Sticky Note Creatures!

Sticky notes are such a great creativity tool. You can make cool animations using sticky note flip books - like this one. The key with sticky note flip books is to secure them really well at the top so the pages don't come loose - and to line up the sheets really well. But we'll get into that in a separate post.

You can also make simpler sticky note games and puzzles for kids. For example, I have kids draw a bunch of heads on some sticky notes, and then a bunch of bodies on some more. Then we have great fun and hilarity matching them up. Then you can put them on a wall or door like a big puzzle.

Here are some of the methods we have come up with:
1. Putting two sticky notes together and then drawing the "whole" creature across both, then "separating" the two to mix them up with other drawings.
2. Drawing the heads and bodies separately, then putting them together to see what you get.
3. Adding a whole string of sticky notes together in a row and drawing a long snake across all of them.
4. For bigger kids, you can have them draw different animal heads and bodies and then mix them up.
5. They get even crazier if you add color.

By the way, some kids really, really want to match up the heads and bodies "right." That's okay! Mixing up or putting together are both great. But you might need to give one kid some to mix up and another kid some to put together so you don't get into a world war over which way is correct.

Good things to mix up are: Boys, girls, family members, cats, dogs, bunnies, dinosaurs, astronauts, insects, and snowpeople. Snowpeople are great because they are already in sections... You can make a three-sticky-note-tall snow person and then give each segment a different personality -girly head, punk middle, spotted bottom - then make some more and mix them up.

The refrigerator at the afterschool center is currently covered with sticky note creatures.

Now, sticky notes ain't cheap. So if you can lift some from work, or get some at a discount store, great. They are worth it for all the cool projects you can do. Don't worry about the size or color, although bigger is better for the littler kids.

Coming soon, we'll get into sticky note animation and all the great things you can learn from it!