Download PDF Packet Here
We READ you loud and clear! A reason to cheer!
June 1- June 6
About 70 years ago, a group of men in a British pub were arguing over birds, specifically, which game bird was the fastest. If they had been in the Wild West, the argument would have ended with tables flying and punches being thrown. Luckily, they were in England, refined and titled, so the argument over birds went unbruised and unresolved. But not forgotten.
Sir Hugh Beaver went home and thought about the problem--not about fast game birds but about the weightier matter of how to settle pub arguments.
In 1954, after twin brothers were hired to do the research, the Guinness Book of Records was born. Later changed to Guinness World Records,
this book is full of the amazing and unique--the fastest, longest, highest, and strangest feats the human mind can imagine.
This week, it’s your turn.
Let’s see what you can do. This packet has things you can try. It includes books to read and movies to watch about extraordinary people and about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. You may not set a world record, but you will definitely set a personal best record with all the things you try.
And, just in case you were wondering, the fastest game bird is the golden plover.
What we don’t know is who won the argument.
RESEARCH- Read a few books. Investigate a few ideas.
EXPLORE- Look a little deeper. Explore your possibilities.
ACTIVITIES – Try it. Tweak it. Refine it. Re-do it. Love it. Repeat.
DISCOVERY – What did you learn? Was it easy, hard, or impossible?
Challenges! What do you want to try?
Breaking one Rubik’s cube record and completely inventing another is all in a day’s work for 13-year-old Que Jianyu. On Guinness World Record Day 2018, he set records in some incredible categories, including one he created. The 13-year-old set the record for the fastest time to solve three Rubik’s cubes simultaneously with both hands and feet--a record that, perhaps unsurprisingly, has never been attempted before--of 1 minute, 36.39 seconds.
How skilled are your toes? Can they hold a pencil, a crayon, or a marker? See if your toes can draw a picture or sign your name. What else could those toes of yours do?
Martial arts master Prabhakar Reddy P is pretty good with his hands. While most masters can crack boards and karate chop while screaming, Reddy set his world record by crushing walnuts, 212 of them, in one minute with his hand.
What can you crush? Smash aluminum cans with your hands or feet. Smash ice cubes with a hammer. Stomp on balloons. Tie them to your ankles and try it again. Tie them to everybody’s ankles and see who is the last one with a balloon. Jump on bubble wrap.
Hi-yah!
The longest nose in the world lives on the face of a guy in Rome, Italy. From the bridge to the tip, this mighty proboscis measures 3.46 inches. Who has the longest nose in your family? The longest ears? The biggest big toe? Who’s the tallest? Shortest? Strongest? Can jump the highest? Empty the dishwasher or sort socks the fastest? Set family records.
Find out what is your loudest, longest, silliest everything.
World records to try
-Balance toilet paper rolls (if you can find them) on your forehead.
-Hula some hoops.
-Skip rope.
-Move things with chop sticks.
What can nature do?
Nature is brilliant at world records. Growing things taller, heavier, more dangerous, deeper, pinkest, and hottest are Earth’s specialties. What is growing in your backyard? In your neighborhood? Which tree is tallest, bug is smallest, bird is loudest? Do you a rock that is biggest, a flower that is the prettiest, a shady spot that is coolest? Whose yard has the most bushes, garden gnomes, or bird feeders? Go find out!
Especially for Preschoolers
Number Repeat. Start with two numbers (5,8). Say the numbers, and have your child repeat them back to you. Yay! Now add a number (5,8,3) Have your child repeat them. Keep adding numbers. How high can they go?
Make an obstacle course, inside or out. Use chairs, tables, chalk lines, yard tools. Include opportunities to spin, jump, walk toe-to-toe, crawl, balance, roll, count, hop, sing and dance.
Bubble science. Find different tools to make bubbles with. See which ones work. Try straws, a slotted spoon, a fly swatter, a colander, anything!
Jump rope. Tie one end of a jump rope or rope to a chair leg. Wiggle your end like a snake. Have your child jump over the rope.
Balancing. Stand on one foot and then the other. Balance on a lid, a broom handle, a block of wood, a sponge, your toes, sitting on a ball.
Make something BIG!
Make something little
*Miniature Cheesecakes*
Place 24 cupcake liners in two cupcake pans. Place 1 vanilla wafer in the bottom of each cup.
Mix together until smooth:
16 oz. cream cheese
2 eggs
¾ cup sugar
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
Fill cups 3/4 full with cream cheese mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Chill. Top with pie filling, fresh fruit, lemon curd, chocolate sauce, caramel, or whipped cream.
*The World’s Smallest Banana Splits*
In a small microwave-safe bowl, add: 4 ounces chocolate, chopped into small pieces
Microwave for 30 seconds, stir. Repeat until chocolate is melted and smooth.
Finely chop: 1/3 cup nuts
Slice into 1-2 inch pieces, flat on top and bottom so they will stand up: 3 bananas
Using a fork, spear a banana slice. Dip it into the chocolate, then into chopped nuts. Set on baking sheet covered with wax paper. Dip remaining banana slices. Place in refrigerator to set chocolate.
While chocolate is setting, whip:1/2 cup heavy cream and a pinch sugar
To assemble, place chocolate banana on a plate. Top with your favorite ice cream topping, whipped cream, a maraschino cherry, and sprinkles.
Submit a Picture or a Message
At the end of the week, send us a picture or a message highlighting your favorite activity. One submission per family per week. Submissions are due by 5:00 pm Saturday, June 6. With your submission, your name will be entered in a drawing for a gift card to a local business. One prize will be awarded each week. Winners will be notified on Mondays.
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Books and DVDs
Click here to put books or DVDs on hold
The Biggest Kiss by Joanna Walsh BOA WAL and PIC WAL
Try! Try! Try! by Lindsey Craig BOA CRA
The Biggest Puddle in the World by Mark Lee PIC LEE
Dragon’s Extraordinary Egg by Debi Gliori PIC GLI
Extraordinary Jane by Hannah E. Harrison PIC HAR
A Game Called Try: Stories and Pictures by Tyler Smith PIC SMI
The Giant Ball of String by Arthur Geisert PIC GEJ
I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry PIC SHE
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall PIC COR
Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson PIC PEA
Papa Is a Pirate: The Biggest, the Strongest, and the Bravest by Katharina Grossmann-Hensel PIC GRO
Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson PIC MAT
When My Brother Gets Home by Tom Lichtenheld PIC LIC
Biggest, Strongest, Fastest by Steve Jenkins PIC Animals
Insects: Biggest! Littlest! by Sandra Markle PIC Animals Bugs
The World’s Longest Snake and Other Animal Records by Martha E.H. Ruthstad PIC Animals Rep/Amph
The Kid from Diamond Street: The Extraordinary Story of Baseball Legend Edith Houghton by Audrey Vernick PIC Biography Houghton
One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin by Kathryn Lasky PIC Biography Darwin
The World’s Tallest House of Cards and Other Number Records by Thomas K. Adamson PIC Curiosity
Give It a Try, Zoe! by Sarah Albee PIC Popular Characters—TV
It Takes Three by Linda Hayward E HAY
The Biggest Animal Ever by Allan Fowler E Animals Ocean
World’s Biggest Dinosaurs by Rupert Matthews E Animals Dinos
The Trouble with Fuzzwonker Fizz by Patrick Carman J FIC CARMAN Fizzopolis #1
Pippi’s Extraordinary Ordinary Day by Astrid Lindgren J FIC Lindgren Pippi
The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd J FIC LLO
The Biggest Little Hero by John Sazaklis J FIC SUP
The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest—and Most Surprising Animals on Earth by Steve Jenkins J Animals
Wildlives: 50 Extraordinary Animals That Made History by Ben Lerwill J Animals
World’s Fastest Dinosaurs by Rupert Matthews J Animals Dinos
Extraordinary American Writers by John Tessitore J Biography
Extraordinary People in Jazz by Marvin Martin J Biography
Extraordinary Explorers and Adventurers by Judy Alter J History Exploration
The Fastest Train in the West by Geronimo Stilton J Comics Stilton
Recordmania: Atlas of the Incredible by Emmanuelle Figueras J Curiosity
Record Breakers! by Chris Hawkes, Scarlett O’Hara, Fleur Star, eds. J Curiosity
String Games by Richard Darsie J Games
Competitive Cheerleading by Tracy Maurer J Sports
Guinness World Records 2020 by Guinness World Records Teen Curiosity (books from other years also available)
Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee Self-Help Personal Growth
Blue’s Biggest Stories DVD PIC BLU
Friendship Is the Best Medicine DVD PIC DOC
Richard Scarry’s Best Learning Songs Video Ever DVD PIC RIC
American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars DVD J FIC AME
Lassie DVD J FIC LAS
Redwall DVD J FIC RED
Cool Runnings DVD FIC COO
Eight Below DVD FIC EIG
Everest DVD FIC EVE
Facing the Giants DVD FIC FAC
McFarland, USA DVD FIC MCF
Race DVD FIC RAC
Remember the Titans DVD FIC REM
Unbroken DVD FIC UNB
The Biggest Little Farm DVD Biography Chester
Websites to Visit
Build the Eiffel Tower with newspaper
https://www.kcedventures.com/blog/engineering-project-for-kids-build-the-eiffel-tower
Kids Minute-To-Win-It Games
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xwiTa_xVlM
10 Creative Hula Hoop Games and Activities for Kids
https://theinspiredtreehouse.com/10-creative-hula-hoop-games-and-activities-for-kids/
Hula Hoop Challenges
https://fitkidshealthykids.ca/node/300
Jump to the Challenge: 6 Activities That Will Leave You Leaping https://redtri.com/activities-games-thatll-make-you-jump-for-joy/
Jumping Activities for Babies and Toddlers
https://www.adam-mila.com/milestone/gross-motor/jumping/
BUBBLE GUM BLOWING CONTEST!
https://pagingsupermom.com/how-to-host-a-bubble-gum-contest/
Bubblegum Blowing Contest Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WebIkeCNSk
Challenges for Kids - No Thumbs Challenge!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESEZ-DVaGas
STEM Mini Challenges for Children
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J9m2FVYPdYggest Little Farm DVD Biography Chester