Flash in the Pan

Materials:

• Shoebox
• small round plastic lid
• tape or glue
• art supplies
• white paper

Rustling up some dinner in this hectic world makes the microwave a great helper. Here's a way for your kids to build their own play appliance.

A small carton, like a shoebox, works great as a microwave. All your child has to do to start is set the shoebox on its side. If he or she wants the door to swing open, just tape one end of the lid to the box. On the front of the lid, paste a piece of white paper, then have your child draw a window so everyone can "see" the food cooking inside the oven.

Next to the window, draw a time display, a touch pad, or any dials or switches your child wants. A small round plastic lid inside the box becomes a carousel. Your child can even personalize the microwave with a nameplate.

To cook up a short snack, kids can place some pretend food (crackers or cereal, actually) in a small bowl, put it in the microwave, and "zap" it for a minute or two. How about that—a snack in seconds, and no chance of overcooking the food!

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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.