Boy painting

Want to get crafty and keep kids engaged and learning at home? You’ve come to the right place. The Whatcom Museum is committed to serving our community, and we’re excited to offer new online resources for kids and families. Here you’ll find a selection of at-home activities, from science experiments to craft projects, developed by our Family Interactive Gallery (FIG) staff. 

Caregivers can also find links to other learning resources to cultivate curiosity. 

Activities

Check out the activities below and download a printable PDF complete with a materials list and instructions. Check back often as we continue to add activities that are sure to banish boredom. We aim to feature crafts and science projects that can be done with materials found in most homes. Let us know if there’s a specific topic you’d like to see covered by filling out our contact form.

Butterflies made of colored paper coffee filters

Chromatography Butterflies

Create colorful butterflies using markers, coffee filters, and simple science. Check out this video to see the activity in action!

Instructions

Leaves and flowers being pressed into clay

Coffee Clay

This easy-to-make dough is fun for nature prints, sensory play, and DIY fossils.

Instructions

Bubbles coming out of a plastic bottle

Bubble Snakes

Have some fun in the sun with this exciting upcycled bubble-snake maker. Watch our video to see the activity in action.

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Cards with painted leaf prints

Leaf Print Cards

Make these easy leaf print cards to send to someone you love in this time of physical distancing.

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Soap volcano experiment

Foam Volcano

Watch colors erupt using household items in this foamy at-home science experiment! See the activity in action here.

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Decorated driftwood stick

Driftwood Wands

Take a walk along the shores of one of Bellingham’s many water banks to find the perfect stick and create a magic wand.

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A glass jar with colorful paper decoupage

Candle Holders

Decoupage a beautiful candle holder to brighten up your home or gift to a loved one.

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Three paper hats that read Happy New Year 2022

New Year’s Hats

Design a fabulous, creative hat for you and your friends to ring in the New Year.

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Paper robot

Shape Robot

Beep! Boop! Children will use fine motor skills to assemble a robot out of shapes.

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Two paper pinwheels stuck in the ground

Pinwheels for Peace

Imagine… whirled peace! We made these pinwheels to celebrate International Day of Peace, but they are fun for all occasions! 

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Pom Poms made of tissue paper

Pom-Poms

Cheer on your favorite team with your own colorful pom-poms! Watch our how-to video.

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Homemade piggy bank with a heart on it

Piggy Bank

Recycling a container to create a piggy bank makes a lot of “cents!”

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Colorful paint splatter on paper

Bubble Paper

Pop into summer with colorful bubble paper.

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Wands made out of pipe cleaners bent into different shapes

Bubble Wand

Making bubbles is magical when you wave your own special bubble wand!

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Fingerprint Rainbow

Get your hands dirty, and create a rainbow with a personal touch.

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Rainbow Twirler

Time to play with the wind and twirl into spring!

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Cat Tessellation

This is a purr-fect rainy day activity. Watch our how-to video on YouTube.

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Tangram Animals

What do you see? Is it a cat or a fox? Create your own set of tangrams to build animal silhouettes and more!

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Yarn Bowl

Making a yarn bowl is a great sensory project that doubles as dimensional art. 

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Finger Knitting

Learn to knit using only your hands! Watch our fun how-to video here.

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Card with paper heart in the middle

Spinning Heart Card

Take your heart for a spin with this wind up Valentine’s Day card. Watch our fun how-to video here.

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Animals made from paper heart shapes

Heart Animals

Fall in love with this heartwarming animal craft.

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Drum made from paper plates

Rattle Drum

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2021 is the Year of the Ox. Let’s embrace the New Year with a festive beat! Watch our how-to video here.

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Kazoo made from paper roll

Kool Kazoo

Did you know National Kazoo Day is in January? Let’s make some noise!

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Colorful paper snowflakes

Coffee Filter Snowflakes

Want a colorful idea to brighten up a gray winter day? Turn coffee filters into beautiful snowflakes! Check out our handy how-to video here.

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Snowflake made of purple crystals

Crystal Snowflakes

Let’s be crystal clear: This science activity is stellar! Watch our YouTube video to see this activity in action.

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Snowflake art on paper

Magic Salt & Watercolor Snow Art

Add a little mystery to your day with this magical watercolor activity. Watch our YouTube video to see the craft in action.

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Mosaic snowflake art

Mosaic Snowflake

“What time is it? It’s snow time!” Kids can create unique snowflakes in this fun art activity.

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Star garland

Scented Salt Dough Garland

Fill your home with scents of the season with this festive homemade garland. Watch our video tutorial to see the craft in action.

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3D paper stars

3D Star Decoration

Brighten up your holiday with a fun 3D star decoration.

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Autumn tree painting

Autumn Tree Painting

Explore a fun new painting technique with the colors of fall. 

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Leaves organized by color in a circle

Nature’s Color Wheel

Collect the last leaves of the season to create a beautiful color wheel.

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Paper lantern will fall leaves

Paper Lantern

As winter approaches, bring a little light into the darkness. Watch a how-to video on our YouTube channel here. 

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Hedgehog made of dried leaves

Happy Hedgehog

Let’s get to the point. This hedgehog “quill” make your day!

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Color melting off skittles on a plate

Sweet Science

This sweet, colorful science experiment uses only candy and water. 

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Three glasses of water with candy inside

Disappearing Candy  

Instead of throwing away extra Halloween treats, make them disappear!

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Paper bat

Flying Bats

Kids will have a spooky good time as they make paper bats take flight! See the activity in action in this video

Instructions

Paper pumpkins

Pumpkin Symmetry 

Children will learn about symmetry while playing this pumpkin match-up game.

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Painting with blue dots

Bubble Wrap Raindrops

Utilize recycled bubble wrap to explore a paint process that really pops!

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Round balls in white and blue

Cloud Dough

Soothe away the rainy day blues with this super soft two-ingredient cloud dough.

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Treasure map on crumpled paper

Pirate Treasure Map

Ahoy matey! Create a pirate map for your favorite treasure. See the map-making process in action here.

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Paper in an open box

Treasure Hunt

Shiver me timbers! In honor of “Talk Like a Pirate Day” on Sept. 19, let’s be pirates and find ye treasure.

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Paper circles with a penny in the middle

Penny Spinners

Kids will be mesmerized by these fun and easy spinners! Watch our video tutorial here.

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Tic tac toe board made of sticks and rocks

Tic Tac Toe

Get outdoors and gather materials to create your own version of this classic game.

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Paper rocket ship with fire

Paper Tube Rockets

Design a rocket inspired by the historic launch of the Dragon Crew on the SpaceX Falcon 9 and Endeavor capsule!

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Balls of ice cream

Astronaut Ice Cream

Make these delicious crunchy ice cream cookies inspired by the food astronauts eat while in space.

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Homemade lava lamp

Lava Lamp

Engage little learners with this groovy science experiment. Want to see the lava lamp in action? Check out our YouTube video!

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Painting with strings

Pulled String Painting

We pulled some strings to bring you this fun art project!

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Maze craft

Number Maze

Kids can learn numbers and simple addition using this easy cardboard maze.

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Swirl painting

Swirl Painting

Kids can learn about mixing primary colors with this unique painting process.

Instructions 

Mud pie craft

Magic Mud Pies

Explore many textures and sounds as this mud becomes magic in this squishy sensory activity! Check out our YouTube video to see this activity in action. 

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Items arranged by color

Rainbow Knolling

Knolling, the process of organizing things in parallel or 90 degree angles, is a fun and artful way to get creative with everyday objects you have around the house.

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Paper flowers

Blooming Flowers

These blooming paper flowers are the perfect spring activity for all ages! To see this craft in action, check out our YouTube video.

Instructions & flower template

Puff paint craft

Puffy Paint

This simple two-ingredient puffy paint is great for creating sensory art like puffy clouds or indoor snowmen.

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Leaf rubbing art

Leaf Rubbings

Spring is here! Take a walk to gather leaves to create some colorful nature art.

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Painting with toy cars

Wheel Painting

Explore mixing colors and get some gross motor movement with this “wheelie” fun painting style.

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Splatter paint

Splat Monsters

Kids will huff and puff to create these cute little splat monsters.

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Science experiment in a jar

Weather in a Jar

This STEAM rainstorm is a fun way to observe how water travels through clouds.

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Bubbles

Bubble Solution

Need more bubble solution? Make your own with these household products. No wands? There’s a solution for that, too!

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fake snow

April Snow

Snow in April? Anything is possible thanks to some simple ingredients. 

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Salt painting

Watercolor Salt Paintings

Kids can work on their fine motor skills while making this masterpiece out of salt

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Balloon painting

Balloon Paintings

Happen to have extra balloons? Fill them with water for an art project that pops!

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Pig made of soap

Soap Sculptures

This simple, shape-able dough is sure to make hand washing tons of fun!

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Paintbrushes

Nature Paintbrushes

Take a nature walk and gather material to create these fun natural paintbrushes.

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Shape experiment

Exploding Shapes

Banish boredom with this STEAM activity using simple household products. 

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Paper buildings

Building a Community

Kids can practice early engineering skills by designing their own town out of paper!

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Online resources

We’ve compiled a list of online activities and learning opportunities offered by other museums and organizations so you can keep kids entertained at home. Scroll down for creative content for all ages.

Museum Fun

NEW — Winter at Home: A Smithsonian at-home activity guide

Design It Yourself: Mini Exhibit from Smithsonian Learning Lab

National Museum of American History: Fun history activities and resources for school-aged children

Smithsonian Learning Lab: Understanding history, art, culture, and the sciences

Digital field trips & museum resources for families via The New York Times

Boston Children’s Museum: Play and learning resources

Kohl Children’s Museum: Stories, activities, and experiments 

Hands on!: Coronavirus guide for curious, courageous kids

Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian): Air and Space Anywhere

Tate: Tate Kids (games and quizzes, videos, kids’ art, etc.)

American Museum of Natural History: Science website for kids

Glazer Children’s Museum: Online activities

Other Resources

NEW: OT Ideas for Littles: YouTube channel devoted to occupational therapy ideas for babies and toddlers. 

Summer science resources for families 

Smithsonian Science Education Center: Curriculum and resources for distance learning

Audubon Society: Activities and resources for kids

Printable time capsule for kids by Long Creations 

Icons of Washington coloring book from Washington State Historical Society 

Professor Puffin YouTube: Bird-drawing video tutorial

Luci Creative: 5 Fun At-Home Make-a-Museum Activities for Kids