5.06.2011

Cardboard Box Ramps : Trial & Error









Henry [along with most preschool boys] loves things that move. 
These cardboard box ramps were no exception.

The ramps are leftover cardboard box flaps [from the Box Flap Bridges] that I hot glued inside another cardboard box. I cut a square hole in the lower end of each box flap for the ball to fall through, along with a hole at the top of the main cardboard box.

Henry tested the ramps over and over as I was making them.
Because of his testing, I was able to see what didn't work.
The balls fell off the edges.
With painters tape, I created a lip for the ramps.
[This worked well in the beginning, but over time, the lip got smashed and didn't hold the objects in all the time.]

On the bottom box flap, I cut three holes above plastic jars to create a Plinko affect for the balls to fall into.


Where will the ball fall?

Henry had fun dropping the balls in the holes to see where they would land.

I intended this activity for golf balls, but it wasn't long before other toys got a chance to roll and slide down the ramps.


Trial & Error:
Henry tried toys that were too big.

Henry tested blocks.
A square block surprisingly went down all the ramps, sliding the entire way.
A cylindrical block rolled, but needed some help as it fell to the next ramp.

Henry tried smaller cars that fit through the holes, but usually crashed as it fell through the hole to the next ramp.

Even some Little People got a chance to take a tumble down the ramps.
Wouldn't this be fun to be life size? A maze of ramps for your preschooler to tumble and roll through!

But the ball is the best at the cardboard box ramps.



Rachelle at Tinkerlab has challenged about 20 blogger friends to create something with a cardboard box. Below is everyone's cardboard box creations for Tinkerlab's Creative Challenge : The Cardboard Box

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jamie @ hands on : as we grow
-- Henry is 3 years old --
-- George is 7 months old --



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5.05.2011

Contact Paper : Tissue Paper Flowers


Henry and I had a little fun with some tissue paper! We made two different types of flowers for my mom's Mother's Day bouquet.

Contact Paper Flowers:
Henry got to work cutting up different colors of tissue paper [sneaking in some scissors practice]. I had tissue paper with dots and stars on it, too. Those were his favorites.
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5.04.2011

Green Kid Crafts - 3 crafts giveaway!

Did you check out the airplane, sailboat and wind chime that Henry made?

airplane, wind chime and sailboat crafts from Green Kid Crafts

These toys to play with are a part of a subscription-based plan from Green Kid Crafts!

In addition to these green crafts that Penny from Green Kid Crafts sent to me to try out, she's also going to give away a 1-month subscription (that's three crafts!) to one of my readers!

green kid crafts logo

A little about Green Kid Crafts:
  • Subscription-based craft kits - this means you get 3 different crafts each month you're subscribed for. (There's 3 month, 6 month and 12 month subscriptions).
  • Everything is green, kid-friendly and also safe! 
  • Every kit supplies everything you need to make the craft. You just supply glue/markers/scissors - stuff you'd already have in your kid's craft cupboard!
  • These aren't crafts that you're going to file away to keep as keepsakes - they're all something your child can have to play with after they've made it!


The giveaway :
Green Kid Crafts will send one of my randomly selected commenters three earth-friendly crafts! And guess what? You get to choose from the website what three green crafts you'd be interested in creating with your kids!


How to enter :

Mandatory Entry:
  • Head on over to Green Kid Crafts and browse around to learn a little about their mission behind the crafts. While you're there, check out the product samples page to choose the three products that your child would love to create. Leave a comment here telling me the three products you'd like to win!
Optional Additional Entries:
  • Share about this giveaway on your Facebook page. [Include/link to Green Kid Crafts and hands on : as we grow so I can find it.] Leave a comment letting me know you did, for each time you shared.
  • Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. [Include @handsonaswegrow and #greenkidcrafts as part of your tweet.] Leave a comment letting me know you did, for each time you shared.
  • Share with your friends/readers in any other way that you know - just comment telling me how you did it!

After checking out Green Kid Crafts and commenting about the three crafts you're interested in winning, you can share and tweet to your hearts desire and get as many entries as you'd like! 

The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, May 10th (11:59pm)! 

On Wednesday, I'll use random.org to select the winner. Please be sure to make your email address available either in your profile or in the comments. I'll email the winner and then announce it in a post as well.

Good Luck!


jamie @ hands on : as we grow
-- Henry is 3 years old --
-- George is 7 months old --







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5.03.2011

Craft an Airplane : from Green Kid Crafts

Here's a simple, quick airplane craft from Green Kid Crafts.

airplane craft from Green Kid Crafts

I was pretty excited when Penny from Green Kid Crafts contacted me about reviewing her products - the only subscription-based, earth-friendly craft kits in the states.

I was even more excited when I got the crafts! They were sent to me packaged in completely recyclable materials: newspaper and tissue paper. 

What got me even more excited? Check out the directions, the first line states:
'Remember its about having fun and the process and not about the finished product!'
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5.02.2011

Free Play Activity : Stirring and Mixing

Henry is sometimes all business and no play.

He thinks a lot of things are 'his job'.
As he often says, 'It's my job' in his best man's voice.

This day was no exception. 
[His facial expressions in all of the photos show exactly his seriousness of the day. No smiles.]

Time for some free play. 

I set out a bunch of bowls. One with some flour. One with some corn meal. I also set out a box of baking soda, a cup of water, a squirt bottle of vinegar and a set of old spices.
free play: mixing together ingredients (corn meal, flour, baking soda)

I believe it was Teacher Tom that I saw this from originally. He set out a bunch of materials like this with a classroom of preschoolers and gave them no direction. Step back to see what the preschoolers would create.

With it just being Henry, I have to play the part of another preschooler,
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5.01.2011

Photo Project 365 : [114-120]


[114] Sunday, April 24 : Happy Easter!
The laughing of these boys was priceless.
Of course, the reason for the laughing was too.

[115.1] Monday, April 25
George continued to love his Easter basket of eggs.

[115.2] Monday (again, yes, I missed Tuesday)
Happy in his 'saucer.

[117] Wednesday, April 27
Happy 98th Birthday Great Grandma!
George getting a kiss on the hand from his Great-Great Grandma!

[118] Thursday, April 28
The concentration on Henry's face during our activities is hilarious sometimes.

[119] Friday, April 29
George : still learning to crawl.

[120] Saturday, April 30
We got the toys outside - the first time for the backhoe.
Henry got some digging in just before it started raining.


jamie @ hands on : as we grow
-- Henry is 3 years old --
-- George is 7 months old --


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