April 12: Space Shuttle Columbia First Launched (1981)

image from Wikipedia.org

Kids can make balloon rockets in honor of the first launch of the space shuttle.

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Balloon Rocket Races

Materials:

• twine or kite string
• straws
• tape
• balloons

Directions:

1. Cut twine or kite string in about 10-foot long pieces.
2. Thread one end of a string through a straw.
3. Pull string tight, taping each end down to different objects. Ideally, one side should be slightly higher than the other.
4. Blow up balloon, but do not tie it.
5. Tape balloon so that it hangs under straw.
6. Let go of mouth of balloon and your rocket should shoot from one end of the string to the other!

Source(s): Toolbox Training’s 100 Construction Activities for Kids (activity N1).

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

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March 13: Planet Uranus Discovered (1781)

image from easyscienceforkids.com

Uranus, one of the bigger planets, was discovered on this day in 1781. How does it stack up in diameter compared to the other planets?

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Planets’ Diameters

Materials:

• Measuring tape
• String
• Ruler
• Sidewalk chalk

Directions:

1. What is the diameter of each planet in our Solar System? Check out EnchantedLearning.com to find out.
2. This is best done outside in a space where you can use sidewalk chalk, but could also be done indoors with string and tape.
3. Try different scales depending on space, but to offer some perspective, if 1 inch equals 1000 miles, Mercury is only three inches across while Jupiter is nearly three feet!
4. To mark a planets’ diameter with chalk, measure a piece of string to HALF the diameter of the planet.
5. Once a piece of string is cut to length, one person needs to hold one end steady while a second person holds the other end.
6. Keeping the string tight, the second person rotates around the first person, tracing a circle with the chalk as he/she moves. This represents the planet’s diameter.
7. Repeat for each planet.

Source(s): Toolbox Training’s book 100 Science Activities for Kids (activity F10).

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

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February 18: Pluto discovered (1925)

image from sciencefiction.com

Pluto was discovered in 1925. When it was still considered a planet, it was the farthest from the sun. This is a good day to explore just how far from the sun each planet is!

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Planets Distances from the Sun

Materials:

• Measuring tape
• String
• Ruler
• Objects to represent planets
• Masking tape
• Marker

Directions:

1. What is the average distance from the sun for each planet in our Solar System? Check out EnchantedLearning.com to see how far each planet is from the sun.
2. You can experiment with scale in different ways depending on space allowed, but to offer some perspective if 1 inch equals 10 million miles, Mercury will be less than six inches from the sun while Pluto would be over 300 feet away!
3. Kids can measure strings to certain lengths to make it easier to quickly figure distances. For example, they can measure out lengths of string to 10 inches, 100 inches, etc. Then they can use a ruler for distances under 10 inches.
4. Use an object to mark each planet. You may opt to just put down a piece of masking tape with the name of the planet written on it.
5. What do kids think once it is done? Did they think the planets would be closer together? Farther apart?

Source(s): Toolbox Training’s book 100 Science Activities for Kids (activity F9).

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

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November 28: Red Planet Day

image from theguardian.com

Since November 28 is Red Planet Day, try out this game about going to Mars.

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Going on a Trip to Mars

Materials:

• none

Directions:

1. Explain to kids that there is a trick to this game and to keep it a secret when they figure it out so it doesn’t spoil the fun for others.
2. The first child (the Martian tour guide) picks a theme and tells only an adult. For example, each person might be required to bring something on the trip to Mars that begins with the same letter as his or her first name (example: “My name is Dave and I’m bringing a dog.”).
3. The tour guide takes his/her turn and then the next child follows suit. If he/she brings an item that fits the tour guide’s critiera, then the tour guide says, “Okay, you can go with me to Mars.”
4. Play continues until all children are able to go on the trip.

Source(s): Toolbox Training’s 100 Game Activities for Kids (activity G5).

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

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June 10: First tornado ever recorded (1682)

image from blog.mint.com

In 1682, the first recorded tornado occurred in New Haven, Connecticut. Kids can make tornadoes to gain a better understanding of how they work.

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Tornadoes

Materials:

• tall, clear plastic jars
• aluminum foil
• clear liquid soap
• water
• food coloring
• teaspoon

Directions:

1. Discuss what a tornado is and if children have ever seen one.
2. Place a teaspoon of clear liquid soap in a plastic jar.
3. Roll foil into 4-6 tight, small balls and place in jar.
4. Fill jar with water.
5. Add 1-2 drops of food coloring.
6. Rotate the jar in a clockwise direction and water will begin swirling.
7. The model represents an actual tornado.

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Source(s): 100 Science Activities for Kids (activity D12).

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

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May 20: Weight and Measure Day

image from easyloss.net

According to Answers.com an international treaty was signed on this day in 1875 to establish the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. It was founded on international territory at Sèvres, France. Here are potential activities to celebrate the day:

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Weighing and Measuring Activities

Materials:

• Rulers
• Tape measures
• Yardsticks
• Scales
• Strong stick
• String
• Cups
• Books on animals’ lengths and weights
• Containers and cups of varying size

Directions:

1. Provide various rulers and scales to let kids do their own weighing and measuring. Kids can guess items’ weight or length.
2. Make a scale with a strong stick, some string, and cups. Tie a string from each end of the stick and attach a cup to the other side. Balance the stick and load materials in the cups.
3. Find books that tell how long different animals are and how much they weigh. How many kids would equal an elephant’s weight? A whale? How many kids would equal a giraffe’s height?
4. Have kids measure off various distances by walking toe-to-toe. They can then measure their feet and figure out how long that means the distance is that they walked.
5. Provide cups and containers of various sizes along with measuring spoons and cups. Let kids compare how same amount of liquid looks different in different-sized containers.

Source(s): Toolbox Training’s book 100 Science Activities for Kids (activities F1-F10).

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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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