Tag Archives: game

Sneak Peek: Wicked Science

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We’re off to see the Wizard on a yellow brick road that also…wait for it…defies gravity, thanks to the magic of science and magnets!

This weekend, we’re hosting Wicked Science, a thrillifying event in collaboration with Science Outreach at Princeton University and the Department of Chemistry. In addition to a 45 minutes auditorium show, the event features hands-on tables staffed by Princeton University undergraduate and graduate students. The cool golden magnet tiles you see above are part of a game called Kollide (ages 8+, retails for $15).

To play the game, you arrange a rope in a circle and divide the 20 magnets evenly amongst the players (you can have up to four players at a time). Then each player takes a turn placing a magnet in the circle. As you can guess, the more magnets in the circle, the more they get attracted to one another and start scooting, twisting, and snapping together. If that happens, you pick up the bundle of snapped magnets and your turn is over. The first player to get rid of all their magnets without any magnets clumping together wins!

It’s super fun, especially when the magnets start to threateningly wiggle and move as you try to place them, then suddenly snap together. It’s like magic!

Racing Robot Reader

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Have a reluctant reader who might appreciate good race? This simple project will get them raring to read letters and words with the assistance of their own personal reading robot! Built out of things in your home or office, it’s low tech, but high levels of F-U-N!

You’ll need:

  • 1 paper cup
  • 1 small ball
  • 1 piece of tin foil or sparkle stem
  • Pens or markers
  • Post-it notes

Flip the cup upside down, then decorate your robot with markers (we went a little fancy with silver circular file labels and eye stickers). Add tin foil or sparkle stem antennae. When you’re finished designing, place your robot cup on top of a ball. We used a squishy foam ball, but a tennis ball works great too!

Next, write alphabet letters on Post-it notes and stick them to a tabletop. Have the reader and their robot sit on the opposite side of the table. As you call out the letter, they can slide and release their robot towards the proper Post-it!

There are plenty of variations on this game. The robots can read single letters, words, finish sentences, and seek out synonyms. They’re also multilingual if you’re trying to learn a new language. Or you can go multiplayer and race other robots in a full scale demolition derby!

When Wily Woodpeckers Want Waffles

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The story time diner is open, and delicious waffles await! Your mission: to get the woodpecker to the table…by any means possible!

We read Woodpecker Wants a Waffle by Steve Breen (HarperCollins, 2016). Benny the Woodpecker makes every attempt to taste the waffles at Moe’s Diner, but is consistently thwarted by a stern waitress. The other animals laugh at Benny, but he’s determined not to give up. He hatches an incredibly complicated plan to get into Moe’s (juggling, dancing, cannons, fireworks, etc.). The next day, a crowd of animals arrive to see Benny’s crazy plan in action, but he is nowhere in sight. The herd draws the intrigue of the diner customers, who step outside to stare at the animals…leaving the restaurant unguarded. Benny walks right in. Success! The delicious waffles are all his, and they are well worth the effort!

You’ll need:

  • 1 box (ours was 9” x 4 ½” X 4 ½” but a large tissue box works too!)
  • 1 smaller box that fits inside the larger box (ours was 4″ x 4″ x 2″)
  • 2 toilet paper tubes
  • A selection of construction paper
  • Scissors and tape for construction
  • Markers for decorating

This is essentially a toss game, with the goal of getting the two toilet paper tube characters into the diner to enjoy waffles. We folded up the lid of a large craft box to create the sign for our diner, and couldn’t resist adding a large picture window, tissue paper shrubs, star stickers, and patterned wallpaper. The toilet paper tube characters can be decorated with construction paper and markers.

Inside the diner is a small box that serves as a table – just make sure there’s space around the table for the the toilet paper tube characters during the toss game!

Want to try another variation on the game? Have one person close their eyes and “guard” the diner, while another tries to sneak the woodpecker to the table without being heard!