10 SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Hi Owlkids Family!

Are you ready for the best summer ever? Gather the kids and try some of these fun family activities this sunny season!

1. Make wacky paper airplanes. Who’s plane is the most unusual? Whose plane flies the farthest?
2. Grab stuff from around the house and try a sink or float experiment.
3. Freeze berries in ice cube trays and add a cube to a glass of water to turn it into a refreshing fruity treat.
4. Make a magic paper loop you can walk through.
5. Watch this video to learn how the sun keeps on burning even without oxygen.
6. Make your own ice cream or slushy using simple ingredients.
7. Read a summer-themed book together, like A Park Connects Us, a story of how a local park brings a community together.
8. Play Would You Rather. Uses these questions to get started and then take turns making up your own!
9. Work together to give your bikes a tune-up.
10. Visit a local berry, vegetable, or flower farm and get picking!

BONUS: Play, play, play! Hide and Seek, Frozen Tag, Shadow Puppets, Backyard Theatre, Frisbee Toss, Sleeping Bag Race, Scavenger Hunt, Star Counting, you name the game, you can do it!

Have a great summer, everyone!

• Jackie

CONTEST: Owlkids and Mastermind Toys Celebrate Chirp’s Birthday!

***THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. WINNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.***

Hey Chirp readers!

Did you know that Chirp magazine is turning 25 in June? To celebrate Chirp’s birthday, we’re partnering with our friends at Mastermind Toys for a big birthday giveaway!

One (1) grand prize winner will receive:

• A subscription to Chirp magazine
• A second subscription to Chirp, Chickadee, or OWL magazine to give to a friend
• A collection of new titles from Owlkids Books
• A $50 gift card to Mastermind Toys

One (1) runner-up will receive:

• A subscription to Chirp magazine
• A second subscription to Chirp, Chickadee, or OWL magazine to give to a friend

For a chance to WIN, comment on this post with your first name, age, and a birthday message for Chirp! Prizes courtesy of Owlkids and Mastermind Toys.

Contest deadline: June 16, 2022. Winners will be chosen by random draw. No purchase necessary. Contest is open to Canadian residents excluding Quebec. Click HERE for full contest rules and regulations.

Have fun!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

A Reading List for Indigenous History Month

Hi Owlkids Family!

June is National Indigenous History Month and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day so it’s a great time to celebrate the history and achievements of Indigenous Peoples.

In honour of this month we have compiled a list of books that explore Indigenous culture. Gather the family, grab a comfy spot, and get reading!

Click on the links below to learn more about these books.

The Water Walker by Joanne Roberston (ages 3-7)

Aboriginal Canadian Communities: Salish Community by M.M. Eboch (ages 5-12)

Haida of Haida Gwaii by Owlkids (ages 4 – 13)

Haudenosaunee Culture Through Art and Design: Book 1 by Dakota Brant (age 5 and up)

Zoe and The Fawn by Catherine Jameson (ages 3-5)

Big Air by Lorna Schultz Nicholson (ages 12 and up)

Mohawk Colouring Book by Native North American Travelling College (ages 7 and up)

The Mask That Sang by Susan Currie (ages 9-13)

The Giving Tree: A Retelling of a Traditional Métis Story by Leah Dorion (ages 5-9)

And be sure to visit 4CAnoes.org and Goodminds.com for more great resources!

Happy Pet Month!

Hi there!

Does your family have a pet? Want a pet? Like to play with others’ pets? No matter what your situation, May is a great time to celebrate our fluffy, furry, and scaly friends because it’s Pet Month! Here are 10 fun family activities to try.

1. Read a book about an animal character. Check out Cone Cat by Sarah Howden and Carmen Mok and then learn how to draw the feline protagonist!
2. Play Hide n’ Seek with a dog or Follow the Leader with a cat.
3. Make a pet rock craft.
4. Read an article written by a vet to get all your animal questions answered.
5. Watch this video to learn how dog guides are trained to help people.
6. Make an origami fish.
7. Listen to a silly story about a cat detective.
8. Try a bubble snake experiment. Challenge your family to see who can make the longest one!
9. Check out this video compilation of cute and hilarious guinea pigs.
10. Considering adding a pet to your brood? Take this quiz to see which type of pet suits your family best.

Happy Pet Month, everyone!

• Jackie

10 Earth Month Activities

Happy Earth Month, Owlkids Family!

April is a great time to get outdoors, appreciate our environment and take whatever little steps we can to help protect it.

Here are some fun family activities to get you started.

1) Look for crocuses or tulips sprouting up through the dirt.

2) Meet a teen activist who is fighting to protect our planet’s water. 

3) Make a pinwheel and head out on a windy day to see if it works.

4) Put on some work gloves, grab a garbage bag, and pick up trash and recycling from a park or beach.

5) Test your green knowledge with a fun quiz and word search.

6) Make a cute little origami snail!

7) Visit a local greenhouse and learn about how plants grow.

8) Try a cloud in a jar experiment and learn how rain falls from heavy clouds.

9) Turn a juice or milk carton into a bird feeder for your backyard or balcony.

10) Write out an Earth Month pledge that explains what your family promises to do to help the planet. Research online to find small actions you can start incorporating into your household.