Simple Kids Activities

Leaf Sun Catcher

2012-05-01T12:11:00.000+10:00

Leaf Sun Catcher

Materials

Coloured Card
Pins (Thick and/or Thin)
Cellophane (Optional)

Method

Sketch out a leaf on a piece of card, the bigger you make it the longer the project will take but the more intricate your design can be.
Cut it out.
Using your pin create poke through the card creating a pattern like the veins on a leaf.
It is a good idea to start out using either a thicker pin or to have more holes in the middle then thin them out as you get to the edges.
Once you have finished and hold it up to the light you should notice that the light comes through better on on side rather than the other.
You can either finish there or you can sick different coloured cellophane on the back so the light will be different colours.

Paper Ring Caterpillar

2012-04-30T11:54:00.000+10:00

Paper Ring Caterpillar

Materials Needed

Different Coloured Paper
Scissors
Glue/Tape
Markers or Pencils
Pipe Cleaners

Method

Cut strips of paper about 5cm-10cm thick from your paper. The more you cut the longer your caterpillar will be.
Glue one strip end to end in an 'O' shape.
Then glue other strips end to end through the rings so that they interlock like a chain.
Cut out a circle to use as a face.
Use the markers or pencils to draw a face on it, either realistic or cartoony.
Glue or tape some pipe cleaners on for the antennae.
Glue or tape the face to one end of your chain.

This can be a good activity to teach young children about patterns. You can also decorate the rings before attaching them. See below for finished examples.

Wink Murder

2012-04-27T10:00:00.000+10:00

Wink Murder

What you need

8 or more children

How to Play

Get the children in the circle
Pick one child, an older child for the fist time, to be 'detective'
The 'detective' leaves the room or faces a wall so as not to see the circle.
The adult then picks someone to be the 'winker', making sure not to use any names.
The 'detective' then comes back and stands in the middle of the circle.
The job of the 'winker' is to wink at people, who then melodramatically die, and keep going with out being spotted by the 'detective'.
The 'detective, has three guesses to determine who is the 'winker'.
When the game is over the 'winker' becomes the 'detective'.

Tips

It is a good idea to have the 'winker' put up their hand so everybody knows who they are, except the 'detective'
Make sure the children don't stare at the 'winker' or it makes it too easy!
Encourage the melodrama.

Bonfire Collage

2012-04-26T13:44:00.001+10:00

Bonfire Collage

Materials Needed

Tissue Paper - Orange, Yellow, Red
White A4 Paper
Brown A4 Paper
Leaves, Sticks and twigs
Glue Stick

Method

Using the leaves an sticks you have found outside, or creating logs and leaves from the brown paper make the base of your bonfire on the white paper. After this has dried use the tissue paper in layers to create the fire on top. There is plenty of room for adaptation in this activity. Here are some examples.