Surprise box
(Age 3 and older)
Here’s what you need:
box with lid
scissors
12 colored scarves or fabric scraps

1. Knot the scarves into one long streamer.
2. Cut a 3-inch diameter circle into one end of the box.
3. Put the streamer into the box, pulling the edge of the first scarf through the hole.
4. Gather children in a small group. Introduce the activity by telling the children that they will get to identify and name the colors of the fabric pieces.
5. Let the children pass the box around, each pulling out a scarf and letting the group name the color.
6. When all of the scarves have been pulled out, spread them along the floor and name the colors again.

Goop in a box
(Age 3 and older)
Here’s what you need:
shallow box
heavy aluminum foil
measuring cup
box of cornstarch
water

1. Line the box with aluminum foil.
2. Pour 1 cup of cornstarch into the box.
3. Slowly add 1/2 cup water to the cornstarch.
4. Invite children to stir the mixture with their fingers. Challenge the children to try and pick up the mixture.

Box bowling
(Age 3 and older)
Here’s what you need:
6 to 8 empty milk cartons
newspaper
stapler and staples
construction paper
glue
marker
chalk
small ball

1. Stuff the milk cartons with newspaper and staple shut.
2. Cover each carton with construction paper and glue in place.
3. Write a numeral or design on each carton.
4. Set up the activity in a wide open area—indoors or out.
5. With chalk, draw squares on the floor to indicate the carton placement. This lets children play the game independently.
6. Place one carton in each square.
7. Challenge the children to bowl, rolling the ball to knock over a carton.
Variation: To make the game more difficult for older children, challenge them to knock over a specific carton without touching the others.

Playhouse
(Age 3 and older)
Here’s what you need:
appliance box with lid
tape
craft knife
straight edge
broad-tipped permanent marker
liquid tempera paint

1. Tape the lid of the box in place.
2. Use your imagination to cut out a door and windows from the box. Either remove the door completely or reinforce the hinged side with tape. Cut windows that are traditional and house-like or silly—for example, cut large and small geometric shapes from the walls and roof.
3. Bring the box to the playground. Invite the children to paint the house—inside and out.
4. Use the playhouse as a stage for puppet play, a quiet play area for dolls or manipulatives, or an extension of the dramatic play center.

Ball roll
(Age 3 and older)
Here’s what you need:
large box, at least 12 inches high, 18 inches wide, and 10 inches deep
scissors or craft knife
marker
small balls

1. Remove the top flaps from the box.
2. Turn the box bottom-side-up. Draw geometric shapes along the cut edge. Make the shapes big enough for the ball to roll through easily.
3. Cut out the shapes. Decorate the box if desired.
4. Place the box in a large open area.
5. Challenge the children to take turns rolling the balls through the shape holes.
Variation: To make the game more difficult, challenge the children to aim for a specific shape or to aim for each shape in order, working around the box. Construct a similar game for children ages 4 and older using a shoe box and marbles.

Exercise frames
(Age 3 and older)
Here’s what you need:
several sheets of corrugated cardboard at least 4-feet square. The sides of an appliance box work best.
craft knife
metal straight edge
marker
liquid tempera
brushes

1. In each sheet of cardboard, draw and cut out a large geometric shape—a square, triangle, rectangle, and circle, for example.
2. Cut out the center of each shape leaving a 6-inch frame.
3. Invite the children to paint the shapes—each a different color.
4. Use the frames for movement activities that build coordination and balance. Use the frames for activities like the following.
Let children choose and use a frame as a dancing partner.
Arrange the frames for an obstacle course. Give directions like “Crawl through the red circle, hop into the blue square, and walk around the orange triangle.”
Use the frames as frames—hang on an art display board to highlight a group of paintings.

Creatures
(Age 4 and older)
Here’s what you need:
a variety of cardboard boxes such as an oatmeal box, salt box, small gift boxes, milk cartons, egg cartons, tubes, and pizza boxes
glue
tape
markers
paper
collage materials

1. Introduce the activity by talking with the children about the kinds of creatures each box shape suggests. For example, several stacked boxes might suggest a robot. A strip of cups from an egg carton might remind a child of a snake or a train.
2. Encourage the children to glue or tape boxes together to make creatures.
3. Decorate the creatures with collage materials like ribbon, pipe cleaners, straws, ribbon, or paper scraps.

Feel the letter
(Age 4 and older)
Here’s what you need:
partitioned carton (such as a bottle case)
colored, adhesive-backed plastic (or liquid tempera paint)
scissors
craft knife
packing tape
fabric
collection of letters or numerals

1. Remove the top of the carton, leaving the partitions in place.
2. Cover the outside of the carton with adhesive-backed plastic. Or, if you prefer, paint with liquid tempera.
3. Turn the box so that the partitions face you.
4. Tape a length of fabric to the top of the carton, covering the partitions.
5. Place a plastic, cardboard, sandpaper, or foam letter or numeral in each of the carton’s partitions.
6. Introduce the activity by explaining that sometimes fingers can read. Challenge the children to identify letters or numerals by touch—rather than by sight.

Exotic masks
(Age 4 and older)
Here’s what you need:
pictures or samples of exotic masks
corrugated cardboard boxes
craft knife
metal straight edge
tape
small gift boxes
small cardboard scraps
prepared papier-mâché
liquid tempera paint
brushes

1. Cut 12-inch square sheets of cardboard from flattened boxes using the craft knife and metal straight edge. Keep the knife out of the reach of children.
2. Introduce the activity by sharing the pictures and samples of masks. Challenge the children to make unique masks—each on their own 12-inch square of cardboard.
3. Give each child a square. Show that the cardboard folds neatly along the corrugated lines. Help children use these folds to shape the mask.
4. Tape small boxes to the cardboard to form facial features. Encourage children to be expressive rather than literal in their designs.
5. Use the papier-mâché to cover and build the features. Let dry completely.
6. Let children paint and decorate the masks.
7. Hang the masks where parents and other visitors can see them.

Alphabet hunt
(Age 5 and older)
Here’s what you need:
boxes or cartons from toothpaste, cereal, milk, and other products
scissors
page from the newspaper
sheets of poster board or butcher paper
glue

1. Introduce the activity by examining the different typefaces manufacturers use for their products. Show some examples to help children notice the difference in the letter E, for example.
2. Provide a collection of product boxes.
3. Assign small groups of children a different letter of the alphabet. Challenge the groups to find and cut out as many examples of that letter as they can.
4. Make display boards by asking each group to glue their letter collections onto poster boards.
Variation: When children are familiar with the alphabet, assign several letters to each child. After the children find examples of all the letters, place the letters on the floor in alphabetical order.