Tag: Creative learning

Feb 15, 2023 • , , , , , ,

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is ENGINEERING. The challenge is to build a heart from toothpicks and playdough.

You’ll need:

  • Toothpicks
  • Playdough

Instructions
1. Set out a pile of toothpicks
2. Roll playdough into small balls- this will be the glue to connect the toothpicks together
3. Challenge your child to design and create a heart made of toothpicks

Children will learn about how to engineer different structures. They can use their creativity in design and test out the strength of different shapes. This is a fun way to learn and identify shapes.

Craft Source: Kindergarten Connection

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SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of February 20, 2023) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Sitting Still Like A Frog Activity Book Price: $22.95 each Mindfulness is one of the most effective practices to teach kids to calm themselves in stressful moments,…
Feb 20, 2023 • books, feature 5, i love to read month, recommended reading
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ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is ART, and we are creating our own stamps! You’ll need: Foam Scissors Markers Ink pads (or markers) Glue Bottle cap lids Instructions Decide what kind of fun shape you’d like to create (picking a simple outline without too much detail is best). Draw out the design on your piece…
Feb 22, 2023 • art, Creative learning, Heart, Heart stamps, STEAM, STEAM resources, Valentine's activity, Valentine's Day Craft
Kids Playing

I Love To Read Month Reading List

As I Love To Read Month ends, here’s a roundup of books covering topics we’ve explored this month. Save this list for next year, or visit our partners at McNally Robinson Booksellers to get them. Either way, next year you’ll have a great list of diverse books to start your planning your I Love To…
Feb 25, 2023 • i love to read month, ILTR2023, Literacy Resources, Reading List, Reading Resources
Feb 08, 2023 • , , , , , ,

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Want to see how the heart works?! This week’s focus on TECHNOLOGY is all about how a heart pumps in and out of its chambers.

You’ll need:
– Small Jar
– Cup
– 2 Bendy Straws
– Balloon
– Tape/Glue
– Water
– Red Food Colouring
– Toothpick

Instructions
1. Fill your jar halfway with water and add in your food colouring.
2. Take your balloon, cut the neck off it and stretch the top part over the jar’s mouth. Do not discard the neck part of the balloon, we’ll need that later.
3. Take a toothpick and poke a hole in the top of the balloon close to one side of the jar. Now, poke a second hole about an inch away from the first hole.
4. Take your straws and push one through each hole making sure the bendy part is sticking out the top.
5. Now take the neck part of the balloon and use it to cover up the opening of one of the straws and secure it with tape.
6. Place your cup under the other straw to catch the liquid.
7. It’s time to start pumping! Ask your child to push up and down on the balloon between the two straws. The “blood” will go up the open-ended straw and come out into the cup!

Our hearts have four chambers, and this activity shows kids an example of how one of those chambers works. Children will learn the technology behind how a heart pumps blood throughout your body when it stops beating on its own. Your child pressing up and down on the balloon is kind of like how a defibrillator works.

Craft Source: MomBrite
Picture Source: KiwiCo

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SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of February 13, 2023) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Find Your Rainbow Price: $16.99 each Do you ever wish you could be more confident? Or wish you had tools to make your negative feelings disappear? Are…
Feb 13, 2023 • books, feature 5, i love to read month, recommended reading
Kids Playing

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is ENGINEERING. The challenge is to build a heart from toothpicks and playdough. You’ll need: Toothpicks Playdough Instructions 1. Set out a pile of toothpicks 2. Roll playdough into small balls- this will be the glue to connect the toothpicks together 3. Challenge your child to design and create a…
Feb 15, 2023 • Creative learning, engineering, Heart, playdough, STEAM, STEAM resources, Valentine's activity
Kids Playing

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of February 20, 2023) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Sitting Still Like A Frog Activity Book Price: $22.95 each Mindfulness is one of the most effective practices to teach kids to calm themselves in stressful moments,…
Feb 20, 2023 • books, feature 5, i love to read month, recommended reading
Feb 01, 2023 • , , , , ,

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is SCIENCE, we will make floating hearts.

You’ll need:
– Dry-erase markers
– Large shallow-sided dish (white works best)
– Water (room temperature)
– Straw

Instructions
1. Draw some hearts with your dry-erase markers on the bottom of your dish
2. Once the artwork is complete, carefully pour the water into the dish over the hearts. Pour slowly and steadily near the designs.
3. Now your artwork should lift and float around!
4. You can use a straw to gently blow the hearts around the dish too.

How do the hearts magically float? Dry-erase markers are designed to easily wipe off and are made with little adhesive. The ink is insoluble in water, so it won’t dissolve, but it is lighter than the water so it will float!

Craft Source: STEAM Powered Family 
Picture Source: Happy Hooligans

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SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of February 6, 2023) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More…  You! Price: $24.99 each Celebrate the everlasting love and big dreams you have for your little one with this empowering picture book by Sandra Magsamen, the USA…
Feb 06, 2023 • books, feature 5, i love to read month, journal, recommended reading
Kids Playing

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Want to see how the heart works?! This week's focus on TECHNOLOGY is all about how a heart pumps in and out of its chambers. You’ll need: - Small Jar - Cup - 2 Bendy Straws - Balloon - Tape/Glue - Water - Red Food Colouring - Toothpick Instructions 1. Fill your jar halfway with…
Feb 08, 2023 • Creative learning, Heart, Heart Pumping Model, KiwiCo, STEAM, STEAM resources, technology
Kids Playing

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of February 13, 2023) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Find Your Rainbow Price: $16.99 each Do you ever wish you could be more confident? Or wish you had tools to make your negative feelings disappear? Are…
Feb 13, 2023 • books, feature 5, i love to read month, recommended reading
Jan 04, 2023 • , , , , ,

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

It’s 2023 and we’re celebrating the new year all month in our STEAM posts. This week’s area of focus is ENGINEERING. For the New Year, we are creating do-it-yourself party poppers!

You’ll need:

  • Leftover wrapping paper
  • Tape
  • Paper straw
  • Ruler
  • Elastic band
  • Scissors

Instructions

  1. Measure and cut out 2”x 8” strips of wrapping paper.
  2. Fold your strips, on both ends, lengthwise so they meet in the middle.
  3. Tape the strip down the middle and at the top, but leave the bottom open.
  4. Roll your paper up tightly and secure it with an elastic band. Let it sit for a few hours so it forms the rolled-up shape.
  5. Cut your straw in half.
  6. Take the elastic band off the paper and insert your straw about one inch into the end that was left open.
  7. Fold down the sides of the paper and tape them together to secure the straw.
  8. Try it out!

Children will learn about how to construct their own party blower and the engineering behind them as they test it out to celebrate the New Year!

Source: Happy Healthy Farm 

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NEW YEAR READING LIST

It’s a New Year & we have a new reading list.  Explore the pages of these lovely books as they highlight the themes of family, being together, embracing the past, and looking forward to the future. Snow Horses MacLachlan, Patricia and Archer, Micha From Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia MacLachlan comes a cozy picture book of…
Jan 06, 2023 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, New Year Reading, Reading Resources
Kids Playing

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of January 16, 2023) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More…  Sparkle N’ Grow Butterfly Terrarium Price: $23.99 each Craft, plant, water, and GROW! Whether you have a budding botanist, an aspiring artist, or both, this activity combines…
Jan 16, 2023 • craft, craft kits, feature 5, sensory toy, shop, Toys
Kids Playing

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of January 23, 2023) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More…  Create With Clay – Mythical Creatures Price: $29.99 each Bring three mythical creatures to life with vibrant clay! This complete art and craft kit includes everything you…
Jan 23, 2023 • craft, craft kits, feature 5, sensory toy, shop, Toys
Dec 14, 2022 • , , , , ,

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is ENGINEERING. Snowflakes are magical, beautiful, and complicated mini structures of ice. Let’s build our own from q-tips!

You’ll need the following:

  • Q tips
  • Glue
  • Felt or paper
  • Sparkles or glitter (optional)

Instructions

    1. Cut your q-tips up in different sizes
    2. Start assembling them to make a snowflake pattern

Once you like your pattern, add glue onto the back of the q-tip and place them onto your felt/paper to form a snowflake pattern.

Snowflakes are nature’s own engineering phenomenon. They are all unique and made from water droplets freezing in the sky. Some data engineers even study snowflakes to find trends in certain regions. 

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WINTER READING LIST

We are back with another reading list and this one is all about snow. Thanks to our friends and partners at McNally Robinson Booksellers, we get to explore the pages of these fun books as they welcome winter. Once Upon A Northern Night Pendziwol, Jean and Arsenault, Isabelle In this exquisite lullaby, the beauty and…
Dec 16, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources, Winter reading
Kids Playing

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Snow, snow, snow. Let's turn this snow into something fun and make ice marbles! These are not only fun to make, but also a pretty lawn decoration. You’ll need the following: Balloons Food colouring Water A freezer Scissors Instructions Place a few droplets of food colouring into your balloon Fill balloon with water and tie…
Dec 17, 2022 • art, At-home Learning Resources, ice marbles, M’s Blog, marbles, winter activity, winter craft
Kids Playing

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of December 19, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More…  Magic Reindeer Poop Price: $3.99 each Mold this Magic Reindeer Poop and prank your friends and family - then watch it melt into a brown gooey puddle.…
Dec 19, 2022 • Christmas, feature 5, games, sensory toy, shop, Stocking Stuffers, Toys
Dec 07, 2022 • , , , , ,

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

It’s time to learn about winter weather and make a homemade thermometer with this week’s focus on TECHNOLOGY.

You’ll need the following:

  • A clear plastic bottle/container
  • A straw that you can see through
  • Clay or playdoh
  • Red food colouring
  • Water
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Cooking oil

Instructions

  1. Add red food colouring, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup alcohol and a tablespoon of oil into a container and mix.
  2. Place your straw inside the container, leaving about ½ inch at the bottom and cover the container mouth with your clay.
  3. Place your DIY thermometer outside in the cold and look at the difference in how high the liquid rises in the straw at various temperatures.

Most thermometers contain alcohol due to its low freezing point. As the temperature of the alcohol increases, it will cause the liquid inside the homemade thermometer to rise! Let’s hope we have a warm winter.

Source: Little Bins For Little Hands

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SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of December 12, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Christmas Water Game Price: $3.99 each These fun Christmas Water Games will keep kids entertained! Try to get the plastic hoops on the pegs by pressing the…
Dec 12, 2022 • Christmas, feature 5, games, sensory toy, shop, Stocking Stuffers, Toys
Kids Playing

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is ENGINEERING. Snowflakes are magical, beautiful, and complicated mini structures of ice. Let’s build our own from q-tips! You’ll need the following: Q tips Glue Felt or paper Sparkles or glitter (optional) Instructions Cut your q-tips up in different sizes Start assembling them to make a snowflake pattern Once you…
Dec 14, 2022 • Creative learning, engineering, snowflakes, STEAM, STEAM resources, winter activity
Kids Playing

WINTER READING LIST

We are back with another reading list and this one is all about snow. Thanks to our friends and partners at McNally Robinson Booksellers, we get to explore the pages of these fun books as they welcome winter. Once Upon A Northern Night Pendziwol, Jean and Arsenault, Isabelle In this exquisite lullaby, the beauty and…
Dec 16, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources, Winter reading
Sep 14, 2022 • , , , , , ,

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Here’s a quick activity for all those pencils you may have purchased for kids going back to school; pencil towers! It’s fun and an EnGINEERING challenge too. 

All you need are pencils. 

This challenge may seem simple, but it involves some steady hands and a creative mind. The goal is to stack your pencils as high as you can without them falling over. How many can you stack in 1 minute? Or make it a challenge and see if you can build your tower higher than your friends or family members! 

We used a base that creates a box shape but feel free to get creative and design your own. 

If you try your hand at this pencil engineering, please share your towers with us on social @childmuseumwpg

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SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of September 19, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More…   Palm Pals Betsy Chick Price: $13.99 each Designed to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand, Aurora Palm Pals are plush toys in an adorable…
Sep 19, 2022 • feature 5, fluffy, palm pals, Plush, shop, Shop Feature 5, Toys
Kids Playing

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Teachers love apples, and kids love slime! Learn about the chemical bonds that form when you mix glue and the activator together. You’ll need: 2/3 cup Elmer’s Glue ½ tsp baking soda ¼ cup water 5 TBSP contact solution Apple essential oil (if you want it to smell yummy) Red food colouring Bowl Spoon Gloves…
Sep 21, 2022 • At-home Learning Resources, M’s Blog, science, slime
Kids Playing

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of September 26, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Squishy Hugs Butterfly Price: $28.99 each Squishy Hugs Butterfly is a precious addition to Aurora's Squishverse collection! Featuring a lovely purple butterfly with fluffy multi-colour wings, this…
Sep 26, 2022 • feature 5, fluffy, palm pals, Plush, shop, Shop Feature 5, Toys
Sep 07, 2022 • , , , , , , ,

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is TECHNOLOGY, and we’re learning how to code with Legos.

In this activity, children get to learn about how coding works and come up with their own secret messages to decode.

You’ll need:

  • Lego’s
  • Lego board
  • Coding template you can find here

First, you need to decide which two colours you’d like to use to make your secret code. We chose blue and yellow to indicate either a 0 or a 1. Next, use your template to write out your message on the Lego board. Once you have written your code out, have a friend try and figure out the message!

Can you decode our secret message? Use the template to find out!! You can try this with a friend if you need to pass along an important message.

(Answer: Children’s Museum ?)

Share your secret messages with us on social media @childmuseumwpg. We’d love to try and figure it out!

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BACK TO SCHOOL READING LIST

It’s time to head back to school! This week we look at books focused on going back to school and some for those just starting in kindergarten. School's First Day of School Rex, Adam and Robinson, Christian When we think about back to school, often our minds are on the students. But what about the…
Sep 09, 2022 • back to school, Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources
Kids Playing

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of September 12, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Palm Pals Flick Pukwudgie Price: $13.99 each Designed to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand, Aurora Palm Pals are plush toys in an adorable size,…
Sep 12, 2022 • feature 5, fluffy, palm pals, Plush, shop, Shop Feature 5, Toys
Kids Playing

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Here's a quick activity for all those pencils you may have purchased for kids going back to school; pencil towers! It's fun and an EnGINEERING challenge too.  All you need are pencils.  This challenge may seem simple, but it involves some steady hands and a creative mind. The goal is to stack your pencils as…
Sep 14, 2022 • building, contruction, Creative learning, engineering, pencils, STEAM, STEAM resources
Aug 17, 2022 • , , , , ,

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is SCIENCE, and we’re making water balloons.

In this experiment, your child will learn about liquid density and why some balloons float or sink.

You will need:

  • Balloons
  • Sugary drink
  • Diet sugary drink
  • Large container

Once you have your materials, fill your balloons and label them. Then, fill your large container with water. After, have your child place the balloons in the large container with water and watch to see which ones float and which ones sink. 

Sugary drinks sink, but why? This activity teaches children the scientific process that sugar-filled drinks sink because sugar is heavier. You can learn more here. 

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Request For Proposal

PROJECT: OWNERSHIP LINKAGE Download Request For Proposal (PDF) A. Background The Children’s Museum exists to spark kids’ creative learning. As a registered non-profit charitable organization, we believe in the potential of all children and provide an interactive learning environment that nurtures the power of imagination and spirit of self-discovery. For over 35 years, we have…
Aug 19, 2022 • board of directors, request for proposal, RFP
Kids Playing

SUMMER READING: MILK MACHINE

Our summer reading fun continues with an animal focus tailored around our Milk Machine gallery. This week we look at stories about animals, farms, funny barnyard dancing and a chicken who has magic powers. Or does she?  Petal The Angry Cow Fergus, Maureen and Demidova, Olga Meet Petal, a cow with a very bad temper.…
Aug 19, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, milk machine, Reading Resources, summer reading, TD Summer Reading Club, Usborne Children’s Books
Kids Playing

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of August 22, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Shoulderkins Sam Sloth Price: $16.99 each Shoulderkins are magnetic friends that rest securely on your shoulder and accompany you wherever you go! A magnet sits at the…
Aug 22, 2022 • balancing bird, feature 5, light box, shop, Shop Feature 5, shoulderkins, Toys
Aug 10, 2022 • , , , , ,

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is ENGINEERING, and we’re making a pulley system. 

Even though pulleys look simple, they are powerful, ingenious machines that are used in everyday life to help make jobs easier. Your kids will love learning about this simple machine.

You will need:

  • An old ribbon spool
  • Dowels/chopsticks
  • String
  • A container

Once you’re done building your machine, take turns putting different items like toys or snacks in your pulley and reeling it up. You can learn more here about pulley systems. 

If you try this at home, please share how it went and don’t forget to tag us on our social media pages so we can enjoy it too! 

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SUMMER READING: LASAGNA LOOKOUT

Our Lasagna Lookout gallery is all about food and, more importantly, playing in it. If this is one of your favourite spots to visit in the museum, you'll enjoy these books about food, how it's produced, recipes to try, and how enjoying food with others makes the experience better. Every Night Is Pizza Night Lopez-Alt,…
Aug 12, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources, summer reading, TD Summer Reading Club, Usborne Children’s Books
Kids Playing

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of August 15, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More…   Building Blocks - Dinosaurs Price: 3.99 each Blind box-style plastic egg containing assorted plastic building blocks to create one complete Dinosaur measuring 3”! Contents vary. Each…
Aug 15, 2022 • blocks, building blocks, dinosaurs, feature 5, puzzle, shop, Shop Feature 5, slime, Toys, Train
Kids Playing

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is SCIENCE, and we’re making water balloons. In this experiment, your child will learn about liquid density and why some balloons float or sink. You will need: Balloons Sugary drink Diet sugary drink Large container Once you have your materials, fill your balloons and label them. Then, fill your large…
Aug 17, 2022 • art, Creative learning, engineering, pulley system, STEAM, STEAM resources
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