Activity:
Build a Zucchini Racer
When your garden is overrun by zucchini and your family rebels at the prospect of eating yet another loaf of zucchini bread, turn your bumper crop into a fleet of funky veggie-mobiles. With this simple yet creative activity, your child will practice her fine motor skills while creating a toy from everyday objects. Bonus: The chance to play creatively with food may even turn your child into a veggie lover!
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What You Need:
- Small to medium-sized zucchini (about 8-10 inches in length). You may want to keep a couple extra on hand, along with a healthy dip, in case your child is inspired to nibble during the project.
- Dowels, wire, or pipe cleaners
- 1½-inch wooden wheels (available at craft stores)
- Decorative art supplies such as stickers, paint, glitter glue, etc.
What You Do:
- Lay zucchini on your child's workspace.
- Help her poke two dowels, wires, or pipe cleaners through the zucchini: one at the front and one at the back. These will be the axles! It may be easier to poke holes in the zucchini with a toothpick before inserting the axles.
- Attach a wheel to each axle on either side of the zucchini.
- Personalize the racer using decorative art supplies. Add eyes, hair, spots, sparkles—the only limit is your child's imagination!
Once the racer is constructed, build on the activity by creating a “road” on a large sheet of paper, making traffic signs from cardboard, or constructing a ramp to roll the zucchini racer down.
