Welcome back to the MRASP AHL Blog! We have Madlibs with Aurora for the Octagon, Madlibs with Meg for 4/5ers, and Veronica's Hangout which is open to all! On the blog we're sharing 4 new activities! We have ball and cup games, ways to send super secret messages, paper planes, and a delicious treat!
DIY Ball and Cup Game
Brought To Us By Brendan
Grade Level: K-5
Individual or multiple people: Individual or multiple people
Theme: Using craft materials around the house to practice fine motor skills and create a fun toy to play with using leftover yogurt containers!
Materials:
Empty, cleaned-out yogurt container
Permanent markers/construction paper/clear tape (for decorating the yogurt container)
Bamboo skewer
Ping Pong ball
Yarn or string
Scissors
Duct tape and/or hot glue
Location: Table or any large flat surface usable for crafting
Instructions:
Decorate the outside of the yogurt container however you wish! You can use construction paper and clear tape, plus any Sharpie permanent markers or any other type of marker that won’t rub off the yogurt container.
Pierce the bottom of the cup with the skewer.
Cut a 12-inch piece of yarn and thread it through the bottom hole in the yogurt cup. Tie a large knot in the end of the yarn and hot glue or duct tape the knot to the inside of the cup on the bottom.
Using either hot glue or duct tape (or even a mixture of both if necessary), fasten the other end of the yarn that is hanging down from the bottom of the yogurt cup to the ping pong ball. If you are using hot glue, wait a few minutes for it to dry.
Pierce the side of the yogurt cup with the skewer and push it all the way through the opposite side of the cup.
Cut the sharp end of the skewer off with the scissors and duct tape or hot glue the end in place so that it doesn’t slide back through the inside of the yogurt cup.
Play with your homemade ball and cup game! The object of the game is to gently swing the ball up and into the cup. It's tricky, so it might take many tries before you can get the ball into the cup. Here’s a tip: don’t swing it too quickly or the string will get wound up around the skewer!
Make your own Invisible Ink
With Maisa
Grade Level: K-5
Introduction: Create your own invisible ink to write a secret message using items that you already have at home! Your message won’t be visible to anyone unless they know the trick to revealing it.
Materials:
Half a lemon
Water
Spoon
Bowl
Cotton bud
White paper
Lamp/light bulb OR hair dryer
Instructions:
Squeeze some lemon juice into the bowl and add a few drops of water.
Mix the water and lemon juice with the spoon.
Dip the cotton bud into the mixture and write a message onto the white paper.
Wait for the juice to dry so it becomes completely invisible.
When you are ready to read your secret message or show it to someone else, heat the paper by holding it close to a light bulb or heating it with a blow dryer.
Why does this happen?
Lemon juice is an organic substance that oxidizes and turns brown when heated. Diluting the lemon juice in water makes it very hard to notice when you apply it the paper, no one will be aware of its presence until it is heated and the secret message is revealed. Other substances which work in the same way include orange juice, honey, milk, onion juice, vinegar and wine. Invisible ink can also be made using chemical reactions or by viewing certain liquids under ultraviolet (UV) light.
Paper Airports
By Zack
Paper airplanes can be an exciting indoor activity, they engage both fine and gross motor skills in the folding and throwing of the planes. “Paper airports” can make the activity more engaging, longer lasting, goal driven, and challenging. To make a paper airport one must find household items such as a cushion, towel or even just a piece of paper to act as a landing strip for your airplane.
Grade Level: K-5
Individual or Multiple People: Either
Theme: STEM
The objective of the game is to throw your airplane so that it will land on your landing strip, you can change it as you prefer to make it more or less challenging. Students love to throw paper airplanes, seldom do we consider where (or how well) it lands rather than how far it flies.
Materials:
Paper
Tape (optional)
Coloring materials for the plane
Cushions/Towels/a Chair, something around the house to use as a landing spot
Location:
Paper airplanes work best if you have a hallway or large room in which nothing will get knocked over. This can of course be done outside which gives you more options and can be a safer space for kids and personal belongings. Line up sticks for a runway!
Links and Resources:
This video is a great way to get started on a simple paper airplane.
Crunchy Granola Pretzel Sticks
Cooked Up By Paul
Grade Level: All
Individual or multiple people: Either (with adult supervision)
Theme: Snack time Cooking! Get in the kitchen to cook up your own deliciousness
Materials: Kitchen supplies and ingredients listed below
Location: Kitchen
Links and resources: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/crunchy-granola-pretzel-sticks/
Further instructions or accommodations: As always, make sure to check for any allergies.
Ingredients:
1 package of dark chocolate chips (or any chocolate chips you prefer)
Pretzel rods
1 cup granola
Directions
In a microwave, melt your chocolate chips in a 2 cup glass measuring cup or in a small microwavable bowl
Then stir until it is smooth and pour it into one side of a large shallow dish
Roll each pretzel rod halfway into the chocolate
Allow the excess coating to drip off then sprinkle the pretzel rods with granola
Place your pretzel rods on wax paper until set and then store them in an airtight container
Enjoy!
Keep an eye out for more activity posts later today!
Comments