Flying Wonders

Making Paper Helicopters

These happy helicopters, modeled after the whirling maple seeds we see so often, will keep children entertained as they drop from heights all around your home. They dazzle from the stairway, the porch and from second story windows!

You will need:

8 1/2 X 11 Paper (we used printer paper; craft paper is too heavy) (you can experiment with other sizes and adjust the pattern accordingly)

Scissors

Pen/ Pencil to mark pattern

A full sheet of paper will make 3 helicopters.

Each third of the sheet will be a helicopter. Refer to the pictures for the pattern. In the picture above, the right side is the blade and the left side is the stem.

We use the straight lines to denote where you will make cuts and dotted lines for where you will fold.

Make the two side cuts at the top of the stem.

The stem then can be folded into thirds.

Fold the bottom inch of the stem upward to secure it.

Cut the blade section down the middle.

The blades fold in alternate directions to create the twirling motion.    

Now to try it out: 

Watch this live action video of a test flight from Joy's second story window! (Important safety tip: sometimes it's a good idea to hold on to the pilot behind the scenes!)

Surprisingly Simple Sand Sculpture!

An awesome art project for beach or home!

It's spring here in the Northeast and we're enjoying the warmth and sunshine - but it's not beach weather yet.    If you really crave the beach, you need to head for Florida.   In order to research our next blog, Bridget volunteered to do just that.  She and her family have been hard at work at an undisclosed location preparing this post.

Ryan, Ethan and Nana engineer several layers of protection for our project from the waves!

To make surprisingly simple sand sculptures, you'll need:

A beach.   If no beach is available, a container full of sand may be used.   The container should be 3 to 4 inches deep and about 10 to 18 inches on a side (or in diameter) - whatever looks right to you, depending on how grand your sculpture is to be.

A stick for stirring - paint stirrer, wooden spoon, stick from outside

A coffee can, half a milk jug or other disposable container

Small interesting objects: marbles, chips of rock, tiny plastic figures, shells - whatever your imagination suggests.

Plaster of Paris - the amount depends on how large your sculpture is to be.  Usually a small bag will do. Easy to find at the craft or hardware store.

A clip or wire for hanging (optional)

Sand

Water

Remember: everything you use must be disposable.  Never pour plaster of Paris down a sink or toilet. Don't leave it on the beach, either!  Let it harden and dispose of it in the trash.

1. Clear a sandy depression at the beach, at least 2" deep, or fill your shallow container within 2" of the top with sand.  My circle is almost 4" deep and will make a great doorstop for Nana.   The boys both made depressions with their feet!  Pressing their toes in deeply made great molds!

2. Use your stick, spoon (or foot!) to create any desired three dimensional features - holes, mounds, lines. You can even try putting in initials, names, etc.

3. Lay out your "interesting objects" in whatever design pleases you or just scatter them about.
Remember to lay your objects upside down, because the side facing upward will be embedded in the plaster and the side you want to show will be facing the sand until you unmold your sculpture, at which point it will become the surface that you are looking at!  Some of our shells disappeared into the plaster. So, next time I would press them into the sand a little deeper and squeeze in even more objects, lining the sides as well as the bottoms!

4. Mix plaster of Paris according to package directions.  Tip: The plaster will begin to harden soon, so don't dilly-dally.

5. Spoon or pour the Plaster into the sand mold, deep areas first.  Keep spooning in the plaster until it is about two inches deep.   If you want to hang your creation, this is the time to insert the paperclip or bent wire.  We carved names into ours.

6. Let your creation set for about an hour before you try to move it.  Carefully lift it out of the mold and brush off the sand.

7. Ta Da!!!  An heirloom foot-stop for Nana's door or perhaps a treasured 'stone' in her garden?

Variations:  Cast animal tracks or your own; create fake fossils with chicken or other bones; create imaginary cities with tall 'towers' (holes punched in the sand).   You can also paint the plaster and scratch designs in it with a paper clip for an interesting effect. Have fun!  Let your imagination run wild!


Adapted from: The Kids' Kitchen Takeover by Sarah Bonnett Stein
and Sand Casting found at  http://kidscrafts.suite101.com and from our own imaginations!

Green Magic: Oat Grass

"The love of gardening is a seed that once sown never dies." Gertrude Jekyll

As many of you know, New England Easters can be quite dicey, weather-wise. This year, the fabulous weather has ushered Spring into our lives in a big way. Spring means growing things and that brings to mind a riot of green ideas. Shall we grow "cat grass"? Color celery with spectacular stripes? Design a fairy house? Create a rye grass diorama? Build a terrarium for a slow-moving snail? Sprout sweet potato vines? Help a little 'Jack' or 'Jill' grow a beanstalk?
We thought we'd start by watching grass grow! Oat grass, also known as "cat grass," is particularly interesting to our furry friends who love to graze on it. Those of us with big imaginations and/or no cats, may choose to use our grass as a background for creative play - oat grass makes a tall jungle, good for stories with tigers, rhinos, or dinosaurs. Rye grass creates tamer lawns and meadows, good for miniature picnics or fairy dances.

What You'll Need:

1 sturdy, 4-8" growing container (we used an 8" heavy, glass square dish), 3-5" deep

Small package of potting soil

Water

1-2 Tbsp. Oat Grass seeds (preferred by cats, good for jungles) or rye seeds (better for lawns and meadows.) Use organic or pesticide-free seeds for your child's and cat's safety.

You may find seeds at a local garden center or they may be ordered on-line. Among the possibilities: www.catgrass.com, www.amazon.com, and www.poopsiecat.com.


Day 1 - Getting Started.

1. Fill your container half-full with potting soil.

2. Water the soil thoroughly (but not soupy!)

3. Sprinkle 1-2 Tablespoons of your oat seeds over the surface.

4. Cover with another inch of potting soil.

5. Dampen with water once more & place in a sunny window.

6. Daily watering is a superior job for friends tiny and tall, hands big and small. Keep the soil damp, but not soggy.



Days 2, 3 - Something's Happening...

Tiny roots are forming and off to the right of center, a very tiny sprout is making its way to the surface. Exploring eyes may like to observe with a magnifying glass! (Also note that if you click on a picture on this blog, it will enlarge. Click again, and it will enlarge further.)


Day 4 - Magic!

Many small green shoots have begun to break the surface!




Day 5 - Still Growing...

Amazing root systems come to life in this little wonderland. Some bold blades are even taller than the container! The newest gardeners find this quick transformation so rewarding. Your cats may be curious but be patient! By waiting until Day 7 you will grant them a much larger feast. Don't forget to keep the soil moist!



Day 7 All Grown!

Kitty Approves!




                                          

Spring Wonder: Rubber Egg

With Easter on the horizon, what should come to mind but eggs! This delightfully simple project is just silly enough to make eggs a wonder in a whole new way.

Tiny hands will love this project in all its stages!

A squeezy, springy egg!

To try this yourself you’ll need:

1 raw egg*

(hard-boiled for the cautious)

small jar with lid

white vinegar to cover

food coloring (optional)

*2 eggs may be wiser in case of breakage.

Day 1

Gently deposit the egg into a jar of your choosing. Cover the egg entirely with white vinegar, leaving room at the top to breathe. Using your fingers, roll the egg around a bit to ensure that the entire surface has been married with the vinegar. As it floats, exposed areas won't react without this ‘rubdown’.

Close cover loosely to allow pressure to equalize. Put your egg where it can’t be accidently disturbed but can be easily viewed. Throughout the day, tiny hands can help the egg along in its transformation by opening the jar (with help) and gently rotating it in the vinegar bath. (If foam collects on top of the solution, remove it with spoon or fingers.)

Suggestion for the Inquisitive: To lend an official air of experimentation to this endeavor, place another egg in a jar covered with water and compare these two specimens as the transformation takes place.

Day 2 & 3

Continue to inspect your egg not only with your eyes, but with your fingers. Rub the surface gently to encourage the shell to dissolve. When the hard shell is dissolved you can add a food coloring of your choice. When the egg achieves the desired color, drain off the vinegar. Enjoy your rubber egg!

If your egg survives being enjoyed, you can preserve it by putting it back in the damp jar, closing the lid tightly, and storing it in your refrigerator. The star of our video is a month old!

Test Drive

The Wonder: Over 2 or 3 days the vinegar gradually dissolves the calcium in the egg shell, leaving only the tough, rubbery membrane to hold the egg together.

The Joy: Taking tiny everyday things and watching a simple yet miraculous transformation take place. Getting your hands wet, enjoying your egg's damp, springy, gelatinous feel, and bouncing (gently) your amazing rubber egg!

Future Reference: In black or orange, these eggs make an excellent addition to your Halloween spook house!