Right now you’re either preparing the party (and need something to entertain the kids) or you’re already involved in the party (and want something fun that a large group of kids can do together). Am I right?
Well either way I’m going to try to keep this short and sweet so you can get right back to the fun!
TinkerLab: A Hands-on Guide for Little Inventors
I am so, so excited to tell you about a book that hit shelves last month. TinkerLab creator Rachelle Doorley has taken her creative know how, fun spirit and inspiring activities to a new level in her new book… TinkerLab: A Hands-on Guide for Little Inventors. TinkerLab is one of my very favorite blogs and I am so very lucky to call Rachelle a friend.
I will let you read the book description here –> Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors
This activity come straight from the pages of Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors and it’s perfect for the 4th of July.
Super Simple Straw Rockets
What you need: Paper, scissors, tape and straws.
- Cut a piece of copy paper into 6 rectangles (none of this needs to be exact but that was a good size for the base of the rocket).
- Roll the paper loosely around the base and secure with tape.
- Make a circle. We used a lid, but a freehand circle would work as well.
- Cut a line from the edge of the circle to the middle of the circle. I had the kids put a dot in the middle and cut to the dot.
- Make a cone shape with the circle. I guess I’ve never shown M & M how to do this… they were amazed!
- Tape the rectangle and cone together. This part is tricky but we had a great time testing different taping methods.
- Slide the rocket on to a straw.
- BLOW!
- Now that you know how it works, get creative. Big M decided his second rocket should be a space ship.
Before I get to the giveaway I want to say one more thing. When this book showed up in the mail, I didn’t even have a chance to open it before the kids ran off with it. Rachelle has filled the book with incredible tips and inspiration for parents (we are clearly the target audience) but there’s a bonus. The beautiful pictures and simple instructions make this book perfect for inspiring kids as well.
Giveaway
Not only was I given a book, I was also given a book to offer to one of my lucky readers. YAY!
How to play:
- Leave a comment on this post telling us why creativity is important to you. (And if you don’t have an answer just say I NEED THIS BOOK!)
- If you are an A Mom with a Lesson Plan email subscriber receive a second entry. Add an additional comment saying I FOLLOW YOU! If you’re not already…join now!
Rules:
- US residents only.
- Comments must be entered by midnight PST 7/6/2014. (I’ts a short one!)
- Winner will be chosen using random.org and contacted via email.
- Winner has 24 hours to respond to the email or another winner will be chosen.
Make sure to visit the other inspiring blogs on the TinkerLab Blog Tour
- June 10 – The Artful Parent
- June 11 – Toddler Approved
- June 12 – Creative with Kids
- June 13 – Red Ted Art
- June 16 – Not Just Cute
- June 17 – Kids Activities Blog
- June 18 – Rookie Moms
- June 19 – Peanut Blossom
- June 20 – Modern Parents, Messy Kids
- June 23 – The Imagination Tree
- June 24 – Babble Dabble Do
- June 25 – Pink and Green Mama
- June 26 – Make and Takes
- June 30 – Playful Learning
- July 3 – Imagine Childhood
- July 4 – Right here! A Mom with a Lesson Plan
- July 7 – Nurture Store
- July 9 – Simple Kids
- July 10 – Kids Stuff World
- July 11 – Let’s Lasso the Moon
- July 14 – Ain’t No Mom Jeans
- July 15 – Fun at Home with Kids
- TBD – Childhood 101
We are crafters and makers of art in our household. It is so important to me that my kids are creative because being able to express oneself creatively is important in every part of your life from relationships, to parenting, to work. Solving problems creatively is an important key to success, in my opinion. The sooner you can teach a person to be creative and think “outside of the box,” the better you set them up for life, I think.
I follow you! I love your blog. It has so many fantastic and creative ideas. Thanks for sharing.
With three grand kids age four and five others (of greatly varying ages) who all seem to descend upon this abode on a regular basis – I need this book! What an awesome privilege I have to help them and this would surely help me in those times when I am short on ideas!
Mom of 4! I need this book
My boys would love this book. They are always inventing something.
fun idea. We are going to do this today for a little fun while getting ready for fireworks. I love theses creative ideas.
I NEED THIS BOOK! Creativity brings out my kids’ imagination, fun, and really allows them to think for themselves and problem solve! My son is currently digging a home to get to his friends’ houses and doing his own science experiments with water!!!
I FOLLOW YOU!!
Creativity is important to me because it makes people more interesting. Also children are thinking and producing at a higher skill level when they are creative.
I follow you.
Creativity lets you explore, imagine, dream, and escape! We love creating art projects and crafts in our home. Thanks for the chance!
I follow you!
Our dining room should really be renamed the “Activity Room” since each meal requires us to clear art supplies, games, rock and shells, clay or whatever else we’re working on to make room for plates. I want our children to think and experiment and discover. Especially now, when mainstream schools are so regimented and focused on math and literacy, we need creativity more than ever.
And I follow you! 🙂
Creativity builds problem solving skills and encourages out-of-the-box thinking.
I FOLLOW YOU, and this book would be a great idea in that I have a son. I have thought how it would be if there were more science projects or buildable things for him to do. I enjoyed this article today. Please continue to share great ideas. I NEED THIS BOOK.
Tashia
I need this book! I am a pre-K teacher and I try to inspire and nurture creativity.
I follow you! I love your ideas and posts!
Creativity gets kids ready for a future we cannot even imagine!
I follow you!
Creativity enhances the mind! Creativity will keep us up and moving, maybe not so much sitting in front of the technology?
Creativity is important to me because, without it, no one would think of new ways to solve problems. Always good to start teaching creative thinking young so they carry it with them when they are older 🙂 Also, who doesn’t love to have cute art to hang up?
I follow you!
This books sounds great to keep my 2 boys busy and learning.
I FOLLOW YOU!
Creativity feeds our brains – and souls -no that they may grow.
I follow you!
My little oldest one, 5 yrs, is just now getting into making things and being creative. I am so happy as he has such a hard time with fine motor skills. I would like something to inspire him. I don’t think I need it as much as he does!
I have used ideas from you in my own classroom. I follow you.
I’ve heard so many great things about this book, so basically just “I NEED THIS BOOK” lol! 🙂
The only exposure to art that I received as a child was a very short art class in one year of elementary school (until we transferred to another which had none). I want to give as much creative art expression opportunities to my kids as I can.
I love this idea! I come from a crafty and creative family and I am excited to share with my children. Since my kids are so young it is sometimes difficult to find things at their level, but it looks like this book would be full of great inspiration.
As a preschool teacher I Need This Book. Always looking for new creative ideas.
I want this book!
Science and creativity are so important, and would love to explore this book with my two daughters.
I FOLLOW YOU!