From all the workshops, and story-times I’ve done as an author, I developed some great hands-on activities to help kids get their creative brains going, and keep track of their ideas.
These are great as independent stations or with instruction. Add them to your sub plans, camp activities, or story/craft time!
BUILD A ROBOT MODEL
Sawyer has a big idea in the story: he’s going to build a robot! What does that robot do? The book never tells us (it’s not really the point!) So kids get to answer this question themselves: if you could build a robot, what would it do? Have them make a super simple model out of a cardboard tube cut in half.
It’s a great low-prep, green craft that’s fun for kids of all ages! Once, as a craft booth activity, and I had middle school girls designing DJ robots and love-finder robots alongside kindergartners making defend-your-room robots.
You can download my instruction printable to make this an easy independent station for older kids, or serve as step-by-step instructions for younger children.
I also have a video recording of me making this project on the American Psychological Association’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuuDKB3i1ag if you’d like to show it as an example, or craft along with me!
MAKE AN IDEA NOTEBOOK
One of the great ideas suggested by Silvi Guerra PsyD in the back of the book is to have children start a project notebook to help keep track of their ideas, so they remember them for later. I always tell kids this is something I really do as an author! Mine is a pink moleskin notebook. There are lots of ways to start a notebook from buying a spiral bound one, to customizing it by collaging the cover of a composition book.
However, I am repeatedly shocked in classrooms how many kids in grades 1-3 have NEVER MADE A BOOK! I loved making books as a kid and filling them with whatever stories or sketches or poems I thought of. There’s something about seeing your ideas in a book that make them feel more important.
That’s why, for this activity I like to actually have kids make the idea notebook themselves. For kids kindergarten and younger, show them how to fold over a few sheets of paper and help them staple them together. For kids interested in a challenge, you can teach them this neat way to make a book out of a single sheet of paper with no staple needed.
If you try any of these with your kiddos, feel free to share photos with me!
Happy Creating!
Kimberly Horch 