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Tagged with 'DIY'

Colorful Ice Cream Sensory Bin!
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DIY Flying UFO!

Believe it or not, July 2 is World UFO Day and we are over the moon for science! Yup, according to a recent report, there have been more than 105,000 UFO sightings reported over the last 100 years, with the majority of sightings occurring in the U.S. And every year in July, alien aficionados from around the world spend the day celebrating the possibility of life in outer space. There’s even a three-day festival in the UFO Capital of the World, Roswell, New Mexico.You and your little aliens can celebrate, too, with this UFO launcher craft you can make at home!

What You’ll Need

  • Plastic drinking straws
  • Plastic pipettes or drinking straws larger than the first set
  • Tape
  • Markers
  • Paper
  • Scissors
DIY UFO

What You’ll Do

Find a UFO template or image online and print or draw at roughly 4x4” (you can fit about four UFOs to an 8.5x11 sheet of paper).
 
UFO DIY
Have your child color the UFO with markers. Then cut out the UFO.DIY UFO
Next, cut the thin straw portion and bottom of the pipette off and tape it to the center of the back of your UFO. If you don’t have a pipette, you can make your own mini air pocket by attaching a rectangular piece of paper to the back of your UFO, leaving only the bottom open and sealing the other sides securely with tape.DIY UFO
Insert the straw into the pipette and blow to launch your UFO, then watch as it flutters gracefully to the floor in a silent space-style landing.
 
DIY UFO
 
 

What You'll Learn

  • Motion! Explain to your kids that objects can move forward and backward horizontally on a flat plane, like when you’re pushing a toy car on the floor, and that objects can also move up and down, in a vertical motion, like tossing a ball straight up in the air. To move in any direction, objects need a force, like your kids’ breath blown through a straw or their hand pushing the ball upward.
 
  • Projectile Motion! Objects don’t always move in a straight line up, down, forward, or back, though. Sometimes, like when your kids throw a basketball into a hoop, objects move both up and forward. Objects can also move backward and down, like when your kids toss a piece of trash into a trashcan behind them. These curved movements are called Projectile Motion.
 
  • Gravity! What comes up must come down! To explain WHY objects like your UFOs can travel along curved paths, and why they don’t just keep on flying forever, we have to explain gravity. Gravity is the pull of the Earth that keeps everyone and everything on it from flying off into space. This includes your UFO. Gravity is pulling down on it as it’s flying forward, causing a downward arc or curve toward the ground.
DIY Flying UFO!
Believe it or not, July 2 is World UFO Day and we are over the moon for science! Yup, according to a recent report, there have been more than 105,000 UFO sightings reported over the last 100 years, with the majority of sightings occurring in the U.S. And every year in July, alien aficionados from around the world spend the day celebrating the possibility of life in outer space. There’s even a three-day festival in the UFO Capital of the World, Roswell, New Mexico.You and your little aliens can celebrate, too, with this UFO launcher craft you can make at home!

What You’ll Need

  • Plastic drinking straws
  • Plastic pipettes or drinking straws larger than the first set
  • Tape
  • Markers
  • Paper
  • Scissors
DIY UFO

What You’ll Do

Find a UFO template or image online and print or draw at roughly 4x4” (you can fit about four UFOs to an 8.5x11 sheet of paper).
 
UFO DIY
Have your child color the UFO with markers. Then cut out the UFO.DIY UFO
Next, cut the thin straw portion and bottom of the pipette off and tape it to the center of the back of your UFO. If you don’t have a pipette, you can make your own mini air pocket by attaching a rectangular piece of paper to the back of your UFO, leaving only the bottom open and sealing the other sides securely with tape.DIY UFO
Insert the straw into the pipette and blow to launch your UFO, then watch as it flutters gracefully to the floor in a silent space-style landing.
 
DIY UFO
 
 

What You'll Learn

  • Motion! Explain to your kids that objects can move forward and backward horizontally on a flat plane, like when you’re pushing a toy car on the floor, and that objects can also move up and down, in a vertical motion, like tossing a ball straight up in the air. To move in any direction, objects need a force, like your kids’ breath blown through a straw or their hand pushing the ball upward.
 
  • Projectile Motion! Objects don’t always move in a straight line up, down, forward, or back, though. Sometimes, like when your kids throw a basketball into a hoop, objects move both up and forward. Objects can also move backward and down, like when your kids toss a piece of trash into a trashcan behind them. These curved movements are called Projectile Motion.
 
  • Gravity! What comes up must come down! To explain WHY objects like your UFOs can travel along curved paths, and why they don’t just keep on flying forever, we have to explain gravity. Gravity is the pull of the Earth that keeps everyone and everything on it from flying off into space. This includes your UFO. Gravity is pulling down on it as it’s flying forward, causing a downward arc or curve toward the ground.
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DIY 4th of July Slime!

Happy Birthday, America! A Salute to Slime

All hail the red, white, and blue! When it comes to the Fourth of July, America comes together to celebrate these three colors in a big way. And why not celebrate with a little science? Salute America’s birthday with this patriotic-themed slime!
But why do we applaud the colors of red, white, and blue? It is believed that our country’s colors were actually “borrowed” from Union Jack, the flag of Great Britain. Our founding fathers were simply used to red, white and blue. But over the years, each color began to symbolize a different virtue of America:

Red = hardiness, valor

White = purity, innocence

Blue = vigilance, perseverance, and justice

Interesting! Now, let’s get down to the slimy stuff we all want! To make three different types of Fourth of July slime, you will need:
Ingredients:
3 cups of warm tap water, divided
½ cup of white glue
Themed confetti½ cup of clear glue (unless you can source out blue glue)
½ cup of red glitter glue
Contact Lens Solution
Measuring cups, spoons, and mixing bowls
Craft sticks to stir

To make the white, confetti slime:

Measure out a ½ cup of white glue.
 
DIY Slime
Pour it into your mixing bowl. You might need a craft stick to move the glue along.DIY Slime
Add a ½ cup of warm tap water. Keep stirring until it is all incorporated.DIY Slime
Now is the time to add your confetti!
 
DIY Confetti Slime
Using a ½ cup of warm tap water, mix in ½ teaspoon of contact lens solution. The solution will be cloudy. Small particles at the bottom are okay.
 
DIY SlimeDIY Slime
Slowly add the solution to the glue/water in the mixing bowl. At this point, it’s all about the stirring. Keep the slime moving until it forms a clump. Then begin to mix with your hands.DIY SlimeDIY Slime

For the red slime:

If you are lucky enough to find red glitter glue, follow the steps exactly like above. The only difference with clear glue (and this red is considered clear glue) is that you add ¼ teaspoon of Borax to the warm water instead of a ½.DIY Slime
If you can’t find red glitter glue, add 3-4 drops red food coloring and glitter during step 4 from above.
DIY SlimeDIY Slime

For the blue slime:

Lastly, for the blue slime, use clear glue and blue food coloring for Step 4(unless you can find blue glue). Honestly, the kids delight to watch the food coloring incorporate, so it is a fun step!DIY SlimeDIY SlimeDIY Slime
Great results! Now it’s time to play!
 
DIY Slime Fourth Of JulyDIY SlimeDIY Slime

Happy 4th of July!

SLIME DIY
DIY 4th of July Slime!

Happy Birthday, America! A Salute to Slime

All hail the red, white, and blue! When it comes to the Fourth of July, America comes together to celebrate these three colors in a big way. And why not celebrate with a little science? Salute America’s birthday with this patriotic-themed slime!
But why do we applaud the colors of red, white, and blue? It is believed that our country’s colors were actually “borrowed” from Union Jack, the flag of Great Britain. Our founding fathers were simply used to red, white and blue. But over the years, each color began to symbolize a different virtue of America:

Red = hardiness, valor

White = purity, innocence

Blue = vigilance, perseverance, and justice

Interesting! Now, let’s get down to the slimy stuff we all want! To make three different types of Fourth of July slime, you will need:
Ingredients:
3 cups of warm tap water, divided
½ cup of white glue
Themed confetti½ cup of clear glue (unless you can source out blue glue)
½ cup of red glitter glue
Contact Lens Solution
Measuring cups, spoons, and mixing bowls
Craft sticks to stir

To make the white, confetti slime:

Measure out a ½ cup of white glue.
 
DIY Slime
Pour it into your mixing bowl. You might need a craft stick to move the glue along.DIY Slime
Add a ½ cup of warm tap water. Keep stirring until it is all incorporated.DIY Slime
Now is the time to add your confetti!
 
DIY Confetti Slime
Using a ½ cup of warm tap water, mix in ½ teaspoon of contact lens solution. The solution will be cloudy. Small particles at the bottom are okay.
 
DIY SlimeDIY Slime
Slowly add the solution to the glue/water in the mixing bowl. At this point, it’s all about the stirring. Keep the slime moving until it forms a clump. Then begin to mix with your hands.DIY SlimeDIY Slime

For the red slime:

If you are lucky enough to find red glitter glue, follow the steps exactly like above. The only difference with clear glue (and this red is considered clear glue) is that you add ¼ teaspoon of Borax to the warm water instead of a ½.DIY Slime
If you can’t find red glitter glue, add 3-4 drops red food coloring and glitter during step 4 from above.
DIY SlimeDIY Slime

For the blue slime:

Lastly, for the blue slime, use clear glue and blue food coloring for Step 4(unless you can find blue glue). Honestly, the kids delight to watch the food coloring incorporate, so it is a fun step!DIY SlimeDIY SlimeDIY Slime
Great results! Now it’s time to play!
 
DIY Slime Fourth Of JulyDIY SlimeDIY Slime

Happy 4th of July!

SLIME DIY
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DIY Bath Bombs: Beaker Creatures Style!

Ever wonder how we make our Beaker Creatures pods so fizzy and fun?? Check out this awesome DIY experiment with erupting results! Make your own bath bomb and find out the science behind how it works with our friends the Beaker Creatures!
You will need:
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup Epsom salt
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp. essential oil
1 or 2 tsp water
Food coloring
Bath bomb mold
 
DIY Bath Bombs
 
Measure out all of the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
 
DIY Bath Bombs
 
Combine the oils and the food coloring in a separate bowl and mix well. Slowly add this mixture to the dry ingredient bowl.
 
DIY Bath Bombs
 
The texture of the mixture should clump and feel like wet sand. Add the teaspoons of water until you get this texture. Only add the amount of water necessary until the mixture clumps ( you may not use all 2 teaspoons).
 
DIY Bath Bombs
 
Put some oil on the inside of the bath bomb molds and pack the mixture firmly into the molds.
 
DIY Bath Bombs
 
Let dry for 24 hours (waiting is always the hard part!)
 
DIY Bath Bombs
 
Gently take the bombs out of the molds. Throw them in the bath and watch them erupt with color!
 
DIY Bath Bomb
 
If you want to make a bath bomb with your own creature inside, hide a toy in the mixture while it is still wet. When the bomb dissolves, the kids will have a fun surprise, just like Beaker Creatures! Don't forget to check out all the cool sets we have to get the Beaker Creatures out of their pods! 

The science behind it:

When baking soda and citric acid are mixed together and then put in the bath, they start a chemical reaction! The reaction makes a lot of bubbles which are made out of carbon dioxide gas. It is totally safe and makes for lots of fizzles and fun!
 
Science DIY Bath BombDIY Bath Bomb
DIY Bath Bombs: Beaker Creatures Style!
Ever wonder how we make our Beaker Creatures pods so fizzy and fun?? Check out this awesome DIY experiment with erupting results! Make your own bath bomb and find out the science behind how it works with our friends the Beaker Creatures!
You will need:
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup Epsom salt
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp. essential oil
1 or 2 tsp water
Food coloring
Bath bomb mold
 
DIY Bath Bombs
 
Measure out all of the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
 
DIY Bath Bombs
 
Combine the oils and the food coloring in a separate bowl and mix well. Slowly add this mixture to the dry ingredient bowl.
 
DIY Bath Bombs
 
The texture of the mixture should clump and feel like wet sand. Add the teaspoons of water until you get this texture. Only add the amount of water necessary until the mixture clumps ( you may not use all 2 teaspoons).
 
DIY Bath Bombs
 
Put some oil on the inside of the bath bomb molds and pack the mixture firmly into the molds.
 
DIY Bath Bombs
 
Let dry for 24 hours (waiting is always the hard part!)
 
DIY Bath Bombs
 
Gently take the bombs out of the molds. Throw them in the bath and watch them erupt with color!
 
DIY Bath Bomb
 
If you want to make a bath bomb with your own creature inside, hide a toy in the mixture while it is still wet. When the bomb dissolves, the kids will have a fun surprise, just like Beaker Creatures! Don't forget to check out all the cool sets we have to get the Beaker Creatures out of their pods! 

The science behind it:

When baking soda and citric acid are mixed together and then put in the bath, they start a chemical reaction! The reaction makes a lot of bubbles which are made out of carbon dioxide gas. It is totally safe and makes for lots of fizzles and fun!
 
Science DIY Bath BombDIY Bath Bomb
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The Official Family Summer Bucket List!

Summer has arrived!

School is out, the weather is warm, and the days are long. Do you have plans to keep you and your kids (and their brains!) busy over the next few months? Ensure that you are getting the most out of this summer by creating a smart bucket list with the family!Bucket List Family Summer DIYGet creative and draw out pictures, cut and paste from a magazine, or use stickers to illustrate your summer bucket list. Write out everything you and your family would like to do together and make it into a fun collage. Be sure to involve fun learning activities to keep the kids' brains active during these next few months!DIY Family Summer Bucket List

Here are a list of 50 ideas to help you get started on your list - a little art, a little entertainment, a little science, and a lot of family fun.

 
  1. Take a family trip to the zoo
  2. Head to the beach
  3. Go on a Nature Hunt, collecting items you see along the way
  4. Head to the library for story-time
  5. Have a backyard BBQ
  6. Make some slime!
  7. Play at local parks
  8. Have a “car wash”  with toy cars in the kiddie pool
  9. Go camping in the backyard
  10. Create art with sidewalk chalk
  11. Make a water play station
  12. Go out for frozen yogurt
  13. Make an outdoor obstacle course
  14. Play with pom poms in the pool
  15. Go bike riding on a trail
  16. Make a construction site in the sandbox
  17. Go on a boat ride
  18. Go to the mall on a rainy day
  19. Make DIY sidewalk chalk paint
  20. Play with Magnetic Tiles on the Garage Door
  21. Go to an outdoor concert
  22. Mix up Oobleck with corn starch and water
  23. Go fishing for toys with a bug net in the kiddie pool
  24. Go to a splash pad
  25. Make a giant painting together
  26. Play board games
  27. Make cookies together
  28. Go to a baseball game
  29. Make a fort with blankets
  30. Watch fireworks at a festival
  31. Build an outdoor ramp for toy vehicles
  32. Draw a sidewalk chalk city with roads and buildings
  33. Paint with sensory balls
  34. Have a water balloon toss
  35. Go to the local museum
  36. Go see a movie at the theater
  37. Make a paper plate fish craft
  38. Do an ice excavating experiment!
  39. Go strawberry picking
  40. Wash toy farm animals in the kiddie pool
  41. Run through the sprinkler
  42. Go to a parade
  43. Make fruit smoothies
  44. Go to the local swimming pool
  45. Make an ice cream cone sensory bin with bowls, cones and pom poms
  46. Make homemade flour paint with flour, food coloring and water!
  47. Plant a tree
  48. Make lemonade with fresh lemons
  49. Go fishing off a dock
  50. Have a picnic at the park!
Summer Bucket List

I hope this is enough to get you started on your own family bucket lists.

Bucket ListHopefully you found plenty of ideas that you and your kids can enjoy together. Now, go and create your own fun and creative bucket list and enjoy some family bonding time this summer!
The Official Family Summer Bucket List!

Summer has arrived!

School is out, the weather is warm, and the days are long. Do you have plans to keep you and your kids (and their brains!) busy over the next few months? Ensure that you are getting the most out of this summer by creating a smart bucket list with the family!Bucket List Family Summer DIYGet creative and draw out pictures, cut and paste from a magazine, or use stickers to illustrate your summer bucket list. Write out everything you and your family would like to do together and make it into a fun collage. Be sure to involve fun learning activities to keep the kids' brains active during these next few months!DIY Family Summer Bucket List

Here are a list of 50 ideas to help you get started on your list - a little art, a little entertainment, a little science, and a lot of family fun.

 
  1. Take a family trip to the zoo
  2. Head to the beach
  3. Go on a Nature Hunt, collecting items you see along the way
  4. Head to the library for story-time
  5. Have a backyard BBQ
  6. Make some slime!
  7. Play at local parks
  8. Have a “car wash”  with toy cars in the kiddie pool
  9. Go camping in the backyard
  10. Create art with sidewalk chalk
  11. Make a water play station
  12. Go out for frozen yogurt
  13. Make an outdoor obstacle course
  14. Play with pom poms in the pool
  15. Go bike riding on a trail
  16. Make a construction site in the sandbox
  17. Go on a boat ride
  18. Go to the mall on a rainy day
  19. Make DIY sidewalk chalk paint
  20. Play with Magnetic Tiles on the Garage Door
  21. Go to an outdoor concert
  22. Mix up Oobleck with corn starch and water
  23. Go fishing for toys with a bug net in the kiddie pool
  24. Go to a splash pad
  25. Make a giant painting together
  26. Play board games
  27. Make cookies together
  28. Go to a baseball game
  29. Make a fort with blankets
  30. Watch fireworks at a festival
  31. Build an outdoor ramp for toy vehicles
  32. Draw a sidewalk chalk city with roads and buildings
  33. Paint with sensory balls
  34. Have a water balloon toss
  35. Go to the local museum
  36. Go see a movie at the theater
  37. Make a paper plate fish craft
  38. Do an ice excavating experiment!
  39. Go strawberry picking
  40. Wash toy farm animals in the kiddie pool
  41. Run through the sprinkler
  42. Go to a parade
  43. Make fruit smoothies
  44. Go to the local swimming pool
  45. Make an ice cream cone sensory bin with bowls, cones and pom poms
  46. Make homemade flour paint with flour, food coloring and water!
  47. Plant a tree
  48. Make lemonade with fresh lemons
  49. Go fishing off a dock
  50. Have a picnic at the park!
Summer Bucket List

I hope this is enough to get you started on your own family bucket lists.

Bucket ListHopefully you found plenty of ideas that you and your kids can enjoy together. Now, go and create your own fun and creative bucket list and enjoy some family bonding time this summer!
READ MORE