Paper Towel Roll Fishing Game

Fishing Game Supply List: 2 paper towel rolls, paper clips, glue, scissors, small fish, wrapping paper tube fishing pole

Begin by cutting out your fish.  You could use sticker or some from a coloring book.  We used some from a flyer we had.

Cut your paper towel rolls into 1 inch sections and glue your fish to the tubes.

Slip a paper clip over your cardboard tube and grab your pole.  It's time for a little fishing.

Cardboard Tube Didgeridoo

This summer we attended a program put on by Didg Revolution at our local library.  It was great and both kids absolutely loved it.  When we got home later Cole & I decided to try to make our own Didgeridoo.

 Didgeridoo Supply List: 1 wrapping paper tube, stickers & markers, packing tape

Use the stickers and markers to decorate your Didgeridoo.  I tried to encourage him to use the dot stickers to make it look like aboriginal art like they showed us at the program.  Wrap packing tape around the outside end of whichever side will be blown into.  I did this just to prevent it from getting too wet with kid spit.  Below is some video of Cole playing his Didgeridoo.  He was so very proud to show Dad when he got home that evening.

Cardboard Tube Ramp

 Ramp Supply List: 1 wrapping paper tube, duct tape, colored electrical tape, scissors, little cars

 Start by cutting the tube in a straight line all the way down.

 Fold your tube in half and crease it in the middle.  Use the duct tape to tape over the edges of the wrapping paper tube and use the colored electrical tape to make racing stripes down the center of your two racing sides.

Race your cars!  We found that smaller sized cars worked better than some of the larger ones that Cole has.  It was really trial and error to find a few that worked the best.  Here's a little film clip I took so you can see the ramp in action.

Make Your Own Cardboard Tube Rainstick

Rainstick Supply List: 1 wrapping paper tube, foil, 2 small pieces of construction paper, markers, rice, packing tape

Start by decorating the outside of your rainstick.

Tear off a long piece of foil, approximately as long as your cardboard tube. 

Squish the foil so that it can slide into the tube.  You don't want to squeeze it too tight, but it needs to be able to slide all the way into the wrapping paper roll.

Use the construction paper and tape to seal off 1 end of the cardboard tube.  Pour in around 1 cup of rice and then seal off the other end of the tube.

If you slowly tip your rainstick back and forth you'll be able to hear a lovely rain storm.

Carboard Tube Sailboat

Sailboat Supply List: 1 laundry basket, 1 wrapping paper tube, stickers, crayons, clear packing tape, large sheet of paper

Cut your paper into a right triangle and decorate with stickers and crayons.

Tape one side of the paper triangle to the cardboard tube.

Attach the tube to your laundry basket with tape and take your little sister for a ride around the house!

Paper Towel Roll Marble Run

 Marble Run Supply List: 10-12 paper towel rolls, hot glue gun, magnets, scissors, marble

 Cut out the edges on each of the tubes.

 Use the hot glue gun to attach magnets to the side of the tubes.  Please do not allow your children to use a hot glue gun.  I did this part while Cole was napping.

 Line up your tubes on a magnetic surface.  This would be a great activity to do on your fridge.  We just got a new stainless steel fridge and it is not magnetic so we did out marble run on the laundry room door.

Here is a video of our little activity.  It was a HUGE hit!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Cardboard Tube Tree

 Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Tree: 1 toilet paper roll, brown & green construction paper, glue stick, scissors, small construction paper circles

 Cut the brown construction paper and glue it to the toilet paper roll.  A lot of the time I use a hair rubber band to hold the paper in place while the glue dries.

 Write the letters of the alphabet on the small circles.

 Cut palm leaves out of the green construction paper and glue your letters onto them.

 Cut small slits into your toilet paper roll and slide the palm leaves down into the slits.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a great book that introduces children to all the letters of the alphabet as they climb up and fall back down the coconut tree.  We have a copy of the book that Cole uses with our LeapFrog® Tag Reading System.  Here is a little video of him reading with the Tag.