Straws - OTPlan

The Spiky Paper Roll Tower

Steps:

Use your markers to draw several colorful dots on an empty paper roll.
Help your child use the hole puncher to click a hole through every dot.
Use masking tape to stick the bottom of the paper roll to a flat cardboard base.
Ask your child to hold the base steady with their helper hand.
Use the other hand to slide a straw through one hole and out a hole on the other side.
Continue until the paper roll looks like a spiky tower full of straws.
Use a pincer grasp to carefully place one bead on the end of every straw!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small beads and cut straw pieces are choking hazards. Keep all materials away from the mouth.

The Ziplock Air Launcher

Steps:

Cut a small rectangle of construction paper and wrap it around a straw.
Use a tiny piece of masking tape to secure the paper into a tube.
Tape one end of the tube shut to create the rocket nose.
Slide the straw into the corner of a Ziplock bag.
Seal the bag and use tape to make the opening airtight.
Place the paper rocket over the end of the straw.
Use both hands to give the bag a fast squeeze to launch the rocket!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Ensure the paper rocket is not aimed at faces or people.

The Straw Rocket Blast

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut a small rectangle of paper, about three inches wide.
Wrap the paper tightly around a pencil to form a neat tube.
Use a small piece of masking tape to secure the paper tube so it does not unroll.
Pinch one open end of the paper tube and fold it down tightly.
Use another piece of tape to seal this folded end completely to make the rocket nose.
Slide the open end of your paper rocket over the end of a straw.
Take a deep breath and blow hard through the straw to launch your rocket!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely while they use scissors. Ensure they do not run while holding the straws or pencils.

The Rainbow Tissue Windmill

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut two straws into four-inch lengths.
Lay the straws across each other to form a perfect X shape.
Place a small piece of masking tape in the center to hold them.
Cut four small squares of colorful tissue paper using your scissors.
Tape one tissue square to the very end of each straw arm.
Use the pencil tip to poke a hole through the center tape.
Push a pipe cleaner through the hole you made.
Slide one bead onto the pipe cleaner on each side of the straws.
Wrap one end of the pipe cleaner around a pencil to make a handle.
Twist the other end into a small loop to keep everything in place.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is recommended when using scissors and the pencil to poke holes. Ensure the beads are handled carefully.

The Wobbly Straw Slalom

Steps:

Roll several small balls of playdough and press them onto a table to make steady bases.
Cut your straws into pieces about four inches long.
Stick one straw piece vertically into each playdough base to create slalom poles.
Line up your poles in a straight or zigzag row.
Tie a single large bead to the end of a long piece of string to act as your weight.
Hold the string with both hands and weave the bead around each straw pole from start to finish.
Challenge your child to go faster or weave the string in a specific pattern you call out!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Beads and playdough are choking hazards, so keep them away from younger siblings.