Ideas and resources
Kids, both young and old, will have a blast making suncatchers that are perfect for adding some color to a window or to give as a gift. These suncatchers are made by placing pony beads
in metal cookie cutters 
and then placing them in an oven. Let the kids watch as the beads melt!
Follow these directions from Tracey and discover how easy it can be to make your own suncatchers.
With summer coming on in the Northern Hemisphere, I feel like we all need some fun activities we can do with one kid at home or a bunch in a classroom when it’s too hot to go outside (I guess you can say the same for if it’s too cold to go out in the Southern Hemisphere, too).
This disaster island Lego challenge from Lego Librarian was designed to be done with a Lego club, but you can do it in a classroom if you have bricks handy, or at home with one or two kids.
The idea is that first the kids each design their own island, with a given amount of time where that is the only prompt.
Then each person draws a disaster card. You can use the ones from Lego Librarian or make up your own. These are things like there’s a storm coming so you need to build a strong shelter, or there’s a rescue plane so you need to build something so they will see you.
There’s a whole bunch of ideas, which should get kids thinking creatively about ways to alter their islands for whatever situations you throw at them.
If you’re doing this with just one or two kids, the idea is the same, or you could have them draw several cards over a session if they want to keep the fun going.
This is a great low prep STEM activity for kids that should get them thinking creatively about how to solve problems. It’s a great idea to have the kids explain what they did to solve their particular problem, too, and why they think that will help.
Even though it won’t be a surprise what’s going to happen after the first time you play it, this is one you can do again and again because the kids will probably draw different cards.
Get all the details and a printable list of challenge prompts at Lego Librarian.
[Photo: Lego Librarian]
Sun catchers are supposed to be clear enomugh for the sun to shine through them… these look so solid … they might be pretty, but I wouldn’t classify them as a sun catcher… a window decoration… maybe
Actually, these are made using transparent pony beads so they are a little see through. 🙂
Doesn’t the plastic release toxic fumes? I wouldn’t want children near that.
We have done these and we use a muffin tin or other sized / shapes of pans on our grill outside. We have also used a toaster outdoors. It’s lots of fun for kids and depending on the beads you use….they are transparent!