Make Your Own Playdoh

4herras has a simple recipe for making playdoh using just foaming shaving cream and corn starch.  You could also add food coloring to make different colors.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://4herreras.blogspot.com/2012/03/fluffy-stuff.html

How to Grow Green Onions

Baked by rachel shows how to turn the stumps of green onions into more green onions by just placing them in fresh water.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.bakedbyrachel.com/2011/11/kitchen-tip-green-onions/

Newton's First Law Experiment

Ordinary life magic shares a fun science experiment using everyday household objects to showcase Newton's first law.  They even do one with 4 eggs instead of one.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ordinarylifemagic.com/2010/01/newtons-first-with-raw-eggs.html

Map Envelopes

Map envelope has a really neat way to get kids interested in writing letters.  The site lets you custom print an envelope with a visual map from any address.  This would be fun to combine with a global random pen pal site.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Print the envelopes here:
http://www.mapenvelope.com/

Yarn Wrapped Snakes

Professor aline miranda takes card board cut out snakes and wraps them in multicolored yarn giving them sticker eyes for a fun and easy snake craft.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://professoralinemiranda.blogspot.com/2012/10/bichinhos-papelao-silhueta.html

Make Your Own Ice Cream

Kids will get a kick out of making their own ice cream with this super simple recipe.  Here's what you need:

 

- 5 Tablespoons of Rock Salt

- 1 Cup of Cream

- 1/2 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

- 2 Trays of Ice Cubes

- 1 Tablespoon of Sugar

- Ziploc Bags

 

First add the cream and vanilla and sugar into the bag and shake it all up.   Put the ice and salt into a different bag and shake this one too.  Combine both bags and shake shake shake for about 10 minutes.

Beach Themed Sensory Box

Themed sensory bins can be fun and spark imaginative play.  To make a beach experience add part sand and part blue stones, the kind you put in vases, add plastic sea creatures and people and have the kids have a day at the beach.

Kix cereal takes their cereal box, cuts off the front, adds sand and some beach items for a really simple version.

Coffee Sensory Box

If going to the local coffee shop is part of your regular routine (or even if it isn't) your kids will love this sensory bin.  Place whole coffee beans, spoons, stick stirrers, sugar and cream packets and cups in the bin and have the kids make their own creations. 

Wizard Wands

All Harry Potter fans will love this craft making wizard wands out of sticks.  Have the kids find some really great and straight sticks.  Then glue on some rope or twine to the top to give it more oomph.  And voila they'll be all ready to cast their first spells. 

Playdoh Cupcakes

Sometimes its fun to make something real with something pretend.  Here's a great cupcake recipe using playdoh and colorful odds and ends to decorate.  Start by rolling and kneading the dough, shape it into a cupcake liner, sprinkle and decorate and have a fun pretend birthday. 

The Writing Sensory Box

There are a lot of different methods to help kids learn how to spell. One common way is the have kids write in sand or other powder material like coffee grounds, salt, sugar, or even dirt.  Put different types of paper underneath like foil, waxed paper, saran wrap or sticky paper to add more sensory enjoyment.

Mrs. ricca kingergarten creates sight word seashells and lets kids practice writing with their finger in the sand box.  Fist she hides the seashells in the sand and as the kids find them they get to write them out.

Get the instructions here:
http://mrsriccaskindergarten.blogspot.com/2013/05/down-by-sea-math-literacy-centers.html 

Learning for kids places colorful construction paper under salt to make colorful surprises as the kids write words and numbers.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.learning4kids.net/2012/06/05/rainbow-salt-tray/

Ice Skating Boats

One fun task for a hot summer day is to make ice boats.  Using a cupcake liner, ice cube, tooth pick and plastic paper.  Freeze water in ice cube trays to make the boat but place a tooth pick in the center so that you'll have a mast for the plastic sails, then place them in cupcake wrappers and slide across a sensory box of frozen ice.  Kids will have fun as the boats float upon the ice.  Take it outside and as it melts they can see if the boats start to sink or float.

Alpha mom uses a cup to free the water to make her boat and uses a bendy straw for the mast.  She adds a paper sail.  For her version she floats them in a big bowl of water.

Learning 4 kids colors her ice and uses huge containers to make super big boats.

Cut Up Poetry

One fun way to have kids just learning how to read is to take magazines and cut up some of the more simple sight words and then turn them into poems.  Have the kids go through old magazines and cut out the words they can read.  Then have them work on their skills further by putting the words together to make poems that are either non-sense or fun-sense.

Sound Guessing Sensory Box

One great way to use left over plastic eggs is placing small noisy items within them matching 2 sounds for each egg and placing them all in a bin for an auditory sensory box.  Kids will need to guess which sounds match and will have fun finding out if they're right.  Items to try include:

- Coins
- Beans
- Water
- Rice
- Beads

Shaving Cream Bath Paint

Simply add food coloring to shaving cream and let the kids paint in the bath.  They'll have fun squishing the foam and combining the colors to learn about primary and secondary combinations. 

Have kids will craft makes them in a muffin tin.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.havekidswillcraft.com/homemade-bath-paints/

Jello Numbers Sensory Box

One way to get kids to start thinking about numbers is to add them to fun and edible sensory play, by mixing them into fun jello colors.  You can mix them all into one big bowl or add them into individual blocks and have kids investigate what numbers they uncover. 

Tin Can Robots

Tin cans have a great second life as an upcycled craft making robots.  They're so shiny and metallic they make the best base for your kids to create a pretend artificial life form.  Just add some additional objects such as stickers, paper, pipe cleaners, pom poms and tape.  Make sure to tape the sharp edge before playing.

A fancier version that doubles as a table centerpiece storing yummy cookies and plastic utensils.

Cutting Sensory Box

Give the kids a bunch of different types of papers and fabrics and a scissors. They'll have a lot of fun feeling the different textures and seeing how difficult and easy it is to cut the different types of items.

Washi Tape Magnet Bookmarks

Lemon squeezy home covers card stock with cute washi tape and sticks on magnets to the end to solidify the bookmarks. 

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.lemonsqueezyhome.com/2013/05/magnetic-washi-tape-bookmarks-diy.html

Shrinky Dink Bracelet

Free pretty things for you shares a pretty template of printable charms to make a bracelet.  The main item you need is shrinky dink printing paper and a link bracelet and jump rings to hang the charms. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.freeprettythingsforyou.com/2013/05/shrinky-dink-charm-bracelet/

Pipe Cleaner Bubble Wands

Life with moore babies turns pipe cleaners into bubble wands.  They even decorate them with beads and create unique shapes for the bubbles.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://lifewithmoorebabies.blogspot.com/2013/05/pipe-cleaner-bubble-wands_12.html

Toilet Paper Roll Washi Tape Houses

Zakka life turns toilet paper rolls into cute little houses using washi tape to decorate the homes. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2013/05/make-washi-tape-village.html

Make Your Own Geoboards

Turn lots of different designs into geoboards using dot paper and markers to teach their kids about basic shapes such as triangles, stars, and rectangles.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Hello wonderful uses wood and nails.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/easy-diy-wooden-geoboard

Water Balloon Math

No time for flash cards keeps the learning going in the summer drawing mathematical equations on water balloons and creating hula hoop targets featuring the optional sums.  The kids need to figure out the answer and then throw the water balloon at the correct target.  Another idea would be to include a plastic sum in the water balloons so the kids can check their answers once they pop.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2013/05/water-balloon-game-math-activity-for-kids.html

Paper Redwood Forest

Juggling with kids use paper, paint, tissue paper and glue to make a mini Muir Woods.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.jugglingwithkids.com/2013/02/booking-across-usa-california_25.html

Aluminum Can Bird Feeder

Momtastic turns an empty tin can into a bird feeder using just paint and string. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.momtastic.com/diy/175891-tin-can-bird-feeder-craft-diy

Everyday dishes paints a coffee can and tops it with popsicle sticks.

Get the instructions here:
http://everydaydishes.com/creative-crafts/coffee-can-bird-feeder-craft/ 

Mom endeavors ties her s up with string.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.momendeavors.com/2012/03/diy-bird-feeders.html

Plastic Bottle Mini Golf Set

Spoonful cuts holes out of the bottom of plastic bottles and paints on numbers to create a makeshift mini-golf course. For golf clubs they suggest wrapping paper tubes.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://spoonful.com/crafts/build-portable-golf-course

Plastic Bottle Bug Catcher

 

Kedublock cuts the top off of a plastic bottle, puts in a tree wood disk as a stopper, and embellishes with a pretty piece of twine to make a bug observatory.  She burns in tiny plastic oxygen holes for air.

Good for ages 11 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://kedublock.blogspot.com/2012/09/insect-observatory.html

Busy bee kids crafts uses the whole bottle adding sand and plants.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/the-bug-jug.html

Plastic Bottle Vase

Poppytalk cuts the bottom off a plastic bottle, cuts a couple holes on the side and strings on a pretty ribbon to create a simple yet pretty vase. 

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.poppytalk.com/2011/07/diy-idea-recycled-bottle-hanging-vases.html

No time for flash cards uses an empty yogurt drink container and has the kids draw on them with marker and adds a ribbon around the rim.  She makes them for Mother's Day, but they're a great craft anytime.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/05/easy-mothers-day-craft-for-kids.html

Flat Cardboard Vase

The cardboard collective has a really cool idea for making a vase.  Using a long, flat piece of cardboard, she cut slots within the board to make a woven pattern.  She uses plastic straws and bags to hold the flowers and water.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://thecardboardcollective.com/2013/03/29/woven-cardboard-vase/

Play Paper Landscape

Mr. printables shares a play paper landscape complete with trees, mountains, grass and a flowing stream. 

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the free printable here:
http://www.mrprintables.com/my-paper-world-wild-green.html

Duct Tape Bags

Eclectic mom turns duct tape into fun bags.  These would be great for goody bags too. 

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.eclecticmom.com/home/2012/4/5/colorful-tape-easter-baskets.html

Toilet Paper Tube Snake

Easy preschool craft paints toilet paper roll tubes and strings them together to create a snake.  Add felt or paper circles and a cut out tongue to add a face. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://easypreschoolcraft.blogspot.com/2012/01/toilet-paper-snake-craft.html

I heart crafty things adds washi tape to the toilet paper rolls to give the snake a pattern.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.iheartcraftythings.com/2014/10/cardboard-roll-snake-craft.html

Dltk colors the cardboard tubes different colors by gluing construction paper on to them.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/msnake.htm

Cheap crafty mama cuts the toilet paper rolls to give the snakes more of a diamond shape.

Get the instructions here:
http://cheapcraftymama.com/toilet-paper-roll-snake-kid-craft/