Experience NYC with Charlie

Download these free interactive activities for your little explorers.

Empire State Building Blocks

Materials:

• Cardboard boxes or building blocks
• Paint or markers
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Collect various sizes of cardboard boxes or use building blocks.
2. Paint or color the boxes to resemble the Empire State Building.
3. Stack and glue the boxes together to build a tall structure.
4. Add windows and other details with markers.
   

Ground Zero Memorial Paper Lanterns

Materials:

• Construction paper
• Markers or crayons
• Scissors
• Glue
• Battery-operated tea lights

Instructions:

1. Fold a piece of construction paper in half lengthwise.
2. Cut slits along the fold, stopping about an inch from the edges.
3. Decorate the paper with markers or crayons.
4. Roll the paper into a tube and glue the ends together.
5. Place a battery-operated tea light inside to create a paper lantern.
   

New York City Taxi Craft

Materials:

• Yellow construction paper
• Black and white construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Markers or crayons

Instructions:

1. Cut out a taxi shape from yellow construction paper.
2. Cut out wheels from black construction paper and windows from white construction paper.
3. Glue the wheels and windows onto the taxi.
4. Use markers or crayons to add details like the taxi sign and number.
   

Statue of Liberty Crown and Torch

Materials:

• Green construction paper
• Yellow and orange tissue paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Stapler

Instructions:

1. Cut a strip of green construction paper to fit around the child's head and staple the ends together to make a crown.
2. Cut out spikes from green construction paper and glue them around the crown.
3. Roll a piece of green construction paper into a tube for the torch handle and secure it with glue.
4. Stuff the top of the torch with yellow and orange tissue paper to represent the flame.
   

New York City Skyline Silhouette

Materials:

• Black construction paper
• White paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Yellow and white paint or markers

Instructions:

1. Cut out shapes of buildings from black construction paper to create a skyline.
2. Glue the buildings onto a piece of white paper.
3. Use yellow and white paint or markers to add windows and lights to the buildings.
4. Optionally, add a dark blue paper behind the white paper for a night sky effect.
   

Empire State Building Viewfinder

Materials:

• Empty paper towel roll
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Markers or crayons
• Stickers

Instructions:

1. Decorate an empty paper towel roll with construction paper, markers, crayons, and stickers to look like the Empire State Building.
2. Create a small viewing hole at one end of the roll.
3. Have kids look through the viewfinder and imagine they are seeing the New York City skyline from the top of the Empire State Building.
   

Times Square Light-Up Billboard

Materials:

• Small cardboard box or thick paper
• Markers or crayons
• Stickers
• Small battery-operated lights or glow sticks
• Tape

Instructions:

1. Cut out a rectangle from a small cardboard box or thick paper to represent a billboard.
2. Decorate the billboard with markers, crayons, and stickers to mimic the bright ads of Times Square.
3. Attach small battery-operated lights or glow sticks around the edges of the billboard.
4. Tape the lights securely and turn them on to create a glowing Times Square scene.
   

Central Park Nature Collage

Materials:

• Paper or cardboard
• Leaves, flowers, twigs (collected from outside)
• Glue
• Markers or crayons

Instructions:

1. Take a walk outside to collect natural items like leaves, flowers, and twigs.
2. Arrange the items on a piece of paper or cardboard to create a nature scene.
3. Glue the items in place.
4. Use markers or crayons to add details like trees, birds, and paths.
   

Central Park Zoo Animal Masks

Materials:

• Paper plates
• Markers, crayons, or paint
• Scissors
• Glue
• Craft sticks
• Construction paper

Instructions:

1. Choose an animal from the Central Park Zoo to create a mask.
2. Color or paint a paper plate to resemble the animal's face.
3. Cut out ears, noses, or other features from construction paper and glue them onto the plate.
4. Cut out holes for the eyes.
5. Attach a craft stick to the bottom of the plate to use as a handle.
   

New York City Skyline Shadow Box

Materials:

• Shoebox or small cardboard box
• Black construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Flashlight

Instructions:

1. Cut out the shapes of New York City buildings from black construction paper.
2. Glue the building shapes inside the shoebox to create a skyline.
3. In a dark room, shine a flashlight through the back of the box to cast shadows of the buildings onto the wall.
   

Hot Dog and Pizza Play Food

Materials:

• Playdough or modeling clay
• Paint (if using white clay)
• Construction paper

Instructions:

1. Use playdough or modeling clay to shape hot dogs, buns, pizzas, and toppings.
2. If using white clay, let it dry and then paint the pieces.
3. For the hot dog, roll a piece of brown clay for the sausage and a larger, lighter piece for the bun.
4. For the pizza, flatten a piece of clay for the base and add smaller pieces for toppings.
5. 
   

Little Italy Pizza Magnets

Materials:

• Air-dry clay
• Paint
• Magnet strips
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Shape the air-dry clay into small pizza slices.
2. Let the clay dry completely.
3. Paint the slices to look like pizza with red sauce, yellow cheese, and various toppings.
4. Glue a magnet strip to the back of each slice.
5. Use the pizza magnets on the fridge or a magnetic board.
   

Broadway Show Posters

Materials:

• Construction paper
• Markers or crayons
• Stickers
• Glitter glue

Instructions:

1. Choose a favorite musical or create a pretend Broadway show.
2. Use construction paper to make a poster for the show.
3. Decorate the poster with markers, crayons, stickers, and glitter glue.
4. Display the posters and have a mini-Broadway show with songs and performances.
   

New York State Flower - The Rose

Did you know the New York state flower is the Rose? Here are some fun, interactive ways to learn more about roses:

Planting Roses:

• Distribute rose seeds or small rose plants to participants.
• Provide a hands-on demonstration on how to plant and care for roses.
• Encourage participants to take their plants home or plant them in a community garden.

Crafting Paper Roses:

• Provide materials and instructions for making paper roses.
• Participants can create roses in different colors and styles.
• Discuss the symbolism of different rose colors as they craft.

Scientific Observation:

• Use magnifying glasses to closely observe different parts of a real rose (petals, leaves, thorns).
• Have participants draw what they see and label the parts of the rose in their journals.
• Discuss the anatomy of roses and how they grow.

Creative Writing:

• Encourage participants to write a short poem or story inspired by roses.
• Share and display the writings with the group.