Colorado is burning. So is Utah and parts of Arizona. Some of the nation’s most destructive wildfires are putting a damper on Fourth of July festivities from coast-to-coast. Due to extremely hot and dry conditions, and the fear that other areas may go up in flames like Colorado and Utah, officials have banned the use of fireworks during Independence Day celebrations in nearly every state.
If you live in an area where kids are not even allowed to light-up sparklers to commemorate the United States’ birthday, then infuse your Fourth of July parties with these fun activities that don’t include a single flame:
FIREWORKS SHIRT
Materials:
Plain white t-shirt
Sheets of newspaper
Glitter fabric paint
Pipe cleaners
Paper plates
Directions:
Insert a few sheets of newspaper inside the shirt.
Place shirt on a flat, solid surface.
Pour the glitter fabric paint onto paper plates.
Bend the ends of a pipe cleaner, and then twist to connect them to create a spoke or firework “stamp.” You can use a scissors to trim the pipe cleaners so you have different size “stamps.”
Dip the “stamps” into the glitter paint, and then press them on the shirts to create firework patterns. You can overlap colors and stamps, but do so only after the first rounds have dried.
Once you are done stamping, allow the shirts to dry completely before wearing.
SUNSHINE S’MORES
Materials:
Shoe box with lid
Heavy-duty aluminum foil
Plastic oven bag
Black paint
Duct tape
Marshmallows
Chocolate bars
Graham Crackers
Directions:
Paint the inside of the shoe box with the black paint. Make sure not to miss any spots. Allow paint to dry thoroughly.
Cut a rectangle out of the top of the shoe box lid. Then, cut the oven bag to fit in the underside of the shoe box lid. Glue the bag into place. The shoe box lid should look like it has a window.
Build a s’more and wrap it in aluminum foil.
Place the wrapped s’more in the shoe box.
Put the lid on the shoe box.
Place the box in direct sunlight for about an hour.
Carefully remove s’more and enjoy your new solar oven.
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