Posts Tagged ‘spy’
Spies Like Us: The Art of Disguise
Friday, May 6th, 2011
It’s time for another installment in our spy series: Disguises!
A good spy is a master of disguise. Today’s disguise training comes from my friend Cindy. Cindy is an artist whose creativity never ceases to amaze and inspire. She created this activity for a spy themed room at a school literature night. The kids loved it! It’s silly, cute and fun. What’s not to love?
Note: Cindy was kind enough to provide this pdf of mustaches she drew to help get us started. Thanks Cindy!
Tags: spy
Posted in Arts & Crafts, Games & Creative Play | 4 Comments »
Spies Like Us: Secret Codes pt 3
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
It’s time for another installment in our spy series: Invisible Ink!
As you know from parts one and two, a good spy needs multiple ways to deliver secret messages. You need something up your sleeve should a code get broken.
Today’s method of secret message delivery uses science. Our friend Mithi taught us that certain fruits and veggies contain anthocyanins and that anthocyanins change color when they mix with an acid or base.
For this spy activity, we’re going to use what Mithi taught us and create a chemical reaction between an acid (grape juice/activating agent) and a base (baking soda solution). When acids and bases touch, they create a chemical reaction. This chemical reaction will reveal our hidden message.
Experiment time: See if you can use other acids and bases—ooh! try lemon juice and milk—that will create the same effect.
Tags: afterschool fun, childhood, friends, parties, Playdate, science, spy
Posted in Games & Creative Play, Science Fun | No Comments »
Spies Like Us: Spy Games pt 1
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
A good spy needs to be quick and agile in the field. Test out your spy skills as you maneuver across a room through a web of laser beams. Touch a beam and you’ll have to start over.
Parents, we had as much fun with this as the kids did. This would make a fun weekend or after school activity, or spy themed party game.
Oh and here’s the learning that’s happening while they’re playing (if you wonder about that sort of thing): This activity is a body-kinesthetic awareness exercise as well as a problem solving/planning one. Let’s also add role-playing and team building to that list. So for a game that’s plain ol’ fun, it’s deceptively educational. Sneaky, huh? Just like a spy.
Tags: afterschool fun, parties, Playdate, spy
Posted in Games & Creative Play, Parties & Celebrations | 4 Comments »
Spies Like Us: Secret Codes pt 2
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
Last week we brought you a way to write secret messages using a mirror.
But any good spy knows he or she needs more than one way to deliver secret messages in the event a code is cracked. So today, we’re bringing you another lesson in cryptology. Introducing cylinder writing or better yet, and more super-secret-agent-spy-like sounding, make your own scytale. Oooh! Aaah!
Tags: afterschool fun, friends, spy
Posted in Games & Creative Play | 5 Comments »
