ACTIVITIES FOR THE SUMMER....

Treasure in a Bottle: At the first glance, this homemade toy may look like nothing more than a bottle of rice, but roll it once or twice, and a host of hidden objects will appear before your eyes.

Materials: a clean, clear plastic soda bottle, uncooked rice and trinkets, such as beads, buttons, charms, plastic insects.

Remove the label from the soda bottle. Gather a bunch of trinkets and put them in the bottle. Add the uncooked rice to fill the bottle two thirds of the way, then tightly screw on the cap. Shake well to conceal the objects. Now your child can twist and turn her toy to see how many treasures she can spot inside. (Note: Objects such as coins and pebbles tend to gravitate into the middle, while lightweight plastic beads, buttons and trinkets are easier to spot.)

Drop in the Bucket: Your kids can design their own backyard water sculpture with a delightful burble of its own.

Materials: disposable muffin and bread tins, a nail, a tomato stake, pushpins, a bucket and water.

Carefully punch several holes in the bottoms of each tin with the nail. Attach the tins to the stake with pushpins stuck through the sides. Set the stake in the ground and place a bucket at the base. Fill the top tin with water and listen as the water moves from container to container evoking the sound of rain falling on a tin roof.

Instant Stickers Kids: can never have too many stickers, and here’s a fun way to keep your family well supplied.

Materials: pictures from old magazines, comic books, or gift wrap, flavored gelatin, water, small paintbrush.

Cut a bunch of pictures from old magazines, comic books, or gift wrap. Then dissolve 5 teaspoons of flavored gelatin in 2 teaspoons of boiling water (adults only). With a small paintbrush, coat the backs of the cutouts with a thin layer of gelatin solution. Let dry, and the stickers are ready to lick and stick.