UnpluggedPlay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLULocKubd4&feature=emb_logoHome's Cool! Create your own silly story with crazy characters doing funny things in interesting settings!  It’s all up to you and your imagination!  These stories can be told to a friend or family member or written out with lots of detail.  This also makes a fun family game – telling silly stories to one another!Ages: 4-10Supplies:

• 3 envelopes
• Small slips of paper
• Writing paper
• Pencil

Procedure:

1. Divide your slips of paper into three piles.
2. Label your envelopes, one with “Who?”, the next with “What?”, and the third with “Where?”
3. On each slip of paper in the first pile, write the name of a different character.  You can write your sister’s name, your teacher’s, an alien, a frog. The possibilities are endless!  Place these slips of paper in the “Who?” envelope.
4. On each slip of paper in the next pile, write a different “situation” or “activity”.  Think of things that you’d like to see happen in a story.  For example- climbing a mountain, doing homework, swimming, playing a video game.  Place these slips of paper in the “What?” envelope.
5. Write a different “setting” on each slip of paper in the last pile. Think of fun places for a story to take place.  Great examples are Mars, school, the doctor’s office, or an amusement park.  Place these slips of paper in the “Where?” envelope.
6. Now you’re ready to tell your story! Pull one slip from each envelope to create your silly story. (Parent note: Depending on child’s age- you can tell the story orally, or have them write it down with plenty of details about their character and setting)
7. For even more family fun, have each player draw a picture illustrating a scene from the story and share it with the group!

With first-hand experience teaching Kindergarten and first grade and 13 years of product development know-how, EI Product Manager Stacie Palka is uniquely qualified to develop products that spark curiosity and a-ha moments. When she's not coming up with cool (and smart!) new ways to play, So Cal native and board game buff Stacie is caring for her two kids and adorable doggo, Frankie.

This earth-friendly science activity will give your garden a boost!Ages: 3+Supplies:• Clay (1-2oz per seed ball)• Seeds (wildflower, sunflower, grass)• Soil (1oz per ball)• WaterProcedure:1. Form your clay into a ball, then flatten the ball like a pancake.2. Use your fingers to sprinkle water on the clay until it feels moist on both sides.3. Add soil to both sides of the clay “pancake."4. Add your seeds of choice on top of the soil on one side of the clay.5.  Roll the clay into a ball and place it in the sun to dry.When you are ready to use your seed ball, toss it into the garden where you want your seeds to grow.  It will take a while, but you should see some new sprouts soon!Extra FunWrap a dry seed ball in cellophane and tie a ribbon around it.  Make a tag explaining what kind of seed ball it is and how to use it.  Share with a friend or neighbor! ????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5U2JQWUt7E&feature=emb_logoHome's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Sahad Rivera Sonda, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 3-5Supplies:

• Paper
• Design & Drill® Drill with drill bit
• Markers
• Tape

Procedure:

1. Choose a marker and use your tape to secure it to the drill bit.
2. Attach the drill bit to the drill.
3. Turn the drill on and get ready to draw!
4. We’re drawing a lion, so let’s start with the mane. Set the marker down on the paper and activate the drill, creating a large spiraled circle.
5. Next, switch to a different color. Let’s try green so we can draw some trees.
6. Use your yellow marker to draw the outline of your lion’s head, then color it in.
7. Use a brown marker to draw trunks for the trees.
8. Use a black marker to add the lion’s nose, mouth and whiskers.
9. Add googly eyes to finish!

[caption id="attachment_6589" align="alignnone" width="945"] Design & Drill® Bolt-It Bucket™[/caption]Sahad Rivera Sonda has dreamed of being a toy designer since she was a child in Mexico! Her passion for miniatures and other playful oddities (her collection includes everything from a plush churro to a miniature French fry) eventually led her to Otis College of Art and Design in California, where she obtained a degree in Toy Design. Sahad’s dreams came true when she landed a job with EI, designing the look and feel for many of our toys and games, including Playfoam Pals, Design & Drill and our plush line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=62&v=zgF_x7fY9Gc&feature=emb_logoHome's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Michael Sheridan, one of our Product Managers!When the fire is burning inside the glass, it heats up the air inside the bottle. This heated air wants to spread out and escape out the top of the bottle, but the egg is blocking it from doing that. The cool air outside the bottle is at a higher pressure than the air inside the bottle, so it literally pushes the egg into the bottle.Ages: 8+Grades: 3+Supplies:• Egg• Glass bottle or jar with narrow mouth• Lighter (preferably with a long neck) or matchProcedure:1. Ask your parents to help you hard boil an egg.2. Let the egg cool, then carefully peel its shell off.3. Insert a crumpled piece of paper into the glass bottle.4. Ask your parents to drop a match or use a lighter to help you light the paper on fire.BE SURE TO DO THIS STEP OUTSIDE AND AT A SAFE DISTANCE FROM ANYTHING FLAMMABLE.5. With the fire safely contained in the bottom of the bottle, carefully set the egg on the top of the bottle.6. Watch as the egg is slowly sucked into the bottle!How do you get the egg out? Apply the same physics, just in reverse.1. Turn the bottle over so the egg is in the spout.2. Holding the bottle upside down, blow air (or have an adult do this step) into the bottle.3. The air you blow into the bottle will go around the egg and begin to create higher pressure inside the bottle and push the egg back out. EI Product Manager Michael Sheridan is a jack of all trades! An avid surfer and former international soccer competitor, this outdoor and sporting enthusiast also has a degree in Astrophysics from UCLA and eight years of product development experience in a variety of industries. Prior to helping build EI's science products and brain game lines, Michael developed everything from folding chairs to electric scooters and skateboards!

Over the last 15 years or so, STEM learning has weaved its way into the American curriculum, with STEM activities showing up in classes as early as preschool. But what IS STEM? And why is it so important?STEM is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math – areas that are growing by leaps and bounds as we become more and more reliant on technology. In fact, while there are millions of jobs in STEM fields around the world, employers are struggling to fill them because, until recently, these subjects were not emphasized in schools. Current thought holds that exposure to these subjects and opportunities to explore them through hands-on learning experiences will excite kids and inspire them to continue to study STEM subjects and then go on to pursue STEM-related careers.Teachers across the country have been working hard to infuse their daily lessons with STEM examples, ideas, conversations, activities, and experiments. And you can, too! The STEM experts at EI are sharing easy ways to introduce and reinforce STEM learning right now, at home![caption id="attachment_6537" align="alignnone" width="840"] GeoSafari® Jr. My First Microscope[/caption]S is for ScienceKids are naturally curious about science and there’s not a rug rat around who doesn’t love an awesome science experiment. Introducing your little ones to the amazing world of science is easy, with the GeoSafari® Jr. My First Microscope! Featuring extra-large, dual eyepieces and a chunky, kid-sized focusing knob, this sturdy microscope is perfect for preschoolers. Kids collect everyday objects, place them on the sample tray, turn on the LED light, and take a peek to see their object magnified up to 8x larger. They can examine everything from a postage stamp to a piece of pizza, gaining an understanding of the physical composition of different objects around them and getting invaluable, hands-on experience with a real, scientific tool! On sale NOW for $14.14 on Amazon Prime. Keep the science fun going with the FREE, downloadable science activities and Home’s Cool Videos on our website, like our beginning science activity cards and erupting apples experiment how-to video![caption id="attachment_6538" align="alignnone" width="840"] Artie 3000™ The Coding Robot[/caption]T is for TechnologyCoding is a key STEM skill and kids as young as 7 years old can get in on the fun, thanks to Artie 3000 the Coding Robot, the creative way to learn to code! Using a computer or tablet, and Artie’s on-board WiFi, kids follow easy instructions to create the code, then Artie draws whatever they’ve coded. Artie’s simple set up and pre-programmed designs are perfect for beginners; more advanced coders can create their own, custom code. From basic shapes to advanced drawings, words, even secret code, Artie grows with your child as their skills advance. Check out this amazing list of 45 fun things to do with Artie 3000 and the awesome Artie Home’s Cool Video series for a visual how-to. Available on Amazon Prime for $54.99.[caption id="attachment_6540" align="alignnone" width="840"] Design & Drill® Space Circuits[/caption]E is for EngineeringKids as young as five years old can explore the incredible world of engineering with Design & Drill® Space Circuits sets! Mini-STEMgineers use a kid-friendly drill to complete 20 space-themed missions, including making lights turn on and off, spinning simple motors, activating buttons and switches, and more, all while building basic problem-solving skills and gaining an understanding of simple circuitry. On sale now on Amazon Prime for just $27.70! Looking for even more building and construction fun? Browse our At-Home Activities page and Home’s School Videos for additional activities including drawing with your drill and practicing simple bolt addition.[caption id="attachment_6541" align="alignnone" width="840"] Hot Dots®[/caption]M is for MathMake math practice WAY more fun, with interactive Hot Dots®! The Hot Dots Jr. Let’s Master Pre-K Math set gives kids a jumpstart on math success with 85 pre-K math lessons, 15 advanced lessons, and a talking pen. Preschoolers press Ace-the Talking, Teaching Dog Pen to any answer dot for an immediate audio and visual response. Silly sounds and fun phrases keep kids engaged and motivated as they tackle lessons on counting, numbers, patterns, time, fractions, and more. Available now on Amazon Prime for $30.14. Kids can also practice counting, numbers, patterns, sequences, shapes, colors, and more with the free, downloadable math activities on our website!With a bit of forethought, sneaking some STEM learning into your at-home play time is simple – and fun!