Here's a riddle. What is round, hovers on a thin cushion of air, spins like a top and even plays music at the touch of a button? Give up? You'll find out the answer when you make these two simple, clever toys with your kids.
Balloon-powered HovercraftRemove the twist-nozzle top from an empty plastic mustard or white household glue bottle. Wash and dry the entire top.
Using a low-temperature glue gun, attach the base of the nozzle top over the hole of a discarded CD. Let dry.
Pull the lip of a medium-size balloon over the nozzle portion only and tape it in place with electrical tape. Make sure you create an airtight seal.
To play with your new toy, twist the nozzle into the open position. Put the opposite side of the CD up to your mouth and blow through the hole to inflate the balloon. When the balloon is inflated, quickly twist the nozzle into the "closed" position to trap the air inside the balloon. Place the CD, hole side down, on a flat surface, such as a large table or smooth floor. Twist the top open, give it a little push and, as the air in the balloon rushes out, watch it hover across the surface!
Shiny spinning top
Find a twist-nozzle top from an 8-ounce bottle of household white glue. Twist it into the "open" position and poke it through the hole of another discarded CD. Twist it into the "closed" position to secure the top to the CD.
Give your top a spin on the tip of the nozzle.
For extra fun, decorate the toy with a wooden bead glued over the hole on the opposite side and paint designs on the surface of the CD for a kaleidoscope of color as it spins.
Note: Guess the answer to the riddle? It's a CD.
Write to Donna and share your favorite family activities at her Web site (www.donnasday.com). Watch "Donna's Day with Donna Erickson" on Odyssey, a Hallmark and Henson Network. (C) Donna Erickson