February 20: John Glenn Becomes First Man to Orbit Moon (1962)

image from Wikipedia.org

To celebrate the day, kids can play this space-themed game:

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Satellite

Materials:

• A chair

Directions:

1. The astronaut begins in the middle of the play area touching a chair (a spaceship).
2. The astronaut can leave the spaceship for only ten seconds at a time before he/she must go back for air.
3. During the ten seconds, the astronaut tries to capture as many satellites (other players) as possible.
4. Any satellite tagged by the astronaut goes to the chair and becomes another astronaut.
5. If an astronaut fails to make it back to the ship in ten seconds, then one satellite must be given up.
6. Play continues untl only one satellite remains. This person becomes the new astronaut.

Source(s): Toolbox Training’s book 100 Game Activities for Kids (activity A14)

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Check out the full February calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

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May 19: Ringling brothers founded their circus (1884).

image from JoyBaker.com

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The Circus Game

Materials:

• Hula hoops

Directions:

1. One person is picked as the lion tamer.
2. This person has a hula hoop.
3. Another person is picked to be a clown.
4. The clown tries to tag the players (lions).
5. Tagged lions must sit down.
6. The lion tamer can bring the hula hoop to the lions. Once a lion passes through the hoop, it can return to play.

Source(s): 100 Game Activities for Kids (activity A7)

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Check out the full May calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

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Hundreds of Simple Activities for Kids

On Saturday, I conducted a workshop designed to provide families with ideas for simple activities to do at home. Thanks to the 40+ adults and kids who participated and thanks to Blue Valley Library for hosting the event.

Playing off Toolbox Training's series of 100 Activities for Kids books, the room was set up in six areas, each with various activities which could be done cheaply at home. Participants could engage in the activities and write down additional ideas. Here's the ideas which were written down:

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ART:

• Keep a tub of basic supplies on hand
• Keep a tub of recyclable materials
• Provide a variety of kinds of paper
• Create and have fun!

Check out Toolbox Training's book 100 Art Activities for Kids for more ideas:

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COOKING:

• Texture tub
• Let kids use real dishes instead of play dishes
• Include empty food containers with kids' dishes
• Kids can serve adults and tell what foods they are serving
• Kids can help measure ingredients in recipes

Check out Toolbox Training's book 100 Cooking Activities for Kids for more ideas:

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DRAMA:

• Create themed prop boxes
• Keep a tub of dress-up clothes
• Keep old Halloween costumes

Check out Toolbox Training's book 100 Drama Activities for Kids for more ideas:

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GAMES:

• Keep leftover game pieces to make new games
• Keep a tub of travel-size games
• Encourage kids to make up their own games
• Let kids make up their own rules for familiar board games

Check out Toolbox Training's book 100 Games Activities for Kids for more ideas:

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MUSIC:

• Have kids illustrate lyrics to songs
• Keep a crate of instruments on hand
• Make instruments

Check out Toolbox Training's book 100 Music Activities for Kids for more ideas:

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SCIENCE:

• Find books with animals' lengths and weights and then use yardsticks and scales to measure them
• Play a game of trying to identify leaves and rocks
• Put together a kit of basic science experiment tools (magnifying glass, ruler, string, graph paper, etc.)
• Put bugs, dirt, and grass in a jar to observe
• Gather unusual objects and let kids guess their purpose

Check out Toolbox Training's book 100 Science Activities for Kids for more ideas:

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