After School at Home

April 13, 2020

Victorian Virtual Reality with Mr. Corey

Make your own stereoscope and experience the nineteenth-century predecessor to today’s virtual reality technology. These instructions are from the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

Materials

  • Reading glasses, ideally with a high magnification, for example 2.5x
  • Cardboard
  • Scissors and/or utility knife
  • Hot glue gun
  • Black construction paper

Workout Corner with Mr. Ridore

Alternating Toe Reach

Steps

  1. Start by lying on your back with legs extended in the air at a 45-degree angle and arms straight out to sides on the floor at shoulder level.
  2. At the same time, raise the right leg up and lift the torso trying to touch toes with the left hand.
  3. Return to start and repeat on the other side.
  4. That’s one rep. Do 15 reps.

Leg Raise and Reach Clap

Steps

  1. Start lying on your back with legs lifted in the air at a 45-degree angle and arms by side pressing into the mat.
  2. Without letting the lower back lift off the floor, raise legs to hip level while curling the upper body off the floor and bringing hands to clap behind knees.
  3. Return to start.
  4. That’s one rep. Do 15 reps.

Hollow Body Hold

  1. Lie flat on your back and contract the abs, pulling the belly button towards the floor. The arms and legs should be held straight out from the body with hands and toes pointed.
  2. Slowly raise shoulders and legs from the ground. The arms and head should be raised along with the shoulders. The lower back must remain in contact with the floor.
  3. The goal is to find the lowest position that you can hold the arms and legs without them touching the floor and without breaking lower back contact (the point at which the lower back begins to arch from the ground).

Make a Stress Ball with Mr. Jean-Mary

Take a break from working out your brain and body with this new activity! And stay tuned for last week's trivia answers and new trivia after April break.

This activity is great for you AND the grownups at your home.

It's a relief that you don't need many supplies for this project! You can easily gather these supplies:

  • A small round balloon
  • A funnel
  • 1 cup of cornstarch
  • Scissors
  • Permanent marker (optional)
  1. Gather your supplies.
  2. Blow up the balloon until it is about 4 to 5 inches around. Do not tie it, but keep the balloon inflated as best you can.
  3. Pinch the top of the balloon shut, about an inch or two from the opening, to leave room for the funnel to be inserted into the neck of the balloon. If you don't have an assistant to help, use a clip to pinch the balloon.
  1. Place a funnel inside the opening of the balloon while still pinching the balloon closed. You may need help securing the funnel inside the balloon. Don’t worry if your balloon deflates a little; it tends to happen during this step.
  2. Fill the top of the funnel with cornstarch using your free hand or, enlist a helper. It works best to add a small amount of cornstarch at a time.
  3. Carefully begin replacing the air with cornstarch by slowly letting go of where you're pinching the balloon so that the cornstarch can slide in. Pro tip: Go slowly or the air leaving the balloon will blow the cornstarch into the air and make a mess.
  4. Continue adding cornstarch to the funnel until the balloon is filled to a depth of about three inches. Continue adding small amounts of cornstarch to your funnel, moving slowly, and swirl the cornstarch around with your finger to help work it into the base of the funnel and into the balloon.
  1. Tie the balloon closed, as near to the cornstarch as you can.
  2. Use scissors to cut off any excess balloon, and make sure not to cut too close to the knot on the balloon.
  3. Decorate the stress ball with stickers or permanent markers as desired.
  4. Now you’re ready for stress relief on-the-go with your very own DIY stress ball!

Harry Potter: A History of Magic Exhibit with Mr. Balkovetz

The British Library in London uploaded their new Harry Potter exhibit online through Google Arts & Culture. Check out J.K. Rowling’s very own notes and sketches, interviews, videos, and incredible artifacts from all around the world! Enjoy learning all about basilisks, Nicholas Flamel, reading tea leaves, and the world-famous boy who lived!

Ms. Vitale's Attack the Stack Book Challenge

Instructions

  1. Make a stack of books that you want to read throughout the next few weeks or even this summer.
  2. Record the names of the books on a piece of paper and set a goal of how many books you want to read.
  3. When you finish a book, check it off your list to record your progress.
  4. You can use this challenge for movies, audiobooks, or even recipes.
  5. Call or video chat with your friends to talk about the books you are each reading.

If you have any book recommendations, let us know!

Animals Being Human Drawing Activity with Mr. Alford

Ages: 4-10 years old; adults can help children brainstorm and find pictures, if necessary

Materials

  • Paper
  • Coloring tools

Optional

  • Device to search the internet

Instructions

  1. Make a list of human activities and animals. Think about appropriate human activities that you have never seen an animal do. Write down at least a few activities and animals so you have options to pick from.
  2. Pick an activity and animal to combine. Be creative and think about what would make you laugh. Make sure you are comfortable drawing both the activity and animal.
  3. Find pictures of the activity and/or animal on the internet, if you need a reference.
  4. Once you have an idea, draw your animal in action! You might want to draw in pencil first, then color in your drawing once it is just right.
Cooking with Mr Brewer: French Toast.mp4

Making French Toast with Mr. Brewer

What you will need

  • Any type of bread
  • Butter
  • Two to three eggs
  • Skillet, bowl, fork, spatula
  • Any additional toppings you want: fruit, syrup, powdered sugar

Directions

  1. Break eggs into a bowl and whisk briskly
  2. Take your slice of bread and dip into the mixed eggs; make sure to coat both sides
  3. Place into a skillet that is over medium heat
  4. Flip the french toast until its golden brown on both sides
  5. Put on plate and add toppings

Enjoy!