summer vacation survival kit - kidscookrealfood.com · children come up with given a few simple...

Summer

Vacation

Survival

Kit

Over 20 field-tested ideas for

those "Mom, I'm bored!" moments

WelcomeSummer is awesome, but sometimes the novelty of summer vacation wears off and boredom

sets in. This guide is for parents and children when sounds of, "There's nothing to do!"

ring through the house on a summer day (or rainy Saturday in April, or visit to the

grandparents' house). Invest half an hour gathering supplies for your kit, and you'll be

ready to grab and go with 20 activities at a moment's notice. No time wasted searching

Pinterest or wondering if you have something you need for an activity.

Step 1. Print

Step 2. Gather

Step 3. Grab

Step 4. Go!

After downloading, print these pages and keep them with

your supplies.

Find a box, basket or shelf to store the necessary supplies

for each activity. Use the Permanent Kit Supply Checklist

to gather items for your kit, things that will be always

there and ready for each activity. Other supplies may be

needed, but they are household items that you can grab

when you need them and wouldn't want tied up in your kit

(like spoons or bowls).

When the first utterance of "Mom, I'm bored!" crosses your

kids' lips, grab the Survival Checklist, choose an activity

and the pertinent supplies and....

You're all set! Now let 'em loose to have some fun!

© 2015 Katie Kimball | kitchenstewardship.com 2

A note to parents:

This kit is designed for kids ages 3-12 and is meant to be the easiest jump start to funever. Once your supplies are collected, you should be able to literally grab an activityand within minutes, be working on something with your child OR have handed it off tothem (for older kids).

The Survival Activity List is also organized by how much you will need to be involved. Ifyou’d like a nice activity WITH your kids, choose from the last third. If you have a busyday planned and need the children occupied, go to the first two sections. Note that forages 3-5, the parent may need to be more involved no matter what section an activity isin.

Many of these activities can be extended by a child’s own creativity – please encouragethis! Children should absolutely be playing with most of the crafts and games here formuch longer that the Survival Activity List would indicate.

Foster learning and growth by asking questions:

“What else can you do with…?”

“Have you thought of…?”

“Would you like to do this yourself/try again?”

“Can you do something differently/better the next time?”

BOTTOM LINE: HAVE FUN (kids and adults) and expect to be amazed with what your

children come up with given a few simple tools and directions! Enjoy!

-Katieformer 3rd grade teacher, mom of 4,home chef and mess maker


Survival Activity List

Here's a quick reference list of all of the activities that are includedin the Summer Survival Kit. Find one that fits any given day!


Survival Activity List (p. 2)

Notes:


Permanent Kit Supply

Checklist After you print, step 2 is to gather supplies. So- here is a list of items to

store together so that you're ready to go when boredom strikes. NOTE: The

number in parentheses refers to the activity number(s), NOT quantities.


Permanent Kit Supply

Checklist (to do)

Notes:


Silly Drawings

Option 1: Behind-the-Back – use the simple drawings provided and try to copy onto

plain paper, drawing behind your back. It’s easiest to sit on the ground on a

hard surface, or perhaps stand by a table if you are tall enough.

Option 2: Hold the pencil or pen between your toes!

Option 3: Use the opposite hand that you usually don’t write or draw with.

Compare with siblings and friends to see who makes the closest drawing or the craziest!

Extensions:

1. Write your name or a note to a friend in one of these crazy ways.

2. Draw with your finger on your friend’s back and see if they can guess what you drew.

3. If you have lots of people, like at a birthday party, sit 4 in a row. The back person

draws on the back of the person in front of him, who tries to draw the same thing on the

back of the next person, and so on. The person in front draws what they think it

should be on paper and compare to the original drawing to see how close they can get!

(It's "telephone" meets "Pictionary.")

Instructions

In the kit: Grab now:

No. of Kids:

If you gathered supplies in

advance, you have

everything you need!

Activity 1:

Age Range:

Time Required:unlimited

7 and up

5-30min

drawing paper

simple line drawings


Marshmallow &

Toothpick Scupltures

Time to build!

Using mini marshmallows and sturdy toothpicks, create structures in as many creative

ways as you can. (Recommendation: Build on a cookie sheet or cutting board to have a

large surface that is easy to clean up after the stickiness is through.)

Once the children have explored building with these materials on their own for a

while, challenge each other:

Instructions


No. of Kids:

mini marshmallows

toothpicks

a cookie sheet or a cutting

board

Activity 2:

Age Range:


3 and up

5-30min

Who can build their name?

Who can make the tallest tower in one minute?

Who can build with the most marshmallows in one minute?

Who can make an arch?

Who can make the tallest tower that stands on its own (no time limit)?


Mad Libs

The child has to understand what a noun, verb and

adjective are (or be able to give you what you ask for

when you explain it). The words go in the blanks

without reading the story, and then you (or the child)

read the story with the silly words in place.

Can be hours of fun for children into words and humor!

Instructions


No. of Kids:

printed Mad Libs pencils

Activity 3:

Age Range:

Time Required:1-4+

8 and up

10 min-?

Grammar Refresher!

Noun: person, place or thing

Verb: action or “doing” word

Adjective: describes a noun

Adverb: describes a verb (easy

to use words that end in -ly)

Find them online (free to download):

Mad Libs app available: http://www.madlibs.com/apps

http://www.madglibs.com/ (interactive online or print)

http://www.eduplace.com/tales/ (grades 3 and up; online only)

http://www.redkid.net/madlibs/ (interactive online only)

This activity works best for two children – one giving the words, one writing them

down, then switching roles. It can work alone or with larger groups, too.

Sources:


http://www.madlibs.com/apps

http://www.madglibs.com/

http://www.eduplace.com/tales/

http://redkid.net/madlibs/

Mad Libs


Artful Magazine Cut-n-Paste

Make some new artwork without having to draw anything! Cut out pictures from

magazines or newspapers. Use them for one of the following works of art:

Instructions


No. of Kids:

magazines

glue sticks

construction paper

scissors

Activity 4:

Age Range:


3 and up

10-90min

1. Use a full page picture, like a person's face or a room, and re-make it in yourown style.

put people in a roomuse different eyes and mouths on a personmake animals drive the carget creative!

2. Cut out many little pictures that have a theme and make a collage. (Examples -favorite animals, certain colors, fast cars)

3. Make a mosaic. Use tiny images and even words to attempt to make one, largerpicture. Choose simple ideas for the large picture.

4. Make a ransom poem. Cut out letters and build words to make your own short,silly poem that looks like a classic ransom note.

5. “Paper dolls.” Try piecing together shirts, pants, faces and more from differentpeople to see what funny combinations you can come up with. A dog wearing abathing suit? The president's head on a motorcyclist's body?


Ping Pong Soccer

1. Stretch yarn across the center of any table and tape on either side under the table(rectangular or oval best, but square or circular works). Use a short coffee table foryounger or fewer children.

2. Separate kids into teams, as evenly as possible.

3. Each child has a straw to blow through.

4. The ping pong ball starts in the middle of the table, and a team scores a point anytime the ball falls off the table on the other team’s side. Each child's goal is toblow the ball over the line any way possible!

5. No physical contact between the straw and ball or players is allowed. If anyonetouches the ball, it starts over on the center line.

6. Decide what the winning score will be before you start.(Recommendation: 3-5 points is usually plenty; players begin to run out of air!)

7. Play ball!

This is a great party game as well, fun for many ages.

Instructions


No. of Kids:

ping pong balls

straws

yarn

masking tape

Activity 5:

Age Range:

Time Required:2-8

3 and up

10-30min+


Treasure Hunt

Who says you can’t have an Easter egg hunt in the summer? This treasure hunt is written tofit any house.

Instructions


No. of Kids:

printed clues

Easter eggs or envelopes

with clues

ending treasure box

drawing paper

pencils

Activity 6:

Age Range:

Time Required:1-5

3 and up

10-60min

1. Place clues 2 through 7 in Easter eggs (or envelopes).

2. Hide them in the following places in your house:

Adult preparation:

#2 – In someone's shoe near the door#3 – On/in the couch or armchair in a room with a TV#4 – In a pot in the kitchen#5 – Under the vacuum cleaner#6 – On or under the kitchen table#7 – With the toothbrushes

Give the child(ren) the first clue and let them go! When they find the treasure, encouragethe kids to write clues for each other (or you!) and play again. (It used to take me two hoursto make a treasure hunt for my parents and was a great exercise in creativity and wordusage.)

Adapt for non-readers by just reading the clues out loud that they find. For very youngchildren, just let it be a regular hunt – you hide the eggs anywhere and they find them. Youcan do this over and over with the preschool/toddler set.

3. Hide the ending treasure under a bed.


Treasure HuntTreasure hunt clues:

Clue #1:

When you come in the door,

Take your feet out of me,

I end up on the floor,

Quick as can be.

Clue #2:

Time to relax

And watch TV,

Just lean on back

And sit on me!

Clue #3:

Help Mom cook some soup—

What should you get out?

Once you’re in the loop,

You’ll be left with no doubt.

Clue #4:

Ever felt like your head was

spinning?

Is it loud in here, or is it just me?

Help Mom with another chore and

you’ll be winning

The next clean treasure spot fast as

can be.

Clue #5:

You might sit here with homework to do,

Or have a friend over for a chat,

You are almost through

If you can understand that!

Clue #6:

After eating candy eggs,

Go shine your pearly whites,

Move those little legs

And smile before saying good night!

Clue #7:

In some homes you might find a mess,

In others, dust and nothing less,

Your treasure shall be found

By looking down and not around,

In a place where you ought to find rest.


Airplane Flight Test

A little artsy, a little science, a little detective work. Let's figure out what kind of

airplane flies the best!

Instructions


No. of Kids:

printed data sheet

plain white paper

pencils

tape measure or yard stick

Activity 7:

Age Range:

Time Required:1-5

6 and up

20-90min

1. Make a crowd of paper airplanes.2. Number each airplane to help keep track.3. Try to make at least 5 or 6 different styles.4. Decorate them if you like!5. Predict:

Which will fly the farthest?

Can you make loop-the-loops?

Can you make an airplane that turns a corner?

Can you put anything on the airplane, like a jewel, and still fly it?

6. Mark a starting position in a large room in your house and test how far eachairplane flies. Make sure you are standing in the same way and try to throweach airplane the same, then measure the distance and mark on the chart.

Adapt for younger children by removing the chart and just eyeing the distance.Teach the little ones how to throw an airplane properly to keep it in the air.

I think it’s best to try making your own first, then try some patterns from otherplaces. Challenge yourself to fly farther or straighter than some of “the best” onthese websites!

http://www.josephpalmer.com/planes/Airplane.shtml

http://www.zurqui.com/crinfocus/paper/air-bld1.html

http://bestpaperairplanes.com/


http://www.josephpalmer.com/planes/Airplane.shtml

http://www.zurqui.com/crinfocus/paper/air-bld1.html

http://bestpaperairplanes.com

Airplane Flight Test


Trash Robots

A fun activity for the creative-minded. What sort of zany robot (or other creature

that fits your fancy, I suppose!) can you create using (mostly) only things you would

normally recycle or throw away?

Raid the recycling bins and maybe even collect “junk” for a week to really make your

creation perfect. How tall? How many eyes? Antennae? Arms and legs? Will your

robot wear clothes? Use junk mail for fun colors of paper, and maybe you can figure

out how to use the little windows from the envelopes. Remember, everything (except

glue, tape or string) should be something you would normally call “junk”.

Go “social” and take photos of your robots, then see what friends in social media

suggest for their names!

Instructions


No. of Kids:

bottles, tubes, boxes, lids,

junk mail, etc. (optional)

junk!

tape

glue

scissors

Activity 8:

Age Range:


3 and up

30-90min


Rube Goldberg Machine

A Rube Goldberg Machine is something that makes a chain reaction happen, likedominoes. When one falls, the next one falls, and so on.

In a Rube Goldberg Machine, you might have a book fall over and hit a cup which tipsout a bouncy ball, which rolls down a paper towel tube...and so on.

Try making your own Rube Goldberg Machine! Use supplies like:

Instructions


No. of Kids:

none- unless you want to add

things that you know will be

good for building

whatever you want to use to

make your machine (see the

suggestions above)

Activity 9:

Age Range:

Time Required:1-4

7 and up

20-90min+

ballstubes – paper towel, toilet paper, PVC pipesDominoesboxesitems from the kitchen – utensils, cupspopsicle sticks (make great levers)Take a walk around your house – what might youuse?

After you've tried a few, THEN watch this example of a really cool one made by a kid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uDDEEHDf1Y

Do you think the boy in the video had help making his machine?

How did his results differ from his prediction?

What was the most surprising part of his machine?

Do you want to try to make another one?

Discuss what you saw!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uDDEEHDf1Y

Melted Crayon Art

On a HOT day, you can melt crayons in the sun!

Instructions


No. of Kids:

waxed paper

old crayons

hand-held pencil sharpener

large paper

SUN!

a hairdryer (if it's not hot

enough from the sun)

Activity 10:

Age Range:

Time Required:1-5

3 and up

5-30min

(plus wait

time)

1. Gather old crayons that aren't much good for coloring anymore. Break or shavethem into tiny pieces (a handheld pencil sharpener, if it's big enough to fit acrayon, works great).

2. Make art out of them on a piece of large paper set outside in a very sunny area. Setout the pieces of crayon in designs, patterns, or simple pictures.

3. Cover the entire paper with a piece of waxed paper. You might need to hold it downwith something heavy if it's windy.

4. Let the sun have at it!

5. If it's not quite hot enough to at least start melting the crayons within half anhour, you can add the heat of a hair dryer, briefly run over the waxed paper with awarm (not hot, no steam) iron, or if you can move the art to a vehicle sitting in thesun, that will turn the heat up too.

6. As the crayon pieces melt, kids can slide the colors around a bit with a stick (oreven fingers) through the waxed paper.

7. Once it's all melted, let the wax harden up in a cool place, then peel the waxed paper off and display your work of art.... but NOT in the sun!

Idea adapted from Kids Activities Blog.


http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/6260/art-with-melted-crayons

Homemade Silly Putty

1. Use Styrofoam trays leftover from buying meat or produce (washed well), plasticzippered bags or disposable cups or bowls.

2. Eye up the starch and glue or measure 1 Tbs. per child of each to be more precise.

3. Mix with a popsicle stick or your finger.

4. Add more glue if the mixture is too liquid-y after some good stirring and morestarch if it is sticking to everything.

5. Put a drop of tempera paint in for color.

6. You'll know it's ready when the goo moves as one piece and sticks back together whenyou pull it apart. See a demo

7. You can add a little glue or starch at any time if you’d like it stickier/stretchieror less sticky.

8. Store in a plastic zippered bag in the refrigerator for best longevity.

9. The Styrofoam trays are a great surface to play on.

10. Use plastic knives and spoons, cookie cutters and rolling pins just like you wouldwith playdough.

Instructions


No. of Kids:

liquid laundry starch

white school glue

styrofoam trays or

disposable cups/bowls

tempera paint

plastic zippered bags

utensils & cookie cutters

for playing

Activity 11:

Age Range:


3 and up

20-60min

1 part liquid laundry starch + 1 part white school glue =

super fun silly putty!

here.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvVMW9kfdes&feature=youtu.be

Invisible Ink

Be a secret spy and write messages that disappear!

Instructions


No. of Kids:

If you gathered supplies in

advance, you're all set!

Activity 12:

Age Range:


7 and up

20-60min

1. Use straight lemon juice (bottled is fine) and a paintbrush or Q-tip to write a

message on plain white paper.

2. Let it dry completely.

3. You now have a secret message that can only be seen by someone who knows how to

reveal it!

How to reveal: with help from an adult, hold the paper 6-8 inches above a stoveburner that is turned ON. You do not want to catch the paper on fire, just heat it up. Wait 10-15 seconds and be amazed as your secret message appears! This works BESTover a gas stove, but if you have electric, just make sure that the coils are RED HOT!

For added fun, create a secret code with some friends and write in invisible ink incode to them! Some examples of secret codes might be to substitute a letter for anotherletter like this:

Or a fun one with your own name as the key:


lemon juice

paintbrush or Q-tip

drawing paper

Or a simple number code like this:

Ice Excavation

Perfect for almost any age child on a hot summer day! This project is the only one that

takes pre-planning a day or two ahead, but it's worth it.

Instructions


No. of Kids:

small objects to freeze (see

above for ideas)

salt

prep your ice/objects

butter knives

spoons

forks

hammer

screwdriver

warm water

Activity 13:

Age Range:

Time Required:1-4

3 and up

10-60min

1. The simple way: Place a few small toys or household objects in a shallow plastic

container, cover with water and freeze. (One for each child is recommended.)

2. The layered way: Put less than an inch of water in the bottom of a freezer-proof

container. Freeze until solid. Add 2-3 small items and cover with water. Freeze

again. Add 2-3 more small items and repeat until the entire container is filled with

layered ice.

3. Possible objects include: Tiny animals and cars, rubber bands, buttons and beads,

nails, rocks, legos, keys, paper clips, coins...

Prep:

1. Provide tools for the “ice excavation” - hammers, screwdrivers, butter knives,

forks, spoons, warm water, salt, etc.

2. Allow children to work (outside) on extracting the various items in their ice

block.

3. Ask questions: What is the best way to get an item out? How will this work? Why is

there salt here? What items are easier to get out? Why?

Play:


Homemade Fingerpaint

Some messes are made to be outside!

2 Tbs. Cornstarch

2 Tbs. cool water

1 cup boiling water

food coloring

1. Mix the cool water and cornstarch.

2. Heat water to boiling.

3. Add the boiling water to the cool cornstarch mixture and stir.

4. It should thicken as you stir. Like magic!

5. When it is cool, divide into small cups and add food coloring to each one.

6. Fingerpaint on paper, cookie sheets, your friend’s face and arms… Enjoy!

Instructions


No. of Kids:

cornstarch

food coloring

drawing paper

glass measuring cup

Activity 14:

Age Range:


3 and up

20-30min

Ingredients:

Do natural colors work?

We tried turmeric and

beet powder, and they’re

“okay.” Turmeric makes

colors, for sure, but beet

powder was sort of a bust.

If you want to try

natural coloring, I'd say

go for it - and if it isn't

bright enough, just add

food coloring.


Recipe: Peanut Butter

Kisses

This simple recipe is perfect to make with busy kids and delicious to eat, too. If youhave peanut allergies or concerns, there's a bonus recipe for homemade playdoughbelow.

Instructions


No. of Kids:

natural peanut butter

raw honey

unsweetened coconut

add-in ingredients

bowl/fork

waxed paper (optional)

Activity 15:

Age Range:


any age

15min

1 part natural peanut butter1 part honey, raw if possible1-2 parts unsweetened coconutOther add-in options: mini chocolate chips, sesame seeds, flax meal, chopped crispynuts or sunflower seeds

1. Grab a bowl and fork, mix honey and peanut butter until uniform, then add thecoconut until everything holds together like a sticky playdough. Grab a hunk, rollinto a ball between your palms, and eat!

2. You can add one or more of the optional add-ins before rolling if you like.

3. Store in an airtight container at room temperature, or wrap in waxed paper like ahard candy (twist both ends of a square/rectangular piece to make the wrapper) ifyou’d like to serve them individually.

4. If you really need a recipe, use 1/3 cup peanut butter, 1/3 cup honey, and 2/3 cupcoconut and you’ll be just fine.

Ingredients:

Method:

This recipe is reprinted from Healthy Snacks to Go. For more kid-friendly snacks to get you on your waywith real food, fast, use the coupon SUMMERKIT for 50% off the book, right here:http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/hstg


http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/hstg

Bonus Recipe: Favorite

Homemade Playdough

Although there are playdough recipes that don’t use the stove, this playdough is so

much nicer to play with as an end result, and it’s really very easy.

Mix in a medium pot:

1 c. white flour

1/4 c. salt

2 Tbs. cream of tartar

Combine and add:

1 c. water

~10 drops food coloring

1 Tbs. oil

Cook over medium heat and stir constantly (about 3-5 minutes). A heat-safe spatula

works well for stirring and scraping. Just when you’re sure you’ve got a mess on your

hands and it will never turn out, the mess will begin to form a ball in the center of

the pot. Dump it out onto a plate and mash it around with your spatula until it’s cool

enough to knead a little with your hands. Store in an airtight container or plastic

bag after it cools.

Instructions


No. of Kids:

white flour

salt

cream of tartar

food coloring

oil

measuring cups/spoons

pot/spoon

airtight container for

storage

Age Range:


any age

15min


Decoupage Vases

Turn an old glass jar into a beautiful vase! You can use thinned white glue for thisproject, but how fun to make homemade glue! And so simple!

3 Tbs. cornstarch4 Tbs. cold water2 c. boiling water

For the vase project, you can use the glue right away. Just put a little back in thatsmall bowl you used to mix the cornstarch and water and grab some paintbrushes.

Instructions


No. of Kids:

paintbrushcornstarchmagazines or newspaperstissue paperplastic squeeze bottleglass jars or vases

scissorsmeasuring cup/spoonssmall bowl

Activity 16:

Age Range:

Time Required:1-4

3 and up

30-90min

Homemade Glue Recipe

1. Cut tissue paper shapes or pictures/letters from magazines to cover the jar. Make astack of the pieces you plan to use before moving on to the gluing. It looks best ifyou cover every bit of the jar, but leaving clear spaces works too.

2. Try getting creative with different shades of the same color or cut out letters tomake your own name.

3. Brush some glue on the back of each piece of paper and smooth it out on the jar. Youcan slide them around right after they go on if you don’t like the way somethinglooks. Try hard to get all the wrinkles out!

4. Once your vase is completed to your satisfaction, brush glue over the entire surfaceto really cement the pictures or tissue paper on.

You can use this method on a wooden or cardboard box for your dresser or even a folderfor school as well.

Mix the cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl and then pour

the paste into the boiling water, stirring constantly. When the

liquid is clear and thick, allow to cool. (See demo ) Pour

into a plastic squeeze bottle and label. Store the glue in the

fridge to keep longer than a day. (Eco-tip: Use a clean squeeze

bottle from dishsoap, ketchup, mustard, etc.)

here


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6PVJCyHlIA&feature=youtu.be

DIY Water Wall

Instructions

You'll feel like you're at a Children's Museum in your backyard with this funexploratory activity!

1. You'll need thumbtacks or nails and a wooden fence or deck railing (or zip ties and a

chain link fence might work too).

2. Add a larger tub (or even a kiddie pool) to sit at the bottom.

3. Cut the bottles and tubs so that each one has an entrance and an exit for water. This

might mean a hole in the center of the bottom of a yogurt cup, a soda bottle with the

bottom cut off completely, or a sour cream tub with a hole in the side near the base.

4. Work together with the children to arrange the items on the vertical wall of a fence

so that water might be poured from one into the other and eventually down into the

tub/pool at the bottom.

5. Once you've affixed your bottles and tubs to the fence, fill the large tub at the bottom

with water and allow the children to explore with cups to pour water. Let them move

the items around as they make hypotheses about what will work best. (Eco- tip: This is

a great way to use restaurant kids' cups – always save them for bath play and crafts!)

6. Watch here for some tips and an example!

Inspired by


No. of Kids:

thumbtacks

plastic cups & funnels

large tub or kiddie pool

water

milk jugs, containers,

etc... (raid the recycling

bin!)

scissors or kitchen knives

Activity 17:

Age Range:

Time Required:1-4

7 and up (to build- any agewill enjoy playing with it)

30-90min

Where Imagination Grows.


http://whereimaginationgrows.com/2014/07/diy-water-wall-summer-fun-kids/

http://youtu.be/ey3wdXIhhHU

Bonus Recipe: Homemade

Bubbles

I remember trying to figure out what KIND of glycerin to buy at my local pharmacy

to make homemade bubbles longer lasting. I failed. This recipe doesn't need it, and that

makes me happy:

2 c. warm water (distilled best, tap water okay)

3 Tbs. liquid laundry detergent

(for longer lasting) add 2 tsp. corn syrup

Instructions


No. of Kids:

liquid laundry detergent

corn syrup

string, bubble wands, pipe

cleaners

wide, flat bowl or baking

dish

measuring cup and spoon

Age Range:


any

10-30min

Mix everything together in a wide, flat bowl. Don't stir too fast!

Blow bubbles using string, pipe cleaners or old bubble wands. To really make big

bubbles, bend a wire hanger into a shape and pour the bubble solution into a flat

baking dish or cookie sheet with high edges.

Recipe from Coffee Filters to Cheese Graters by Tara Ziegmont


Growing Germs

This is WHY we wash our hands! Parents, you'll love this one. And actually, kids will too.Growing bacteria and mold is gross and fun!

1. Use 3 pieces of white bread (or some other baked good that will decompose, but not tooquickly).

2. Touch just the corner of one and seal it in a clean jar.

3. Moisten the second with just a sprinkle of water and place it outside for 20 minutes,then seal it in a second clean jar.

4. Moisten the third piece in the same way and introduce it to the germs on your hands,the floor, or wherever your child might touch before lunch and not wash his/herhands. Seal it in a third clean jar.

5. Label all 3 jars and put them in a dark cupboard.

6. Set a calendar reminder for 3 days, 7 days, and 10 days to check on them.

7. Observe. Discuss. Wash your hands. (If you have tweezers to pick up the bread and amagnifying glass to examine, all the better. Please dispose of carefully!)

Instructions


No. of Kids:

3 clean class jars with lids

tweezers (optional)

magnifying glass (optional)

white bread

Activity 18:

Age Range:


5 and up

20min,plus waittime

Activity borrowed with gratitude from Kids Activities Blog.


http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/8700/a-gross-science-experiment

Homemade Sidewalk

Chalk

Sure, you can buy sidewalk chalk pretty cheap, but this is double the fun!

Instructions


No. of Kids:

cookie sheet

newspapers

warm water

Activity 19:

Age Range:


5 and up

30-60minplus waittime

just about everything

2. Place your molds on a newspaper lined cookie sheet to contain drips.3. Measure the warm water into the container.4. Add Plaster of Paris a little at a time. Start with one cup and add more if necessary

to get a very thick, frosting-like consistency that won't absorb any more water.(Work quickly, you only have 20-30 minutes until it dries.)

5. Stir in tempera paint, either making all one color in your mixing container OR stirindividual colors into each mold after pouring. (Partial stirs will make swirlychalk.)

6. Carefully pour or spoon plaster into molds.7. Set aside to dry, which may take 6 hours or even a few days to finish completely,

depending on humidity and size of molds.8. When completely hardened, remove from molds by tearing/peeling off the mold, and

you're ready to make sidewalk art!9. Store in a dry place.

1 1/2 c. plaster of Paris3/4 c. warm water disposable container for mixing (sour cream or yogurt tub works great)popsicle stick or plastic spoon for stirring2-3 Tbs. tempera painttoilet paper tubes, small paper cups, or egg cartonwaxed paperduct tape

Ingredients/Supplies:

egg cartons are ready to go.

Cardboard tubes need to be lined with waxed paper (leave it slightly sticking

out the top) and closed at the bottom with plenty of duct tape.

Paper cups should be lined with waxed paper as well to ensure they come off (if

they're already waxed, you might be okay).

Method:

1. Prepare your “molds.”


Homemade Ice Cream

What's better on a warm day (ok, any day) than ice cream – especially when you're incharge of the ingredients?!

Instructions

No. of Kids:

Activity 20:

Age Range:

Time Required:1-5

3 and up

30-45min

For each person you will need:

quart-size zippered bag

gallon-size zippered bag

1 cup milk (whole milk is best or even cream)

1 tsp. to 2 Tbs. sugar, sucanat, maple syrup or sweetener of your choice

flavoring

ice to fill large bag partway

rock salt or large grained Kosher salt, at least 1/4 cup

winter gloves, oven mitt or dish towels

spoon

(no ice cream machine needed!)

Method:

Ingredients:

1. Place the milk, sweetener, and flavoring into quart-sized plastic bag and seal well.

Note about sweeteners: Honey is fine, but it just doesn't mix in quite as well as other

options. Sweeten to taste (you can taste the mixture before making it into ice cream).

2. Place the small bag in the gallon-sized bag.

3. Pack ice in the large bag all around the small bag to completely encase the milk

mixture, then sprinkle salt generously on the ice- at least 1/4 cup. (All in the large

bag – you won't be eating this part!)

4. Seal the large bag.

5. Put on gloves or oven mitts (or use a thick towel) and begin squeezing and kneading

the small bag through the large bag and ice.

(1 tsp vanilla extract or 2 T cocoa powder, chocolate syrup, crushed mint candies, fruit)


Homemade Ice Cream


gallon & quart zippered bags

rock salt or large-crystal

Kosher salt

winter gloves or mittens

ice

milk

vanilla/chocolate

sweetener

measuring cups & spoons

Can you explain the science behind this? If your children are old enough to

understand, demonstrate what happens if you just put some milk in the freezer or

just put some ice in the milk. Neither will make ice cream – so what’s the key?

6. Continue doing this (5-10 minutes) until the milk in the small bag begins to

thicken and freeze. Keep kneading until the ice cream reaches the desired

consistency – either milkshake, soft-serve, or hard (although hard is tough to

achieve, especially if the temp in your house is warmer).

7. Of course you can add extras like nuts, chocolate chips, or fruit if you like.

8. Remove the small bag and rinse/wipe the salty water off it before opening.

9. Eat and enjoy, out of the bag or poured into a bowl.

10. Ice and salty water can go down the drain.

Discussion for older kids:


Copyright 2015 | Katie Kimball, Kitchen Stewardship, LLC

All rights reserved

Material is not to be copied, shared, or republished without prior written consent of

the author. Please visit k i t c h e n s t e w a r ds h i p . c o m for nutritious recipes, kitchen tips

and a healthy dose of wit, or if you’d like to purchase more copies of the Summer

Vacation Survival Kit or perhaps check out my popular recipe books, written in a

leave-no-stone-unturned style.

Although in electronic form, an eBook is meant to be the personal property of the

purchaser. Feel free to share an activity with a friend, but it is a violation of

copyright and purchase agreement to forward the entire book to another person.


Cover Photo Attributions:

Bubbles (img_8045a) photo by Kari Haley, available under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Ice Cream (untitled) photo by Neil Conway, available under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Paper Airplane photo by woodleywonderworks, available under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Finger Painting photo by Quinn Dombrowski, available under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

http://www.kitchenstewardship.com

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/




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