Ages 3+ | Creativity | Critical Thinking | Curiosity | Fine Motor Skills | Science
Turn everyday materials into a delightful, spinning sea adventure! Using a tissue box, an old CD, and a few household items, your child can create their very own leaping dolphins toy — and learn a little about motion and engineering in the process. This project encourages step-by-step thinking and problem-solving, while sparking curiosity and creativity.
What You’ll Need:
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1 empty tissue box
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Cardstock
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Glue
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1 old CD
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1 sheet of paper
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4-foot piece of cord
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2 plastic water-bottle caps
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Tape
How to Make It:
1. Decorate the tissue box.
Use colorful cardstock to cover the outside of the box. Ocean-themed designs like waves, fish, or bubbles make a great backdrop!
2. Make your dolphins.
Cut out dolphin shapes from cardstock and glue them onto the old CD. These will be your leaping stars!
3. Create the spinning axle.
Fold a sheet of paper in half lengthwise, then roll it up tightly. Slide the roll through the center hole of the CD. Let the paper unroll slightly until the CD doesn’t spin too freely. Tape the roll to keep it secure.
4. Add the cord.
Tie one end of the 4-foot cord to the paper axle just behind the CD. Wind the cord around the axle.
5. Attach the water-bottle caps.
Place the caps on each end of the axle. Rest the axle inside the opening of the tissue box so the CD sits in the middle. Secure the caps in place by taping a strip of cardstock over them to the top of the box.
6. Make the dolphins leap!
Gently pull the cord — and watch as the CD spins and your dolphins come to life with leaping motion!
Extend the Fun
🎨 For Younger Kids:
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Add wavy strips of paper to the CD for a fun pinwheel effect.
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Glue on alphabet letters or numbers cut from a magazine — or write them with a marker — and call them out as the CD spins!
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Little ones can skip the cord and simply spin the CD with their hand.
🦊 For Older Kids:
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Get creative with different animals! Try foxes, sheep, or jungle cats and decorate the box with matching scenes.
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Make it personal! Add family photos or school pictures to the CD. Pull the cord and watch familiar faces “jump” into action!
Why Kids Love It
Not only is this activity a blast to build and play with, but it also helps strengthen fine motor skills, foster creativity, and build early engineering curiosity. It’s the perfect mix of fun and learning!
Support Budding Young Artists
Looking for more ways to inspire creativity? Check out our hands-on craft kits and storytime adventures that bring imagination to life — one project at a time.
Credits:
Originally published by Highlights Editorial
Visit: www.highlights.com