Storytime: Tracy Snyder reads Go Dog Go

Tracy Snyder from the Theater of Youth reads Go Dog Go.

The dogs in our story used lots of different types of transportation – bikes, boats, cars, scooters and more! What types of transportation do we use as people? What is your favorite type of transportation? Have your grown-up help you comment on the Explore & More Facebook page with your favorite! A lot of dogs in our story like to PLAY! Do you like to play?

For more Storytime stories click here!

Sanity Savers: Bubble Solution

By: Amelia Schrader
Senior Manager of Learning and Education 

Materials

8 cups of water
1 cup of dish soap (dawn is best!)
2/3 cup of honey
Large mixing spoon
Large container that is easy to pour  

Length:

Prep: 5 minutes
Inactive: 1 hour +
Play Time: Unlimited!  

Who doesn’t love bubbles?! We sure love them in our house! Sadly, we were currently out of bubble solution. Typically when I make homemade bubbles, I use glycerin but I also do not have that in my house now. At first I thought I was out of luck then I remembered a member family once shared with me that they always use honey in their homemade bubbles so for the first time my family tried replacing glycerin with honey and it worked GREAT! I hope your family enjoys this bubble solution as much as mine did!  

Directions:

Step 1: Measure out your ingredients. Don’t forget to let your kiddos help with this step! Measuring is great practice for developing brains.  

Step 2: Combine all ingredients together in the large container. If you have one I love using a beverage dispense with a spout because it makes it easy for kids of all ages to refill their bubble solution on their own!   

Step 3:  Gently mix together the honey, dish soap and water. Don’t mix too vigorously or the bubbles won’t work as well.  

Step 4: Let bubbles rest for at least 1 hour (over night is best). Now it is time to play!  

Do you have a favorite bubble solution recipe? We would love to hear it! Make sure you share photos of your bubble play or recipe ideas on the Explore & More Facebook page!  

Vocabulary Words

Mixture: a substance that is made by mixing other substances together

Solution: a liquid mixture where the smaller component(s) are mixed into the larger component 

Check out our other Sanity Savers posts here!

Sanity Savers: Egg Carton Flowers

Written by Will Kawalec
Lead Play to Learn Facilitator   

Materials:

Egg carton (pulp carton preferred), paint or markers, pipe cleaners or straws (green if possible), popsicle sticks (optional)  empty jar (or make a vase here) buttons or beads, glue,tape.   

Length:

Set up: 5 Minutes
Activity 20-30 Minutes  

Academic Subject(s):

Art 

This art project will repurposed old egg cartons into a beautiful bouquet of flowers that can be put on displays for the entire house to see or given as a beautiful Mother’s Day gift!   

Directions:

Before beginning have an adult cut the egg carton into individual pieces so that each egg slot is separated from each other.  Lay out the rest of the materials for the child. 

Step 1: Have the child color or paint the egg carton pieces any color they would like, try to emphasize natural colors of flowers. You can look around your own neighborhood to get ideas! If you want you can stack a second carton to give your flower more dimension. The second egg cup could be the same color or a new color! Stacking the egg cartons is optional.  

Step 2: Glue a bead or button to the assembled and painted carton in the center. This button represents the stigma of a flower or the part that holds the pollen.   

Step 3: Connect a pipe cleaner to the opposite of the beaded side and push it through the bottom of the egg carton. You may need a grown up to help you with this step. The pipe cleaner represents the stem of the flower. 

Step 4: Now that the flower has been assembled, you can repeat this process to make a bouquet.  

Step 5: Taking an empty jar fill it with the newly created bouquet. You can make all your flowers look the same or different! Use your imagination!

Step 6 (optional): If you have popsicle sticks tidily glue them around the jar to make an even more detailed vase. You can also paint the jar or use stickers to decorate!  

Show off the flowers and jar, use as a centerpiece at the dinner table make sure it can be seen! This project can also be used for a special Mother’s Day gift!  This project also teaching children about one of the 3 R’s that help our planet – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Today we are reusing  

Vocab Words:

Recycle– to use again through the process of turning an item into a raw material and making a new item.  I recycled my plastic bottles so they could be used to make new plastic bags.

Reuse – to use something again without changing its structure. I reused the egg cartons in this art project by painting them into flowers.

 Stem– the main body and support of a plant.  The stem of a sunflower is really sturdy and supports the plant.

Roots– the part of a plant that reaches into the ground helping the plant to gain nutrients.  The oak tree in my backyard has really deep roots, that’s how it grew so tall.

Vase– a decorative container.  We always put our fresh flowers into a vase on the table.

Check out our other Sanity Savers posts here!

Sanity Savers: Craft Stick Picture Frames

Sponsored by: M&T Bank

By: Amelia Schrader
Senior Manger of Learning and Education 

Materials

8 craft sticks (per frame)
Glue (I recommend hot glue with grown up help but liquid glue will also work)
Markers or paint
Stickers (optional)
String, pipe cleaner or magnets (optional)  

Sanity Savers: Craft Stick Picture Frames

Length:

5 minutes + 

Academic Subject(s):

Art, Geometry  

Today we are making popsicle stick picture frames! These are another great Mother’s Day gift but can also be created to send to any loved one you are really missing right now! You can use a real photo for these frames or draw a picture to put inside. For our samples, we did both! This lesson is also a great opportunity to address some basic geometry concepts!  

Sanity Savers: Craft Stick Picture Frames

Directions:

Step 1: Line up two of the craft sticks parallel to each other and place a glue dab at the top. I use hot glue because it dries so quickly. If you do use hot glue, make sure you have a grown up to help you! If you choose to use another liquid glue be careful not to let your sticks slide around while drying.  
Step 2: Next, place one stick at the top perpendicular to the two parallel stick in the glue dab. Place another stick directly underneath this one.  
Step 3:  Repeat this process on each corner of the frame until you have a square with each side having two parallel sticks. If you used a slow drying glue, allow the frame to dry completely before moving to the decorating step!  

Step 4: Decorate your frame with paint, markers or stickers! Whatever you have available! 
Step 5: Glue in your photo or special drawing to the back of the frame! If you want you can also attach a string to hang the frame or a magnet for the fridge. This simple art project is a great way to engage your child’s creativity and discuss some basic math concepts! For little ones the project provides so many learning opportunities including: counting, shape recognition, vocabulary building, fine motor skills and building imagination!  

Vocabulary Words

Parallel: side by side with continual equal space apart, two lines or objects that will never intersect.
Perpendicular: At an angle of 90 degrees (right angle)   

Check out our other Sanity Savers posts here!

Storytime: Deborah Krygier reads Walter and the Farting Dog

Deborah Krygier reads Walter and the Farting Dog written by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray, and illustrated by Audrey Colman. Walter is a fine dog, except for one small problem: he has gas. He can’t help it; it’s just the way he is. Fortunately, the kids Billy and Betty love him regardless, but Father says he’s got to go! Poor Walter, he’s going to the dog pound tomorrow. And then, in the night, burglars strike. Walter has his chance to be a hero. A children’s beloved classic, this story will have kids rolling on the floor with laughter. Adults are permitted to laugh too.

For more Storytime stories click here!

Field trips are back! Please be aware that it will be busier than usual.