STREAM Activity: Summertime Lantern
Light up the night with a special summer lantern!
Activity best for children ages 2 and up
The heat is here and so is summertime! During the summer, the weather becomes much warmer and makes it the perfect time to do things we couldn’t do as much or as comfortably compared to the winter. In the summer when it’s much warmer, it can be fun to garden, play outside, go to the beach or even go camping. There are plenty of exciting things to do during the daytime, but when nighttime comes and we need to go inside, it doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Today, we are creating a Summertime Lantern to light up our summer nights! Our Summertime Lantern is going to be very special because we get to choose how we’d like to decorate it and how we’d like our summer nights to look like!
![Screen Shot 2023 08 02 At 8.48.58 AM](https://online.sdcdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Screen-Shot-2023-08-02-at-8.48.58-AM.png)
Materials:
Clear glass jar
Scissors
Glue
Small bowl or plate (for glue)
Paint brush
Colored tissue paper
Small light or candle
Guiding Questions:
What are some things that remind you of summer?
What are your favorite summer colors?
Directions
Step 1
Cut colored tissue paper into 1×1 inch square pieces. Cut enough to cover the jar.
![Screen Shot 2023 08 02 At 8.49.52 AM](https://online.sdcdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Screen-Shot-2023-08-02-at-8.49.52-AM-300x285.png)
Step 2
Add glue to a bowl. Use your paintbrush and apply a layer of glue onto the jar.
![Screen Shot 2023 08 02 At 8.50.28 AM](https://online.sdcdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Screen-Shot-2023-08-02-at-8.50.28-AM-252x300.png)
Step 3
Add tissue paper to your jar. You can create a color pattern or even pictures with the different colored tissue paper.
![Screen Shot 2023 08 02 At 8.51.22 AM](https://online.sdcdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Screen-Shot-2023-08-02-at-8.51.22-AM-250x300.png)
Step 4
Give it about 10 minutes to sit and dry, then apply a second coat of glue. Add another layer of your tissue paper.
![Screen Shot 2023 08 02 At 8.52.06 AM](https://online.sdcdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Screen-Shot-2023-08-02-at-8.52.06-AM-249x300.png)
Step 5
Wait 2 hours and your Summertime Lantern will be complete! Ask a grown-up to add a light or candle to see it glow. Then place it in a safe part of your home.
![Screen Shot 2023 08 02 At 8.48.58 AM](https://online.sdcdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Screen-Shot-2023-08-02-at-8.48.58-AM-182x300.png)
Grown Ups-Are you looking for more ways to extend your child’s learning? Check out these extension activities to build upon today’s STREAM activity!
Reading Connections
The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
Real-World Connections
Being able to be creative and create our own unique versions of things we can find around our home is something many engineers and artists do every day. The coolest part is not only that we got to create something but that we can enjoy the process of making it, just like how we got to choose the colors for our summertime lantern!
Share your Summertime Lantern with us on Instagram by tagging @sdcdm320!
Questions about this activity? Email education@sdcdm.org