Learn a new skill for life today…

We are building a library of some fun and inspiring life skills that you can try alone or with the family.

Click to download the “How to Make your own Life-Skill Film”

Science

How to Wire a 13 AMP Plug (UK)

What materials conduct heat experiment

Do you know how to keep ice for longer? Today we are exploring what materials delay melting of the ice better. The fact that clothes keep us warm confuses some children in thinking that the more materials we wrap around an ice cube, the hotter it is going to get inside. So make sure you ask children what they think is going to happen with the ice before going to the second part of the experiment. 

We used: 

  • six ice cubes 
  • a glass container with lid 
  • a cup – one piece of each material: fabric, paper, foil, plastic
  • a few rubber bands 

We placed one ice cube in a cup. It should show us how fast ice melts naturally without any protection. So we could compare all other ice cubes to this one and see how good the material protects the ice. Then we used different materials to wrap all other ice cubes using rubber bands to hold the protective layer in place. We waited for 1 hour before continuing our experiment. 

So when we unwrapped all ice cubes, we noticed that the fabric had done an excellent job. 

We learned how different materials conduct heat. Metal (aluminium foil) is a good conductor of heat; that is why this material is used in making pans and pots. Metal quickly moves the heat from the hob to our food. Fabric isn’t a good conductor of heat. That’s why it’s used to make blankets that keep us warm at night.

Movement

How to Tie a Figure 8 Knot for Climbing or Sailing

A very simple Fitness/Activity Circuit

Here’s a really simple idea to keep your children active at home. Let them design the course and be involved in the process. It can be done as easily indoors or outdoors.

Each circuit will take about 5 minutes. Between 3-5 times through seems a good amount of time to make it worth it.

  • 5 x Tuck Jumps
  • 5 x Stair Jumps
  • 10 x Tricep Dips
  • 10 x Side Bunny Hops
  • 5 x Bench Bunny Hops
  • 10 x Squats
  • 25m Hill Sprint x 3
  • 10 x Squat Jumps
  • 25m Jog Down x 3
  • 10 x Star Jumps

Body Part Dance Game

What you will need: Big clear space Big dancer (Grown up) to supervise Your favourite music!

Dancing with dice game

The is a how-to guide on how to play some Dancing with Dice Games. There a really great way to keep active but keeping it fun. What you need: Big clear space Big dancer (grown up) to supervise One dice/ two dice OR make your own number cards Sheet of paper and pen/pencil Your favourite music 1st Game is similar to musical statues but one person rolls a dice or chooses a numbered card and that is how many body parts are allowed to touch the floor – can take turns with who rolls the dice. Be creative with your poses for example: 1: one foot – can you do something interesting with the rest of your body? 2: two feet/one hand and same foot/one hand opposite foot 3: two feet and one hand/two hands and one foot/knee, a foot and a hand When the numbers get bigger you can think of fingers and toes as separate. 2nd Game Pick a move for each number i.e 1: balance 2: wave 3: jump 4: turn 5: punch 6: hop Roll the dice and whatever number it lands on that is the move you have to do – be creative and think about all the different ways you can do each move 3rd Game Use the dice to put the moves into a sequence/routine. Roll the dice and this is your starting move, then continue to roll the dice to build up a routine. It can be as long or as short as you like. You can repeat moves or choose to roll the dice again to get a different number (move). You can decide how many or how long you do each move for, for example 8 beats. Balance and hold for 8 beats Jump (in various ways) 8 beats

Cooking

Cake in a bowl

This is such an easy recipe and tastes delicious! All you need is a bowl and a microwave. Enjoy! 

Ingredients: 

  • 4 tablespoons self-raising flour 
  • 3 tablespoons sugar 
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa power 
  • 1 egg 
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 
  • 3 tablespoons milk 
  • choc chips 

Make Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dottie shows us how to make her famous but simple chocolate chip cookies. All you will need is: 

Ingredients: 

  • 2 Cups flour 
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda 
  • 1/2 tsp salt 
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar 
  • 1/2 cup White sugar 
  • 3/4 cup softened butter 
  • 1 egg 
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract 
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Method: 

  1. Heat oven to 350F. 
  2. Put parchment on baking tray 
  3. Mix flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl 
  4. In large bowl combine brown and white sugar, Add butter and beat until soft and smooth 
  5. Stir in egg and vanilla extract and slowly stir in flour 
  6. Place 12 tablespoons of dough on baking tray spaced about 1/2 inch apart. 
  7. Flatten each ball with the back of a fork 
  8. Put in oven for 15 minutes (with help from an adult) 
  9. Remove from oven and move them to a wire rack to cool. 
  10. Enjoy!

Super Easy No Cook Nut and Date Bars

These nutty datey sweety treaties are so easy to make and super healthy. 

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup of almonds or cashews 
  • 2 cups of dates 
  • 2 tablespoons of peanut butter (any kind) 
  • 1/2 cup of coconut flakes 
  • 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder 
  • 1/8 teaspoon of salt 

Method:

Easy Chicken Shawarma & Tabbouleh

Ingredients:

  • 800g Boneless Chicken Thighs 
  • 1.5 Cups Bulgar Wheat 
  • 4 Mini Cucumbers diced 
  • 100g Parsley Leaves chopped 
  • 4 Large Tomatoes Diced 
  • 2 Large Red Onions Sliced 
  • 2 tbsp Garlic Crushed 1 cup Yogurt 
  • 2 Lemons Halved 
  • 2 tbsp Spice Blend (Paprika, Cumin, Cinnamon, Tumeric)

Simple Bread

This is a mix between bread and a scone – super tasty! 

Ingredients 500 grams plain flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 310ml milk Method: -Preheat oven to 190°C Fan (210C Regular) -Sprinkle flour on a baking tray and put in the oven -Mix the dry ingredients and stir -Add the milk, and bring the dough together by stirring the ingredients until everything is well mixed -Clean your worktop and sprinkle some flour – sprinkle some flour on your hands too -Knead briefly until the dough has a uniform consistency -Shape the dough into a round disc about 3cm deep -Take your heated tray out of the oven and place the ball of mixture on it and slightly flatten -Deeply score the mixture with a knife – this is super important! -Put in the oven for around 35 minutes until pale and brown and hollow when tapped at the bottom -Take out of oven. It will be hot so careful when you pick it up to do the tapping test! -Enjoy!

Arts, Crafts & Games

Amazing Curvy Line Pen Art

This is such great way to impress your friends and family and it’s actually really simple. Just lots of curvy lines with a fine line pen that make an incredible piece of art. You can even add colour to make it even more spectacular!

You will need:

  • A fine line pen
  • Paper

How to make a Friendship Bracelets

The is a short film on how to make a friendship bracelet. It will show you how to make a friendship bracelet from start to end.

You will need: 

  • 4 different colours of thread 
  • Scissors 
  • Sellotape 
  • Safety Pin

Make your own target to practise your throwing 

Follow the instructions to make this awesome target. Don’t forget to get an adult to help you! 

You will need: 

  • 6 pieces of A4 paper 
  • Selotape 
  • Scissors 
  • Card 
  • 2 pencils 
  • 1 piece of newspaper 
  • Bluetak

DIY Kid’s Room Door Letters

This is really easy way to make your bedroom door look really cool. You can use different coloured wool to wrap around a cardboard cutout of your letter. It’s a really effective! 

All you need is: 

  • Wool (various colours) 
  • Cardboard (from an old box)
  • Scissors

Garden & Nature

Plant Courgette (Zucchini) & lettuce seeds

Method: 

  1. Fill your seed tray or pots with soil (preferably seed compost) 
  2. Water the soil 
  3. Place the individual seeds in pots ( side ways)these are courgette seeds 
  4. Sprinkle finer seeds sparsely over soil.These are lettuce seeds. 
  5. Sprinkle small amount of soil over seeds and VERY GENTLY pat down with back of your hand. 
  6. No need to water as you already did at the beginning 
  7. Label a stick with what it is and date (a lolly pop stick would work). 
  8. Make a little greenhouse (Propagator) to keep them warm and moist (Either a plastic bag or a rigid plastic cover). 
  9. Place in sunny spot indoors (kitchen window)