Tonight we say goodbye to 2009 and hello to the year 2010.
On New Year's Eve (today), many people make New Year's resolutions. A New Year's resolution is something you decide to do in the new year. Usually, a resolution is something you promise to do that will help make you a better person in some way. It can be simple like trying to remember to make your bed every morning to bigger things like not picking on the small kid in your class anymore.
Do you have something you would like to do in the new year? Make it a resolution and try not to break it!
Make this a family activity: ask your family what resolutions they are making.
This activity promotes self-development and self-awareness.
Thursday
Wednesday
#336: Dare to Compare
Take a look around. Are there things you can compare?
This is a great game for those boring times when you are waiting around somewhere. Hey, it's fun even if you're just looking out the window!
Here are a few ideas to get you started in Dare to Compare: What season is it? Winter? Okay, how many people are wearing boots? How many are wearing shoes? What about hats? If it is summer, you can compare things like how many people are wearing shorts. How many aren’t wearing shorts?
What else can you compare? How about Tall vs. short. Colours (Black pants vs. blue pants or Silver cars vs. black cars.) Birds. Or make it harder and compare more than one thing like Cars vs. Trucks vs. Vans. You can compare anything and everything!
Make this a family activity: Each member of your family picks one thing to watch for. They count how many they see. Then, get together and compare.
This activity promotes math skills as well as visual identification skills and detail awareness.
This is a great game for those boring times when you are waiting around somewhere. Hey, it's fun even if you're just looking out the window!
Here are a few ideas to get you started in Dare to Compare: What season is it? Winter? Okay, how many people are wearing boots? How many are wearing shoes? What about hats? If it is summer, you can compare things like how many people are wearing shorts. How many aren’t wearing shorts?
What else can you compare? How about Tall vs. short. Colours (Black pants vs. blue pants or Silver cars vs. black cars.) Birds. Or make it harder and compare more than one thing like Cars vs. Trucks vs. Vans. You can compare anything and everything!
Make this a family activity: Each member of your family picks one thing to watch for. They count how many they see. Then, get together and compare.
This activity promotes math skills as well as visual identification skills and detail awareness.
Tuesday
#335: Find Your First Name in the Newspaper
Monday
#334: What Time Is It Mr. Wolf?
Number of players needed for 'What Time is it Mr. Wolf': 4 or more.
One player is the wolf and everyone else stands far away at a starting point. The wolf keeps their back to the other players (and cannot peek). Everyone asks together, “What time is it Mr. Wolf?” The wolf says a time and everyone moves towards the wolf that number of steps. For example, if he says “12 o’clock”, everyone takes 12 steps.
After everyone has moved forward, they ask the time again. If the wolf replies “Time to eat you!” everyone runs back to the starting point. The wolf tries to tag players. If a player is caught, they are out. Keep playing until all players are caught. The last player caught by the wolf, becomes the wolf for the next game.
Variations: Eaten players join the wolf.
Make this a family game: Who gets to be the wolf first?
This activity promotes counting skills and speed.
One player is the wolf and everyone else stands far away at a starting point. The wolf keeps their back to the other players (and cannot peek). Everyone asks together, “What time is it Mr. Wolf?” The wolf says a time and everyone moves towards the wolf that number of steps. For example, if he says “12 o’clock”, everyone takes 12 steps.
After everyone has moved forward, they ask the time again. If the wolf replies “Time to eat you!” everyone runs back to the starting point. The wolf tries to tag players. If a player is caught, they are out. Keep playing until all players are caught. The last player caught by the wolf, becomes the wolf for the next game.
Variations: Eaten players join the wolf.
Make this a family game: Who gets to be the wolf first?
This activity promotes counting skills and speed.
Sunday
#333: Thumb War
One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war! Thumbs, get in your corners. Ready? Three, two, one, go!
Thumb Wars or Thumb Wrestling:
Two players face each other. The players hold right hands and curl their fingers into each other’s palms so their hands ‘lock’. Both players touch the tips of their thumbs together. See which player can pin down the other player’s thumb under their thumb for three seconds. They are the winner of that round in thumb war.
Make this a family activity: Have a thumb wrestling tournament with your family.
This activity promotes dexterity, strategy making, and fine motor skills.
Thumb Wars or Thumb Wrestling:
Two players face each other. The players hold right hands and curl their fingers into each other’s palms so their hands ‘lock’. Both players touch the tips of their thumbs together. See which player can pin down the other player’s thumb under their thumb for three seconds. They are the winner of that round in thumb war.
Make this a family activity: Have a thumb wrestling tournament with your family.
This activity promotes dexterity, strategy making, and fine motor skills.
Saturday
#332: Pick Things Up With Your Toes
Can you pick things up with your toes? Try picking up pencils, rubber balls, socks, and other small things using your toes instead of your fingers. Can you do it?
Make this a family activity: See if anyone has 'finger toes.'
This activity promotes physical awareness.
Who has 'finger toes' and use their toes like fingers to pick things up?
Make this a family activity: See if anyone has 'finger toes.'
This activity promotes physical awareness.
Friday
#331: Sing Christmas Carols
Merry Christmas, everyone!
What Christmas carols (songs) do you know?
You can sing your carols by your self, with your family or even go out as a group, caroling for your neighbours.
Do you need lyrics?
Make this a family activity: Take the family out caroling.
This activity promotes Christmas spirit and musical skills.
What Christmas carols (songs) do you know?
You can sing your carols by your self, with your family or even go out as a group, caroling for your neighbours.
Do you need lyrics?
Make this a family activity: Take the family out caroling.
This activity promotes Christmas spirit and musical skills.
Thursday
#330: Draw on Frosty Windows
Wednesday
#329: Find Ten Red Things in Your Room
Can you find ten red things in your room? What about in the living room?
You can also turn this into a fun 'clean your room' game. Find ten red things and put them away. Go through all the colours until there is nothing left to pick up.
Make this a family activity: Do you all see the same ten red things in the room?
This activity promotes math skills and colour identification.
You can also turn this into a fun 'clean your room' game. Find ten red things and put them away. Go through all the colours until there is nothing left to pick up.
Make this a family activity: Do you all see the same ten red things in the room?
This activity promotes math skills and colour identification.
Tuesday
#328: Candy Christmas Tree
Make a pretty, edible (that means you can eat it) Christmas tree.
You will need: a pointy ended ice cream cone, green icing, and candies.
Cover the ice cream cone with icing and stick your candies on the tree and voila! You have a yummy tree.
For icing, you can make your own, or buy premade icing in grocery stores.
Make this a family activity: Get everyone around the table, making Christmas trees.
This activity promotes creativity and tactile awareness.
You will need: a pointy ended ice cream cone, green icing, and candies.
Cover the ice cream cone with icing and stick your candies on the tree and voila! You have a yummy tree.
For icing, you can make your own, or buy premade icing in grocery stores.
Make this a family activity: Get everyone around the table, making Christmas trees.
This activity promotes creativity and tactile awareness.
Monday
#327: Start a Plant From a Seed or Cutting
You can start a plant from a seed, or from a cutting.
A cutting is a piece cut or pinched off a plant. Sometimes you can start a new houseplant by cutting a piece off a big one. For most plants, placing the cutting in water makes it grow roots so you can plant it. There are some plants that can be stuck straight in the dirt after being cut and they will grow! If you aren't sure, experiment to see what works.
Christmas Cactus (shown above) can be pinched off a plant and stuck in the dirt. It will begin growing its own roots. Don't forget to water it!
Make this a family activity: Get everyone to make their own cutting and plant it.
This activity promotes awareness of how plants grow.
A cutting is a piece cut or pinched off a plant. Sometimes you can start a new houseplant by cutting a piece off a big one. For most plants, placing the cutting in water makes it grow roots so you can plant it. There are some plants that can be stuck straight in the dirt after being cut and they will grow! If you aren't sure, experiment to see what works.
Christmas Cactus (shown above) can be pinched off a plant and stuck in the dirt. It will begin growing its own roots. Don't forget to water it!
Make this a family activity: Get everyone to make their own cutting and plant it.
This activity promotes awareness of how plants grow.
Sunday
#326: See a Play or Other Dramatic Performance
'Tis the season for lots of plays and other dramatic performances (like the ballet) to be putting on wonderful shows. Check your local theater or newspaper to see what's playing.
Make this a family activity: Take everyone to see the play, ballet, or show.
This activity promotes an appreciation for the arts.
Make this a family activity: Take everyone to see the play, ballet, or show.
This activity promotes an appreciation for the arts.
Saturday
#325: Cookies in a Jar
Pull out your favourite cookie recipe, a large sealer jar (you can also use a spaghetti sauce jar), some ribbon and you have a lovely gift.
1. First, make sure your recipe's dry ingredients will fit in the jar you have chosen. To do that, use your math skills. Add (on paper) up all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, chocolate chips, etc.--NOT eggs, butter, etc.). What does it add up to? Swap it for water. So, if you have 3 cups of dry ingredients, pour 3 cups of water into your jar. If it fits, your dry ingredients will fit.
2. Layer the ingredients into the jar like in the picture above.
3. Put on the lid as well as some ribbon--to pretty it up.
4. Add a tag with baking instructions. Do they need to add an egg, vanilla and butter? Write that on the tag. All they will need to do is add the wet ingredients to your jar's mix and they will be ready to bake cookies!
Hint: If you don't have large sealer jars, you might be able to find some at a second hand store. Make sure you wash them before adding your ingredients.
Make this a family activity: Get help from your parents to make up these gift jars.
This activity promotes math skills.
1. First, make sure your recipe's dry ingredients will fit in the jar you have chosen. To do that, use your math skills. Add (on paper) up all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, chocolate chips, etc.--NOT eggs, butter, etc.). What does it add up to? Swap it for water. So, if you have 3 cups of dry ingredients, pour 3 cups of water into your jar. If it fits, your dry ingredients will fit.
2. Layer the ingredients into the jar like in the picture above.
3. Put on the lid as well as some ribbon--to pretty it up.
4. Add a tag with baking instructions. Do they need to add an egg, vanilla and butter? Write that on the tag. All they will need to do is add the wet ingredients to your jar's mix and they will be ready to bake cookies!
Hint: If you don't have large sealer jars, you might be able to find some at a second hand store. Make sure you wash them before adding your ingredients.
Make this a family activity: Get help from your parents to make up these gift jars.
This activity promotes math skills.
Friday
#324: Gingerbread House
Make a gingerbread house. And eat it! (I believe that gingerbread houses should be gobbled up!)
You will need gingerbread OR graham wafer crackers (you can buy these, which is easier), royal icing (you can find a recipe here--you also might be able to buy some from a bakery or find mix in a grocery store), candies, a plate and a knife to spread the icing.
Use the icing as glue to hold pieces of graham wafer crackers (or gingerbread) together to make a house shape. Decorate it with pieces of candy.
Take a picture and then eat it!
Enjoy!
Make this a family activity: Build one large gingerbread house together or make small, individual houses.
This activity promotes creativity and a little bit of baking skills.
You will need gingerbread OR graham wafer crackers (you can buy these, which is easier), royal icing (you can find a recipe here--you also might be able to buy some from a bakery or find mix in a grocery store), candies, a plate and a knife to spread the icing.
Use the icing as glue to hold pieces of graham wafer crackers (or gingerbread) together to make a house shape. Decorate it with pieces of candy.
Take a picture and then eat it!
Enjoy!
Make this a family activity: Build one large gingerbread house together or make small, individual houses.
This activity promotes creativity and a little bit of baking skills.
Thursday
#323: War (Card Game)
To play the card game 'War,' you will need 2 decks of playing cards and two players.
The rules for War:
Each player gets a deck of cards (make sure you shuffle them well). Players face each other at a table or sitting on the floor. At the same time, each player takes the top card off their deck and places it face up. Whichever player has the highest card wins the other person’s card. (Aces are the highest card. Then kings, queens, and Jacks. So, it goes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace.)
For example: Jo has a 9 and Sally has an ace. Sally wins Jo’s 9.
If both players deal the same card, there is a tie and players go to war. Each player then deals four cards, face down and off to the side. At the same time, players show the top card off their deck. The highest card wins the war. The win all the cards from that round (the first deal which was tied, both stacks of four face down cards, plus the last two cards that were dealt).
If you go to war and happen to have a tie again, then deal four more cards face down plus one face up. Whoever has the highest face up card, wins ALL the cards from the two wars.
When players reach the end of their deck, they flip over their ‘dealt’ stack and use the cards they have won as their new deck. When one player runs out of cards completely, the game is over. It can take a really long time!
Make this a family activity: Have a tournament where the winners play against each other to have a champion.
This activity promotes math skills.
The rules for War:
Each player gets a deck of cards (make sure you shuffle them well). Players face each other at a table or sitting on the floor. At the same time, each player takes the top card off their deck and places it face up. Whichever player has the highest card wins the other person’s card. (Aces are the highest card. Then kings, queens, and Jacks. So, it goes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace.)
For example: Jo has a 9 and Sally has an ace. Sally wins Jo’s 9.
If both players deal the same card, there is a tie and players go to war. Each player then deals four cards, face down and off to the side. At the same time, players show the top card off their deck. The highest card wins the war. The win all the cards from that round (the first deal which was tied, both stacks of four face down cards, plus the last two cards that were dealt).
If you go to war and happen to have a tie again, then deal four more cards face down plus one face up. Whoever has the highest face up card, wins ALL the cards from the two wars.
When players reach the end of their deck, they flip over their ‘dealt’ stack and use the cards they have won as their new deck. When one player runs out of cards completely, the game is over. It can take a really long time!
Make this a family activity: Have a tournament where the winners play against each other to have a champion.
This activity promotes math skills.
Wednesday
#322: Write With Your Opposite Hand
What hand to you write with? Try writing, drawing, printing, and colouring with your other (opposite) hand. That means, if you use your right hand, use your left. If you use your left hand, use your right hand.
Is it hard? Easy?
Make this a family activity: Get the family to try and write their name with their opposite hand. Is anyone ambidextrous? (That means they can use each hand equally well.)
This activity promotes fine motor skills.
Is it hard? Easy?
Make this a family activity: Get the family to try and write their name with their opposite hand. Is anyone ambidextrous? (That means they can use each hand equally well.)
This activity promotes fine motor skills.
Tuesday
#321: Skiing
Monday
#320: Pretend to be a Mime
Mimes cannot talk or make noises. They act out what they are thinking or want to say by using their hands, body and facial expressions. Can you be a mime?
Make this a family activity: Take turns acting things out as a mime, or work together. Try not to laugh!
This activity promotes physical space awareness and creativity.
Make this a family activity: Take turns acting things out as a mime, or work together. Try not to laugh!
This activity promotes physical space awareness and creativity.
Sunday
#319: Improv Freeze Tag
To play Improv Freeze Tag, you will need 5 or more players.
What is Improv or Improvisation? It is a form of drama/acting. Instead of a script telling actors and actresses what to do, the actors and actresses make it all up as they go. It can be silly and also very challenging!
How to play Improv Freeze Tag:
2 or 3 players (actors) stand on ‘stage’ and improvise (make up as they go) a conversation or activity for the audience.
Once the stage actors get going, an audience member can yell, “freeze!” The actors ‘freeze’ and the audience member who yelled ‘freeze’ takes someone's place on stage and the actors, including the new one, continue on. The replaced player joins the audience.
There can be as many ‘freezes’ as the group wants or until the group wants to go with a new idea.
Ideas to get you started: a wedding, breaking up with a boyfriend, grocery shopping, meeting a new friend, digging a hole.
Make this a family activity: This is a fun game to play after supper instead of watching TV.
This activity promotes quick thinking, creativity, and laughs!
What is Improv or Improvisation? It is a form of drama/acting. Instead of a script telling actors and actresses what to do, the actors and actresses make it all up as they go. It can be silly and also very challenging!
How to play Improv Freeze Tag:
2 or 3 players (actors) stand on ‘stage’ and improvise (make up as they go) a conversation or activity for the audience.
Once the stage actors get going, an audience member can yell, “freeze!” The actors ‘freeze’ and the audience member who yelled ‘freeze’ takes someone's place on stage and the actors, including the new one, continue on. The replaced player joins the audience.
There can be as many ‘freezes’ as the group wants or until the group wants to go with a new idea.
Ideas to get you started: a wedding, breaking up with a boyfriend, grocery shopping, meeting a new friend, digging a hole.
Make this a family activity: This is a fun game to play after supper instead of watching TV.
This activity promotes quick thinking, creativity, and laughs!
Saturday
#318: Give Something Away
Find something you do not use anymore or something that doesn’t fit. You might find one item or you might find a whole box!
Hint: Check with your parents before you give it away.
What do you do with the things you want to give away? Check the phone book to see if there are charities in your area who can take the gently used items to resell. The money they get, they use to help people in need. Sometimes, charities run second hand stores where you can drop off the items, some have bins around town, and others will come and pick the items up if you give them a call.
Or maybe you know someone in need who can use the item you want to give away. Or maybe you simply have a cousin or friend who is smaller than you and would love that sweater you've outgrown.
Make this a family activity: Clear out the closets! Everyone has to fill a bag.
This activity promotes tidying skills and sharing.
Hint: Check with your parents before you give it away.
What do you do with the things you want to give away? Check the phone book to see if there are charities in your area who can take the gently used items to resell. The money they get, they use to help people in need. Sometimes, charities run second hand stores where you can drop off the items, some have bins around town, and others will come and pick the items up if you give them a call.
Or maybe you know someone in need who can use the item you want to give away. Or maybe you simply have a cousin or friend who is smaller than you and would love that sweater you've outgrown.
Make this a family activity: Clear out the closets! Everyone has to fill a bag.
This activity promotes tidying skills and sharing.
Friday
#317: Hot Potato
To play Hot Potato, you will need 4 or more players.
The rule for Hot Potato are:
One player is a leader who stands with their back to the group. The other players stand close together and pass a ‘potato’. (The ‘potato’ can be a ball or teddy bear, it doesn't have to be a potato.) When the leader says ‘potato,’ the player holding the potato is out. Keep playing until one player is left. If the potato is in the air when the leader says ‘potato,’ nobody is out.
Make this a family activity: You can play this game to decide who opens a present next, who gets to go first when you start a new game, or just for fun.
This activity promotes eye-hand coordination.
The rule for Hot Potato are:
One player is a leader who stands with their back to the group. The other players stand close together and pass a ‘potato’. (The ‘potato’ can be a ball or teddy bear, it doesn't have to be a potato.) When the leader says ‘potato,’ the player holding the potato is out. Keep playing until one player is left. If the potato is in the air when the leader says ‘potato,’ nobody is out.
Make this a family activity: You can play this game to decide who opens a present next, who gets to go first when you start a new game, or just for fun.
This activity promotes eye-hand coordination.
Thursday
#316: Butterfly
Make a very easy, beautiful butterfly.
You will need: a white paper coffee filter, washable markers, a black pipe cleaner, scissors, spray bottle that can mist water, and two pieces of paper towel.
1. Cut your pipe cleaner in half (you need a piece about 4-5 inches long). Set it aside.
2. Colour the filter with the markers. You don't need to cover the whole filter with colour.
3. Hold the coloured filter over the paper towel (to catch any drips that might happen) and mist the filter with water (using the spray bottle). Make sure you get the whole filter wet (but not soaked). The marker's colour should be a bit runny.
4. Make one twist in the middle of the filter to make two wings. (See above photo.) Wrap your pipe cleaner around the middle of your filter (the twist), leaving the two ends sticking up to make antennas.
5. Lay the butterfly flat on a dry piece of paper towel. In about an hour, it should be dry.
Variations: Glue a magnet to the back of the butterfly to make it a magnet.
Make this a family activity: Get everyone to make a butterfly. Hang them on a piece of fishing line and you have a butterfly family decoration.
This activity promotes colour mixing knowledge.
You will need: a white paper coffee filter, washable markers, a black pipe cleaner, scissors, spray bottle that can mist water, and two pieces of paper towel.
1. Cut your pipe cleaner in half (you need a piece about 4-5 inches long). Set it aside.
2. Colour the filter with the markers. You don't need to cover the whole filter with colour.
3. Hold the coloured filter over the paper towel (to catch any drips that might happen) and mist the filter with water (using the spray bottle). Make sure you get the whole filter wet (but not soaked). The marker's colour should be a bit runny.
4. Make one twist in the middle of the filter to make two wings. (See above photo.) Wrap your pipe cleaner around the middle of your filter (the twist), leaving the two ends sticking up to make antennas.
5. Lay the butterfly flat on a dry piece of paper towel. In about an hour, it should be dry.
Variations: Glue a magnet to the back of the butterfly to make it a magnet.
Make this a family activity: Get everyone to make a butterfly. Hang them on a piece of fishing line and you have a butterfly family decoration.
This activity promotes colour mixing knowledge.
Wednesday
#315: Snow fort / Igloo
Is there snow outside? Bundle up and go outside and build a snow fort or igloo.
If the snow is hard and crusty on the top layer, carve out blocks using your hands as if they were knives. Stack the blocks up to make walls for your fort.
Make this a family activity: Bring the whole family outside to make forts. If you make two, the two forts can have snowball fights. (Hide in your own fort and throw snowballs at the other fort.)
This activity promotes math and physics skills as well as being physical active.
If the snow is hard and crusty on the top layer, carve out blocks using your hands as if they were knives. Stack the blocks up to make walls for your fort.
Make this a family activity: Bring the whole family outside to make forts. If you make two, the two forts can have snowball fights. (Hide in your own fort and throw snowballs at the other fort.)
This activity promotes math and physics skills as well as being physical active.
Tuesday
#314: Make a Fort
Grab sheets, blankets, cushions and make a fort!
Couch cushions make good walls for a fort. Use chairs to hold up a sheet to be your ceiling. You can also prop a broom under a sheet to hold the middle up if it sags.
Make this a family activity: Get your parents to help make a big family-sized fort. Maybe you can even convince them to eat supper in it!
This activity promotes math and physics skills.
Couch cushions make good walls for a fort. Use chairs to hold up a sheet to be your ceiling. You can also prop a broom under a sheet to hold the middle up if it sags.
Make this a family activity: Get your parents to help make a big family-sized fort. Maybe you can even convince them to eat supper in it!
This activity promotes math and physics skills.
Monday
#313: Make a Scrapbook
Make a scrapbook. It can be fancy, or simple.
Take an unlined notebook and glue or tape items into your book. They can be photographs, mementos (like ticket stubs, invitations, or pretty much anything you can stick to the page), magazine or newspaper clippings (maybe articles or pictures of your sports team or someone you admire). If you have scrapbooking supplies (special cutouts, ribbons, lettering, paper, etc--available in most crafting stores), you will can decorate the pages to make them a bit fancier.
For example: My brother made a scrapbook of a runner he admired. A friend makes one with pictures of special events like birthdays and other celebrations. And I used to make one of things I found in magazines that I liked (articles, pictures and more). Mine was a real mishmash of everything!
Make this a family activity: Have everyone in the family start their own scrapbook or work on one together.
This activity promotes creativity, spatial awareness as layouts are created and fine motor skills.
Take an unlined notebook and glue or tape items into your book. They can be photographs, mementos (like ticket stubs, invitations, or pretty much anything you can stick to the page), magazine or newspaper clippings (maybe articles or pictures of your sports team or someone you admire). If you have scrapbooking supplies (special cutouts, ribbons, lettering, paper, etc--available in most crafting stores), you will can decorate the pages to make them a bit fancier.
For example: My brother made a scrapbook of a runner he admired. A friend makes one with pictures of special events like birthdays and other celebrations. And I used to make one of things I found in magazines that I liked (articles, pictures and more). Mine was a real mishmash of everything!
Make this a family activity: Have everyone in the family start their own scrapbook or work on one together.
This activity promotes creativity, spatial awareness as layouts are created and fine motor skills.
Sunday
#312: Decorate a Christmas Tree/or For the Holidays
What do you celebrate in December?
Help someone decorate for the upcoming holidays. You can decorate for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, or another holiday.
Make this a family activity: Sing songs and get ready for the holidays.
This activity promotes a sense of tradition, family, belonging, and personal history.
Help someone decorate for the upcoming holidays. You can decorate for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, or another holiday.
Make this a family activity: Sing songs and get ready for the holidays.
This activity promotes a sense of tradition, family, belonging, and personal history.
Saturday
#311: Catch Snowflakes on Your Tongue
This is a hard one. Can you catch a snowflake on your tongue? What makes this one so tricky is that your mouth is warm and so is your breath. Before that cold, little snowflake can land on your tongue, it melts!
Hint: The really big, fluffy flakes are great for catching on your tongue. Sometimes you can feel them land before they melt.
Make this a family activity: See if anyone can catch a snowflake.
This activity promotes coordination, science knowledge (temperature, melting point, solid/liquid states).
Hint: The really big, fluffy flakes are great for catching on your tongue. Sometimes you can feel them land before they melt.
Make this a family activity: See if anyone can catch a snowflake.
This activity promotes coordination, science knowledge (temperature, melting point, solid/liquid states).
Friday
#310: Write a Letter to Santa Claus
Write a letter to Santa. Tell him how you've been doing and let him know what you would like for Christmas. If you write him now, he might even have time to write you back!
If you want to mail your letter to Santa (don't forget to include your mailing address so he can mail his letter to you):
Santa’s Canadian mailing address:
Santa Claus
The North Pole, Canada
HOH OHO
Santa’s American (United States) mailing address:
North Pole Christmas Cancellation
Postmaster
5400 Mail Trail
Fairbanks AK 99709-9998
Note: You don't have to mail your letter to Santa, you can also leave it by milk and cookies on Christmas Eve and he'll read it when he stops by to fill your stocking.
Make this a family activity: I don't think you are ever too old to write a nice letter to Santa.
This activity promotes the spirit of Christmas and giving as well as literacy skills.
If you want to mail your letter to Santa (don't forget to include your mailing address so he can mail his letter to you):
Santa’s Canadian mailing address:
Santa Claus
The North Pole, Canada
HOH OHO
Santa’s American (United States) mailing address:
North Pole Christmas Cancellation
Postmaster
5400 Mail Trail
Fairbanks AK 99709-9998
Note: You don't have to mail your letter to Santa, you can also leave it by milk and cookies on Christmas Eve and he'll read it when he stops by to fill your stocking.
Make this a family activity: I don't think you are ever too old to write a nice letter to Santa.
This activity promotes the spirit of Christmas and giving as well as literacy skills.
Thursday
#309: Look at the World Upside Down
Get yourself upside down. Now look at the world. Are you inside? Do the doorjambs look strange? Are you outside? Do the trees look odd?
Make this a family activity: Get the whole family hanging their head off the couch or bed and looking at things upside down.
This activity promotes learning about different perspectives.
Make this a family activity: Get the whole family hanging their head off the couch or bed and looking at things upside down.
This activity promotes learning about different perspectives.
Wednesday
#308: Practice Playing an Instrument
Tuesday
#307: Find a New Way to Lace Up Your Shoes
Tired of the way you tie your shoes or the way you have them laced up? Try a new way!
If you don't know more ways to lace your shoes and want some ideas, check out your public library's craft section, or do some research online.
Make this a family activity: Teach each other different ways to do up laces.
This activity promotes coordination and spatial awareness.
If you don't know more ways to lace your shoes and want some ideas, check out your public library's craft section, or do some research online.
Make this a family activity: Teach each other different ways to do up laces.
This activity promotes coordination and spatial awareness.
Monday
#306: Make Your Own Magnet
There are many different ways to make your own magnets.
If you are good with computers and have a printer, you can buy a magnet sheet at a stationary store and print directly onto it using your home printer. This is nice if you like to make drawings on the computer or if you have digital pictures you would like to print onto magnets.
If you want to get a bit more crafty, re-cover old, flat magnets (or buy some). Glue pictures, drawings, funny sayings, feathers, and well, just about anything onto the magnet.
Hint: If you put too many things on the magnet it might get too heavy to stick your fridge.
To make the magnet shown above, you will need paint, a paint brush, white glue, cardstock (thicker paper), scissors, a clothespin, two googly eyes, a black pipe cleaner, a marker, and a magnet.
Cover your hands with paint (you may need help). Make a painty hand print on the cardstock, then make another hand print across from it like in the picture above. Paint the clothespin as well. Allow them to dry. Once dry, cut around the handprints, but do not cut them apart. Glue the clothespin onto the cardstock between the handprints. Point the clothespin down so the clasping part is down. Glue a magnet to the back. Make sure it is big and strong enough to hold your butterfly to the fridge. Glue on the eyes and pipe cleaner antenna. Draw a mouth on your butterfly and it is done!
Make this a family activity: Get the family together to make magnets as gifts or for your own fridge.
This activity promotes creativity.
Sunday
#305: Cross-Country Skiing
Do you have any snow on the ground? Go cross-country skiing. Don't have skis? No problem, ski shops sometimes rent skis as do some sporting good stores or recreation facilities. Look around and see what you can find.
Make this a family activity: This is a great way to get the family outside and moving. It's also a great way to see nature in the winter. Can you spot any animal tracks?
This activity promotes coordination.
Make this a family activity: This is a great way to get the family outside and moving. It's also a great way to see nature in the winter. Can you spot any animal tracks?
This activity promotes coordination.
Saturday
#304: Create Your Own Placemat or Coaster
To make your own placement or coaster, you will need: paper and pens, markers or paint.
You can make a placemat or coaster (sits under a cup so it doesn't wreck the coffee table) on ordinary paper with crayons, paints, pens or pencil crayons. You can also stick stickers, glue pictures or other things to your placemat. If you laminate (sealed in plastic) your placemat at an office supply store, you can wipe it if you spill on it.
Hint: Try and keep your placemat thin. If it is too thick, you won’t be able to laminate it.
P.S. These can make a great gift.
Make this a family activity: Get the family together to make their own placemat or coaster. You can make them with a theme for special occasions like birthdays, Christmas, or simply because it's the weekend!
This activity promotes creativity and fine motor skills.
You can make a placemat or coaster (sits under a cup so it doesn't wreck the coffee table) on ordinary paper with crayons, paints, pens or pencil crayons. You can also stick stickers, glue pictures or other things to your placemat. If you laminate (sealed in plastic) your placemat at an office supply store, you can wipe it if you spill on it.
Hint: Try and keep your placemat thin. If it is too thick, you won’t be able to laminate it.
P.S. These can make a great gift.
Make this a family activity: Get the family together to make their own placemat or coaster. You can make them with a theme for special occasions like birthdays, Christmas, or simply because it's the weekend!
This activity promotes creativity and fine motor skills.
Friday
#303: Tracing
There are many different things you can trace and many different ways to trace them. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Trace your hands or feet. Place your foot or hand on a piece of paper, then move your pencil along the edge of your hand, drawing it's shape on the paper.
Trace a picture. Place a blank piece of paper over the picture you want to trace, then hold both against a window so light shows through the picture as well as your paper so you can see the lines of the picture you want to trace. Now, go over the picture's lines on your piece of paper. (Keeping your picture and paper to the window.)
Chalk Tracers. Take a dark piece of construction paper and place a plastic tracer toy on it (you can also use things you may find around the house like coins or pieces of cardstock (firm paper used for making cards) cut into different shapes). Using chalk, colour the top of the tracer. Then, gently use a facial tissue to carefully wipe the chalk off the tracer and onto the paper to make streaks in the shape of the tracer. (See picture below.)
Make this a family activity: Trace everyone's hands and see how different they are.
This activity promotes shape awareness and fine motor skills.
Trace your hands or feet. Place your foot or hand on a piece of paper, then move your pencil along the edge of your hand, drawing it's shape on the paper.
Trace a picture. Place a blank piece of paper over the picture you want to trace, then hold both against a window so light shows through the picture as well as your paper so you can see the lines of the picture you want to trace. Now, go over the picture's lines on your piece of paper. (Keeping your picture and paper to the window.)
Chalk Tracers. Take a dark piece of construction paper and place a plastic tracer toy on it (you can also use things you may find around the house like coins or pieces of cardstock (firm paper used for making cards) cut into different shapes). Using chalk, colour the top of the tracer. Then, gently use a facial tissue to carefully wipe the chalk off the tracer and onto the paper to make streaks in the shape of the tracer. (See picture below.)
Make this a family activity: Trace everyone's hands and see how different they are.
This activity promotes shape awareness and fine motor skills.
Thursday
#302: Make a Centerpiece
Happy Thanksgiving to the Americans out there.
A centerpiece is something you place in the middle of a table for decoration. There are hundreds of different ideas and types of centerpieces. What do you think would look nice? Something made of flowers? Pine cones? Wood? Paper? Be creative. If you need ideas or designs, try craft books at your local library.
To make this turkey centerpiece, you will need a half Styrofoam ball, white glue, yarn, feathers, scissors, red and orange pipe cleaners, and googly eyes.
Cut the yarn into strips--they must be long enough to fit over the round part of the ball and reach the flat part on opposite ends. You will need about 40 strips. Lay the strips of yarn in a pile. Take one strand and tie it around the middle of the pile of yarn, holding the strands together. Cover the Styrofoam with glue (but not the flat bottom). Lay the yarn over the glue, spreading the strands out to cover the Styrofoam. Stick the feathers in the Styrofoam, these will be tail feathers. Glue the googly eyes on. The orange pipe cleaner will be a beak for your turkey. Cut the pipe cleaner to be about an inch long. Fold it in half and stick the two ends into the Styrofoam to make a small beak. Then, cut a small piece off the red to be the turkey's funny bit of skin that hangs down under its beak. Stick in into the Styrofoam under the beak and you are done.
Very nice!
Make this a family activity: Get everyone to make a turkey to sit in front of their plate at Thanksgiving.
This activity promotes creativity.
A centerpiece is something you place in the middle of a table for decoration. There are hundreds of different ideas and types of centerpieces. What do you think would look nice? Something made of flowers? Pine cones? Wood? Paper? Be creative. If you need ideas or designs, try craft books at your local library.
To make this turkey centerpiece, you will need a half Styrofoam ball, white glue, yarn, feathers, scissors, red and orange pipe cleaners, and googly eyes.
Cut the yarn into strips--they must be long enough to fit over the round part of the ball and reach the flat part on opposite ends. You will need about 40 strips. Lay the strips of yarn in a pile. Take one strand and tie it around the middle of the pile of yarn, holding the strands together. Cover the Styrofoam with glue (but not the flat bottom). Lay the yarn over the glue, spreading the strands out to cover the Styrofoam. Stick the feathers in the Styrofoam, these will be tail feathers. Glue the googly eyes on. The orange pipe cleaner will be a beak for your turkey. Cut the pipe cleaner to be about an inch long. Fold it in half and stick the two ends into the Styrofoam to make a small beak. Then, cut a small piece off the red to be the turkey's funny bit of skin that hangs down under its beak. Stick in into the Styrofoam under the beak and you are done.
Very nice!
Make this a family activity: Get everyone to make a turkey to sit in front of their plate at Thanksgiving.
This activity promotes creativity.
Wednesday
#301: Spend a Million Dollars
Come on, I know you wanna. How far does a million dollars go? Can you spend a million dollars ($1, 000, 000)?
Get out a calculator, a few catalogues (for prices and ideas) and see how much you could buy if you had a million dollars. Is it hard? Is it easy?
Hmmm... how much does a swimming pool and a convertible cost?
Make this a family activity: See what everyone buys.
This activity promotes math skills.
Get out a calculator, a few catalogues (for prices and ideas) and see how much you could buy if you had a million dollars. Is it hard? Is it easy?
Hmmm... how much does a swimming pool and a convertible cost?
Make this a family activity: See what everyone buys.
This activity promotes math skills.
Tuesday
#300: Blow Bubbles in Your Drink
Grab a straw and something to drink. Blow through your straw to make bubbles. How many bubbles can you make? Can you make the bubbles come all the way up to the top of your glass?
Hint: Milk makes great bubbles.
Make this a family activity: Give everyone a straw and blow crazy bubbles.
This activity promotes breath control.
Hint: Milk makes great bubbles.
Make this a family activity: Give everyone a straw and blow crazy bubbles.
This activity promotes breath control.
Monday
#299: Puppet Show
Sunday
#298: Indoor Climbing Wall
It's time to get out of the house and get active. Do you like to climb things? How about an indoor climbing wall? They are a good place to learn to climb safely and often have lessons available as well as equipment to rent. Plus, it doesn't matter if it is cold, windy, snowy, or rainy outside, because you'll be inside!
Make this a family activity: The more people climbing, the merrier.
This activity promotes responsibility (when belaying for others) as well as strength and courage.
Make this a family activity: The more people climbing, the merrier.
This activity promotes responsibility (when belaying for others) as well as strength and courage.
Saturday
#297: Invite Friends for a Sleepover
Stay up all night! Well, maybe not. Invite friends over to stay the night. Camp out in the living room in sleeping bags, watch movies, play games and have a few laughs.
Make this a family activity: Friends can't come over? Get your family to have a sleepover camp-out in the living room.
This activity promotes independence and social and hosting skills.
Make this a family activity: Friends can't come over? Get your family to have a sleepover camp-out in the living room.
This activity promotes independence and social and hosting skills.
Friday
#296: Snorkeling
While it might be a bit cold in the ocean or lake right now, check out the swimming pools. Put on your snorkel gear and check out what the bottom of the pool looks like.
Make this a family activity: See if you can find snorkel gear for the whole family, or take turns.
This activity promotes curiosity, breath control and swimming skills.
Make this a family activity: See if you can find snorkel gear for the whole family, or take turns.
This activity promotes curiosity, breath control and swimming skills.
Thursday
#295: Buy Something Strange at a Second Hand Store and Wear it All Day
Take a peek in your local second hand / used clothing store. Is there something strange and wonderful that you would like? Buy it and wear it all day.
Make this a family activity: Everyone picks one thing each and wears it all day. Maybe you could find something that has a theme (like safari hats) and pretend you are all on a safari.
This activity promotes self-expression, free play and creativity.
Make this a family activity: Everyone picks one thing each and wears it all day. Maybe you could find something that has a theme (like safari hats) and pretend you are all on a safari.
This activity promotes self-expression, free play and creativity.
Wednesday
#294: Make Shadow Puppets / Make Shadow Figures
Shine a light against a wall in a dark or dimly lit room. (You can use a flashlight or lamp.) Hold your hands or body between the light and the wall. You will create a shadow on the wall. See what shapes you can make by moving your body or hands/fingers. Can you make rabbit ears?
Make this a family activity: Put on a shadow play or make up a story to go with your shadows and what they are doing.
This activity promotes creativity and spatial awareness.
Make this a family activity: Put on a shadow play or make up a story to go with your shadows and what they are doing.
This activity promotes creativity and spatial awareness.
Tuesday
#293: Count the Pictures/Paintings in Your House
Look at the walls in your house. Do you have posters, pictures, or paintings on your walls? Count them! You can count pictures that aren't on the walls, too.
Make this a family activity: Everyone counts and sees if everyone got the same number.
This activity promotes math and visual identification skills.
Make this a family activity: Everyone counts and sees if everyone got the same number.
This activity promotes math and visual identification skills.
Monday
#292: See If Your Name is a Website
Type your name into a search engine and add things like .org, .com., and .ca to it to see if there is a website. For example: JeanOram.com.
Hint: If you type your name directly into your browser's address bar, you could end up going to a ‘bad’ site. Check it out on a search engine first—just to be safe.
Make this a family activity: Check out everyone's names.
This activity promotes global awareness.
Hint: If you type your name directly into your browser's address bar, you could end up going to a ‘bad’ site. Check it out on a search engine first—just to be safe.
Make this a family activity: Check out everyone's names.
This activity promotes global awareness.
Sunday
#291: Listen to Music
Turn on the radio, mp3 player, CD player, record player, tape deck, or whatever you've got. Listen to the music and see what happens!
Make this a family activity: Get the people in your family to share their favourite music with you.
This activity promotes music appreciation which can improve math abilities.
Make this a family activity: Get the people in your family to share their favourite music with you.
This activity promotes music appreciation which can improve math abilities.
Saturday
#290: Daydream
Ahhhh... sit back, relax, and daydream. A daydream is like dreaming in the day while you are awake. Your imagination takes over and before you know it, your mind is making all kinds of stories and 'dreams' to keep you entertained.
I don't really recommend daydreaming in school though--you might get in trouble for not paying attention!
Make this a family activity: Everyone sits back and daydreams, then shares their daydreams with everyone.
This activity promotes self-awareness and creativity.
This activity promotes self-awareness and creativity.
Friday
#289: Martial Arts
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