Summer Creation Stations

Each week during the summer, our library sets out a new Creation Station for kids to explore. It’s a self-serve table with a fun board that includes graphics, simple instructions, step-by-step directions, and cool facts about the project. Kids can jump in whenever they want—no sign-up or staff help needed. Since it’s passive, we track participation by counting how many supplies get used. Curious what we’ve got planned? Keep reading for all 8 of our summer projects—fun, simple, and full of creativity!

Build a Robot

This project really only requires scrap paper! I’m providing rectangles of paper, various scrap paper shapes, googly eyes, scissors, markers, and glue. Children can cut and glue to create their own robot—one that can do whatever they imagine.

Chromatography Butterflies

If you take a coffee filter and draw a circle in the middle with a black or brown marker or pen, then fold the filter and place the bottom edge in water, the colors will separate as they travel at different speeds due to their varying polarities. The result is a beautiful display of separated colors. If you tie a pipe cleaner around the middle, it looks like a lovely butterfly.

Design a Maze

This is one of my most involved activities, but it’s too fun to pass up—and I love sharing the science of magnetism. Each child gets a paper plate to create their own maze using paper strips and pieces of plastic straws (both of which we’ve had lying around for years). Then, they tape a magnet to a popsicle stick and use it underneath the plate to guide a paperclip through their maze.

Energy Burst Sticks

Giving each person 4 popsicle sticks lets them make a little ninja star that’s safe to play with but breaks apart dramatically when thrown or dropped. They’ll have a ton of fun with this one! It’s cheap and simple, and I even created an informational sheet about kinetic and potential energy to go along with it.

Paper Flowers

I gathered a pile of old, discarded magazines, removed the staples, and cut each spread lengthwise. With some scissors and glue, children can create paper flowers—making it a great opportunity to talk about recycling!

Parachute Person

Coffee filters for the win again! Kids can decorate the coffee filter with crayons, hole punch each end, and tie pre-cut yarn to it. I provide instructions on how to fold a pipe cleaner into a person, but they’re free to create whatever they like (I wanted to use Lego people, but pipe cleaners are more budget-friendly). Once they tie their pipe cleaner creation to the yarn, their parachute is complete.

Pinwheels

The materials for this project are a 6×6 piece of cardstock, a brad fastener, and a paper straw. Kids will also need a ruler, scissors, a hole punch, and markers for decorating. While these don’t spin as smoothly as a traditional pinwheel, they do spin—and they’re absolutely adorable and fun!

Tic-Tac-Toe on the Go

This is my absolute favorite Creation Station activity! Our summer theme is iRead: Level Up, which focuses on puzzles and games—and what could be more classic than tic-tac-toe? Each child gets a reusable drawstring bag (ordered from Amazon) and selects 10 recycled bottle caps, generously donated by our amazing staff over the past few months. They write X’s and O’s on the caps and draw a 3×3 grid directly onto the bag. When they’re done playing, the pieces store neatly inside the bag. It’s fun, reusable, and a fantastic hands-on activity!

For more ideas, see what my library did last year or check out these ideas from School Library Journal.

What are you planning this summer? Share your ideas in the comments!

All photos in this post were provided by the blogger, Kirsten Caldwell.

The post Summer Creation Stations appeared first on ALSC Blog.

 Each week during the summer, our library sets out a new Creation Station for kids to explore. It’s a self-serve table with a fun board that includes graphics, simple instructions, step-by-step directions, and cool facts about the project. Kids can jump in whenever they want—no sign-up or staff help needed. Since it’s passive, we track participation by counting how many supplies get used. Curious what we’ve got planned? Keep reading for all 8 of our summer projects—fun, simple, and full of creativity! Build a Robot This project really only requires scrap paper! I’m providing rectangles of paper, various scrap paper shapes, googly eyes, scissors, markers, and glue. Children can cut and glue to create their own robot—one that can do whatever they imagine. Chromatography Butterflies If you take a coffee filter and draw a circle in the middle with a black or brown marker or pen, then fold the filter…
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