Author: Linda Martin

21st Century Kids
STEM FOR THE SUMMER

Distributed by
Mr. Misch
AART
Freedom Hill ES

The BEST “Toys” for Summer are FREE!

A Newsletter for
Young Innovators

If you want to be more creative , here are some cool supplies to build what you can imagine.
A large cardboard box
String or rope
Duct tape or packing tape
Marbles
Clay
Sand
Paper clips
Newspapers
Magazines
Scissors
Glue (can be homemade, see recipe)
Old appliances to dismantle (clip the cord)
A toolbox of tools to use
Thin, pliable cardboard
Fabric pieces or old clothes
Lots of recyclable stuff like cereal boxes, milk cartons, water bottles
Crayons, paints, and paintbrushes
Balloons
Glue gun
Balsa wood
Clips—paper clips, bull dog clips, etc.
Pipe cleaners
Paper plates
Straws
Plastic grocery bags
Paper cups
Let’s think about it.
Decisions and Outcomes
What would happen if more kids decided to make their own toys? What would be the outcome of that???

Summer 2014

In this issue:
I can design my own toys!
I can use websites to give me more ideas!
I can use my creativity to help others with my ideas!

21st Century Project Challenges

Thoughts to Think—
You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. - Maya Angelou
It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. - Albert Einstein

21st century skills means using your critical and creative thinking and your ability to collaborate and communicate. Here are some challenges to try this summer.
Collaborate with friends to build the tallest tower you can with newspaper and tape.
Communicate the directions to a game you made up yourself.
Create a new game using the pieces from an old game, like Scrabble or Monopoly.
Think about a way you could help someone in your community with your ideas.

Your IMAGINATION is UNLIMITED!

Visualize what you could build with a cardboard box—
A stage
A spaceship
A dollhouse
Visualize what you could build with a paper towel tube
A light saber
A race track
A kaliedoscope
Visualize what you could build with a milk carton
A boat
A planter for seedlings
And more!
What are your ideas???
Visualize means picture it in your head!

Two great formulas to make your own fun!
Homemade Clay Dough
Materials—
2 cups of plain/all-purpose flour 1 cup salt 1 cup cold water 1 tbsp oil
(vegetable oil is fine -
baby oil smells lovely).
Directions—
Mix together.
Store in a air tight container. Add Cool Aid for color!
Homemade Glue
Materials—
Bowl
1/2 cup of flour
Water
Salt
Directions—
In a bowl mix flour with enough water to make a gooey but not runny paste. Add a pinch of salt, stir. Store in air tight container.
***
Which is better—Store bought or homemade?
Make a PMI to decide!
Pluses—Minuses– Interesting

AWESOME Websites for Good Ideas!

Check out these websites to get some great ideas for engineering and science. You will spend HOURS having fun and say “Goodbye BOREDOM!”
PBS Zoom Printables
http://pbskids.org/zoom/printables/activities/
So many cool ideas like building an egg drop container, mixing a formula for cauldron bubbles, and making a hover craft!
Howtoons
http://www.howtoons.com/
If you like graphic novels, you will love this site. There are comics to show you how to make a submarine, or kaleidoscope, or periscope. Awesome how-to cartoons!
Design Squad
http://pbskids.org/designsquad/
You will LOVE this site. It has videos, online games, and super building ideas like how to make a straw puppet, a glow stick, and how to make a pasta car.
You can watch videos to learn about engineering and interesting science topics. You could spend hours getting ideas at this place. Check it out!!
Fairfax County Public Schools
Advanced Academics