you're stuck in the house with kids, try a classic treasure hunt or scavenger hunt that's fun and gets them moving. Create a clue to find a location or item, then have another clue waiting at that spot. That tip leads to the next spot, and so on.

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aka.... How many am I hiding -ver.2

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In this class activity, students find the missing number to complete a number sentence while also seeing different representations made by other students.

Task Instructions

In this activity each child has the same number of cubes and a cup.

They take turns hiding some of their cubes in the cup and showing the leftovers.

Other children work out the answer to the question "How many are hiding," and say the full number combination.

Example: I have 10 cubes and I decide to hide 4 in my cup. My group can see that I only have 6 cubes. Students should be able to say that I'm hiding 4 cubes and that 6 and 4 make 10.

Materials

10 or more snap cubes /objects per player

A cup for each player

In this class activity, students find the missing number to complete a number sentence while also seeing different representations made by other students.

Task Instructions

In this activity each child has the same number of cubes and a cup.

They take turns hiding some of their cubes in the cup and showing the leftovers.

Other children work out the answer to the question "How many are hiding," and say the full number combination.

Example: I have 10 cubes and I decide to hide 4 in my cup. My group can see that I only have 6 cubes. Students should be able to say that I'm hiding 4 cubes and that 6 and 4 make 10.

Materials

10 or more snap cubes /objects per player

A cup for each player

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In this class activity, students find the missing number to complete a number sentence while also seeing different representations made by other students. In this activity each child has the same number of cubes and a cup. They take turns hiding some of their cubes in the cup and showing the leftovers.

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In this task, a group of children sit around a table. Without peeking, they figure out how many feet are under the table. They can use mathematical tools, such as cubes or drawings, that will help them.

Task Instructions

1. Seat a small group of students around the table with you and place the counters in the center of the table.

2. Ask students what they think is under the table. When they say, "feet," invite them to make noise with their feet to make sure there really are feet down there.

3. Ask them to figure out, without peeking, how many feet are under the table. Tell them they can use counters, paper or pencils to figure it out. Explain that eventually, they need to write down their thinking on the paper.

4. Observe the students as they work and support as necessary.

5. Ask students to share how they represented the feet on their paper and how many feel they think there are altogether.

6. When all the students are finished, have them peek under the table to check their answers.

Materials

Counters, 15 per student

A small group of students around a table

Paper and pencils, one per student

Reference

Confer, C. (2005). Feet Under the Table. In Teaching Number Sense, Kindergarten. Sausalito, CA: Math Solutions Publications.

In this task, a group of children sit around a table. Without peeking, they figure out how many feet are under the table. They can use mathematical tools, such as cubes or drawings, that will help them.

Task Instructions

1. Seat a small group of students around the table with you and place the counters in the center of the table.

2. Ask students what they think is under the table. When they say, "feet," invite them to make noise with their feet to make sure there really are feet down there.

3. Ask them to figure out, without peeking, how many feet are under the table. Tell them they can use counters, paper or pencils to figure it out. Explain that eventually, they need to write down their thinking on the paper.

4. Observe the students as they work and support as necessary.

5. Ask students to share how they represented the feet on their paper and how many feel they think there are altogether.

6. When all the students are finished, have them peek under the table to check their answers.

Materials

Counters, 15 per student

A small group of students around a table

Paper and pencils, one per student

Reference

Confer, C. (2005). Feet Under the Table. In Teaching Number Sense, Kindergarten. Sausalito, CA: Math Solutions Publications.

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In this task, a group of children sit around a table. Without peeking, they figure out how many feet are under the table. They can use mathematical tools, such as cubes or drawings, that will help them. Seat a small group of students around the table with you and place the counters in the center of the table.

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Children will develop the concept of inclusion, that larger numbers "include" smaller numbers.

Students will determine which of two numbers is larger, then place both numbers in a paper pocket labeled with the larger number.

After playing the game, students will discuss what they notice about the numbers inside the different pockets, ultimately seeing that each pocket number contains all the smaller numbers within.

Task Instructions

1. Arrange the numbered paper pockets in numerical order

2. Deal all of the cards so that each student has the same number. Students keep the cards in a pile, face down.

3. Students say, "One, two, three, flip!" and when they say "flip," each player turns over the top card in his or her pile.

4. The students decide which number is larger, then they place both cards in the pocket labeled with the bigger card's number. For example, if students turn over a 4 and a 5, they read those numbers and put both cards into the pocket labeled 5. If the numbers are the same, both cards go into that numbered pocket.

5. Players continue until all the cards are in the pockets.

6. After the game, ask students to predict which numbers they will find in the paper pocket labeled three and why they think that.

7. Encourage students to examine the paper pockets one by one and talk about what they notice (and see if their predictions were right). Students should talk about why those numbers were inside each pocket and why other numbers were not.

8. After the students have played the game many times over many weeks, facilitate a discussion about why the pockets look the way they do at the end of a game. For example, show students a pocket labeled 2 and ask them which numbers they think will be inside. Write down their predictions, then examine the pocket and discuss why there are only ones and twos in the pocket. Then ask students why they think some numbers are NOT in the pocket.

9. Later in the year, have students play the game again, but when they finish the game they will figure out which paper pocket has the most cards in it. This will be the pocket that "wins." Make a tally on a class chart to record which pocket had the most cards. Discuss with the class why the higher numbers "win."

Materials

Set of 1-10 Number Cards

Set of 10 paper pockets with a number card from 1-10 taped on the front of each pocket (library-card pockets work well, or you can cut small envelopes and tape the sides)

Reference

Confer, C. (2005). The Pocket Game. In Teaching Number Sense, Kindergarten. Sausalito, CA: Math Solutions Publications.

Children will develop the concept of inclusion, that larger numbers "include" smaller numbers.

Students will determine which of two numbers is larger, then place both numbers in a paper pocket labeled with the larger number.

After playing the game, students will discuss what they notice about the numbers inside the different pockets, ultimately seeing that each pocket number contains all the smaller numbers within.

Task Instructions

1. Arrange the numbered paper pockets in numerical order

2. Deal all of the cards so that each student has the same number. Students keep the cards in a pile, face down.

3. Students say, "One, two, three, flip!" and when they say "flip," each player turns over the top card in his or her pile.

4. The students decide which number is larger, then they place both cards in the pocket labeled with the bigger card's number. For example, if students turn over a 4 and a 5, they read those numbers and put both cards into the pocket labeled 5. If the numbers are the same, both cards go into that numbered pocket.

5. Players continue until all the cards are in the pockets.

6. After the game, ask students to predict which numbers they will find in the paper pocket labeled three and why they think that.

7. Encourage students to examine the paper pockets one by one and talk about what they notice (and see if their predictions were right). Students should talk about why those numbers were inside each pocket and why other numbers were not.

8. After the students have played the game many times over many weeks, facilitate a discussion about why the pockets look the way they do at the end of a game. For example, show students a pocket labeled 2 and ask them which numbers they think will be inside. Write down their predictions, then examine the pocket and discuss why there are only ones and twos in the pocket. Then ask students why they think some numbers are NOT in the pocket.

9. Later in the year, have students play the game again, but when they finish the game they will figure out which paper pocket has the most cards in it. This will be the pocket that "wins." Make a tally on a class chart to record which pocket had the most cards. Discuss with the class why the higher numbers "win."

Materials

Set of 1-10 Number Cards

Set of 10 paper pockets with a number card from 1-10 taped on the front of each pocket (library-card pockets work well, or you can cut small envelopes and tape the sides)

Reference

Confer, C. (2005). The Pocket Game. In Teaching Number Sense, Kindergarten. Sausalito, CA: Math Solutions Publications.

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Children will develop the concept of inclusion, that larger numbers "include" smaller numbers. Students will determine which of two numbers is larger, then place both numbers in a paper pocket labeled with the larger number. After playing the game, students will discuss what they notice about the numbers inside the different pockets, ultimately seeing that [...]

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This is a quick game that can be played to practice addition. It provides fun by tempting a player with making that next roll to get a higher score. Soft dice or an app to simulate a dice roll can make this a quiet activity for fun and practice.

Task Instructions

The goal is to be the first player to reach 100.

On your turn, roll the dice and determine the sum. You can either stop and record that sum or continue rolling and add the new sums together.

Roll the pair of dice as many times as you choose. Again, when you decide to stop, record the current total for your score (and add it to your previous score).

But beware! If you roll a 1 on exactly one die, your turn ends and 0 is your recorded score for that turn. And, if you roll double 1's, your turn ends and your entire score is set back to 0.

Reference

From Helping with Math at Home: More Ideas for Parents. 2006. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

This is a quick game that can be played to practice addition. It provides fun by tempting a player with making that next roll to get a higher score. Soft dice or an app to simulate a dice roll can make this a quiet activity for fun and practice.

Task Instructions

The goal is to be the first player to reach 100.

On your turn, roll the dice and determine the sum. You can either stop and record that sum or continue rolling and add the new sums together.

Roll the pair of dice as many times as you choose. Again, when you decide to stop, record the current total for your score (and add it to your previous score).

But beware! If you roll a 1 on exactly one die, your turn ends and 0 is your recorded score for that turn. And, if you roll double 1's, your turn ends and your entire score is set back to 0.

Reference

From Helping with Math at Home: More Ideas for Parents. 2006. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

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This is a quick game that can be played to practice addition. It provides fun by tempting a player with making that next roll to get a higher score. Soft dice or an app to simulate a dice roll can make this a quiet activity for fun and practice.

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This task comes from a book in a series of three books by Math Solutions, called Math for All: Differentiating Instruction. This is another investigation where students can practice addition and think about combinatorics - a nice way of organizing counting. The task ends with asking students to write about their thinking.

Getting Started

Write the numbers 12, 15, 19, and 24 on blank cards.

Put your number cards in a bag and shake it.

To Play

Pull out two cards. Record the numbers and their sum.

Return the cards to the bag and take another turn.

Do this a few times.

Stop and Think

How many different sums do you get when you pull two of these number cards from the bag?

How do you know you have all the possibilities?

What Did You Learn?

Write about your thinking.

Reference

From Math for All: Differentiating Instruction, Grades K-2 by Linda Dacey & Rebeka Eston Salemi (Sausalito, CA: Math Solutions), pp. 210. Reprinted with permission.

This task comes from a book in a series of three books by Math Solutions, called Math for All: Differentiating Instruction. This is another investigation where students can practice addition and think about combinatorics - a nice way of organizing counting. The task ends with asking students to write about their thinking.

Getting Started

Write the numbers 12, 15, 19, and 24 on blank cards.

Put your number cards in a bag and shake it.

To Play

Pull out two cards. Record the numbers and their sum.

Return the cards to the bag and take another turn.

Do this a few times.

Stop and Think

How many different sums do you get when you pull two of these number cards from the bag?

How do you know you have all the possibilities?

What Did You Learn?

Write about your thinking.

Reference

From Math for All: Differentiating Instruction, Grades K-2 by Linda Dacey & Rebeka Eston Salemi (Sausalito, CA: Math Solutions), pp. 210. Reprinted with permission.

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This task comes from a book in a series of three books by Math Solutions, called Math for All: Differentiating Instruction. This is another investigation where students can practice addition and think about combinatorics - a nice way of organizing counting. The task ends with asking students to write about their thinking.

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Cignition’s FogStone Isle lets kids explore, create and engage with math through real-world scenarios. Unlike most game-based learning programs, FogStone […]

Polyup is a free and open computational thinking playground where students can experiment with numbers and functions. Students will “mod”, […]

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Mancala is a family of board games played around the world, sometimes called “sowing” games, or “count-and-capture” games, which describes […]

Muggins math board games and manipulatives are not only educational but make learning FUN! Built the old fashioned way with […]

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Mancala is a family of board games played around the world, sometimes called "sowing" games, or "count-and-capture" games, which describes [...]

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- Read one of your favorite books!
- Create new illustrations (drawings) for the book you read

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Getting mail is always fun! Write a letter or a postcard to someone you care about!
You can print out a postcard template using the link below!

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Official Website of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

Virtual Tours

Featured Tours

The Bronx River Virtual Tour
Take an interactive multimedia journey down the Bronx River. Explore 360-degree panoramic images and watch video interviews with local riverkeepers.

John Muir Nature Trail Virtual Tour
An interactive presentation of the John Muir Nature Trail in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The tour highlights key points of interest along the 1.7 mile trail.

Tours by Borough

The Bronx

Manhattan

Staten Island

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Official Website of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Virtual Tours The Bronx River Virtual Tour Take an interactive multimedia journey down the Bronx River. Explore 360-degree panoramic images and watch video interviews with local riverkeepers. John Muir Nature Trail Virtual Tour An interactive presentation of the John Muir Nature Trail in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.

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Move over Olympics! The oreo games are in town! Gather the whole family for an hour of games. Try some of these "events" or make up your own!

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We all love to play with OREOS. Whether you are twisting and dunking or licking out the center, OREO cookies are a special treat my kids love. To create a new fun twist to this classic cookie, I created The OREO Games.

My twist only mimics the new flavor twist from OREO. They have created a new Red Velvet OREO with a cream cheese creme. Dare I say it's my new favorite kind of OREO? It says it's a limited edition.

Maybe I can convince them of otherwise. Either that or I'm going to need to sock pile. I may have just left my computer to grab another cookie...may have.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Albertsons. The opinions and text are all mine.
To be able to experience the new Red Velvet OREOS, I headed to my local Albertsons to make the purchase. I also want to let you know that Albertsons is having a Stop & Play OREO Sweepstake with a chance to win a Polaroid CUBE camera or OREO prize package. Head on over to the Albertsons Facebook Page to see how you can enter to win. If you love baking with OREOS, then this is the contest for you. I do have to say that I had a plan A for how I wanted to showcase this new OREO and the sweepstakes with Albertsons. My plan A did involve making a dessert, but I am without a kitchen right now. We are in the middle of a kitchen remodel. It was suppose to be done by now, but that's a whole different story. The lack of a kitchen did make me move on to plan B. I can tell you that my plan B of The OREO Games was a bigger hit with the kids, and I'm glad it happened. I may need to do my plan A to enter the Sweepstakes and bring you a future post with a yummy recipe. Stay tuned!

Once you have your OREO cookies, it's time to start The OREO Games. Get read for smiles, laughter and begging for more. My kids have asked to play again every day since our original experience. Of course they would! Each round ends in the winner getting to eat an OREO. The OREO games consisted of 7 different challenges for the kids to accomplish.

The OREO Games - Hilariously Fun Games and Relays
Minute to Win It Cookie Challenge with OREOS
This challenge was inspired by the cookie challenge on Minute to Win it. If you haven't seen it, I would check out some YouTube videos to get the full experience. In the game show version, people have one minute to make it happen. We played where the first kid to get the cookie in their mouth won. The goal is to move an OREO cookie from your forehead to your mouth using only facial movements. You cannot touch the cookie. The kids were cracking up trying to make it happen.
OREO Cookie Stacking Competition
The OREO stacking competition is played out just how it sounds. Who can get the highest stack? My daughter was able to stack 14 until it toppled over. Can you beat her? As the winner, she got to nibble on a cookie as the prize.
OREO Cookie on a Fork Relay
For this relay, the kids had to put their cookie on a fork and race to the finish line. If it dropped, they had to freeze, reposition the cookie and keep walking. Of course, you were not allowed to touch the cookies with your hands unless you were frozen and re-setting. First one to the finish line wins.
Left Center Right Using OREO Cookies
Are you familiar with the game LCR - Left Center Right? (affiliate link). It is a simple and inexpensive dice game that can be played by people of all ages. We just learned it recently and bought it right away. It's quick and fun to play. Normally, you are playing with chips (game pieces), but some people play with pennies or quarters. We, however, played the game with OREOS. Generally, one person ends up with all the winnings. I didn't want my winner to down an entire stack of cookies in one sitting, so the winner ended up getting one cookie to munch.
Licking the Creme Center out of OREO Cookie Competition
The next activity in The OREO Games was a competition to see who could be the fastest person to lick the creme center out of the cookie. Now remember this is a cream cheese creme center to pair nicely with the Red Velvet cookie, and the kids loved it. The rule was they couldn't use their teeth to bite it out. It had to be done with 100% licking.
OREO Cookie on the Head Relay
This OREO relay was a lot of fun for the kids. They had to race with an OREO cookie on their head. They weren't allowed to touch it with their hands unless it fell on the ground. If it fell, they had to freeze, reposition it on their head and then could continue on to the finish line.
Peeling out the Creme Center
The final challenge was to see if anyone could successfully peel out the entire creme center of the cookie. They made it happen and enjoyed eating away at the fruits of their labor.

This was an activity that brought a lot of joy. You can see it on their faces. I smile as I look back at all the pictures. It was one of those happy moments in family life. I hope you'll take some time out to play The OREO Games with your family too. I bet they'd appreciate it. I'm sure you could come up with your own great ideas for play with this classic cookie treat with a new Red Velvet twist.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Albertsons. The opinions and text are all mine.

Need More Oreo Ideas?

If you are having any kind of OREO party or celebration, I'm pretty sure this 7 Layer OREO Chocolate Mousse Cake is a must.

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We all love to play with OREOS. Whether you are twisting and dunking or licking out the center, OREO cookies are a special treat my kids love. To create a new fun twist to this classic cookie, I created The OREO Games.

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Write a letter, draw a picture, send well wishes to the essential workers  that are working so hard to keep us safe!
You can send upload and send messages to healthcare workers through the website below!

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Hospitals and healthcare workers are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus). They are running out of personal protective equipment (PPE) that keeps healthcare providers and their patients safe from spreading the virus. Despite the danger this poses to hospital staff-and their families and loved ones-these dedicated professionals go to work every day to help those who may be having the worst day of their lives. They are exhausted, working extra shifts when their coworkers become sick, and wondering if they will be next to fall ill.

Yet, they continue to give all they can out of a deep desire to help others. You can help.

Send a message of encouragement today or show your support by sharing your artwork. We will ensure it gets to those who need to hear it.

As the pandemic progresses, we will need healthcare workers more than ever.

Let's do what we can to encourage them.

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Hospitals and healthcare workers are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus). They are running out of personal protective equipment (PPE) that keeps healthcare providers and their patients safe from spreading the virus.

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We had been planning this project for a while. My boy had spotted some big cardboard box city creations on Pinterest and wanted to make one. So we started saving boxes!

In a world of finite resources and growing consumption I love to encourage the creative use of simple recycled materials, like the humble cardboard box, to create play. Encouraging our little ones to re-purpose what they already have is not only great for our planet, it also requires creative thinking to see new possibilities beyond the original purpose, helping our children become the resourceful inventors of the future.

MATERIALS:

Different size cardboard boxes

Markers

Craft knife

Paddle pop sticks, match sticks and dowels (optional)

PVA glue

Hot glue gun or tape

HOW TO:

The first job I did was to take all the boxes apart, turn them inside out and glue them back together so there is blank cardboard on the outside. This isn't 100% necessary but it just makes the boxes a little nicer to draw on and decorate. Then my boy began drawing all the doors and windows onto each house.

I then cut out doors and windows for him with a sharp craft knife. The boy then began to assemble the town. Initially we planned to stick all the boxes together but we soon realised it would be much more fun if you could knock the town down and rebuild it in a different way.

We then made lots of ladders, sign posts and TV antenna for the town using paddle pop sticks, match sticks and cardboard.

Then assemble your town!

LOOKING FOR MORE UP-CYCLED CRAFTY FUN?

If you are looking for more crafty fun made using up-cycled materials check out our UP-CYCLED KIDS CRAFTS E-BOOK!

This e-book includes 20 awesome art & craft projects to make at home using items from from your household recycling and a few simple craft supplies. The book includes a selection of art projects, DIY toys and fun crafts, there is something for everyone.

We want to SHARE in your fun, share your crafty creations inspired by our MINI MAD CRAFT projects on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK by tagging your posts #MYMINIMADCRAFT

FOLLOW Mini Mad Things on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM for daily craft inspiration and dress up fun!

SHARE OUR CRAFTS ON PINTEREST!

SHOP our fun kids craft kits and get creative at home!

SHOP our fun kids craft tutorial e-books.

SHOP our fun kids hair clips.

There are no bows or princesses here, we have COOL dinosaurs, robots, pirates and more!

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We had been planning this project for a while. My boy had spotted some big cardboard box city creations on Pinterest and wanted to make one. So we started saving boxes!

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We're all sure you've read lots of books and watched some really fun shows and movies while you've been home! Pick on of your favorites, and write a review! Make sure to share some reasons why you think other people should read or watch!

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Choose one of your favorite book characters, then describe his or her personality traits, problems, and physical descriptions until someone guesses the character’s identity.

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Here at BA everybody has their favorite banana bread recipe. We made every one-14 to be exact-until we came up with a collective favorite. Dark brown sugar is key and a dollop of mascarpone makes for superior tenderness. Walnuts optional but encouraged.

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Choose a story your family knows well — like a well-read book or fairytale — and act out the beginning, middle, and end of the story. If you have more family than characters, a few could do the acting and the others can be the audience or be the narrator. This activity helps readers reexamine and understand story lines and details.

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Have your kids read recipes aloud to you while you’re cooking dinner. From ingredient lists to cooking directions, this kind of family reading will help build vocabulary, fluency…and dessert!

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Task Instructions

Ask students roll a dice twice.

The first roll tells them how many pizzas to draw.

The second roll tells them how many pepperonis to put on EACH pizza.

Then they write the number sentence that will help them answer the question, "How many pepperonis in all?"

For example, I roll a dice and get 4 so I draw 4 big pizzas. I roll again and I get 3 so I put three pepperonis on each pizza. Then I write 4 x 3 = 12 and that tells me that there are 12 pepperonis in all.

Materials

2 dice per player

10 or more snap cubes per player

Task Instructions

Ask students roll a dice twice.

The first roll tells them how many pizzas to draw.

The second roll tells them how many pepperonis to put on EACH pizza.

Then they write the number sentence that will help them answer the question, "How many pepperonis in all?"

For example, I roll a dice and get 4 so I draw 4 big pizzas. I roll again and I get 3 so I put three pepperonis on each pizza. Then I write 4 x 3 = 12 and that tells me that there are 12 pepperonis in all.

Materials

2 dice per player

10 or more snap cubes per player

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Ask students roll a dice twice. The first roll tells them how many pizzas to draw. The second roll tells them how many pepperonis to put on EACH pizza. Then they write the number sentence that will help them answer the question, "How many pepperonis in all?"

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Pick one of your favorite familiar stories (from school our home) and write your own version! You can make a picture book, write a script and act it out- the choices are endless! Here are a few read alouds of some of our familiar stories from school to get you started!

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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The kids talked about pushing forces in science! They can see those forces in action (and reuse straws) when they make balloon-racers!

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As a Maker Monday project, these Balloon-Powered Racers score big with our handy maker kids. They're fun to build and cool to race in competition with friends.

This STEM activity is a simple way to illustrate Newton's Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the pressured air escapes from the balloon, the opposite reaction sends the race car flying across the floor. It's not very different from the science that NASA uses to send rockets into outer space.

The supplies needed are likely to be found in most households. But if you're missing anything, head to the dollar store.
Supplies:
Small cars, such as Hot Wheels or Matchbox Cars

Balloons

Drinking straws

Duct tape

Masking tape

Scissors

Cut a drinking straw into a piece about 4 inches long. Insert partway into a balloon and seal with duct tape.

Choose your racer and set the straw on top of the car. The balloon needs to be over the front of the car with the straw pointing to the rear. If you point it in the wrong direction, the car will race backward. You will lose the race, but it will be pretty funny!

Blow up the balloon through the straw, holding the neck of the balloon so the air doesn't escape.

Set the racer on your starting line. (Remember to have the balloon in front.) Let go and watch your racer take off! It will run as long as the air continues to blow out. Once it's done? Blow it up again for another race.
For more Maker Monday projects and other fun stuff for kids, visit the Kidsburgh Activities page.

Connect with Sally Quinn

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Maker Monday: Balloon-Powered Racers | Pittsburgh is Kidsburgh

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As a Maker Monday project, these Balloon-Powered Racers score big with our handy maker kids. They're fun to build and cool to race in competition with friends. This STEM activity is a simple way to illustrate Newton's Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

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aka...How many am I hiding?

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Students work together to make different number combinations for a given number.

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Make your own puppets and put on a show!

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Make your own puppets and put on a show!

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Make a plan first. What character do you want to make (e.g. pig, girl, rabbit, etc.) What important body parts do they have? What can I use to make them?

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Remember, make a plan before you start!

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Maker Monday Clothespin Puppets bring silly fun to those all-important engineering problem-solving skills. It's a blast to set kids up with an idea and supplies and let them loose to create!

Begin with a clothespin. We found over-sized clothespins at a craft store, but the normal-sized clothespins work, too, on a smaller scale. We considered how the clothespin opens and whether to go vertical or horizontal with our puppet creatures. And we loved the idea of a tiny surprise inside that shows itself when opened!

There are endless designs to be imagined: Consider a frog with a fly in its mouth, a gift-wrapped present with a heart inside, or an egg that opens to a bright yellow chick! We went with a piranha with little fish inside and a monstrous flowering plant.
Supplies:
Clothespins

Paper, plain or colored

Markers

Scissors

Glue sticks, school glue, glue gun or tape

Toothpicks

Optional decorative items: Google eyes, yarn for hair, pom-poms, pipe cleaners, etc.

Begin with a sketch to get a good size estimate and determine where the cut will separate the two pieces. Once you have a good idea, cut out and color. Cut into two pieces and attach to the clothespin. To make the little surprise appear, break a toothpick in half and attach to the back of the bottom side of the opening clothespin. Cut out the surprise item and attach to the toothpick.

As you can see here, we went in the other direction to make our monster flower plant that included pipe cleaner arms with leaf hands. Hello, Little Shop of Horrors!

Once your kids get the basic idea, see what kind of variations they can create!
For more Maker Monday projects and other fun stuff for kids, visit the Kidsburgh Activities page.

Connect with Sally Quinn

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Maker Monday: Clothespin Puppets | Pittsburgh is Kidsburgh

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Maker Monday Clothespin Puppets bring silly fun to those all-important engineering problem-solving skills. It's a blast to set kids up with an idea and supplies and let them loose to create! Begin with a clothespin. We found over-sized clothespins at a craft store, but the normal-sized clothespins work, too, on a smaller scale.

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Create signs and posters of appreciation and thanks to hang up in the windows of your home! If you have chalk, write well wishes on your driveway/sidewalk!

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This is a great opportunity to talk about measurement! Why do you think we have to fill the cup of flour to the top? Why do we need to level it/push the extra flour off?

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No need to buy store-bought play doh after you try our homemade playdough recipe! This easy playdough recipe takes 5 minutes to prep and 5 minutes to make. And the playdough will last for months! It's super soft, stretchy and non-toxic for kids.
RELATED: Kool-Aid Playdough
The BEST Playdough Recipe

We have tried a few recipes before that require you to mix the coloring in after the playdough is made. This was SO messy! We got food coloring all over our hands and surfaces doing it this way. You'll love this method because there's no need for bags to mix the coloring with and no mess too!

It's easy to make a batch of all different colors for the kids to play with. Just store the finished playdough in an air-tight container. It will help to also wrap it in some saran wrap to keep the air from touching the playdough which can make it go hard.

How to Make Playdough

There are many ways to make playdough - using a stove-top or using a kettle with boiling water. Personally, we prefer the stove-top method. We find it's easier to mix the ingredients in the pot. There are also no-cook playdough options but we also prefer this cooked playdough recipe. We find this recipe to last the longest and be the softest. This recipe only takes a few minutes to make and it will last for months!

Here are the ingredients you'll need:

Skip down to the recipe card below to see the full recipe instructions and video.

Do you need cream of tartar?

Yes, if you want a soft playdough and want it to last longer, you need to add a little bit of cream of tartar. We tested different amounts and found 2 teaspoons to be the perfect amount to make the playdough super soft. If you skip the cream of tartar your dough may turn out a bit more dry and crumbly. It also helps your playdough last longer. If you want a dough recipe without cream of tartar, see our cloud dough recipe.

How do you get vibrant playdough colors?

We like to use this liquid food coloring. It makes the playdough much more vibrant than regular food coloring. If you're using regular food coloring, you'll need to add in a lot of drops. And don't mix after you make the playdough - add it into the water instead which is so much easier and less messy!

How to Keep Playdough Soft

First wrap your playdough in saran wrap then store in an air-tight container. You'll notice that playdough will go hard if left out - so the less air that can get to the playdough when storing, the longer it will last!

How Do I Make Playdough Soft Again?

If your playdough dries out and turns out to be a little dry after making it, try adding in a little more oil first. You can knead the oil in with your hands. You can also knead in a little bit of water.

When you're done making your playdough, get out some cookie cutters and have fun making shapes! We also like using rolling pins and stamps to play with our playdough.

Homemade Playdough Recipe

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The BEST playdough recipe you will ever try with only 5 ingredients! This homemade playdough is soft, easy to make and lasts for months!

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Read leveled books on Rivet or the Rivet app.

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- Read one of your favorite books!
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Small flat box

Colored paper

Craft sticks or popsicle sticks

Crayons or colored markers

Scissors

Glue stick

Acrylic paint

Paint brush

1Paint the box.

Find a small flat box to make into a mini house. The box must at least be as tall as your craft sticks.

Paint the box with acrylic paint. Choose a darker shade of paint to hide the print on the box. If you want to completely cover the print, first paint the box with white acrylic paint. Once completely dry, paint with the final color. Set the box aside to dry.

2Cut out various shapes.

The box house and the stick puppet characters will be made up of basic shapes. You can either draw your own shapes or print out our templates.

a.) Print out our templates - print out the house template and the family stick puppets template on A4 or Letter size paper. The puppets were designed to be glued onto jumbo craft sticks (6" long and ¾" wide) while the house template was intended for a small box about 6" long and 3½" wide (e.g. Pocky biscuit sticks box). Color and cut out the shapes.

b.) Make your own shapes - with the size of your box and craft sticks in mind, cut out shapes from colored paper. Below is an example but you can always modify them to accomodate more family members. You can even include pets!

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Family Stick Puppets | Kids' Crafts | Fun Craft Ideas | FirstPalette.com

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Learn all about shapes while making this easy family and home-themed craft. Kids create and put shapes together to build a mini box home with a family of stick puppets. The puppets can be kept inside the box house after use.

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The blue-ringed octopus uses fluorescence, another process that can cause things to glow. When disturbed, blue circular rings flash all over its body. Instead of making their own light, they can absorb and re-emit light from outside their bodies.

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Only the top layer of the ocean gets a lot of sunlight. Many marine animals aren't in the dark, however, because they make their own light. Some animals, like the Bermuda fireworm, use a process calledbioluminescence . Chemicals in the bodies mix together to produce "cold light," which doesn't give off any heat.

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18 Kid-Friendly Recipes That Are Actually Incredible Learning Opportunities

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It can tricky trying to figure out ways to entertain the kids right now, so take some inspiration from us and get into the kitchen. It'll keep everyone occupied, engage imaginations, math, and science skills, and will result in a delicious end-result. It's a win win for everyone.

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Author and Illustrator Mo Willems has been awarded the American Library Association’s Caldecott Honor three times for his picture book illustration. Additionally, he is the recipient of two Theodor Geisel Medals and five Geisel Honors for his Elephant & Piggie early readers. Mo began his career as a writer and animator on Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards. His work has been exhibited around the world, including solo retrospectives at the High Museum in Atlanta and the New-York Historical Society. Over the last decade, Mo has written three musical theater works based on his books, two of which were commissioned and toured by the Kennedy Center.

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