Cool Joy

Materials:

• Large carton
• medium box
• empty shoeboxes
• tape
• art supplies

If your kids can't stand the heat, they can make their own pretend refrigerator to keep things cool—with your help.

Tape both ends of a large carton shut, then make a door by cutting along one of the solid sides at the top, bottom, and left (or right, depending on how your children want the door to open). To make a quick handle, cut a small slot near the edge of the door.

For shelving, take another empty box and cut pieces that will reach from one side of the fridge to the other. Have your kids help you tape those into place, then collect empty shoeboxes and other small cartons for use as crisper bins.

To add a modern touch, your kids can trace around a shoebox to make a rectangle on the door. Cut out the rectangle for them, then insert the shoebox into the hole so that the open side is flush with the door. Tape it in place and voilą: an ice and water dispenser!

Best of all, this modern convenience is ultra energy-efficient and frost free!

More on: Arts & Crafts Activities for Kids: Project Ideas

Excerpted from:

© 2005 by Steve and Ruth Bennett. Excerpted from 365 Unplugged Family Fun Activities with permission of its publisher, Perseus Books Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

To order this book visit perseusbooksgroup.com.