Create a playground

The i.d.e.a. Museum Gallery Educators create a number of upcycle challenges for kids of all ages in our Junkyard Jungle space. More about the space below. The upcycle challenge aims to get kids of all ages to think out of the box as they create using recycled...

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Skill Builders: Construction Junction

Let's build! As your child becomes more comfortable with block play, add some challenges with interconnecting blocks. They'll learn/develop: Fine motor skills Following directions Cause & effect Elements of design and building Nurturing your child Some tips for...

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Make an origami dog

Let's go into the i.d.e.a. Museum archives and create some origami of dogs! The activity we're sharing comes from our It's a Dog's Life exhibition from Fall/Winter of 2016-17. Instructions and tips for this activity below. Or watch the video: ...

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Create an art gallery at home

Noelle, a gallery educator at the i.d.e.a. Museum, shares a few ways you can create your own unique art gallery at home. This can also turn into its own fun family project. The activity is part of the Mesa Family Take Out Night, supporting our downtown Mesa...

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Buzz Bots

Chelsea - our Museum Education Assistant who oversees a variety of programs - shares a classic i.d.e.a. Museum activity offered during the Father’s Day Tinkershop. This Buzz Bot incorporates creativity, building and simple circuits. Let’s get started! Materials: Small...

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Create musical instruments

Tap into your musical side. All you need are recycled materials from home plus some glue, maybe some rubber bands and imagination. Start your artful projects by collecting materials from around your house to create an instrument. Some object you could use include:...

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MuseumWeek: Textured artwork

UPDATED 4/27/2021 MuseumWeek is coming up June 7-13, and we’re celebrating by looking back at some of our favorite artworks and activities at the museum. We love having changing art exhibits in the Whiteman Family Exhibition Gallery because it gives us an opportunity...

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Artful Play! Try building a House of Cards

We're sharing a popular activity from a past exhibition, Artful Play! Games & Toys. In this exhibition, many types of games and toys were featured among the artworks. Among them: Building a house of cards! Have you ever built a house of cards? Cards aren’t just...

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Bee Cubes by Judy Wood

Add a little positivity at home by creating a “bee cube” with your kids - even your teens will enjoy this. This activity comes from artist/poet Judy Wood, who loves crafting with all kinds of beautiful paper, writing poetry and sharing a positive mindset. This...

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Sketch a Still Life

Among the topics tackled in a recent i.d.e.a. Museum exhibition - Artful Play! Game & Toys - was how toys are designed, which resulted in a sketching activity. Let's try this at home! Getting Started How are toys designed? When toy designers have a toy they’d like...

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