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Tie Dye

Nature Resist Tie Dye Shirts

It’s summer, which means many of us are enjoying the beautiful weather. Take advantage of a sunny day and create a groovy artwork inspired by the great outdoors

For this activity you will need the following items:

  • Poster Board or Water Color Paper
  • Rocks, Leaves, Branches, and Other Natural Items Gathered from Outside 
  • Food Coloring 
  • Cardboard 
  • Spray Bottles
  • Water

Now here’s what you do: 

  1. Explore nature as a family. Gather rocks, leaves, branches, etc,  from your backyard or a family walk. 
  2. Fill a few empty spray bottles with water. 
  3. Add 2-3 drops of food coloring to the spray bottles. Twist and close the tops of the bottles and gently shake. 
  4. Layout a piece of cardboard in a flat spot outside. Place your poster board or watercolor paper in the middle of the cardboard. 
  5. Arrange your items from nature on the poster board or the watercolor paper exactly the way you want them. 
  6. Spray the mixture of colored water over the paper and natural objects. 
  7. Allow everything to dry before removing the natural objects. What do you see? 

 

Share your artwork with us! You can also do something similar with tie-dye and a plain t-shirt. What items did you gather from nature to use and why? 

 

Inspiration: ThePinterestedParent.com

Home Fun vid 5

Home Fun Episode 5

Jay and Abby, with help from Drew, take dirty things — our teeth, our water — and make them clean with two activities about brushing and filtration!

 

Exploding Bags

Exploding Bags

Ready for a messy activity? Make sure to take this experiment outside!

For this activity you will need the following items:

Now here’s what you do:

  1. Grab one piece of paper towel and place 1.5 Tablespoons of baking soda on it. Fold so baking soda does not fall out.
  2. Place ½ Cup of vinegar in the bag. Add food coloring if you want a colorful explosion!
  3. Now, outside, place your package of baking soda inside the sandwich bag. QUICKLY seal the bag and back away. 
  4. What is happening in the bag? What do you see?? What happens?
  5. Want to make a bigger explosion? Use a smaller bag with the same measurements OR the same size bag with double the measurements. 

 

Inspiration: https://buggyandbuddy.com

More about: Acid and bases (and a super cool activity)

Home-Fun-vid-4

Home Fun Episode 4

Join Amber, Abby, and Drew for two activities based on our Seed to Shelf exhibits: “Egg Carton Greenhouse” and “Make a Salad!”

 

Pasta Mandala

Pasta Mandalas

Grab some different types of pasta to create a piece of art. Click the link below to learn more about symmetry.

For this activity you will need the following items:

  • Colored Pasta- various shapes (You can purchase online OR make your own. Click the link below to learn how!)
  • Paper Plate
  • White Glue

Now here’s what you do:

  1. Symmetry is when something is the exact same on all sides. Examples of shapes that are symmetrical: heart, triangle, square.
  2. Put glue all over your paper plate.
  3. Now place a pasta shape in the center of the plate
  4. Use other shapes to make a circle or design around the first piece of pasta.
  5. Continue making layers of designs until you reach the outside of your plate. 
  6. Let dry before moving!

 

We’d love to see what you made! Show us in the comments!

Inspiration: https://artfulparent.com

Also: Intro to Symmetry

Magnet Scavenger Hunt

Magnet Scavenger Hunt

Take a magnet on a hunt to see what it’s attracted to. What similarities did you find?

For this activity you will need the following items:

Now here’s what you do:

  1. Print the magnet scavenger hunt sheet above and grab a magnet and something to write with
  2. Put your magnet next to the items on the sheet. Is the magnet attracted to the item? If it it, make a mark in the blank space
  3. Look at the items your magnet was attracted to. Are there similarities?

For more information about magnets, watch this video


Inspiration: https://inspirationlaboratories.com

Magnet Painting

Magnet Painting

Have you ever tried painting with… magnets? Check out this activity for a unique way to make a piece of art. What designs can you make?

For this activity you will need the following items:

  • Magnet- preferably one with a handle
  • Thick paper
  • Paint (Tempera is easiest to clean up)
  • Various metal items like ball bearings, springs & screws
  • Plastic container for paper to fit inside
  • Tongs (to help remove paint covered paper)

Now here’s what you do:

  1. Place your paper in the plastic container so it lays flat. You may need to cut the paper to fit.
  2. Dip a metal item in paint and place inside the container on paper. OR place drops of paint on paper and put metal time inside the container. 
  3. Hold the container slightly above the table (with one hand or have an adult hold it for you. 
  4. Place your magnet UNDER the container and start moving it.
  5. What do you observe?
  6. What happens if you place a marble or non-metal item in the container?
  7. Do different metal items make different designs?

Tell us what you used to make your painting! We would love to see it in the comments!


Inspiration: https://leftbraincraftbrain.com

Rain in a Jar

Rain in a Jar

Rain in a Jar

 

Use everyday activities to make it “rain” in a jar!

 

For this activity you will need the following items:

  • Food Coloring
  • Shaving Cream
  • Water
  • Clear Jar or Glass

 

Now here’s what you do:

  1. Fill one container with water leaving a bit of space for your shaving cream/foam at the top. 
  2. Then, add shaving cream to the top. 
  3. I let the shaving cream sit for around 2-5 minutes so it gets well adjusted to the water.
  4. Start by adding food coloring to the top of the shaving cream and watch! 
  5. The more you squeeze colors, the more the shaving cream (the cloud) becomes heavier and in turn causes the colors to come through it and “rain” in the jar. 
  6. Talk to your child about what they observed and how they think it “rained”

Let us know how the experiment went in the comments!

Inspiration: https://activelittles.com/rain-cloud-in-a-jar-stem-experiment-for-kids/

Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Make Chalk Paint

Ready to spread some love? Make chalk with simple ingredients and create works of art for all to see!

For this activity you will need the following items:

  • 1/3 cup baking soda
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • 3/4-1 cup water
  • food coloring
  • squeeze bottles (or paint brushes)

Now here’s what you do:

  1. Mix the water and baking soda together completely
  2. Add cornstarch. Stirring may be slightly difficult at times- just keep stirring!
  3. Once everything is mixed, add to a squeeze bottles
  4. Add food coloring and mix to desired colors
  5. CREATE! 

We can’t wait to see what messages of love you spread! Show us your art. 


Inspiration: https://livingwellmom.com

Stamp Creations

Stamp Creations

Use TP or paper towel rolls to create tools to make art. 

For this activity you will need the following items:

  • TP or Paper Towel Rolls
  • Tempera Paint
  • Construction Paper
  • Tissue Paper
  • Paper
  • Scissors
  • Optional: paint brushes

Now here’s what you do:

  1. Use scissors to cut lines up the cardboard tube.
    1. Shapes to consider: small lines, thick lines, triangles, wavy lines
    2. Do NOT cut the pieces off of the roll
  2. Fan the cut pieces out from the roll
  3. Either dip or use a brush to put paint on the pieces you fanned
  4. Hold the uncut part of the roll and press the painted ends to the paper.
  5. What kind of shape did your stamp make? Can you make more and different shapes?
  6. Now, what can you turn your artwork into? A flower? A tree? An abstract piece of art? Use the construction paper and tissue paper to complete your picture.

Don’t forget to show us your art! We can’t wait to see what you made. 


Inspiration: http://taminglittlemonsters.com

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