Ideas & Links Lists
Lodi Art Center
Creative Things to Do While Physical Distancing ...

This is a fabulous list of resources and ideas to inspire and keep you and your family active and entertained while social distancing.

Ideas include free online yoga classes, language learning resources, starting a virtual book club, hosting a virtual hangout or wine tasting with friends, making a family scrapbook or newsletter and SO much more.

Browse inspirational ideas and links to free online resources

Creative Things to Do While Physical Distancing | All Ages

Ted Ed | All Ages

Ted Ed | All Ages

Today, over 1.5 billion children are unable to go to school. Coronavirus’ impact goes beyond the health and economic crisis; it is also jeopardizing the education of students around the world.

Teachers are scrambling to offer students lessons online and parents are desperate for activities that will keep their kids engaged and connected to the outside world.

In response to this crisis, an unprecedented coalition of over fifty environmental and education experts are collaborating to launch The Earth School: 30 adventures for learners of all ages to discover, celebrate, and connect to nature. This global team came together under the guidance and support of TED-Ed and UNEP to design lessons for students of all levels and host Earth School at a time when it matters the most.

Learn More about 30 Quests for students around the world to celebrate, explore and connect with nature.

Learn More about hundreds of free educational resources for students, educators and parents/guardians

, ,

Fabric Parachutes | Ages 2-11

, ,
Fabric Parachutes | Ages 2-11

“The Fabric Parachutes made great homemade toys that kept my kids busy all day long! They had a great time practicing their sewing skills and then launching their parachutes from every high surface in the house! Best of all, these were absolutely free since we used leftover material from other projects!

Ages 2-11

See instructions here

, ,

Leprechaun Trap | Ages 3-8

, ,
Leprechaun Trap | Ages 3-8

“St. Patrick's Day is a great time to learn about myths! Ancient Irish folklore tells a story of a mischievous leprechaun, a fairy who hides his pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. If caught by a human, a leprechaun will grant 3 wishes, in exchange for his freedom. Join us in this design challenge to create the ultimate leprechaun trap! May the luck of the Irish be with you!”

Ages 3-8

See instructions here

, ,

Jell-O Building Blocks | Ages 3-8

, ,
Jell-O Building Blocks | Ages 3-8

"Can you really make edible building blocks? Yes! They're pretty, fun, and require no specialized skills (unless you count heating and pouring). They're a great rainy day activity, and they make really fun party favors. The biggest challenge is keeping them uneaten long enough to play with them!”

Ages 3-8

See instructions here

,

Origami Fidget Spinner | Ages 5-16

,
Origami Fidget Spinner | Ages 5-16

“These twirling toys are all the rage, so we decided to put our own little spin on them. Using just two sheets of colorful origami paper, glue, a paper clip, and four coins, learn how to create your own personal spinner to both amuse and amaze.”

Ages 5-16

See instructions here

, ,

Bunny Automaton | Ages 9-16

, ,
Bunny Automaton | Ages 9-16

“Have a hoppy time with this do-it-yourself bunny automaton. With help from our templates and a bit of tinkering, you'll be able to create a bunny that hops along with a single push.”

Ages 9-16

See instructions here

Solar Oven | Ages 5-16

Solar Oven | Ages 5-16

“Have you ever tried to harness the power of the sun to create some s'mores? Camping is the perfect time to do it. During the day, I set up my DIY solar oven and stacked up my ingredients inside. Then, I just let it sit while I went for a quick hike around the campsite. When I returned, I had a delicious, melted snack that was ready to eat thanks to my solar oven!”

Ages 5-16

See instructions here

,

Paper Circuit Menorah | Ages 6-16

,
Paper Circuit Menorah | Ages 6-16

“My kids recently experimented with the paper circuits project from Tinker Crate. So we decided to put our newfound knowledge to the test by creating a menorah using copper tape and LEDs. This can be an interesting challenge for kids to tackle. We definitely found ourselves designing one thing, trying it, and then optimizing with another design. It was tinkering at its best, which was really neat to see and very fun to watch!”

Ages 6-16

See instructions here

,

DIY Phone Speaker | Ages 5-16

,
DIY Phone Speaker | Ages 5-16

“Make a rockin' customizable speaker for you and your friends to enjoy with just a few household items! Understand how sound vibrations can travel through different mediums and how the shape of the mediums can cause the sounds to be amplified!”

Ages 5-16

See instructions here

,

Archery | Ages 3-11

,
Archery | Ages 3-11

“I was so inspired by this Tiny Bow & Arrow set that I saw on the Brooding Hen... My six-year-old is fascinated with bows and arrows, so this craft stick/Q-Tip combo seemed liked the perfect starter set for my little knight.”

Ages 3-11

See instructions here

Tick-Tock Timer | Ages 5-16

Tick-Tock Timer | Ages 5-16

“When you twist up this timer and let it go, the rubber band starts to unwind and swing a bead. But wait — the bead suddenly wraps around a pole, and the machine stops in its tracks! And then just as suddenly, the bead unwraps, and the machine starts moving again. The way it starts and stops is really similar to how clocks and watches tick and tock to keep time. Give this timer a spin below!”

Ages 5-16

See instructions here

, ,

Confetti Poppers | Ages 5-16

, ,
Confetti Poppers | Ages 5-16

“For our New Year's Eve get-together, we created little confetti treat pop party favors to pass out. They were super simple to make and even simpler to pop! They're perfect for any celebration. We plan on making another set for an upcoming birthday party too.”

Ages 5-16

See instructions here

, ,

Light-Up Valentine | Ages 9-16

, ,
Light-Up Valentine | Ages 9-16

“This card is sure to be the highLIGHT of your Valentine's day! Conductive paint makes this an easy, but impressive, circuitry project.”

Ages 9-16

See instructions here

OPEN FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY FROM 11:00 AM-4:00 PM