Harry Potter Party

I went to the $1 store and bought "science fair" folded cardboard displays.  I painted a large window and then painted bricks all around for most of them.  I glued a sign (one for each location in Hogsmeade) at the top center of the windows or on the bricks on the sides.  I love how they turned out.  Even my daughter helped paint the bricks.

At Madam Malkins we will make house flags and ties. 

At the Daily Prophet we play word games with these puzzles.  We will also make Shrink Dink charm bracelets.

At the Owl Post Office we will make light switch plates that say Lumos & Nox.

At Gringotts we will add hot glue to our dragon eggs.

At Olivanders we will make wands with dowels and hot glue.

At Zonkos we will make Pygmy Puffs.

At Honey Dukes we will make chocolate frogs and bee's

At the Three Broomsticks we will make Butter Beer with Cream Soda and Butterscotch topping mixed in.

We will take photos in the car that gets stuck in the willow

We will play cornhole Quiditch

Dobby will be standing in a corner.

Mandrakes

Mini Golf Course

My carpenter brother gave me some scrap wood and the thought came to me to make a mini golf course.  I cut 4x8 sheets of plywood in half length wise.  I nailed 2x2's on the under side and 1x2's on the top.  I cut 4" pvc pipe for the cups. I cut and added outdoor green carpet with the 1x2's on top of the carpet. The tiny green circles and cut from felt and tell where to start each course.  I am thrilled with how this turned out.

Play Bubble Tent

I found this fabulous idea here at Play at Home Mom

I bought 2 rolls of paint plastic for $1 each at Walmart.  I used packing tape to tape together all edges leaving two openings, one to attatch to a simple home fan and the other for the door.

My kiddos had a great time. 

********Please, use only under close adult supervision due to sufication hazard.***********

I'm thinking I will make one out of light weight fabric (or sheets) and just sew the edges together.

Whilrling Old West Toy

I saw something like this at a old west museum. It is a toy. I made it from a paint stick cut in half. Cut off the two rough corners to look like the photo. Drill a small hole and tie a 2 ft piece of string through it. Hold onto the end of the string and swing it around. It makes a fun whizzing sound as it spins.

Creative Movement Stretchies

Making Stuff has this great idea here.

Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Booklet

Print off a scavenger hunt pages for kids with directions here from Sun Scholars. My kids had fun gathering items at the zoo. Could also use in the yard, camping, hiking, etc.

I added pictures for my items for my preschooler. My 1st grader prefered to draw his own.

Feel free to copy these pages I created for your personal use.

Rubber Band Gun Template

Instructables has this free template to make your own rubber band gun. I also used it to make ornaments.

Paper Rockets

With paper wrapped around a pencil you can make a rocket. It flies through the air off the end of a straw. Found this idea here at Heaps of Laundry. They made theirs look like a real rocket.

Think Fast Games

Some Think Fast brain games are found here at Family Fun to help sharpen your smarts. The ones that especially catch my eye are Fictionary, Alphabet Walk, and the Wacky Waiting Games.

Greed dice game-how to play

We've played this game for years. Easy and fun for all ages. Wikipedia had directions here.

Ribbon Dance Stick

Make a simple ribbon stick to dance and twirl by taking a 8"-12" length of dowel with a screw eye (I used size 214 1/2) screwed in one end. Tie about 2 yards of thin ribbon to the screw eye & twirl away.

Hand & Foot/Canasta Games

The directions for these classic card games can be found here, here, and here. Played these with friends over Thanksgiving holiday and had a great time.

Count the House Math

Lets Explore has this free download here. My kindergartner loved going through the house counting rooms, chairs, windows, etc.

Roll the Die Game

A little different from the game "Greed" we love to play. This one can help teach counting. Learn how here at Family Fun.

Spoons card game

If you've never played the classic game of Spoons get the directions here at Family Fun & play. Tons of fun.

Auto Tag

You have to spot your sign to get someone. Auto Tag directions here at Family Fun.

Road Trip Bingo

Print this bingo card for road trip fun. Family Fun has it here.

Who Am I game

This is a great game for a group of people. Family Fun used it at a family reunion. I've used it at church with the youth. Direction for play here.

Elbow Tag

A fun tag game with some stratigic planing optional. Get direction here from workingmother.

Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

Print out this fun holiday scavenger hunt list. FamilyFun has it here.