Get creative with household items!
Looking for a creative, open-making art project to do at home with your child? Inspired by Open Making in The Rosso Family Foundation Innovators LAB at the Museum, we’ve created the Innovators LAB Design Challenge to encourage your child to use their critical thinking skills, creativity and imagination! Watch the video challenges on this page and get creative by making your own art piece with a list of materials that can be found around the house.
We want to see your creations! Share your unique creations with us by posting a photo on social media, include #thinkplaycreatefromhome and #designchallenge and tag us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter!
Video
Design Challenge #9 sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific
Ages: 2-5 and 6-13
Duration: 1 hour
Materials:
Modeling Clay
Household or recycled materials
Examples: Ollie made a microscope out of modeling clay and binoculars out of recycled materials!
Video
Design Challenge #8 sponsored by SDG&E
Ages: 6+
Duration: 1 hour
Materials:
Plastic bag
Scissors
Decoration materials
Examples: Max made an ocean monster and Gracie made pompoms out of plastic yarn!
Video
Design Challenge #7
Ages: 6+
Duration: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Materials:
Cardboard
Paper roll
Stick
Crayons + Markers
Bottle Caps
Glue or Tape
Examples: McKenna made a paper towel tower and Maria made a car!
Video
Design Challenge #6 sponsored by SDG&E
Ages: 6+
Duration: 1-2 hours
Materials:
Carton/Container (plastic bottle, milk carton, old plastic toy, etc.)
Permanent Marker
Scissors
Ballpoint Pen
Decoration Supplies
Soil + Seedling
Examples: Sam made a container with basil inside, decorated after her cat named Pesto!
Video
Design Challenge #5
Ages: 6+
Duration: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Materials:
Cardboard
String
Paper
Crayons + Markers
Aluminum Foil
Glue or Tape
Examples: McKenna made a starry night mobile and Maria made a paper bead bracelet!
Video
Design Challenge #4
Ages: 6+
Duration: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Materials:
Cardboard
Box Lid
Wrapping Paper
Leaves
Flowers
Glue or Tape
Example: Rachel made a nature portrait and Kaya made a bed for her toy raccoon!
Video
Design Challenge #3
Ages: 6+
Duration: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Materials:
Scissors
Cup
Plastic Lid
Bottle Caps
Water Bottle
Glue or Tape
Example: Ava made a cup boat and Jack made a water bottle sea monster!
Video
Design Challenge #2 Powered by Cox
Ages: 6+
Duration: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Materials:
Toilet Paper Roll
Straws
Scissors
Cardboard
Markers
Play-Doh (Optional)
Bottle Caps (Optional)
Box Cutter (Optional)
Challenge: Make your own high speed race car!
Video
Design Challenge #1
Ages: 6+
Duration: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Materials:
Markers
Tissue Paper
Paper Towel Cardboard
Egg Carton
Scissors
Tape
Example: Maria made a 3-D sculpture of herself and her dog!
