Every October, my young children look forward to going to the pumpkin patch to select their individual pumpkins and several “crazy looking” gourds. While the whole family enjoys this annual outing, this year we reflected on how little the kids … Continue reading
Inspired by “shaving cream marble prints” that have become so popular and the color mixing experiments that fascinate my kids, we opted to try “marbelizing eggs” this year with a similar process. Not wanting to expose our food (with it’s … Continue reading
First of all, what is a thaumatrope? A thaumatrope, roughly translated from ancient Greek as “wonder turn,” is the most basic of paper movies. By simply moving a handle, a thaumatrope creates the optical illusion of two images merged into one. Since … Continue reading
Using art and physics, this simple craft plays with an object’s center of gravity to make a fun little toy that surprises and delights little engineers! Throw a ball in the air and gravity pulls it right back down, but not everything falls straight … Continue reading
Paint chips are not only an easy way to start exploring the basics of color theory. They provide a they a great material for creating colorful and sturdy building blocks! Start with a variety of colorful paint chips, showing 7 levels … Continue reading
Snap Circuits provides excellent interactive lessons in creating electrical circuits through a balance of guided instruction and experimentation. By following the manual’s clear illustrations and easy-to-follow directions, little engineers use hands-on activities to gaining a valuable understanding of how electrical … Continue reading
In February, it seems that so many creative projects for kids gravitate toward making Valentines or painting simple heart shapes. We decided to go a step further in our Valentine crafting and explore positive and negative space while creating simple heart shapes. What is Positive and … Continue reading
It’s the perfect time of year to give someone special a rose…or a rose print! Celery Rose Printing Basics This printmaking project uses simple materials to make a striking painting. It can also provide a visual (and very basic) introduction to the … Continue reading
Have you grown crystals to make a snowflake (or rather a snow crystal!) this winter? This winter-themed, kid-friendly project utilizes fine motor skills, creativity, science observation, and mathematical skills, including addition, multiplication, estimating and measuring. To get started, first you and … Continue reading
Physics can be a complicated subject for young (and old) students. Experiencing these basic structural principles though architecture provides a fun introduction to the basic concepts of external and internal forces for elementary and middle school age children. Plus, working in small … Continue reading
Design in Play 