#243: Make a Mixed Tape, CD, or Playlist

What are your favourite songs? Put them all on one CD, tape or playlist for an mp3 player. You can also make a compilation (group of songs) that is fun to dance to, for a friend, or...whatever you want!


Make this a family activity: Everyone makes a list for someone else in the family.

This activity promotes musical appreciation.

#242: Make Your Own Word Search

To make your own word search, you will need: graph paper, and a pen.

This word search was made with Discovery Education's Puzzlemaker.

Graph paper will help keep your letters evenly spaced. Start by writing in your 'hidden' words (you can write them forwards, backwards, sideways and diagonally), then fill the empty spaces with random letters.

Free internet programs will make word searches for you. Type in the words you want to hide and it organizes and creates a word search for you. Print it out and see if you can find all the words.

Try: www.puzzlemaker.com.


Make this a family activity: Everyone makes a word search, then trades.

This activity promotes literacy, spatial planning skills as well as word identification skills.

#241: No Thumbs

What can you do without thumbs? Have a friend gently tape your thumbs to the side of your hand. Try different things like tying your shoes and writing your name.


Make this a family activity: Have everyone tape down a thumb. See who can do what with no thumbs.

This activity promotes motor skill awareness.

#240: Send a Friend a Text Message, Instant Message or Email

Send a friend or family member a text message, instant message or email. Did you meet a friend over the summer and want to stay in touch? Want to say, 'hi', to your mom or dad? Send them a message to let them know you are thinking of them.


Make this a family activity: Everyone chooses someone outside the family to contact and sends their message.

This activity promotes communication, technology and literary skills.

#239: Look at Things Through a Magnifying Glass

Look at things through a magnifying glass (or microscope if you can get your hands on one). A magnifying glass makes things look bigger and often, you can see things that you wouldn't be able to see with just your eyes.


What would you like to look at? Your toys? Leaves? Grass? Insects? Words in a book? Your own eye (using a mirror)?


Make this a family activity: Everyone collects one interesting thing to look at through the magnifying glass, then everyone shares them, taking turns to look at the items.

This activity promotes visual skills and curiosity.

#238: Staring Contest

Have a staring contest. Find a friend and stare at each other. See who blinks first or looks away.


Make this a family activity: See who can stare the longest.

This activity promotes body language awareness.

#237: Play Catch

Grab a ball, glove and a friend or family member and play catch. How many times can you pass it back and forth without dropping it?


Make this a family activity: Get the whole family out there catching the ball.

This activity promotes eye-hand coordination.