Woolwich Stay Home Stay Active

Check out a nearby “tree museum”! An arboretum is a place of wonder for children of all ages. Enjoy the variety nature beholds.

Plant Spring Bulbs

There is something magical about flower bulbs: a dry bulb turning into a beautiful flower. The best time to plant those spring bulbs is October through November.

Make a classic Handprint Turkey- a great activity for your kids on Thanksgiving Day!

Materials:

• Snow and Snowballs
• Tealight 

How to:

• Locate a flat area on your lawn and start making snowballs. 
• Make as many snowballs as you'd like. 
• Keep the snowballs uniform in size and pack them well.
• The more snowballs you have, the higher you can build up.
• Once you have your supply, start by forming a ring with balls. 
• Add one layer after another, gently decreasing the width at each level.
• A you layer the snow balls, think ahead to leave a small gap in the constructions as a place to reach in with your hand and to place a tea light once the construction is finished. 
• The goal is to build a solid snowball pyramid. 
• Once the balls are in place and a Snowball Pyramid has been formed, parental guidance is necessary to placing and lighting a candle. 
• To use the Snowball Luminary, just reach into the little gap with a tea light, light it, and enjoy your beautiful work. 

 Supplies:

• A large piece of cardboard
• Duct tape- how much you need depends on the size of the cardboard you are using
• Scissors

Instructions

1- Cut a handle into your piece of cardboard

2- Start covering both sides of the cardboard in duct tape, ensuring that you wrap the edges of the cardboard in tape as well. Make sure each strip of tape overlaps the previous strip to make sure the cardboard is well protected from the snow it will soon be racing down.

 Supplies:

• Balloons
• Food Colouring
• A healthy dose of imagination 

Instructions:

1- To start, put several drops of food colouring into your balloon:

• 18 drops of red for a red orb
• 18 drops of blue for a blue orb
• 18 drops of yellow for a yellow orb
• 18 drops of green for a green orb
• 16 drops of yellow and 2 drops of red for an orange orb
• 9 drops of red and 9 drops of blue for a purple orb

2- Now stretch the neck of your balloon over your faucet and fill up with water

3- Tie them up (the more the merrier)

4- Gentle place the balloons n the snow to freeze

5- After one night in the snow, rotate the balloons. The balloons are ready when the water is frozen. 

6- Cut off the balloons and reveal your rainbow orbs!

7- Be creative and make caterpillar or structure

 Supplies:

• 8 cups of snow
• Sweetened condensed milk
• Vanilla Extract 

Instructions:

1- To start, you’ll need anywhere from 8 to 12 cups of fresh, fluffy snow. The amount that you’ll actually depends on whether your snow is heavy and dense or light and fluffy. Start with 8 cups though, and simply add to it if you find you need more.

2-Once inside, scoop your snow from the bin into a mixing bowl.

3- Then we dribbled about a teaspoon of vanilla over the snow. 

4- Add the condensed milk. Pour over the snow, and stirred and mashed it all into the snow.   

5- When it looked “just right”, transfer it all into a freezer-safe container.  This would allow us to freeze any of the snow that we didn’t eat right away.

6- Scoop snow into cups, and topped our snow cones off with sprinkles. Mmmmm! Icy and sweet French Vanilla snow cones! 

Supplies:

• Tempera Paint Powders (non-toxic, environment friendly)
• Jars
• Paintbrushes
• A Snowy Yard
• Sticks and twigs from the garden (for frames)

Instructions:

1- Simply mix the powders with water to get a fairly thin consistency so the colours can easily be applied to the snow.

2- Prepare the paints in glass jars.

3- Pop a paintbrush into each jar, and when the children trade the paints around, the brush gets traded along with the jar, keeping the colours from getting mixed together.

Play a game of Snow Golf 

Bury tin cans in the snow to be your holes.

Backyard Ice Cube Sculptures

If you're looking for a backyard winter activity that the whole family can participate in, try out this fun Backyard Ice Cube Sculptures activity. Kids of all ages will want to get in on the fun here and grown ups won't be able to resist getting involved.

What you'll need:

• Lots of colourful leaves
• Hole punches- single, heart, star hold punch (heart and star hole punches are optional)

How to make eco-friendly confetti:

1- Grabbing a few beautiful leaves from outside

2- Hole punch them 

What you'll need:

• Pine needles
• Leaves
• Flowers/petals
• Twigs
• Acorns
• Pebbles
• Pinecones
• Birdseed
• Orange or lemon slices
• Berries
• Evergreen branches
• Nuts
• Ivy

Instructions: 

1-Once you have your ingredients collected, you’ll want to choose your containers. You can use plastic lids, paper/plastic plates, pie plates, pans, bowls or silicone molds. No need to buy anything new – get creative with what you already have at home! You can use anything from cupcake tins to bundt cake pans! Teacups to ice cube trays. Be advised that the bigger and deeper your container, the longer it will take to freeze. We used a handful of small shallow paper plates, which worked perfectly. If you’re using anything made of paper, I suggest a thin coating of nonstick spray on the paper to keep the ice from sticking.

2- Fill your container with the required amount of water. Try to keep the water shallow so that the suncatchers freeze faster, aren’t too heavy to hang and are thin enough to allow sunlight to pass through them. Once you have water in your container, let your kids add the natural elements they collected to the water in any design of your choosing. Let them create shapes with the items or lay them out in any design of their choosing. Just be aware of shifting items if you have to move them. If possible, make the suncatchers in a place you can leave them to freeze.

Yoga 2 with Christina 

Join Christina for Yoga at Home! Christina teaches at the Woolwich Memorial Centre. 

Yoga 3 with Christina 

Join Christina for Yoga at Home! Christina teaches at the Woolwich Memorial Centre. 

Great Brain Workout Virtual Class #5 with Jill

Join Jill for The Great Brain Workout Class #5 at home! The Great Brain Workout classes are partially sponsored by the Woolwich Seniors' Association to make them FREE to all seniors while community centres remain closed. 

The Great Brain Workout Class #7 with Jill 

Join Jill for The Great Brain Workout Class #7 at home! The Great Brain Workout classes are partially sponsored by the Woolwich Seniors' Association to make them FREE to all seniors while community centres remain closed. 

10x through. 1 less rep each time. Start with 10 reps... then 9, then 8, etc.:

*Squats

*Backwards Lunges (each side) 

*Standing double arm rows

*Push ups

*Leg Lift Crunches

*Bicycle Crunches (each side) 

End the final round with a 1 minute plank. 

100 Crunches

20 Bicycles

30 sec. Plank

15 sec. Left Side Plank

15 sec. Right Side Plank 

15 Sit Ups

30 Scissor Kicks

30 sec. Plank

20 Bicycles

30 Leg Raises 

Rest for 1 minute and repeat 3-5 times for best results 

Flip a coin

Do the assigned exercise for one minute. Complete 3-4x through. 

Heads

• Burpees
• Crunches
• Squats
• Plank Knee Tucks
• In & Out Jump Squats 
• Russian Twists
• Skate Lunges 

Tails

• Mountain Climbers
• Toe Touches
• Lunges
• Forearm Plank
• Scissor jumps
• Leg lifts
• Calf raises 

Begin with 7 minutes of cardio then complete this 7 minute workout. 

1 Minute step-ups

1 Minute Russian twists 

1 Minute Push Ups

1 Minute Wall Sit 

1 Minute Glute Bridges 

1 Minute Plank 

Rest 1 Minute 

Repeat cardio and circuit one more time for a 30 minute workout. 

Start on the letter A. Keep going, rest when needed. 

A: 15 Burpees

B: 30 second Plank 

C: 15 Push Ups 

D: 60 second Mountain Climbers 

E: 30 Squats

F: 15 Chair Dips

G: 60 second High Knees 

H: 15 Burpees

I: 20 Push Ups

J: 60 second Planks

K: 15 V Ups

L: 15 Lunges (Each Leg)

M: 15 Decline Push Ups

N: 50 Crunches

O: 20 Burpees

P: 15 Diamond Push Ups

Q: 60 seconds High Knees

R: 60 seconds Plank 

S: 20 Squat Jumps

T: 20 Chair Dips

U: 10 Hindu Push Ups

V: 30 second Flutter Kicks

W 20 Squat Jumps 180

X: 25 Burpees 

Y: 20 Push Ups

Z: 50 Squats 

Do 100 reps of each move, broken down however you prefer (4 sets of 25, 2 sets of 50, 10 sets of 10 etc....):

• Jumping Jacks
• Sit- ups
• Push- ups
• Squats
• Alternating Front Kicks 

Popsicle Stick Workout!

Step one: Write exercises on popsicle sticks.

Step two: Add a number between 5-20 to represent the number of repetitions of each exercise.

Step three: Put them in a cup or jar.

Step four: Pull 5 sticks out at random to create yourself a 5-10 minute fitness workout. 

Spell Your Name and do the workout!

A: 15 Push Ups

B: 50 Jumping Jacks

C: 20 Crunches

D: 10 Burpees

E: 60- second Wall Sit

F: 20 Arm Circles

G: 20 Squats

H: 30 Jumping Jacks

I: 60- second Plank 

J:20 Mountain Climbers

K: 20 Crunches

L: 12 Burpees

M: 15 Squats

N: 20 Push Ups

O: 20 Lunges

P: 10 Tricep Dips

Q: 20 Jumping Jacks

R: 45- second Plank

S: 30 Bicycle Crunches

T: 45- second Wall Sit

U: 40 High Knees

V: 30 Squats

W 15 Tricep Dips

X: 10 Mountain Climbers

Y: 12 Jumping Jacks

Z: 30 Crunches

Looking for a challenge? Spell out your FIRST, MIDDLE & LAST name! 

Shuffle the deck. Symbol on the card equals type of exercise. The number on card equals amount. Try the 52 Cards! 

Symbol:

Heart equals Burpees

Spades equals High Knees

Diamonds equals Jumping Jacks

Clubs equals Walking Lunges

Number:

1-10

Jack equals 11

Queen equals 12

Kings equals 13

Ace equals 14

Jokers equals 15

• Jump Ups
• Mountain Climbers
• Sumo Squats
• Push-Ups
• Jump Rope
• Jumping Lunges
• Dips
• Calf Raises
• Butt Kicks

Perform each exercise for 1 minute, rest 30 seconds in between. Repeat twice. 

20 moves. 20 reps each. 20 minutes

• 20 Jumping Jacks
• 20 Jumping Lunges
• 20 Lunge pulses, left
• 20 Lunge pulses, right 
• 20 tuck jumps
• 20 supermans
• 20 triceps drips
• 20 butt lifts
• 20 lower ab leg lift crunches
• 20 crunches
• 20 bridge lifts
• 20 leg lifts in bridge position
• 1 minute boat pose hold
• 20 burpees
• 20 weighted squats 
• 20 high knees
• 20 up and down planks
• 1 min plank hold 

2 times through! 

Only requires one die. Can add two for a challenge.

Instructions

Step One: First Roll equals Movement 

1- Frog Jumps

2- Jumping Jacks

3- Squats

4- Lunges

5- Sit Ups

6- Push Ups

Step Two: Second Roll equals Amount 

25+ Mothers Day Crafts for Kids – Most Wonderful Cards, Keepsakes and More!

10 Fun Mother's Day Activities 

10 Fun Mother's Day activities to do as a family this year. 

Mothers Day Paper Flower – Paper Peony Craft

Follow the step by step tutorial and you’ll soon have the most wonderful DIY mother’s day gift you could think of.

Zip-line Toy Transporter

Get gravity working to move toys—quickly!—from one side of the room to the other in this nifty rocket ship.

What You'll Need:

- Removable adhesive wall hook (like a Command Hook)

- Cardboard tea box

- Hole punch

- Cardstock

- Tacky glue

- 11 ½ feet of parachute cord, cut into two pieces (10 feet and 16 inches)

- Swivel-eye pulled

- Duct tape

What To Do:

Step one: Attach the hook to a wall, about as high as your child can reach; let set.

Step two: Cut the box in half lengthwise, punch holes in two opposite sides, then to create the rocket from cardstock and adhere it to the box. Tie one end of the 16-inch rope to one hole, loop it through the eye of the pulley, and tie it to the hole on the other side.

Step three: Run the 10-foot piece of rope through the block (wheel) of the pulley. Tie a loop onto one end, then hang it on the wall hook. Pull the other end of the rope until it's taut, then use duct tape to secure it to the floor at a 45-degree angle from the wall (or hold it in place for your child).

Step four: Have your child push the rocket all the way up to the top of the line, then let go and watch the rocket fly!

Brushbot

This crazy critter moves on its own. Just don't expect it to clean the floors!

What You'll Need:

- Four AA batteries

- 6-volt battery case with wire lead terminals and an on-off switch (we used )

- 6-volt hobby motor

- Electrical tape

- Washer, dime, or other small, flat object

- Kitchen brush

- Duct tape

- Felt

- Scissors

- Tacky glue

What to Do:

Step one: Put batteries in the battery case. Connect the leads to the hobby motor (it doesn't matter which color lead connects to which), and secure the wires in place with electrical tape. Attach the washer to the motor's shaft with electrical tape.

Step two: Attach the battery pack and motor to the brush with duct tape, and (just make sure you can still access the on-off switch). Turn it on to see it move on its bristle "feet."

Balancing Buddy

When completing this STEM activity, your child will be delighted to see this silly pal teeter on its tiny toothpick point!

What You'll Need:

- Wine cork

- Two 12-inch bamboo skewers

- Toothpick

- Modeling clay

- Decorations (like paper, googly eyes, and paint)

What To Do:

Step one: Place the cork upright on your work surface. Press the pointy end of a skewer into one side of the cork at a 45-degree angle (the ends should point up); repeat on the opposite side. Press the toothpick into the top center of the cork.
Step two: Roll two equal-size balls of modeling clay and press them onto the ends of the skewers. Decorate the cork as desired.

Step three: Place the tip of the toothpick on your finger to see if the toy balances. If it leans to one side, adjust the angles of the skewers until it stands up straight.

Pipe Cleaners Head Wreath

You can use pink and red for the flowers on the head wreath or you can change it up. You can’t go wrong with any flower color using this tutorial.

Flowers Pencil Shaving Art

Your kids love to get creative with their coloring pencils and all those pencil showings sure look pretty. Why not use them as a crafting material?

25+ Easter Crafts for Kids 

Check out some of our favourite Easter Crafts for Kids. This list is over 25+ of the best Easter craft ideas you can make with kids. We especially love all of the bunny and Easter chick crafts!

Rainbow in a Bag 

Try out this fun and no mess Rainbow in a Bag craft! 

Tissue Paper Art 

Cardboard Marble Maze

Here is a low tech visual perceptual marble maze made out of a cardboard box and some straws!

Finger Knitting

Finger Knitting is really good way of getting children interested in wool crafts, and it is very easy to learn. 

Mail a Hug 

Have your kids mail a hug to friends and family that they don’t see often! It’s a fun, easy way to brighten someone’s day.

Instructions:

1. Spread out a long sheet of butcher paper. 
2. Trace the child’s head, arms, and upper torso onto the paper. 
3. You can either cut it out now or decorate first and then cut. Use paint, markers or crayons!
4. Print or write out the message below to accompany the hug.
5. Fold it all up, put in an envelope and mail!

Construction and Building: Projects and Activities for Kids

Get yourself busy with these fun construction and building projects. These STEM projects will help you practice science, technology, engineering, and math while having fun with hands-on building projects. 

• Shared by Bella and Luke 

Candle Making for Adults

Looking for a new activity to try? Check out the Candle Making Guide and learn on how to make beautiful candles!

• Shared by Andrea 

Frosty Pinecone Craft

Supplies:

• Pinecones 
• White Acrylic Paint 
• White PVA Glue 
• Large Grain Silver Glitter 
• Silver Cord

Instructions:

Step one: In a bowl large enough for a pinecone to fit in. Mix together white acrylic paint and PVA glue to a 60/40 ratio (approx).

Step two: Roll pinecones around in the paint and glue mixture.

Step three: In another bowl big enough to fit my pinecones in, pour in a shallow layer of glitter. Keeping the glitter in the bowl saves a lot of mess!

Step four: While the paint mixture was still wet on the pinecones, roll each one lightly into the glitter. 

Step five: Leave your pinecones on one side to dry for a few hours. Once the glue had dried tap the frosty pinecones onto a sheet of paper to catch any loose glitter.

Watercolor Doily Snowflakes

 Supplies:

• Watercolors
• Paintbrush
• Mini doilies
• Scissors

Instructions: 

Step one: Paint the doily with watercolors.

Step two: Let them dry for an hour or two.

Step three: Once the doilies are completely dry, keep folding it in half until it looks like a triangle. Have the kids cut out shapes on each side of the folded doily. If you cut at the top it also creates cool designs!

Paper Plate Snowflake Yarn Art 

Supplies:

• snowflake paper plates (We purchased ours at Target.)
• push pin 
• steel yarn needle (These don’t have as sharp of a tip as normal needles.)
• yarn (color of your choice)
• scissors
• tape

Instructions: 

Step one: Start by using your push pin to poke holes in all the end points and intersecting points of the snowflake on your paper plate. 

Step two: Cut off a big piece of your yarn. Thread one end through your yarn needle and tie a knot at the base of the needle. Then tie a double knot at the end of the yarn.

Step three: Thread the needle and yarn through the center hole in the plate on the front of the plate, then use the holes you poked and the pattern on your paper plate to thread through the snowflake pattern. You will end up going through some of the holes a few times to get the pattern complete. When you reach the end of your snowflake pattern cut off any excess yarn and tape the end of the yarn onto the paper plate.

Popsicle Stick Hot Chocolate Mug 

 Supplies: 

• Jumbo Popsicle Sticks {8 per hot chocolate mug craft}
• School Glue
• Light Blue Craft Paint 
• Foam Paint Brush
• Small Paper Plate
• Basic Craft Scissors
• Blue Colored Cardstock
• White Cotton Balls 
• Optional embellishments – snowflake stickers

Instructions: 

Step one: First glue your popsicle sticks together to look like a fence. Seven next to each other and two across to secure in place.

Step two: Set aside to let it dry completely.

Step three: When it’s dry, you are ready for paint. Squirt some craft paint on your paper plate.

Step four: Grab your foam paint brush and go ahead & paint your craft stick mug shape however you like.

Step five: When done with that step, set aside the painted wood shape to allow it to dry a bit.

Step six: Now grab your choice of color in cardstock and the scissors.

Step seven: Cut out a simple handle shape that will go on the side of the mug.

Step eight: To finish off your Popsicle Stick Hot Chocolate Mug – have children glue on the paper mug handle shape, as well as any other embellishments, such as a cotton ball rim of marshmallows and the snowflake sticker to the mug.

Step nine: Allow everything to dry completely in an undisturbed location.

Step ten: Then display proudly when you are done! Cheers!

Polar Bear Masks 

Supplies:

• paper plate
• white tissue paper
• school glue
• white cardstock paper
• empty plastic fruit cup
• white acrylic paint
• black marker
• large black pom-pom
• glue gun (adult use only)
• craft knife (adult use only)
• scissors

Instructions: 

Step one: The most difficult part about making our polar bear masks was making the holes in the paper plate for the eyes. I traced a small circle for the eyes and then used a craft knife to cut them out. This step must be done by an adult.

Step two: For the snout we used an empty plastic fruit cup. I also used it to make the ears by tracing it onto a piece of white card stock paper, cutting it out and then cutting the circle in half. This makes the two ears.

Step three: Paint the clear fruit cups with white acrylic paint and let them dry completely. They may require 2 coats of paint. 

Step four: While the snout was drying, we put school glue onto a section of our paper plate and then placed white crumpled tissue paper squares all over the glue. Do this on every section until the paper plate is covered. We opted to not put tissue paper where the snout was going to go, but I don’t think it matters which way you do it.

Step five: Next glue the ears to the back of the paper plate.

Step six: Once the snout is dry, draw a bear mouth on the bottom of the cup with a black permanent marker.

Step seven: Use a glue gun to run glue around the bottom rim of the cup and glue it down onto the polar bear face. Also use the hot glue gun to glue on the black pom nose. (Adult supervision required with use of a hot glue gun.)

Step eight: To finish the mask, simply punch holes onto the sides of the paper plate and tie a knot on each end with a piece of string or yarn. 

Paper Roll Snowman Craft

Supplies:

• toilet paper rolls or kitchen paper rolls 
• white paper or white paint
• colored paper (orange is a must for carrot nose)
• black marker
• scissors
• glue

Instructions: 

Step one: Cut the white paper and glue it around the paper roll. Alternatively you can also paint the paper roll white. Cut a strip of colored paper for the scarf and a carrot shape out of orange paper.

Step two: Wrap the strip of paper around the paper roll (just above the middle).

Step three: Glue together to make a scarf.

Step four: Draw eyes, mouth and buttons with a black marker.

Step five: Glue on the nose and your Paper Roll Snowman Craft is done!

Tissue Paper Fall Tree Craft 

Supplies: 

• Red, yellow, orange and gold tissue paper (cut into squares)
• Paper plate
• cardboard
• brown paint
• small paper plate
• school glue
• stapler

Directions: 

Step one: Start by cutting a rectangle out of your cardboard for your tree trunk. Cut another small section out to use as a stamp to make texture onto your tree trunk. Pour a small amount of brown paint onto a paper plate and using the end of the extra cardboard piece, dip it into the brown paint and then onto your cardboard trunk. Make lines up and down your trunk. (As an alternative and to save time, you could also use a brown marker to make the lines on the tree trunk.)

Step two: Add school glue onto one section on the back of a paper plate and then scrunch and add tissue paper onto the paper plate. Continue adding glue and tissue paper to different sections until it is full.

Step three: Staple your tree trunk onto the bottom of your paper plate.

Fall Napkin Rings 

Supplies:

• Cardboard Tubes (toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, gift wrap, etc.), cut into 1 ½” sections.
• Felt, fabric, ribbon or twine to cover your cardboard tubes
• Embellishments to decorate your napkin rings – felt, leaves, buttons, beads, faux flowers
• Craft glue or a hot glue gun (with adult supervision)
• Binder clips or paper clips (optional)

Directions: 

Step one: Cover your tube sections with your choice of materials. We used the items listed above, but paper, colored tape or paint would also work well. Binder clips or paper clips are handy for holding ends and edges while your glue dries.

Step two: Embellish your napkin rings to match your Thanksgiving table. Heavier items may need to be glued on with a hot glue gun or stronger adhesive. Insert your napkins, and you’re ready to show off your personalized holiday decorations!

Leaf Suncatcher Craft 

Supplies:

• Tissue Paper
• Clear Contact Paper or Self-Adhesive Laminating Sheets
• Scissors
• Glue Stick
• Black Construction Paper

Directions:

Step one: First, print the fall leaf templates on white card stock and cut them out. For thicker lines, we traced the templates onto black construction paper and then cut these out.

You will need 2 identical leaf outlines for each suncatcher. Then place one leaf outline onto the sticky side of a piece of contact paper or self-adhesive laminating paper.

Step two: Cut up your tissue paper into small squares.

Layer the tissue paper squares onto the contact paper or laminating paper. Don’t worry if you go outside of the outline, this will get trimmed off later!

Step three: Using a glue stick, glue the second leaf outline on top of the tissue paper.

Step four: Place another piece of clear contact paper or laminating paper on top and press down to smooth out any bubbles. Trim the excess contact paper or laminating paper with scissors.

Step five: Stick your suncatchers onto a window with double-sided tape and enjoy the beautiful fall colors as the sun shines through the tissue paper!

Handprint Acorns 

Supplies:

• Brown and white washable paint 
• Paintbrush
• White paper

Directions: 

Step one: Start by mixing white and brown paint together to make a sort of tan color. Let the kids paint their own hand and stamp it on a piece of paper twice.

Step two: Take the paintbrush and make the acorn’s brown top! Simple and adorable!

Mason Jar Fall Luminaries Craft 

Supplies:

• Mason Jar
• Mod Podge 
• Fall colored Tissue Paper ripped into pieces
• Brown Construction paper
• Paint Brush
• Candle

Directions: 

Step one: Paint one area of the jar at a time with Mod Podge.

Step two: Add the tissue paper on the jar. Have a wet paper towel or wipe handy because little hands can easily get the glue on them and it makes it had to attach the tissue paper with sticky hands.

Step three: Use the scraps of brown construction paper to make trees and attached them the same way as the tissue paper.

Step four: The final step was to go over all the loose ends of tissue paper that were sticking up and put a top coat of Mod Podge over it all.

Apple Pie Play Dough 

Supplies: 

• 2 cups baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
• 1 cup corn flour (corn starch / mazina)
• 1.5 cups water
• 1 Table Spoon vegetable Oil
• Food coloring – we used red
• 1 Tablespoon cinnamon + 1 Tablespoon allspice (cake spice / Christmas spice)

Directions: 

Step one: Add all the ingredients to a pot – except the spices, the spices get added last when kneading!

Step two: If you would like to add food coloring – add it to the water before you start cooking – it is so much easier this way – rather than kneading in at the end!

Step three: Stir well before cooking. The corn flour will initially be hard to stir, but it will all come together and turn into a runny liquid.

Step four: Put it onto the stove and cook until it turns into a thick mush – and becomes really hard to stir.

Step five: It will still be a little more sticky than the play dough will end up once it is cooled and kneaded

Step six: Set aside for a few minutes and knead when cool enough to touch

Step seven: At this point, if you would like to add an apple pie scent – add in the spice and knead further.

All that is left to do now is play!!

Pony Bead Indian Corn 

Supplies: 

• Tan pipe cleaners
• Pony beads in yellow, orange, white and marron 

Directions: 

Step one: Take two of your pipe cleaners and make an “X”.  Twist them around each other in the middle.

Step two: Take two more pipe cleaners and wrap them around the middle the same way.

Step three: Add beads onto each pipe cleaner

Step four: Leave a couple inches at the end of each pipe cleaner.

Step five: Bring all of the ends together.

Step six: Take one of the pipe ends and wrap it around the others.

Step seven: Wrap another piece of pipe cleaner around the stem if it’s not secure enough, and you are done!

Pony Bead Pumpkins 

Supplies: 

• Orange Pipe cleaner 
• Brown Pipe cleaner 
• Green Pipe cleaner 
• Orange Pony Beads 

Directions: 

Step one: Take two of your pipe cleaners and make an “X”.  Twist them around each other in the middle.

Step two: Attach the other two pipe cleaners in the same manner.

Step three: String pony beads onto each pipe cleaner.

Step four: Leave about an inch on the end of each one without beads on it.

Step five: Bring all of the ends together and twist them to form the pumpkin’s stem.

Step six: Wrap your brown pipe cleaner around the stem and cut off the excess.

Step seven: Bend the pipe cleaners to form a pumpkin shape.

Step eight: Wrap your green pipe cleaner around the base of the stem to make the vines.  Cut off the excess.

Step nine: Curl the ends of the green pipe cleaner with a pen or pencil.

Bubble Painting 

Supplies: 

• Dish soap
• Paint
• Cups
• Straws
• Paper 

Directions: 

Step one: Mix half a cup of water with a generous squirt of both dish soap and paint.

Step two: Let the kids go crazy blowing mountains of colored bubbles in the cup with a straw. 

Step three: Lay your sheet of paper over the top of the bubbles to create the imprint.

Homemade Microwave Puffy Paint

Supplies:

• 1 tbsp self-raising flour 
  
• food colouring in the colours of your choice
• 1 tbsp salt
• little bit of water (start with 1/4 tsp per colour)

How to make self-rising flour

If you don’t have self-rising flour, you can make your own by mixing together the following ingredients.

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

Directions: 

Step one: Combine your flour and salt in a small bowl.

Step two: Add a little bit of water and stir until you get a smooth, thin paste (about the same consistency of stirred yogurt)

Step three: Add your food colouring, and mix well.

Step four: Put painting into microwave for 30 seconds and watch it puff up! 

Step five: Allow to cool before handling. 

Toilet Paper Roll Cactus

Supplies: 

• 2 Toilet Paper Rolls and 1 Paper Towel Roll (you can also use 2 paper towel rolls and cut 1 in half for the smaller cactus)
• Googly Eyes 
• Acrylic Paint: Green, White and Light Brown 
• 2 eggs cups from an egg carton 
• Small pom poms 

Directions: 

Step one: First, make the large paper roll cactus by trimming a paper towel roll and making the top rounded. You can also use a toilet paper roll but it won’t be as tall.

Step two: On the remaining paper towel roll piece, trace and cut out 2 arms for the cactus. You can draw the arm on paper first and use it to trace on the paper towel roll.

Step three: Paint all of the pieces green. Then glue the arms to the side of the paper towel roll. Using a small paintbrush, make small X marks with white paint all over the cactus.

Step four: Glue on the googly eyes.

To make the small cactus: 

Step one:Trim the top of the paper roll so that the front of it is rounded with a little band on the bottom.

Step two: Paint the toilet paper roll green. Once dry, using white acrylic paint add dots or hash marks to it.

Step three: Glue a small pom pom to the top.

Step four: Add googly eyes to the toilet paper roll. Then paint an egg cup in a light brown/terracotta color to look like a pot and place the cactus in the egg cup.

Flamingo Handprint Craft

Supplies: 

• White cardstock – 12×12 size
• Blue cardstock – 12×12 size
• Pink and Green cardstock
• Pink pipe cleaners
• Light pink feathers
• Small googly eyes
• Black construction paper

Directions: 

Step 1: First you will want to cut a strip of paper to make the water on top of your 12×12 white cardstock paper. Then glue this down. Next trace and cut out your handprints on the pink cardstock and glue this on top of the blue paper. Leave a little bit of space at the top with no glue where the flamingo’s neck will go.

Step 2: Now measure the size you’ll want to make for the flamingo’s neck and head. Draw this on your pink cardstock. Fold the cardstock over so when you cut you’ll get two necks/heads that are the same size.

Step 3: Glue the flamingo neck and head down by tucking under the handprints. Then cut out two beaks from your white paper and glue down. Add a black tip on top with some black cardstock or construction paper.

Step 4: Then glue on two small googly eyes.

Step 5: Now to add your feathers and pipe cleaners! For the feathers, simply glue these on top of the handprint.

Step 6: Finally, add some green plants to your water by taking a strip of paper and cutting small slits in it. Once you have the paper cut roll it up and glue down to your paper.

Tissue Box Monsters

Supplies:

• Tissue Box – preferably one with a round opening so that it looks more like a mouth but a square opening could work too!
• Colored acrylic paint – we used two different colors, one for the outside of the box and one for the inside
• White acrylic paint
•  Googly eyes – extra large ones can be found at Michaels, different sizes work best and small ones are needed for the purple box.
• White cardstock
• Large pom poms
• Black sharpie or marker

• 1 popsicle sticks (optional for the purple monster)

• Craft knife (optional – adults only) 

• Glue

Directions: 

Step one: Pull out any plastic inner lining inside the tissue box before you start.

Step two: Paint the outside of the tissue box with white to prime the box. Adding white will make sure the design of the tissue box doesn’t show through the paint.

Step three: Once dry, paint the outside of the tissue box a color of your choice, and paint the inside a different color.

Step four: Outline around the “mouth” of the monster (the opening of the tissue box) with a black marker. This will make the mouth pop more.

Step five: For the purple box, cut 1 popsicle stick in half. Paint the pieces purple and let them dry. Glue 2 small googly eyes to the sticks. Make a small slit mark at the top of the box with the craft knife (adults should help with this part) to push the sticks in.

Step six: Glue large googly eyes to the top of the tissue box. You can add one, two, three or more eyes!

Step seven: Cut out large teeth from paper or white cardstock. Glue the teeth to the inside of the tissue box mouth.

Step eight: Give your monsters a little more character by gluing some large pom-poms to the top of the tissue boxes.

Bottle Cap Bugs

Supplies:

• Bottle Caps
• Transparency Paper
• Sharpie Markers
• Scissors
• Hot Glue or Elemer’s Glue (You can use Elemer’s Glue to glue the wings and eyes of the
• Hot Glue Gun
• Googly Eyes

Directions: 

Step one: Using the transparency paper, cut any shape of wing.

Step two: Color the wings in using the Sharpie markers using any pattern or design.

Step three: Hot glue or use Elmer’s Glue to glue the wings onto the bottle cap.

Step four: Glue the googly eyes on to the front of the bottle cap.

Cupcake Liner Ice Cream Cones

Supplies:

• Cupcake Liners 
• Light blue or white cardstock paper (or color of your choice for the background)
• Light brown cardstock paper 
• Brown paint 
• Plastic fork
• small paper plate
• embellishments of your choice, i.e. black paper hole punches, craft jewels, construction paper pieces

Directions: 

Step one: Start by cutting a triangle ice cream cone shape out of your light brown cardstock paper. Pour a small amount of brown paint onto your small paper plate and dip your fork into it lightly and then onto your cone. Make lines in both directions to resemble the pattern on an ice cream cone. Set it aside to dry completely.

Step two: Glue your cone onto your light blue cardstock paper. Glue your cupcake liner ice cream scoops on top of your cone. Use one or two, how ever many you choose.

Step three: Glue any embellishments you want onto your ice cream scoops to make them fun flavors. In this example below, we used black hole punch circles to make mint chocolate chip ice cream and colorful neon gemstones to make bubblegum ice cream.

Egg Carton Turtle

Supplies:

• Empty Egg boxes
• Green Construction Paper 
• Pom Poms 
• Googly Eyes 
• Glue 

Directions: 

Step one: Cut the egg boxes into individual ‘shells’

Step two: Add 3 shades of green paint to a pallet and paint the individual shells 

Step three: Make 2 legs, 2 arms and a tail. Add to the shell

Step four: Add a pom pom head with small googly eyes

Paper Plate Ice Cream 

Supplies: 

• Paper Plates
• Brown Card Stock
• Pink, mint and black paint
• Red pom pom balls
• Sprinkles
• Black markers
• Scissors
• Glue
• Brushes

Directions: 

Step one:Draw an ice cream scoop onto your paper plates with a rounded circle top, a scalloped bottom with the sides slightly bigger than the top circle and cut out with scissors.

Step two: Paint one scoop pink and one mint green and let dry.

Step three: Cut out two triangle shapes from your brown paper with the top being about 4-5″ wide.

Step four: Draw a criss cross pattern onto your brown triangle cones with your black marker. Glue your ice cream scoops onto the top of your cones.

Step five: Use a small paint brush to paint on small black dots onto your mint green scoop to look like chocolate chips.

Step six: Apply glue onto the pink scoop and top with sprinkles (do not eat).

Step seven: Then glue one red pom-pom ball onto the top of each ice cream scoop and let your cones dry.

Jellyfish Suncatcher

Supplies: 

• Tissue Paper
• Black Construction Paper
• Scissors
• Contact Paper
• Ribbon 

Directions: 

Step one: First take your tissue paper and cut it into squares. Then using the black construction paper draw the shape of your jellyfish and then cut out the middle sot hat you then have a black jellyfish frame. 

Step two: Cut a piece if contact paper that is larger than your  jellyfish, remove the protective sheet and tape the contact paper on top of a table with sticky side facing up. Place the black jellyfish outline down on the sticky side of the contact paper and then you can start placing the tissue paper squares. Don't worry about the paper over the black lines, you'll be cutting around that when you're done. 

Step three: Take another sheet of contact paper and place it down on top of your jellyfish to seal it, then trim around it. I left about an inch around the edges to make sure that it would stay sealed. Finally cut some decorative ribbon and tape it to the back of your jellyfish. 

Kazoo 

 Supplies:

• a marker or pen
• a toilet paper roll
• pinking shears (or safety scissors for kids)
• elastic band
• wax paper
• a bowl for tracing
• non-toxic craft paints

Directions: 

Step one: Paint your toilet paper roll. Let your kid use their imagination and create their own masterpieces.

Step two: Cut out a piece of wax paper big enough to wrap around one end of the toilet paper roll. 

Step three: Secure the wax paper with an elastic band. Puncture a hole in the middle of the toilet paper roll with a needle or the pointed end of your scissors (adults only!). This will allow sound to escape and, along with the vibration of the wax paper, create that classic kazoo sound.

Backyard Bowling Set

Supplies:

• 5 recycled plastic bottles, cleaned and labels removed (any size will work)
• paint
• paint brush
• painters’ tape
• something for weight (rice, dried beans or sand)
• pompoms (optional)
• hot glue

Directions: 

Step one: Put a few squirts of paint inside the bottle, tighten the lid and shake, shake, shake. Add a few drops of water if you need to loosen the paint. Pour out the leftover paint and leave the open bottles to dry overnight.

Step two: Decorate the outside of your bottle. We chose to go with a classic five-pin look by masking out lines with painters’ tape and painting them. You could try swirling different colours on the inside and skip the messy exterior painting all together.

Step three: Your plastic bottles will be a little light and may blow around outside, adding some weight will make them more stable. Use something you have around the house like rice, beans or sand. Make your life easier with a funnel! Secure the lid on tight.

Step four: For a finishing touch, hot-glue a pompom to the lid. Grab a ball and bring your set outside for an afternoon game. Strike!

Fruity Felt Wristlet

Supplies:

• scissors
• marker
• velcro dots
• embroidery thread and needle
• two felt sheets, in contrasting colours
• a medium-sized bowl to trace (whatever size bowl you choose will determine the size of the wristlet)

Directions: 

Step one: Trace your bowl (flipped upside down so the widest part is against the felt) on your two pieces of contrasting felt and cut out with scissors.

Step two: Cut one felt circle in half. Use the other half to make three wedges with rounded corners. Cut a thin strap out of the leftover felt (use the longest part possible so little wrists can fit through it comfortably).

Step three: Flip your full circle over and sew the felt wedges you cut out in step 2 onto the front in a citrus slice pattern. Use a backstitch for a nice finish. Add a velcro dot to the pocket to close your wristlet.

T-Shirt Friendship Bracelets

This T-Shirt friendship bracelet craft is fun  and creative! Grab some colourful T-shirts the kids have outgrown and turn them into adorable friendship bracelets. 

Stunning Hyacinth Flower 

Tissue Paper and Cardboard Tube Flower Craft

 Supplies: 

• Paper towel roll (or toilet paper roll for a shorter flower)
• Green tempera paint and paintbrush 
• Tissue paper squares in various shades of green 
• Tissue paper sheets in any color you’d like your flower petals to be
• Scissors
• Glue
• Stapler
• Optional: Glue dots
  
• Optional: Constructions paper or cardstock circles and buttons for the center of the flower

Directions: 

Step one: Start by painting your cardboard tube with the green tempera paint. 

Step two: Glue tissue paper squares all over your stem using a paintbrush and liquid glue. Simply place a tissue paper square onto the stem and gently use the brush to spread glue over the entire square.

Step three: Set the stem aside and let it dry completely.

Step four: Now it’s time to make the tissue paper petals. Cut out 6 tissue paper circles from your large tissue paper sheets: 2 large, 2 medium and 2 small.

Step five: Stack them on top of one another.

Step six: Grab the center all the circles at once from below the stack and pinch the paper together.

Step seven: Stuff it gently into the flower stem and staple in place.

Step eight: Gently pull out and manipulate the tissue paper petals until you’re happy with the look.

Step nine: You can also add a cute, little center to your flower.

Yarn Butterfly 

Supplies:

• Craft sticks standard size – 2 per butterfly
• Pipe cleaners – 1 per butterfly
• Yarn in more than one colour
• Beads- 2 small and one larger one for the head per butterfly

Directions: 

Step one: Place your craft sticks into an uneven ‘X’ shape as shown below and wind your first colour of yarn around and around, crossing over and winding in the other direction so the yarn holds the sticks in place securely. Then you are ready to begin weaving.

Step two: Wind the yarn up the sticks a bit, switching into a figure 8 pattern as soon as you get to the gap between the sticks. To tie the thread off mid-weave, simply tuck it into the winding so it pokes through. It gets packed so tightly that the loose end stays in place pretty well once you begin winding on the next colour.

Step three: Begin your next colour and commence the figure 8 weave again. Change colours as many times as you want to before you get to the end of the wing, and then repeat the same pattern on the other side.

Step four: To create the butterfly’s body bend in half a pipe cleaner and wind it around the centre of the ‘X’ shape and twist it, then thread two small beads onto the bottom and one larger bead onto the top.

Step five: Finally curl the top of the pipe cleaner to create two antennae, and you’re done.

Weaving Rainbow Fish 

Supplies: 

• Rainbow colored paper
• Googly eye (or make one out of paper)
• White or black card stock paper
• Scissors/glue

Directions: 

Step one: Start by cutting strips of the colored paper (using the long side). Cut out the shape of a fish with card stock paper and fold it in half. Use a scissors and cut slits close together not going too close to the bottom and mouth.

Step two: Weave the colored pieces of paper through and trim the top and bottom to look like fish fins. Add the extra scraps around the body and add yellow ones on the tail.

Birdhouse From An Empty Container

Supplies:

• One Empty Juice or Milk Carton
• Foam Sheet
• Craft Sticks
• Paint of your choice
• Ribbon
• Hot Glue Gun
• Bird Seed

Directions: 

Step one: After rinsing out the juice/ milk carton the first step is to cut out the door. An empty fruit container was a good template to trace a circle door for the birds. You can even cut a door with a different shape, rectangle, square, heart. Get creative! After tracing the circle with a sharpie use scissors or a razor blade to cut through the juice box.

Step two: Next step is to prime the birdhouse which gets the surface ready for paint. 

Step three: While waiting for the primer to dry, start on the roof. Paint the craft sticks.

Step four: Cut the foam sheet for the roof.

Step five: After the craft sticks dry, use a hot glue gun to glue the sticks to the foam sheet.

Step six: Paint the juice/ milk carton.

Step seven: Hot glue the foam sheet roof.

Step eight: Add a ribbon to hang the birdhouse. Drill through either side of the juice box container. Then fed the ribbon through the holes.

Painting Fireworks

Supplies: 

• Coloured paint
• Large sheets of paper
• Cardboard tubes.

Directions: 

Step one: Cut the cardboard tubes into different lengths to create different size firework prints.

Step two: Dip cardboard tubes into the paint.

Step three: Make firework prints on large sheet of paper. 

Paper Bag Monster Puppets

Supplies: 

• Paper Lunch Bag
• Acrylic paint (colour of your choice)
• coloured cardstock paper
• Scrapbook scissors (optional)
• markers
• circle punches
• Scissors
• Glue

Paper Plate Rainbow Fish

Supplies:

• 1 White Paper Plate
• Blue Craft Paint
• Foam Brush
• Cardstock Paper, multi-colours
• Scissors
• Glue Stick
• Glitter
• Googly Eye

Directions:

Step one: Paint the bottom side of the paper plate and let dry completely.

Step two: Cut out a triangle shape from the right side of the plate and glue this on the left side of the plate for the tail. The opening from the cut out will be the mouth.

Step three: Cut out 2 small fins from colored paper and glue one to each side of the plate, and glue on a googly eye.

Step four: Using the different colours of paper, trace about 1-1 ½ inch round circles. You will need 22-25 of these for the fish scales. For the circles, I just used a small plastic sprinkle container, but you can use anything you have around the house.

Step five: Cut the circles out and fold them in half.

Step six: Rub glue on one side and sprinkle with glitter. 

Step seven: Starting in the middle of the plate, about halfway from the mouth to the tail, you will glue on the fish scales in rows. The fold side will face the mouth. Overlap them just a bit, and put about 4-5 in each row. You should have about 6 rows, with the last row being near the tail and only having 2 scales in that row.

Step eight:  After you glue on all the scales, let dry completely.

Clothespin Dragonflies

 Supplies:

• 2 Pipe cleaners
• Clothespin
• 2 googly eyes
• Paint
• Glue

Directions: 

Step one: Start by painting stripes on the clothespins.

Step two: Put dots of glue on the front and stick on the googly eyes.

Step three: Take a pipe cleaner and bend both edges to the middle and twist.

Step four: criss-cross the pipe cleaners and put them inside the clothespin.

Step five: Hot glue the pipe cleaners to secure. 

Recycled Tin Can Windsocks

Supplies

• Clean Recycled Can (any size will work!)
• Acrylic Paint & Paintbrushes
• Glue (Elmer's Craft Bond Glue, Tacky Glue or a Low- Temp Glue Gun)
  
• Assorted Ribbons (you could also use Yarn or Coloured Paper)
• Optional embellishments like Glitter, Stickers, Gemstones, Sequins
• Masking Tape or Duck Tape
  

Directions

Step one: Start by painting the can in colors of your choice

Step two: After the paint is dry, use glue to attach colorful ribbons to the bottom rim of the can.

Step three: Added a ribbon to the top of the can for hanging.

Soda Bottle Flower Stamping

Supplies

• Several different sized soda and sparkling water bottles (“flower” shaped bottoms)
• Paper plates 
• Sheet of Paper 
• Paint 

Directions 

Step one: Set out a few plates of paint

Step two: Start stamping with bottom of bottles on a sheet of paper

Step three: Once finished stamping use fingers to add yellow centers and green leaves to the flowers

Tissue Paper and Paper Plate Turtle Craft

Supplies

• Paper Plate plates
  
• Tissue Paper (cut into 1-inch squares)
• White School glue 
• Wiggly Eyes 
• Scissors 
• Green Marker
• Paintbrush 
• Glitter (optional)
• Double-sided tape
• Black Marker 

Directions 

Step one: After gathering supplies, spread glue over the bottom of the paper plate with a paintbrush.

Step two: Cover the paper plate with tissue paper squares. When you get to the edge of the plate, fold the tissue paper underneath.

Step three: If desired, sprinkle glitter over the tissue paper squares while the glue is still wet.

Step four: Create a turtles head, legs and tail out of another paper plate or piece of paper 

Step five: Glue 2 wiggly eyes to the turtle’s head, then draw a nose and mouth on the turtle’s face with the black marker.

Step six: Secure the turtle’s head, legs, and tail to the paper plate with double-sided tape.

Ladybug Painted Rocks

Supplies

• Patio Paint in colors of your choice 
• Smooth Rocks, preferably oval or round in shape
• Paintbrush
• Toothpick
• Outdoor sealer, Outdoor Mod Podge or Patio Paint Clear Coat
  

Directions 

Step one:Wash and dry your rocks

Step two: Paint with colorful Patio Paint, don't paint the bottoms if these will be sitting in the soil.

Step three: Paint on a black head and let dry.

Step four: Use the handle end of a paintbrush to dot on ladybug spots with black paint.

Step five: Use the handle end of a paintbrush to dot on white eyes. Let it dry completely! 

Step six: Cut the tip off of a toothpick. Dip in black paint and dot onto white eyes.

Step seven: When completely dry, paint ladybugs with a coat of Patio Paint Clear Coat or outdoor formula sealer like Mod Podge

Supplies

• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup salt
• ½ cup water
• Mixing bowl
• Food Coloring or Washable Paint

Directions

Step one: Mix together the salt and flour.

Step two: Gradually add in the water, stirring constantly.

Step three: Knead the dough with your hands once the ingredients are blended.

Step four: For coloured dough, add food coloring or washable paint.

Supplies

• Paper plate
• Markers
• Yarn
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Tape

Directions

Step one: Cut a paper plate in half and decorate as an umbrella.

Step two: Cut a handle shape out of construction paper and attach it.

Step three: Cut out raindrop shapes from blue paper and attach two raindrops back to back with a string of yarn in between.

Step four: Tape the yarn to the back of the umbrella.

Supplies

• Paper plate
• Yellow construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue (or a stapler)
• Crayons, paint or markers
• Googly eyes (optional)

Directions

Step one: Paint the back side of a paper plate yellow.

Step two: Trace a child's hand on yellow construction paper about 7 times.

Step three: Cut out the tracings.

Step four: Glue or staple the handprint tracings to the paper plate - the fingers are the sun's rays.

Step five: Color in the sun, drawing a mouth and a nose. Either draw the eyes or glue on googly eyes.

Supplies

• White paper
• Black marker or crayon
• Glue
• Paper plate
• Coloured tissue paper or crepe paper

Directions

Step one: Draw a simple flower with a black marker or crayon.

Step two: Pour glue onto a plate, or you can use a glue stick.

Step three: Tear a small piece of coloured tissue paper (about 1.5"x1.5").

Step four: Crumple the tissue paper pieces to make "flowers".

Step five: Dip one end of your flower into glue. Then stick it on the paper.

Step six: Repeat to add as many flowers as you want.

A combination of paint-by-numbers and cross-stitch. It's easy and it's fun. Materials cost. 

Visit Woolwich Seniors Association for more information and to register. 

Join Jill Simpson, ageing expert and developer of The Great Brain Workout-Fitness for Your Aging Brain. Visit Woolwich Seniors Association for more information and to register. Stay fit and connected!

Region of Waterloo Library online access to favourite newspapers and magazines, links to online games/activities and learning resources for children

Lego is a staple in a lot of families’ toy cupboards. It’s horrible to step on, but what other toy can be built into an infinite number of designs, taken apart, and constructed into a whole new structure?

Get your kids up and active with Active for Life list of Lego games. 

For example:

Clue 1: Do 10 jumping jacks, and then look under the dining room chairs for your next clue.

Clue 2: Good job, you found me! Now, you need to run up and down the stairs 2 times. Once you've done that, head to the garage and look near your bike for the next clue!

Some ideas for activities include:

• Jumping jacks
• Stair climbing
• Push ups
• High knees
• Big jumps (squat jumps)
• Plank
• Touch your toes
• Dance
• Run around the backyard
• Sweep the kitchen floor

Did you try this active treasure hunt? We'd love to see what clues your family had fun with! Share pictures by tagging #WoolwichActiveAtHome !

No need for rental shoes in this awesome version of bowling. Gather up a minimum of six empty plastic bottles and remove the caps. Place one or two glow-in-the-dark bracelets or necklaces inside the bottles and replace the caps. Line up the bottles on a flat surface and use a plastic or rubber ball to try to knock them down. Points can be assigned for each bottle knocked down or different values can be assigned to different colours of bottles for older kids.

Required: empty plastic bottles, glow-in-the-dark bracelets, and a ball.

Provide your child with a cup and two buckets (one smaller, one larger). Place the smaller bucket a short distance from the larger bucket and fill the larger bucket with water. Have your child scoop water from the larger bucket and fill the smaller one. To make the game more challenging, put small holes in the cup or have your child dance as they move from bucket to bucket.

Items required:

- Beanbags, soft foam balls, or balls of socks

- Buckets, laundry baskets, or large cardboard boxes

- Pieces of cardboard, or paper to mark “golf tees”

Instructions:

1- Create a series of “golf holes” by placing the buckets, baskets or boxes around your living room, hallways and other available spaces. Place scraps of cardboard or paper on the floor to mark “golf tees” where you throw from.

2- With your child, take turns standing on each golf tee and tossing a beanbag or ball underhand into the bucket, basket or box.

3- Continue tossing at each hole until each of you sinks one shot.

4- Go around the circuit of “golf holes” and keep track of how many tosses each of you requires to sink a shot at each hole.

5- If your child has too much difficulty sinking shots, consider having different tees with different distances for parent and child.

On a hot, summer day, gather up lots of sponges, provide a tub of water for endless resoaking, and have your kids throw their sponges on a wall or on a cement surface to make designs. Sponges can also be used to “paint” walls.

Have your child toss two dice and add up the numbers that are rolled. Write down the total on a piece of paper. Reroll and keep adding up the numbers until you reach 100 (or a smaller number for younger kids). 

Using a mix of easy and difficult words, have your kids act them out and see if their siblings or parents can guess what they are. If the kids don't know the word they're given, define it for them. 

Pick uneven or unstable objects such as cards, paper, cups, or rocks and challenge your kids to build as high as they can or in various shapes. 

Ideally an outdoor activity, use various sizes and types of bubble wands and have kids blow their own bubbles or blow them yourself and have kids chase and pop them.

 Fill a plastic cup two-thirds of the way full with water and add five tablespoons of baking soda, one teaspoon of dish soap, and several drops of washable paint. Mix the materials together, put the cup on the ground, and form a mound of dirt around the cup to just below its rim. Now comes the fun! Add one cup of vinegar and watch the lava erupt down the side of the mound. You can add vinegar a number of times until you need to add the base ingredients again.

Lights, Camera, Action! Kids will need some down time during their time away from school and odds are good that they’ll watch a movie or read a book or two. Have your kids reenact the stories while using your smartphone or tablet. Props and costumes will make this activity extra-fun!

Crank the tunes and let the dancing begin. Unlike the regular game though, when the music stops, a designated person calls out a word. The other dancer(s) respond with a word to rhyme with it.

Shadow puppet show make for great imaginative theatre under the stars. 

Put a twist on a typical scavenger hunt and search for items of certain shapes. When all objects have been collected, kids can then trace and colour in the items on a separate sheet of paper. If the objects are items that can’t be picked up, such as a clock on a wall, let kids use your smartphone to take a photo of the item.

How many items can you find around the house that is: 

1. Blue

2. You can wear

3. With a nose

4. To sit on

5. Turns on and off

6. Shiny

7. Round

8. Made of metal

9. To write with 

10. You can eat

11. With buttons

12. To read

12. That smells

13. Made of plastic

14. Orange

15. Rough

16. Crooked

17. That sinks

18. With a pattern

19. That opens

20. Soft

21. Brown

22. Tells time

23. You can see through

Around the House- Riddle Scavenger Hunt 

Around the House- Riddle Scavenger Hunt

Riddles: 

1) I have fur legs but no feet

2) Things go inside me when dirty but come out clean. You will find me standing sturdy next to my mate

3) You use me after playing in the dirt. If I get in your eyes it might hurt

4) I'm extremely humble as I make your clothes tumble

5) When I'm hungry feed me some bread, after I pop, bring on the spread

6) Inside here you will find coats and shoes. Keep it organized so you know whose are whose

7) I willingly lay on the floor, welcoming you at the door

8) Pump me up so I can roll, I could pop if I hit a hole

9) From my skin, a paper can be made, but I prefer that you use me for some shade

10) I nourish my body by eating grass, I can run with electric, but I prefer gas

Answers: 

1) Chair

2) Washing Machine

3) Shampoo

4) Dryer

5) Toaster

6) Closet

7) Welcome Mat 

8) Tire

9) Tree

10) Lawnmower 

Balance Poses

Mirror Mirror

Take an empty jar or bucket, and some popsicle sticks. On each popsicle stick, you can write down ideas for activities to do as a family. Once you write down an activity, add it to the jar, and you will create a collection of activities to try. Michèle compiled a list below of ideas to get you started, and you can add as many other ideas as you can think of!

Suggested Ideas:

1. Have a backyard camping night!
2. Have a star-gazing night - look for the big dipper!
3. Act out a favourite book - use any make-shift props in your home!
4. Have a blanket fort night! Watch movies and read books in your DIY fort. 
5. The kids make a book - have your kids make the storyline and let them illustrate the book. 
6. Make story stones - have various icons that could tell a story.
7. Have a virtual playdate and use the story stones to tell stories to each other!
8. House colour scavenger hunt - children have to find things in the house that are the same colour as the colours given to them. 
9. Backyard nature scavenger hunt - kids have to find an acorn, a maple leaf, a blade of grass, for example. 
10. Cup phone! -Use plastic cups and string to make "phones" to talk throughout the house.
11. Have a DIY spa day!
12. Make ice cream sundaes! 
13. DIY pizza night - each kid gets to make their own pizza!
14. Board game night - play your family’s favourite games!
15. Recreate old photos! - recreate your fun old photos, then send them to your family and friends!
16. Have Christmas in spring/summer! Get out your Christmas or holiday decorations, bake special foods, and watch a holiday movie!
17. Dance party!
18. Hold a family karaoke night!
19. Let your kids cook the meals!
20. Shoot your own family “how-to” video - could be cooking, hockey, a craft, etc.
21. Make your own in-home obstacle course!
22. Write physical letters or cards to your friends and family - include a homemade craft!
23. Mail a hug! - trace out your child’s arms spread out. Cut out the silhouette and your kids can decorate it. Send it to a family member or a friend!
24. Write positive messages on the sidewalk with chalk!
25. Create matching bracelets to let each other know that we will get through this!
26. Have a driveway family hockey tournament!
27. The kids are the teachers! Let your child/children teach you a craft or activity!
28. Create a tea party with your child/children - make all those amazing tea scones, sandwiches, desserts, and of course: TEA!
29. YouTube yoga day! - put on some yoga videos, and follow along!
30. Have a themed day! - For example: watch the Harry Potter movies, drink homemade butterbeer, make a Harry Potter cake, get crafty with making your own wands!
31. Play truth or dare!
32. Have a dress-up dinner! - dress-up all fancy and decorate your eating-space like you are in a fancy restaurant!
33. Make homemade play-dough.
34. Wacky hair day! - turn it into a competition: who has the wackiest hair?
35. Sensory bins - use various materials in the house, hide various objects in the bin!
36. Paint some rocks!
37. Learn how to do origami!
38. Learn how to knit/sew/crochet.
39. Make your own musical instruments and hold a concert.
40. Create buildings and structures using marshmallows and toothpicks!

This idea comes from Emily, who is one of our lifeguards! While out on a walk, look for different items based on themes. Your themes might include:

• 4 oz of milk
• 4 oz of cream
• 1/4 tsp of vanilla (or use other flavors usually found near the vanilla in a grocery store – you can use chocolate syrup for chocolate ice cream)
• 4 tsp of sugar
• A few drops of food coloring (optional – if you want colorful ice cream)
• Lots of ice
• Lots (half cup) of salt. Rock salt (sold at hardware stores) works best.
• Small (quart size) zip-lock freezer bag
• Large (gallon size) zip-lock freezer bag

Build A Soap Powered Model Boat

 You will need:

• A foam tray (like the kind meat comes in) or a piece of non-currogated cardboard
• A tray, bowl, or cookie sheet full of water
• Liquid dish soap
• A toothpick

What to do:

• Cut the foam tray or cardboard into a boat shape 

• A good size seems to be about 2 inches long.

• Dip the toothpick into the liquid soap and use the toothpick to put soap onto the sides of the notch at the back of the boat.

• That’s it! Now carefully place the boat onto the surface of the water and watch it scoot across the water for several seconds – you’ve made a soap-powered boat! To demonstrate the boat again, you will need to rinse out the tray to remove any soap from the previous demonstration.

Blow Up a Balloon with Yeast

You will need:

• A packet of yeast (available in the grocery store)
• A small, clean, clear, plastic soda bottle (16 oz. or smaller)
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• Some warm water
• A small balloon

What to do:

• Fill the bottle up with about one inch of warm water ( When yeast is cold or dry the micro organisms are resting.)
• Add all of the yeast packet and gently swirl the bottle a few seconds. (As the yeast dissolves, it becomes active – it comes to life! Don’t bother looking for movement, yeast is a microscopic fungus organism.)
• Add the sugar and swirl it around some more.
• Like people, yeast needs energy (food) to be active, so we will give it sugar. Now the yeast is “eating!”
• Blow up the balloon a few times to stretch it out then place the neck of the balloon over the neck of the bottle.
• Let the bottle sit in a warm place for about 20 minutes
• If all goes well the balloon will begin to inflate!

Bend a Bone with Vinegar

You will need: 

• A jar large enough to fit a chicken bone
• A chicken bone – a leg or “drumstick” bone works best
• Vinegar

What to do: 

• Have a nice chicken dinner and save a bone. Leg bones work best.
• Rinse off the bone in running water to remove any meat from the bone.
• Notice how hard the bone is – gently try bending it. Like our bones, chicken bones have a mineral called calcium in them to make them hard.
• Put the bone into the jar and cover the bone with vinegar. It might be a good idea to put the lid on the jar or cover it – let it sit for 3 days
• After 3 days remove the bone. It should feel different. Now can rinse it off and try bending it again. Is it really a rubber bone?

 Try Some Lava in a Cup 

 You will need: 

• A clear drinking glass
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Water
• Food coloring (optional)

What to do: 

• Fill the glass about 3/4 full of water .
• Add about 5 drops of food coloring 
• Slowly pour the vegetable oil into the glass. See how the oil floats on top
• Now the fun part: Sprinkle the salt on top of the oil.
• Watch blobs of lava move up and down in your glass!
• If you liked that, add another teaspoon of salt to keep the effect going.

Build a Fizz Inflator 

You will need: 

• One small empty plastic soda or water bottle
• 1/2 cup of vinegar
• Small balloon
• Baking soda
• Funnel or piece of paper

What to do: 

• Carefully pour the vinegar into the bottle.
• This is the tricky part: Loosen up the balloon by stretching it a few times and then use the funnel to fill it a bit more than half way with baking soda. If you don’t have a funnel you can make one using the paper and some tape.
• Now carefully put the neck of the balloon all the way over the neck of the bottle without letting any baking soda into the bottle.
• Ready? Lift the balloon up so that the baking soda falls from the balloon into the bottle and mixes with the vinegar. Watch the fizz-inflator at work!

Make Plastic Milk

 You will need: 

• One cup of milk
• 4 teaspoons of white vinegar
• A bowl
• A strainer
• Adult help

What to do: 

• Ask your friendly adult to heat up the milk until it is hot, but not boiling
• Now ask the adult to carefully pour the milk into the bowl
• Add the vinegar to the milk and stir it up with a spoon for about a minute
• Now the fun part, pour the milk through the strainer into the sink – careful it may be hot!
  Left behind in the strainer is a mass of lumpy blobs.
  When it is cool enough, you can rinse the blobs off in water while you press them together .
  Now just mold it into a shape and it will harden in a few days. – Cool!

A Color Symphony

You will need: 

• A flat tray (like a cookie baking tray)
• Food coloring (at least 3 different colors)
• Whole milk – low fat milk will not work for this experiment
• Liquid soap used for washing dishes

What to do: 

• Carefully pour the milk into the tray so that it just covers the bottom
• Add about 6-8 drops of different colored food coloring onto the milk in different spots
• Add about 5 drops of the liquid soap onto the drops of food coloring and watch the show!
• To clean up, simply pour the colored milk down the drain. (don’t drink it!)

Make Slime with Glue and Borax

You will need: 

• Elmer’s glue (most kinds of white craft glue will work)
• 2 disposable cups
• Food coloring (you pick the color)
• Water
• Borax Powder (available at most large grocery stores near the laundry detergent)
• A plastic spoon (for stirring)
• A tablespoon (for measuring)

What to do: 

• Fill one small cup with water and add a spoonful of the Borax powder and stir it up. Then set it aside.
• Fill the other small cup with about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the glue.
• Add three tablespoons (20 ml) of water to the glue and stir.
• Add a few drops of the food coloring and stir it up until mixed.
• Now the fun part…Add one tablespoons of the Borax solution you made earlier and stir well. Watch the slime form!
• After the slime forms let it sit for about 30 seconds and then pull it off the spoon and play with it!

Experiment While Making A Bouncy Ball

You will need: 

• Borax (found in laundry section)
• warm water
• corn starch
• glue (clear glue makes a see transparent ball and white glue makes an opaque ball)
• 2 small mixing cups
• a stirring stick (plastic spoon)

What to do: 

• Label one cup ‘Borax Solution’ and the other cup ‘Ball Mixture’.
• Pour 4 ounces (120ml) of warm water into the cup labeled ‘Borax Solution’ and 1 teaspoon of the borax powder into the cup. Stir the mixture to dissolve the borax.
• Pour 1 tablespoon of glue into the cup labeled ‘Ball Mixture’. Add 3-4 drops of food coloring, if desired.
• Add 1/2 teaspoon of the borax solution you just made and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to the glue. Do not stir.
• Allow the ingredients to interact on their own for 10-15 seconds and then stir them together to fully mix.
• Once the mixture becomes impossible to stir, take it out of the cup and start molding the ball with your hands. The ball will start out sticky and messy, but will solidify as you knead it. Once the ball is less sticky, continue rolling between your hands until it is smooth and round!

You will need:

• Clean dry paper clips
• Tissue paper
• A bowl of water
• Pencil with eraser

What to do: 

• Fill the bowl with water
• Try to make the paper clip float…not much luck
• Tear a piece of tissue paper about half the size of a bill
• Gently drop the tissue flat onto the surface of the water
• Gently place a dry paper clip flat onto the tissue (try not to touch the water or the tissue)
• Use the eraser end of the pencil to carefully poke the tissue (not the paper clip) until the tissue sinks. With some luck, the tissue will sink and leave the paper clip floating!

If you're looking for a fun craft to pass the time and then hang up outside, here's an idea! 
You just need some thin plastic recyclable containers (like yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream) or cream/milk containers that you can cut with scissors and hole punch. Then string them on some twine or string. You can even add to it each day or week, as you get more containers!

Coconut Chicken Noodle Salads

Pineapple & Pork Skewers

Roasted Asparagus & Pea Salad

Summer Corn Salad

Grilled Bacon Jalapeno Wraps

Mid-Summer Italian Bread Salad

Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs

Asian Roll Lettuce Wrap

Pesto Turkey Burgers

Fish Tacos with Crunchy Corn Salsa

Southwestern Egg Rolls

Quick Baked Zucchini Chips

Bacon and Tomato Cups

Easy Banana Muffins

Energy Oatmeal Bars

This easy homemade bagel recipe is made from scratch with just five (5) ingredients – flour, Greek yogurt, egg white, baking powder and salt! No yeast, no boiling, no fancy mixer. Bake them in the oven or in the air-fryer!

Crunchy Breakfast Tacos

Pizza Skewers

Baked Tofu Tenders

Apple Granola Stackers

Crunchy Granola Pretzel Sticks

Chicken & Bacon Roll-Ups

Frozen Banana Cereal Pops

Curry Scramble

 Talk with your family about the Water Smart Messages:

 We play lots of games in swimming lessons that reinforce the Water Smart messages! Here is one that you can play at home:

10 Minute Mindfulness Meditation

ArtVenture Online

ZERO TO THREE: Everyday Ways to Support Your Baby’s and Toddler’s Early Learning

Kanopy Kids Collection- Children's Educational Entertainment

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Anyone is welcomed to join as little or as often as they would like, and registration (even day of) is required to receive the link to Zoom or telephone option.   

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