WILD WITH WATER
August 2020

Please use this page as a resource and for additional instruction on how to complete these water-related activities!
PLEASE NOTE: This page does not include all activities included in your ‘Yours to Explore Box’. This page includes expanded instructions (with pictures) for some activities as well as links to additional resources.

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

Need some background music to go along with your water activities? Check out our curated Spotify playlist that consists entirely of water-themed songs! To listen, simply press play or click the button below to listen via Spotify.com.

PLEASE NOTE: This playlist requires a Spotify account to listen to the full songs. Simply log-in to your account, or sign up for free to listen.

MAKE YOUR OWN PONDWATCH BUG DIAL
(Whatever Floats your Boat: Extension Activity)

What’s that pond-bug? Use the dial below to check your identification. Simply make some observations about the bug, including how many legs it has, how it’s moving, and some special features, and then turn the dial to match your observations to identify what type of bug you may be seeing!

*This Pondwatch Bug Dial provided by the Cornwall Biodiversity Initiative

WATER BALLOON TAG
(Imagine and Build: Bonus Activity)

This game works with 2-6 players. Divide your group into 2 teams and divide your filled water balloons evenly amongst the teams. In any outdoor space find 4 items to serve as a “base”. These can be a rock, a patch of grass, a tree, a frisbee, anything you can step on or touch that you can easily run to and from. Make sure your four bases are spread out in a square as large as you would like (the further the bases the faster and longer you will have to run!).

Rules:

  • You can only tag each other with a water balloon.

  • You can only stay on a base for 5 seconds. After 10 seconds you must find a new base!

  • You are out if tagged and NOT on a base, safe if you are on a base.

  • If you have used your balloon and have not been tagged out- you must continue the game and just avoid getting tagged.

  • Only team members can share a base.

  • Once there is one person or team left- you have a winner!

  • If everyone has used their water balloons and there has yet to be a winner, the game continues with normal touch tag. Have fun and be safe!

BUILD-A-BEAVER DAM
(Creature Feature - American Beaver: Movement Activity)

Beaver-Dam-building-up-the-dam.jpg
Beaver-Dam-pouring-water.jpg

Supplies:

  • A waterproof container (deep enough to hold water and your dam)

  • Dam building materials (dirt, mud, sand, rocks, sticks, or whatever you can find in your backyard!)

  • Shovel/trowel (optional)

  • Water

How-To:

  1. Get “busy like a beaver” and gather your dam building materials! Pretend your backyard is a forest and you are a beaver -what do you think is the best material for building your dam & why? What would a beaver use and how would the beaver gather & bring the materials to the dam site?

  2. Using your natural materials, build your dam inside your container.

  3. When done, slowly pour a small amount of water on one side of the dam.

Did the water break or flow through your dam? Empty your container and try again! Remember: some water will trickle past your dam, for a beaver dam on a stream or river doesn't completely hold the water back. Did your dam hold back most of the flowing water? If it DID, “high five” to you for building a dam just like a beaver!

*Activity courtesy of the National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/articles/buildabeaverdam.htm

WETLAND YOGA
(Creature Feature - Snapping Turtle: Movement Activity)

Yoga is a great way to exercise and relax your whole body. It can be done inside your house or out in your yard. Use this kid-friendly, guide to explore moves inspired by wetlands! Just lay down a yoga mat or thick towel and you are ready to start!

*Wetland Yoga activity courtesy of the California Waterfowl Association

Wetland Yoga - Western Pond Turtle pose - courtesy of the California Waterfowl Association

Wetland Yoga - Western Pond Turtle pose - courtesy of the California Waterfowl Association

Enjoying the Yours To Explore Box?

If you had a great time doing the activities included in the box, make sure you don’t miss out on our future ‘Yours to Explore’ boxes! Stay tuned to the “What’s Happening?” page of our website and our Facebook page to find out when the next one becomes available!

Next Month’s theme: Blast from the Past

Featuring dinosaurs, pioneer crafts, a family tree activity, and more!