SCIENCE | Invisible Ink

In most stories, the hero must leave or find secret messages to complete their mission.

Recipe #1: Lemon Juice

What you need: • lemon juice • paper (try different types of paper, e.g., copy paper, index cards, construction paper) • small bowl • cotton swab or Q-tip • alternate item: salt • alternate item: wax crayon What you do: 1. Put a little lemon juice in a small bowl. 2. Dip your cotton swab or Q-tip in the “ink” and write your message (do not use too much liquid!). Allow ink to dry completely. 3. To reveal the message, simply heat the paper by holding it up to a light bulb. Hold it close, but do not touch it to the bulb; we don’t want a fire! The acidic parts of the paper (lemon juice) should turn brown. You can also iron the paper and reveal the message, which should appear brown. Alternate instructions: While ink is still wet, shake salt on the message. Brush off salt only after the message is fully dry. To reveal the message, rub a wax crayon over the paper.

Recipe #2: Milk

What you need: • milk • small bowl • cotton swab or Q-tip • paper (try different types of paper, e.g., copy paper, index cards, construction paper) What you do: 1. Put some milk in a small bowl. 2. Dip your cotton swab or Q-tip in the “ink” and write your message, being careful not to use too much liquid. Allow it to dry completely. 3. To reveal the message, simply heat the paper by holding it up to a light bulb (or iron it). The message should appear a faint brown.

WRITE | The Chase

A man sprints down the sidewalk, looking over his shoulder. Half a block away, someone is chasing and gaining on him.

Create a piece of art or a story that illustrates this idea. Points to think about: • Why is the man running? Does he run well? Is he out of shape, or does he look like he could pull away? • Does he get away? • Is he a bad guy? What has he done? • Is he a good guy and running from evil? • Who is chasing him? What does that person look like? Is this person good or bad?

JUST FOR FUN | Psychic Ability Test

Is one of your friends or family psychic? You can do this activity in person or virtually!

How To Play: Attached are three different problems to solve. If the sheets are already double sided, there should be words on one side and a picture on the other. If they are not double sided, use cereal boxes or construction paper as backings. Glue or staple the words on one side and the corresponding picture on the other side. You can try this out on family members and have them try it out on you. Hold up a page with the words facing the opposite person and have them tell you what picture is on the back from the list of words. See how many you can get right! Remember, this isn’t science- it’s only for fun.

Psychic Test #1: Front

Psychic Test #1: Back/Answer

Psychic Test #2: Front

Psychic Test #2: Back/Answer

Psychic Test #3: Front

Psychic Test #3: Back/Answer

WELLNESS | The Hero in Me

What you need: • Scissors • cup or bowl

Use the attached sheet of “hero” words for this activity. Cut out the words, fold them and put them in a bowl or cup. Pull out a word. Think about a situation in which you have been or could be a hero to others using that word as a descriptor.

"Hero in Me" Activity

WRITE IT | Who is Your Hero

Think about who your hero was when you were a child, teen, and who your hero is now. How have the qualities you use to describe a hero changed over time?

ART | Cryptograms

Tools of the Trade Cryptogram

WATCH IT | Non Marvel/DC Films

Not all heroes wear a mask and have special superpowers. Some heroes are ordinary people that do something wonderful or life-changing for someone else. Feeling like watching a movie? Here’s a list of films that have everyday heroes.

Titles in bold are part of the SCML collection. Other titles can be requested and shipped to SCML from other libraries in the NC Cardinal Consortium.

• Apollo 13 (PG)

• Argo (R)

• Chariots of Fire (PG)

• Die Hard (R)

• Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (PG-13)

• Erin Brockovich (R)

• Forrest Gump (PG-13)

• Gandhi (PG)

• Hotel Rwanda (PG-13)

• Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (PG-13)

• The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (R)

• Miracle (PG)

• The Right Stuff (PG)

• Rocky (PG)

• Schindler’s List (R)

• Sergeant York (Not rated)

• Silkwood (R)

• Simon Birch (PG)

• Space Cowboys (PG-13)

• Sully (PG-13)

• To Kill a Mockingbird (Not rated)

ART | Book Cover Creation

We really do judge a book by its cover sometimes. Redesign the cover of your favorite book to capture what the story is really about.

WRITE | Rewrite the Ending

Sometimes we don’t always agree with how a story is wrapped up. Choose a fairy tale with an ending that didn’t satisfy you. Rewrite the ending to that fairytale.

SCIENCE | Solar Water Distiller

Make a solar water distiller! Instructions attached.

Solar Water Distiller Instructions

WELLNESS | Mini Zen Garden

Create a peaceful and relaxing miniature Zen garden. Materials needed: ● Empty Altoids tin or similar container; a small plastic container or a cardboard jewelry box would work as well ● sand ● Small stones ● plastic fork ● Markers (optional) ● stickers (optional)

Fill your container with sand, and add a few small stones. You may wish to collect sand and/or stones outside (check for bugs!) Use your plastic fork as the rake moves the sand and stones back and forth.

ART | Illuminated Page

By highlighting and “adorning” your writing, you are giving a new life and feeling to your writing. Try illuminating your own writing by using the instructions attached.

Illuminated Page Instructions

Calligraphy Tutorial

Prior to the invention of the printing press, only skilled craftsmen produced books. Calligraphers printed the words and artists decorated the manuscripts. The word “illuminated” comes from the Latin “illuminare” where it means, “adorn.” The technique of illumination sought to release the “light” (truth) of a text. The light shone through the text to reveal the inner qualities. Much of medieval illuminated manuscripts are religious writings. This illumination activity can utilize any writing that is meaningful to you.

There are three basic ways of illuminating. With miniatures, small pictures are incorporated into the text or occupy the whole page or border. Initial letters are elaborately decorated pen filigree, which is rather like fancy doodles. And borders may have miniatures, but more often use decorative motifs, such as birds.

Make a rough sketch on practice paper. After you are happy with the design, redraw on a piece of parchment paper. Printing/calligraphy is done first. Illustration is done second. Typically, this is done in pencil, finished in ink, and colorized last of all. This activity can take quite a long time.

WELLNESS | Meditation

Meditation often helps quiet our mind so we discover new thoughts and feelings we didn’t know we had.

Guided Meditation Video

WRITE | Personal Time Capsule

Time capsules allow us to look into the past and see what things are the same and what has changed over time.

Personal Time Capsule Instructions

ART | Tornado in a Jar

What you need: ● Glass jar with lid such as a clean spaghetti sauce jar (an empty water bottle works, too) ● Water ● Dish soap ● Hot glue gun (optional) ● Glitter (optional)

Directions:

1. Fill a glass jar with water, leaving about 2 inches on the top.

2. Squirt in some dish detergent.

3. If you wish, you can add a pinch of glitter, for visibility.

4. Cap the jar tightly. You may wish to glue it closed

5. Rotate the jar to create the tornado.

WHAT’S HAPPENING? Friction

As you twist the jar, the water inside up against the glass is pulled along due to its friction against the glass walls. The fluid toward the inside takes longer to get moving. But eventually both the glass jar and the fluid are spinning as you rotate the jar. When you stop rotating the jar, the fluid inside keeps spinning. A mini twister can be seen for just a few seconds when the outer fluid slows down and the inner fluids continue to spin rapidly.

WELLNESS | Challenges to Change Your Life

What you need: ● paper or notebook ● pencil

Many people have a list of the things they want to do with their lives. Some lists are vague mental ideas, and other lists are specific and enumerated. Brainstorm the general topic of “things you want to accomplish or experience in life.” Journal over the summer about the activities you have completed from your list.

Examples for your list: • read everyday for an hour • call an old friend or two . . . or more • write a letter to a family member • give up TV for a week • introduce yourself to a new person each day • laugh until you cry • go to a local art or historical museum • memorize a poem and share it with someone • visit a relative’s grave • learn to cook one good meal

SCIENCE | Forensics-Fingerprints

This is an exercise to show how fingerprints can be lifted off of objects and how to analyze them.

What you'll need

• scissors

• pencils (dark lead)

• paper (plain) 40

• fingerprint sample handouts (click here)

• Personal Fingerprint Identification

• clear “objects” such as picture frames, paperweights, vases, knick-knacks, etc. l)

Instructions: The first thing you should do is gather a few objects that have enough flat surface space to lay a piece of tape flat. For example, the side of a drinking glass, the flat side of a remote control, computer mouse, or a book. Wipe them all down and let them dry. The oils in our hands is what allows our fingerprints to attach to different objects. Touch all of the objects with your hands.

Now, practice fingerprinting by rubbing a soft lead pencil on a piece of paper, placing your fingertip on it without pressing too hard, and then touching your fingertip on the STICKY side of a piece of tape. Then tape the tape to a fresh piece of paper. Your fingerprint will show clearly, as long as you didn’t rub your finger sideways, press too hard on the pencil markings, or otherwise smear the image. Once you have practiced a few times, go ahead and fill out the Personal Fingerprint Identification Form; then determine which type fingerprint each of your fingers has.

Now you are ready to “lift” the fingerprints from your objects to match them to your fingers. You can also try doing this with other family members to see if you can pick out someone’s distinct print on an object.

WRITE | Personal Time Capsule

Time capsules allow us to look back in time and discover what was different or the same from our current lives. Make one of your own to look at in the future. Instructions attached.

Personal Time Capsule Instructions

WRITE IT | Thank You Notes

What you need: • pens, pencils • writing paper • computers • stamps

Many workers on the frontline have been putting their lives at risk during this time of uncertainty, especially grocery store staff. Your local and state government officials have been making difficult decisions for citizens. These are both difficult jobs to do during a stressful time. Consider writing a note to a government official, local grocery store, health professional, or other essential worker to thank them for their service.

DESIGN IT | Literary Character

Do you have a favorite character in a book? How do they dress? What do they look like? Draw a sketch of what your character looks like. You can take it one step further and dress as that character yourself!

MAKE IT | POTPOURRI

Potpourri is something that people have been using in their homes for a long time. You could say it is a common thread to our past.

Potpourri Instructions-page 1

Potpourri Instructions-page 2

WELLNESS | Challenges to Change Your Life

What you need: • paper or notebook • pencil

Many people have a list of the things they want to do with their lives. Some lists are vague mental ideas, and other lists are specific and enumerated. Brainstorm the general topic of “things you want to accomplish or experience in life.” Journal over the summer about the activities you have completed from your list.

Examples for your list:

• read every day for an hour

• call an old friend or two . . . or more

• write a letter to a family member

• give up TV for a week

• introduce yourself to a new person each day

• laugh until you cry

• go to a local art or historical museum

• memorize a poem and share it with someone

• visit a relative’s grave

• learn to cook one good meal

• kayak

ART | Monstrous Construction

What you need: ● assorted junk ● masking or duct tape

Everyone has unwanted junk around their house. Find some of that junk and use it to build your own monster. Some examples: a large swatch of fake fur, sticks, plastic tubing, newspaper, bubble wrap, aluminum foil—anything! Use your imagination to create your own monster and give it a name!

SCIENCE | Monstrous Makeup

Did you know you can use many things from around your house to make monster makeup? You don’t need to have all of the ingredients, and you can even come up with your own concoctions!

Makeup Recipes

WRITE | Write Your Own Ghost Story

Maybe your town has an old tale about ghosts that you want to put down in writing or maybe you’ve heard about ghost sightings. Ghost stories are fun to write but they have distinctive features. Use the attached guide to establish some common features of ghost stories. You can use the graphic organizer to brainstorm ideas. Be creative!

Tips for Writing a Ghost Story

How to Write a Ghost Story

WELLNESS | Sea Creature Art

Did you know that the definition of meditation is to engage in contemplation or reflection? When you are creating art, you are reflecting and contemplating your creation. You are meditating!

What you need: ● Paint/Charcoal/Markers/Colored Pencils ● Paper ● Pencil ● Paintbrushes

Mythological sea creatures have fascinated people for centuries. They are depicted in many stories and art around the world. The goal of this activity is to create a sea creature- themed piece of artwork. Share it on Facebook by tagging @ScotlandCountyMemorialLibrary with #ImagineYourStory2020

WRITE | Your Own Ghost Story

Maybe your town has an old tale about ghosts that you want to put down in writing or maybe you’ve heard about ghost sightings. Ghost stories are fun to write but they have distinctive features. Use the attached handout to establish some common features of ghost stories.

Be creative!

TRIVIA | Science Fiction Knowledge

Test your knowledge of all things sci-fi!

Science Fiction Trivia

MAKE IT | Gnome Homes and Fairy Gardens

Use materials from the outdoors (twigs, leaves, rocks, etc.), to make your own fairy/gnome garden. Take a hike or even a stroll through your backyard to find materials for your garden.

You will need: • Small pots, cups, or glass jars (chipped tea cups make a great container!) • Dirt, moss, or pea gravel • Natural materials, such as small stones, twigs, leaves, seashells, flowers, etc. • Recycled materials, such as plastic bottle caps, straws, leftover craft items, etc. • Store-bought supplies, such as small toys

Fill a container with dirt/sand etc. to build your garden or you can use a large container for a family made garden.

ART | Straw Pan Pipe

Straw Pan Pipe Instructions

WRITE | Haiki

A Haiku is a form of poetry that does not rhyme and has only seventeen syllables divided into three lines:

Line One: five syllables

Line Two: seven syllables

Line Three: five syllables

This topic sounds vague, so it could be interpreted however you want. Write a haiku where you “imagine your story.”

WELLNESS | Juggling

Juggling is one of the jester’s best-known skills. There are instructions included with this packet. Once you have mastered the technique, share your new skill with a friend or neighbor! Instructions attached.

What you need: • juggling supplies: small balls, oranges, etc

Juggling Instructions

MUSIC | Create a Playlist

Do you have a favorite book? Create a playlist for this book.

WRITE IT | Haiku

A Haiku is a form of poetry that does not rhyme and has only seventeen syllables divided into three lines:

Line One: five syllables

Line Two: seven syllables

Line Three: five syllables

This topic sounds vague, so it could be interpreted however you want. Write a haiku where you “imagine your story.”

WELLNESS | Mini Zen Garden

Create a peaceful and relaxing miniature Zen garden.

Materials needed:

• Empty Altoids tin or similar container; a small plastic container or a cardboard jewelry box would work as well

• sand

• small stones

• plastic fork

• Markers (optional)

• stickers (optional)

Fill your container with sand, and add a few small stones. You may wish to collect sand and/or stones outside (check for bugs!) Use your plastic fork as the rake to move the sand and stones back and forth.

MUSIC | Create a Playlist

Do you have a favorite book? Movies and TV shows have music in the background to accentuate a certain feeling. Why not do the same thing for a book! Create a playlist for this book.

WRITE | Picture Stories

What you need:

• paper

• scratch paper

• cartouche pattern (attached)

• Black Sharpie or black pen

• attached hieroglyphics alphabet chart

For hundreds of years, scholars struggled to solve the mystery of Egyptian hieroglyphics. In 1799, the Rosetta Stone was found. The Stone proved to be the key to deciphering the hieroglyphics, since it had the same passage of text in Greek, hieroglyphics, and another script called demotic script. Since scholars knew Greek, they were able to use the Rosetta Stone to decipher one of history’s mysteries—Egyptian hieroglyphics. Take the opportunity to learn about one of the oldest forms of writing by designing your own cartouche. A cartouche is a long oval that contains the name of a pharaoh. Hieroglyphics can run from top to bottom, right to left, or left to right. Any figures in the cartouche should face the direction the hieroglyphics start. Use the hieroglyphics to write your name or motto with a black pen or a black Sharpie. Color in the hieroglyphics to achieve a richer look (somewhat reminiscent of illustrated manuscripts from medieval times). Practice on the scratch paper first. You can exchange messages using the hieroglyphics with a friend or family member then try to decode them.

SCIENCE | Naked Humpty Dumpty

What you need:

• Vinegar

• Glass jar(s) with lid

• Raw uncracked egg(s)

• Spoon

Note:It takes about two days for the full effect of this experiment to take place.

What you do:

1. Carefully place the egg in the glass jar, cover it with vinegar and screw the lid on to avoid accidental spills.

2. Bubbles will begin to form as the chemical reaction occurs. (The acetic acid reacts with the calcium carbonate in the eggshell and releases carbon dioxide gas that you see as the bubbles).

3. After 12 to 24 hours, check to see if the shell has dissolved.

4. Pour the liquid out of the jar and carefully remove the egg with the spoon (or simply pour it into your hand; the membrane is delicate and may break! You may want to experiment with two or more eggs and jars in case an egg breaks).

5. Gently rub off the powdery eggshell.

6. Refill the jar with vinegar and put the egg in the vinegar for another 24 hours. After this time, the egg is ready for some grossness! It becomes very rubbery, and you may want to experiment with dropping the rubbery egg from different distances. Soak it in food-colored water. You can experiment and leave the egg(s) out for about a week.

WHAT’S HAPPENING? Chemical Reactions

The vinegar causes a chemical reaction to break down the calcium carbonate of the egg shell, eroding it down to the egg membrane.

ART | Design a New Dragon Species

You will need: • Attached sheets of dragon pictures for reference • Pencil and paper • Clay (optional) • Construction paper If using clay, cover your workspace with old newspaper, or work outside to limit mess and cleanup. Imagine a new species of dragon, then draw or model them. Don’t forget to give your new species a name!

WELLNESS | Meditation

What you need:

• Mat, towel, or blanket

Meditation is a uniquely personal experience, with the purpose of helping channel self-awareness in a positive direction. To meditate is to turn inward and concentrate on your inner self. Our secular society is turning to it more and more as a way to escape some of the stress of our busy world.

• To meditate, you must get away (even just briefly) from the rest of the world. Turn off your technology (cell phone, computer, music, etc.) to minimize interruptions. • Have a place to meditate. You might choose to set aside a special place just for meditation in your home. Weather permitting, meditating outdoors can also be effective as long as you have a peaceful spot.

• Try to ensure your meditation spot is a comfortable temperature; not too hot and not too cold. Likewise, wear loose, comfortable clothing.

• You do not have to sit cross-legged, although that is the typical posture for meditation. The key is to find a way to sit so that you are comfortable and do not have to shift or wiggle around. Sit on your mat or towel. You can also sit on a chair.

• What do you think about? To start with, simply concentrate on your breathing—if you find your mind racing, you can count with your breaths, one on the inhale and one on the exhale. Breathe in through the nose and out through your mouth.

• When you feel relaxed, this is the time to begin self-reflection. Listen to your inner mind. Watch your thoughts come and go. Do not try to direct them, just observe them and try not to get caught up in any one thought. If this happens, concentrate anew on your breathing.

• A good beginning length of time for meditation is 15–20 minutes

• When you are done with your meditation, be sure to get up slowly and with calm and gentle movements.

WRITE IT | Your Own Timeless Tale

Reach out to some of your relatives to find out some of their favorite family stories or stories that were important to the family. Talk to family members of all ages to get a range of topics.

WELLNESS | Bubble Magic

Imagine the wonderment of medieval people if they had seen soap bubbles being blown and manipulated. Surely, it would have looked like magic to them. Even today, bubbles have a magical fascination for all ages. It can be relaxing to blow bubbles.

What you need: • dish soap • water • sugar • containers • wands (you can use a pipe cleaner or a twisted metal hanger) • straws • paper • food coloring (optional) • disposable bowls or plastic containers

What you do: Mix a half cup of dish detergent with a half cup of water. Mix in two teaspoons of sugar and your bubble solution is ready to use!

You can also do bubble painting. Mix water, detergent and a little food coloring into a plastic container. Using a straw, blow into the mixture until bubbles build up on the surface above the rim of the container. Lay paper on the bubbles and lift carefully. Bubble images will be on the paper.

DESIGN IT | Stained Glass

What you need: • tempera paint • dish detergent • brushes • photos of medieval glass windows

What you do: Use one of the attached samples of stained glass or one of your own. Tape the example to the outside of a window in your home facing inward. Use a washable marker to trace the design; you can also paint it. Mix your paint with a little dish detergent. It will make it easier to remove the paint at a later time. Then paint your stained glass inside the lines.

Stained Glass Circle

Stained Glass Tree

Stained Glass Flower