Hobbies And Interests
Unbreakable Bubbles
Challenge the kids, or yourself, to make the unbreakable bubble. This game will take about an hour.
You will need an 8 1/2 by 11-inch sheet of heavy paper or card stock, tape, scissors, a bowl, a spoon, 1 cup and 2 tbsp. of water, 2 tbsp. of glycerin (found at craft stores), 2 tbsp. of dishwashing liquid and a plastic drinking straw.
Roll the card stock into a cone shape and secure with tape. Cut the small end to be even, about 1/2-inch in diameter. Cut the large end to be even.
Mix water, dishwashing soap and glycerin in the bowl with the spoon. Dip the large end of the cone in the mixture, holding it a few seconds to absorb. Remove the cone and tap off any extra liquid, then quickly dip it in the solution again and remove.
Holding the cone with the large end facing the ground, blow into the smaller end until a bubble forms. Poke the bubble with the scissors. It should immediately pop.
Dip the cone again and make another bubble. This time, dip the scissors into the liquid before poking it in the bubble. It should pass easily through the bubble.
A bubble will pop when the water around its walls evaporates or something dry penetrates it. Dipping the scissors gives its point liquid edges, and the bubble forms around it.
See who can make the biggest unbreakable bubble, or add a twist by dipping the straw into the liquid, covering at least 2 inches of the end of the straw, and penetrating the bubble. Another child can form a bubble inside the unbreakable bubble by blowing on the end of the straw. Challenge them to see how big they can make a bubble inside a bubble. The internal bubble will move to the outside of the original bubble, because its proportion of air and liquid is denser, causing it to sink.
Weather Forecasters
This game combines watching television with learning about the science of weather. The challenge is to be the best weather forecaster. You need a television and paper to play, and you will need a few minutes a day for about a week for this game.
To start, watch a weather forecast with the children. Have them take notes on weather terms and quiz them. They should look up terms they don&'t understand.
Create a chart for each child and yourself to predict specific weather patterns over the next few days. Include the days of the week and predictions for precipitation, actual precipitation, predictions for temperature, actual temperatures or any other weather item that appeals to your child.
Have your children make their predictions, then watch the weather news to see actual results. See who is the most accurate in making weather predictions. You can make this more interesting by putting a rain gauge and thermometer in your yard and checking your home results with those on the television.
To make a homemade thermometer, you will need water, rubbing alcohol, an 11-ounce clear, narrow-necked plastic bottle, red food coloring, a clear plastic drinking straw and modeling clay. Mix equal parts of water and rubbing alcohol in the bottle, filling it no more than 1/4 full. Add a few drops of food coloring and mix. Place the straw in the bottle without touching the bottom. Seal the top with modeling clay. The liquid will expand when heated and move up the straw.
Measuring Energy
Observe the power of energy within our bodies. See who has the strongest energy by making the coat hangers move from the furthest away.
Two players stand 20 feet or more apart. One player holds two wire coat hangers by the long end loosely in his fists, with the hook edges forward. The player&'s arms are at his sides with elbows bent. Thumbs should be on the outside of the fists and not touching the coat hangers.
The player holding the coat hangers thinks about measuring the other player’s energy and steps forward, keeping his eyes on the other player, until the coat hangers start to move. They should swing outward.
Players can challenge each other by seeing who can use their energy to swing the coat hangers sooner. The one not holding the hangers can think positive thoughts, such as “I am strong” or “I can do great things,” or say them out loud, to see if this makes the hangers swing from a greater distance.