Stephanie, from Shropshire, UK, sent in this great idea. Let’s take a look at it…
What did you do?
- Put Puzzle together, turn over puzzle and find the riddle about popping balloons, also a small picture of a padlock.
- Pop the red, blue, yellow & green balloons.
- Inside balloons are, blank pieces of paper x 4 ( invisible ink pen) & a key.
- Unlock money box with key,
- Inside money box is invisible ink pen, use pen light on blank paper.
- Paper reveals one number on each piece of paper.
- Use code on padlock to unlock bag which has a lego board coded message.
- Decode Lego to say “Window”
- On Window is a string with clue attached hanging outside.
- Clue is acrostic poem spelling out Mirror & PTO on the back is a clue written backwards.
- Use mirror to read backwards clue directing them to the dog money box.
- Dog contains a key for another padlock, locking a pair of scissors together.
- Unlock scissors to cut open a bag that is cable tied together.
- In bag find a plain paper with colour change pen message. Colour paper to reveal clue “Phone Pin = Year of birth”.
- On the home screen or a WhatsApp message is a photo of a Lego board coded message.
- Decode Lego to say “Mums House”
- Inside Lego house is an old Key.
- Key unlocks jewellery box that is filled with sweets & a congratulations card
Puzzle Riddle
- Lots of Ballons different colours
- But which ones should you pop?
- Start with the primary colours 3
- and end with Mummy’s favorite, see?
Acrostic Poem
- Me & you play a game
- In this room to find a prize
- Rose’s birthday lets have fun
- Riddles make you think & sigh
- Or looking at to see yourself
- Reading clues to work it out
You will need…
- Lego alphabet code board and whiteboard pen to write letters on.
- Handbag for number padlock
- Backpack, cable ties, padlock & scissors
- Mobile phone
- Small Lego board for messages
- Safety pins
- Colour change pens
- Invisible ink pen and light for reading.
- Lock box
- Large lockable box for sweets, could use carboard box with bike lock?
I wanted to save the lego board clue as the homescreen on the mobile phone but the dimensions meant you could not read the message so sent a WhatsApp instead.
I gave them safety pins to pop balloons but they used pencils (!!)
The colour change pens must be used very gently on the message otherwise it obliterates it. I wanted to use a white crayon and paint but I couldn’t find a white crayon!
Do you have any other projects planned?
We have done a full on 2 night Scout/Cub camp, marble pouring art, geometric art. Tie die is next…
Tell the Housebound With Kids community a bit about yourself…
Stephanie, two children Rose, year 6 age 11, Jessica, year 3 age 8. Working from home 3 days a week and homeschooling, husband is a key worker. We live in a village in Shropshire, England.
How are you finding being housebound so far?
Fun at first getting harder with every week, miss friends, family and freedom. Still trying to make sure we have fun.
Do you have any tips for other parents?
Differentiate between weekdays and weekends by using a routine on weekdays. Up and dressed before 9am on a weekday ready for homeschooling, no routine on the weekend.
Has being part of our community helped you?
Great tips and ideas.
