I am very busy

I apologize for the lapse in postings and challenges. I will post some things tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.

Marshmallow Madness Solutions

Straight from the Netherlands, some magnificent work by an anonymous 4 year old and an anonymous 6 year old!





And, more marvelous marshmallow solutions by Joshua and Jacob:





And, Mr. B did a beautiful job with his arch --




I forgot an entry. I am so sorry! It was worth the wait though; here is the massive marshmallow arch from Boo and Zee. You can read more about it here.




You should all be very proud of your creative work!!!!!!!!!

Straw Bridges

This week's challenge:

Using one box of straws and one roll of tape, build the strongest bridge that spans 18 inches and stands at least 2 inches off the table. You may not use other materials.

Good luck. When you send pictures, be sure to include information about how much weight your bridge would hold.

Paper Creations

One of my favorite thinking challenges is to create something with scissors and paper. So, this week's challenge is to create a zoo using 1 sheet of notebook paper. You may use scissors in construction. You may not use anything else.

When you are done, but not before, check out these.

Marshmallow Madness

Last year, there was a marshmallow arch challenge. This year, Marshmallow Madness Returns.

Your materials: a bag of large marshmallows, a box of toothpicks, 2 pairs of tongs.

Your challenge: build the tallest marshmallow arch you can using the materials above, but you may not touch the marshmallows with anything but the tongs.

Good luck! Photo, video, animoto submissions all accepted!

Masterworks from Kreative Kitchens

Boo and Zee did a klever job kreating with kitchen items. They should be proud! You can read more here about the design process. If you'd like to commission some work, they'd be happy to speak with you!




Here is Wyatt's Glass House. Contrary to convention, the walls of this multi-family dwelling are transparent while the windows and door are translucent. Wyatt is a true modernist at heart. Magnificent work Wyatt!




Evie also did a tremendous job! Her house had french doors -- the occupants insisted on it!

Long or strong? Spaghetti solutions

Zee did a another great job with this one. You can read more about his technique here.




Wyatt also did a wonderful job with this challenge. Pretty wise -- he actually stood on his spaghetti -- now that is strong!

Kreative in the Kitchen

Using up to 25 objects from your kitchen, build a house that is at least 12 inches tall, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches deep. It must have two windows and a door. You may use scissors in construction and 12 inches of tape, but that is all!

Good luck

Super Silly String Solutions

Got some wonderful solutions this week! Xavier created this magnificent marionette:




And, Wyatt did stupendous job with Super Stan the String Man:






Check out this amazing animoto video from Zee.

Spaghetti

I like building with spaghetti -- so, here is your challenge --

build something strong or long using one box of spaghetti and one box of paperclips.

Looking forward to it!

Please send pictures showing how strong or how long -- I haven't gotten many recently.

Silly String

This week's challenge is to create a person with string. It would be great if you could create a string marionette, but this is not a required element of the challenge.

You may use as much string as you'd like and you may use scissors in construction, but those are the only two materials that you may work with.

If you want to get extra creative, load your images to animoto and add music and send us the link.

Good luck.

Creative Cardboard Cars

We had some marvelous entries this week.

You can read about the creative creations from Journey into Unschooling here. Congratulations Boo and Zee. Zee's is the sports car. Wonderful work guys!





We also had two marvelous creations from Zachariah and Aliya. It is their first time participating and they should both be proud of their awesome automobiles.

Straw Tower Solutions

No surprise -- we had a great entry this week from Journey into Unschooling. Congrats on a job well done!

Cardboard Cars

This week's challenge: make a car using some/all of the following materials, but nothing else. Scissors may be used in construction but not in the solution.

3 cardboard boxes (any size, shape, kind -- cereal, crackers, etc.), 4 paperclips, 4 q-tips and glue.

Note: There is a great UPS print ad that is a racecar made of cardboard if you need inspiratin.

Good luck. Look for last week's solutions soon.

Week Forty -Eight -- Straw towers

You'll need -- a bag of straws, 6 inches of string, 6 paperclips, and 6 inches of tape. The challenge is to build the tallest and strongest tower you can. Choose three medium sized hardback books. Build the tower as tall and you can but make sure that it supports the 3 books. Snap a picture. Send it in. Congratulate yourself on some thinking well done.

String Bridges

Use 60 inches of string, two cups, and a bag of rice or pennies to create a bridge that spans at least 6 inches. Test its strength by placing books on it (as many as you'd like).

Oops -- this one got out before it was supposed to -- just consider a bonus from me taking a break!

Bonus Solutions -- String Bridges

Check out this marvelous string bridge built by Zee.


Visit Journey into Unschooling to see more.

Week Forty-Seven -- Nail Clippers

Zee did an amazing job creating some clever clippers. You can read more about it here and even watch an advertisement video. Cool clippers Zee. Good job.

Article in Huntsville Examiner

You can read all about Think! here.

Nail clippers

Use the following materials to create a model of a nail clipper (the things you use to cut your fingernails).

foam board
scotch tape
toothpicks

good luck! I look forward to "seeing" you all again.