A labyrinth is like a maze but with no wrong turns, and studies show that walking through one has a profound calming effect on the brain, much like meditation. Drawing a labyrinth can help too. People have been doing it for about 4,000 years, and here’s what’s mind-blowing: Archaeologists have found images of this very labyrinth, called a seven-circuit labyrinth, on cave walls, coins, pottery, tombs and cathedrals all over the world. How could people, separated by thousands of miles and years, draw the exact same image? We talked to labyrinth researcher Donna Zucker, Ph.D., for our Magnificent Mistakes issue (#8) and she said there are a lot of hypotheses, but no solid answers. Dr. Zucker studies how walking labyrinths makes people feel, and she found that walking one enhances the middle brain and reduces stress, so that people are more likely to think before they act. She also made the point that, historically, walking a labyrinth was a way to take a long journey without having to venture far from home, where it might’ve been less safe. Think about all of that for a minute. Then try drawing your own labyrinth. Trace it with your finger. See how it makes you feel. Then, pass it on.
You are quite literally made of stardust from a star that exploded billions of years ago. What’s more, since faraway stars are always exploding, stardust is constantly sprinkling down on us, like glitter from space that’s too small to see or feel. We wear it. We eat it. We poop it. And we pass it down from parent to child, just as we have since life began. So, the next time anyone asks you how old you are, answer, “I’m as old as the universe.” She might laugh, but you won’t be wrong. Just like the stars in the sky, the trees in the forest and the fish in the sea, we are all part of nature—and we are all connected in truly incredible ways.
This craft is from Kazoo's Nature Issue (#2). Go outside and forage for some flowers, then make your own.
In our Action Issue (#10 Fall), we explore the laws of motion. Everything has a consequence. If you kick a ball, it'll roll. If you push a swing, it'll go higher. If you build something great--a machine or a movement--and it gains momentum, it'll keep going until something stops it. That's physics! If you understand the laws of motion, you can better understand how every action you take--or don't take--matters.
This Inertia Tower illustrates Newton's 1st Law: Objects at rest will stay at rest, and objects in motion will stay in motion--unless acted upon by another force. To build this you just need 3 plastic or paper cups, 2 index cards, clay, and string. It takes a little patience, too!Pick up Kazoo's Action Issue (#10) for more fun physics experiments.
In our Action Issue (#10 Fall), we explore the laws of motion. This DIY Carnival Striker is so fun to make and illustrates law #2: The greater the mass of an object, the more force you'll need to move it. To make this you'll need: 6 wooden craft sticks (5 large and 1 small), 1 wooden skewer, 5 wooden spools (4 medium and 1 small), 1 metal washer, 1 rubber band, 1 bottle cap, a glue gun.
Pick up Kazoo's Action Issue (#10) for step-by-step instructions and more physics fun.
When things don’t go quite as you’d hoped or planned, it’s easy to get frustrated, discouraged, or even really mad. You might even feel so upset that you don’t know what to do with yourself. Well, here’s an idea: Make a calm-down jar, shake it up when you’re feeling shaken yourself, and then take deep breaths as you watch the glitter fall. Once it settles, you’ll feel more settled too and ready to face the world again. We included this in our latest issue, The Magnificent Mistakes issue, as an easy DIY coping mechanism. Ours takes about 15 minutes to settle, so it’s perfectly timed. **It’s designed for children, but it also works for adults.
Pick up Kazoo's Magnificent Mistakes Issue (#8) for steps and other bounce-back ideas.
In our Action Issue (#10), we explore the laws of motion. This Newton's Cradle illustrates Law #3: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. To make this, you'll need: 14 large wooden craft sticks, 5 marbles, 2 wooden skewers, string, 3 paper straws, a glue gun, scissors.
Pick up Kazoo's Action Issue (#10) for full instructions.
If you put a single bead in your hand, it'll look nice. But if you put a few beads into a kaleidoscope, hold it up to the light, and give it a twist, you'll see a new kind of beauty. The infinite pattern that emerges will help you appreciate each individual bead ever more. You can make this quick kaleidoscope out things you likely have already.
Pick up Kazoo's Action Issue (#10) for full instructions.
Nestled deep in the heart of NYC's West Village is a joint that not only celebrates cowgirls for their grit but also serves some of their favorite grub. Texas native Sherry Delamarter, who opened the legendary Cowgirl restaurant 30 years ago, shared this recipe for an ice cream sundae like no other: Cowgirl's Ice Cream Baked Potato. Yee-haw!
Pick up Kazoo's Confidence Issue (#15) for the full recipe, plus a feature interview.
Make this tumble toy from the template in Kazoo's Explorers Issue #12 (or, using a tube, marbles, and plastic eggs, make your own). To set her on her journey, stand her on a textured incline and let her go. The marbles' momentum makes her flip. It's physics!
ith 3 popsicle sticks, 2 wooden coffee stirrers, a small paper clip, a rubber-band, and a grown-up's help (probably).
Pick up Kazoo's Confidence Issue (#15) for full instructions and cut-paper templates.
Let this work of art, made from string and wood, remind you how we’re all connected.
Pick up Kazoo's Great Green Issue (#13) for a template and step-by-step instructions.
See how the energy you put into the world comes right back to you with this DIY paint pendulum. With a nudge in the right direction, you can create so much beauty.
Pick up Kazoo's Kindness Issue (#16) for step-by-step instructions and more.
