Gold, Silver or Bronze?

Have you seen an Olympic athlete win a gold, silver or bronze metal?  Now it’s your turn…

Materials:  cardboard or card stock or heavy paper, markers or crayons, ribbon or string, scissors.  Optional:  foil, hole punch.

 

First, cut out a circle from the cardboard or paper.  This will be your metal.  You can cover it with foil if you want to give it a shiny surface.  Then create your design…will you draw the sport of your choice?  Will you make your own Olympic design? Cut a small hole at the top or use a hole punch and then put the ribbon through so your medal can hang around your neck. 

Why not make a medal for someone you want to honor?  Give one to thank your parents, a friend, a camp counselor or a relative as a way to celebrate the things they do!

Catch the Spirit of the Summer Olympics

What does the Olympic Symbol mean?

The five rings represent the five major regions of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Every national flag in the world includes at least one of the five colors, which are (from left to right) blue, yellow, black, green, and red. 

The rings are connected to represent the meeting of the athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games. The five colors of the rings from left to right are blue, black and red across the top and yellow and green along the bottom.

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." The words of the Olympic creed are dedicated to Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games.

The Olympic Flag made its debut at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. At the end of each Olympic Games, the mayor of that host-city presents the flag to the mayor of the next host-city. It then rests at the town hall of the next host-city for four years until the Opening Ceremony of their Olympic Games.

Now it’s your turn… on a piece of paper, create a flag for yourself or your family.  What colors did you choose and why?  What message or ideas are expressed in your flag? 

It's So Hot, My Crayons Are Melting. Hey, That's So Cool -- My Crayons Are Melting!

With the heat wave upon us this summer, you might have avoided bringing crayons outside because they could melt.  Let's turn those lemons into lemonade (with lots of ice, of course) and celebrate the fact that the crayons do melt when they are in the outside heat.  Here's how you can make some very cool, melted swirly art.
 

Materials:  crayons, pencil sharpener or grater, paper, cup

Sharpen or grate some crayons and catch the flakes in a cup. Carefully sprinkle the shavings on the paper in a shape, design or message that you want to create. Repeat this process until your picture is the way you want it! As you sit out there in the blazing sun, the shavings will melt onto the paper and your pretty picture will melt to life! 

For a different effect, you can place the shavings on the paper and then trace shapes in them with your finger before they start to melt!

Saving Summer

Want to save some of that summer fun you’ve had at the beach?  Scoop up some sand with your shovel and pail and get ready to create a work of art that will be great to look at during cold winter days.  Couldn’t make it to the beach? – Just use salt instead of sand.

Materials needed:  sand or salt, food coloring, 4-6 sealable plastic bags, glue, plastic spoon, construction paper or pages from your favorite coloring book.

First, you will need to add color to your sand or salt.  Put some in a bag and add a few drops of food coloring.  Seal the bag and shake until sand changes color.  Try not to get it too wet or else the sand will become sticky. 

Now it’s time to create your design:  draw a picture, write out a message or find a coloring book page you’d like to use.  Use the glue to cover the area you want to have covered with sand.  Spread it evenly with your finger or the back of a plastic spoon.  Sprinkle colored sand onto the area and gently shake off the excess.  Let dry.