Denver Public Library

The Journey

Summer of Adventure: The Journey

We’ve created a list of stellar activities that will help you to READ, MAKE, and EXPLORE while at home! These activities will change every Monday so be sure to come back for more fun.

Child interacts with a colorful chalk muralmuffin tin filled with colorful chalkFeatured Activity

Create a sidewalk mural as a family. You will need  several plastic cups, cornstarch, water, food coloring or washable paint, and paintbrushes. Fill each cup with equal parts cornstarch and water. Two tablespoons of each is a great starting point. Mix food coloring to create desired colors. Add more cornstarch to thicken the mixture until it holds just a little on your paint brushes. Use your paint brushes to create a sidewalk mural!

  • Maker Challenge entry OUTSIDE

    Dog Days of Summer

    Birth to Pre-K

    Make an outdoor water play station for your little one. Fill plastic bowls halfway full of water. Bring out plastic toys, kitchen spoons, cups, and ice cube trays. Funnels are also very fun if you have them! Let your little one explore with water play. Bonus: there is almost no clean up with this activity!

    K-5th

    These long hot days are great for creating melted crayons. You will need used crayons with all paper removed, cookie cutters, a plate, and piece of aluminum foil. First, break your crayons into the smallest pieces you can. Next, arrange your cookie cutters on your plate. Fill each cookie cutter about halfway full with the broken crayon pieces. Then cover the plate with aluminum foil and place it in direct sunlight. You’ll need to wait at least an hour for the crayons to melt. When you’re ready to check them, carefully remove the aluminum foil from the plate. If the crayons are melty and filling in the full cookie cutter shape, move your plate to the shade (or inside) for your crayons to cool. Once they are cooled, you can pop them out of their molds, and color away!

    6th-12th

    Set up a bike wash station in your neighborhood. You could use this as a way to make money for yourself or a charity, or just as a gesture of kindness. Use diluted dish soap to wash the bike frames. You’ll want rags as well as small brushes (like an old toothbrush) for this step. Then turn the bike over, and use a garden hose on a gentle setting to clean the wheels and spokes. This is a great service to offer families with young children who might have dirty tricycles! 

    Family

    Play I Spy with clouds! Find a comfortable place to lie together on a blanket. Take turns identifying shapes, animals, or even letters in the clouds. You may need to give clues to help everyone guess which cloud is yours. 

  • Maker Challenge entry INSIDE

    Dog Days of Summer

    Birth to Pre-K

    Host an ice skating party for toy animals. Fill a shallow baking sheet with water, and place it in the freezer overnight. Then let your toddler “skate” their animals around on the baking sheet. It is fun to give them a little push and watch them slide as the ice starts to melt. For extra fun, add sequins, buttons, or foam shapes to the water before you freeze it!

    K-5th

    Make slushies to help you cool off during these hot days. You will need ice, a sports drink or juice, a gallon ziploc bag, a sandwich sized ziploc bag, two heaping tablespoons of salt, and a cup. First, carefully pour your sport drink into the sandwich sized ziploc bag, and seal it up. A grown-up might want to help with this. Next, fill your gallon ziploc bag about ¾ full of ice, and add both tablespoons of salt. Place your smaller ziploc bag into the larger bag of ice, and seal up the bag of ice. Then shake your ice bag vigorously for as long as it takes you to sing your favorite song. When you are done shaking, the sandwich bag will be full of a refreshing slushy for these hot summer days.

    6th-12th

    Practice ways to keep yourself cool during these hot days. Take your favorite fruits and freeze bite sized chunks for a refreshing snack. Frozen bites of watermelon, pineapple, and grapes are especially delicious! 

    Family

    Try making tin-can walkie talkies. You will need two empty, clean cans, a length of string at least 10 feet long, a hammer, a nail, paper to fit around the cans, tape, and markers or crayons. First, cut the paper so that it circles each can. Have your children work on coloring designs on the paper. While they do that, punch a single hole in the bottom of each can by hammering the nail into it, and then removing the nail. Thread the string through the hole, and tie a knot large enough to prevent the string from coming back through. Do this with both cans. Then, tape the decorated paper around each can. Stretch the cans apart until the string is taut. A good way to do this is by having one family member go outside while another stays inside. See if you are able to hear each other by speaking into the cans!