TP Roll Bug Craft We know (some of) you bought a lot of toilet paper! Don’t let those empty rolls go to waste. Turn them into these adorable bugs. Don’t have googly eyes or other materials suggested? Be creative and substitute paper and markers to make your own eyes. Use real sticks from the yard to make antennae and legs. Last, go for a walk around the block to observe real insects in nature doing their part this spring!
Egg Carton Flowers Finished all the eggs? Save those cartons to make these colorful flowers, sure to brighten anyone’s day. Don’t have paint on hand? Markers and crayons do the job just fine too! No paper straws for the stem? Roll up a piece of paper or use a stick from outside. Give these flowers to mom or dad to show them your love this week!
Bug Fossils in Playdough Keep those little scientists entertained and educated by making your own fossils! Use any small plastic toys to create fossil imprints in playdough. Want to make a simple dough with only 3 ingredients? Try our favorite recipe for salt dough: 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt and ¾ cup – 1 cup water. Mix flour and salt. Add water until dough forms a ball. After making your own fossils, look for fossil rocks around the communities of Sendero and Esencia in Rancho Mission Viejo. Fossil rocks can be found in Esencia at the end of the Oak Canyon trail and in Sendero off Brioso St. and Ribera Rd. in the pathway next to San Juan Creek with a few sitting benches.
Coffee Filter Butterflies Create these beautiful butterflies with a few simple items. Learn about the color wheel and color mixing as the colors blend together to make new colors! Fun fact: Butterflies need warmth to keep their wing “muscles” functioning. Take a walk on a warm, sunny day to observe butterflies in nature.
Milk Jug Fairy Houses Concentrate on conservation and keep the creativity flowing with these adorable fairy houses made from recycled milk jugs and other cleaning containers. Reusing containers reduces waste and boosts imaginations! What other fun toys can you create from reusing your recyclables?
Pool Noodle Car Races Cleaning out last year’s summer toys? Use old pool noodles to create a fun race track for cars, marbles and more! Make predictions for which will go faster and farther and record your results. Try the race track at different inclines to see how it affects your results.