Wonderworks: Engineering with Tubes

What can you do with a tube?


Engineering Project:  exploring the properties of tubes 
Supplies:
PVC pipe cut into 6" and 12" lengths, plus elbows and other connectors
marbles
cardboard tubes (paper towel, t.p., wrapping paper, etc.)
magnets
glue dots
toy cars & ballls
extra large cardboard tubes from carpet stores (ask, they'll likely give them to you for free!)
funnels
straws
bristle rollers (I found mine at the dollar store and a beauty supply shop)
foam insulation for pipes (just wander the hardware store looking for inexpensive tubes made from different materials!)

Book:
  Cars galore / Stein, Peter 

Craft Lab: Gingerbread Zombies

So tasty, you'll want to eat their brains!

Project: Create Creepy Cookies
Supplies:
gingerbread and/or sugar cookies shaped like people
frosting
food coloring
icing tips & other cake decorating supplies
candy (mini m&ms, red & white peppermints, red hots, mini chocolate chips, etc.)

Toddler Art Class: Crayon "Snowflakes"

Snowflakes drawn in white crayon magically appear with watercolor paint!

Art Project:Crayon Snowflakes
Supplies:
white crayons (I also included gray and silver, just for experimenting with)
white watercolor paper (or other heavy-weight paper)
paintbrushes
liquid watercolors (purchased or homemade--see instructions below)
paper towels or rags for catching spills

Book:
  All the world / Scanlon, Elizabeth Garton   
( a book about snowflakes would have also worked well, but I love this book and wanted to share it with the group.  We talked about how their white drawings could be snowflakes or clouds or stars or anything else they wanted it to be!)

 

WonderWorks: Technology

Technology for Tots--let's start with the obvious.

Apps for Kids

Supplies:
iPads, iPod touches, iPhones as available (some of the parents and caregivers brought their own devices, the rest were owned by the library)

What we read:

Push button / Aliki

NeedleReads: Quick Sew Gifts

Need a quick gift idea?

Here are some great books with easy, fast sewing projects:

Last-minute patchwork + quilted gifts / Hoverson, Joelle Bend the rules sewing : the essential guide to a whole new way to sew / Karol, Amy Simple sewing : patterns and how-to for 24 fresh and easy projects / Jansdotter, Lotta

Nifty Thrifty Gifty 2012

Quick, kid-friendly gift ideas to make!

Toddler Art Class: Foil Sculpting

Shiny silver, squishy, squeaky, scratchy sculptures.

Art Project: 
Supplies:
aluminum foil

Book:   

Stars / Ray, Mary Lyn

a sneak peek at a new program: WonderWorks!

What happens when solids turn to liquids?

Today's focus-- The Science of Melting
Supplies: 
ice (cubes plus one larger "iceberg" frozen before class in a plastic bag or jug)
water
chocolate chips
birthday candles
wet sand
matches or lighter
salt
sugar
powdered paint OR Kool-aid

What we read:

The snowy day / Keats, Ezra Jack