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Activities

Balloon Rocket (All Ages)

Materials: balloons, string, straws, tape

Directions:

  • Tape one end of your string to wall or surface (you will want ample room – string length approximately 10 ft)
  • Blow up the balloon, but do not tie it
  • If you are handy tape the straw onto the blown-up balloon – or have a family member help
  • Place the untapped end of the string through the straw and release the balloon rocket when ready
  • Make two balloon rockets to race your family for extra fun

https://sciencebob.com/make-a-balloon-rocket/

 

Balloon that Inflates Itself (8-12)

Materials: empty plastic bottle, balloon, 3 tsp baking soda, 1/3 cup vinegar

Directions

  • Pour vinegar into plastic bottle. Set aside

Empty baking soda into the balloon. This may require two people

  • Push the baking soda down so it is completely inside the balloon
  • Stretch the neck of the balloon so that it fits on top of the bottle. Be careful not to let the baking soda fall into the bottle
  • Shake the bottle until the baking soda is emptied from the balloon and is combined with the vinegar in the bottle
  • The balloon should then inflate

https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/Self-Inflating-Balloon/

 

Cloud Dough (All Ages)

Materials: hair conditioner, cornstarch, bowl, popsicle stick/spatula, food colouring (optional)

Directions:

  • Add equal parts hair conditioner and cornstarch and mix
  • Start slowly adding cornstarch in as you go until you get closer to a ratio of 2:1 cornstarch to hair conditioner
  • Add a drop of food colouring, fold and knead until you reach your preferred colour

https://happyhooligans.ca/cloud-dough/

 

Coke and Mentos (All Ages)

Materials: 2L bottle of cola, Mentos

Directions:

  • Place your bottle of cola somewhere where spills are acceptable – preferably outside
  • Open your Mentos to have quick access
  • Quickly open your bottle of cola and place the Mentos in as fast as you can
  • Be cautious and step back quickly after the Mentos have been applied

 

Elephant Toothpaste (All Ages)

Materials: plastic bottle, dry yeast, warm water, liquid dish soap, 3% hydrogen peroxide, measuring cups and spoons, safety glasses (or parental help), large tub or tray to catch the foam, liquid food colouring (optional)

Directions:

  • Measure ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide and carefully pour it into the bottle
  • Add a big squirt of dish soap into the bottle and swirl it gently
  • If you would like to make your foam your favourite colour, now is the time to add a few drops of food colouring
  • In a measuring cup mix one tablespoon of yeast and three tablespoons of warm water
  • Stir the water and yeast for 30 seconds
  • Pour the yeast mixture into the bottle and step back!

https://www.scholastic.com/parents/kids-activities-and-printables/activities-for-kids/math-and-science-ideas/home-science-experiments-elephants-toothpaste.html

 

Finding Faces (All Ages)

Materials: Paper, scissors

Directions:

  • (Optional) Create a picture frame out of the paper to improve the experience
  • Head outside and start looking around your yard or the space available to you
  • Use your imagination to find as many objects that resemble faces
  • Be creative and challenge your family to see who can find the most faces (or the wackiest one)

 

Oobleck (All Ages)

Materials: Cornstarch, water, food colouring (optional)

Directions:

  • If you would like colour add the colour of choice to 1 cup of water
  • Then stir in 2 cups of cornstarch
  • Finally let us know whether you think this is a liquid or a solid

https://www.instructables.com/id/Oobleck/

 

Puffy Slime (All Ages)

Materials: liquid white glue, shaving cream, foaming hand soap, baby powder, food colouring (optional), borax, water, spatula, large bowl, smaller bowl (for borax solution)

Directions:

  • Start with the borax solution by combining 1 tsp of borax with 1 cup of hot water
  • Squeeze the entire bottle of glue into the larger
  • Add ½ shaving cream and ½ cup of hand soap to the glue – mixing well in the process
  • Once the mixture has no lumps add a heaping tablespoon of baby powder and mix well
  • Add in 4-5 drops of food colouring
  • Add the borax solution in intervals of 3 teaspoons then stir (do not as too much or your slime will harden)
  • Mix, knead and enjoy

https://www.iheartnaptime.net/how-to-make-fluffy-slime/

 

Veg Off (All Ages)

Directions:

  • This game is perfect for settling arguments at home
  • Have two people stand back to back (just like gunslingers in an old western)
  • The game master will count to three as the two contestants take three big steps
  • The game master will then call out a vegetable
  • The contestants will use their bodies to best mimic that vegetable
  • The person who looks most like the vegetable wins!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_u7onxrkic