What to do with all of that leftover Halloween candy? How about a science lesson? We've been studying chemistry this year, and have learned about atoms and molecules. I gathered all of the Gobstoppers, Jawbreakers, and hard round candies from the Halloween stash, and a box of glue dots.

We looked at some models of molecules in the Usborne First Encyclopedia of Science, and then they got creative. Most candies could be held together with a single small glue dot.
All science, no cavities.

Like most kids, my children have a bazillion toys and games to play with, and yet the "b" word still gets uttered around my house - bored! As I'm sure many of you out there have experienced, every time I suggest a specific toy or activity, it is immediately shot down. I have made the activity jar full of suggestions, but that, too, has failed. So this summer I have taken a different tactic. I created challenges instead; a list of items to gather that must then be turned into a game. Objects to collect outside for use as an obstacle course. Challenges involving water, since it is summer, after all. I typed up over 30 ideas, printed them out, glued them to patterned cardstock and laminated them with my Xyron. We now have a deck of Kid Creative cards for emergency periods of boredom, and from the use they have gotten so far, have met with approval from my kids. If the "b" word is flying around your house this summer, I've uploaded a copy of the challenges for your emergency intervention; just click here. You could print them and mount them on cards as I did,  print the list, or even read one out loud from the computer. If you do try them at home, please give me your feedback. I'd love to hear it!