Summer Program
Training
By: Sonia Pawlowicz
Resident Services Coordinator
Embrace/ Foundation for Affordable Housing
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Table of Contents
Summer Program Overview …………………………………………………………………..….3
Permission Slip ………………………………………………………………………………....4-6
Summer Flyer ……………………………………………………………………………………..7
Summer Parent Meeting Flyer…………………………………………………………………….8
Summer Program Kids Information ………………………………………………………………9
Summer Program Sign in Sheet …………………………………………………………………10
Weekly Planner Template……………………………………………………………………11-12
Giant List of Activities …………………………………………………………………………. 13
Journal Topics ………………………………………………………………………………..14-18
Outdoor Games ……………………………………………………………………………....19-22
Water Activities ……………………………………………………………………………...23-26
Arts and Crafts ……………………………………………………………………………….27-32
Mad Science …………………………………………………………………………………33-42
Computer Games ………………………………………………………………………………..43
Teen Budget Education ………………………………………………………………………….44
Team Building Activities ………………………………………………………………………..45
Teen After Hours ………………………………………………………………………………..46
Community Service Ideas ………….……………………………………………………………47
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Summer Program Overview
Get ready for an amazing summer, get set with all your planning, and let’s go! Welcome
to our summer planning training guide; here you will find helpful forms, templates, ideas, and
lots more resources. Please remember that all of this is designed to help your planning if you
need it. If you have more ideas, please feel free to use them and most importantly share them
with us!
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Summer Program Permission Slip
This form is for children under 18 to attend the Orange Garden drop-in Learning Center located in the
Community Room. Please note that children under the age of five need to be accompanied by an adult.
We require that you sign the following form to allow your child to participate in the Learning Center.
Parental Consent and Medical Authorization
I give my permission for my child, identified below, to attend and participate in activities at Orange
Garden Apartments.
Participation in activities offers many benefits, and I acknowledge that participation in activities may
involve certain risks. I agree to indemnify Orange Garden Apartments and FFAH, their owners, officers,
board members, supervisors, agents, employees, and volunteers from any damage or injury that my child
may cause to occur to himself/herself and others as a result of participation in activities. I agree that if my
child is not behaving in a manner consistent with the regulations of good conduct, is not following the
rules, or is being disrespectful, he/she may be excluded from participation in any or all activities. A
child who is sent home may return to the Learning Center after 48 hours upon receiving a notice to
leave and may require a parent meeting before returning.
I request that in the event my child needs medical attention, efforts be made to contact me at the telephone
numbers listed below. However, if efforts to contact me are unsuccessful, I give full authorization to any
agent of Orange Gardens Apartments to seek medical treatment for my child in my absence, as they deem
necessary and in the best interest of my child’s health and safety.
Specifically, while my child is attending or participating in any activity I authorize employees or
volunteers to seek emergency care and hereby authorize the provision of medical treatment, including but
not limited to x-ray examination, anesthesia, medical, surgical and/or dental treatment and hospital care. I
agree to be responsible for the costs and expensed incurred in connection with such medical services
rendered to my child pursuant to this authorization.
Please note, that the Learning Center is not a licensed childcare facility and, as such, cannot enforce
attendance or prohibit your child from leaving the Center early. However, full attendance and
participation will be encouraged and rewarded. Children are free to sign out of the program and go home
on their own. The Learning Center Coordinator is not responsible for contacting the parent when a child
signs out. Once a child signs out for the day they may not return that day. They may return the following
day.
YES, I have provided my child’s immunization record. If you have already done this during the
school year, you do not have to provide it again, but please mark the box still.
YES, I understand my child may leave the program early and I give my permission for my child
to leave when they feel appropriate. I understand that once my child signs out for the day he/she
may not return until the following day.
YES, I give consent for any pictures of my child to be used in the monthly Orange Garden
Apartments newsletter.
YES, I give consent for my child to enjoy any snack or food that is provided.
YES, I give my child permission to participate in all activities onsite during the summer program.
YES, I have read, understand, and agree to the Summer Behavior Expectations List below.
Parent Signature: ________________________________________________ Date: __________
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Parents and guardians need to complete, sign, and return this form to Resident Services before a
child may participate. Please fill out a separate form for each child. Please provide ALL of the
following information. Please write ‘none’ or ‘n/a’ for ‘not applicable’ if appropriate.
CHILD INFORMATION
CHILDS FULL NAME: _________________________________________________________
CHILD’S BIRTHDATE: ____________________SCHOOL: ___________________________
GRADE: (next school year) ___________________APARTMENT NUMBER: _____________
PARENT INFORMATION
PARENT/GUARDIAN’S NAME: _________________________________________________
PHONE: (Home) ___________________ (Work) ______________ (Cell) _________________
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
EMERGENCY CONTACT: (Name) _______________________________________________
(Phone) ______________________________________________________________________
MEDICAL INFORMATION INCASE OF EMERGENCY
PHYSICIAN: (Name) ________________________________ (Phone) ____________________
DENTIST: (Name) ___________________________________ (Phone) ___________________
INSURANCE (Name) _______________________________ (Policy Number) _____________
SPECIAL MEDICAL CONSIDERATIONS: ________________________________________
ALL KNOWN ALLERGIES: ____________________________________________________
MEDICATIONS OR PRESCRIPTIONS CURRENTLY BEING USED: ___________________
ILLNESS OR SURGERY THAT MAY AFFECT YOUR CHILD’S PARTICIPATION IN
THESE ACTIVITIES:
______________________________________________________________________________
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Summer Program Schedule
PLEASE KEEP THIS LAST PAGE FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION.
Resident Services is NOT licensed child care programs. Please make sure that your child has
somewhere to go if the Summer Program is cancelled unexpectedly.
Session Dates and Themes
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With summer just around the
corner we would like to
announce our
Summer Fun Kids Program!
Our kids program will serve
children ages 6-17 during the
hours of 1:30pm-5pm
Monday-Thursday during
summer break.
If you would like to enroll early
or have questions please call,
email, or stop by to make an
appointment!
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Hello Orange Garden parents! With
summer just around the corner we
would like to announce our Summer
Fun Kids Program!
Our kids program will serve children
ages 6-17 during the hours of
1:30pm-5pm Monday-Thursday
during summer break.
For the full details please attend our
Summer Program Parent Meeting
TBD
If you are unable to attend this
meeting please call, email, or stop
by to make an appointment!
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Giant List of Activities
1. Ancient Egypt
2. Animal Planet
3. Around the World
4. Art week
5. Balloon games
6. Beach bash
7. Bird houses
8. Board games
9. Build a tent
10. Canvas painting
11. Carnival
12. Charades
13. Clay sculptures
14. College learning
15. Community service
16. Construction building
17. Cooking week
18. Cupcake baking contest
19. Dinosaurs
20. Election week
21. Explorer week
22. Face painting
23. Fear factor
24. Fitness
25. Fossils
26. Frozen in July
27. Game show
28. Girl Power
29. Green activities
30. Health week
31. Homemade instruments
32. Hollywood fashion show
33. Journal for summer
34. Jungle week
35. Learn about music
36. Learn to crochet or loom
37. Lemonade stand
38. Luau
39. Mail boxes
40. Magic
41. Make a book
42. Make a map
43. Make a menu
44. Make a piñata
45. Make a resident cookbook
46. Make smores
47. Make bubbles & wands
48. Mini golf
49. Nature week
50. Ocean activities
51. Olympic games
52. Pen pals
53. Pirates
54. Photo journal
55. Rainforest
56. Read-a-thon
57. Recycle program
58. Scavenger hunt
59. Space camp
60. Spelling B
61. Sports
62. Summer newspaper
63. Super hero week
64. Talent show
65. Water games
66. Wild and crazy kids
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Journal Topics
1. Write about going back to school after summer vacation.
2. Write a thank you note to a friend who gave you onion and garlicflavored chewing gum.
3. Draw an imaginary constellation. Write a story such as ancient people
might have told about it
4. Describe a real made-up dream or nightmare. ting prompts
5. Write about your favorite childhood toy. journal writing prompts
6. Write out the best or the worst day of your life.
7. Finish this thought: if I could change one thing about myself (if you can't think of anything,
you might want to consider telling how you got to be perfect!)
8. If and when I raise children, I'll never...
9. I have never been more frightened than when...
10. Persuade a friend to give up drugs.
11. Five years from now, I will be...
12. Write about a day you'd like to forget.
13. Invent and describe a new food. urnal writing prompts
14. Describe an event that changed your life forever, or make up and describe an event that
would change your life forever.
15. Describe someone who is a hero to you and explain why.
16. Write about a time when you struggled with a choice and made the right one.
17. Imagine yourself in a different century and describe an average day in your life.
18. Which character from a book would you most like to meet and why?
19. Three goals I have set for myself are...
20. What would you do if 300 mice had just gotten out of their cages in a pet shop where you
worked?
21. What would you do if you were locked inside your favorite department store overnight?
22. What would you do if you woke up one morning to find yourself invisible?
23. What would you do if you were able to communicate with animals?
24. What would you do if you could travel into the future?
25. What would you do if you could travel into the past?
26. What would you do if someone just gave you $1 million?
27. What would you do it all the electricity in the world just stopped?
28. What would you do if you could travel free anyplace in the world?
29. What would you do if the dinner served to you in a fancy restaurant came with a fly in the
mashed potatoes?
30. Write a list of at least 50 things that make you feel good.
31. Describe the perfect day. Put in as many details as you can. Make it a possible day, not a
"dream day."
32. Who is the person from history that you would most like to meet and talk to? Why? What
would you like to ask?
33. Who is the person from literature that you would most like to meet and talk to? Why? What
would you like to ask?
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34. Compile a list of words that describe you as a child. Compile a second list that describes you
as you are now. How these are lists the same? How are they different?
35. Compile a list of inanimate or animate objects to which you might compare yourself
metaphorically. (I am a windmill. I change direction or my thoughts whenever someone talks to
me...)
36. Tell about what triggers anger in you or someone else.
37. Invent a monster and describe it. Tell where it lives, what it eats, and what it does.
38. What is your favorite kind of weather? Why?
39. What is the best book you have ever read? Why did you like it? Did reading the book change
you in any way? What way?
40. Write about what you didn't do this weekend.
41. Think about an incident that happened to you and exaggerate in the telling.
42. If you were ruler of the world, what things would you banish absolutely for all time (rain on
weekends, eggplant, and so forth)? Make a list. Use your imagination.
43. If you could go back in time anywhere where/when would you go and why?
44. What rule would you like to change and would it help people? How would it help?
45. What commercial on TV do you dislike beyond all others? What about it is particularly
annoying to you?
46. Design some gadget, machine, building, or other creation that might enrich the future. What
does it look like? What does it do? How does it function? In what ways might it benefit
people?journal writing prompts
47. What current fashion in clothing do you particularly like or dislike? Explain. rnal
48. Convince someone why music or art or computers are important in your life. Make them
appreciate your viewpoint. 49. If you had $100,000, how would you spend it?
50. Be a building you know well. Talk about your life and memories.
51. You are to tell a person from a distant planet or from another era what pollution is. Make that
person understand what causes it and why it is bad.
52. If you could do something that you never have done before, what would it be? Why would
you want to do it?
53. Begin a list of questions that you'd like to have answered. They may be about the future or
the past.
54. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment to date and why?
55. Write one characteristic or habit about yourself that you like and describe it. Or write about
one thing you don't like about yourself.
56. What is your hobby? Why do you enjoy it?
57. If you could go somewhere you've never gone, where would you go and why?
58. What's would you be willing to fight or even die for? Explain your answer.
59. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
60. Is there a machine you feel you could not live without? Explain.
61. What do you think you will be like in 10 years or 20 years from now.
62. Did you ever stick up for someone?
63. Describe your neighborhood bully.
64. Write about a baby-sitting experience.
65. Describe a great fort you built for a great game you played as a child.
66. Write about an enemy who eventually became your friend.
67. Write about a time you cheated and got caught.
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68. Write about a privilege you earned.
69. Write about the stray animal you brought home.
70. Did you ever send away for something that turned out to be a disappointment? (Or order
something over the Internet)
71. What is it like to go shopping with your mother?
72. Write about a time you performed in front of an audience.
73. Write about a difficult decision you had to make.
74. Write about learning to skate, to ride a bike, to climb a tree, or to turn a cart wheel.
75. Did you ever get lost in a strange town?
76. Were you ever locked in or out? What did you do?
77. What was it like to spend your first night away from home?
78. What was it like to come back home after a long vacation?
79. Write about a disappointment.
80. Write about something minor that turned into a big deal.
81. Did you ever win or lose a contest?
82. Write about something you desperately wanted when you were younger.
83. Did you ever know someone who had "everything"?
84. Right about the time as a child played in one of the following: tree house, a cornfield, a
construction site, a junkyard, an abandoned house or barn, a stream, a cemetery, a swamp, a
pasture, railroad tracks.
85. Did your mom or dad ever make you wear something you hated?
86. Write about a time you were talked into something and you regretted it.
87. Were you ever in a helicopter, limousine, racecar, hot-air balloon, submarine, or horse-drawn
carriage?
88. Did you ever forget something really important? What happened as a result?
89. Write about an experience in a hospital.
90. Were you ever accused of something that you didn't do?
91. Write about a disastrous trip or vacation. journal writing prompts
92. Were you ever given a responsibility that you couldn't handle?
93. Were you ever in a fire, flood, tornado, or hurricane?
94. Describe the best concert you ever attended.
95. Write about a window you broke or something valuable you lost.
96. Did you ever catch fireflies? Crickets? Frogs? Snakes?
97. Write about a time you tried to help and ended up making things worse.
98. Did you ever break an important promise?
99. Write about moving to another city or neighborhood.
100. Describe an outdoor game you used to play in the summer time.
101. Write about building sand castles or mud pies.
102. Did you ever meet a famous person?
103. Write about mowing the lawn, burning leaves, or weeding the garden.
104. Describe the club you organized as a kid.
105. Describe a car or bicycle accident you were in.
106. Write about being a misfit.
107. Write about a day spent in another country.
108. Write about a time you out-smarted someone.
109. Write about going shopping for new clothes.
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110. Did you ever turn someone in or tell on someone and feel bad about it later?
111. Imagine that you are an animal in the zoo. What type of animal are you? How do you feel
about being caged? How do you feel about people that visit and watch you?
112. Write about a time your parents embarrassed you.
113. Describe learning something from a friend.
114. Write about a time you gave someone good advice.
115. Write about the funniest thing that ever happened to you.
116. If you had to escort a visitor from outer space for a 30-minute tour of your community,
where would you begin and end?
117. Be a grape that becomes a raisin: describe how it feels to shrink, to shrivel, to become dry
and wrinkled.
118. Be an icicle that becomes water. Describe how it feels to be cold and firm and full of
beautiful crystals but only to melt and lose your shape.
119. You go to the store with your parents and baby brother. Your parents go into a store and tell
you to watch your brother. You take your eyes off your brother for just a minute and you can't
find him. You...
120. I really hate it when my mother/father/sibling...
121. What if the use of robots in school becomes a workable reality?
122. What would you pack in your suitcase if you could not go home again?
123. You have just met an alien from another planet. He wishes to take a student back to his
planet. Convince him you would be the perfect specimen for him to take.
124. If you could change one law, what law would it be and how would you change it?
125. How forgiving are you when a friend lets you down? Explain. Give an example.
126. What if you were named principal for the week? What would you do?
127. If you could only speak twenty words for the rest of your life, what words would head your
list and why?
128. It started out as an unusual Monday morning, when I...
129. As I approached the deserted house at the end of the road, I saw...
130. Do you think girls are raised differently from boys? If so, in what ways?
131. Do you think you are treated differently because you are a boy or girl?
132. Do you think men and women are equal in today's society? Why or why not?
133. Do you think a woman will be President of the United States in the near future?
134. Two men or women have it easier in our culture? If so, why do you think so?
135. Have you ever wished you were either older or younger? What would you consider to be the
benefits? The problems?
136. Describe what you think of as the typical mother. rompts
137. Describe what you think of as the typical father. ompts
138. Do you think women should take men's last names when they marry? Why or why
not? prompts
139. Would you rather have a brother or sister? Why? mpts
140. Describe a fight you had with your mother. Now tell it from her point of view. rnal 141.
Write a short biography of your mother.
142. Write a short biography of your father.
143. Visualize a time when your mother was laughing. Recall a time when you two shared a
good laugh over something.
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144. Write a physical description of your mother. Write as if you were looking at a movie rather
than a photograph.
145. Concentrate on a particular habit that your mother has and write about it.
146. If you had three wishes, what would they be? (Do not ask for three more wishes)
147. What is something special and/or different about you? Why do you think it is special or
different?
148. Write about two things that your family has taught you.
149. Write about some of the things that you worry about.
150. Describe a happy memory of your family.
151. How do you know someone loves you, even if he or she doesn't say it?
152. Name one thing you like about yourself and why you like it.
153. Imagine yourself as a teacher. What type of student would you like to teach and why?
154. Name and describe a teacher who made a difference in your life. What did that teacher do
that was so special?
155. What makes you proud to be an American?
156. Describe the one thing that gives you the most comfort.
157. If you could be a character in any book, TV show, or movie, who would you be and why?
158. If you had to work in any store at your favorite mall, which store would it be and why?
159. Describe the most difficult thing about being your age.
160. Describe one possession that means the most to you.
161. Who is the most important role model in your life?
162. Describe your best personality trait.
163. If you could study one subject in school that wasn't offered, what would it be and why?
164. If you had a chance to live anywhere you could, where would it be and why?
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Outdoor Games
Backward Race
This is very easy for the youngest children. Just walk fast backwards trying not to bump into
each other to the finish line.
Balance Beam/Bean Bag Walk
Youth place a beanbag on their heads. How many times can a youth walk the length of the
balance beam without letting the beanbag fall? Each youth who can walk the beam five times
(up, back, up, back, and up again) is recognized during the award ceremony. Younger children
might need to walk the beam fewer times.
Balloon between the Knee Races
Inflate the balloon, but not too much so that it fits comfortably between the knees of the child.
Have the children put the balloon between their knees and run or hop to the fish line.
Balloon Head Race
Organize players so that they’re into pairs and each team receives a partially inflated balloon.
When the game starts, teams must race to a finish line carrying a balloon between their heads,
remember don’t use your hands. On hot days try it with water balloons or through a sprinkler.
You can even try an obstacle course.
Basketball Free Throws
Set a different line for youth in each grade level. A youth stands at the line and has five chances
to get a ball in a hoop. Count the number of baskets each youth makes. Youth who score the
most baskets are recognized at the award ceremony.
Blanket Volley Ball
You can use a volleyball net if you prefer, but not necessary. Set up teams and each team should
have four people on it, so that there will be one person holding each corner of the blanket. Have
one team serve the volleyball by placing the volleyball in the middle of the blanket. They are to
lower the blanket and then raise it quickly as a team, to allow the ball to become air borne. The
opposing team must catch the volleyball in their blanket and toss it back again.
Blinded Ball Retrieval
Separate into teams of 4-8 players and each team will have one container of balls and one
blindfold. Each container will have the same amount of balls about 3-5 depending on the size of
the teams. The container of balls will be placed about six feet in front of the teams. The first
player will put on the blindfold and then the balls will be dumped out. Each player will try to
retrieve 3 balls and place them back into their own container by following instructions given by
the rest of the team. Once they have done this they can remove their blindfold and return to the
next person in line. That person will put on the blindfold and the balls will be dumped. They will
also retrieve 3 balls for their container. The balls can be any balls that they find but they have to
go into their own container. If they put a ball into the wrong container it will count for the other
team. Caution the players not to run because they can bump into the other players that are
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blindfolded. It’s best if only one person from the team tells the blindfolded player where to go. It
will take teamwork trying to keep quiet so that the player can listen for direction. The first team
done with the rotation is the winner.
Bucket Brigade
Divide into teams of 5 to 10 players. Each team will be given two water bottles, one full and the
other empty. Each player will receive one cup. The teams line up front to back in a row sitting on
the floor. The person in front will hold the full water bottle and the last person on the team will
have the empty water bottle. On go, the first person in line will pour water into his cup and then
without turning pour his cup of water into the cup of the player behind him. Each player will
pour his cup of water into the cup of the next player. The last player will then pour his cup of
water into the water bottle. As soon as the first player passes his water he can refill the cup and
start passing again. They will continue until all the water is out of the first bottle. The team with
the most water in the bottle at the back of the line is the winner.
Cats in the Corner
Mark off square play area. The ball thrower will be in the center of the square. There are safe
zones at each of the corners where all the players called Cats will be. When the thrower calls
"Cats in the Corner", the Cats have to run from one corner to another without getting hit by the
ball. They can go any direction including diagonal as long as they do not get hit. Any player hit
by the ball is out. If you have a large group you can have several balls and a couple throwers.
Chimp Race
Set up teams and play area. The first person on each team is to bend over with feet apart and grab
their ankles. On “go”, they are to race down the course and back without letting go of their
ankles. Each person on the team repeats the relay. The first team done is the winner.
Cross Step. Draw a ten-by-ten grid on the sidewalk or patio with chalk. Have each player stand
on a different square. One at a time, each player must move to a new square after crossing out
the square she or he was formerly standing in. The trick is that players cannot step into a square
that is occupied or crossed out. If a player cannot move to a new square, he or she is out. The
game continues until one player is left.
Drag the Body. Divide the group into two teams. Give each team a blanket. Have one player
from each team lie down on the blanket. The teams must drag the body on the blanket from one
end of the yard to the other. Whoever crosses the finish line first, wins.
Drinking Straw Race
Each racer holds a bent drinking straw between his or her nose and upper lip. Make a
demonstration. The children curl their lip to hold it tight. See who can run to the finish line
without losing the straw. Make sure it is a short distance.
Egg Roll 500
Set up an obstacle course with a start and finish line. If outdoors, players can do this barefoot if
weather permitting. The course could go through mud puddles and/or water (sprinkler) if
available. Divide into teams and each person is to go through obstacle course pushing an egg
with their foot
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Froggy Finds a Pad
Give each youth five beanbags; each beanbag represents a frog. Spread over the game area a
dozen lily pads. (Upside down Frisbees might represent the lily pads.) How many frogs can each
youth toss onto a lily pad? Award 2 points for each bulls eye (a frog that rests entirely on a
Frisbee) and 1 point for each frog that has less-than-total contact with a Frisbee. At the award
ceremony, recognize youth who earn the most points.
Guess that Smell
Place one cotton ball in each empty film tube and poke a hole through the lid of each tube so you
can easily smell the scent inside. For each cotton ball choose one scent to be added to the cotton
ball. You can place numbered tags on the bottom of the tubes that correspond with a master list.
Here are some ideas of scents to add to cotton balls, lemon, peppermint, vanilla, garlic, orange,
bacon, cherry and coffee. The person that correctly identifies the most scents is the winner.
Hug-the-Balloon-Friend Relay
Place a balloon between two children's tummies. Have the children hug each other tight and
move sideways to the finish line without dropping the balloon.
Hula Hoop Marathon
How long can youth keep a Hula Hoop spinning around their bodies? Record the time each youth
keeps the hoop spinning; stop the clock the first time the hoop contacts the ground. Youth with
the longest spinning times are recognized during the award ceremony.
Lemon Relay
Divide into two groups or more depending on participants and supplies. At starting line, teams
are to roll lemon using a pencil through a short course and back to starting point. Each person on
team must complete task until the first team complete is the winner.
Melt the Ice Cube Race
The Ice Cube Race is certain to cool down players on a hot summer day. To prepare for the
game, purchase approximately six ice cube trays, depending on the number of participants, and a
large bag of Skittles. Fill up the ice cube trays with water, dropping two or three Skittles into
each of the ice cube compartments and freeze until set.
Give all of the kids that are playing an equal amount of the Skittle-filled ice cubes. The object of
the game is to melt the ice cubes by sucking on them, rubbing them between hands, etc., and
retrieve the Skittles the fastest. Kids can snack on the candy once the race is over.
Name it Ball
Have players form a circle. Give one player a rubber ball. That player selects a category, such as
"candy bars." He or she then bounces the ball to another player in the circle, who must catch the
ball, state an item from the category, such as "Snickers," and keep the ball moving to the next
player. If the player can't name an item, holds the ball too long, or repeats an item, he or she is
out.
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Pickle
Set up two throwers so that each one will stand at an end zone and one will have a handball.
Have all players at one of the end zones and they must run to the other end zone without getting
hit by the ball. The throwers will toss the ball back and forth until someone runs. The thrower
with the ball at that time will try to hit the runner or runners. Any runner hit by the ball is out.
The runners will again run to the other end zone once all runners have made it. All throws should
be below the chest or make wild players throw underhanded. The last two runners are the
winners and new throwers.
Ping Pong Ball Blow
Set up a track using boards; or mark a track on pavement using chalk, or on grass using lime.
The width of the track should be no wider than a foot. Provide each youth with a ping-pong ball
and a plastic straw. Youth blow through the straw to move the ping-pong ball from one end of
the track to the other without moving it outside the borders of the track. At the primary grades,
recognize at the award ceremony all youth who complete the track. For older youth, recognize
the fastest times.
Rope Jumping Race
Provide each youth with a jump rope. Youth count aloud as they jump. Record the number of
jumps each youth completes before missing. You might provide a time limit (for example, two
minutes) and record the number of jumps made during that time; that way, youth who jump
faster -- at more risk of missing -- have a better chance of completing more jumps. The three
youth who jump the most times within the time limit are recognized at the awards ceremony.
Silly Jumps.
Mark a starting point on the lawn and then take turns jumping in funny poses to see who can get
the farthest. Try jumping doing the splits mid-air, spinning around on lift-off or flapping your
arms to stay airborne.
Three Legged Race
Get a partner and tie your legs together. Race to the finish line!
Toy Wash
Take out all your old toys and or dolls and have a toy wash with soap and water!
Watermelon Eating Contest
Give each child a wedge of a watermelon and start the clocks, so who can finish their slice the
fastest! Be sure to wear clothes you can get messy!
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Water Games
Soap Bubble blow
Fill a shallow tub of water with soap and water and start rubbing your hands in it. Create bubbles
with your hands and see who can make the biggest bubble.
Water Balloon Target Practice
Make targets close, in the middle, and far away from the starting point (try using chalk).Whoever
gets it closer wins! You can use points also for the targets and add them up as you go along
Dribble, Dribble, Drench!
 This game is just like "Duck, Duck, Goose ", except that as "IT" walks around the circle
with a cup or pitcher of water.
 When they say dribble to each player they dribble a few drops of water on their head.
BUT...you know this is coming don't you?
When they say "Drench" that player gets the rest of the water on their head or back.
 Then the wet player chases”IT" and tries to tag her before she gets to the wet players
place. Got that?...this is really fun with kids age seven or older on a very hot summer day.
Younger children can play if they are not sensitive about being drenched.
Sponge Water Relay
Each team is given one full bucket of water at the start line.
Set the empty bucket some distance from the start line. The distance depends on the age of the
players.
The challenge is to be the first team to transfer the water in the full bucket to the empty bucket,
using only a sponge. Players take turns relay race style. First team to transfer all of the water
win!
Floating Play Dough
Fill the sink or bucket with water.
Place a ball of play dough in the water.
What happens to the ball of play dough?
Take the ball of play dough out of the water and mould it into the shape of a boat.
Place the boat made of play dough into the water.
What happens to the play dough?
Pass the Water Balloon
Divide the kids into team of two.
Mark the beginning and the end of the course.
On the word "Go!," the first player on each team puts a water balloon under his chin, races to the
end of the course and back.
When he gets back to his team, he has to pass the water balloon to the next player without using
his hands.
If the balloon breaks, the player has to get a new balloon and start over.
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If the balloon falls but doesn't break, the player has to pick it up, put it back under his chin
without using his hands, and keep going.
The first team to finish wins.
Water Balloon Trouser Stuff
Divide the players into two teams.
Give each team a basket of water balloons, and a large pair of sweat pants.
Have each team choose one person in their group to wear the sweat pants. The rest of the team
will help stuff them with water balloons.
On the word "Go!" each team begins to stuff water balloons into their volunteer's pants being
careful not to pop them.
After the allotted period of time, both teams must stop stuffing their volunteers (or when the kids
run out of water balloons).
The team with the most successfully stuffed balloons wins. This isn't necessarily the team that
used up all their balloons. A team that hurries and breaks some balloons along the way could
finish first, but still lose.
Next take a final tally by having one kid from each team carefully remove and count all the unpopped balloons. The team with the most un-popped balloon wins.
Water Balloon Toss
Divide the players into teams of two and give each team a water balloon.
Line the teams up an equal distance apart (three feet to start is good).
Have the one player toss a balloon to her partner. If her partner catches it she takes one step
back.
The players keep tossing the water balloons back and forth having the "catcher" take one step
back for each successful catch. Any team that drops or breaks their balloon is out.
The game continues until only one team is left with an unbroken water balloon.
Water Balloon Back to Back Relay Race
Divide the kids into two teams and have each kid pair up with someone from their team.
Have the first pair of kids from each team stand back to back with their arms locked at the start
line. Place a water balloon between their backs.
On the word "Go!" they must transport the balloon between their backs to the finish line (about
20 feet away). Then they have to maneuver themselves so they can deposit the balloon into the
empty bucket.
If any pair breaks their balloon before they deposit in their teams bucket then they sit out and the
next pair goes.
The game continues like this until each pair has had a turn.
The team with the most unbroken balloons in their bucket wins.
Water Balloon Cold Potato
Bring a good supply of water balloons to the play area.
Have the kids sit in a circle (adjust the spacing according the age of the players) and pass the
balloon from kid to kid. But here's the catch -- the balloon isn't pass around the circle as in the
traditional "hot potato". It's tossed across the circle.
If a player fails to catch the balloon, or it breaks that they're out.
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So the game doesn't get out of hand, any player who intentionally tries to make a balloon
explode in another player's hand by throwing it hard instead of tossing is called out.
The last kid left in the game (even if soaked) is the winner.
Jump Rope Water Splash
Required: Jump rope, plastic cups, and water
Players: Small to large groups
Give each child a plastic or paper cup full of water. While two players twirl a large jump rope,
jumpers one by one are to attempt three consecutive jumps. They are to do this while holding
onto their cup of water and trying to do let any water spill. The child that has the most water left
is the winner. You can keep playing until only one person has water left in their cup.
Over and Under
Required: Buckets of water, sponges, pitchers
Players: Small to large groups
Divide the group into two teams.
Have them form a single file line facing the persons head next to them.
At the head of each line put a bucket of water.
At the other end put a pitcher with a line drawn on it.
Give a sponge to the person at the head of the line where the water bucket is.
That person has to dip the sponge in the water to soak in as much water as they can.
They have to then pass the soaking wet sponge over their head to the person behind who then
passes the sponge to the person behind them through their legs.
The sponge makes its way back over the head of one person and between the legs of the next till
it gets to the person standing next to the pitcher.
That person must squeeze whatever water is left into the pitcher and run the sponge back up to
the head of the line.
When this occurs, everybody moves back one position and the person who was at the back of the
line now is at the head of the line.
Continue process till the pitcher is filled to line.
Fun game on hot day.
Water balloon Relay Race
Required: Water balloons, chairs
Players: Small to large groups
You can have as many teams as you want.
Set up a chair for each team with a water balloon in the seat.
Each player must run to the chair, sit on the balloon till it pops, then run and tag the next player.
You will need to put a new balloon in after each one is popped.
First team to pop all balloons and cross the finish line wins.
Toy Wash
Children in swim suits
Washable toys, water
Small buckets
Sponge and bubbles
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Instead of a car wash…have a toy wash!
On a hot day ---take all washable toys outside and let children have fun washing them.
Children cool off...and YOU get clean toys!!!
Great for end of the year or Summer Camp!!!
Frozen Feet
Have kids sit along the edge of a kiddy pool filled with water.
Each player has their own empty bucket or bowl beside them.
Now dump a big pile of ice cubes into the pool.
At the starting signal, players must pick up as many ice cubes as they can and put them into their
own buckets...they must use only their feet.
The player who collects the most ice cubes... within a designated time period is the winner
Water Balloon Yo-Yo
Balloons
Water
Rubber bands
Markers
First fill the balloon up with water ---but don't make the balloon stretch.
Next, blow the balloon up a little bit just so its half water and half air.
Tie a knot to close the balloon.
Take the rubber band and tie it on the end.
If you want - decorate it with the markers. Have Fun!
WET FASHION SHOW (Good for a field or water day!)
1 bucket per team full of water
Lots of newspaper
A few black bags to collect all the wet paper when the groups are done.
A willing caregiver for each group (The kids will LOVE this!)
Using only wet newspaper, have your own crazy fashion show by dressing up your
teacher/caregiver/parent!
Be sure to make sure that all the newspaper is cleaned up before the next group arrives.
Water Balloon Obstacle Course
Lots of water balloons,
Space for obstacle course
Set up a summer themed obstacle course. Children place a water balloon under their chins and
must negotiate the obstacle course without breaking the balloon.
This can also be done as a cooperative activity or group initiative. If a balloon breaks, that person
must go back to the beginning, get another balloon and start again. The team must wait for the
missing member to rejoin.
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Arts and Crafts
_____________________________________________________________________________________
*MARSHMALLOW & TOOTHPICK SCULPTURES *BEAN MOSAICS *POINTILLISM WITH Q-TIPS & WATERCOLORS
PAINT OR DRAW THE MUSIC! (Great for all ages!)
Painting or drawing "music" is a fun way to encourage children to creating abstract designs. Many artists,
including the great Russian painter Kandinsky, believe that music and art can express the same feelings
and ideas.
1. Simply play a piece of powerful music for 10 minutes.
2. For the first few minutes, have students sit quietly with eyes closed, listening and imagining lines and
shapes and colors. After listening they then "paint the colors and shapes that they hear."
There's no wrong way to do this. Whatever a child creates is exactly right...his interpretation of the music.
WET CHALK DRAWING: By dipping your chalk into wet paint, you can create wonderful works
of chalk art that won't smudge like regular chalk.
(Grades K-8) You Need: Paper (any color), Colorful chalk (either chalk pastels or blackboard chalk),
White tempera paint (liquid), Dish for the paint
1. Put a small amount of white tempera paint into a dish.
2. Dip the tip of your chalk into the paint.
3. Draw on your paper. The drawing marks you make will show not only the color of the chalk but also an
edge of white paint. If you draw on dark colors, the white will show up very nicely. You could also use
dark tempera paint with a light color paper. The possibilities are endless.
4. The beautiful part of this activity is that the paint "seals" the chalk so it won't smudge on the paper.
TOAST ART AND SNACK IN ONE!
Ingredients: Bread, Milk, Food coloring, cinnamon sugar, butter, small paper cups, thin brushes or cottontipped swabs
Mix “paint by combining food coloring with milk. Paint designs on one side—try and be creative with
stripes, stars, designs. When changing colors be sure to remind kids to use different brush or swab. When
complete-toast in toaster on light or under broiler. Can eat as is----or while still hot butter and sprinkle
with cinnamon-sugar.
CONTINUOUS LINE ART
1. Turn on a kitchen timer to one minute.
2. Using a marker begin drawing but don't pick up your marker.
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3. Make one long continuous line going up, down, across and around. 4. When the timer goes off, color
in the spaces.
MARBLE PAINTING
Nice to hang and display...
1. Give children construction paper and several colors of thick tempera paint in shallow dishes.
2. Put paper in a shallow box- then dip a marble in the chosen paint color and use a spoon to scoop it out
and onto the paper.
3. Now hold the box tilting it back and forth as the marble moves across. When there is no more paint,
dip the marble again or get a marble in a different color.
STAINED GLASS WINDOW PAGE
Coloring pages (Use a coloring book page and make copies of pages from it.)
Crayons or oil pastels
Newspaper
Cooking oil
Cotton balls
 Neatly color a coloring page-- pressing the crayons or oil pastels hard on the paper.
 Lay the finished colored page on many layers of newspaper.
 Wet a cotton ball in cooking oil and rub it over the surface of the page.
 Make sure the page is thoroughly oiled-- and then wipe off the excess oil. (Neither dry spots nor
or overly soaked spots should be showing.
 Leave the page on the paper for several hours until the oil is absorbed.
 When the page is put in front of a window--- the sun will shine through the translucency.
Idea from Angie Dockter-Rochester, Mi.
GROUP FOLD-OVER DRAWINGS GAME
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Give everyone a piece of paper.
On the top section, draw a head. It can be an animal head or a person's head, as weird as you like.
Now fold that section back, so that it's hidden, and pass it to the next person.
Without looking at the hidden drawing, the next person draws a chest and arms of a person,
animal, or creature---folds it back ---and passes it on to the next person.
Without looking at the previous pictures, that person draws a body – the stomach and hips.
The last person draws the legs and feet.
You can have more or fewer sections-- depending on the number of people you have drawing.
When complete, unfold your papers and see what unique people/creatures you have drawn!
CHALKY WATER ART
Colored chalk, drawing paper, liquid starch, paintbrushes
Draw picture with chalk and then brush over it with liquid starch. Watch it glow!
PLASTIC WRAP MAGIC
1. Paint a picture with wet, colorful areas.
2. While the paint is still wet and in puddles, crumple a sheet of plastic wrap and smash it down onto the
wet paint.
3. Don't move the plastic around...just press it flat onto the paint.
4. Set the painting aside to dry for an hour.
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5. When you come back and pull off the plastic, you will discover unusual and beautiful patterns in the
dry paint beneath.
INVISABLE DRAWING
1. Draw a design with white crayon on white paper....this is hard to do because it's difficult to see what
you're drawing.
2. Create a really wild design with lots of scribbles and dots and zigzag patterns.
3. Paint over the top of your "invisible" drawing with bright watercolors. Like magic, the drawing will
appear in all its glory.
BUBBLE WRAP PAINTING
Need: Paper, Bubble wrap, (the type used for packing) Tempera Paint
Paint your favorite colors onto the bubble wrap. Lay your paper on the bubble wrap and gently smooth
with your hands. Peel back the paper. What do you see? Tip: Bubble wrap prints would make a nice
background for your next art project.
POINTILLISM WITH Q-TIPS & WATERCOLORS
You Need: Watercolors, Q-tips, watercolor paper, drafting tape
Discuss how Georges Seurat used dots to make paintings...specifically how he used primary colors
placed NEXT to each other instead of mixing colors.
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Tape the edges of the paper with drafting tape.
 Sketch basic landscape with a pencil.
 Wet the paint with a brush, dip the q-tip in water and dip it into the paint.
 Pressing down lightly will make a small dot, more pressure will create a larger one.
 Have children try to fill up as much of the paper as possible with color.
 Remove the tape when the painting is dry.
KOOL-AID ART
1. Sprinkle Kool-aid crystals onto a piece of paper.
2. Have children spray water from a spray bottle onto the paper.
3. Use different colored kool-aid mix.
4. For added adventure, you may choose to take children out into the rain with a piece of paper that has
Kool-aid on it.
BLEEDING ART
Materials: Paper, tissue paper, spray bottles, water
Cut tissue paper into desired shapes.
Fill bottles with water.
1. Have children place tissue paper on other paper and spray with water.
2. Remove tissue paper to see how it bled and created designs on the construction paper.
SOAP CARVING: Only children who can use a butter knife confidently should do this activity, and
always with adult supervision. Using CAKES OF SOAP (Ivory works well) and butter knives---carve and
whittle different masterpieces. When you have finished carving wet the soap slightly and rub it with your
fingers to smooth it out more. Paint your soap if you want when you are finished or just leave it as it is.
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COLLAGE ART (It's not just for kids!!!)
1. Cut out pictures, patterns, or shapes, then arrange them on a sheet of cardboard or heavy paper.
2. Make interesting combinations by overlapping or rotating your collage snippets.
3. When you have everything in the perfect spot, carefully paste each picture to the backing.
4. Once your collage is dry, you can decorate it with markers, crayons, or pencils.
POTATO PRINTS...Cut a potato in half and cut a shape on one of the cut ends, creating a stamp. The
shape can be carved simply--- or more intricately by placing gouges within the shape for more detail.
Paint the shape a bright color and press it on paper as a stamp, to make a print. Several similar prints can
be made with the same shape cut on the potato.
MARSHMALLOW & TOOTHPICK SCULPTURES
An Extension of this idea:
Soak dried peas over night to be used as joints in the sculpture. The peas soften for the construction and
then harden like tiny concrete balls as they dry. Advise this for ages 7 and up...You Need:
Small marshmallows, toothpicks
1. Kids make a marshmallow sculpture by sticking toothpicks into marshmallows and building up from a
base.
2. Advise youth to make a square base-- by sticking 4 toothpicks into 4 marshmallows; Children then
build their sculpture up from there.
3. Ask kids to try to build up and not have their sculpture lay flat on the table. (Although the younger the
child the flatter the sculpture will be.
BEAN MOSAICS
Materials:
Glue, paintbrushes, cardboard or any sturdy backing, dry beans (kidney, black beans, peas, lentils etc.) of
different colors and sizes, pencils
1. Draw a simple shape or figure on the cardboard. Keep the details down to a minimum. Simple is good
for this project.
2. Paint glue in a small portion of the design. Note: Do not use too much glue if your cardboard is not
sturdy. It will curl.
3. Place beans of different colors in the portion with glue.
4. Repeat for the entire picture.
5. The result is quite beautiful and the children will have a piece of art they are proud to display.
STRING PAINTING
1. Dip various types and lengths of string and yarn into paint and then drag them across a piece of paper.
2. Compare the effect created when you drag the string across wet paper.
3. Dab paint on another piece of paper, fold and pull a piece of string through the paint.
COLOR AND LIGHT WINDOW ART
Need:
Wax paper
Tissue paper
Glue diluted with water
String
1. Paint the wax paper with the glue and water mixture.
2. Lay pieces of tissue paper on the glue, in whatever pattern and color you wish.
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3. Lay the second piece of wax paper over the first and smooth.
4. Attach string to hang your stained glass in a window and let the sun shine through!
RACEWAY PAINTING
1. Cover table with newspaper or plastic tablecloth.
2. Have children place small amounts of tempera paint on their paper--in one or more colors.
3. Using the car, have children "drive" the car all over the paper. (Small Die-cast cars and trucks - such as
Hot Wheels).
4. While running the tires through the paint, they'll create "car tracks" and blend the paints together.
5. Continue with the design until they feel they are finished....Dry. You'll get some very interesting art...
6. More fun! Fill buckets with soapy water-- have "a car wash" when done painting!
INDIVIDUAL ABSTRACT ART (Blow Painting)
1. Mix up runny paint in one color or different colors.
2. Drop several large dollops onto paper.
3. Then, using a straw, have the children blow the paint into lines and squiggles so all the colors mix and
overlap.
If you like, you can leave as is or turn your shape into anything you want!
BLINDFOLD PAINTING
Put a blindfold over children's eyes. Have child then feel the brushes, paper and area before starting.
Children then paint without seeing what they are doing. It's suggested to do this with small groups at a
time.
PAINT WITH COTTON BALLS
Materials: Spring-type clothespins, cotton balls, paint, small containers, paper, tape
Preparation: Pour paint into small containers. Tape paper to table. Clip a cotton ball to the end of each
clothespin.
Using the clothespins as handles, have the children dip the cotton balls into paint and then spread it on
their papers.
Tip: When the cotton balls start to get stringy from too much paint, replace them with fresh ones.
PERSONALITY HANDS (Who says handprint art is only for very young children! This project
proves differently!
Materials: 12x18" white paper, sharpie, markers, scissors, black paper
First trace hands 6 - 8 times on a sheet of 12x18" white paper.
Using a marker, draw patterns, symbols, shapes, etc. that reflect your personality. Problem solving is part
of this project, as youth must decide how to incorporate the overlapping fingers.
Color the negative space in between the fingers black, and anywhere it will be difficult to get to with
scissors.
Cut out around the outside of the hands and glue on black paper.
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YARN BOWL
1. Blow up a balloon to the size of your choice. Place the balloon on a bowl.
2. Cut strands of yarn 12 and more inches long. (The heavier the yarn the better)
3. Soak the yarn in a bowl of white glue. When thoroughly drenched, lift the yarn from bowl and squeeze
the excess glue between finger and thumb.
4. Place the yarn and cover only half of the balloon layering and overlapping the pieces (whichever
direction you choose.)
5. Continue doing this until an entire half of the balloon is covered in yarn. Leave the upper half of the
balloon bare.
6. The yarn will take 24 to 48 hours to dry. When completely dry--break the balloon. You now have a
wonderful lacy bowl to hold ribbons, scarves or whatever!
CHOCOLATE FINGER PAINT
1 (4 oz.) pkg. instant chocolate pudding & pie filling
2 Cup cold milk
• Put pudding mix and milk in a medium size bowl.
• Beat with electric mixer at low speed for two minutes.
• Let set until it thickens. Finger paint on white construction paper and let dry for several hours.
MAKE NEW CUPCAKE TIN CRAYONS
1. Take the paper off old crayons
2. Break them into pieces.
3. Spray muffin/cupcake tins with nonstick spray or lightly coat with oil----OR---Line the cups of a
miniature muffin tin with aluminum foil cupcake liners of regular liners 3 each deep.
4. Put crayon pieces into muffin tins and melt in an oven at 250 degrees until just melted ...you can mix
the crayons in the tins but you may want to have separate colors as well.
PAINTED GLUE
Materials:
White glue
Waxed paper
Marking pens
1. Spill glue onto waxed paper in odd shapes.
2. Let the glue dry until it is hard and clear.
3. Color the dried glue with fine point markers.
4. Remove the shapes from the paper.
Hang them in windows...from mobiles...or even around your neck!
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Mad Science
Balloon Kabob
 A grown-up's permission to use pointy things!
 Balloon
 BBQ Skewer or Knitting Needle
 Petroleum Jelly or Baby Oil
Coat the skewer or knitting needle in petroleum jelly or baby oil.
Blow up the balloon until it is round like a ball and soft enough to squeeze gently.
Starting at the spot on the balloon where the color is darkest (this should be opposite to where the
balloon is tied), slowly twist the skewer in one direction while gently forcing it into the balloon.
Keep twisting the skewer in the same direction until it pokes through the balloon.
Slide the skewer until the tip is touching the spot where the balloon is tied off.
Continue twisting until the skewer pokes out the other end!
Explanation:
You skewered a balloon! Balloons are made from a thin sheet of rubber called latex. A latex
balloon is like a stretchy ball because it is made of polymers, long, thin chains of molecules
tangled together. These polymers are attached by bonds called cross-links, which form a web
that can be stretched and returned to its original shape.
The dark spots on the balloon are thicker than the rest of the balloon. The balloon does not break
when a sharp skewer is forced through the dark spots because the polymers are pushed aside but
remain bonded by the cross-links. (The skewer will slide in easily and seal the hole if it is coated
with oil or petroleum jelly.) If you give the thin part of the balloon a quick, sharp poke with the
skewer, the strands will break and the balloon will pop!
Bubble Balance
 Bubble solution (from Soap Spheres experiment)
 Empty bucket
 Measuring cups
 Baking soda
 Vinegar
Place the bucket in an indoor area (with no draft).
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the bucket.
Gently pour 1 cup of vinegar into the bucket. The contents will start to fizz.
Once the fizzing stops, blow bubbles gently over the bucket so they fall inside. (Blowing the
bubbles directly into the bucket will cause the experiment to fail.)
Where do the bubbles land?
Explanation:
Your bubbles are floating on top of a chemical reaction!
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Vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base. Acids contain particles called hydrogen’s, and
bases contain particles called hydroxides. Mixing acids and bases together creates an acid and
base reaction that connects the hydrogen’s with the hydroxides, which makes water!
Baking soda is a base that contains carbonate. (The scientific name for baking soda is sodium
bicarbonate.) During the acid and base reaction, the carbonate also reacts and forms carbon
dioxide this is the gas that caused the fizzing in the bucket.
The air that you exhaled contained both oxygen and carbon dioxide, so the bubbles you made
were filled with a lighter gas mixture than the carbon dioxide produced from the acid-base
reaction. Because carbon dioxide is heavier than air, the gas stayed in the bottom of the bucket.
The bubbles you blew into the bucket stopped falling partway, because they were supported by a
layer of carbon dioxide that was produced from the acid and base reaction!
Cauldron Bubbles
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clear glasses
water
oil
salt
sugar
sand
Check with an adult before you begin.
In the ZOOMscis, Dancing Raisins and Dancing Raisins II, you can make different objects fall
and rise in water. You can do this with bubbles of oil too!
Fill a glass half full of water.
Add about a half-inch of oil. The oil will float on top because it is less dense than the water.
Pour in some salt. What do you see?
When you pour in the salt, it brings a bubble of oil down with it. The salt and the oil together are
denser than the water, so they sink. When the salt dissolves in the water, the oil floats back to the
top because now it is less dense than the water.
See if you can make cauldron bubbles with different materials. The ZOOMers tried sugar and
sand.
Make predictions about what you think will happen with each different material.
Record your results and send your discoveries to ZOOM!
Color Symphony
 disposable cups
 3 different bottles of food coloring
 milk
 white glue
 dishwashing detergent
Take the milk out of the refrigerator and let it warm up a little. It'll work better if it's not cold.
Put the milk in a cup.
Add drops of food coloring in a triangle or square pattern
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Put a drop of soap in the middle of the food coloring design and watch the colors move. Cool,
huh? Milk has fat in it and the soap breaks up the fat. The food coloring swirls into the places
where the fat used to be.
Now, instead of using milk, try it with glue. Soap also prevents glue from sticking together. If
you let the glue harden, you can cut away the cup and you have a colored disk.
Cotton Ball Catapult
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cotton balls
plastic spoon
a ruler
masking tape
2 rubber bands
Try to make a cotton ball catapult using these materials.
Egg in a Bottle
 Water
 Teakettle
 Oven mitt
 Funnel
 Clean, empty salad dressing bottle
 Hard-boiled egg, peeled
With adult supervision, boil water in the teakettle. Wearing the oven mitt and using the funnel,
carefully fill the empty salad dressing bottle with the boiling water from the teakettle. Remove
the funnel. Swirl the water around inside the bottle, and then pour the water into the sink.
Quickly place the egg over the mouth of the bottle.
What happens
The egg is sucked into the bottle, making a very unusual sound. (To get the egg out of the bottle,
hold the bottle upside down and blow into the bottle for thirty seconds. When you remove your
mouth, the increased air pressure in the bottle forces the egg out of the bottle.)
Why It Works
The heat from the boiling water causes the air inside the bottle to expand, forcing some of it out.
As the air begins to cool inside the bottle, it contracts, reducing the air pressure inside the bottle.
The greater air pressure outside the bottle forces the egg into the bottle.
Hover Craft
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plastic plate
film canister
ballpoint pen
poster putty
balloons
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Check with an adult before you begin.
To make a Hovercraft, poke a hole in the center of a plastic plate with a ballpoint pen.
Poke another hole in the center of the bottom of a film canister.
Put the film canister over the hole in the plate and use poster putty to stick it on.
Blow up a balloon and twist the opening so that air doesn't come out.
Stretch the opening of the balloon over the film canister. Make sure that the opening of the
balloon lines up with the hole in the film canister.
Put the Hovercraft on a smooth, flat surface, let go of the balloon and give it a flick. The
Hovercraft will glide across the surface on a cushion of air. The air in the balloon has to go
somewhere. So, it flows out of the balloon and goes under the plate. The layer of air under the
plate takes up space so it keeps the plate and table from rubbing on each other. When objects rub
against each other, they create friction. Friction drags on each object and slows it down. The
Hovercraft has very little friction because it rests on air.
Green Slime
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4-ounce bottle of Elmer's Glue-All
Two large glass bowls
Water
Green food coloring
Large spoon
Measuring cup
1 teaspoon 20 Mule Team Borax
Ziploc Storage Bag or airtight container
Empty the bottle of Elmer's Glue-All into the first bowl. Fill the empty glue bottle with water
and then pour it into the bowl of glue. Add ten drops of food coloring and stir well.
In the second bowl, mix the borax with 1 cup water. Stir until the powder dissolves.
Slowly pour the colored glue into the bowl containing the borax solution, stirring as you do so.
Remove the thick glob that forms, and knead the glob with your hands until it feels smooth and
dry. Discard the excess water remaining in the bowl. Store the Green Slime in the Ziploc bag or
airtight container.
What Happens
The resulting soft, pliable, rubbery glob snaps if pulled quickly, stretches if pulled slowly, and
slowly oozes to the floor if placed over the edge of a table.
Why It Works
The polyvinylacetate molecules in the glue act like invisible bicycle chains drifting around the
water. The borax molecules (sodium tetraborate) act like little padlocks, locking the chain links
together wherever they touch the chain. The locks and chains form an interconnected "fishnet,"
and the water molecules act like fish trapped in the net.
Homemade Clouds
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Glass Jar
Matches
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Rubber Gloves
The clouds you see in the sky are formed when water vapor is cooled enough to form tiny water
droplets. When moist, cool air rises to a higher altitude, it cools, water droplets are formed, and
voila - you have clouds. In this experiment we'll duplicate this same process by causing air in a
bottle to rapidly cool.
Put a small amount of water into the jar. Just enough to cover the bottom.
Place the glove into the jar with the fingers pointing down. Stretch the mouth of the glove over
the top of the jar.
Carefully insert your hand into the glove being careful not to break the seal. Pull your hand (with
the glove still on it) outward quickly. Make sure you don't break the seal.
Now remove the glove and drop a lit match into the jar. Quickly put the glove back into the jar
and seal it again.
Put your hand back into the glove and quickly pull it outward again.
Surprised! The clouds form when you pull the glove outward and disappear when you put your
hand back into the jar.
Water molecules are in the air all around us - they're just invisible. So we do indeed have some
water particles in the jar. When you pull the glove outwards you make more room in the jar and
the air in the jar hence has more room to expand. This process causes the air and water particles
in the jar to cool slightly. When the air cools, the water particles begin sticking to each other (just
like the formation of clouds).
The match adds another component to this mix - smoke particles, which are solid. Water
particles will bunch together more easily if there are some solid particles around to act as a
nucleus. The smoke particles serve this purpose well and hence facilitate the formation of the
'clouds'.
When you put your hand back into the jar you compress the air which has the opposite affect of
expansion - the air heats up. This may seem a little confusing but just remember expansion
causes cooling and compression causes heating
Moving Molecules
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2 small balloons
2 large glass jars or glasses
cold water
warm water
Fill each of the balloons with cold water and tie knots to secure the water inside. Make sure the
water is cold; you may need to chill the water with ice cubes or in the fridge or freezer before the
experiment.
Fill one of the jars about halfway with warm water.
Fill the other jar about halfway with cold water.
Place a water-filled balloon in each jar. What do you notice?
Explanation:
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The balloon with the cold water sinks to the bottom of the jar because cold water is heavier than
warm water. The cold water is actually denser than the warm water which means it has more
mass for its volume.
Polishing Pennies
 lemon juice
 old, dull pennies
 paper cups
 paper towels
Check with a grown-up before you begin.
Put a penny in a paper cup.
Pour some lemon juice into the cup. Make sure the penny is completely covered.
After about 5 minutes, take the penny out of the lemon juice; rub it off with a paper towel. What
does the penny look like now? It should be much brighter.
A new penny is partly made from bright, shiny copper. But after a while, it loses its shine. Why?
Because the copper mixes with the oxygen in the air and makes a coating called an oxide. When
you put the penny in lemon juice, the acid in the lemon chemically removes the oxide, and you're
left with a bright copper penny.
Rising Golf Ball
 Golf ball
 Clean, empty glass jar and lid
 Uncooked rice
Place the golf ball in the bottom of the jar, then fill the jar with the uncooked rice, stopping 1-1/2
inches from the top of the jar. Close the lid. Shake the jar back and forth vigorously (not up and
down).
What Happens
The golf ball rises to the surface.
Why It Works
No two pieces of matter can occupy the same space at the same time. As the jar is shaken, the
grains of rice move closer together, settling in the jar and pushing the ball upward.
Soap Spheres
 Dish detergent
 Tap water
 Teaspoon or measuring cup
 Empty soft drink bottle with cap
 Straw
 Sugar
In the bottle, mix 3 parts dish detergent with 7 parts water and 1 part sugar.
Let the bottle sit in the refrigerator overnight.
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Dip the straw into the solution and remove it, letting most of the solution drip off.
Gently blow through the straw. What happens?
Repeat the experiment, but change the quantities of dish detergent, water, and sugar. Which
recipe creates the best bubbles?
Explanation:
You made a bubble solution! Bubbles are made of a thin elastic liquid film that is a mix of soap
and water. This film is made up of three layers. The water layer is sandwiched between two
layers of dish detergent. Water has a surface tension (see the Paperclip Float experiment) strong
enough to support a paper clip. This surface tension is also what holds the bubble together. Dish
detergent is made up of greasy and water halves. The watery half mixes with the water, while
the greasy half forms the layer covering both the inside and outside surface of the water bubble.
Soda Bottle Boat
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plastic soda bottle
thumb tack
toilet paper
baking soda
vinegar
marbles
Using the thumb tack, make a hole in the cap of the soda bottle.
Take three or four sheets of toilet paper and put some baking soda on them.
Spread the baking soda out evenly and roll up the toilet paper. This slows down the reaction
between the baking soda and the vinegar.
Put the rolled up toilet paper into the soda bottle.
Also add some marbles so that the opening of the bottle is weighted down and the hole that you
poked is in the water.
Fill the bottle a quarter of the way with vinegar and quickly put the cap on the bottle.
Place this in a tub or pool of water and watch it go!
You can also do it without making a whole - just loosen the cap.
Static Attractions
 Thread
 Plastic drinking straw
 Plastic pen
 A helper
Tie one end of a piece of thread around the middle of a straw.
Ask a helper to hold the free end of the thread so that the straw is suspended.
Rub the side of a pen on a rug until it feels warm (you are building up a charge).
Make sure the straw is still and then bring the charged pen close to the ends of the straw.
What happens?
Explanation:
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You made an electroscope! Electroscopes can detect charges like static electricity. Static
electricity stays in an object (which is why it's called "static") until it is discharged onto another
object. Rubbing your feet on a carpet builds up static electricity and touching a doorknob (or
person!) discharges it. Rubbing your pen on a rug charges up the pen's plastic with static
electricity. Charges can be positive or negative, and the charges on glass and plastic tend to be
negative. Opposites attract and likes repel so the ends of the electroscope will spin toward or
away from a charged object depending on whether it has a negative or positive charge.
Straw Tower
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straws
scissors
straight pins
thimbles
shoe box
100 pennies
Build a skyscraper that can hold a shoebox filled with 100 pennies.
You can only use straws and pins to build your skyscraper.
Pins can be very sharp, so make sure you get permission to use them, and make sure to use
thimbles to help press the pins through.
Good luck!
Submarine Race
 small soda bottle
 marbles
 baking soda
 vinegar
Using a small soda bottle, marbles, and baking soda and vinegar, build a submarine that will sink
and come back to the surface. The one that does this the fastest wins.
By the way, you can't touch the submarine once you put it in the water, but you can leave part of
the submarine at the bottom of the water
Taste vs. Smell
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small cups
cotton swabs
different foods with similar textures (the ZOOMers compared ketchup, mustard,
barbecue sauce, sweet and sour sauce, and maple syrup.)
pen and paper for charting
Check with a grown-up before you get started to make sure it's okay to taste some different foods
in your house.
Ask a friend to help. One of you will be the taster and the other the tester, but you can switch at
the end so both of you will get a chance to taste.
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Draw a chart for recording your results. Write the name of each food you are testing in separate
rows along the left side. Draw two columns for each taster. Label each column with the taster's
name and "unplugged" or "plugged."
Make some predictions about which foods will be easier and harder to identify. Will it be easier
or harder to taste the foods with your nose plugged or unplugged?
Blindfold the taster or just have her close her eyes.
The tester then puts a little bit of one food on the taster's tongue with a cotton swab.
The taster tries to identify which food she's tasting as well as whether it is salty, bitter, sweet or
sour.
The tester records the taster's answers on the chart for each food she tastes.
When the taster has tried all the foods blindfolded, have her taste them each again but with her
nose plugged as well. (Make sure you have her taste the foods in a different order.)
Once the taster has tried each food with her nose plugged, switch who tastes and who tests and
go through it all again.
When you've both had a chance to taste, compare your results.
Under Water Fireworks
 Large, clear glass bowl
 Water
 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
 Paper cup
 Food coloring red, blue, green
 Spoon
Fill the bowl with water. Pour the cooking oil into the paper cup. Add four drops of each food
coloring color. Mix the oil and colors thoroughly with the spoon. Pour the colored oil mixture
into the water in the bowl. Observe for ten minutes.
What Happens
Small pools of oil spotted with tiny spheres of color float to the surface of the water, exploding
outward and creating flat circles of color on the surface of the water. Long streamers of color
then sink down through the water, like a fireworks display.
Why It Works
Oil and water are immiscible—meaning they do not mix, but separate into layers because of the
different polarity of their molecules. The oil rises to the surface because it is less dense than the
water. Since the water-based food coloring does not dissolve in oil, it remains in tiny spheres
throughout the oil on the water’s surface, then sinks through the oil layer and dissolves in the
water below, creating long streamers of color.
Zoom Vehicle
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piece of string (6 feet long)
straws
3 balloons
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paper clips
paper
rubber bands
6 inches of masking tape
Make a ZOOM Vehicle that goes from one end of a six-foot string to the other.
To build your string track, attach the six-foot piece of string in between two chairs.
To build your vehicle, you can use straws, three balloons, paper clips, paper, rubber bands, and
six inches of masking tape.
What kinds of things do you need to think about in order to build a successful vehicle? Make
sure your vehicle has a lot of force, but not too much resistance.
With a second string track of the same length, you could also get together with some friends to
see who could get their vehicle to ZOOM to the end of their string first!
EASY HOMEMADE BOUNCING BALLS
What You Need:
Borax
Corn starch
Elmer's Glue-All
Warm water
Food color (optional)
Measuring spoons
2 bowls
What To Do:
Mixture #1 - 1st Bowl –
 Add 2 tablespoons of warm water, plus 1/2 teaspoon of Borax and stir to dissolve the
Borax as much as possible.
 Add food color to this mixture if desired & mix.
Bowl #2  Pour in 1 tablespoon Elmer's Glue-All
 Add 1/2 teaspoon of the above Borax mixture and 1 tablespoon corn starch
 DO NOT MIX! Let mixture stand for about 15 seconds then mix the ingredients until it
becomes too hard to do so. You will be able to tell when the time is right - it will get
clumpy and combined together.
 At that point, take out the mixture into your hand and quickly knead it in a circular
pattern to form your ball. (Think of when you make a ball with play dough.)
 It starts out as a sticky, gooey mess but it quickly starts to solidify so you must mold it
quickly.
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Computer Games
Homework Time Websites
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Khan Academy www.khanacademy.org
Dance Mat Typing www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3c6tfr
Star Fall www.starfall.com/
Cookie www.cookie.com/
Learning Games for Kids www.learninggamesforkids.com/
Compass Learning
Ticket to Read
*If you have another school website, please ask to log on
Free Time Websites
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Fun Brain www.funbrain.com/
ABCYA www.abcya.com/
PBSKids pbskids.org/
Hooda Math www.hoodamath.com/
Disney Games www.games.disney.com/
Nick Jr. www.nickjr.com/
The Color www.thecolor.com/
Nickelodeon www.nick.com/games/
*If you have another website, please ask Mrs. Sonia.
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Teen Budget Education
Plan Your Dream Prom
http://senseanddollars.thinkport.org/games/dreamprom/home.html
Bank it or Bust
http://www.thirteen.org/finance/games/bankorbust.html
Monthly Budget for Teens
http://www.moneyandstuff.info/pdfs/SampleBudgetforTeens.pdf
Budgeting Lesson Plan
http://www.moneyandstuff.info/lessons/2BBudgetingLesson_Allowance.pdf
Teen Budget Worksheet
http://teenspace.cincinnatilibrary.org/uploads/PDFs/Teen%20budget.pdf
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Team Building Activities
Team Activity 1: Back Drawing http://youth-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/team_building_activities_for_teens
1. Divide the youth into pairs (you can participate if there is an odd number)
2. One student is the “artist” and sits behind their partner.
3. Given the artist the short list of simple items
4. The object is for the partner to identify as many of the shapes as possible.
5. Each drawing can be repeated only one time.
6. This activity forces kids to pay careful attention and use visualization skills.
Team Activity 2: Trust Lean Rotation
1. Count off the youth 1, 2, 1, 2, ect. Make the ones make a line these are the catchers
2. Make the twos make a line in front of the catchers so their back is facing the catchers
front, these are the trustees
3. Count to three and let the Trustees fall into the air as the catchers, catch their partner in
front of them.
4. Rotate the line so that the one end Trustee becomes the Catcher and on the opposite end
the Catcher becomes the Trustee.
Team Activity 3: Object Creations
1. Have the whole group spread out, you will need space so you might want to do this
outside unless you have a big area to do it inside
2. Have the youth walk around in no order at all, just keep moving until you call out a
direction
3. The object of the game is to create the object that is called out by you with the number of
people that is decided by you
a. For example: toaster 5
b. 5 people in the group will have to quickly split into small groups of five and
create a toaster with their bodies.
4. If you don’t think the group has succeeded in their task you have them sit out
5. The only rule is that you cannot be with the same people every time, until the end
Team Activity 4: Survival http://wilderdom.com/games/InitiativeGames.html
1. Give the students a scenario; you can do this in one big group or smaller groups, your
choice. Plane crashed, your group needs to choose the 12 most useful items to survive
2. Choose / rank equipment items in terms of their relative survival value:
3. Participants choose/rank the items individually
4. Discuss choices/rankings in small group and come to a group consensus
5. Score answers against "expert" opinion
6. Possible scenarios: Lost at sea or island survival (shipwreck), Desert (plane crash), Space
or Moon
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Teen After Hours
Craft Ideas
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Find a famous quote and paint it onto a canvas, t shirt, bad, poster, or any other medium
you like
T shirt making with puffy paint, acrylic paint, or cutting designs, stencils, get creative.
Photo Journal: Put use to all of those pictures that are taken and create a scrapbook, photo
journal, or even a collage
Activity Ideas
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Social Media Safety: Make time to talk about and check teen’s social media security
settings.
Analyze their favorite songs
Bake or cook with them, teach them something new!
Teach a new board game: Chess, Settlers of Catan, Risk, and other strategy games
Bring a friend day
Get outdoors and go for a hike
Do yoga or other workout activities to relive stress
Teen Movie Ideas
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Soul Surfer
Remember the Titans
Blind Side
Freedom Writers
Super Size Me
Pick movies that your teen can connect with!
Discussion Topic Ideas
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Should cell phones be allowed in schools?
Should public schools have uniforms?
Does violence in the media cause violent behavior in kids?
Should plastic shopping bags be completely banned?
Is television better than books?
Do girls have it better than boys?
Should computers replace teachers?
Is beauty only skin deep?
Are cats better than dogs?
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Community Service Ideas
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Plant a tree
Pick up trash around community
Make treats for a local senior home
Develop and maintain a recycle program
Donate old toys to younger kids
Make generalized birthday cards to deliver to residents
throughout the year
Write kind notes to deliver to residents throughout the year
Donate old clothes to other residents
Collect used books for a book sale or book donation swap
Donate kids crafts to local hospital
Have kids volunteer to help distribute free food
Decorate reusable grocery bags and fill them with their favorite
non-perishable food items.
Stuff new, warm socks with water bottles and granola bars to
give to residents
Decorate holiday cards for soldiers overseas.
Box up their gently used clothing to donate to your local family
shelter, refugee center or charity thrift store.
Donate their gently used books and DVDs to a local children’s
hospital.
Host a hot chocolate or cider stand and donate the proceeds to a
charity of their choosing
Bantuveris, Karen ( 2015, March 26th) Points of Light Blog http://www.pointsoflight.org/blog/2013/03/26/10-kid-friendly-volunteerservice-projects
Kid World Citizen (2013, February 20th) 35+ Services Projects for Kids. http://kidworldcitizen.org/2013/02/20/35-service-projects-for-kids/
Shelby, Barbra (2011, February 27th) Community Service Ideas for Kids of all Ages. http://www.kidactivities.net/post/community-serviceideas-for-kids.aspx
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