We hope that you will come and play soon at the Children’s Museum of the Valley! In the meantime, here are some fun activities, recipes, and links that you can do at home! Remember, always ask for an adult’s help when downloading or creating any of the following activities. Check back soon—there is much, much more to come!

Recipes | Links: Local, Science, Parents, Art, Animals, Weather, Reading, Little Ones

Activities

TORNADO TUBE

Materials:

• Two 2-liter clear plastic pop bottles (empty and clean)
• Water
• 1-inch metal washer
• duct tape or you can go to a science store and get a 'tornado tube' that will connect the two 2-liter bottles together

Process:

1. Fill one of the bottles two-thirds full of water
2. Place the metal washer or twist the ‘tornado tube’ over the opening of the bottle
3. Turn the second bottle upside down and place it on the washer or twist it on the 'tornado tube'
4. Use the duct tape to fasten the two containers and the metal washer together. Make sure to tape tightly to make sure that no water will leak out when you turn the bottle over. If you use the ‘tornado tube’, just twist together tightly.
5. Turn the tornado maker, so that the bottle with the water is on top. Swirl the bottle in a circular motion. A tornado will form in the top bottle as the water rushes into the bottom bottle.

*If you want to get creative, you can also use food coloring to make the tornado have a color and glitter to represent debris.

Explanation:
The swirling motion you give the bottle forms a vortex and is a easy way to create your own tornado.

Sniderman's Puzzle Palace

The End is in Sight
Featured in the Spring 2008 issue of Play Matters
Download here!

Coloring

DINO COLORING SHEET
Download here!

Recipes

FLUBBER

Borate solution

• 1 1/3 cups warm water
• 1 tbsp. powdered borax
• 6 drops of food coloring
• Mix three ingredients together in a bowl and set aside. Be sure to mix well.

Glue solution

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 cup white school glue
• Mix very well together

Take borate solution and mix with the glue solution. Mix together with a spoon and then with hands until there is only a small amount of water left (the food coloring will NOT stain your hands).

The flubber will be sticky for a couple of minutes… then it is ready. Store a small amount (fist size) for each child in the Ziploc bags ~ use a marker to label each bag and the bags can be taken home after the party. Tell the kids to store the sealed bags in their fridge at home after playing with the flubber. If it is cared for properly, it should last a couple of weeks.

BIG BUBBLES

Materials

• 1 c Water
• 2 tb Light Karo syrup OR 2 Tablespoons Glycerin
• 4 tb Dishwashing liquid

Mix together—Try not to create too many suds! You can make wands using your fingers, pipe cleaners, and even blow bubbles through straws!

Links for Kids

Please remember that you should only use the Internet with adult supervision. You will especially enjoy the following links after exploring the fun exhibits at CMV.