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  5. School is Cool Birthday Parties: Science, Art, Music, and Reading

School is Cool Birthday Parties: Science, Art, Music, and Reading

By Amanda Kingloff and Taryn Mohrman
May 04, 2014
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Mad Scientist Birthday Cake
Let your birthday boy or girl dive into their favorite school subject with a theme bash featuring all the fun parts of school and none of the homework!
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1 of 18

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Science Party: Set The Theme

Boy Wearing Science Costume
Credit: Heather Weston

Experiment with this fun party for your next shindig. Kids will have so much fun, they'll forget they're learning!

Recycle Dad's old dress shirts into lab coats for guests, then pass out safely goggles and rubber gloves. Complete the smart look with an "official" scientist name tag.

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Science Party: Activity Idea

Girl Doing Science Experiment
Credit: Heather Weston

Use food coloring to tint one glass of water yellow and another blue, then have kids use a dropper to race to mix up a third cup of green water.

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Science Party: Dessert

Science Beaker Dessert
Credit: Heather Weston

For the final lab test, set up a make-your-own sundae station by filling plastic graduated cylinders and petri dishes with candy, cake, and cereal. Use tongs, measuring cups, and funnels as scoops.

3 of 18

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Science Party: Favor

Beakers with Rock Candy
Credit: Heather Weston

Jumbo plastic test tubes filled with rock-candy crystals will give scientists-in-training something to study on the ride home. (We got our tubes at orientaltrading.com.)

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Art Party: Set The Theme

Art Name Tags
Credit: Peter Ardito

Let out the artist inside with a dazzling display of art supplies in this theme party.

Adhere sticker letters on name tags, then display them on a Popsicle-stick easel.

What you'll need: Popsicle sticks, hot-glue gun, self-adhesive name badge with gold border, 1/2 to 1 inch sticker letters

Make it Hot-glue two Popsicle sticks together to form a V. Glue a third Popsicle stick in place to form an A, then glue the thin side of a fourth Popsicle stick just above the third to form a ledge. Using a generous amount of hot glue, attach a fifth Popsicle stick to the back to form an easel. Spell out guests' names on adhesive-backed name badges with sticker letters and rest each on an easel.

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Art Party: Activity Idea

Bicycle Art Book
Credit: Peter Ardito

Teach the basics with the book, How to Draw, by Barbara Soloff Levy.

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Art Party: Dessert

Art Cupcakes
Credit: Peter Ardito

Pipe scribbles onto cupcakes, then add a crayon toothpick. (We got our toothpicks at thepartyworks.com.)

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Art Party: Favor

Watercolor Kit
Credit: Peter Ardito

Inspire kids with a watercolor kit, available at party stores or crafts stores.

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Reading Party: Set The Theme

Library Card Invites
Credit: Peter Ardito

Let your little bookworm crack open this reading party, complete with bookplate favors!

Handwrite your invite on a library-book card, available at scrapbooking or crafts stores.

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Reading Party: Activity Idea

Stack of Books
Credit: Peter Ardito

Read books aloud and have the kids take turns acting out the story.

12 of 18

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Reading Party: Dessert

Bookworm Brownies
Credit: Peter Ardito

Make bookworm brownies with icing and a gummy worm.

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Reading Party: Favor

Book labels
Credit: Peter Ardito

Print bookplates on adhesive-label paper, and give a stack to each child.

  • Get the book labels here

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Music Party: Set the Theme

Music Note Table
Credit: Peter Ardito

Raising a rocker? Let him get his groove on in a music-theme party that's worth singing about.

Use black tape on a white tablecloth to create a music staff. Attach paper shapes to plates to resemble notes.

What you'll need: 7 inch paper plates, craft paper, tape, pencil, scissors

Make it: Use template to cut out music note shapes from craft paper. Attach to back of plates with tape.

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Music Party: Activity Idea

Girl Singing
Credit: Peter Ardito

Play "Name That Tune" and musical chairs.

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Music Party: Dessert

Popsicle Dessert
Credit: Peter Ardito

Download free "Happy Birthday to You" sheet music from sheetmusicplus.com and wrap around Drumsticks.

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Music Party: Favor

Drum Party Favor
Credit: Peter Ardito

Blank domroo drums make a fun favor. (We found ours at orientaltrading.com.)

Originally published in the May 2010 issue of Parents magazine.

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    1 of 18 Science Party: Set The Theme
    2 of 18 Science Party: Activity Idea
    3 of 18 Science Party: Dessert
    4 of 18
    5 of 18 Science Party: Favor
    6 of 18 Art Party: Set The Theme
    7 of 18 Art Party: Activity Idea
    8 of 18 Art Party: Dessert
    9 of 18
    10 of 18 Art Party: Favor
    11 of 18 Reading Party: Set The Theme
    12 of 18 Reading Party: Activity Idea
    13 of 18 Reading Party: Dessert
    14 of 18 Reading Party: Favor
    15 of 18 Music Party: Set the Theme
    16 of 18 Music Party: Activity Idea
    17 of 18 Music Party: Dessert
    18 of 18 Music Party: Favor

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