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If you stocked up on popsicle craft sticks recently to make the super cute Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree Ornaments I just posted about, then you are so ready to keep crafting with the kids and make these easy DIY Popsicle Stick Shape Building Magnets.
I think magnetic toys are fascinating, and my 4-year-old-son agrees. A while back he received some hand-me-down magnetic building toys that have been a delight for him and his sisters to build with. (They have been a quiet distraction for him at church many times. Except when we’re late and have to sit in the back on metal chairs; the magnets can make a loud clang on those metal chairs!)
Last week he received a gift of some seriously awesome Magformers magnetic toys: the Magformers Pythagoras Set 47 Piece Playset. Can I just say wow, that set is a S.T.E.M. teacher’s dream and packs in a ton of fun geometric concepts. I even like playing with it! Magformers are definitely cool, but they aren’t exactly cheap.
However, these DIY Popsicle Stick Building Magnets are cheap!
You can pretty much see from the pictures how simple they are to make. You only need popsicle sticks (preferably colored) and self-adhesive magnetic tape. Oh, and scissors.
Trim off small strips of the magnetic tape, about a half-inch long, and apply it to the backside of a popsicle stick at each end. Use a lot of different colored popsicle sticks. Little hands can do this, too. And that’s it.
Kids can then use the magnetic popsicle sticks to build shapes, towers, letters, etc., on a metal surface, such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, metal doors, or file cabinets.
You can store the DIY Popsicle Stick Shape Building Magnets in a magnetic tin, like my son’s super hero lunch box, for a fun building activity on the go. You can also bring along a cookie sheet on a car ride for more building space.
My little guy won’t stop carrying around his magnet-packed lunch box. Now we need to go on a trip to justify this great new, cheap car toy. 🙂
Happy Shape Building!
4 Responses
Oh my gosh, how cute. I recently purchased a large metal oil pan in an automotive store for a science project at our co-op. I have it sitting in my spare bedroom and have been wondering what to do with it. I am so making some of these sticks.
That is going to be so fun! My son recently discovered that one of our doors is metal, so he’s been putting them all over that, lol.
AS PROPOSTAS DE ATIVIDADES SÃO CRIATIVAS E MEXEM COM A LUDICIDADE DAS CRIANÇAS!!!
SOU EDUCADORA INFANTIL E MUITO ME AGRADA!!!
Hi Ana,
I am so happy to hear that you are finding our activity ideas and products we create helpful. We love making learning fun and helping teachers in the process.
Have a fantastic day!
-Amy