Craft: Colored Bubbles
Activities: Flyswatter Bubbles, Cotton Ball Pickup, Balloon Water Fun
Snack: Chewy Popcorn Balls
Reading Selection: The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois

CRAFT: Colored Bubbles

Need:
dishwashing detergent
food coloring or washable paint
a straw
paper
shallow pan

Directions:
Mix about 1/2 dishwashing detergent, and 1/3 of water in a shallow pan(cold or hot)mix any kind of food coloring until you get the ideal color you want. If you use paint, make sure it is washable. Go outside with the pan full of the colored bubble mixture. tip one end of the straw in the pan, lift it up, and blow through the other side to create a bubble, then slowly pick up the paper and pop the bubble on it. Keep doing this with different colors of paint and you will get a great colorful bubble print picture!

You can also use the straw to blow a lot of bubbles in the pan and then place a piece of paper over the top to 'absorb' the bubbles. It will leave a nice print!!

ACTIVITY: Flyswatter Bubbles

Need:
clean fly swatter
bubble solution

Directions:
Fill a shallow plastic bowl with bubble stuff and provide each child with a new clean flyswatter. Have them dip the end in and then swish it through the air creating tons of bubbles!

ACTIVITY: Cotton Ball Pickup

Need:
Cotton balls
vaseline
string (or handkerchief)

Directions:
Spread out cotton balls in a designated area. Each player has their hands behind their backs, or hands in their pockets and vaseline on their nose. When the game begins, the player walks to a cotton ball, bends down and picks up the cotton ball with their nose. Either the first one back wins or set a time limit and whoever gets the most cotton balls. You can also play with teams!

ACTIVITY: Balloon Water Fun

Need:
waterguns
balloons
pennies or small objects
string
markers
clothes line

Directions:
Children will love these fun targets they can squirt with water guns. Insert a few pennies in a balloon. Blow it up and attach a string. Tie the string to a clothes line. To make it more fun, faces or bulls eyes may be drawn on the balloon. Hang many balloons of varying sizes and string lengths to increase the challenge. Stand back and take aim!

SNACK: Chewy Popcorn Balls

Need:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
4 Tbs. margarine
1/2 tsp. salt
8 cups popped popcorn

Directions:
Place the sugar, light corn syrup, margarine, and salt in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches a steady simmer. Add the popped popcorn to the mixture, stirring until all the popcorn in entirely coated. Remove from the stove and let cool. Fill a medium-sized bowl with water. Dip your hands in the water and shape the popcorn into balls, about the size of a tennis ball. Place the balls on a sheet of wax paper and after they are completely cool, place each in a plastic bag or wrap in plastic wrap.

Reading Selection: The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois
This is a great children's story to go along with these ideas!

Pam Lester is the owner and creator of http://www.TheIdeaBox.com. The site offers free kids crafts, recipes, games and activities for parents, teachers and caregivers. Please visit TheIdeaBox.com for more great ideas!