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Beaker Creatures Memory Game Printable II!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Feb 18, 2019 | Printables
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Ultimate STEM Day Activity Bundle!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Nov 5, 2018 | Science
National STEM Day is November 8 – a day designated to the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and math. To help you celebrate STEM in style, we’ve put together three of our very favorite, holiday-themed STEM smarts & crafts activities perfect for your Thanksgiving Day festivities and winter break fun.
Here’s what you’ll do:Blow up one balloon per racer but don’t tie off the ends. Instead, twist the end, then attach a kitchen “chip clip” or binder clip to keep the air from escaping.
Cut your construction paper into feathers, waddles, and googly eyes and tape the pieces to your “turkeys”.
Set up your race course by placing two chairs about 8 feet apart (you’ll need one set of these chairs for each racer). Cut a 9-foot section of string for each racer and tie the loose end of a length to one chair.
Thread a straw through the untied end of the string, then pull the string taught and tie to the opposite chair.
Using tape, attach the top, center of the balloon to the straw. Make sure to line the straw up with the release point of the balloon, for straighter, faster flying.Pull the balloons back so the ends are touching the chairs, pinch the balloons above the chip clips, and remove the clips.
Call “On your marks, get set, GO”, let go of the balloons, and watch as your turkeys race to the finish line!
Let’s talk turkey about physics! Remember that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction (thanks, Newton!). When you blow up the balloon, you are filling it with air. When you release the chip clip, you are releasing the air, creating pressure out of the back of the balloon. This release creates an equal and opposite pressure on the front of the balloon, propelling it forward. 
What You’ll Do:Cut your pipe cleaners in half, then cut some of them in half again.
Twist the pieces together to form one-of-a-kind snowflake patterns, making sure that your snowflakes will fit into your container without touching the sides or bottom. (Trim the ends with scissors if need be.)
Tie one end of the string to the center of your snowflake and the other to your pencil or craft stick and check to make sure your snowflake will fit without touching the sides or bottom of your container.
Bring a pot of water to a boil. For every cup of water you pour into your container, add 3 tablespoons of Borax and stir (this is a job for a parent as the water is boiling hot!). Add more Borax and stir to dissolve, continuing until the water won’t accept any more Borax (it’s okay if there’s some left in the bottom of the jar). Then add a few drops of food coloring and stir.
Hang your snowflake in the water by balancing your pencil or craft stick across the top of the jar. If your string is too long, twist it around your pencil until it keeps the snowflake from touching the bottom.
Leave your snowflake overnight. Carefully pull your snowflake out of the jar and shake off the excess crystals to reveal your crystalized snowflake!
Borax can be beautiful! Hot water molecules are moving really quickly, which leaves room for the Borax to dissolve between them. As the water cools, the molecules move closer together, “squeezing” the Borax out. 
Set out the marshmallows and toothpicks and challenge your busy builders to construct their drawings.
Once they’re done, see if someone can build a snow den, an igloo, or a walled fort. The possibilities are endless (and delicious!).
With snow covering the ground, fewer plants are growing, which means less food for hungry animals like bears, bats, and squirrels. Hibernating slows down these animals’ metabolisms and reduces their body temperatures, which means they need less energy to survive and can go without eating for several months at a time. Hibernating animals need a safe, hidden spot to snuggle down for the winter months, similar to the caves and burrows you just built! 
Simple Physics Turkey Races
Add some get up and go to your gobble gobble with these crazy-fun turkey races perfect for perking up the party on turkey day!Here’s what you’ll need:BalloonsConstruction paperTapeStringPlastic strawsChip clips or binder clipsHere’s what you’ll do:Blow up one balloon per racer but don’t tie off the ends. Instead, twist the end, then attach a kitchen “chip clip” or binder clip to keep the air from escaping.Cut your construction paper into feathers, waddles, and googly eyes and tape the pieces to your “turkeys”.Set up your race course by placing two chairs about 8 feet apart (you’ll need one set of these chairs for each racer). Cut a 9-foot section of string for each racer and tie the loose end of a length to one chair.Thread a straw through the untied end of the string, then pull the string taught and tie to the opposite chair.Using tape, attach the top, center of the balloon to the straw. Make sure to line the straw up with the release point of the balloon, for straighter, faster flying.Pull the balloons back so the ends are touching the chairs, pinch the balloons above the chip clips, and remove the clips.Call “On your marks, get set, GO”, let go of the balloons, and watch as your turkeys race to the finish line!Let’s talk turkey about physics! Remember that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction (thanks, Newton!). When you blow up the balloon, you are filling it with air. When you release the chip clip, you are releasing the air, creating pressure out of the back of the balloon. This release creates an equal and opposite pressure on the front of the balloon, propelling it forward. Crystal Snowflake Christmas Ornaments
Celebrate the coming winter with crystal snowflakes you make yourself!What You’ll Need:Pipe cleanersBoraxFood coloringWide mouth glass container like a measuring cupPencil, craft stick, or spatulaString or an extra pipe cleanerWhat You’ll Do:Cut your pipe cleaners in half, then cut some of them in half again.Twist the pieces together to form one-of-a-kind snowflake patterns, making sure that your snowflakes will fit into your container without touching the sides or bottom. (Trim the ends with scissors if need be.)Tie one end of the string to the center of your snowflake and the other to your pencil or craft stick and check to make sure your snowflake will fit without touching the sides or bottom of your container.Bring a pot of water to a boil. For every cup of water you pour into your container, add 3 tablespoons of Borax and stir (this is a job for a parent as the water is boiling hot!). Add more Borax and stir to dissolve, continuing until the water won’t accept any more Borax (it’s okay if there’s some left in the bottom of the jar). Then add a few drops of food coloring and stir.Hang your snowflake in the water by balancing your pencil or craft stick across the top of the jar. If your string is too long, twist it around your pencil until it keeps the snowflake from touching the bottom.Leave your snowflake overnight. Carefully pull your snowflake out of the jar and shake off the excess crystals to reveal your crystalized snowflake!Borax can be beautiful! Hot water molecules are moving really quickly, which leaves room for the Borax to dissolve between them. As the water cools, the molecules move closer together, “squeezing” the Borax out. Winter Marshmallow Dens
Turn those cocoa fixin’s into a science lesson about the winter habits of some of your kids’ favorite animals with this tasty activity!What you’ll need:ToothpicksMarshmallowsPaperCrayons or markerSnowy Animal ToysWhat you’ll do:Ask your kids to imagine where they might go to hibernate if they lived out in the wild. Have you kids draw their ideas on paper.Set out the marshmallows and toothpicks and challenge your busy builders to construct their drawings.Once they’re done, see if someone can build a snow den, an igloo, or a walled fort. The possibilities are endless (and delicious!).With snow covering the ground, fewer plants are growing, which means less food for hungry animals like bears, bats, and squirrels. Hibernating slows down these animals’ metabolisms and reduces their body temperatures, which means they need less energy to survive and can go without eating for several months at a time. Hibernating animals need a safe, hidden spot to snuggle down for the winter months, similar to the caves and burrows you just built! HAPPY STEM DAY!
Ultimate STEM Day Activity Bundle!
National STEM Day is November 8 – a day designated to the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and math. To help you celebrate STEM in style, we’ve put together three of our very favorite, holiday-themed STEM smarts & crafts activities perfect for your Thanksgiving Day festivities and winter break fun.Here’s what you’ll do:Blow up one balloon per racer but don’t tie off the ends. Instead, twist the end, then attach a kitchen “chip clip” or binder clip to keep the air from escaping.Cut your construction paper into feathers, waddles, and googly eyes and tape the pieces to your “turkeys”.Set up your race course by placing two chairs about 8 feet apart (you’ll need one set of these chairs for each racer). Cut a 9-foot section of string for each racer and tie the loose end of a length to one chair.Thread a straw through the untied end of the string, then pull the string taught and tie to the opposite chair.Using tape, attach the top, center of the balloon to the straw. Make sure to line the straw up with the release point of the balloon, for straighter, faster flying.Pull the balloons back so the ends are touching the chairs, pinch the balloons above the chip clips, and remove the clips.Call “On your marks, get set, GO”, let go of the balloons, and watch as your turkeys race to the finish line!Let’s talk turkey about physics! Remember that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction (thanks, Newton!). When you blow up the balloon, you are filling it with air. When you release the chip clip, you are releasing the air, creating pressure out of the back of the balloon. This release creates an equal and opposite pressure on the front of the balloon, propelling it forward. What You’ll Do:Cut your pipe cleaners in half, then cut some of them in half again.Twist the pieces together to form one-of-a-kind snowflake patterns, making sure that your snowflakes will fit into your container without touching the sides or bottom. (Trim the ends with scissors if need be.)Tie one end of the string to the center of your snowflake and the other to your pencil or craft stick and check to make sure your snowflake will fit without touching the sides or bottom of your container.Bring a pot of water to a boil. For every cup of water you pour into your container, add 3 tablespoons of Borax and stir (this is a job for a parent as the water is boiling hot!). Add more Borax and stir to dissolve, continuing until the water won’t accept any more Borax (it’s okay if there’s some left in the bottom of the jar). Then add a few drops of food coloring and stir.Hang your snowflake in the water by balancing your pencil or craft stick across the top of the jar. If your string is too long, twist it around your pencil until it keeps the snowflake from touching the bottom.Leave your snowflake overnight. Carefully pull your snowflake out of the jar and shake off the excess crystals to reveal your crystalized snowflake!Borax can be beautiful! Hot water molecules are moving really quickly, which leaves room for the Borax to dissolve between them. As the water cools, the molecules move closer together, “squeezing” the Borax out. Set out the marshmallows and toothpicks and challenge your busy builders to construct their drawings.Once they’re done, see if someone can build a snow den, an igloo, or a walled fort. The possibilities are endless (and delicious!).With snow covering the ground, fewer plants are growing, which means less food for hungry animals like bears, bats, and squirrels. Hibernating slows down these animals’ metabolisms and reduces their body temperatures, which means they need less energy to survive and can go without eating for several months at a time. Hibernating animals need a safe, hidden spot to snuggle down for the winter months, similar to the caves and burrows you just built!
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Simple Physics Turkey Races
Add some get up and go to your gobble gobble with these crazy-fun turkey races perfect for perking up the party on turkey day!Here’s what you’ll need:BalloonsConstruction paperTapeStringPlastic strawsChip clips or binder clipsHere’s what you’ll do:Blow up one balloon per racer but don’t tie off the ends. Instead, twist the end, then attach a kitchen “chip clip” or binder clip to keep the air from escaping.Cut your construction paper into feathers, waddles, and googly eyes and tape the pieces to your “turkeys”.Set up your race course by placing two chairs about 8 feet apart (you’ll need one set of these chairs for each racer). Cut a 9-foot section of string for each racer and tie the loose end of a length to one chair.Thread a straw through the untied end of the string, then pull the string taught and tie to the opposite chair.Using tape, attach the top, center of the balloon to the straw. Make sure to line the straw up with the release point of the balloon, for straighter, faster flying.Pull the balloons back so the ends are touching the chairs, pinch the balloons above the chip clips, and remove the clips.Call “On your marks, get set, GO”, let go of the balloons, and watch as your turkeys race to the finish line!Let’s talk turkey about physics! Remember that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction (thanks, Newton!). When you blow up the balloon, you are filling it with air. When you release the chip clip, you are releasing the air, creating pressure out of the back of the balloon. This release creates an equal and opposite pressure on the front of the balloon, propelling it forward. Crystal Snowflake Christmas Ornaments
Celebrate the coming winter with crystal snowflakes you make yourself!What You’ll Need:Pipe cleanersBoraxFood coloringWide mouth glass container like a measuring cupPencil, craft stick, or spatulaString or an extra pipe cleanerWhat You’ll Do:Cut your pipe cleaners in half, then cut some of them in half again.Twist the pieces together to form one-of-a-kind snowflake patterns, making sure that your snowflakes will fit into your container without touching the sides or bottom. (Trim the ends with scissors if need be.)Tie one end of the string to the center of your snowflake and the other to your pencil or craft stick and check to make sure your snowflake will fit without touching the sides or bottom of your container.Bring a pot of water to a boil. For every cup of water you pour into your container, add 3 tablespoons of Borax and stir (this is a job for a parent as the water is boiling hot!). Add more Borax and stir to dissolve, continuing until the water won’t accept any more Borax (it’s okay if there’s some left in the bottom of the jar). Then add a few drops of food coloring and stir.Hang your snowflake in the water by balancing your pencil or craft stick across the top of the jar. If your string is too long, twist it around your pencil until it keeps the snowflake from touching the bottom.Leave your snowflake overnight. Carefully pull your snowflake out of the jar and shake off the excess crystals to reveal your crystalized snowflake!Borax can be beautiful! Hot water molecules are moving really quickly, which leaves room for the Borax to dissolve between them. As the water cools, the molecules move closer together, “squeezing” the Borax out. Winter Marshmallow Dens
Turn those cocoa fixin’s into a science lesson about the winter habits of some of your kids’ favorite animals with this tasty activity!What you’ll need:ToothpicksMarshmallowsPaperCrayons or markerSnowy Animal ToysWhat you’ll do:Ask your kids to imagine where they might go to hibernate if they lived out in the wild. Have you kids draw their ideas on paper.Set out the marshmallows and toothpicks and challenge your busy builders to construct their drawings.Once they’re done, see if someone can build a snow den, an igloo, or a walled fort. The possibilities are endless (and delicious!).With snow covering the ground, fewer plants are growing, which means less food for hungry animals like bears, bats, and squirrels. Hibernating slows down these animals’ metabolisms and reduces their body temperatures, which means they need less energy to survive and can go without eating for several months at a time. Hibernating animals need a safe, hidden spot to snuggle down for the winter months, similar to the caves and burrows you just built! HAPPY STEM DAY!
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Speedy Shapes Racers Matching Game!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Oct 15, 2018 | Printables
5 Ways to Bring out Your Inner Kid!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On May 18, 2018
Let’s face it – many of us sometimes forget about our playful sides. With so many pressures and responsibilities facing moms and dads these days, sometimes it’s difficult to set your serious grown-up self aside keep in touch with your inner kid. But a playful parent is usually a happier parent, and a happier parent is a better parent, caregiver, and teacher. We set our kids up to be as successful as they can be, and that is a full time job leaving little time for fun! So how do we get playful again?
Below are a few simple things we can all do to help get in touch with our inner kid – and just in time for Take Your Parents to the Playground Day (Sunday, May 20)! So, take off your tie (heck, take off your shoes and socks, too!), step away from the computer/phone/tablet, and learn to let go like a child again. Your mental health will thank you!
1. Go to the playground!
Sure, we take our kids to the park. But how often do we really play? You won’t believe how exhilarating swinging can be or how fun the slide really is. Try a game of tag or set up an obstacle course. When you get tired, park it and challenge your children to a staring contest. You might be surprised at how much fun you have and you’ll get a chance to see your kids at “work”, doing their business of learning, growing, navigating, compromising, strategizing, communicating, and imagining.
2. Get messy!
Grab the kids, a bunch of paint and get to creating! Finger painting is a fun stress reliever that gets you in touch with your artistic side! Don't worry about the mess for now, just have fun and get those hands dirty!
3. Sing!
In the car. In the shower. In the kitchen! Stumble across a long-lost-but-not-forgotten-favorite jam and belt it out, as loud as you can! You'll find that you can't stop smiling!
4. Dance like no one is watching!
Have chores to do? Turn on some tunes and dance while you do them. Invite your kids to join you. Impromptu dance parties make for seriously great family memories and showing your kids your silly side is a great way to get closer.
5. Get Silly!
Try replacing one lecture a day (toilet not flushed, socks not in hamper, dishes not in sink) with a funny face. Seriously. Stop yourself from saying whatever it is you say every time something goes undone, make eye contact with your kiddo (or your hubby), and make a silly face instead. Yes, it’s tempting to load the dishwasher and put the laundry away, and those chores do have to get done, sometime, but what would you RATHER be doing? Our kids are busy learning and growing but they're also busy having fun. So, learn from example! Let’s get playful!
5 Ways to Bring out Your Inner Kid!
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Let’s face it – many of us sometimes forget about our playful sides. With so many pressures and responsibilities facing moms and dads these days, sometimes it’s difficult to set your serious grown-up self aside keep in touch with your inner kid. But a playful parent is usually a happier parent, and a happier parent is a better parent, caregiver, and teacher. We set our kids up to be as successful as they can be, and that is a full time job leaving little time for fun! So how do we get playful again?
Below are a few simple things we can all do to help get in touch with our inner kid – and just in time for Take Your Parents to the Playground Day (Sunday, May 20)! So, take off your tie (heck, take off your shoes and socks, too!), step away from the computer/phone/tablet, and learn to let go like a child again. Your mental health will thank you!
1. Go to the playground!
Sure, we take our kids to the park. But how often do we really play? You won’t believe how exhilarating swinging can be or how fun the slide really is. Try a game of tag or set up an obstacle course. When you get tired, park it and challenge your children to a staring contest. You might be surprised at how much fun you have and you’ll get a chance to see your kids at “work”, doing their business of learning, growing, navigating, compromising, strategizing, communicating, and imagining.
2. Get messy!
Grab the kids, a bunch of paint and get to creating! Finger painting is a fun stress reliever that gets you in touch with your artistic side! Don't worry about the mess for now, just have fun and get those hands dirty!
3. Sing!
In the car. In the shower. In the kitchen! Stumble across a long-lost-but-not-forgotten-favorite jam and belt it out, as loud as you can! You'll find that you can't stop smiling!
4. Dance like no one is watching!
Have chores to do? Turn on some tunes and dance while you do them. Invite your kids to join you. Impromptu dance parties make for seriously great family memories and showing your kids your silly side is a great way to get closer.
5. Get Silly!
Try replacing one lecture a day (toilet not flushed, socks not in hamper, dishes not in sink) with a funny face. Seriously. Stop yourself from saying whatever it is you say every time something goes undone, make eye contact with your kiddo (or your hubby), and make a silly face instead. Yes, it’s tempting to load the dishwasher and put the laundry away, and those chores do have to get done, sometime, but what would you RATHER be doing? Our kids are busy learning and growing but they're also busy having fun. So, learn from example! Let’s get playful!
En Garde! DIY Peep Jousting!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 29, 2018 | Easter
5 Reasons why Coding is Important for Young Minds
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 22, 2018 | STEM
DIY Curling with Botley!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Feb 24, 2018 | STEM
Slide the stone, brush the ice, and try to hit the target! Curling is one of the most iconic winter sports in the world; it’s even on TV these days! Usually, a round of curling requires too much equipment to play at home, but you can play your own version of this famous sport with the help of Botley the Coding Robot!
Check out our step-by-step guide below:
1. Set up a starting line at one end of the room. At the other end, set up Botley’s orange goal piece.
2. Put Botley behind the starting line, making sure that he’s aimed straight at the goal piece.
3. Before you start coding, have each player estimate the number of FORWARD coding steps it will take Botley to reach the goal without going past it. (Here’s a hint: Botley moves 8 inches with each FORWARD step).
4. After everyone has their guesses, have the first player code Botley to move forward.
5. When Botley stops, place one of his flags at the spot on the floor where he stopped. If you have lots of players, you can even write each person’s name on their flag with some masking tape and a marker.
6. Repeat until everyone has gone. The person closest to the goal is the winner!
If you want to add an extra element of challenge, snap on Botley’s detachable robot arms and make this rule: on each turn, players can choose to code their way towards the goal, or knock a previous player’s flag off the course. In this version of the game, the first person to land Botley in the goal wins.
DIY Curling with Botley!
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Slide the stone, brush the ice, and try to hit the target! Curling is one of the most iconic winter sports in the world; it’s even on TV these days! Usually, a round of curling requires too much equipment to play at home, but you can play your own version of this famous sport with the help of Botley the Coding Robot!
Check out our step-by-step guide below:
1. Set up a starting line at one end of the room. At the other end, set up Botley’s orange goal piece.
2. Put Botley behind the starting line, making sure that he’s aimed straight at the goal piece.
3. Before you start coding, have each player estimate the number of FORWARD coding steps it will take Botley to reach the goal without going past it. (Here’s a hint: Botley moves 8 inches with each FORWARD step).
4. After everyone has their guesses, have the first player code Botley to move forward.
5. When Botley stops, place one of his flags at the spot on the floor where he stopped. If you have lots of players, you can even write each person’s name on their flag with some masking tape and a marker.
6. Repeat until everyone has gone. The person closest to the goal is the winner!
If you want to add an extra element of challenge, snap on Botley’s detachable robot arms and make this rule: on each turn, players can choose to code their way towards the goal, or knock a previous player’s flag off the course. In this version of the game, the first person to land Botley in the goal wins.
Introduce Kids to Coding with the Code & Go Robot Mouse
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Dec 1, 2017 | STEM
Are you looking for a fun toy that will help kids practice important skills for the future? You’ll want to check out the Code & Go™ Robot Mouse Activity Set. Programming the robot mouse is a wonderful, screen-free introduction to coding for kids. It works on if-then logic, problem solving, correcting errors, and critical thinking. These skills will help kids be successful innovators and leaders in the future.
The Code & Go™ Robot Mouse Activity Set is recommended for ages 5 and up. My daughter is 3 and half and she loves playing with the robot mouse, too. The way she plays is a lot different than the way my 7-year-old son plays. She needs more support and can’t really play by herself. This makes it a great activity for us to do together.
The goal is to help Colby, the robot mouse, travel through the maze to reach the cheese. You can choose one of 20 activity cards to design a maze or create your own. The set comes with 16 green maze grids, 22 purple maze walls, and 3 orange tunnels. Push buttons on the top of the mouse to tell Colby which way to go. The set also comes with coding cards to help you lay out your program.
To help Lily program the mouse, I had her walk the mouse through the maze. We used the coding cards to write down the program. The cards have arrows on them that correspond to the buttons on the mouse. In the picture above, you can see Colby moving through the maze. He went forward, turned right, and moved forward again to reach the cheese.
The activity cards start simple with needing only a few steps to reach the cheese. Then, they get more difficult. There are often multiple ways to reach the cheese.
For larger mazes, Lily likes to program one step at a time. She pushes one button and then presses the go button. Then, she programs the second step by pushing the next button. Lily places the mouse back to the start and presses go. The mouse will complete both steps. We continue adding steps and starting at the beginning to check our progress. I recommend using the coding cards to keep track of your steps with this method. If you make a mistake, press the yellow circle to clear the program and start over. You can read the coding cards to program the mouse again up to the point you made a mistake.
Creating mazes for the robot mouse is something my kids like to do together. They often build their own mazes and then figure out how to get the mouse to the cheese.
I think the tunnels are my kids’ favorite part of the maze. They love watching Colby go through them. Aiden designed the maze below with the cheese just after the tunnels.
Colby is on his way to the cheese!
You can change the arrangement of the maze tiles. They don’t have to be in a 4X4 grid. You can make a lot of different paths with the maze tiles.
The robot mouse can travel on different surfaces. He doesn’t have to stay on the maze tiles. My kids like to use the purple maze walls and tunnels to create mazes on the floor.
They also found out that Colby will push or pull the cheese around.
They thought this was extra fun. I love it when my kids create games on their own with these imaginative toys.
Introduce Kids to Coding with the Code & Go Robot Mouse
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Are you looking for a fun toy that will help kids practice important skills for the future? You’ll want to check out the Code & Go™ Robot Mouse Activity Set. Programming the robot mouse is a wonderful, screen-free introduction to coding for kids. It works on if-then logic, problem solving, correcting errors, and critical thinking. These skills will help kids be successful innovators and leaders in the future.
The Code & Go™ Robot Mouse Activity Set is recommended for ages 5 and up. My daughter is 3 and half and she loves playing with the robot mouse, too. The way she plays is a lot different than the way my 7-year-old son plays. She needs more support and can’t really play by herself. This makes it a great activity for us to do together.
The goal is to help Colby, the robot mouse, travel through the maze to reach the cheese. You can choose one of 20 activity cards to design a maze or create your own. The set comes with 16 green maze grids, 22 purple maze walls, and 3 orange tunnels. Push buttons on the top of the mouse to tell Colby which way to go. The set also comes with coding cards to help you lay out your program.
To help Lily program the mouse, I had her walk the mouse through the maze. We used the coding cards to write down the program. The cards have arrows on them that correspond to the buttons on the mouse. In the picture above, you can see Colby moving through the maze. He went forward, turned right, and moved forward again to reach the cheese.
The activity cards start simple with needing only a few steps to reach the cheese. Then, they get more difficult. There are often multiple ways to reach the cheese.
For larger mazes, Lily likes to program one step at a time. She pushes one button and then presses the go button. Then, she programs the second step by pushing the next button. Lily places the mouse back to the start and presses go. The mouse will complete both steps. We continue adding steps and starting at the beginning to check our progress. I recommend using the coding cards to keep track of your steps with this method. If you make a mistake, press the yellow circle to clear the program and start over. You can read the coding cards to program the mouse again up to the point you made a mistake.
Creating mazes for the robot mouse is something my kids like to do together. They often build their own mazes and then figure out how to get the mouse to the cheese.
I think the tunnels are my kids’ favorite part of the maze. They love watching Colby go through them. Aiden designed the maze below with the cheese just after the tunnels.
Colby is on his way to the cheese!
You can change the arrangement of the maze tiles. They don’t have to be in a 4X4 grid. You can make a lot of different paths with the maze tiles.
The robot mouse can travel on different surfaces. He doesn’t have to stay on the maze tiles. My kids like to use the purple maze walls and tunnels to create mazes on the floor.
They also found out that Colby will push or pull the cheese around.
They thought this was extra fun. I love it when my kids create games on their own with these imaginative toys.
The All-American (Screen-free) Road Trip!
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Jul 25, 2017
Ah, the family road trip. Back in the day, there were no tablets, no in-car media centers, and no handheld devices to keep little ones busy during a cross-country excursion. Imaginations were free to fly as the American landscape rolled past.Before you hit the open road this summer, explore some engaging, no-screen activities for the kiddos to make the most of your family windshield time. After all, you are all in this together!Alphabet FinderHave each (non-driving) family member hunt the letters from the alphabet using road signs and billboards, counting down from “A”. Each passenger should quietly go about this activity, so not give away his or her findings. On occasion, ask what letter everyone is “on”. Just wait until the whole family is stuck on “Q” together. The quiet competition keeps everyone guessing.
I Spy JarBefore your family heads out, put together your own I Spy Jar. You will need a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, a box of rice, and some small objects around the house like a doll comb, Snap Cubes, crayons, etc. Make a checklist for everything that will go in the jar. Pour in a small layer of the rice, add a few items, and then repeat. Seal the container and let the challenge begin! 
The License Plate GameAs you motor along, keep a tally of every state license plate your family spies. This also keeps kids thinking about geography. If you are in California, discuss how far a car from Iowa must have had to travel. What states did it have to cross to get to get here? When you stop for something to eat, take an extra spin around a crowded parking lot to search for plates missing off your list!
Dry Erase BoardThe dry erase board is a perennial favorite, whether on or off road. They are inexpensive and can keep hands busy for a long time. Make sure to pick one up for each family member, loading them up with a ton of extra colors. Many boards are magnetic, so don’t forget your Learning Resources numbers and letters, too.
Busy WalletFor the younger set, upcycle an old wallet and fill it with items like used gift cards, ribbon, crayons, etc., for them to take out and put back in again. Little ones love to take a part Mom’s wallet, so why not give them one of their own? Just be prepared to be searching the car floor on your next rest stop to put it all back together.
Window ClingsMake your little passengers’ window their own canvas. Grab window clings at your local drug store and pass them out when your riders become antsy. No mess, no worry, and lots of fun! 
FlashlightsNighttime driving can be especially challenging. Hand out individual flashlights to each of the kids. These can be used to read or simply to make funny faces or have “light wars” with their brothers or sisters. 
Have a safe trip! (And remember to pack lots of snacks!)
I Spy JarBefore your family heads out, put together your own I Spy Jar. You will need a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, a box of rice, and some small objects around the house like a doll comb, Snap Cubes, crayons, etc. Make a checklist for everything that will go in the jar. Pour in a small layer of the rice, add a few items, and then repeat. Seal the container and let the challenge begin! The License Plate GameAs you motor along, keep a tally of every state license plate your family spies. This also keeps kids thinking about geography. If you are in California, discuss how far a car from Iowa must have had to travel. What states did it have to cross to get to get here? When you stop for something to eat, take an extra spin around a crowded parking lot to search for plates missing off your list! Dry Erase BoardThe dry erase board is a perennial favorite, whether on or off road. They are inexpensive and can keep hands busy for a long time. Make sure to pick one up for each family member, loading them up with a ton of extra colors. Many boards are magnetic, so don’t forget your Learning Resources numbers and letters, too.Busy WalletFor the younger set, upcycle an old wallet and fill it with items like used gift cards, ribbon, crayons, etc., for them to take out and put back in again. Little ones love to take a part Mom’s wallet, so why not give them one of their own? Just be prepared to be searching the car floor on your next rest stop to put it all back together. Window ClingsMake your little passengers’ window their own canvas. Grab window clings at your local drug store and pass them out when your riders become antsy. No mess, no worry, and lots of fun! FlashlightsNighttime driving can be especially challenging. Hand out individual flashlights to each of the kids. These can be used to read or simply to make funny faces or have “light wars” with their brothers or sisters. Have a safe trip! (And remember to pack lots of snacks!)
The All-American (Screen-free) Road Trip!
Ah, the family road trip. Back in the day, there were no tablets, no in-car media centers, and no handheld devices to keep little ones busy during a cross-country excursion. Imaginations were free to fly as the American landscape rolled past.Before you hit the open road this summer, explore some engaging, no-screen activities for the kiddos to make the most of your family windshield time. After all, you are all in this together!Alphabet FinderHave each (non-driving) family member hunt the letters from the alphabet using road signs and billboards, counting down from “A”. Each passenger should quietly go about this activity, so not give away his or her findings. On occasion, ask what letter everyone is “on”. Just wait until the whole family is stuck on “Q” together. The quiet competition keeps everyone guessing. I Spy JarBefore your family heads out, put together your own I Spy Jar. You will need a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, a box of rice, and some small objects around the house like a doll comb, Snap Cubes, crayons, etc. Make a checklist for everything that will go in the jar. Pour in a small layer of the rice, add a few items, and then repeat. Seal the container and let the challenge begin! The License Plate GameAs you motor along, keep a tally of every state license plate your family spies. This also keeps kids thinking about geography. If you are in California, discuss how far a car from Iowa must have had to travel. What states did it have to cross to get to get here? When you stop for something to eat, take an extra spin around a crowded parking lot to search for plates missing off your list! Dry Erase BoardThe dry erase board is a perennial favorite, whether on or off road. They are inexpensive and can keep hands busy for a long time. Make sure to pick one up for each family member, loading them up with a ton of extra colors. Many boards are magnetic, so don’t forget your Learning Resources numbers and letters, too.Busy WalletFor the younger set, upcycle an old wallet and fill it with items like used gift cards, ribbon, crayons, etc., for them to take out and put back in again. Little ones love to take a part Mom’s wallet, so why not give them one of their own? Just be prepared to be searching the car floor on your next rest stop to put it all back together. Window ClingsMake your little passengers’ window their own canvas. Grab window clings at your local drug store and pass them out when your riders become antsy. No mess, no worry, and lots of fun! FlashlightsNighttime driving can be especially challenging. Hand out individual flashlights to each of the kids. These can be used to read or simply to make funny faces or have “light wars” with their brothers or sisters. Have a safe trip! (And remember to pack lots of snacks!)
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I Spy JarBefore your family heads out, put together your own I Spy Jar. You will need a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, a box of rice, and some small objects around the house like a doll comb, Snap Cubes, crayons, etc. Make a checklist for everything that will go in the jar. Pour in a small layer of the rice, add a few items, and then repeat. Seal the container and let the challenge begin! The License Plate GameAs you motor along, keep a tally of every state license plate your family spies. This also keeps kids thinking about geography. If you are in California, discuss how far a car from Iowa must have had to travel. What states did it have to cross to get to get here? When you stop for something to eat, take an extra spin around a crowded parking lot to search for plates missing off your list! Dry Erase BoardThe dry erase board is a perennial favorite, whether on or off road. They are inexpensive and can keep hands busy for a long time. Make sure to pick one up for each family member, loading them up with a ton of extra colors. Many boards are magnetic, so don’t forget your Learning Resources numbers and letters, too.Busy WalletFor the younger set, upcycle an old wallet and fill it with items like used gift cards, ribbon, crayons, etc., for them to take out and put back in again. Little ones love to take a part Mom’s wallet, so why not give them one of their own? Just be prepared to be searching the car floor on your next rest stop to put it all back together. Window ClingsMake your little passengers’ window their own canvas. Grab window clings at your local drug store and pass them out when your riders become antsy. No mess, no worry, and lots of fun! FlashlightsNighttime driving can be especially challenging. Hand out individual flashlights to each of the kids. These can be used to read or simply to make funny faces or have “light wars” with their brothers or sisters. Have a safe trip! (And remember to pack lots of snacks!)
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