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Learning Activities for Kids

Valentine Nonstandard Measurement Activity

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A couple of weeks ago, I walked into a craft store. I walked out with a couple of different sizes of heart doilies (and – ahem- several other things).

I had an idea for a Valentine’s reading game, but that was it. What else could I use them for?

Measuring, of course!

Grab those heart doilies and find a few things to measure. We’re going to have fun with a Valentine Nonstandard Measurement activity.

Use heart doilies for a fun hands-on way to practice measuring with this fun Valentine Nonstandard Measurement activity for kids.

What is measuring with nonstandard units?

Most of the measuring we do is with standard units, such as inches, feet, and centimeters. But, before we start using these standard units, the concept of measurement is introduced with nonstandard units. This is anything that is used to show a comparison in size. In this Valentine nonstandard measurement activity, we’re going to use small heart doilies.

Use heart doilies for a fun hands-on way to practice measuring with this fun Valentine Nonstandard Measurement activity for kids.

Valentine Nonstandard Measurement

This activity is so simple and requires no set-up. All you need is a package of small heart doilies. The doilies stick together, so make sure to pull them all apart before beginning.

You can set up the learning by asking a simple question: How can we measure using these hearts?

Encourage your kids to line the hearts up to see how long different things are.

You can measure anything that is larger than the heart doily.

Measure body parts, like feet, arm length, or even full body length.

Or you can measure furniture.

Measure the length of a room.

Or measure your toys.

Use heart doilies for a fun hands-on way to practice measuring with this fun Valentine Nonstandard Measurement activity for kids.

Extend the fun

Add more depth to this activity by recording your measurements.

Write down the object and how long it was.

When you’re done, look at your data. Which item was biggest? Which was smallest? Order everything from smallest to largest.

Talk through your data and make observations.

Measure something smaller than our heart. 

For example, take a paperclip. How many paperclips do you need to be the same length as the heart?

Find some other smaller objects you can use to measure your heart doily.

Use heart doilies for a fun hands-on way to practice measuring with this fun Valentine Nonstandard Measurement activity for kids.

Translate your nonstandard units into standard units. 

This is a great way to extend the fun for kids who have moved beyond simply measuring with nonstandard units.

First, measure one heart and record the measurement.

Next, take your measurement recordings. If my book is four hearts long, how many inches is it?

It’s time to use your addition skills, or multiplication skills, to find out.

Our hearts were 3.25 inches. Get out your calculator if you need to, or round down to 3 inches to make the calculations easier.

Use heart doilies for a fun hands-on way to practice measuring with this fun Valentine Nonstandard Measurement activity for kids.

Measuring with nonstandard units is always a fun activity and it was a great way to use those extra heart doilies.

Use heart doilies for a fun hands-on way to practice measuring with this fun Valentine Nonstandard Measurement activity for kids.

You may also like one of these math activities:

Fun Valentine Math Activities for Kids

Backyard Measurement Scavenger Hunt

Fun Nonstandard Measurement Games

Ruler Game – Measuring in Farm Units at JDaniel4’s Mom

Our favorite math resources:

We love using games to practice our math. It definitely makes learning fun. Here are some great ones you’ll love playing.

Do you want to do more activities with your family?

Join our fun Facebook community, Creative Family Fun for Busy Families, for daily activities that are great for kids and families. We’ll chat, share, and have fun. It’s a safe and private place to share ideas for family and kids activities.

I’d love for you to join me! Just click the link below, request to join, and answer the questions (they’re easy, I promise). Come join the fun! Join the Creative Family Fun for Busy Families community here.

How Do I Choose a Science Fair Project?

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What is your first thought when you get that science fair notice?

Does your heart stop and your stomach sink?

Or, do you get a burst of excitement?

I’ll admit, many times I get that stomach sinking feeling.

But, not matter if your dreading it or are excited, you’ve got to get started.

And that first step is to make a decision. How do I choose a science fair project?

Are you asking yourself, "how do I choose a science fair project"? Here are some great tips and steps to help you choose the perfect project.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed. There are so many ideas from books full of science experiments to thousands of ideas on Pinterest.

Where do I start?

Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations. You can read our full disclosure policy on our Disclosure Page for more details.

How do I choose a science fair project?

To help you choose the perfect science fair project, ask yourself these questions.

Is is age appropriate?

The first thing you need to consider is the age of your child. There’s nothing worse than picking out a project that is too hard and complicated.

You don’t need a complicated project. You’re most likely not going to make a new discovery, invent something, or solve a previously unsolved scientific question in elementary school.

That’s not the point. The point is for your child to ask a question, do an experiment, and make a conclusion. They’re going to learn a lot if you keep it simple.

Look at age recommendations in books and on blog posts to find out if this is a good fit for your child’s age.

Is it do-able?

You also want to make sure the project is do-able. Do you have the space, time, and money to do your project?

Find something that works for your family and your resources. You don’t want to choose a project that takes weeks if you have little free time. There are plenty of great science fair projects that can be done in a short amount of time.

If you only have a small space, make sure the project is something that you can do in the space you have.

Don’t set yourself up for failure. Evaluate your project to make sure it’s do-able.

Are you asking yourself, "how do I choose a science fair project"? Here are some great tips and steps to help you choose the perfect project.

Is it easy to illustrate?

Remember, when you do a science fair project, you will need to create a display.

Make sure your project is easy to illustrate with photos and illustrations.

You’ll also need to display your question, your steps, and your conclusion.

Will you have enough illustrations to make an awesome display?

Does this science fair project fit your child’s interests?

You want your child to be excited about this project, right?

So, follow your child’s interests when you choose. You want something that they’re curious about or something related to one of their passions.

You can choose a music project if your child loves music.

Or try a sports project if they are passionate about sports. For example your hockey fan would love this Hockey Science experiment.

One year, my daughter did a project all about ice cream! Follow any interest, big or small, that your child is excited about.

If your child is unsure about what they want to do, have them fill in the blanks with these questions.

I wonder if…

What happens if…

Their answer will most likely make a wonderful project.

Does it fit the guidelines?

Before you completely nail down your idea, read through the science fair guidelines that were sent home.

Does your project fit in the guidelines?

Can you follow all the rules with your idea?

Each science fair will have different guidelines. It’s very important to make sure your idea will work.

Are you asking yourself, "how do I choose a science fair project"? Here are some great tips and steps to help you choose the perfect project.

Are you ready to choose?

I hope I’ve answered the question, “how do I choose a science fair project”.

Remember, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Just ask yourself:

Is it age appropriate?

Is it do-able?

Can you easily illustrate it?

Does it fit your child’s interests?

Does it fit the guidelines?

If you answered yes to all these questions, it’s time to fill out that form and get started with your science fair experiment!

You can find some fun science fair activities here:

Chemical Reaction Science Experiments for Kids

Winter STEM Activities for Kids

Fun Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids

Fairy Tale Science Experiments at Science Sparks

Great science resources:

If you’d like to consult a book for a fun science fair idea, here are some of my favorites:

A great way to enjoy STEM with your family

Wouldn’t it be so much fun to get STEAM family activities delivered to your inbox? I think so! That’s why I’ve created this fun series, STEAM Family Fun, to be delivered to your inbox. After going through all the letters in STEAM each week with a fun activity devoted to each, you’ll start receiving a fun STEAM activity once a month. (And I’ll also pop up in your inbox occasionally if I’ve got other fun things to share.)

Fill out the form below to start receiving STEAM Family Fun in your inbox.



25+ Things to Count to 100

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When I was in elementary school, the 100th day passed with absolutely no fanfare.

That’s not the case these days.

Some schools go all out with parties and t-shirt decorating. We’ve never had to decorate t-shirts. Thank goodness.

But, we have received the “Please bring in 100 of one item for our 100th Day Celebration.” Eep. Help.

After I wiped the sweat off my brow and thought just a little bit, I had a ton of ideas. My daughter brought along a bag of cotton balls and I didn’t even have to go to the store. Easy-peasy.

To save you from panicking if you receive the same note, here are over 25 things to count to 100.

Here are over 25 everyday things to count to 100. They're all small, easy-to-find, and perfect to bring for the 100th day of school.

Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations. You can read our full disclosure policy on our Disclosure Page for more details.

Most of the items you’ll find on this list are everyday items. I’m sure there’s at least one or two things you already have at home.

If you do need to go out and purchase something, many of these items come in large packs so you won’t need to spend more than a few dollars.

Here are over 25 everyday things to count to 100. They're all small, easy-to-find, and perfect to bring for the 100th day of school.

25 Things to Count to 100

1.  Puzzle pieces. Just grab a 100-piece puzzle. No counting needed!

2. Pony beads or any other larger bead

3. Cotton balls

4. Googly eyes

5. Pencils

6. Toothpicks

7. Crayons

Here are over 25 everyday things to count to 100. They're all small, easy-to-find, and perfect to bring for the 100th day of school.

8. Paper Clips

9. Cotton swabs

10. Pennies

11. Buttons

12. Stickers

13. Clothespins

14. Small bathroom cups

15. Rocks

16. Bottle Caps

Here are over 25 everyday things to count to 100. They're all small, easy-to-find, and perfect to bring for the 100th day of school.

17. Craft sticks

18. Glass florist gems

19. Mini erasers

20. Pom  poms

21. Squares of paper. Just take a couple of pieces of construction paper and cut it into 100 squares.

22. LEGO bricks

23. Drinking straws

24. Pipe cleaners

25. Cap erasers

Here are over 25 everyday things to count to 100. They're all small, easy-to-find, and perfect to bring for the 100th day of school.

Food Items to Count to 100

Note: It’s likely that food items aren’t allowed at school. But, if you want to practice at home, these are good choices.

26. O-shaped cereal. But, don’t get the flavored kind because they can get sticky!

27. Popcorn kernels

28. Dried beans

29. Mini marshmallows

If your child brings home a note asking them to bring in small things to count to 100, don’t panic. You’ve got this. Easy-peasy.

Here are over 25 everyday things to count to 100. They're all small, easy-to-find, and perfect to bring for the 100th day of school.

You may also like one of these math activities:

Paper Plate Addition

Kindergarten Math: Counting to 100 by Ones and Tens

Fine Motor Skip Counting Activity

Driveway Hundred Chart

Sticky Hundreds Chart at Coffee Cups and Crayons

My must have counting resources:

If you don’t already have some of these items at home, you can easily find them at Amazon. Here are some options for the next time you’re asked to bring 100 things to count to school:

Do you want to do more activities with your kids?

Join our fun Facebook community, Creative Family Fun for Busy Families, for daily activities that are great for kids and families. We’ll chat, share, and have fun. It’s a safe and private place to share ideas for family and kids activities.

I’d love for you to join me! Just click the link below, request to join, and answer the questions (they’re easy, I promise). Come join the fun! Join the Creative Family Fun for Busy Families community here.


LEGO STEM Challenges for Kids

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No matter how old your kids are, they are probably playing with LEGOs. Mine still are at 9 and 11!

After the Christmas season, we found ourselves with more LEGOs than I thought was possible to have in one house at a time! Instead of just using these LEGOs for playtime, we found a way to incorporate learning with them!

These LEGO STEM challenges are perfect for stretching your brain and making learning fun.

Have fun building with these LEGO STEM Challenges for Kids. These fun engineering activities are fun anytime you're looking for a STEM activity.

Here are 20 LEGO STEM challenges for kids. These can be done in the classroom, as a homeschool activity or just a way to keep your kids learning outside of school.

Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations. You can read our full disclosure policy on our Disclosure Page for more details.

FUN LEGO STEM Challenges

Have fun building with these LEGO STEM Challenges for Kids. These fun engineering activities are fun anytime you're looking for a STEM activity.

Use you imagination and your LEGOs to complete these fun printable LEGO STEM Challenge Cards from Live Over C’s.

Practice your math skills with this LEGO Challenge Math Activity from Buggy & Buddy.

Use your Duplos to help you solve these LEGO Duplo Challenge Cards from Thrifty Homeschoolers.

Your mini figs can help you solve this Red Cup STEM Challenge from Kids Activities Blog.

Can you solve these mystery challenges in Paper Bag STEM Challenge from

Try your hand at building bridges with this fun Bridge STEM Building Activity from Mama Smiles.

Explore weight and measurement with this fun Fidget Spinner Math Challenge from The Educators’ Spin On It.

Do a challenge every day with this fun LEGO Challenge Calendar from Little Bins for Little Hands.

Try some engineering with this fun LEGO Engineering Preschool Challenge from Preschool Powol Packets.

How many pennies can your boat carry? Find out with this fun LEGO Boat challenge from Lemon Lime Adventures.

More awesome LEGO STEAM challenges

Have fun building with these LEGO STEM Challenges for Kids. These fun engineering activities are fun anytime you're looking for a STEM activity.

Try a STEM challenge inspired by books with this fun Storytime LEGO Challenge from Left Brain Craft Brain.

Use LEGOs to practice your money skills with this Coin and LEGO Challenge from You’ve Got This Math.

Or use your LEGOs to practice coding with this LEGO Computer Coding STEM Activity from Little Bins for Little Hands.

Build the The Little Pigs’ houses with this fairy tale inspired LEGO Engineering House Challenge from JDaniel4’s Mom.

Build Santa’s sleigh with this Christmas challenge, LEGO Santa Sleigh, from Left Brain Craft Brain.

Create only with your flat LEGOs with this fun Flat LEGO Challenge from Picklebums.

Make a pulley out of your LEGOs with this LEGO STEM Pulley Activity from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls.

Do a fun challenge inspired by The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind with this Wind-Powered STEM Challenge from STEAM Powered Family

Build a LEGO Rainbow with this fun challenge from Schooling a Monkey.

Finally, build a zip line with this LEGO Zip Line Activity from Little Bins for Little Hands.

Which of these fun LEGO STEM challenges are you going to do with your kids?

Have fun building with these LEGO STEM Challenges for Kids. These fun engineering activities are fun anytime you're looking for a STEM activity.

You may also like one of these STEM activities:

Hot Chocolate Science

Color Mixing Tops STEM Activity

Winter STEM Activities for Kids

Sink or Float Experiment

Our favorite STEM resource

I don’t know about you, but I don’t always have time to prep a fun science project. That’s why I love Green Kid Crafts Discovery boxes. The boxes are packed full of projects that are fun and inviting. You can choose to get a subscription or a one-off box based off of a specific theme. Any one you choose would be a lot of fun!

Here are some of our favorites (you can purchase and find out more at each link):

Get a monthly subscription.

Kitchen Science Box

Physics Box

Find all their fun STEM and science boxes here.

STEAM Family Fun

Wouldn’t it be so much fun to get STEAM family activities delivered to your inbox? I think so! That’s why I’ve created this fun series, STEAM Family Fun, to be delivered to your inbox. After going through all the letters in STEAM each week with a fun activity devoted to each, you’ll start receiving a fun STEAM activity once a month. (And I’ll also pop up in your inbox occasionally if I’ve got other fun things to share.)

Fill out the form below to start receiving STEAM Family Fun in your inbox.



Candy Heart Addition Math Activity

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Do you like candy hearts?

Some people love them. Some people love to hate them. Me, personally, I love them!

Even if you hate them, they’re a fun way to add a little Valentine’s twist to learning.

Grab a box of candy hearts and get ready to practice addition with this fun Valentine’s Day math activity, Candy Heart Addition.

Use a fun candy treat to practice math with Candy Heart Addition Valentine's Day Math Activity. It's fun way to practice adding!

Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations. You can read our full disclosure policy on our Disclosure Page for more details.

The concept for this activity is really simple. We’re going to use candy hearts as a math manipulative to work on our addition skills.

How to set up:

You’ll need three heart doilies, some candy hearts, and a set of math problems.

Pull your addition problems from the group of math facts your child is currently working on. Or, write down some problems from a homework sheet. This is a great way to use a set of flashcards sent home from school.

Write your math problems on a few index cards if you don’t have flashcards.

Once you have your math problems ready, lay out the three doilies and a pile of candy hearts. That’s it. This activity is ready to go.

How to play Candy Heart Addition:

Grab an addition problem. Use candy hearts to put the correct amount on two of the doilies.

In the example above, we need to solve 4+1. We put four candy hearts on one doily and one candy heart on another doily.

Add the two numbers together and put the correct amount of candy hearts on the third doily.

Word through your pile of math problems using your candy heart manipulatives to solve each one.

Extend the fun:

You can use this activity to practice subtraction too. It’s not just an addition activity. Use this activity to supplement whatever your child needs to work on.

Make the activity a little harder. Eliminate the third doily and do the math without the manipulatives.

Use a fun candy treat to practice math with Candy Heart Addition Valentine's Day Math Activity. It's fun way to practice adding!

This activity is a nice way to introduce the concept of addition. Demonstrate how you can count the candy hearts on the first two doilies to find the answer to the equation.

Grab your candy hearts for this fun Valentine’s Day math activity. Candy Heart Addition is a lot of fun – and you don’t have to eat them if you don’t want to!

Use a fun candy treat to practice math with Candy Heart Addition Valentine's Day Math Activity. It's fun way to practice adding!

You may also like one of these fun Valentine activities:

Measuring with Hearts

Valentine Word Families

Fun Valentine’s Day Math Activities

Comparing Number Valentine’s Day Math Activity at Planning Playtime

Math resources you’ll love

We love using games to practice our math. Here are some great ones you’ll love playing.

Do you want to do more activities with your kids?

Join our fun Facebook community, Creative Family Fun for Busy Families, for daily activities that are great for kids and families. We’ll chat, share, and have fun. It’s a safe and private place to share ideas for family and kids activities.

I’d love for you to join me! Just click the link below, request to join, and answer the questions (they’re easy, I promise). Come join the fun! Join the Creative Family Fun for Busy Families community here.