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Use ReadWriteThink's Word Mover interactive to create an online poem.

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Use ReadWriteThink's Word Mover interactive to create an online poem.

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ReadWriteThink.org's Word Mover student interactive can be used to supplement classroom instruction, reinforce concepts taught in class, offer increased student engagement, and promote out-of-school literacy.

Word Mover allows children and teens to create " found poetry " by choosing from word banks and existing famous works; additionally, users can add new words to create a piece of poetry by moving/manipulating the text.
FEATURES

6 poem categories, each with the ability to personalize

12 backgrounds for stylizing poems

Helpful instructions available throughout app

Viewing of finished poem for proofreading

Ability to save poem as draft or final version

Ability to print poem

Ability to send poem by e-mail

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ReadWriteThink.org's Word Mover student interactive can be used to supplement classroom instruction, reinforce concepts taught in class, offer increased student engagement, and promote out-of-school literacy. Word Mover allows children and teens to create " found poetry " by choosing from word banks and existing famous works; additionally, users can add new words to create a piece of poetry by moving/manipulating the text.

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Learn about Ekphrastic poetry and challenge yourself to write one.

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Learn about Ekphrastic poetry and challenge yourself to write one.

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For those who follow poetry challenges on Morning Edition, our new one involves a vocabulary lesson: ekphrastic.

Ekphrastic poems respond to a piece of art.

According to the Poetry Foundation:

Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the 'action' of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning."

For this challenge, Morning Edition poet-in-residence Kwame Alexander has selected two paintings to inspire you: Heat Wave by Kadir Nelson and Young Woman At A Window by Salvador Dali.

The two paintings are different in time, place and style, but they both show a woman who appears to be deep in thought, looking out onto a part of the world. What do you see when you see these paintings? Can you feel their thoughts or their sense of place in the world? Are there consistencies or differences? If we value the experience of others, what can we draw from these images?

Submit your ekphrastic poem here. It can be a haiku, free verse or a rhyming poem, it doesn't matter - but please cap your poems at 10 lines. ( Click here to read examples of ekphrastic poems - and see the paintings that inspired them.)

Alexander will take lines and excerpts from some of your submissions and create a crowdsourced, community poem. Alexander and Morning Edition host Rachel Martin will read it on air, and NPR will publish it online, where contributors will be credited.

Here are the terms of the callout:
By providing your Submission to us, you agree that you have read, understand and accept the following terms in relation to the content and information (your "Submission") you are providing to National Public Radio ("NPR," "us," or "our"):
You are submitting content pursuant to a call out by Morning Edition related to a segment with Kwame Alexander wherein he creates unique poetry based on listener submissions. You understand that you are submitting content for the purpose of having Kwame use that content to create a new poem or poems ("Poem") with the material you submit. You must be over the age of 18 to submit material.

You will retain copyright in your Submission, but agree that NPR and/or Kwame Alexander may edit, modify, use, excerpt, publish, adapt or otherwise make derivative works from your Submission and use your Submission or derivative works in whole or in part in any media or format and/or use the Submission or Poem for journalistic and/or promotional purposes generally, and may allow others to do so. You understand that the Poem created by Kwame Alexander will be a new creative work and may be distributed through NPR's programs (or other media), and the Poem and programs can be separately subject to copyright protection. Your Submission does not plagiarize or otherwise infringe any third party copyright, moral rights, or any other intellectual property rights or similar rights. You have not copied any part of your Submission from another source. If your Submission is selected for inclusion in the Poem, you will be acknowledged in a list of contributors on NPR's website or otherwise receive appropriate credit, but failure to do so shall not be deemed a breach of your rights.

Your submission will be governed by our general Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. As the Privacy Policy says, we want you to be aware that there may be circumstances in which the exemptions provided under law for journalistic activities or freedom of expression may override privacy rights you might otherwise have.

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Poetry Challenge: Paint A Picture With Words

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For those who follow poetry challenges on Morning Edition, our new one involves a vocabulary lesson: ekphrastic. Ekphrastic poems respond to a piece of art. According to the Poetry Foundation: Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the 'action' of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning."

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Take this collaborative poetry challenge with your friends.

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Take this collaborative poetry challenge with your friends.

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Though we're all trying to be physically distant from each other at the moment, it's more important than ever to stay connected socially. That's why we're launching a collaborative renga poetry challenge...

Renga is a 700-year-old Japanese poetic form. The word 'renga' literally means 'linked poem', and writing a renga requires a partner, or partners. Renga consists of alternating haiku and couplets, with each stanza written by a different person.

Here's how renga works:

Poet #1 writes a haiku, a short poem of three lines. The first line has five syllables in it, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line has five syllables, e.g.

This is a renga,
or at least the first stanza.
Okay, now your turn.

Poet #1 sends their haiku to Poet #2, who responds with a couplet: two lines, each with seven syllables, e.g.

Here's my response. I'm eating
many more crisps than normal.

Poet #2 sends the whole poem so far, including the haiku and the couplet, to Poet #3 (or, if you're just writing with two people, back to Poet #1). Poet #3 now adds a haiku, e.g.

Great start, everyone.
I hope this haiku lives up
to your high standards.

Poet #3 sends it on to Poet #4, who adds a couplet, e.g.

Thanks for sharing. I love to
collaborate with my friends!

And so on! You can each take as many turns as you like, and the final renga can be as long or short as you fancy.

Our haiku/couplet examples there are pretty frivolous - and in this anxious time, we're suggesting that your renga are themed around what makes you smile and/or what makes you feel hopeful. Traditional renga, like haiku, often incorporate the seasons, nature and love - you can use these too if you find it helpful, but you don't have to.

We hope you have some poetic partners in mind who you'd like to write a renga with. We'd love this challenge to be taken up by existing poetry collectives and groups. This could also be a great activity for your class or a way to keep your seminar group connected, or a way to communicate long-distance with friends and family.

Share your renga

We'd love to read your renga. Send your finished renga in the body of an email to educationadmin@poetrysociety.org.uk with the subject line 'Renga'. We'd be really interested to hear a little about the contributors - your names and ages, the county/country you live in, how you found out about this challenge, how you know each other, and how you found the process of writing the renga.

A note on ages - Young Poets Network is a space for young writers globally, up to the age of 25 (inclusive). We'll only be able to publish renga by poets aged 25 or younger, but if you're older than that and want to write a renga, please do! We just won't be able to share your work.

The Poetry Society team is working from home, which means we won't be able to post out physical prizes, but we will publish a selection of responses to this challenge periodically. This is not a normal YPN challenge - we won't reply to let you know if we aren't going to publish your poem. The point of this challenge is to collaborate and have fun - not compete!

For now, there's no deadline for submitting your renga. We may add a closing date for sending your renga to us at a later date though, so check back in the coming weeks.

More details...

You can send a poem written down, or a recording as a video or as an audio file. If you are sending a written version of your poem, please type it into the body of your email. If you are sending a video or audio file, please attach it to the email (making sure it's no bigger than 4MB or it won't come through) or send us a link to where we can see/hear it.

If you would like us to add you to the Young Poets Network mailing list, include 'add me to the mailing list' in the subject line of the email. If you would like us to confirm that we've received your poem, include 'confirm receipt' in the subject line.

If the poet submitting the poem is aged 12 or younger, you will need to ask a parent/guardian to complete this permission form; otherwise, unfortunately we can't share your poem due to data protection laws.

The Poetry Society offices are currently closed and staff are working from home. Please do not post entries during this time. If you are having trouble submitting, please email educationadmin@poetrysociety.org.uk.

By sharing your poem, you give permission for Young Poets Network and The Poetry Society to reproduce your poem in print and online in perpetuity, though copyright remains with you. Please do be sure to check through the general Terms and Conditions for YPN challenges as well.

If you require this information in an alternative format (such as Easy Read, Braille, Large Print or screenreader friendly formats), or need any assistance with this challenge, please contact us at educationadmin@poetrysociety.org.uk.

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Renga is a 700-year-old Japanese poetic form. The word 'renga' literally means 'linked poem', and writing a renga requires a partner, or partners. Renga consists of alternating haiku and couplets, with each stanza written by a different person. Here's how renga works: Poet #1 writes a haiku, a short poem of three lines.

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Visit Shelsilverstein.com and watch videos of some of his best loved poems -- a few even narrated by Mr. Silverstein himself!

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Visit Shelsilverstein.com and watch videos of some of his best loved poems -- a few even narrated by Mr. Silverstein himself!

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Runny Babbit Returns
A spider lives inside my head
Who weaves a strange and wondrous web
Of silken threads and silver strings
To catch all sorts of flying things,
Like crumbs of thought and bits of smiles
And specks of dried-up tears,
And dust of dreams that catch and cling
For years and years and years...
Read more on Runny Babbit Returns

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A spider lives inside my head Who weaves a strange and wondrous web Of silken threads and silver strings To catch all sorts of flying things, Like crumbs of thought and bits of smiles And specks of dried-up tears, And dust of dreams that catch and cling For years and years and years...

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We are living history! Now is the time to write about it. Kids in the future could learn about 2020 from you!

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We are living history! Now is the time to write about it. Kids in the future could learn about 2020 from you!

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Be a Kid Reporter! Join Scholastic Kids Press Corps and write about your world for everyone to read.

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Be a Kid Reporter! Join Scholastic Kids Press Corps and write about your world for everyone to read.

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Join the Library of Congress' National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Jason Reynolds, and take his Write, Right, Rite challenge. 

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Join the Library of Congress' National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Jason Reynolds, and take his Write, Right, Rite challenge. 

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"Write. Right. Rite.": Jason Reynolds Presents New Video Series

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Create your own Quarantine Time Capsule!

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Create your own Quarantine Time Capsule!

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FREE DOWNLOAD

Created by Natalie Long of LONG Creations

"We are all living through history and something I have said I wanted to do from the beginning is make a keepsake of this moment for us to look back on. I have saved newspapers and art work done by my kids, taken photos of all our days and kept a diary. BUT I have also been working on a "time capsule" work sheet for my daughter, son and I to fill out. This will be available as a FREE resource for any of my fans."

INCLUDING:

Page to draw family picture

All about me

How I'm feeling

My community

What I am doing at home

Handprint page

Special occasion page

Letter to myself sheet

Interview for the parents

Letter from the parent

Download Links

FOR KIDS

The original COVID-19 Time Capsule Workbook for kids.

BONUS Pages

Additional pages that are situational during COVID-19.

FOR ADULTS

Due to the amount of interest, I have also created a time capsule for adults with more appropriate pages.

How To Use:

These workbook files are saved in PDF format. To use them you can download and open with a PDF program, and then print them. Some web browsers will let you do this directly from the browser.

TECH SUPPORT
If you don't know how to print a PDF and need assistance, please refrain from messaging LONG Creations or embark websites. There are many great articles and resources online! We urge you to perfom a Google search or ask someone you know who is tech savy for help. We are receiving thousands of direct messages and emails and we cannot supply tech support for everyone.

Please Note

This time capsule design was created and is supplied for free by LONG Creations. Natalie Long has been a long time friend of embark websites and has helped us with several projects. We wanted to return the favor, so we offered to host her files and create this page to help alleviate the traffic she was receiving.

Why make a dedicated page?

We created this page because the original Facebook post went viral and you guys literally crashed the Dropbox and Google Drive with the sheer amount of downloads. By keeping the links on a dedicated web page, we can monitor and update the links based off of their usage. We will do our best to maintain the above links, but please bear with us as we try and manage the number of downloads being requested.

Please remember this is a free resource, and we are trying our best to make it available to everyone!

"This is something I designed for fellow families with children living through this difficult time, it is meant as a GIFT not for profit!"

Support LONG Creations

Be sure to visit and follow LONG Creations on Facebook and Instagram to support Natalie and her amazing designs. You can view her website at https://longcreations.ca

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COVID-19 Time Capsule By LONG Creations | Hosted by embark

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FREE DOWNLOAD Created by Natalie Long of LONG Creations "We are all living through history and something I have said I wanted to do from the beginning is make a keepsake of this moment for us to look back on.

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Let's get moving after Spring Break and finish the school year strong!

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Let's get moving after Spring Break and finish the school year strong!

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Learn about your heart rate, how to check it and how it is affected by different exercises.

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Learn about your heart rate, how to check it and how it is affected by different exercises.

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Cool weblinks

Pulse of Life

Key Questions

How does your heart rate change after exercise?

What can change your heart rate besides exercise?

Materials

For each student

For every group of four students

clock or watch with a second hand or a digital reading

Procedure

1. Help the students locate their pulse points either on their wrists or necks. Ask students to place their right index and middle finger on the palm side of their left wrist. On the neck, the pulse point is located beneath the ear and jawbone. How do I find my pulse?

2. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds. Multiply this by four (15x4=60, there are 60 seconds in one minute). This is how many times the heart beats in one minute. Have students enter this "at rest" heart rate on their chart. (Student pulse rate at rest will vary between 60 - 110 beats per minute. Adult rates are lower.)

3. Do some exercise such as running in place, jumping jacks, or other exercise for one minute. Stop and calculate pulse again over 15 seconds. Calculate the heart rate for each activity and show this on the graph.

Extensions

1. Compare the heart rates of students in the class. Are the heart rates the same or different?

2. What is the average heart rate of all the students? The average heart rate can be found by adding up the column of numbers of all the heart rates listed and dividing this number by the total number of students.

3. Have the students collect pulse rates from various adults and list this on another graph. Calculate the average heart rate for adults. How does this compare with the students' average heart rate?

4. Have students keep a record of their heart rates for one week by taking their pulse a few times a day. Note time of day and activity at the time.

5. The amount of time the heart takes to return to a normal at-rest rate after exercise is called recovery time. This is a measure of the body's general fitness. The shorter the recovery time, the higher the level of fitness. Determine recovery rate by first measuring and recording the pulse rate at rest. Next, run in place for two minutes. Now measure the pulse rate every minute until the at-rest rate is reached. How long did it take the heart to return to the normal rate?

Notes to the teacher: Pulse Rates

During each heartbeat, the muscles of the heart contract causing a wave of pressure which forces blood through the arteries. This wave of pressure is known as a pulse. There is one pulsation for each heartbeat. The pulse can be felt at various points on the body where the arteries are just under the skin, such as the temples, neck, crook of the elbow, wrist, groin, back of the knee, and the inside back of the ankle. The normal pulse rate varies with age. Below is a chart listing the range of heart rates and average heart rate for various ages.

With exercise or physical activity, the heart rate increases to supply the muscles with more oxygen to produce extra energy. The heart can beat up to 200 times per minute with extreme exercise. The brain sends nerve signals to the heart to control the rate. The body also produces chemical hormones, such as adrenaline, which can change the heart rate. When we are excited, scared, or anxious our heart gets a signal to beat faster. During a fever, the heart beats faster to bring more blood to the surface of the body to release heat and cool the body. The heart rate increases during and after a meal to send more blood to the digestive system. A trained athlete's heart can pump more blood with each beat so his or her heart rate is slower. Likewise, an athlete's recovery time is shorter.

There are two ways the heart can meet the body's need for oxygen during exercise. It can beat faster or it can beat harder, moving more blood per pump. But it can only beat harder if it has been strengthened through regular exercise.
Range of Heart Rates per Minute and Average Heart Rate for Various Ages
WebLinks

Vital Signs
http://sln.fi.edu/biosci/monitor/vitals.html
The Franklin Institute's extensive website includes some brief but informative information about the pulse and blood pressure, and average rates for both. http://library.thinkquest.org/10348/
BodyQuest was designed in the Science and Mathematics category for ThinkQuest '97, and is aptly described by its creators as, "an exploration of anatomy designed for students aged between 11 and 16." If you're looking for a short explanation of the circulatory system and a few visual components, this is the place.
BodyQuest

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Habits of the Heart: Lessons: Pulse of Life

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Cool weblinks How does your heart rate change after exercise? What can change your heart rate besides exercise? For each student For every group of four students clock or watch with a second hand or a digital reading Help the students locate their pulse points either on their wrists or necks.

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Have a Blast With This Family Fun Cardio Workout!

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Check out these energizing (and calming) yoga workouts for the whole family.

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Check out these energizing (and calming) yoga workouts for the whole family.

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Alo Yoga has created 25 themed curriculum programs with daily classes that help with post-recess, pre-test, confident learning, and beyond. These yoga videos are free and deskside friendly! Watch them at
AloGives.com.

Go to AloGIVES.COM

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Alo Yoga has created 25 themed curriculum programs with daily classes that help with post-recess, pre-test, confident learning, and beyond. These yoga videos are free and deskside friendly! Watch them at AloGives.com. Go to AloGIVES.COM

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In celebration of our SPX Virtual Spirit Week theme for Tuesday, here are some ideas for family games.

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In celebration of our SPX Virtual Spirit Week theme for Tuesday, here are some ideas for family games.

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Not ready to put down the devices? Check out this list of fun apps for little kids to teens. 

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Not ready to put down the devices? Check out this list of fun apps for little kids to teens. 

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15 Great Apps to Play with Your Tweens and Teens

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Common Sense Media editors help you choose 15 Great Apps to Play with Your Tweens and Teens. These apps can bring you together and provide some teachable moments.

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It's Solitaire! It's Mancala! It's got math! 

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It's Solitaire! It's Mancala! It's got math! 

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Although I enjoy sharing our favorite board games via our game of the month feature, not every game we play is bought in a store. We have recently been having a great time playing Tchuka Ruma. Tchuka Ruma is an Indonesian transfer game that is a good precursor to the more sophisticated and well-known Mancala. Unlike Mancala, it is a solitary game and your kids can make it and play it in no time flat.

Simple, DIY games can be very satisfying for kids and can often be played on the spur of the moment, or on the go much more easily than board games. Ruma is a simple but surprisingly challenging game ( more on that below!) My 10 year old played it on his own, but we also had a few face offs ( see our video below). It keeps their brain active and they won't want to stop until they discover the solution.
What you need: Make the board:
Divide a 10 inch strip of paper into 5 equal sections. We made 2 game boards. One is 10 x 2, the other is 10 x 3. Write "Ruma" in the final end section. ( See photo)

Objective: to get all the counters into the "Ruma" section.

Set up: place 2 counters in each of the blank sections.
How to play:
Pick up counters from any square and drop them, one by one into each section ( similar to Mancala) towards the Ruma square. This is called "sowing the seeds".

What comes next depends on where your last counter falls.

If your last counter falls into Ruma then you move again, sowing seeds starting from the square of your choice.

If your last counter falls into an empty space, you lose.

If your last counter falls into a space already occupied by one or more counters, pick up all the counters from that square and continue sowing the seeds.
Good to know:
There is only one solution that will get all the counters into the Ruma square. There is a mathematical reason for this, but it is way above my head - ha ha ha. See the video if you want the solution. It was quite challenging for me, although I do not profess to be particularly adept at games like this!

It is fun, though, and my 10 year old and I did not want to give up. Even after we solved the game, it was not always easy to remember the exact steps, so even after your kids win, ask them to try and repeat the feat.

Watch a the new and improved (!) video of how to play. First I demonstrate how to lose ( ha ha ha) but hem you can watch a mother-son face off, plus at the very end I reveal the solution!
More DIY games we love:

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Tchuka Ruma: A Solitary Mancala Game for Kids

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Although I enjoy sharing our favorite board games via our game of the month feature, not every game we play is bought in a store. We have recently been having a great time playing Tchuka Ruma. Tchuka Ruma is an Indonesian transfer game that is a good precursor to the more sophisticated and well-known Mancala.

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Play Dara with simple objects from around the house. Scroll down for other international games. 

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Play Dara with simple objects from around the house. Scroll down for other international games. 

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Are you ready for a super cool 3 in a row game from Northwest Africa? All of the other traditional three in a row games I've shared, such as Tapatan and Nine Holes have had one thing in common. The game ends when a player makes a row with 3 of his token. But Dara, a game played in Nigeria by the Dakakari people, as well as in Niger and Mali, does not end with the first 3 in a row!

Because of this, the rules take a bit longer to learn ( but not much) and a good strategy is harder to discern. However, these differences are what makes it much more exciting, especially for older kids. Overall, it is not difficult but you really have to pay attention to the board and plan ahead. In fact, I think this is probably a great warm up game for kids who are learning how to play chess. And incidentally, I really dislike chess ( surprising, I know), but I love Dara.

How to Play Dara
What you need:

12 tokens, in two colors. You can pilfer tokens from your games closet, or use button, coins or other small objects.

Game board set out in a 6×5 grid. Make your own, or download ours here.

2 players eager to become champions.

Objective: To capture your opponents tokens so that he can no longer make three in a row. (In other words, until he has only 2 tokens left.)
Instructions:
There are two phases. The "drop phase" and the "move phase". This is similar to several other traditional games we have shared.

Decide who goes first.

Players alternate placing their tokens on the game board.

Once all tokens have been placed, the move phase begins.

Players take turns moving their tokens, one at a time, in an attempt to make 3 in a row. Once a player has made three in a row, he can remove one of his opponent's tokens from the board.

Constraints:

You may not have more that 3 tokens in a row. (So - no 4 in a row, for example.) Note: I have come across some instructions which do allow for 4 or more tokens to be in a row. (Discrepancy in rules is common for traditional games.)

Optional: You are not allowed to make 3 in a row during the drop phase. Even if you allow players to make 3 in a row during the drop phase, you may not remove your opponents token during the drop phase.

You may not capture an opponents token when it is part of a 3 in row he made.

Rows of three may only be orthogonally (there's a new word for you!), not diagonally.

No diagonal moves are allowed.

Watch our video to see the game in action.
Why your kids should play Dara:
Dara is an abstract strategy game, rather than a game of chance. It enhances observation skills, critical thinking, planning ahead, spatial perception and number sense. As you might guess, these are great pre-math skills but they are also important for things like logical thinking, and even handwriting! ( Plus, fine motor work is in there, too.)
About Dara:
Dara is traditionally played with stones and holes dug in the ground. Our version uses a checkerboard grid because that makes it easier to play at the table. But why not try it at the beach, or at the campsite? You won't need any equipment but what you can scavenge! Sticks vs. stones, or daisies vs. dandelions, perhaps?

If your kids loved playing Dara, they will love these games, too:

Don't miss out on any of the games we share! Subscribe to our newsletter for tons of ideas to get your kids brains stretching and learning.

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Dara Game: Nigerian 3 in a Row with a Twist

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Are you ready for a super cool 3 in a row game from Northwest Africa? All of the other traditional three in a row games I've shared, such as Tapatan and Nine Holes have had one thing in common. The game ends when a player makes a row with 3 of his token.

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Paper Battleship! Fun list of Indoor Games to Keep the Whole Family Entertained.

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Paper Battleship! Fun list of Indoor Games to Keep the Whole Family Entertained.

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Another rainy or bone-chilling day? We see you over there: Restless kids fidgeting on the couch, the clock ticking slower than usual, and you're fresh out of ideas for things to do. Well you've come to the right place. We have your back with this list of the best indoor games you haven't already tried.

1. Pencil-and-paper games

From Battleship to Sprouts, we've created a must-play list of pencil-and-paper indoor games that beat TV any day. Gather some pencils and paper and check out our best of pencil-and-paper games.

2. Building

You don't need a fancy building set for this. Popsicle stick cities, card towers, even buildings out of blocks, or indoor forts out of boxes or pillows, will do just fine. If you want to get competitive, whoever builds the highest tower wins.

3. Magical Mama (or Papa)

Be your kids' very own Harry Houdini-without the locks, chains and water tanks, of course. Simply place a coin under one of three cups and shuffle the cups around. Then ask your children to guess which cup holds the coin. Sneaky parents can place the cups near the edge of a table and secretly drop the coin. Watch your tots' eyes light up in amazement when they learn the coin is gone!

4. Card games

Card games are great for challenging young minds and creating hours of indoor fun. Grab a box of cards and check out our favourite traditional card games.

5. Puzzles

Exercise those creative, cognitive and problem-solving muscles with a good puzzle. You can use a store-bought variety or have the kids make their own. Have your children draw a picture on a sturdy piece of cardboard or Bristol board. Then use a pencil to outline puzzle pieces directly on their drawing. Cut out the pieces with a good pair of scissors, mix them up and get solving. Indoor games and craft in one fun activity!

6. Freeze!

Choose some of your kids' favourite tunes and turn up the volume. Ask them to dance until the music stops. When it does, they have to freeze in whatever position they find themselves in - even if they have one leg up. To make the game more challenging, ask the kids to freeze in specific poses: animals, shapes, letters or even yoga postures. Toddlers in particular love this game.

The winner gets her very own gold medal! Make your own ribbons with this easy craft:

7. Board and family games

For a comprehensive list of the best of family indoor games from Nursery Rhyme Games and Candy Land to Clue, check out our handy list of top 20 family games.

8. Paper-bag skits

This indoor game is ideal for larger groups - a sleepover favourite. Divide the kids up into groups. Give each group a bag filled with props, such as a spoon, toy jewelry, a sock, ball or ribbon. Then give them 15 minutes to construct a skit around the props. This game is so much fun that it doesn't have to be competitive. If the kids want, though, they can all vote on a winning skit.

9. Indoor hopscotch

This schoolyard favourite is sure to be an indoor hit, too. Set up your hopscotch game on any floor surface. Masking tape will do perfectly to form the nine connecting squares. Boxes 1-3 will be placed in a single line, one on top of the other. The next two boxes (4, 5) will be placed side-by-side, followed by a single box (6), two more boxes (7, 8) and the final half-circle "home" base (9). Next, choose a marker, such as a coin, stone or beanbag. The first player will throw the marker into square 1 without letting it bounce or touch the lines. If successful, the player will then hop - one foot on single squares and two feet on side-by-side squares - avoiding square #1. The player may rest on "home" before hopping back. On the way back, he or she picks up the marker on square #1 and, if successful (lands within the lines, hops or jumps with proper footing, doesn't fall), takes another turn and throws it into square #2. When the player is unsuccessful, the next player takes a turn. Players resume their turns by throwing the marker on the last box played. The winner is the first player to throw the marker home (#9), and smoothly complete the whole course.

10. DIY balance beam

While you have your masking tape out, why not make your own balance beam? We all know how much kids love walking in straight lines every chance they get. Put on some music, and one at a time the kids can take their turn walking one-foot-over-the-other across the straight line of tape. Make the game more challenging by having the kids walk backwards or balance with one foot on the line.

11. Hide and Seek

No list of indoor games would be complete without Hide and Seek, now would it? In this classic game, one person ("It") covers his or her eyes and counts aloud while the other players hide. When "It" is finished counting, he or she begins looking for the hiders. The last hider to be found is the next "It." Warning: this game is often a source of giggle fits. Families with older children might want to take things up a notch and play Hide and Seek in the dark. Just to be safe, make sure there are no loose items on the floor. If you want, allow "It" to carry a flashlight or turn the lights on once "It" finishes counting.

12. Treasure hunt

Kids love finding hidden objects - especially when there's a prize at the end. Simply write your clues on some slips of paper - get creative. Place the first clue somewhere easy to find, like inside your child's snack or cereal bowl. Then leave as many clues as you like around the house, making a trail to the final clue. Instead of a prize, the treasure hunt can lead to various coins around the house. This way the kids get to collect all the coins and put them in their piggy banks in the end. If you want to create the most amazing treasure hunt, follow these 11 tips.

13. Indoor bowling

A great way to reuse water bottles (or you can purchase an indoor bowling set). Line six-10 water bottles up at the end of your hall or living room. Place a line of duct tape at the starting line. Grab a medium-sized indoor ball and start bowling! If you want, keep score and give out trophies at the end. (Note: if you need to stabilize the water bottles or make the game more difficult, simply fill them up with some water. Don't forget to screw the tops on tightly!)

14. Hot Potato

This game will have everyone giggling. Ask the kids to sit on the floor in a circle. Turn on some tunes and have them pass the potato (a bean bag or soft ball) around the circle as fast as they can. When the music stops, the player holding the potato leaves the circle. Keep going until only one player is left and wins the game.

15. Picnic memory game

Former preschool director and grandmother of three, Marsha Colla, has some innovative games up her sleeve, including this fun and simple verbal memory game, which, Colla says, "challenges the children and makes them giggle." To play, everyone sits in a circle. The first player says, "In my basket for the picnic, I packed...," and then says what item he or she packed. The next player then says, "In my basket for the picnic, I packed...," and then recites what the first player packed and adds his or her own item to the basket, and so forth.

16. The listening game

One of Colla's go-to indoor games for her preschoolers and grandchildren, this game is sure to both educate and delight little ones. Take out several miscellaneous items. Have the children look at all the items, and then take them away. Next, ask one child to hide his or her eyes and listen as you pick up an item and make sounds with it. Ask the child to guess which item made the sound. Examples of items might be a comb (run your fingers along it), a glass (gently tap it), cymbals, shakers, sandpaper, blocks rubbed together, a pot and spoon. Be creative and have fun!

You don't have to go outside to enjoy bubbles. For this indoor game, you need a plate and straw for each player, some dishwashing soap and water. Place a dime-size drop of dish soap at the centre of each plate. Pour a little water onto the plate and gently mix with the dish soap until some suds start to form. Have the kids place the straw in the suds and blow very gently. Watch as massive bubbles start to form. To make this competitive, see who blows the biggest, or longest-lasting, bubble.

18. Simon Says

This traditional favourite will never get old. To start, choose one player (probably a parent for the first round) to be Simon. The rest of the players will gather in a circle or line in front of Simon as he calls out actions starting with the phrase "Simon says": "Simon says...touch your toes." The players then have to copy Simon's action, touching their toes. If Simon calls out an action without uttering the phrase "Simon says," the kids must not do the action. If a child touches his toes when Simon didn't say..., he or she is out of the game. There are lots of great ways Simon can trick players into doing actions when Simon didn't say: Simon can perform an action without uttering a command, for example, or he can perform an action that doesn't correspond with the command. Fun! The last player left in the game wins and becomes the next Simon.

19. Touch-and-feel box

Most preschoolers flock to the classroom sensory table as soon as the teachers pull it out. So there is little doubt they will love this entertaining challenge. Find a shoe box or any box that has a lid on it. Cut a hole in one of the sides of the box -large enough for your child to fit her hand in. If you want, get creative and decorate the box with glitter and question marks. When you're ready to play, put an item inside the box and have your children guess what it is. They can ask questions about the item if they need to, or you can offer clues. Get as ooey-gooey as you wish (fresh pumpkin seeds or slimy spaghetti are great choices for Halloween), or use such simple objects as a brush, a toy, a piece of fruit. To make it competitive, you can give a point to the first child to name the object.

20. Indoor basketball

You can't be too little for this version of basketball. All you need is a bucket and a rolled up sock (or a small, light ball). Each player takes a turn at throwing the sock-ball into the bucket. When a player scores a bucket, he or she takes a step back and throws again until missing. The player who shoots the ball in the bucket from the farthest distance wins.

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Indoor games: 20 ideas to keep the kids entertained on a rainy day

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Another rainy or bone-chilling day? We see you over there: Restless kids fidgeting on the couch, the clock ticking slower than usual, and you're fresh out of ideas for things to do. Well you've come to the right place. We have your back with this list of the best indoor games you haven't already tried.

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In celebration of our SPX Virtual Spirit Week theme for Monday, here are some superhero distractions for you.

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In celebration of our SPX Virtual Spirit Week theme for Monday, here are some superhero distractions for you.

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Superhero Puppet Craft with Free Printable

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A simple superhero puppet craft for kids. Make Batman, Superman, Ironman, Flash and Captain America puppets. Use the FREE PRINTABLE superhero templates along with craft sticks (popsicles/ lollipop sticks) to make your own mini puppet superheroes. Perfect for imaginative play/ story telling.

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Help your child recognize real life superheroes in their own world. 

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Help your child recognize real life superheroes in their own world. 

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Women's History Month is a fabulous opportunity to talk to your child about the importance of both historical and modern female figures who have made an impact on our social and cultural history. It's also a great time to discuss heroines close to home - women who have a positive impact on your child's daily life, whether it's a relative, teacher, coach, family friend or otherwise.

Often, the heroes and heroines your child meets in fictional stories and comic strips are admired for being courageous and having a strong sense of right and wrong, which often leads to selfless acts in an effort to help others. Your child's superhero might not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound or have x-ray vision, but chances are she is already making a positive impact in your child's life. Exploring the qualities that make this person heroic might just inspire your child to reach for the stars and become a real-life superhero someday!

Why not start the conversation by sharing your own real-life heroines with your child? Talk with your child about a woman in your life that you admire, and what qualities you believe make her super-special. Invite your child to also reflect upon the women who make a positive impact on her own life.
Bring Your Superhero Story to Life
Suggest creating a short biography about your child's real-life heroine using our printable worksheet. It's a fun family project to work on together and, once completed, you can laminate the results and present it as a gift to your heroines - they will love it!

Begin by introducing the concept of a biography to your child:

A biography is the story of somebody's life, written by another person.

Biographies often share details of a person's accomplishments or life activities and reflect on his or her background, interests, obstacles, and contributions to society.

While biographies are often written about famous (or infamous!) people or historical figures, biographies can also be about regular people - after all, everyone has a story to tell.

Ask your child to imagine being a biographer tasked with sharing the story of a woman he or she admires. Tell your child that biographers gather information about their subjects through interviews and written accounts of the person's life, including researching photos, newspaper articles, letters, and journals. Suggest that your child think about what makes his or her chosen heroine special or interesting, considering:

What are the effects your child's superhero had on his or her own life?

What words would your child choose to describe her?

What are the qualities that make this person awesome?

To confirm some of the factual details about his or her heroine, your child might also like to interview her, asking questions such as:

When were you born?

Where were you born?

How many people are in your family?

Where have you lived in your life?

What led you to your passion for ____ (e.g. teaching/coaching/etc.)?

Once your child has gathered this information, have him or her use the prompts contained in the My Real-Life Hero worksheet to create a biography.

Whether you share this project with your child for Women's History Month, or any time of year, it's something both your child and his or her superhero will appreciate sharing together.

Featured Photo Credit © bowdenimages/Thinkstock

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Celebrate Your Child's Real-Life Superheroes

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Women's History Month is a fabulous opportunity to talk to your child about the importance of both historical and modern female figures who have made an impact on our social and cultural history. It's also a great time to discuss heroines close to home - women who have a positive impact on your child's daily life, whether it's a relative, teacher, coach, family friend or otherwise.

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Superheroes are having "a moment" in pop culture right now. They're not a particularly new concept - kids have been fantasizing about costumed do-gooders and nefarious bad guys for a very long time - but it's hard to ignore that superheroes are everywhere lately. They're all over movies, TV shows, video games, and, yes, even children's books.

And I don't just mean comic books. Over the past few years, there has been a big uptick in the number of original children's books featuring superheroes as the main characters. Fortunately, they're not just recycling the big heroes from comics and movies. These are new creations with fantastical powers, dreamt up by some seriously talented authors.

If you want to introduce your Avenger- or Batman-loving kids to some "new" heroes with awesome literary pedigrees, suggest these funny, original superfriends from the world of kids' books.

by Michael Chabon, illustrated by Jake Parker

Michael Chabon knows superheroes. His 2000 novel, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, all about two cousins in the 1940s who created a Superman-esque comic book hero, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. So you can see why Chabon writing a children's picture book about superheroes is an exciting proposition. His sweet story about a fascinating superhero - who fights crime with Moskowitz the Awesome Dog - is a brilliant piece of childhood wish-fulfillment, astonishingly brought to life by Jake Parker's tremendously dynamic visuals.

by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Harry Bliss

Cronin's 2003 Diary of a Worm was a charming gem of a picture book, collecting the day-to-day thoughts of a young worm dealing with school, family, and, well, being a worm. It was followed up by Diary of a Fly, shifting the focus over to one of Worm's best friends, and what's remarkable about Fly's story is that it is all about her secret desire to become a superhero. It's a bold dream, reinforced by her friends' opinions that she's already pretty heroic, but Fly's story is insightful and funny. A great, smile-inspiring read.

by Brian Pinkney

Caldecott Honor artist Pinkney creates a wonderfully "super" tale about a boy's quest to make his neighborhood "just a little bit better" in this charming picture book. Paperboy Henry feels anxious after reading some of the headlines in the newspapers he delivers, but, thanks to near-miss accident with a bird, he finds that he now has the power of flight - just like his favorite superhero Falconman. Henry uses his new powers (calling himself "Sparrowboy") to improve his local community and, once his powers disappear, he revels in his small accomplishments. An engaging tale about the occasionally fantastic impact of small, selfless acts.

by Chris Gall

In this homemade superhero story from the creator of the wonderful picture book Substitute Creacher, we're introduced to Dawson, a remarkable grade-school-aged inventor who believes that "Everything can be used again!" He repurposes junk from all over town to create his spectacular inventions, until something goes wrong with his new chore-finishing robot - The Vacu-Maniac - and Dawson has to tap into his inner superhero and team up with a talking cow (no, really) to save his town from the out-of-control robot. This picture book teaches kids about the value of recycling, inventing, and being a civics-minded superhero. What's not to like?

by Marion Jensen

This novel for young readers has a lot of fun with traditional superhero clichés - fans of Pixar's "The Incredibles" will find much to enjoy in this book. The story follows the Bailey family, a legendary superhero clan, and what happens when their newest generation of heroes inexplicably inherits really, really useless superpowers. (One Bailey kid has the "amazing" ability to turn his innie belly button into an outie.) But who caused them to inherit such lame powers? Was it their rivals, the villainous Johnson family? And why do the Johnsons think they're the heroes and the Baileys are the villains? Elementary and middle school readers will love learning more about the Baileys' particular form of familial superheroics.

by John David Anderson

Ever wonder what life was really like for Batman's sidekick, Robin? How do you deal with being a middle school hero-in-training, always standing in the shadow of your mentor? Anderson answers that question in Sidekicked, a sly comic thriller for tweens, all about Andrew Bean, a professional sidekick who quickly realizes that being a sidekick isn't a particularly glamorous job for a kid (especially when you have enhanced senses and can feel EVERYTHING). But, when all of the "Supers" in the town of Justicia disappear, Andrew and the other sidekicks find themselves forced to step into the power vacuum and save the day. If your kid loved Spider-Man's boundless, hilarious enthusiasm in "Captain America: Civil War," they will really enjoy Sidekicked's take on superheroes.

Do you know another great literary superhero for kids that we need to add to our list? If so, let us know in the comments below.

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6 Awesome, Original Superheroes from Children's Literature | Brightly

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Superheroes are having "a moment" in pop culture right now. They're not a particularly new concept - kids have been fantasizing about costumed do-gooders and nefarious bad guys for a very long time - but it's hard to ignore that superheroes are everywhere lately.

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JK Rowling introduced a new Harry Potter site today. Harrypotterathome.com has activities, quizzes, games and more.

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JK Rowling introduced a new Harry Potter site today. Harrypotterathome.com has activities, quizzes, games and more.

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Join Harry Potter and journey into the wizarding world with our new site! Discover puzzles, quizzes, crafts and more to guide you through the very first book.

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Try your luck with this Harry Potter Themed Digital Escape Room -- created by a library!

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Try your luck with this Harry Potter Themed Digital Escape Room -- created by a library!

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The British Library has created an amazing exhibit based on the works of JK Rowling.

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The British Library has created an amazing exhibit based on the works of JK Rowling.

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Harry Potter: A History of Magic - Google Arts & Culture

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Explore the wonders of the British Library exhibition

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Make some Harry Potter glasses, virtually visit King's Cross Station, or do some Magic Math. There is something Harry Potter for every grade level.

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Make some Harry Potter glasses, virtually visit King's Cross Station, or do some Magic Math. There is something Harry Potter for every grade level.

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Since his debut in 1997, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling's boy wizard, has sold over 400 million books in 68 languages and led readers through more than 4,000 pages. Most importantly, Harry continues to unlock the magic of reading for children around the world. Transform your curriculum with these fun Potter teaching ideas! For more, check out the Harry Potter series in The Stacks by Scholastic.

Easy Crafts

These fun crafts are a cinch to make, even for Muggles. Use them to help set the stage for a Harry Potter skit, parade, or celebration.

Golden Snitches
What you need: Plastic ping-pong balls; white feathers; craft glue; gold spray paint, paint pens, markers, or glitter
What to do: Give a ball to each student. Paint or color the balls gold, or roll in craft glue and then glitter. When the surface is dry, glue a feather to either side. Time for Quidditch!

Harry Potter Glasses
What you need: Two black pipe cleaners and one white one for every kid
What to do: Pass out the pipe cleaners. Help students twist the pipe cleaners together and into an eyeglass shape. Wrap the white pipe cleaner around the bridge of the nose to appear like tape. Wear with Gryffindor pride.

Dragon Eggs
What you need: Balloons, newspaper strips, water, flour, paint
What to do: Mix one part flour to two parts water and dip the strips into the mixture. Apply the strips to the surface of blown-up balloons. When dry, pop the balloons and invite kids to paint the surface to resemble dragon eggs.

House Scarves
What you need: Yarn in the various house colors, cardboard scraps
What to do: Show children how to make a loom out of a cardboard scrap. Follow Diane Gilleland's directions in her blog on CraftStylish.

Magical Wands
What you need: Paper-towel tubes, small objects from home, tissue paper, rubber bands, decorations
What to do: Invite kids to place objects inside their tubes. These should represent a magical ability the child wishes to have. Seal with tissue paper and rubber bands. Decorate with stickers, etc.

Ways to Make the Series Manageable

Harry has helped thousands of kids discover the joy of reading. These techniques can give struggling readers a boost.

Listen to the Audio Books
We love narrator Jim Dale's recordings of the seven Harry Potter installments almost as much as the books themselves. Struggling readers can listen to a chapter, then read the same portion - or just listen to a section they are having trouble with.

Try Reading Partners
Pair a stronger reader with one who's still working on basic skills. Give the partners guided questions for discussion, but also allow time for open conversation. Have pairs choose their most interesting observation to share with the rest of the class.

Watch the Movie Previews
Use the film trailers (available on YouTube) as a way to tickle students' interest in the books, too. After students have read the book, discuss the differences between the book and movie versions.

Recognize Milestones
Celebrate when students have finished a chapter, section, book, or the entire series. Purchase an inexpensive witch's hat and decorate it with glittery stickers and stars. Let the student of honor wear the hat during silent reading time.

Take students on a Harry Potter-themed tour of the historic city.

Visit King's Cross
In honor of Hogwarts's secret platform 9¾, the station has erected a luggage cart that "disappears" into the wall. See the bewitched cart at On This Very Spot.

Wander Cecil Court
Said to be the real-world inspiration for Diagon Alley, this quirky section of London is filled with book and antique shops. Try "flying" there using Google Earth.

See the "Real" Hogwarts
In the Harry Potter movies, many of the scenes of Hogwarts were filmed in Gloucester Cathedral in London. Take a virtual tour of the Gloucester Cathedral.

Notable Numbers

There's no doubt about it, Harry has changed millions of lives. Here are a few key figures.

400 million copies sold worldwide

68 languages in which Harry is published

200 countries sell Harry Potter in bookstores

228 weeks Harry Potter spent on the New York Times bestseller list

51% of kids say they did not read books for fun until reading Harry Potter

74% of kids say reading Harry Potter made them more interested in reading other books

65% of kids say they do better in school after reading Harry Potter

Wizard Writing Lessons

Enlist Harry, Hermione, and Ron to help teach students the 6+1 traits of writing.

Ideas
Keep a chart of the "big ideas" in the series, like "the chosen one," "family," and "sacrifice." Have students use different-colored highlighters to mark passages that reflect these themes, thereby getting a visual representation of how often Rowling returns to the same ideas.

Organization
Review Rowling's organization on various levels, from paragraph to chapter to book to entire series. For example, each book 1) occurs over one school year; 2) includes a back-to-school scene, a holiday scene, and a climactic scene; and 3) moves between the real and wizard worlds.

Voice
Make flash cards with quotes from various characters in the series. Have students read the quotes aloud to a partner; the partner must then guess who said the quote. How do students know who said what?

Word Choice
Keep a running T-chart of unusual words students come across as they read the series. Use one column to record words Rowling invented for her books, such as Quidditch and Muggles. Use the other column to record real words that aren't familiar to students, like balaclava.

Sentence Fluency
As students read, invite them to record favorite lines in a journal. Periodically have children share some of these lines with the rest of the class. What makes the quote work on a sentence level? Is there anything students would change or add to improve the fluency?

Conventions
Discuss the fact that the international versions of Harry Potter are slightly different based on each country's conventions. Several words have different spellings, for example, and others are particular to specific countries. Why is it important for the various editions to use the conventions of that country?

Presentation
Ask students what contributes to the consistent look of the series. Discuss factors such as font, illustration, chapter headings, and jacket style.

Magical Math Ideas

Teachers at every grade level say they've used counting galleons and mixing potions to inspire mathematical thinking. Here are some of our favorite activities.

For Grades 1-2
At this age level, chances are you are reading the series out loud in class. Try giving each student a dry-erase board or small notebook. As you read, periodically stop and ask students to sketch a quick picture of what they've just heard or what they think might happen next. Not only will this aid in reading and listening comprehension, but you can highlight illustrations that lend themselves to mathematical discussion. For example, if a student draws Harry and Hermione shopping for school supplies, talk about how many books they might buy with a given number of galleons. Draw further pictures if necessary to help students visualize the concepts under review.

For Grades 3-5
Invite students to assemble magic potions to practice fractions. Cut large kettle shapes from black construction or butcher paper. Then give students a round paper plate to attach to their kettles. Challenge children to "fill their kettles" by coloring portions of their paper plates according to the potion ingredients mentioned in one of the Harry Potter books. Rowling rarely gives precise measurements, but students should determine exactly how much of each ingredient goes into the potion, for example, 1/2 leeches, 1/4 powdered bicorn horn, and 1/4 knotgrass.

For Grades 6-8
Harry and his friends spend a great deal of time worrying about their O.W.L. exams, or Ordinary Wizarding Levels. As a way to review material at the end of a chapter or unit, challenge students to write their own O.W.L. exams covering the topics you have been studying. The twist? Students must create word problems related to the series. If you've been studying probability, for example, students might use a table to determine the probability of each Hogwarts house winning the House Cup. Have students work in partners and then exchange their O.W.L with another twosome.

Science Videos

Many of Harry Potter's "magical" elements are becoming real-world possibilities, thanks to new technology. Watch these YouTube videos to learn more!

Watch The REAL Daily Prophet to see an explanation of emerging technology that embeds moving pictures and video into newsprint.

Watch Invisible Cloak for Soldiers to see how scientists are developing technology that uses tiny, outward-facing cameras to simulate invisibility.

Quidditch Pointers

Schools all over the country have adopted Muggle versions of Quidditch, every wizard's favorite game. Want to try it? Check out these websites for help!

Forget the books' complicated rules - we like PECentral's simplified version the best. All you need are balls of various sizes, hula hoops, and a big, empty space for kids to run around.

Visit the official site of the International Quidditch Association (yes, there is such a thing!). Watch videos and follow the annual World Cup action.

If you don't have time for a real-life game of Quidditch, you can play the online Harry Potter Quidditch Game.

Ways to Commemorate Reading 4,224 Pages

For many kids, the Harry Potter series represents the longest books they've ever read. Here are five ways to keep track of that singular achievement.

With a Paper Chain: Kids can add a new loop for every 10 pages (or 100). Invite them to write a new vocabulary word from the current book on every piece of the chain.

In a Graph: Make a giant one out of butcher paper or use the interactive whiteboard. Have students color in blank squares as they read.

Using House Points: Award points to small groups based on number of pages completed. Trade for extra reading time.

Through Money: Put a penny in a jar for each page read. At the end of Deathly Hallows, have a celebratory pizza party with the money collected.

By Owl Post: Post a paper owl with a flap for the beak. Have kids write the total pages they've read each week on a sticky note and place it under the beak.

Online Home for Harry Potter

Visit Harry in The Stacks by Scholastic, an online experience dedicated to J.K. Rowling's series. Kids can demonstrate their knowledge about Harry and cast magical spells on their own!

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Harry Potter Crafts and Activities | Scholastic

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Since his debut in 1997, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling's boy wizard, has sold over 400 million books in 68 languages and led readers through more than 4,000 pages. Most importantly, Harry continues to unlock the magic of reading for children around the world. Transform your curriculum with these fun Potter teaching ideas!

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Kids are using sidewalk chalk to inspire their neighborhoods during this stay-at-home time. Check out this step-by-step guide to creating amazing chalk art. 

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Kids are using sidewalk chalk to inspire their neighborhoods during this stay-at-home time. Check out this step-by-step guide to creating amazing chalk art. 

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Crayola Sidewalk Chalk Art Series - Colorful Cubes!

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How to Make Sidewalk Chalk | Crafts for Kids

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Learn how to create your own sidewalk chalk and open up a world of new ways to play.

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Wild 3D Chalk Art: Scroll through this gallery of amazing chalk art.

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Wild 3D Chalk Art: Scroll through this gallery of amazing chalk art.

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Everyone loves 3D illusions right? Well how about 3D illusions in street art form. These absolutely stunning pieces of street art are all made for real, no photoshop work or anything, just some real hard work and standing at the right angle to get the real effect. Which is one if your favourite?

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Stunning 3D Illusions Street Art | Gallery

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Everyone loves 3D illusions right? Well how about 3D illusions in street art form. These absolutely stunning pieces of street art are all made for real, no photoshop work or anything, just some real hard work and standing at the right angle to get the real effect. Which is one if your favourite?

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Turn your driveway into a photo studio with sidewalk chalk.

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Turn your driveway into a photo studio with sidewalk chalk.

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These sidewalk chalk ideas are so awesome! Seriously, some people so creative!? There are so many fun ideas and so many great photo opportunities! I wish we had an asphalt driveway so we could try more of these out at home!

Do you get a mental block when you have a blank canvas in front of you? And your kids are saying, "Draw something! Draw something!" - I usually end up drawing a flower, or sometimes a rainbow, but then I'm stumped. I feel the same way with a giant blank driveway and sidewalk chalk, except it's so much worse! What are you supposed to draw on a giant blank driveway!? (I'd probably still draw my typical flower and rainbow...).

We have a big box of sidewalk chalk sitting in the closet right now. But to tell you the truth, we aren't NEARLY this creative with it. I think the problem (besides our creativity) is that we have a patio stone driveway and the same with our patio in the backyard. So the kids take the chalk colours and fill in all the small, rectangular bricks in different colours. Sometimes they venture into the play house attached to their swing set and they'll colour the walls in there too (they're not supposed to, but wow, they really moved fast that first time before I noticed, and now they know they can get away with it. Little tricksters...)

And then one of our baby sitters let the kids colour a few of the bricks on our house last year. Which was a bad idea. Don't colour the bricks on your house unless you want to get a scrub brush and figure out how to get it all off. It's been there for almost a year now, and even with pelting rains and lots of snow storms it's as bright as the day it happened. I suppose I could find a scrub brush and scrub it off, but who has the time for that??

22 Totally Awesome Sidewalk Chalk Ideas

This list is fantastic if you need a little bit of inspiration to take your sidewalk chalk from a boring game of X's and O's or hopscotch to a fun "Wow, that's so amazing!" adventure! There are tons of great ideas! And even better, you can take a photograph from a second floor window and keep the memory as a keepsake! I love these ideas!

From princess crowns to under sea adventures, there are tons of fun ideas to help you make a whole new world in your driveway!

Rainbow and Umbrella (Source Unknown)

Sleeping on the Moon via Milk and Cuddles

Dog on the Moon via Ammo the Dachshund

Going Down the River via Paging Fun Mums

Putting the Star on the Top of the Tree via Cool Mom Tech

Back to School Photo Shoot via Caffeinated Chronicles of a Supermom

Sidewalk Name Chalk Art via Pinterest (Original Source Unknown)

Blow Bubbles Chalk Art via The Lost Sock

Month by Month Baby Art via The Honeysuckle House

Under the Sea Chalk Art via Happy Home Fairy (Original Source Unknown)

Flying High with the Balloons via The View From in Here

Out of this World Adventure via Craft Interrupted (Source No Longer Exists)

Birthday Cake Sidewalk Chalk Art via Living Creatively

Picking Flowers Chalk Art via Gravida e Antenada

Walkway Chalk Art via eklektick (Flickr)

Sun Bathing at the Beach via Indulgy (Original Source Unknown)

Funny Weightlifting Chalk Art via Pinterest (Original Source Unknown)

Swingin' Around via The Art of Education

Crowned Princess Chalk Art via Little Lily Long-Toes & Samuel Noodle Brook

Sword Fencing Chalk Art Idea via Brittany Herself

Fancy Butterfly Chalk Art via Scrapbook Tendance

Love and Fireworks Sidewalk Chalk Art via Grace Jennings (Pinterest)

Are you looking for more fun ideas to try with your kids? Check out our roundup of 50+ Adorable Kids Snack Ideas! These meals are ADORABLE!

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22 Totally Awesome Sidewalk Chalk Ideas | Sidewalk Chalk Art

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These sidewalk chalk ideas are so awesome! Seriously, some people so creative!? There are so many fun ideas and so many great photo opportunities! I wish we had an asphalt driveway so we could try more of these out at home! Do you get a mental block when you have a blank canvas in front of you?

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It's Your Birthday (or not)! What did the Hubble Telescope see out in space on the day of your birth? Check out this NASA sight to see.

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It's Your Birthday (or not)! What did the Hubble Telescope see out in space on the day of your birth? Check out this NASA sight to see.

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NASA.gov brings you the latest images, videos and news from America's space agency. Get the latest updates on NASA missions, watch NASA TV live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind.

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The SUN is a HOT Star! Watch this time lapse that used 17,000 4D images to create.

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The SUN is a HOT Star! Watch this time lapse that used 17,000 4D images to create.

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Compiling 17,000 images captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), via Helioviewer, from October 14-30, 2014, James Tyrwhitt-Drake created a stunning 4K time lapse animation. Watch 16 of our days rotate by in almost eight minutes, or 52.5 minutes per second.

Here's a closer look at sunspot Active Region 12192 (AR 2192), which starts on the right and rotates left. " A diameter of 111,847 miles, or 14 times the width of the Earth," it's the largest sunspot since 1990, two solar cycles ago, and the 33rd largest observed since 1874.

These are videos that really demand a change of pace, slowing us down to observe the rotation, the incredible flare behavior ( six X-class and four M-class solar flares from AR 2192 alone), and the flow patterns across the surface.
October 2015 update from NASA: Thanks to data captured by SDO, we now have a spectacular 30 minute, Ultra-HD (4K) video of the sun. Full screen!
In the archives, more solar eye candy from SDO, including year 4 highlights from SDO and Jewel Box Sun, as well as the tech behind watching space weather: Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory reveals the entire Sun.

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The sun, our closest star, in a stunning 4K time lapse animation | The Kid Should See This

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Compiling 17,000 images captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), via Helioviewer, from October 14-30, 2014, James Tyrwhitt-Drake created a stunning 4K time lapse animation. Watch 16 of our days rotate by in almost eight minutes, or 52.5 minutes per second.

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Astronauts Reading Stories in Space! In Zero gravity! Sometimes with weird hair!

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Astronauts Reading Stories in Space! In Zero gravity! Sometimes with weird hair!

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Sing About Space. A Collection of Space Theme Songs and Videos. (PreK-2)

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Sing About Space. A Collection of Space Theme Songs and Videos. (PreK-2)

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Try these fun Space songs for kids. These songs can be used with Preschool, Pre-K, Kindergarten kids during a Space theme.

These songs are collected from You Tube. Play them on a computer projector or play audio only through the computer.

Countdown to Blastoff, by Jack Hartmann

Planets Song, by The Singing Walrus

Solar System Song, by The Kiboomers

Zoom, Zoom, We're Going to the Moon, by The Kiboomers

Mr. Sun, by Super Simple Songs

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, by Super Simple Songs

Counting Numbers 1-20 (Stars), by The Singing Walrus

Eight Planets, by Mother Goose Club

The Planets, by Pancake Manor

Planets Song, by Have Fun Teaching

Time to Shine: Moon Song, by Story Bots

I'm So Hot: The Sun Song, by Story Bots

We Are the Planets, by Story Bots

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Try these fun Space songs for kids. These songs can be used with Preschool, Pre-K, Kindergarten kids during a Space theme. These songs are collected from