This simple art project is fun for kids of all ages and requires materials found around the house. It’s a nice way to add a bit of sunshine to the windows in your house.

What You Will Need:

• Art Board or heavy construction paper


• Star Template (click this link to open and print the template – template will open in a new window)


• Colored Pencils, Crayons, or Markers


• Scissors


• Punch Tool (Awl) or Sharp Nail


• Corrugated Cardboard


• Fishing Line or String


• Sunny Window

What You Do:

• Draw the shape of a star on a sheet of art board or heavy construction paper.


• Use colored pencils, crayons, or markers to color the star however you would like – a solid color or several colors.


• Use a scissors to cut out your star shape.


• Lay a piece of corrugated cardboard on a table, then lay your star shape on top the cardboard. The cardboard will protect your table while punching, and it acts as a cushion to allow your punch to go through the paper.


• Use a punch tool or sharp nail to punch holes in your star shape. Be creative! Punch straight lines, circles, or swirls.


• When you are happy with the holes you’ve punched, thread a length of fishing line through one of the holes and hang your sun catcher in a bright, sunny window!

Variations:

• Experiment with different size holes. Larger holes will let in more sun and the smaller holes create interesting patterns around the larger holes.


• Use the star shaped sun catchers to decorate a patio or deck for a party at night. Create a dozen or more star shaped sun catchers, then use fishing line to hang them from a string of white holiday lights around a patio. The light from the holiday lights will shine through your sun catchers and create a festive mood for a summer party.


• Use black construction paper in place of an art board for this project. The black colored paper really makes the holes stand out!

Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.

This activity is fun for families and can be done in any location where you have a view of the night sky.

Kids love the opportunity to stay up late, and are amazed by the number of stars they can see. Experiencing the wonders of the night sky is something kids will enjoy and remember for a very long time.

What You Will Need:

• Chipboard or heavy construction paper


• Pencil


• Scissors


• Ruler


• String or Yarn


• Small Notebook

What You Do To Make Your Viewer:

• Create a viewing frame by cutting a sheet of chipboard or heavy construction paper into an 8-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ square.


• Use a ruler to measure in 3/4″ border from each side of the chipboard and draw a 7″ x 7″ square inside.


• Using a scissors, poke a hole inside the 7″ square, cut to the pencil line, then follow the pencil line and completely cut out the 7″ square. Discard the square center, and keep the outside border – this will be your viewer frame.


• Measure and cut a length of string 32″ long. The string will become the holder for your viewer frame.


• Loop the string through the viewer frame, and tie the ends of the string into a knot. This will allow you to wear your viewer like a pendant on a necklace.

What You Do To Use Your Viewer:

• To use your viewer, put the string around your neck like you are wearing a necklace. Hold the viewer frame in your hand until the string is stretched tight. The string acts as a tool to keep your viewer at the same distance from your body each time you use it.


• When you are ready to count stars, go outside to the darkest place you can find. Hold the viewer frame in front of you until the string is tight. The stars you see inside the frame represent 1/40th of the night sky. Now hold very still, and count all the stars you can see within the frame. You might want to sit or lay on the ground to be comfortable and keep steady.


• Make a note of the number of stars observed and the location of your observation (for example, “30 stars in the backyard by the fence”.)


• Repeat the steps above, counting the stars in at least four other locations, and change your view of the stars each time.


• Once you have counted stars in five separate locations, calculate the average number of stars observed. To do this, add up all the stars spotted from all five locations, and divide that number by 5.


• Multiply the number you arrived at in the previous step by 40. This new number will give you the approximate number of stars in the night sky! Pretty cool, huh!?

Variations:

• Have each member of your family make their own star viewer. Compare the number of stars observed by each family member. Were the total star counts similar? If not, why do you think that happened?


• If you have the opportunity, do this activity near a city and then again in the country. Or have your friends and family that live in other cities, states or countries do the same activity, and report their findings to you. Compare the total star counts: are the counts different between the various locations? Why is this? Which location, city, state or country had the highest star count? Why?

Conclusion:

• This activity is an excellent demonstration of how light pollution affects the number of stars we can observe and count in the night sky. Click Turn Out the Lights! by Harcourt School for more information on the affects of light pollution.

You May Also Like:

Sky Challenger – Much more than the standard star finder wheel – it’s a fantastic tool for helping children learn astronomy. Build your own star finder with the six interchangeable wheels, each full of activities and suggested games.

The Constellations, Stars and Stories – It’s not always easy to find the 88 constellations, but this illustrated guidebook will lead you through the stars and make gazing at them a more meaningful experience.

Laser Stars – Bring the beauty and amazement of the stars into your room! This incredible laser light is sure to amaze!

Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.

Make sure to check back each week for the next post!

Did you know that Texas is the top state in the US for raising beef cattle? The Texas state food is chili – a spicy stew with beef and tomatoes!

This recipe is for an easy Texas-style chili that isn’t too spicy for kids. You can change it to make it more spicy, if you’d like.

TEXAS Chili

What You Will Need:

• 2-1/2 pounds lean Chuck Beef, ground or cubed


• 1 pound lean Pork, ground


• 4 cloves Garlic, finely chopped


• 1 cup Onion, finely chopped


• 8 ounces Tomato Sauce


• 1 cup Water


• 1 can Dark Beer


• 3 tablespoons Chili Powder


• 2 tablespoons Instant Beef Bouillon (6 cubes)


• 2 tablespoons Ground Cumin


• 2 teaspoons Paprika


• 2 teaspoons Oregano Leaves


• 2 teaspoons Sugar


• 1/2 teaspoon Ground Coriander


• 1 teaspoon Unsweetened Cocoa


• 1/2 teaspoon Hot Sauce


• 1 teaspoon Cornmeal


• 1 teaspoon Flour


• 1 teaspoon Warm Water


• Large Saucepan

What You Do:

• In a large saucepan, brown half of the beef and pork, then drain the fat.


• Remove meat from saucepan and set aside.


• Brown the remaining half of meat, then drain all but about 2 tablespoons of the fat.


• Add garlic and onion to the saucepan, and cook until tender.


• Add the first half of the meat back to the saucepan, then add tomato sauce, water, beer, chili powder, bouillon, cumin, paprika, oregano, sugar, coriander, cocoa, and hot sauce. Stir well.


• Bring the chili mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 2 hours.


• In a small bowl, stir together the cornmeal and flour, then add the warm water and mix well.


• Stir the cornmeal mixture into the chili and cook for an additional 20 minutes, covered.


• Sprinkle chili with shredded cheese, if desired, and serve!

Texas State Information – Click this link to learn more about Texas attractions, activities, and to request free brochures, maps, and so much more!

US Geography Journal Pages – Use these journal pages to create a geography journal as you collect information about each state.

Texas Outline Map – Use this state map to label capitals, major rivers and lakes, and other areas of interest. Draw a star on the place you would most like to visit in this state!

United States Outline Map – Use this USA map to track your journey as you “eat your way across the USA”! Color in each state that you’ve tried one of recipes for.

• The United States Cook Book – Take a Tasty Tour of America’s 50 States, and learn a lot of United States geography along the way! (PLEASE NOTE: The recipe featured above is not included in this book.)


• US History Cook Book – Serve up a heaping lesson of history with delicious recipes from our nation’s past… from the pilgrims’ first feast to today’s high-tech, low-fat fare.


• Maps of the United States – This reproducible book contains geopolitical maps of each of the fifty states; political maps of the six regions; and political, physical, and thematic maps of the United States. You’ll also find fun facts, geography bee-type questions, and review pages.


• DK State-by-State Atlas – More than an atlas, this book shows and tells young geographers who, what, when, where, and why.


• The Geography Book – From finding directions by the stars, to mapping your neighborhood, to making an earthquake in a box, you’ll have a great time learning about the world with The Geography Book.


• Professor Noggins USA Geography Game – From rural farming communities to urban cities, from snow-capped mountains to tropical islands, this game covers both the natural and political geography of the United States. Learn about the states, cities, and natural geographical wonders that make this country such an interesting place to visit.


• State by State Card Game – Learning about United States geography is made fun and memorable with this unique deck of cards!


• GeoPuzzle USA Puzzle – GeoPuzzles provide a hands-on approach to learning geography.

Make sure to check back next week for the next state in this series!

Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.

Here are several projects to get you started:

• Solar Wood Art – Science and Art with help from the sun! Harness the power of the sun and create a unique work of art with this woodburning activity! Adult supervision is a MUST.
• Solar Prints – Experiment with the sun and learn about the effects of ultraviolet rays, while creating works of art!
• Melting Art – Kids absolutely love this project! It demonstrates the power of the sun while creating fun pieces of art.
• Shadow Art – Make artwork using shadows created by the sun! This is really a unique art form that can be done almost anywhere outside, and is fun for kids of all ages. A must-do summer activity!

We’ll be posting fun sunny day and starry night activities all month – click the icon in the upper right corner of this window to subscribe to our blog and be alerted via email when there is a new post!

You May Also Like:

Physics Solar Workshop – Build 12 models and conduct 30 experiments to learn how solar cells transform light into electrical energy, and how motors and mechanical devices can optimize the work done by this energy.

Solar Bottle Boats – Recycle a plastic beverage bottle to build your own Speed Boat, Air Boat, or even a Surface Submarine – all powered by the sun! Get creative and create wild designs on your boats and make them into art showcases!

Sun Paint and UV Beads Kit – Use the UV sensitive paint to create art that changes colors when exposed to the sun!

Now kids can make mini movies in their hands!

Each Flipbook Kit contains everything you need to create two pre-drawn flipbooks and two flipbooks that you design. Just color the pre-drawn images and then separate the pages. Stack the pages in order (they’re numbered) and place a clip on the pages to hold them together. Hold the flipbook in your hands, flip the pages and watch your mini movie come to life!

There are three different kits available. Click the links below for more information and to watch a video of the flipbooks in action!

Fliptomania Flipbook Kit (Art) – Create a flipbook of Mona Lisa warping and smiling, and a Degas dancer coming to life! Amazing!

Fliptomania Flipbook Kit (Animals) – Create a flipbook of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly and a tadpole becoming a frog! Educational and fun!

Fliptomania Flipbook Kit (Rocket and Robot) – Create a flipbook of a rocket ship blasting through space and a robot that pops up and rides a skate board! Out of this world fun!

Make sure to click the links above to see the flipbooks in action. Buy yours today!

Click New Arrivals to see all the new things we have in store for you!

Make sure to check back each week for the next post!

Did you know that Tennessee is well known for raising hogs and cattle? Tennessee hams, called “country hams”, are quite different from Virginia’s hams. This is because Tennessee hogs are fed corn and other grains instead of peanuts. Ham with red-eye gravy is a traditional Tennessee dish. The gravy is called red-eye gravy because it includes pieces of fried ham that look like red eyes!

This recipe makes a fun dish that kids are sure to enjoy!

TENNESSEE Ham and Red-Eye Gravy

What You Will Need:

• 1-pound Ham Steak (1/4″ thick)


• Butter or Margarine


• 1/2 cup Strong Black Coffee


• Black Pepper (to taste)


• Worcestershire Sauce


• 1/2 cup firmly packed Brown Sugar


• Large Skillet

What You Do:

• Melt margarine or butter in a large skillet, then fry the ham steak in the skillet. Cook on one side for about 8 minutes over medium-high heat. Turn ham over and fry for another 8 minutes. Remove ham from skillet and set aside while preparing gravy.


• Stir sugar into pan drippings and heat until sugar dissolves. Stir constantly. NOTE: If your ham is too dry to have any pan juices after frying, add 1/2 cup of hot water to the pan before adding sugar.


• Add coffee and scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any bits of ham. Simmer for about 5 minutes.


• Season gravy with pepper and Worcestershire sauce to taste.


• Pour gravy over ham and serve with biscuits.

Tennessee State Information – Click this link to learn more about Tennessee attractions, activities, and to request free brochures, maps, and so much more!

US Geography Journal Pages – Use these journal pages to create a geography journal as you collect information about each state.

Tennessee Outline Map – Use this state map to label capitals, major rivers and lakes, and other areas of interest. Draw a star on the place you would most like to visit in this state!

United States Outline Map – Use this USA map to track your journey as you “eat your way across the USA”! Color in each state that you’ve tried one of recipes for.

• The United States Cook Book – Take a Tasty Tour of America’s 50 States, and learn a lot of United States geography along the way! (PLEASE NOTE: The recipe featured above is not included in this book.)


• US History Cook Book – Serve up a heaping lesson of history with delicious recipes from our nation’s past… from the pilgrims’ first feast to today’s high-tech, low-fat fare.


• Maps of the United States – This reproducible book contains geopolitical maps of each of the fifty states; political maps of the six regions; and political, physical, and thematic maps of the United States. You’ll also find fun facts, geography bee-type questions, and review pages.


• DK State-by-State Atlas – More than an atlas, this book shows and tells young geographers who, what, when, where, and why.


• The Geography Book – From finding directions by the stars, to mapping your neighborhood, to making an earthquake in a box, you’ll have a great time learning about the world with The Geography Book.


• Professor Noggins USA Geography Game – From rural farming communities to urban cities, from snow-capped mountains to tropical islands, this game covers both the natural and political geography of the United States. Learn about the states, cities, and natural geographical wonders that make this country such an interesting place to visit.


• State by State Card Game – Learning about United States geography is made fun and memorable with this unique deck of cards!


• GeoPuzzle USA Puzzle – GeoPuzzles provide a hands-on approach to learning geography.

Make sure to check back next week for the next state in this series!

Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.

It’s the weekend! Get out in your backyard and have a Star Party!

Children of all ages love the anticipation of staying up until dark to watch the stars come out. It’s a magical experience, not soon forgotten.

• On a clear dark night, take your kids outside and watch the stars! For creative ideas to host your own Star Party, read our Star Light, Star Bright article. Don’t forget your insect repellant!
• While watching the stars, see if you can spot the ISS (International Space Station). You can go online and see the flight pattern of the ISS, and see when it will be passing overhead! Visit Heavens Above and enter your location.
• Watch for bright, short bursts of light in the sky. If you are lucky enough to see these bursts, they are probably Iridium flares! The website link above includes schedules of these particular satellites and when you are most likely to see their bright reflections. They really are spectacular to see!
• Count satellites and meteors. See who can spot the most during an evening of star gazing.
• Locate popular constellations in the sky. A Glow-in-the-Dark Starfinder will help. Choose your favorite constellation and read the myths surrounding it.
• Make up your own constellations. Draw them, name them, and write your own myths about them.
• Observe the constellations indoors with our Constellation Viewer. Just download our instructions to see how you can build this viewer. Includes constellation templates.
• Remember folding Fortune Teller (or Cootie Catcher) games as a kid? Here is a link to a Star Finder game from NASA.
• To learn more about the night sky, visit Seeing in the Dark, a PBS Program. This website includes lots of educational activities for families!

You May Also Like:

Sky Challenger – Play games while you learn about the constellations in the night sky! Fun for kids of all ages.

The Constellations – Stars and Stories – Read about the stories behind the constellations. A perfect read-aloud for night sky viewing.

Jar of Stars – Light up your room or party tables with these glow-in-the-dark stars. Make sure to see our ideas for other uses – so many possibilities!

Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.

With the sun high in the sky, now is a great time to head outside, cook lunch in the sun and have a solar picnic!

Prepare for Your Solar Picnic:

• Make a Solar Cooker – Have your kids create a simple solar cooker with this step-by-step article. This activity is fun and easy – and kids are always amazed that the power of the sun can be used to cook their food!
• Choose a simple food that you can cook in the sun. For something really easy, choose hot dogs! With buns, ketchup, mustard, and relish – you’re all set! For a variety of flavors, try sun kabobs! Place bite-sized pieces of ham, pineapple, and cherries on a skewer – or experiment with your own flavors! Want a dessert? Cook s’mores! Graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows taste great when cooked in a solar cooker!
• Make Sun Tea – Use solar power to make a refreshing drink! Mmm good!
• Grab your sunglasses, take along a blanket to sit on, and have fun!

Additional Things You Can Do for Your Picnic:

Remember that cooking in the sun is going to take a bit longer than cooking on a stove. While you are waiting for your meal, here are some fun things you can do!

• Paint Your Own Tea Set – Paint your own cups and saucers and turn your solar picnic into a solar tea party!
• Solar Science – This cool kit includes a simple solar cooker that you can cook and experiment with! Perfect for setting up more than one solar cooker.
• Solar Oven – Need a larger solar oven with more horsepower? This simple kit is perfect! It can cook a steak in 20 minutes!
• Solar Print Paper – Turn your solar picnic into a party! Use this magical solar paper to create unique party invitations.
• Sun Paint Kit and Solar Beads – As your food is cooking, experiment with the sun’s UV rays with this handy science kit.
• Mega Marbles Sun Game Net – Play a game of marbles while waiting for your lunch to cook! The marbles in this set look like the sun – how fun!
• The Sun In Me, Poems About the Planets – While enjoying your picnic in the sun, read aloud from this diverse collection of poems from many cultures that celebrate the beauty and fragility of our Earth.

We’ll be posting fun sunny day and starry night activities all month – click the icon in the upper right corner of this window to subscribe to our blog and be alerted via email when there is a new post!

Make sure to check back each week for the next post!

Did you know that South Dakota is nicknamed the Land of Infinite Variety? This is because of the many different landforms found in South Dakota – prairies, plains, mountains, and valleys are all found there. South Dakota is also home to the famous Mount Rushmore – the sculpture of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

South Dakota is also a major producer of beef cattle. This recipe is delicious and fun for kids to make.

SOUTH DAKOTA Meatballs and Pasta

What You Will Need:

• 1-1/2 pounds Ground Beef


• 2 Eggs, slightly beaten


• 1/2 cup seasoned Bread Crumbs (we like to use seasoned stuffing mix)


• 3 cloves Garlic, minced


• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh Oregano


• 1 teaspoon Salt


• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper


• 12 ounces shredded Mozzarella Cheese


• 1 25-ounce jar Pasta Sauce (your favorite)


• Hot cooked Linguine Noodles


• Large Mixing Bowl

What You Do:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F.


• Combine ground beef, eggs, bread crumbs (or stuffing mix), garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly. Kids absolutely love this step – it’s kind of like playing with play-dough!


• Divide meat mixture into equal portions and shape into small patties.


• Sprinkle each pattie with cheese, then completely enclose the cheese into a meatball form.


• Place meatballs on an aluminum-foil lined baking pan and bake in a 400 degree F oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until juices run clear. If you prefer, you can also cook the meatballs on a grill.


• While the meatballs are cooking, heat pasta sauce in a large saucepan until hot, stirring occasionally.


• Add cooked meatlballs to the pasta sauce and heat through.


• Spoon meatballs and sauce onto cooked pasta, and serve!

South Dakota State Information – Click this link to learn more about South Dakota attractions, activities, and to request free brochures, maps, and so much more!

US Geography Journal Pages – Use these journal pages to create a geography journal as you collect information about each state.

South Dakota Outline Map – Use this state map to label capitals, major rivers and lakes, and other areas of interest. Draw a star on the place you would most like to visit in this state!

United States Outline Map – Use this USA map to track your journey as you “eat your way across the USA”! Color in each state that you’ve tried one of recipes for.

• The United States Cook Book – Take a Tasty Tour of America’s 50 States, and learn a lot of United States geography along the way! (PLEASE NOTE: The recipe featured above is not included in this book.)


• US History Cook Book – Serve up a heaping lesson of history with delicious recipes from our nation’s past… from the pilgrims’ first feast to today’s high-tech, low-fat fare.


• Maps of the United States – This reproducible book contains geopolitical maps of each of the fifty states; political maps of the six regions; and political, physical, and thematic maps of the United States. You’ll also find fun facts, geography bee-type questions, and review pages.


• DK State-by-State Atlas – More than an atlas, this book shows and tells young geographers who, what, when, where, and why.


• The Geography Book – From finding directions by the stars, to mapping your neighborhood, to making an earthquake in a box, you’ll have a great time learning about the world with The Geography Book.


• Professor Noggins USA Geography Game – From rural farming communities to urban cities, from snow-capped mountains to tropical islands, this game covers both the natural and political geography of the United States. Learn about the states, cities, and natural geographical wonders that make this country such an interesting place to visit.


• State by State Card Game – Learning about United States geography is made fun and memorable with this unique deck of cards!


• GeoPuzzle USA Puzzle – GeoPuzzles provide a hands-on approach to learning geography.

Make sure to check back next week for the next state in this series!

Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.

You’ve probably seen or heard about the now-classic soda geyser, or have even done this yourself – but it’s still a fun activity to do in the summer, especially at family gatherings or outdoor celebrations. Go ahead, create your own soda geyser and have a blast! Your kids will absolutely love it!

What You Will Need:

• 2-Liter Bottle of Diet Coke or other Diet Soda (warm soda works best)


• Geyser Tube and Mentos


• Backyard, Park, Beach – any place that can get wet

What You Do:

• In an open area of your backyard, away from your house, patio, vehicles, or anything else that you don’t want covered in soda, set an unopened bottle of diet soda on the ground. This activity MUST be done outside!


• Remove the bottle cap and attach the geyser tube to the bottle. Make sure not to shake the soda bottle before removing the cap.


• With the geyser tube pin in place, put several Mentos candies into the geyser tube. The more Mentos candies added, the higher the geyser will be.


• Have everyone stand back (or they will get wet), then quickly pull the geyser tube pin and run! Do not stand over the soda bottle!


• The Mentos will react with the diet soda, causing a geyser of soda to shoot into the air! The current record height for a soda geyser is 29 feet high – how high did your soda geyser go?!?

Variations:

• Set up several bottles of soda in your yard, and pull the geyser tube pins all at the same time for even more geyser fun! This is a blast when each person has their own soda geyser to set off!


• Don’t have a Soda Geyser tube? Remove the cap from the soda bottle, then roll a piece of paper into a tube that fits over the opening of the bottle. Tape the paper tube to hold it together. Straighten a paper clip and poke it through the tube to hold the Mentos up. Attach a string to the paper clip. Place the Mentos in the tube, sitting on the paper clip, and when you are ready to launch your soda geyser, quickly pull the string!


• Want a glowing geyser? At dusk, use a 2-liter bottle of tonic water instead of Diet Coke. Make sure to peel off the bottle label, so you can see the entire contents of the bottle. Set up a plastic covered black light near the bottle (the plastic will keep your black light dry). Follow the steps above to set off your geyser! Make sure to use tonic water that contains quinine – this is the chemical that allows the geyser to glow. Quick Note: A battery operated black light can be completely enclosed in a plastic bag for protection. If you have an electric black light, make sure it is a safe distance from the geyser to avoid an electrical hazard.

The Science:

Mentos candies have tiny microscopic dimples on them. These dimples increase the surface area that the soda comes in contact with, and they allow a huge amount of carbon dioxide gas bubbles to form, which then forces the soda out of the bottle quickly.


Click Geyser Tube and Mentos to watch a classic video of soda geysers in action – the video link is at the bottom of the page.


Have a safe and happy holiday!